[ALOCHONA] Bidyut offices attacked Total chaos in power sector

Bidyut offices attacked Total chaos in power sector

Demos, blockades, human chain continue all over country

Storming on Palli Bidyut Samities, road blockades, demonstrations and gherao of Upazila Nirbahi Officers offices continued yesterday in different parts of the country protesting against the ongoing power outage.(The Daily Star)

In recent days, frequent power crisis prompted the local people to stage demonstrations, gherao UNO offices and vandalise Palli Bidyut Samities in different districts of the country, according to our correspondents.

They said the scenario of load shedding in the rural areas is worse than the city areas. In the rural areas, power crisis is so acute that people hardly get electricity even for couple of hours a day. Most of the day and night they had to pass without power, alleged the sufferers.

Palli Bidyut offices at Austogram upazila in Kishoreganj and Tarakanda, Fulbaria, Nandail in Mymensingh came under attacks on Thursday. Palli Bidyut office in Mymensingh town also came under attack.

Human chain programme was staged at Karimganj upazila and Rupsha-Kajdia road in Khulna demanding uninterrupted power supply.

Our Kishoreganj Correspondent reports, agitated people of Austogram upazila yesterday attacked local Palli Bidyut office demanding smooth power supply in the area.

Sources said, several hundred people staged demonstration in front of the Palli Bidyut office. At one stage they attacked and vandalised the complain centre of the Palli Bidyut office.

Later, they also gheraoed local UNO office protesting the frequent blackouts in the upazila and pelted stones towards the office protesting the frequent load shedding.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Sarbodoliya Bidyut Rakkha Songram Committee at Karimganj upazila under the same district yesterday formed a human chain programme in front of the Upazila Parishad building from 12 noon to 3:00 pm protesting frequent power outage. On Wednesday, they observed hartal in the upazila demanding regular power supply.

Addressing the human chain programme, the speakers demanded at least 12-hour uninterrupted electricity supply a day in the upazila. Otherwise, they warned that greater movement programme would be announced to materialise their demand.

Local MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu assured the people to solve the power crisis within a week.

Sarbodoliya Bidyut Rakkha Songram Committee leader and Upazila Awami League president Mamun Chowdhury, Zahirul Haque Tipu, BNP leader Rafiqul Islam, among others, addressed the function.

In Khulna, local people, outraged over frequent load shedding, yesterday blocked a road and gheraoed a complaint centre of Palli Bidyut Samity in Rupsha upazila demanding uninterrupted power supply.

The power hungry agitators laid siege to Kajdia Palli Bidyut Samity's complaint centre and blocked the Rupsha-Kajdia road for an hour from 10:00 am.

Police prevented the angry people when they tried to ransack the centre.

Police said local people assembled near the Kajdia complaint centre, but no untoward incident took place on the day.

Our Mymensingh Correspondent said Palli Bidyut Samity offices at Tarakanda, Fulbaria, Nandail and Mymensingh were also came under attack yesterday. The agitated people brought out separate processions and thrown stones towards Bidyut offices demanding smooth power supply.

 http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/08/13/news0365.htm

 

http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-08-13/news/86141

 

http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2010/08/13/38909

 

http://jugantor.info/enews/issue/2010/08/13/news0902.php

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[ALOCHONA] No school in Ramadan to ease traffic congestion

No school in Ramadan to ease traffic congestion

 

http://newagebd.com/front3-a.jpg

 

The government on Thursday declared closure of all secondary and higher secondary educational institutions throughout the country from August 14 to September 16 on the occasions of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.
   The education ministry took the decision at a meeting with the minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, in the chair, a day after the home ministry had requested vacation for all educational institutions in the capital from August 21 to ease traffic in the month of Ramadan, said officials.

   The primary schools, however, will remain closed from August 16 to September 16 while madrassahs from August 14 to September 19 for Ramadan that began on Thursday.
   'We have taken the decision considering the additional pressure on teachers, students and their guardians in Ramadan as most of them observe fasting in the month. But this will not affect the annual academic plan as teachers will take additional classes after the vacation is over to make up for the lost time,' Nurul Islam told reporters after the meeting.
   Replying to a question, the minister said that the decision would also help ease traffic in the Dhaka city.
   Institutions would, however, be allowed to conduct their scheduled examinations during the vacation, the minister said.
   

He said that the home affairs ministry had requested for closure of the city's educational institutions from Ramadan 10 to reduce tailbacks while the institutions were scheduled to go on Eid vacation from Ramadan 12.
   'All government and non-government educational institutions – schools and colleges, vocational institutions and English medium schools of the same level – will remain closed from August 14 to September 16, 2010. But the madrassahs will remain closed from August 14 to September 19,' said an official handout of the education ministry.
   The primary and mass education ministry on the day also announced that all government, registered non-government and community primary schools would remain closed from August 16 to September 16.
   'The scheduled vacation has been extended by seven days and it will be adjusted by the respective school authorities,' said an official handout of the ministry.
   Earlier on August 8, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police at a meeting with the owners of shopping malls and markets proposed that the education ministry should order closure of all schools and colleges in the capital from the 10th of Ramadan to ease traffic.
   

The home affairs ministry at an inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday endorsed the DMP's proposal to help relieve the capital of tailbacks that remain unmanageable despite various efforts.
   Most schools in the city on Thursday announced the vacation in keeping with the government's decision as Friday is weekly holiday while Sunday is a public holiday on the occasion of the National Mourning Day.

 

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/aug/13/front.html

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[ALOCHONA] Loan from Delhi raisesbillion dollar questions

Loan from Delhi raisesbillion dollar questions

 

M. Shahidul Islam

 

The $1 billion loan agreement signed with India on August 7 begets some billion dollar questions: Whose interest will it serve and whether the fund was at all needed. Cynicism has exacerbated by the loan coming at a time when it is least needed; over $500 million of ADB, IMF and other source-loans lying idle in the government's coffer.
   Decoding the mindset of policy makers in Dhaka and Delhi has become a futile exercise since the coming to power of the AL-led regime in early 2009. While any definitive answers to such questions will remain unanswered for obvious reasons, a glance at the targeted projects where the borrowed money will be spent may provide some valuable clues to unearthing the real motive behind this unprecedented economic collaboration between the two South Asian neighbours.
   
   Whose interest?
   Of the 14 projects for which the predominance of the borrowed $1 billion is slated for spending, over 76 per cent of the fund is earmarked for the (1) construction of Ashugonj port and dredging of navigation route leading to Tripura border, (2) upgrading of railway tracks and purchase of railway locomotives and oil tankers to transport Indian goods across the border, (3) construction of bridges astride Indo-Bangladesh border, including over the Bhairab and the Feni river connection Tripura, (4) construction of Ramgar-Subrom land port and the connecting roads, and, (5) construction of Bheramara-Bahrampur 400 KV inter- connected lines at a cost of $150 million, to name but a few.
   The agreement stipulates that the pipeline projects must incur 85 per cent of the costs by procuring goods and services from India only, and, the consultants hired for advising must be from India too. That alone will divert back 90 per cent of the fund to India. Add to this .50 per cent penalty for non-completion of any project, 1.75 per cent annual interest and .5 percent commitment fee per annum. The entire venture has little or no value added dividend for Bangladesh, excepting an estimated $25 million or so that is expected to come annually from custom fee and the allied levies that are yet to be decided.

   Simply put: Delhi will plan, fund and complete all these strategically important projects inside Bangladesh with materials from India, to serve India's interest, while the cost incurred is a loan to Bangladesh which the country may not be able to pay off within the stipulated 20 years time frame. Besides, the loan's conditionality is so stringent that the negation of any future government to comply with the projects' completion will not absolve the nation from paying the interests and the penalties during the 20 years amortization period.

   As well, the 1.75 per cent interest is too high, compared with the loan transactions occurring at public and private levels anywhere in the world; due to the recession-battered prime landing rate being either zero, or at best one per cent in the leading economies of the world. More disturbing is the 20 years payment deadline, which covers only half of the payment time-line usually offered by major international financial institutions while the stipulated interest rate is seven times of what the IMF loan charges, .25 per cent at best.
   
   Why policy- shift?
   Despite that, our finance minister is on record for accusing the opposition BNP of lying, as the latter insisted on not to sign the loan accord in consideration of upholding national interest. The gala and the glittering of the signing ceremony had also dwarfed the potential of an economic and geopolitical disaster this particular loan is sure to bring upon our nation.

   The finance minister is not alone in touting the issue as an epoch - making economic bonanza. Prior to Dhaka consenting to inking the agreement, few in the nation took pain to study the economic and the arithmetical rationale for doing so, especially at a time when the decision to borrow from external sources marked a radical shift from existing policies which proved successful over the decades by reducing debt-dependency on external sources, often phenomenally.

   We also feel numb as none among the policy makers even bothered to ask, why Dhaka needed $1 billion credit from India when its debt-GDP ratio stood at all time high, over 32 per cent of the GDP, or well over $50 billion, of which public debt alone rose by over $2 billion since the coming to office of the AL-led regime in late 2008 (Source: CIA fact sheet). Bangladesh bank data also reveals, total government borrowing was Tk. 597.9 billion in FY 2007, out of which Tk. 522.0 billion (87 percent) came from domestic sources while the net flow of public borrowing from external sources remained nearly stagnant in FY06-07, and declined further subsequently.
   
   Deadly geopolitics
   Such compelling economic rationales aside, India's generosity remains questionable; the loan coming to Dhaka at a time when India itself is bleeding under a slew of catastrophic afflictions spurred by a lingering recession, accelerated centrifugal drives spearheaded by insurgents from Kashmir to Mizoram to Assam, and the widespread public discontent created by a combustive mix of mass unemployment and hyper inflation which Delhi seems totally unable to tackle.
   Some observers say, this is hardly a micro-managed regional bonhomie to bolster fraternity with a smaller neighbour in crisis. Faced with unprecedented domestic crisis, Delhi had to display some geopolitical acrobatics to deflect attention outward and the scheme fitted neatly with a Machiavellian design to turn Bangladesh into an economic and military hinterland that has been in the making since Delhi decided to join the US-led anti terror bandwagon in 2001.
   They say, ever since, Delhi has been on the driving seat in Dhaka while irritating silence and procrastination remained our national hallmark amidst the gradual but systematic enfeebling of the nation by (1) rendering the armed forces impotent, and, (2) bludgeoning the economy through orchestrated destruction of the main export sector, the RMG.

   This line of analysis jibes well with the desperation Delhi felt lately as it witnessed, helplessly, Nepal turning into a Maoist state, Sri Lanka drifting away toward China and the Pakistani success in checkmating Delhi in Afghanistan amidst successive Taliban victory in the battles against the India-allied NATO forces. They say as most of the earmarked projects involve land and marine connectivity between India's north east with the mainland via Bangladesh, our nation is being turned into a virtual India corridor. This constitutes serious compromises of our territorial integrity and sovereignty.

 

http://www.weeklyholiday.net/front.html#02

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[Nagorik_Shokti] News..News..and Exclusive News...

0 কানাডায় আবারও বাড়লো বেকারত্বের হার 0 ওমর খাদারের দোষ অস্বীকার 0 ক্যান্সারের রোগী সেজে প্রতারণা কানাডা ও বাংলাদেশের সর্বশেষ সংবাদ বাংলায় জানতে ক্লিক করুন নিচের লিংকে- http://www.thebengalitimes.com   Samia Jaman ------------------- Project Director FTV 777-112 Huntlay, Toronto ON M6H 1V4 CANADA.

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[ALOCHONA] Re: Cartoon of the day [2 Attachments]

[Attachment(s) from Faruque Alamgir included below]

I have copied the attachments from a blog which depiocts the real face and plan of the Jono Daradi Rajnitibid who are shedding crocodiles tears day in and day out. You can have a look and think where the general people stands ??????????????????????

On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:24 PM, Mohiuddin Anwar <mohiuddin@netzero.com> wrote:

 

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Faruque Alamgir <faruquealamgir@gmail.com>
To: notun_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com, wideminds <WideMinds@yahoogroups.com>, alochona <alochona@yahoogroups.com>, "Md. Aminul Islam" <aminul_islam_raj@yahoo.com>, "Dr. Abid Bahar" <abidbahar@yahoo.com>, Mo Assghar <moassghar@yahoo.com>, serajurrahman@btinternet.com, farhadmazhar@hotmail.com, Sonar Bangladesh <sonarbangladesh@yahoogroups.com>, history_islam@yahoogroups.com, dahuk <dahuk@yahoogroups.com>, delwar <delwar98@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:44:33 +0600
Subject: Re: [notun_bangladesh] Satire:HASINA FROM DHANMONDHI TO PADMA BHOVON: WHEN SOVREGNITY WAS SOLD WHAT WAS TOLD, A BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION

 

Friends

You are absolutely correct. Like Hasina many other stalwarts of mostly BAL n BNP/JP have send their children's to the heaven( Ist World) to save them from the furry of the fire caused by their(politicians) betrayal to the national cause.

Bangladesh's cause,demand,sentiment,wish,dream has no place in the heart of  "Desh Premik Rajni bid's " since all of them our sold out soul for the aliens interest at the cost of millions and millions compatriots.

Faruque Alamgir

On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 9:16 AM, Salahuddin Ayubi <s_ayubi786@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

Hasina's near dear ones are citizen of foreign countries and loss of soverignity of Bangladesh do not concern her at all. She has no roots in this county.                                         Ayubi --- On Sun, 8/8/10, abid bahar <abid.bahar@gmail.com> wrote: From: abid bahar <abid.bahar@gmail.com> Subject: [notun_bangladesh] Satire:HASINA FROM DHANMONDHI TO PADMA BHOVON: WHEN SOVREGNITY WAS SOLD WHAT WAS TOLD, A BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION To: "notun Bangladesh" <notun_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>, "NFB News from Bangladesh" <nfb@citech-bd.com>, "a bahar" <abidbahar@yahoo.com> Date: Sunday, August 8, 2010, 7:52 AM   Satire: HASINA FROM DHANMONDHI TO PADMA BHOVON, WHEN SOVREGNITY WAS SOLD WHAT WAS TOLD, A BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION   Abid Bahar   (Pronob Mukherjee and Hasina Dialogue: The Story of when sovregnity was sold, what was then told!) (Year, 2008, Hasina visiting the 32 Dhanmondhi House Musium )   Cring, Cring, Cring! (Cellur phone) Hasina: Hello, Pronob Mukharjee: This is Pronob. Hasina: Pronobda or Pronokda? Pronok: This is Pronob. Am I right, at this moment, you are visiting Dhanmondhi house musium? Hasina: Yes. Pronok: Can you go to a seperate room, I have something important to talk to you? Hasina: Yes, I am on the second floor in the used to be (my) bedroom. Go ahead! Pronob: So you thought about the proposition? Hasina: Excuse me, for a moment I lost my concentration, what do you want me to do? Pronok: India wants to fulfill your one point demand. We are ready. Hasina: What is it dada? Pronok: Remember what we had discussed in Sansktwaan of Canada. We want your father's killers punished. To make sure that your father's killers will be punished. Hasina: Ofcourse! Pronok: India is ready to help you. Hasina: Really? What you want in exchange? Pronok: I just have a talk with someone in Delhi, he said India trusts you. After the election in which we will gurantee your victory, you will come to Delhi to sign an agreement. Hasina: Ok, but what are you talking about? I am as unpopular as Khalida. The Care Taker Government equally ruined my reputation. They say I took crores of money in bundles. How I am going to win? Pronob: Not just win, with the digetal election, you will not just win but win through landslide. Recently we have tried it in Kashmiri election and we have won. Hasina: You sure? Pronob: Yes. Hasina: It's a deal! Pronok: Can I repeat about what I said to you? Hasina: Go ahead! Pronok:Your's is a one point demand and in exchange you will come to sign a deal in Delhi. Don't forget the main issue will be giving transit to India at Bangladesh's cost! but don't worry, India will loan you the entire amount with a higher interest rate though. Hasina: It's a deal. Anything you want dada.   Pronok: The opposition might brand your concessions to India as betrayal to the nation of your 155 million people. Hasina: I don't really care. You know, Bangladesh didn't give justice to me against my father's killers. If India helps me  to get reelected, in exchange I will give anything India wants. For sure, it will not be a case of betryal to the nation. In doing that I remain faithful to Bangabandhu, the father of the nation! Pronob: I understand, to you rightfully Bangaband hu is no less important than Bangladesh. Hasina: This is true to me. I am his daughter. Now, don't quote me, I really hate politics, I am in politics only to take revenge of my father's killers. Pronob: You are an affectionate daughter of your father. I know you also love India, am I right?. Hasina: Yes ofcourse! What is the problem dada? India and Bangladesh are part of one Bharatborsho, one India; only Islamic fundamentalists think otherwise. Don't worry, once elected I will take action against them. Pronob: Ok, now that you agreed to me, in order to keep the Indian interests less visible, we will have to propagate loudly about your popular issues: #1 secularism, #2  the war crimes issue #3 and that we also have to propagate that Zia was a military dictator. He was an anti liberation element and was never a democrat.  I suggest that when in power you remove his nname from textbooks, musiums, airports etc. #4 Never mention about Bangabandhu's one party BKSAL rule, and promote him as a great democrat. These issues will keep the nation  preoccupied and tensed. But you first hang the killers. Faroque was the most dangerous of all. Hang him first! Hasina: Dada, if I have the majority I know what to do about it. There are few opposition news medias I will have to deal with and my Chatro League and Jubo League will keep the streets in control. I saw how Bangabandhu did it against his enemies. Just wait and see! I also have to align Mahfuz Anam of Daily Star, he is more Awami League than anybody else. Pronob: The Congress wanted me to deal with you directly. Hasina: How come Gaffor Chowdhury also knows about the deal? Pronob: You mean, Abdul Gaffor Chowdhury? Perhaps from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Association.  Its ok, he is our man. Hasina: Don't worry, I will keep it a secret. (Hasina becomes emotional says) Daddy, Bangabandhu, you will be so happy to see me taking revenge against your enemies! Pronob:Yes ofcourse! But listen! I was also told to remind you about the fate of the nationalist Nepalese King for his betrayal to India. You know the story! Hasina: Dada, you gave me the best news of my life but you seem to be pretty rude with me. Pronob: Take care!, You are a very brave lady. You know, I remember, Pandhit Nehru was a statesman, but both Bangabandhu and you are good politicians! Hasina: Yes, my father was a saintly politician but not me, I am very good at power politics, they even call me the "Lady bug of Bangladesh" not for nothing!  Pronob: "Lady bug of Bangladesh!" Hasina: Dada, I feel like kissing you! Where are you now? Pronob: I am in Calcutta! Hasina: You are so far away from me, you gave me the good news of my life, let me give you a flying kiss, "Ommm Wah!" I love youuuuuuuuuu! !!!!!!!  Pronob: Bye! (Pronob drops the phone and says to himself, she is truly the "lady bug." But the Indian Congress is taking advantage of her emotional state and it's going to be bad for Bangladesh, but who cares, I am more Indian than a Bengali, after all I am doing my dhorma and surely I will remember this day like the Palassy event, when sovregnity was sold, what was then told and surprisingly  only few people knew about it!)

Attachment(s) from Faruque Alamgir

2 of 2 File(s)

Offshoots of Politicians of Bangladesh 1.doc

Offshoots of Politicians of Bangladesh 2.doc

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[ALOCHONA] Bangladesh set to earn one billion dollars a year from transshipment facilities for India

Bangladesh set to earn one billion dollars a year from transshipment facilities for India

DHAKA, Aug 12 (APP) A study by the country's apex Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has revealed that Bangladesh can earn at least US$ 1.0 billion a year initially following signing of transit and transship-ment treaties with India. New FBCCI chief AK Azad, said, Bangladesh will earn the large amount from different sources including transit fees, port levies, bank commissions, transportations and customs clearing and forwarding charges.

"Our economy will benefit from the transit. It will give a boost to our economy," Azad told reporters Thursday.

Azad said transit and transshipment will help reduce Bangladesh's trade gap with India, which is heavily in favour of the neighbouring country.

Bangladesh imports goods worth around $3.8 billion a year from India and exports nearly $ 250 million, he said.

The FBCCI chief said India will allow duty-free entry of further 8.0 million pieces of garment from Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has already exported 5.0 million pieces of garment to India as against 8.0 million allowed earlier.

Azad said Bangladesh's business with Indian north-eastern states will be expedited following the transit facility saying: "The transit and transshipment facility will open a new era for Bangladesh's manufacturing sectors."

Captain Imam Anowar Hossain, chairman of Asian Lubricants, told reporters that Bangladesh might be a 'financial hub' following the transit facilities.

"Consignees from India, Nepal and Bhutan might open letters of credit with Bangladesh's commercial banks. It will help make Bangladesh a financial hub," Imam hinted. Imam also said Bangladesh will earn $1.0 billion more a year as a result of the use of Indian power and gas by the country's industrial sector.

 

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[ALOCHONA] Govt position on international standards questioned

Govt position on international standards questioned

 

David Bergman
Editor for Special Reports bdnews24.com

Dhaka, Aug 12 (bdnews24.com) - The Bangladesh government's repeated public assertions that the country's war crimes law meets international standards is partially undermined by private legal advice it accepted in June.

The legal advice – which the law minister had himself requested and which has been seen by bdnews24.com – suggests that the government should consider making five amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973 for the purpose of meeting international standards as long as this would not "unreasonably delay the commencement of the proceedings."

The advice goes on to say that if the government considered these amendments would involve considerable delay "the alternative course would be to make a public declaration that Bangladesh as a party to the ICCPR [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights] is bound to comply with the ICCPR standards as well as [that] constitutional safeguards would guide the Tribunal in ensuring a fair trial and affording protection to the rights of the persons being tried".

The proposed five amendments include revising the definition of the offence of 'crimes against humanity' and ensuring that all three tribunal members were present in court throughout the trial.

bdnews24.com obtained a copy of the legal opinion from the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group – whose vice-chair Lord Avebury has a keen interest in Bangladesh. It is understood that those who attended a public meeting organised by Lord Avebury at the House of Lords in London in June were given a copy of the legal advice. Some of Jamaat's lawyers were present at the meeting.

A letter from the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Lord Avebury – also seen by bdnews24.com – states that the legal advice represented "the position of the Government of Bangladesh."

Shafique Ahmed, the law minister, has consistently dismissed claims - including detailed advice it had received in 2009 from the United Nations - that the Act needed further reform to be of international standards.

Shafique Ahmed told bdnews24.com that the IBA's report had concluded that the 1973 Act "provides a system which is broadly compatible with current international standards" so that further amendment was not necessary. "I can assure you that the trial will meet international standards, and we are also making it transparent and open and inviting the observers to watch the trial. This is the assurance I will give. There cannot be any flaws, cannot be any violation of the due process, cannot be any violation of human rights. That is a guarantee."

There was further uncomfortable news for the government as a new 120-page analysis of the 1973 Act, just published in a prestigious academic Canadian journal, Criminal Law Forum, is highly critical of the legislation. Written by international lawyer Suzanne Linton, the article raises a host of serious concerns about the law including stating that one provision of the Act "must not be allowed to stand" as it "codifies trial-by-ambush in the form of surprise judicial questioning." It also describes the Act's failure to allow challenges outside of the trial court "a major human rights concern." [http://www.springerlink.com/content/g5124622362v2416/]

The analysis concludes that significant reforms are required in the law. It is not, she states, "just a matter of touching up the law, setting aside something in the budget, appointing the staff and getting going with the job of convicting the persons who are, incidentally, already convicted in much of the public mind."

The Bangladesh lawyers' advice to the government came in response to a legal opinion forwarded by the IBA War Crimes Committee in December 2009.

The IBA's opinion had concluded that some areas in the Act "now appear out of date [including] … the basic definition for some of the crimes".

It also highlighted "significant omissions" in the "rights protecting the interests of individuals on trial" and noted that the "the rights of an individual during the investigation stage" are missing from the Bangladesh legislation.

The legal opinion – which had been sought by the UK parliamentary group - suggested 17 amendments in total.

In February 2010, Anne Clwyd MP, the chair of UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group, forwarded it to the Bangladesh government with a letter stating, "Justice for the atrocities committed during the 1971 war is overdue, but for justice to be done, the process must be a credible one."

The government initially took no action. In June, however, it asked three senior lawyers to provide advice on how it should respond to the IBA opinion.

The legal advice from the lawyers found merit in five of the IBA's 17 proposed amendments: amending the definition of the offence of crimes against humanity; ensuring that all tribunal members attended each day of the trial; allowing the defence counsel to make an opening statement; changing the definition of when a person should be held responsible for those under his control; and ensuring criminal responsibility extends to civilian superiors, not just military commanders.

It rejected the other 12 recommendations proposed by the IBA - mostly on the basis that constitutional protections would be sufficient protection to the defendants. The advice did not, however, mention that as a result of the First Amendment to the constitution passed in 1973, these defendants cannot rely on constitutional protections.

On June 21, the Bangladesh high commissioner in London, Dr M Sayeedur Rahman Khan, forwarded the legal advice to Lord Avebury, vice-chair of the parliamentary group saying that it represented "the position of the Government of Bangladesh as regards the standard and consistency of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973."

The IBA's War Crimes Committee comprises a 20-member expert advisory board, including Justice Richard Goldstone who was a former chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Court. It also includes three judges who sat on the Iraqi, Sierra Leone, and Yugoslavia tribunals respectively.

The lawyers' advice, however, has itself come under criticism for giving the government an excuse not to legislate. International Bar Association's (IBA) War Crimes Committee co-chair, Stuart Alford told bdnews24.com, "Either the legislation is fair, and meets international standards, or it is not. Saying that there is insufficient time to deal politically with shortfalls in legislation does not seem to properly satisfy the legitimate concerns that have been raised."

He said that the IBA has not "circulated the Government's response to the War Crimes Committee members. "The meeting at the House of Lords concluded with a desire by Lord Avebury to explore the possibility of a more focused discussion on the legislation between the Government, the IBA and other interested groups."

On 14 July, Lord Avebury reported on his website that, he met up with the High Commissioner for Bangladesh and that they "agreed that the best approach would be for the IBA lawyers to be in touch with the Bangladesh government's legal advisers, and since then I hope we have set the process in motion."

The tribunal has so far issued arrest warrants against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, assistant secretary generals Mohammed Kamaruzzaman, and Abdul Quader Molla, and executive committee member Delwar Hossain Sayedeee for alleged crimes against humanity during 1971.

david.bergman@bdnews24.com

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[ALOCHONA] Want to help Pakistani Flood Victims?: Here is a list of charities

 

Want to help Pakistani Flood Victims?: Here is a list of charities

 

Moin Ansari

 

More than one-fifth of Pakistan is under water today, as torrential monsoon rains continue to fall. The United Nations (U.N.) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that nearly 14 million people have been displaced and more than 1,200 are declared dead -- numbers that are expected to rise over the next several days.

"The scale of the disaster is huge; the need of the people affected are huge," says John Holmes, U.N. humanitarian coordinator, as quoted by the New York Times. The organization has requested almost a half a billion in humanitarian aid.

As these humanitarian needs continued to be assessed in the coming days, here is what you can do to help support these crucial emergency relief efforts:

Edhi Foundation is has the lowest admin costs and is well respected in Pakistan and abroad. http://www.edhifoundation.com/contact.asp

 

USA - Edhi Center USA

Edhi international Foundation
42-07 National street
Corona, New York, 11368 USA
Tel: (718) 639-5120
Fax: (718) 335-1978
Toll Free# 1-888-899-EDHI (3344)

United Kingdom Edhi International Foundation,
316 Edgware Road,
London W2 1DY,
United Kingdom
Tel: 02077232050 and Fax: 02072249774

Canada

Canada Bilquis Edhi Charitable Shop
1801-1805 Danforth Ave
Toronto-M4C-1J2 Canada
Phone/Fax: +1 (416) 699-1388
Also include the following above the international addresses:

Japan

Japan Edhi International Foundation,
RM 101 COPO Nikkei, 1-25 4-Chome,
Minami-ohi Shinagawa -KU-Tokyo 140 Japan.
Australia Australia Abdul Sattar Edhi International Foundation,
Level 20, Picadly tower,
133, Castle Reagh Street, Sydney 2000,

Austrailia.
Tel: 02-2646499, 03-3767-7282
Fax: 03-3764-4395, 02-264-7337

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Edhi International Foundation Inc,
2/2 Purana palton, 3 rd Floor,
Dhaka - 1000, Bangladesh

AmeriCares is sending relief supplies to the region. Donations are accepted through their website; http://www.americares.org/newsroom/news/airlifting-medical-pakistan-flood-survivors.html

Doctors Without Borders is providing emergency cooking sets, water tabs, hygiene kits, plastic sheeting to displaced Pakistanis. Support this work with contributions to its by contributing to its emergency fund;http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

International Medical Corps workers are also on the ground in Peshawar, providing medical care to evacuees. Donations can be made through the IMC website;http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/Page.aspx?pid=183

The International Rescue Committee, which assists refugees in crisis situations, is on the ground in the flood zone assessing the situation and preparing to bring aid to victims in northwest Pakistan. You can donate to assist the IRC's efforts in Pakistan—and in other crisis zones—at its website;http://www.theirc.org/special-reports/special-report-pakistan

 

MercyCorps has established a Pakistan Emergency Fund to help displaced families in the hard-hit Swat Valley; http://www.mercycorps.org/

Oxfam hopes to reach 400,000 people affected by the floods by deploying tanker trucks to the region to help maintain clean water supplies, preventing the spread of waterborne illnesses. It is also providing hygiene kits and helping survivors evacuate. Donations are being accepted through their website; http://www.oxfam.org/

Save the Children is already on the ground, and is accepting donations for its work in Pakistan at its website;

UNICEF is providing emergency assistance to more than 1 million children in immediate need. Visit the website to donate to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF; http://www.unicef.org/

The World Food Programme (WFP) is providing food relief to flood victims. According to the

WFP website, $1 fills four cups with nutritious food. Visit their website for more info on how to support these efforts. http://www.wfp.org/

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