Editorial
FS's tirade against the Star
Top diplomat's not so diplomatic words
Our foreign secretary, known for his refined taste for works of art, poetry, literature etc. took an uncharacteristic and extremely uncharitable swipe at this newspaper for its editorial of March 20 titled "Repatriation hampered", subtitled "Let our government do more to help". Starting his press briefing by singling out the Star's diplomatic correspondent and subjecting him to some personal remarks, he termed the editorial as an example of "sad journalism" , "bad journalism" journalism meant to "discredit the government" and damage the "image of the country", as an example of "not so healthy mind". He also castigated its editor for "not saying sorry to him" by 5.30 pm (time of the briefing) even though he had called him earlier. He questioned how could an editor not know what an editorial contained (we have no idea why he said so) and said this was not "professional" (of course it is not).
We are obviously shocked, and wonder what could have provoked an otherwise pleasant and soft-spoken diplomat to speak as such. The normal procedure is to send a "clarification", "rejoinder" or even a "protest" to the paper and wait to see what action the paper takes. The foreign ministry did send a "rejoinder" which we carry it (elsewhere) today, as we carry the one from IOM, both with our replies. So what was need for that "on the record" tirade when a rejoinder was being sent.
From the FS's remarks one would get the impression that the editorial was the only thing we wrote on the Libyan affair. In fact we have written six editorials to date. In these editorials we have mentioned the various actions being taken, and not taken, by the government, praising it for some of its actions. We are perhaps the only newspaper that has sent a reporter to the Tunisian-Libyan border for eye-witness reports. In addition we cover the daily briefing of the foreign ministry, making for large number of stories, articles and opinions on the subject.
In the background of all that we have written, to single out one editorial critical of the government only so far as speed and volume of repatriation from the Tunian-Libyan border is concerned is highly exaggerated, to put it most mildly.
The whole episode- using a common briefing to single out one paper, to call it names, question its professionalism, make it appear as if we are working against our national interest, and insist that he was saying everything " on record" - is, to us, indicative of a narrowing mindset.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=178727
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We are obviously shocked, and wonder what could have provoked an otherwise pleasant and soft-spoken diplomat to speak as such. The normal procedure is to send a "clarification", "rejoinder" or even a "protest" to the paper and wait to see what action the paper takes. The foreign ministry did send a "rejoinder" which we carry it (elsewhere) today, as we carry the one from IOM, both with our replies. So what was need for that "on the record" tirade when a rejoinder was being sent.
From the FS's remarks one would get the impression that the editorial was the only thing we wrote on the Libyan affair. In fact we have written six editorials to date. In these editorials we have mentioned the various actions being taken, and not taken, by the government, praising it for some of its actions. We are perhaps the only newspaper that has sent a reporter to the Tunisian-Libyan border for eye-witness reports. In addition we cover the daily briefing of the foreign ministry, making for large number of stories, articles and opinions on the subject.
In the background of all that we have written, to single out one editorial critical of the government only so far as speed and volume of repatriation from the Tunian-Libyan border is concerned is highly exaggerated, to put it most mildly.
The whole episode- using a common briefing to single out one paper, to call it names, question its professionalism, make it appear as if we are working against our national interest, and insist that he was saying everything " on record" - is, to us, indicative of a narrowing mindset.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=178727
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Rejoinders, our replies
The Daily Star has received two rejoinders sent separately by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in response to an editorial the paper carried on March 20 and a front page report published on March 18, both dealing with the issue of repatriation of Bangladeshis from troubled Libya.
Here we publish both the rejoinders; first the foreign ministry's followed by our reply and then the IOM's and our response to that prepared by our special correspondent, who has been reporting on the issue from the spot at Libya-Tunisia border.
FOREIGN MINISTRY
Our attention has been drawn to the editorial captioned "Repatriation hampered" appearing in The Daily Star dated March 20, 2011. This editorial is an exercise of less-than-professional journalism.
The editorial makes some sweeping remarks about the ongoing repatriation of Bangladeshis who had moved from Libya to the borders of Egypt and Tunisia, alleging that the government's "determination to bring back all Bangladeshis home" has not been backed by "concrete measures". The editorial would have us believe that officials of the ministry dispatched to oversee the repatriation process have "not contacted the IOM or UNHCR people working on the ground".
There have also been references to IOM officials being "plainly exasperated" at Biman flights not appearing "despite reports of Biman aircraft flying in to fly out the stranded Bangladeshis". We have also been sermonised to "strive more energetically to orchestrate the repatriation exercise". It is sad, to say the least, especially when the diplomatic correspondent of The Daily Star regularly covers the briefings and updates given by the foreign secretary on the repatriation exercise.
The repatriation process has been thought through and conducted in a coordinated manner in which the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and Civil Aviation and Tourism as well as other agencies concerned of the government are involved. We consulted with the IOM and other humanitarian organisations on a repatriation plan, including temporary shelter for the returnees at the borders. The IOM began repatriation on March 1 by chartered aircraft on an understanding of cost sharing with the government. It also mobilised additional resources from donors and partnered with other agencies. The ministry dispatched officers and consular staff from the headquarters and other missions in the region to the borders in Egypt and Tunisia as well as to Crete, Greece for servicing our nationals, especially with the issuance of travel documents. Biman was also mobilised to supplement the chartered flights, operating one flight a day from Alexandria in Egypt, beginning March 13 . Till date, a total of 29,801 Bangladesh nationals have been safely repatriated home.
There is now a residual 2,500 Bangladeshis awaiting repatriation in Tunisia, while the case-loads in Greece or in Egypt have all been repatriated. The Biman flights are now being transferred to Djerba, Tunisia beginning March 21.
On March 13, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and the foreign secretary saw the first Biman flight off from Alexandria. The foreign minister also visited Al-Saloum on the Libya-Egypt border to see for herself the situation there and to meet the stranded Bangladeshis.
The foreign secretary travelled to the Tunisia border, discussed the situation in the camps with heads of agencies working there, including Tunisian authorities, and met Bangladesh nationals at the border as well as those boarding return flights from Djerba airport.
The Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Khandaker Musharraf Hossain is currently in Tunisia also to oversee the repatriation process. On March 19, he addressed returnees at Djerba airport and on March 20, he visited the camps at the border, was briefed by the agency heads and met Bangladeshis there.
OUR REPLY
Comments on the editorial by the foreign ministry are totally misplaced. The facts mentioned above have mostly been covered through our coverage of press briefings of the ministry. Our editorial comment was based on reports by our correspondent at the Tunisian-Libyan border. (see below and also see today's editorial).
We have printed various reports and editorials on how the government has been handling the Libyan issue. This editorial was meant for urging the government to do more for the stranded people in Tunisian border.
IOM
It has come to the notice of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) office in Dhaka that reporting from and commentary attributed to IOM on the Bangladeshi migrants by The Daily Star correspondent Morshed Ali Khan from the Tunisian border is not accurate. Today's (March 20, 2011) editorial "Repatriation Hampered: Let our government do more to help" also inaccurately attributes comments to IOM (and the UNHCR) on the repatriation situation and that the Government of Bangladesh is not making any efforts to return its nationals.
The IOM would like to inform that IOM and the Government of Bangladesh have been working closely for the past three weeks to bring the Bangladeshis affected by the Libya crisis back from North Africa (Egypt and Tunisia). A total of 29,895 Bangladeshis have returned till today--March 20--since repatriation of Bangladeshi migrants started on February 28. Of them, 24,856 people have been brought back by the IOM and in coordination with the governments of Bangladesh, Egypt and Tunisia.
In Dhaka, the IOM is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Bangladesh Police. This massive repatriation operation has been possible through the excellent collaboration between the respective governments including Bangladesh and the IOM and other UN and international organisations such as UNHCR and ICRC.
OUR REPLY
On the ground in Choucha camp, where thousands of displaced migrant workers, mainly Bangladeshis who had been working in Libya, swarmed, there was no trace of any representative from Bangladeshi government. The local volunteers as well as host of international bodies, including the IOM, desperately trying to communicate with the Bangladeshi displaced workers, faced increasing challenges every day. Since my arrival at Choucha on March 13, until the arrival of the Bangladeshi minister on March 20, I did not meet anyone who saw any of our government representatives on the ground.
Aid workers here told me that they had heard of some Bangladeshi officials stationed at the airport. I rushed there to find none, even though some aid workers reported seeing "two Bangladeshi officials."
With the IOM drastically reducing flights for the Bangladeshi stranded workers since Friday, there was no word from the national career Biman. Had there been timely efforts to dispatch its own aircraft, the 2,200 Bangladeshis would have been home now.
We stand by our report.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=178800
Here we publish both the rejoinders; first the foreign ministry's followed by our reply and then the IOM's and our response to that prepared by our special correspondent, who has been reporting on the issue from the spot at Libya-Tunisia border.
FOREIGN MINISTRY
Our attention has been drawn to the editorial captioned "Repatriation hampered" appearing in The Daily Star dated March 20, 2011. This editorial is an exercise of less-than-professional journalism.
The editorial makes some sweeping remarks about the ongoing repatriation of Bangladeshis who had moved from Libya to the borders of Egypt and Tunisia, alleging that the government's "determination to bring back all Bangladeshis home" has not been backed by "concrete measures". The editorial would have us believe that officials of the ministry dispatched to oversee the repatriation process have "not contacted the IOM or UNHCR people working on the ground".
There have also been references to IOM officials being "plainly exasperated" at Biman flights not appearing "despite reports of Biman aircraft flying in to fly out the stranded Bangladeshis". We have also been sermonised to "strive more energetically to orchestrate the repatriation exercise". It is sad, to say the least, especially when the diplomatic correspondent of The Daily Star regularly covers the briefings and updates given by the foreign secretary on the repatriation exercise.
The repatriation process has been thought through and conducted in a coordinated manner in which the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and Civil Aviation and Tourism as well as other agencies concerned of the government are involved. We consulted with the IOM and other humanitarian organisations on a repatriation plan, including temporary shelter for the returnees at the borders. The IOM began repatriation on March 1 by chartered aircraft on an understanding of cost sharing with the government. It also mobilised additional resources from donors and partnered with other agencies. The ministry dispatched officers and consular staff from the headquarters and other missions in the region to the borders in Egypt and Tunisia as well as to Crete, Greece for servicing our nationals, especially with the issuance of travel documents. Biman was also mobilised to supplement the chartered flights, operating one flight a day from Alexandria in Egypt, beginning March 13 . Till date, a total of 29,801 Bangladesh nationals have been safely repatriated home.
There is now a residual 2,500 Bangladeshis awaiting repatriation in Tunisia, while the case-loads in Greece or in Egypt have all been repatriated. The Biman flights are now being transferred to Djerba, Tunisia beginning March 21.
On March 13, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and the foreign secretary saw the first Biman flight off from Alexandria. The foreign minister also visited Al-Saloum on the Libya-Egypt border to see for herself the situation there and to meet the stranded Bangladeshis.
The foreign secretary travelled to the Tunisia border, discussed the situation in the camps with heads of agencies working there, including Tunisian authorities, and met Bangladesh nationals at the border as well as those boarding return flights from Djerba airport.
The Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Khandaker Musharraf Hossain is currently in Tunisia also to oversee the repatriation process. On March 19, he addressed returnees at Djerba airport and on March 20, he visited the camps at the border, was briefed by the agency heads and met Bangladeshis there.
OUR REPLY
Comments on the editorial by the foreign ministry are totally misplaced. The facts mentioned above have mostly been covered through our coverage of press briefings of the ministry. Our editorial comment was based on reports by our correspondent at the Tunisian-Libyan border. (see below and also see today's editorial).
We have printed various reports and editorials on how the government has been handling the Libyan issue. This editorial was meant for urging the government to do more for the stranded people in Tunisian border.
IOM
It has come to the notice of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) office in Dhaka that reporting from and commentary attributed to IOM on the Bangladeshi migrants by The Daily Star correspondent Morshed Ali Khan from the Tunisian border is not accurate. Today's (March 20, 2011) editorial "Repatriation Hampered: Let our government do more to help" also inaccurately attributes comments to IOM (and the UNHCR) on the repatriation situation and that the Government of Bangladesh is not making any efforts to return its nationals.
The IOM would like to inform that IOM and the Government of Bangladesh have been working closely for the past three weeks to bring the Bangladeshis affected by the Libya crisis back from North Africa (Egypt and Tunisia). A total of 29,895 Bangladeshis have returned till today--March 20--since repatriation of Bangladeshi migrants started on February 28. Of them, 24,856 people have been brought back by the IOM and in coordination with the governments of Bangladesh, Egypt and Tunisia.
In Dhaka, the IOM is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Bangladesh Police. This massive repatriation operation has been possible through the excellent collaboration between the respective governments including Bangladesh and the IOM and other UN and international organisations such as UNHCR and ICRC.
OUR REPLY
On the ground in Choucha camp, where thousands of displaced migrant workers, mainly Bangladeshis who had been working in Libya, swarmed, there was no trace of any representative from Bangladeshi government. The local volunteers as well as host of international bodies, including the IOM, desperately trying to communicate with the Bangladeshi displaced workers, faced increasing challenges every day. Since my arrival at Choucha on March 13, until the arrival of the Bangladeshi minister on March 20, I did not meet anyone who saw any of our government representatives on the ground.
Aid workers here told me that they had heard of some Bangladeshi officials stationed at the airport. I rushed there to find none, even though some aid workers reported seeing "two Bangladeshi officials."
With the IOM drastically reducing flights for the Bangladeshi stranded workers since Friday, there was no word from the national career Biman. Had there been timely efforts to dispatch its own aircraft, the 2,200 Bangladeshis would have been home now.
We stand by our report.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=178800
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