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Sunday, September 18, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Re: The State Of Human Rights in Bangladesh



http://humanrightsinbangladesh.com/

On Sun, Sep 18, 2011 at 10:22 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:

The State Of Human Rights in Bangladesh

By Dr. K. M. A. Malik

Introduction

Gross violations of human rights can be found in third world states, many or most of which are ruled by military and family dictatorships or pseudo-democratic, autocratic regimes, and some under foreign occupation. There is hardly any respect for democratic practices, mutual tolerance and equal rights of others with different colour, belief, culture or ethnicity.

The leaders of these societies/countries are mostly corrupt and morally bankrupt and possessed with unlimited greed for power and money. They lack transparency and accountability in their actions and governance. This is true in many countries including Bangladesh .

Bangladesh Scene

The worst forms of human rights violations such as unlawful torture and killings, abduction, rape and other violent crimes happened during the war of liberation in 1971 (perpetrated mostly by the Pakistani army but also by some Bengali elements, estimated 1 million deaths). Lack of proper democracy and propensity for authoritarianism (during periods of both civil and military regimes) resulted in human rights abuses in varying degrees at different times. Unfortunately, no regime in power since 1972 has ever acknowledged its responsibility in this regard, and very little has been done to stop these practices.

In recent years, the human rights situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated to an alarming stage. People are concerned specially by the denial mode of the present Awami League (AL) government and their inability or inaction to prevent or reduce the instances of human rights violations. Most worrisome is the justification by some ministers and leading politicians of the ruling party for suppressing opposition political views and media freedom.

Extra-judicial killings [1]

During Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rule (2001-6), Bangladesh Awami League (AL) as the main opposition party criticized, very rightly, the culture of extra-judicial killings by law enforcing agencies including the special crime fighting force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) formed in 2004. Before 2008 elections, AL promised to stop such unlawful killings. Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni made commitments of 'zero tolerance' regarding this type of killings in different international forums including the Human Rights Council (March 01, 2010; May 12, 2009) and the Universal Periodic Review Session (UPR) in Geneva (February 2009).

But these commitments were never fulfilled. Unlawful killings have continued unabated. The victims are suspected 'criminals', members of the radical left political parties, or simply innocent people, all killed without the due process of law.

According to Odhikar (a non-profit human rights organization) report [2], 127 people were killed extra-judicially in 2010. Of those 127 killed in this year, 1 was a BNP activist, 2 belonged to the Islami Chattra Shibir; 1 an expelled AL leader, 33 from radical left parties, 3 small business men, 2 drivers, 1 street sweeper, 2 farmers, 1 rickshaw puller, 3 workers, 1 night guard, 2 detainees, 1 hospital employee, 9 youths, 1 father of an alleged drug peddler, 64 alleged criminals. The figure includes only the reported number of those killed in the so-called 'crossfire' as well as those tortured to death and custodial killings. But it does not include custodial deaths, where the causes of deaths remain uncertain.

According to 'Law and Salish Centre', another human rights forum, during January – December, 2009, total 229 persons were killed by crossfire. 'Odhikar' put the number of extra-judicial killings at 154 for the same period. Of these, 35 were killed in custody. The number given by 'Odhikar' is lower than that cited by the 'Law and Salish Centre', but the exact figure, probably much higher than those reported in the media, may never be known. A large number of detainees and prisoners die due to torture during interrogations, but the official version for such death is 'heart attack', 'suicide' or similar causes!

Custodial torture and deaths

National and international laws prohibit the use of intimidation, mental and physical torture of any detainee or prisoner by the state agencies. But in Bangladesh , like other third world countries, inflicting different kinds of mental and physical torture is a routine procedure to extract information from the accused persons in detention. In some cases, the victims simply 'disappear' [3].

The practice of custodial torture and unlawful killings started in the country during the first AL regime (1972-75) and has continued unabated till today. It reached a tragic stage during the army-led emergency regime (2007-2008), when hundreds of top political leaders and businessmen were mentally and physically tortured in detention and jailed after sham trials. Serious physical injuries were inflicted by torture on many leading politicians including Tareq Rahman, senior Secretary General of the opposition BNP party. More than 70,000 political workers at grass-root levels were thrown into prison without any concrete charges. Due process of law was denied to them.

Odhikar compiled a report (from print media) with 68 proven cases of custodial torture during 2009. Despite denial by the authorities, it is a common knowledge that those who are supposed to uphold the law are often themselves the violators.

Case of Mahmudur Rahman [4]

The practice of custodial torture and barbaric treatment of prisoners and detainees has been highlighted recently by Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, acting editor of the Bengali daily Amar Desh, in a series of articles. Mr. Rahman was targeted by the government for vendetta and revenge for publishing a report on the alleged corruption by some government leaders including the prime minister's son, Sajib Wajad Joy. He was arrested without warrant in June last year, interrogated under remand and put into prison. He was seriously tortured both physically and mentally. The case aroused nationwide protests and condemnation. Mr. Rahman was released from prison on March 17, 2011 , but there are still dozens of false cases against him.

Deaths of BDR prisoners in custody

In the aftermath of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) rebellion on February 25-26 in 2009, thousands of BDR personnel were detained for interrogation and trial. Many of those prisoners met with 'unnatural deaths' while in custody. According to informed sources, some key witnesses simply 'disappeared'. The number of deaths cited earlier does not include the custodial deaths of BDR prisoners. According to Odhikar [2], a total of 51 BDR members died during February to 31 December, 2009 . Among them, 26 BDR members died while in custody, of which 6 have allegedly died due to torture. Some sources suggest that the 'unnatural deaths' of BDR members in custody were close to 100. We do not know exactly how many of the thousands of detainees were illegally tortured, but considering the culture of barbaric torture of our 'crime investigators', one may presume that the number would run into hundreds, if not thousands. Allegations of serious torture to extract confessional statements have been made.

Violations of Women's rights

Custodial torture, rape, acid violence and dowry related violence

Treatment of women prisoners are even worse than that meted out to male prisoners. There is no reliable statistics on the number of women prisoners and the number abused while in custody. They are probably supposed not to exist in our society. However, it is widely known that common abuses to women prisoners involve the denial of food and bed, and on many occasions, rape, especially to women from poor sections of the society. Many are held in prison without any concrete charges or trial for months and years, under sub-human conditions. In recent years, high profile women prisoners including the family members of some leading political figures were ill-treated in prison and many were denied bails pending trial.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) - A New Rakkhi Bahini?

It has become quite obvious during the last six years of RAB's operations that the some members of the force have been responsible for serious abuses of human rights. Compared with the earlier BNP regime, it became more powerful and desperate in its acts during the army-led Care Taker Government (CTG). The present AL government seems to be more dependent on RAB for not only crime fighting but also for suppressing opposition political forces and dissenting voices.

There is a growing suspicion in the country that the present government wants to remodel this force after the 'Rakkhi Banini' that existed during 1972-75 [5]. This Bahini was formed as the main security arm of the then AL government (under the supervision of a top Indian army officer). It recruited only the AL party loyalists and was given more power and authority than the regular police, army and other security forces. They engaged in indiscriminate murders and torture of thousands of political opponents and became a dreaded force (like death squads in Latin America ). Rakkhi Bahini was disbanded after the change of government in August 1975.

It is perhaps too early to say if the AL government really wants to recruit more party loyalists and cadres to remodel RAB after 'Rakkhi Bahini' or not. What is evident, however, that the culture of extrajudicial killings and custodial torture, disregard for acting within the framework law and acting as an instrument of the ruling party are facing increasing criticisms not only from the human rights defenders inside, but also from concerned persons and organizations abroad. International human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have expressed deep concerns about the ongoing violations of human rights by different organs of Bangladesh state including extrajudicial killings and suppression of opposition.

Mr. Abbas Faiz, South Asia researcher for Amnesty International, Lord Eric Avebury of the UK House of Lords, Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch raised this and several other issues with prime minister Sheikh Hasina during her recent UK visit [6] .

RAB - the British/US/India connections

It was suspected from the very beginning that one of main purposes for the formation of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) (apart from ordinary crime fighting) was to 'eliminate' the threats posed by various left radical groups operating in the western districts and also by the so-called Islamic militants. There are reasons to believe that the force had also the blessings of some foreign powers ( USA , UK , India ). The challenges coming from the extreme left and extreme right forces are also said to threaten Indian security. While the ambassadors and policymakers of these countries make daily public comments on smaller issues in Bangladesh , they have hardly 'advised' any government since 2004 (BNP/CTG/AL) to stop unlawful killings and custodial torture by RAB. The first prominent victim of RAB's unlawful killing during the present AL government was the leftist ideologue Mr. Mufakkarul Islam Chowdhury who was arrested unarmed and killed in a so-called 'crossfire'.

In fact, the links of the USA , UK and India to RAB are no longer secret. The rulers of all these countries are obsessed with the potential threat of 'Islamic terrorism' in Bangladesh and as revealed in WeakiLeaks cables, they consider RAB as a potential counter-terrorism ally [7]. Wikileaks disclosures have also revealed that the USA wanted RAB to become 'Bangladeshi FBI' and that that they were providing training to Bangladesh security forces on interrogation techniques. The EU proposal for a 'Counter-Terrorism Training Centre' in Dhaka to 'fight terrorism in the region' indicates deep western (and Indian-Israeli) involvement.

A Guardian report on January 17, 2011 [8] revealed that the " UK authorities passed information about British nationals to notorious Bangladeshi intelligence agencies and police units, then pressed for information while the men were being held at a secret interrogation centre where inmates are known to have died under torture ."

According to this report, "a number of the British suspects were taken to the secret interrogation centre, known as the Task Force for Interrogation cell (TFI) . The location of the TFI and the methods employed by those who work there became clear during the Guardian investigation, with both former inmates and intelligence officials speaking out about its operations.

"Faisal Mostafa, from Manchester , was taken to the TFI after Smith's visit to Dhaka (2008) and is alleged to have been forced to stand upright for the first six days of his incarceration, with his wrists shackled to bars above his head. He is then alleged to have then been beaten and subjected to electric shocks while being questioned about Bangladeshi associates. At the point at which he was to be questioned about his associates and activities in the UK , he is said to have been blindfolded and strapped to a chair while a drill was slowly driven into his right shoulder and hip."

Following this and several other reports published recently in the Guardian and other media on the collaborations of the UK authorities with the Bangladesh security forces on detention and torture are being questioned by human rights defenders across the world.

According to a UNB report (January 6, 2011) Phil Shiner, a human rights lawyer in Britain, has called for a UK-led international inquiry into the activities of RAB to uncover the truth behind RAB's highly dubious human rights record [9] . "If it is found that RAB consistently violated these rights in carrying out their operations, the UK government can be dissuaded from providing the training and support facilities that it has been to RAB over the last three years, as revealed in US embassy cables relating to Bangladesh released by whistleblower site WikiLeaks."

Phil Shiner described RAB as a reckless, Latin American-style "death squad", as described in a damaging report published in the Guardian, on December 23, 2010 . He further said, "all states owe duties to each other to cooperate and uncover RAB's activities, and to bring all unlawful activities, including of executions, to an immediate end."

Dubious role of the government

The government position on the issue seems to be dubious, to say the least. The home minister Ms Sahara Khatum denies about the existence of extra-judicial killings and custodial torture, whilst some other ministers have condoned the law enforcers' actions as 'acts of self-defence'. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remained silent on extrajudicial killings and custodial for a long time, only last week while visiting London , she said that her government is trying to reduce such practices. The fact, however, remains that her government has been ignoring or violating an earlier High Court order to completely stop extrajudicial killings and custodial torture by the security forces.

Indo-Bangladesh border – South Asian Killing Fields

One of the most significant but least discussed violations of human rights of Bangladeshi (some Indian) citizens occurs along the India-Bangladesh border. Mainstream media including the TV channels and most of the otherwise outspoken members of the so-called 'civil society' in Bangladesh remain mostly silent on the barbaric 'shoot-to-kill' practices of India 's BSF along the border.

The problems along the border are not something new. There are cross-border movements of people living in the border area, without permission. These movements are of course illegal, and anybody doing this may be arrested, but the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) adopts a 'shoot-to-kill' policy. This has resulted in regular and systematic violations of human rights for hundreds of Bangladeshi and also of some Indian citizens.

The problems along the India-Bangladesh border and India 's barbed wire fence to prevent illegal cross-border movement of people and goods have been discussed in many media reports [9-11]. Different human rights organizations including Odhikar compile annual report on the number of people who become victims of BSF atrocities. According to Odhikar, 158 Bangladeshi citizens were killed, wounded, or otherwise harmed by the BSF and in a few cases by Indian citizens in 2010. During the last 10 years, the number of such victims is more than a thousand.

India 's inhuman policy of killing unarmed Bangladeshis along the border was highlighted by Brad Adams, the Asia director of Human Rights Watch, in an article in the Guardian on January 23, 2011 [9] . The following extracts from this article would illustrate the point.

"Over the past 10 years Indian security forces have killed almost 1,000 people, mostly Bangladeshis, turning the border area into south Asian killing fields. No one has been prosecuted for any of these killings, in spite of evidence in many cases that makes it clear the killings were in cold blood against unarmed and defenceless local residents.

"Shockingly, some Indian officials endorse shooting people who attempt to cross the border illegally, even if they are unarmed. Almost as shocking is the lack of interest in these killings by foreign governments who claim to be concerned with human rights. A single killing by US law enforcement along the Mexican border makes headlines. The killing of large numbers of villagers by Indian forces has been almost entirely ignored.

" India has the right to impose border controls. But India does not have the right to use lethal force except where strictly necessary to protect life. Yet some Indian officials openly admit that unarmed civilians are being killed. The head of the BSF, Raman Srivastava, says that people should not feel sorry for the victims, claiming that since these individuals were illegally entering Indian territory , often at night, they were "not innocent" and therefore were a legitimate target."

One very callous and cruel atrocity happened in the border area (Kurigram district) on January 7, 2011 . A 15 year poor girl (named Felani) was caught in the barbed wire fence while crossing the border; BSF shot her in cold blood and kept the dead body hanging on the barbed wire for five hours. The incident has been heavily condemned in both India and Bangladesh .

The incident aroused so much indignation and condemnation that the BSF DG was obliged to express sorrow with a promise that such killings would not happen again. Senior leaders of the AL government including the home minister and prime minister use most of their time to criticize the opposition political parties but remain totally silent about the border killings by BSF. The home minister is on record to say that she would request the BSF to use 'rubber bullets' instead of live ammunitions to shoot at the people along the border!

Suppression of political opposition

The AL government is nominally democratic but it has narrowed down the space for political opposition by denying the rights of peaceful protests and public meetings. Thousands of criminal cases have been filed against opposition political leaders and workers. Last year former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was evicted from her residence. The national parliament has become a one-party show, a place for condemning the opposition for all failures of administration and governance. No issue of national importance is discussed in the parliament. The main agenda of the government seems to erase the name of former President and founder of BNP, Ziaur Rahman, from history and denigrate his legacy.

Attack on media, freedom of thought, expression and of speech:

In Bangladesh , in 2010, freedom of thought and conscience, and of free speech deteriorated significantly. Attacks on journalists, the press, newspapers, television increased.

1 . According to Odhikar, a total of 04 journalists were killed, 118 injured, 49 threatened, 43 assaulted and 17 attacked (total 231) during 2010. Details can be found in the Odhikar report. A Mass Line Media Centre report quoted in the daily Star says that in 2010, 5 journalists were killed, 124 were assaulted while on duty, 112 after publishing report and 99 out of vengeance.

2. The opposition newspaper Amar Desh was closed down and its editor Mahmudur Rahman was arrested during June1-2, 2010. Earlier on June 1, 2010 the publisher of the newspaper, Md. Hashmat Ali, was picked up from his residence by the members of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and was forced to sign some blank papers. Mahmudur Rahman was tortured physically and mentally while in remand. He was released from prison in February 17, 2011 , but dozens of false cases have been filed against him.

3. On April 27, 2010 , a leading television channel, Channel-1 was shut down.

4. The photo-exhibition titled 'Crossfire' organised by Drik Gallery, was shut down about an hour before it was due to be opened on March 22, 2010 .

5. The government of Bangladesh blocked access to Facebook on May 29, 2010 for uploading some satirical images of sole leaders and also for uploading the Anisuzzaman Enquiry Report on the BDR massacre which mentioned the names of some AL leaders.

6 . T he private TV station 'Banglavishion' was compelled to take off the air a programme on the life style of a hangman, a convicted prisoner, who got 18 months' off for working as a hangman.

7. 'Unfriendly' media outlets are regularly intimidated and threatened for any criticism of the government. The editor car of Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age, was attacked by some ruling party thugs.

8. The ruling party hooligans attacked the national Press Club after the pro-government candidates failed to win its elections.

In the election manifesto of Awami League-2008, the government party promised that it would ensure the freedom of all types of mass media and flow of information. Despite having a law on right to information in place, one of Prime Minister's unelected Advisers said on September 20, 2010 , that the government is not bound to give information to the journalists. Commerce Minister Faruk Khan even accused the journalists for publishing 'false' reports against the government. There is no information and public discussion about dozens of treaties and agreements signed with India and with other countries and organizations that affect the vital national interests.

Failure of the Judiciary

Judiciary has been formally separated from the executive, but has still to act independently without manipulation and control by the government and the powerful.

Filing of cases against Dr. Yunus on flimsy ground has been criticized even in international media. Cases were filed against some leading figures in Transparency International for reporting on the corrupt practices in various departments of the government including Judiciary and Police.

Thousands of cases against the ruling party members (some of them facing serious charges of corruption and violent crimes) have been withdrawn by the government, while thousands of opposition members (belonging to BNP and Jamat) are facing hundreds of various charges. Personal vendetta and jealousy are said to motivate Sheikh Hasina to use the state machineries to file dozens of cases against Dr. Yunus, Khaleda Zia, and hundreds of other leaders and activists of the opposition camp. Anybody criticizing the Hasina family or India is selected as special target for harassment and intimidation violating all democratic rights, practices and norms.

Government measures and legal system have failed very miserably to ensure justice for the poor and their children, for ethnic and religious minorities, for the workers in general, but women and child labourers in particular. Trade union rights of industrial workers are restricted and sometimes their wages are withheld. 2010 witnessed a sharp rise in incidents of harassment and physical abuse of young women and girls, mostly by ruling party youths.

The investigative process and framing of charges are often influenced by government interference or due to corrupt practices. Instances of appointing judges based on party loyalty, not on merit, have resulted in the lack of transparency and fall in public confidence and respect for the justice system.

In all, 2010 has been a year of serious human rights abuses, which cover all the sectors of human rights – social, political, economic and cultural. Lack of accountability and acts of impunity persisted and prevented the redress of such violations.

Notes and references:

[1] Extra-judicial Killings and Custodial Torture: From 'Cross-fire' to 'Death-squad',

by K. M. A. Malik, Bangla Mirror, May 21 and 28, 2010

http://www.newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=318941

[2] Human Rights Report Bangladesh 2010, January 1, 2011 .

[3] http://www.weeklyholiday.net/2011/010411/edit.html

[4] During 192-75, about 30,000 people belonging to the then opposition Jatio Samajtantric Dal (JSD) and other left groups were killed by police and Rakkhi Banini. The leftist leader Siraj Sikder was brutally killed in police custody.

[5] Suppressing media freedom: War on Amar Desh and Mahmudur Rahman

by K. M. A. Malik, http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=321781

http://www.sonarbangladesh.com/article.php?ID=2922

http://www.countercurrents.org/malik110610.htm

[6] Meeting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, by Abbas Faiz

http://www.newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=347520

[7] WikiLeaks reveals Rab's image abroad, by Emran Hossain http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=167076 , December 23, 2010. [8] UK linked to notorious Bangladesh torture centre by Ian Cobain and Fariha Karim

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/17/uk-link-bangladesh-torture-centre.

[9] http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/format-wap/id-38618

[10] India'a 'barbed wire fence' around Bangladesh b y K. M. A. Malik, Bangla Mirror, January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 2006.

[11] India 's shoot-to-kill policy on Bangladesh borders, b y Brad Adams, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2011/jan/23/india-bangladesh-border-shoot-to-kill-policy.

[12] Felani's last steps : India 's shoot-to-kill policy claims one more innocent

http://www.economist.com/node/18073333?story_id=18073333 , February 3, 2011.

[ Dr. K. M. A. Malik is an academic, author, columnist and human rights campaigner, and Chair of Centre for Research and Strategy. He lives in Cardiff , UK , and may be contacted via e-mail: kmamalik@aol.com . This essay is based on a talk at Kings College , University of London , in February, 2011].

http://www.countercurrents.org/malik230411.htm



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[ALOCHONA] Re: Begana handshake.....!





Dalia Satter

dalia_satter@yahoo.co.uk writes:
 
Dear all,

Opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia has shaken hands with a number of distinguished foreigners including Indian Prime Minister and American Ambassador. This is an unprecedented move and analysts suggest that it indicates the beginning of BNP's major shift of policy.

Please read the following analysis and share your views:

http://www.sonarbangladesh.com/blog/meelaa/63339

Best regards,
Dalia Satter


On Thu, Sep 8, 2011 at 2:57 PM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
Begana handshake.....!





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[ALOCHONA] Islam and democracy can't co exist.

Islam and democracy should always remain in inverted comas. The
primary question here if the so called notion that Islam is a complete
code of life is practicable in the contemporary times. The mullah
version of an Islamic state is nothing but a mirage because it was
never practiced nor a state can be run in purely theological terms. A
state is not a mosque in all practical sense. A state is a combination
of many complex issues which needs diverse pragmatic handling not
religious. The problem with Islam is that it does not believe in
transformation which is an integral part of human nature. The demand
of an Islamic theological state is unique as you can't find another
example in any other faith. The western Christian nations does not
allow the church to interfere in the matters of the state, the BJP of
Indian Hindu nationalistic party never said that they want to
establish a Hindu religious state nor the Jewish state of Israel never
said the state will be ruled as per the Torah.

This obsession of an Islamic state by some dogmatic Muslim clerics is
dangerous because the brew of religion and politics is always lethal.
There are many Muslims who sincerely believe that Taliban Afghanistan
was a purist Islamic state which was overthrown by the United States.
Did the Taliban established democracy under their rules? In all
practical sense Afghanistan pushed to the middle ages in the midst of
21st century. To tell the truth Islam and democracy can't co exist
because Islam does not believe in pluralism. It will be an over
expectation that this so called Arab Spring will be able to bring true
democracy in the Arab world. The Arabs are still tagged to the past
and the mullahs will take full advantage of this frustration because
in the Arab world there is no infrastructure for modern democracy.
There is an obvious vacuum of a modern humanist psychology and mindset
which is allowing the Arab world to view the bloody atrocities
unleashed by the Arab tyrants. This is a serious flaw in Islam which
boasts of compassion and enlightenment.

Akbar Hussain
Toronto


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[ALOCHONA] Sheikh Hasina ‘offered money to quit Khaleda-led alliance’: Amini

WIKILEAKS :

Sheikh Hasina 'offered money to quit Khaleda-led alliance' Amini
disclosed to US diplomats in December 2004.

Although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is on record for criticising
religion-based politics in Bangladesh, she offered Islami Oikya Jote's
(IOJ) chairman Fazlul Haq Amini money, to quit the then ruling
four-party alliance, headed by Khaleda Zia.
Amini disclosed to US diplomats in December 2004 that Hasina's Awami
League (AL) had offered him the money.

At a dinner on December 14, 2004, Amini characterised Awami League
president Sheikh Hasina as unscrupulous, and said he had been
approached by AL leaders to reach a "political understanding," in a
diplomatic cable dispatched to Washington from the US embassy in Dhaka
on December 15, 2004.

Amini "rationalised" IOJ's presence in the ruling coalition, despite
popular displeasure over its corruption and poor governance, saying
that his party's supporters knew this was preferable to giving
political advantage to Sheikh Hasina, whose actions when she was in
power against IOJ's madrassas and allegations against him of terrorism
were 'deplorable.'

Amini criticised the government on several counts and opposed the
proposed $2bn investment by India's Tata Group in Bangladesh and
described in general terms his vision for Bangladesh as a truly
Islamic state, said the cable.

"How can IOJ improve its image in the US and why is the your
government anti-madrassa," Amini was quoted in the cable to have asked
the US diplomats.
Amini denounced another party Jamaat-e-Islami as "power-hungry," and
predicted that the next generation of Jamaat leadership, trained as a
violent student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, would be "extremist," said
the cable.

Amini claimed that the IOJ was interested only in propagating values,
not political power, and it is out-polled by Jamaat only because it
does not operate as a political party.

According to the cable, Amini stated that legal and other changes
would be required to make Bangladesh a truly Islamic state. "In this
new state, women will have the vote, Shariah-based interest-free
banking will be introduced, taxes other than zakat will be lowered but
not eliminated, and religious minorities will not be deemed
second-class citizens. He could think of no foreign model for
Bangladesh or the IOJ," said the cable.

Amini accepted the phenomenon of women working in garment factories,
but said they should be segregated from the men. "We saw no difference
in the outlook of parties in Pakistan and Bangladesh, or between
Bangladeshi and Pakistani societies," the cable said.

Amini denied any kind of relationship with then Prime Minister Khaleda
Zia's parliamentary affairs adviser Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, one
of the BNP's principal promoters in including IOJ in the ruling
alliance.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=458860&version\
=1&template_id=44&parent_id=24


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[ALOCHONA] Corruption alleged at heart of PMO

Corruption alleged at heart of PMO

David Bergman

The leaked United States embassy cables, written after the Awami
League came to power in January 2009, contain remarks alleging that
individuals, directly working in Sheikh Hasina's office including both
one of her advisers and one of her most senior secretaries, have been
involved in corrupt activities.

The cables, published in August by Wikileaks, also show that only
seven months after the Awami League had come to power, the US
Ambassador was already directly warning the prime minister that the
levels of corruption in the country were 'rising' and was 'tarnishing
Bangladesh's image.'

In a cable written on February 26, 2009, soon after the election of
the current government, James F Moriarty, the US ambassador in Dhaka
at the time, wrote sketches of some of the key people surrounding the
new prime minister.

In one of the nine sketches of different people, HT

Imam, appointed immediately after the elections by Hasina to be her
adviser on public administration, is described by the ambassador as
having 'a reputation for being corrupt.'

Moriarty's comment on Imam, who as an adviser has the same status as a
minister is a more direct link to illegal activity than the already
much publicised description of Syed Abul Hossain, the communications
minister, as being 'less than honest,' made in another US embassy
cable,

Since its publication, Hossain has been fighting for his political
life, most recently asking Transparency International to undertake an
audit of his ministry and inviting the Anti Corruption Commission to
hold advocacy meetings there.

In the February 2009 cable, Imam was the only person whose
biographical sketch described any controversial characteristic.

The cable, which concluded that 'Hasina's choice of advisers
illustrates that personal loyalty is of utmost importance to the prime
minister, even outranking experience,' does not, however, provide any
further information to substantiate the allegation.

The cable describes Imam as a 'trusted adviser' to the prime minister,
whose recent appointment 'was seen as a reward for his key role in
helping the party prepare for the 2008 elections.'

The cable goes on to say, 'Imam's family's loyalty to the Awami League
contributes to Hasina's trust; his son's friendship with former DGFI
director general Golam Mohammad provided a link to the military during
the state of emergency … [and] his nephew is a USAID foreign service
officer.'

It adds that 'Hasina has recently charged Imam with leading a special
cell to address Bangladesh's energy problems and implement development
projects.'

New Age tried to obtain a comment from HT Imam to the allegation set
out in the US embassy cable, but repeated calls to his mobile and
residential numbers went unanswered.

Corruption in the Prime Minister's Office was raised again by Moriarty
in a cable later in the year when he gave Hasina a direct warning
about a senior secretary in her office who, he claimed, was involved
in trying to stop Biman's agreement to buy some planes from the US
company, Boeing.

In a cable describing a meeting which he had with the prime minister
on September 9, 2009, the ambassador stated that 'Boeing's deal to
sell aircraft to Biman was under attack from vested quarters.'

In a section of the cable titled 'Breaking the grip of corruption,'
the ambassador states that he 'frankly told the [prime minister] that
in this and other instances where US companies faced problems…, we saw
the hands of rent seeking and obstructionist elements in the
bureaucracy.'

The cable then says that the ambassador told Hasina, 'A symbol of this
phenomenon was the [her] own Secretary, Molla Waheeduzzaman, who had
been involved in attempts to scuttle the Boeing deal and who had
helped to kill an Export Processing Zone in Chittagong.'

The cable continues: 'The ambassador reminded the [prime minister]
that Molla had attempted to defraud the US government when he
absconded from a DS-ATA funded training programme in 2008. While Molla
had repaid almost USD 9,000 to the USG [US government] (raising
questions about his ready access to large amounts of foreign currency)
his behaviour then and since raised important questions about his
suitability for such high office.'

Moriarty also wrote in a related section titled, 'Business interests
threatened by corruption,' that he 'emphasized [to the prime minister]
that the Boeing deal had been conducted in a transparent manner and
was in the best interests of Biman and Bangladesh. If the deal were
reopened, that would have a chilling effect on the business climate
and send the signal that all deals were open for renegotiation.'

Almost two months later, on November 5 2009, the ambassador again met
Hasina — this time with Molla, who was also a member of the Biman
board, in attendance — where the issue of the Boeing deal was again on
the agenda.

In an apparent reference to the September meeting, the ambassador
noted in the cable that he had already 'made clear to the [prime
minister] his acute distrust of Molla' who the diplomat said was
consistently trying to scuttle the Boeing sale 'in apparent efforts to
personally profit off the deal.'

The cable also sets out how, at the November 5 meeting itself, the
ambassador thought that Molla was misinforming the prime minister on
details of the Biman-Boeing Deal.

The cable says, 'In response to the ambassador's reassurances
regarding Boeing's aircraft sale, the prime minister's cabinet
secretary Waheeduzzaman Molla told her, in Bangla, that a related
leasing deal might be "failing" because of "new conditions" presented
by the leasing agent Euro-Atlantic.'

The cable then quotes the ambassador as saying that the embassy had,
after the meeting, followed this issue up with Boeing which told him
that in fact, 'the lease arrangement has been finalised to the
[Bangladesh government's] satisfaction.'

It is not known whether following the comments by the ambassador, the
prime minister undertook any inquiries into Molla's conduct.

Molla told New Age that the claims made by the ambassador in the
cables were 'totally false, baseless and concocted.'

'As a Biman board member, my purpose is to implement the decisions
taken by the board. The decision to buy the aircraft was taken by the
caretaker government, and I was not part of the board decision. I have
no objections to Biman buying Boeing planes and Biman will receive a
plane this coming October,' he added.

In relation to the repayment of the $9,000, Molla told New Age that he
is a diabetic patient and when he arrived in Washington to take part
in the meeting he fell ill, informed his embassy, and then went to
stay with his brother to recuperate. 'Moriarty said that the visit was
paid with US money, so I paid the money back.' He said that he this
amount of foreign exchange available as he 'borrowed the money from
his relatives.'

The Dhaka embassy cables show that it was as early as July 2009 that
the US embassy first began to voice its concerns about corruption
directly with Hasina.

In a cable dated July 14, the ambassador wrote that two days earlier
he had told Hasina that government corruption, along with crime, was
rising and 'was tarnishing Bangladesh's image.'

After setting out his concern about bureaucratic inertia, the cable
reports that the ambassador told Hasina that '[o]f deeper concern…
were reports from US business of harassment by [Bangladesh government]
and Awami League officials.'

The Ambassador then described the plight of American SuperSpecialty
Hospital, a US-backed hospital located at Uttara, Dhaka.

'[S]ince January a member of the Awami League presidium and an Awami
League member of parliament had harassed the hospital staff and
threatened to take over the venture,' the cable stated.

The name of this person was not mentioned in the cable and it is not
known if the ambassador told Hasina the identify of that person.

The senior US diplomat went on to describe to Hasina how 'the
officials had forced the hospital to hire a doctor who then nearly
killed a patient by administering an incorrect dosage of medicine.
When the hospital fired the doctor, [the Awami League presidium and
Awami League member of parliament] claimed the hospital favoured only
doctors affiliated with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP) and discriminated against supporters of the Awami League. The
doctor's complaints had resulted in a parliamentary investigation of
the hospital.'

At the end of the cable, the ambassador states, 'Unfortunately, there
are few who will tell the truth to the prime minister about the
failings within her administration.'

In a cable written, six months later on 13 December 2009 to mark the
first anniversary of the Awami League government's time in power,
Moriarty appears less critical of government corruption, writing that
Hasina has 'run a relatively corruption-free cabinet.'

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/33790.html


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[ALOCHONA] A MUST READ:Dengue outbreak in Lahore. A CIA PLOT Humour follows



http://kafila.org/2011/09/18/dengue-outbreak-in-lahore-humour-follows/

 

Complete article along with TV clips can be accessed via the link above. Sad but FUNNY!



Dengue outbreak in Lahore. Humour follows

Wars, insurgencies, floods, an economy in the doldrums, and now dengue. If Pakistan is not a "failed state," some credit must go to the Pakistani sense of humour. There's been terrible out break of Dengue fever in Lahore. 39 have died and the toll keeps rising - it was 36 when I began collecting the material [...]

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[ALOCHONA] Buildings tilt as tremor jolts Bangladesh

Buildings tilt as tremor jolts Bangladesh

Dhaka, Sep 18 (bdnews24.com) — A moderate earthquake has shaken Dhaka,
Chittagong, Sylhet, Faridpur and some other parts of the country,
panicking people out of their homes Sunday evening.

bdnews24.com received phone calls that several buildings have tilted
in capital Dhaka but there have been no reports of casualties so far.

The tremor, measured at 6.8 on the Richter scale, jolted the country
for about 10 to 15 seconds around 6:42pm BdST.

Its epicentre was in 495 kilometre away from Dhaka, 68 kilometres
north-west of Gangtok, Sikkim, India, 119 km north north-west of
Shiliguri, West Bengal, according to the US Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a destructive tsunami was not
generated based on earthquake and historical tsunami data. "This
earthquake is located too far inland to generate a tsunami in the
Indian Ocean."

Screaming people scurried down the stairs out in the open.

Sudipta Das, an IT professional in Sylhet, said he felt it. "The water
bucket was rocking in bathroom... I felt a little bit scared."


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[ALOCHONA] Metro rail project - Air Force concerns are irrational and unfounded [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from Engr. Shafiq Bhuiyan included below]

Metro rail project - Air Force concerns are irrational & unfounded

2011-09-18, TDS

An aerial view of the Tejgaon airstrip that runs along Rokeya Sarani in the capital &

A sketch of the proposed alternative route for metro rail
 
Please read the attached PDF file

 

Bangladesh Air Force's objection to the Bijoy Sarani portion of the proposed 22-km metro rail on a plea that it will hinder the operation of Tejgaon airfield is unfounded, experts have said. The experts also rejected an alternative route, suggested by the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF), running from Sangsad Avenue to Khamarbari through a stretch of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex, saying it clashes with another project and may also prompt a legal battle. BAF argues that the 18-metre elevation of the metro rail along Bijoy Sarani is just too high for aircraft to fly from adjacent Tejgaon airfield during emergencies and wars. The height of the metro system, however, comes down to only 10m as the train is about 6m high and electric connector 2m.

 

High-level official meetings have failed to resolve the dispute, plunging the $1.7-billion project into trouble. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the lone financier of the project, is getting fed up with the delay and may withdraw from it, said officials familiar with the controversy. Experts are worried that the air force's alternative route will damage the original architecture of the Sangsad Bhaban complex, a masterpiece of world famous architect Louis I Kahn. Architect Mubasshar Hussein, president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh, said they would resort to legal steps to prevent encroachment on the master plan of the Sangsad Bhaban. "Major development projects are being obstructed one after another on the plea of saving Tejgaon airfield, which was owned by the civil aviation authorities and abandoned long back," he said. Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, a noted civil engineer, dismissed as incorrect BAF's claim that 3,000 flights operate from the airfield annually.

 

Tejgaon airfield was abandoned in 1981 after Shahjalal International Airport, formerly Zia International Airport, was built in Kurmitola. It was then taken over by BAF, which operates mainly helicopters and training planes from here, Dr. J R Chowdhury said. The air force's claim that they operate C130 relief cargo planes from Tejgaon has been disputed by reliable official sources that refused to be identified as they are not allowed to speak to the media. The sources said the cargo planes operate from Shahjalal airport. No commercial large-size aircraft has operated from Tejgaon airstrip during more than three decades since Shahjalal airport opened, said the official sources.

 

In case a war situation calls for, the metro operation will remain suspended as a defence strategy, Dr. J R Chowdhury said at a recent ministerial meeting in presence of BAF officials. Officials said an embankment was built around Shahjalal International Airport to save its runway from flooding after it was submerged during floods. It is a flood-proof airport now, they said. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, Tejgaon airstrip is one of the country's seven STOL (short take-off and landing) airports with a 9,000-foot long runway.

 

Ordinary military aircraft and STOL service can operate with one-third length of the runway while fighter planes may require two-thirds of it, said Prof Shamsul Hoque, a member of the metro rail project's technical committee, who teaches airport engineering (airport development) at BUET. BAF operates most of its major military aircraft from Shahjalal Airport. The 22-metre Bangabandhu Novo Theatre close to Tejgaon airfield is already an accepted obstruction in the funnel, he said, adding a lower-height metro rail should not be an additional problem. There are already over two hundred buildings exceeding the approved height around the airstrip including BAF's Falcon Tower, Novo Theatre and IDB building within the air funnel.

 

About 5 years back, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha asked owners of the high-rise buildings including Falcon Tower to knock off the unauthorized height in compliance with the civil aviation rules. The newly-built 15-storey building on cantonment land at Jahangir Gate is the latest addition to the list, said Prof Shamsul Hoque. The Daily Star wrote to the authorities concerned through Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) seeking their comments on the points raised by the experts. The paper waited for replies for nearly a month and repeatedly contacted the authorities. The reply from ISPR officials was that the armed forces authorities were "looking into the queries."

 

Disadvantages of alternative route

The alternative route will imply a 55-metre encroachment on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban's (parliament building) master plan, an architectural marvel, and clash with the ramp of proposed Dhaka Elevated Expressway at Manik Mia Avenue. It is almost impossible to obtain consent of the private investor of Dhaka Elevated Expressway hurriedly for coordination, said competent sources speaking on condition of anonymity because of sensitivity of the dispute. Metro rail requires adequate turning radius, which is absent at sharp turning at Khamarbari. That is why some pillars have to be set up occupying land into the eastern side of the Sangsad Bhaban complex.

 

Army's objection

The army, meanwhile, has objected to the site of metro's depot in Pallabi, asking the authorities to move it farther north to save land belonging to Mirpur cantonment, said officials. It also cited security concern. The army claims more than half of the 40-acre site is its land, said officials concerned. The rest is owned by Rajuk and Water Development Board. The site has to move towards north into Uttara model town to spare army land.

 

To convince them

Official sources said a joint team of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board, JICA and experts had earlier met the air chief and sought his cooperation to resolve the issue in greater public interest. The communications ministry had a meeting with the finance minister and representatives of BAF and army on August 10 to settle the issue.

 

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) annoyed

Official sources said uncertainty in route alignment might force JICA, the lone financer, to withdraw from the project. JICA intends to start feasibility study of the project by December and hold financial negotiations early next year, said officials concerned. It is doing a pre-feasibility study of the project and has committed to providing a soft loan of 1.7 billion dollars at 0.01 percent interest rate. It was upset when route change first occurred in February. The metro, otherwise known as mass rapid transit (MRT), is recommended in the Strategic Transport Plan as a key step to solve Dhaka's paralysing traffic gridlock. The proposed metro will carry 50 thousand people per hour in one direction at affordable fare, according to project documents. It will run from Uttara phase-three to Sayedabad through Pallabi, Rokeya Sarani, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Shahbagh, TSC of Dhaka University, Doyel Chattar, Press Club, Paltan and Bangladesh Bank.

 



--
"Sustha thakon, nirapade thakon ebong valo thakon"

Shuvechhante,

Engr Shafiqur  Rahman Anu
N.B.: If any one is offended by content of this e-mail, please ignore & delete this e-mail. I also request you to inform me by an e- mail - to delete your name from my contact list.


Attachment(s) from Engr. Shafiq Bhuiyan

1 of 1 File(s)


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[ALOCHONA] The reason of Khaleda's recent handshaking with foreigners



Dear all,

Opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia has shaken hands with a number of distinguished foreigners including Indian Prime Minister and American Ambassador. This is an unprecedented move and analysts suggest that it indicates the beginning of BNP's major shift of policy. Please read the following analysis and share your views.

http://www.sonarbangladesh.com/blog/meelaa/63339

Best regards,

Dalia Satter


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