http://www.weeklyholiday.net/Homepage/Pages/UserHome.aspx | HOPES OF POLITCAL CONCILIATION DASHED Army leaders sucked into party political blame game Sadeq Khan A surprise announcement addressing an “unprecedented” press briefing at the Army Officers Club by the Director of Personnel Services Directorate of the Bangladesh Army on January 19 afternoon appears to have buried media enthusiasm over possible compromise between the two major blocks of mainstream politics. The media has been speculating a lot about an interim all-party government formula replacing the abandoned caretaker government system to oversee the next general election. The first blow to the expectation of a compromise to smooth over the long-running political crisis in the country came from the lame outcome of the President’s dialogue for political consensus-building over the mechanism of free and fair elections. The opposition block led by BNP had responded to the President’s invitation for dialogue, and placed their demand for restoration of the caretaker system for the next general election. Full Story
| | Former President Ershad invokes the Almighty M. Serajul Islam Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had said in his hey days that in politics, there is never a position of no return. What he meant was that a politician can make somersaults anytime; swing like the pendulum in taking positions on politics and political issues. Mr. Bhutto in his long career proved what he said with the life he lived. Our very own former President General HM Ershad would have made Mr. Bhutto proud for he is proving with his politics that everything is possible for him in terms of changing and taking stand on politics and political issues. In fact, he has gone a step forward. After calling Sheikh Hasina his sister, signing on the dotted lines to jump on the AL ’s bandwagon before the next elections, he is now speaking in a manner no different from the official opposition, the BNP while remaining a part of the coalition that is running the government. In a recent speech at his party’s headquarters, he told his supporters that the Almighty has kept him alive so long so that he could come to power and deliver the country from its current misrule! Full Story
| | NATIONAL SECURITY IN TATTERS Foreign surveillance: Dread of the unknown deepens M. Shahidul Islam The army’s announcement last week of the news of a failed coup attempt has been followed immediately by claims from the Indian intelligence that they had tipped off the Bangladesh authorities about the impending danger of a coup, and, the army moved swiftly to foil the alleged coup attempt. “Indian intelligence has watched the plotters for about eight months and unearthed the plot,” the Daily Mail of the UK and the Anandabazar Patrika of Kolkata, India, quoted Indian intelligence officials as saying. The Indian claim carried a message that the electronic communications of the members of the Bangladesh armed forces have long been bugged by India . India has a unique way of dealing with Bangladesh , and, it has once again hinted to intervene militarily, if needed, to save the regime in Dhaka . When non-interference in the internal affairs of another country is the norm, why this aberration with respect to Bangladesh ? Full Story
| | Should opposition do homework on better governance? Faruque Ahmed As the major opposition BNP and its allies are trying to build up a stiff ant-government agitation, some of their leaders are poised to face new troubles this time on charges of instigating the reported military coup by a section of ‘religiously fanatic officers’ in the army. The new tension in politics and uncertainties in the country’s security apparatus came to the fore at a time when the BNP and the major opposition alliance members have given the call to the people to “march to Dhaka ” on March 12. Full Story
| | WAR CRIME TRIAL Absence of witness delays progress Special Correspondent The International Crime Tribunal (ICT) is hitting snags as listed witnesses are failing to appear before the court. The presiding judges have expressed displeasure on several occasions last week and before as the state prosecutions are failing to bring the witnesses in the dock. The war crime trial campaigners have recently blamed the prosecution for failing to present the cases against the accused effectively, while the tribunal in the past weeks returned the charge sheets against Jamaat leaders Prof Gulam Azam, Abdul Quadir Mollah and Quamruzzaman. Full Story
| | Should Maldives join Indian Union? Special Correspondent MP Anil Kumar, a retired pilot of Indian Air Force, wrote on January 12 Maldives should merge with the Indian Federation. India should offer the Maldives statehood within our Union ... to act in good faith, and also with an eye on our national interest. A founding member of SAARC, Maldives is a small island nation state on the Indian Ocean was having political unrest during the last two weeks. Writing for Rediff News on January 12, Kumar said, the Maldives will be the nucleus of future security order in the Indian ocean . Patently the Maldivians will have to migrate before the portended watery grave. Needless to say that India is worried at the China ’s venture of a military base on Mahe in the Indian Ocean island-nation of Seychelles . Full Story
| | Indian Maoists kill 24 govt. security personnel Shamsuddin Ahmed Death of Kishenji has lulled but not ended the Maoist movement in India . Kishenji, a top leader of the Indian Maoists, was killed in custody in November last year, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) had said refuting government claim that he died in gunfight with the paramilitary forces. Belying the government expectation, some 24 security personnel were killed by the Maoists in Jharkhand alone during the last two months. The latest attack on January 22 left 13 jawans killed when the red rebels triggered a landmine blast that blew up their vehicle. Security forces all over India were on their toes in the wake of calls by the Maoists and secessionist groups in the Indian Northeast states for boycotting Republic Day celebrations on January 26 with threat of armed actions. Some groups have also announced strike on the day, including in state assembly election bound, where the situation was stated to be serious. Another report suggests that Maoist activities have declined in other states as the party was preparing for national convention. Full Story
| | BSF’s brutalities spark outcry in Indian media, NHRC: AL Govt is mute | 
| | Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) staged a protest procession in the city on Sunday condemning the killing of unarmed Bangladeshi citizens by Indian BSF along the international border | Special Correspondent The primary responsibility of the State is to ensure security for its citizens. But the Bangladesh ruling party political leaders have ignored this basic duty of the Government. Maybe they have forgotten which country they belong to. The statement has got some relevance particularly when Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam or Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs A H Mahmood Ali say in unison that the State has nothing to do with the torture and killing of unarmed Bangladeshi citizens by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the international border. Son of a noted political leader, Syed Ashraful Islam said last week, “The state is not worried about incidents at the border. These are everyday incidents; these have happened in the past, are happening now and will happen in future.” Similar was the statement of A H Mahmood Ali, a freedom fighter diplomat turned politician. Full Story
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