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Monday, March 28, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Re: Banker Yunus banking on emotion defying law

We must give credit to Hasina the PM of Bangladesh, to be the first PM of any country to make fun of their OWN Nobel laureate. Even more credit must go to the Honorable Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina Wazed, for being so impartial and magnanimous to humiliate not only her own Nobel Laureate - but also, the ONLY Nobel Laureate that the country has. How honest can a PM be.

Far from being the ONLY Nobel Laureate, this single-Nobel person hails from the low-lying, coastal plains of the far-reaching corner of Ganges plain, called Chittagong, for which he even speaks the language called Bengali. The language which the UN declared as the Mother of all Languages, is spoken by the Nobel-Laureate, and also by the sam PM.

Yet, so dynamic, so honest and corruption-free is the land of Bangladesh, that even the PM of that country made disturbing comments about this Nobel Laureate, and dismissed him as trash.

Credit must also be given to the Judiciary system of the country, that NOBODY belonging to the "ruling party" EVER gets punished, jailed or convicted of any crime. All criminals, convicts, remanded, demanded, jailed, bailed are hailed from the opposition party, or any party, that is not awami league.

Credit must also be given to Honorable PM of Bangladesh for doing NOTHING to eradicate poverty in 40 years of Bongobondhu drum-beating. While this 28-year-long M.D of Grameen Bank, spent 50 years of his life sacrificing his own time, education, energy, lifestyle to the selfless dedication of upgrading the desperate POOR from underground to the surface, the Honorable PM spent 17,000 CRORE TAKA ANNUAL BUDGET this year only to propagandize against Dr Yunus.

From all the politics of Bangladesh which the supporters of Hasina are so proud to sing the song, of Bongo-whatever, the desperate poor of Bangladesh have nothing to sing songs about. Yet the 20 million beneficiaries of Grameen Corporation can be proud of one thing - that ONE MAN GAVE HIS LIFE and CARED FOR THEM, and handed them the tools of survival. The Whole World recognized that sentiment to the fullest, the whole world, except the supporters of Hasina, in as far and wide countries as India!!

May the Honorable PM of BD, get NOT ONE, but TWO Nobel Prizes for being so sympathetic to the the poor people of BD, as to using the free and fair , fully awamised, shadhinotar chetonized, Judiciary system to SNATCH the Managing Director position away from this son of Bengal - MD Yunus.

kgazi
USA

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "ezajur" <Ezajur@...> wrote:
>
> What a lousy defence of an argument. One of the best things about this debacle is the way it has crystallised the idiocies that govern our thinking. In one clean sweep the world can see us for what we are. It is simply brilliant.
>
> Here we have an argument that Dr Yunus has outlived 9 lousy governments in a third world country and therefore he is a very bad man. And this is proposed by people who don't have the guts to disagree on anything with anyone in their ruling family.
>
> If Dr Yunus had kneeled before his Nethri Shamim would have nothing to say. If Hasina and Yunus make up tomorrow, Shamim will have nothing to say. If, as Dr Rezvi requested, Yunus credited Bongobondhu with creating microcredit, Shamim would have nothing to say.
>
> What Shamim cannot stand is that the universally acclaimed success of Grameen has not been reflecting on his Nethri. Shamim wants the Awamification of Grameen. Having installed one hardcore Awami fundamentalist as Chairman, Shamim would like to see another hardcore Awami fundamentalist installed as MD.
>
> And then maybe his cousins in Chatra League can get jobs as debt collectors.
>
> Ezajur Rahman
> Kuwait
>
> --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "ShamimC" <veirsmill@> wrote:
> >
> > Dr. Yunus won Nobel Prize along with many other prizes, now what left is
> > enlisting his name into Guinness World Records for being the longest
> > serving Managing Director of any company in the world, TWENTY EIGHT
> > years. Why we will let that record go? Someone should take that
> > initiative to let that happen. Probably this did not happen before and
> > will not happen unless it is owned by someone personally.
> >
> > He was appointed Grameen Bank Managing Director by Gen. Ershad in 1983,
> > since then:
> > * Ershad Government completed its NINE years
> > * Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed's caretaker government completed its
> > term
> > * Khaleda Zia completed her first five year term
> > * Khaleda Zia completed her second short term
> > * Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman's caretaker government completed
> > its term
> > * Sheikh Hasina completed her five year term
> > * Justice Latifur Rahman's caretaker government completed its term
> > * Khaleda Zia completed her third full term
> > * Professor Iajuddin Ahmed - was compelled to resign on
> > 11/January/2007
> > * Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed's military caretaker government completed its
> > two year term
> > * Sheikh Hasina's government running almost to its two and half year
> >
> > What a world record for Dr. Yunus, since his assumption of power as
> > Managing Director of Grameen, TEN government has come and gone and the
> > eleventh is running But he is still in the helm of Grameen Bank,
> > congratulation to Dr. Yunus, many more to come, why not outshine eleven
> > more!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Shamim Chowdhury
> > Maryland, U.S.A.
> >
> > ==============================================================
> > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" <emanur@> wrote:
> > >
> > > This is how mischief is made. Through the presentation of distortion
> > as truth. Let's get a few facts straight:
> > >
> > > • Grameen Bank is not a government institution. The government
> > is only a shareholder.
> > >
> > > • The rate of interest charged for loans gets higher as the
> > notional of the loan gets smaller.
> > >
> > > • An interest free regime would have resulted in a loss making
> > entity requiring constant subsidy.
> > >
> > > • No statistics or metrics have been produced to show that
> > micro-credit has been largely unsuccessful.
> > >
> > > • Yunus was not removed because micro credit is a failure.
> > >
> > > • If 10 poor people were lifted out of poverty, that is still
> > more than BAL (starting with Mujib) or BNP has ever achieved.
> > >
> > > • Yunus was not found guilty of any form of corruption.
> > >
> > > • Grameen's commercial activities are controversial but that is
> > an intellectual debate about the limits (should there be any?) that
> > should be applied to social enterprises in a free market economy.
> > >
> > > To my mind, intellectual dishonesty is one of the worst of all crimes.
> > However it makes sense that this is the stock in trade of politicians,
> > their sycophants and their charlatans.
> > >
> > > Envy is the root cause here - plain and simple - and EVERYONE
> > including this charlatan knows it. The sycophants have so little
> > backbone that they won't even say it although it is now in the record of
> > the JS after the BAL MPs "prayed" for a Nobel for Hasina!!
> > >
> > > Its laughable.
> > >
> > > So the real question for the charlatans is - should we now close
> > Grameen Bank as it is a bad idea? What about BRAC? What is different?
> > >
> > > That's the thing with BAL and their supporters - I expect them to
> > ALWAYS work against the national interest as they are one to all,
> > TRAITORS.
> > >
> > >
> > > Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Shamim Chowdhury veirsmill@
> > > Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 21:58:56
> > > To: Shamim Chowdhuryveirsmill@
> > > Reply-To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Banker Yunus banking on emotion defying law
> > >
> > > We must give credit to Dr. Yunus for taking micro financing to world
> > stage and branding Bangladesh as the brand owner and finally wining a
> > Nobel Prize. He may have not invented the idea but certainly he was able
> > to give it a height which no one was able to do before. Because of his
> > personal connection with Hillary Clinton the then first lady current
> > Secretary of State of the most powerful country of the world Dr. Yunus
> > was able to get the world attention.
> > > Â
> > > Dr. Yunus got his first world wide media attention during the first
> > micro summit which took place in Washington where our present PM Sheik
> > Hasina co-chaired the summit along with Queen Sofia of Spain . In the
> > home turf Dr. Yunus got support of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
> > who went all the way to Washington to unveil Bangladesh brand financial
> > system in first ever world summit on microfinance.
> > > Â Â
> > > In the early days of microfinance, Dr. Yunus has a success story to
> > tell but not much audience other then few media outlet. The country was
> > going through high trouble. It was couple years after the death of Gen.
> > Zia when Gen Ershad claimed the power overthrowing corrupt BNP
> > government of Justice Sattar. In a state wide televised speech, Justice
> > Sattar claims wide spread corruption in his government and asked
> > military to take over, so did Gen Ershad. Suddenly Dr. Yunus saw some
> > light at the end of the tunnel, military marshal law governments civil
> > Finance Minister Abul Mal Muhit, yes readers, ironically it’s the
> > same person who is our current Finance Minister.
> > > Â
> > > Finance Minister Muhit gave an audience to Dr. Yunus and Dr. Yunus was
> > the speaker, as good orator he was and is Yunus was able to make Muhit
> > understand the value of starting a new bank solely for the poor. Muhit
> > as the Finance Minister was able to get permission of Gen. Ershad to
> > form the Bank name Grameen Bank, a bank for the poor. Ershad’s
> > military regime issued a proclamation establishing the bank and
> > appointed Dr. Mohammad Yunus as its Managing Director, it was 1983 and
> > since then he is the head of this government institution.
> > > Â
> > > It need to be clear that Grameen Bank unlike many other privately
> > owned NGO is not a private entity at all but a government entity with
> > autonomy and Dr. Yunus is nothing but government approved Managing
> > Director of the Bank. Success of Grameen Bank is not just the success of
> > its Managing Director Dr. Yunus’s but the government of
> > Bangladesh and its shareholders as well.
> > > Â
> > > Mohammad Yunus played a wonderful role of mentoring the organization
> > setting its goal. The negative story picks up there where Grameen Bank a
> > bank for the poor changed its role of providing free of collateral cheap
> > loan to the poor especially women to high interest loan sharking
> > business.
> > > Â
> > > A noble cause and idea which started its journey from village Jobra
> > under the stewardship of a young professor Dr. Yunus caught into
> > so-called social business gimmick. Loan to the poor started with no
> > interest climbed to as high as THIRTY percent though in Grameen
> > transaction shows it as twenty percent not showing the actual cost that
> > the borrowers has to bear.
> > > Â
> > > Day by day Grameen involved it self into all sorts of profit making
> > business, telecommunication to making so called energy curd and what
> > not. A brand name Grameen paid a hefty price for that as well not just
> > financially but receiving endless criticism. While the poor people
> > Caught into microfinance debt Grameen caught into illegal VOIP business
> > and slapped with hefty punitive fines of hundreds of millions of BDT
> > during last caretaker government and loosing its clean image.
> > > Â
> > > Some people may say Dr. Yunus has no relation to those illegal
> > wrongdoings of Grameen Telecommunication. How ever that notion will not
> > be justified and he had to bear the responsibility. Grameen mobile is a
> > part of Grameen family and Grameen receives a huge stash of profit out
> > of it. So if you accept the profit you have to bear the responsibility
> > as well.
> > > Â
> > > A Nobel laureate like Dr. Yunus never came up with one word to condemn
> > his organizations wrongdoing but keep tight-lipped. His muted un
> > acknowledging attitude of this grave matter did hurt lot of his
> > supporters as well as rest of the nation. Though this is nothing new
> > from him, he kept mum or talked in favor of military and undemocratic
> > rulers as near as past Gen. Moeenuddin-Fakhruddin  or Iajuddin
> > government.
> > > Â
> > > Dr. Yunus who started (not really) claiming as the
> > originator/author/owner of this microfinance idea thought about Grameen
> > Bank with same obsession. Like many others who rose to power and fame
> > Dr. Yunus started thinking about him as indispensable and his role as
> > Managing Director as prerequisite for banks survival.
> > > Â
> > > Probably Dr. Yunus himself and many others thought him and Grameen
> > Bank as one and one entity, that thinking process was based on a
> > complete flawed understanding. Â It is very unfortunate Dr. Yunus did
> > not play an affirmative role on bringing that wrong notion down rather
> > fueled the idea.
> > > Â
> > > A noble idea strangulates to death slowly but surely. A bank that was
> > created to ensure loan to the poor ravenous people of Bangladesh is now
> > hungry it self for fame and ready to play any game. Getting the Nobel
> > Prize whisked away Dr. Yunus into a fairy land of foolishly considering
> > him as indispensable and a savior of the world poor. High ambition and
> > hunger for fame and name ruined his stature and brought him down to
> > earth facing criticism home and abroad.
> > > Â
> > > Grameen Bank was and is an autonomous government entity though it is
> > not just like much other autonomous body but a special one. If the
> > banking law of the country as well as Grameen Bank’s own employee
> > service manual clearly states that all Grameen employees will retire at
> > age 60 then how in the world it is OK for Managing Director Dr. Yunus to
> > violate that law and say I am indispensible therefore I must stay for
> > life and defy any law.
> > > Â
> > > Some Yunus supporter might say there are others too who has crossed
> > that age such as PM her self or others in the cabinet. Yes that is true
> > but that is a whole new subject/concept to deal with. Present law of the
> > land dose allow those position holder to continue their official duty at
> > or above sixty, if you do not like it then go ahead and make effort to
> > change it. But as long the law allows or disallows, you just have to
> > abide by the rule, period.
> > > Â
> > > Dr. Yunus in many of his speech talked about lawlessness in our
> > society and politics but when the time came for him to set the standard
> > he downplayed the law and played his sentiment card and vowed to stay in
> > power as long someone is not able to pull him down.
> > > Â
> > > During caretaker military rule, Dr. Yunus talked harshly about
> > politicians and labeled them as corrupt and promoter of family dynasty.
> > He did talk about fresh leadership to make the difference and now when
> > the question comes about new leadership of Grameen, Dr. Yunus back out
> > and his laughable reply that Grameen will not be able survive
> > without him or there is no one who can assume that responsibility. If
> > so, then it is shame for him that he stayed in that position for couple
> > of decade but miserably or the more correct choice of word would be
> > mystically failed to create a chain of leadership who can and will take
> > new challenges.
> > > Â
> > > Critics say, to keep his tight grip on all matter Dr. Yunus never
> > allowed any new leadership capable of running the organization
> > independently around for too long. Any one who happened to be capable
> > will be removed and a person will be replacing the position with his
> > approval only.
> > > Â
> > > The nine members of the board out of twelve are selected by Dr. Yunus
> > himself and rest three appointed by the government of Bangladesh . Nine
> > members of the board who has been handpicked by Dr. Yunus have
> > absolutely no idea whets so ever of how a billion dollar bank like
> > Grameen runs. They are there no more then to act as rubber stamp to go
> > along with Dr. Yunus whim.
> > > Â
> > > Dr. Yunus has taken full advantage of the disadvantage of his
> > executive board members neophyte of the banking business and ruled the
> > business as he wishes rather then following the business rule prescribed
> > in Grameen’s business policy.
> > > Â
> > > The bank which strictly supposes to land only to the poor’s
> > started funding family owned business defying all rules. Grameen is tax
> > exempted business institution. They do not pay to the government in
> > return they do public service, is this what public service, service to
> > the poor means to Dr. Yunus.
> > > Â
> > > When Grameen Bank’s poor member has to return every singe penny
> > they borrow whether loose or gain otherwise face penalty, intimidation
> > and legal or social boycotts by the group but strangely his family gets
> > a very sweet deal of sharing profit and loss which even commercial banks
> > do not offer other then some Islamic banks. Is this kind justice and
> > honesty Dr. Yunus is talking about while in the international stage.
> > > Â
> > > It is unfortunate that a man of his stature will set such a bad
> > precedence and take ill advantage of his position and international
> > connection to pressure law of the land takes a different course to keep
> > him in his position. It is more unfortunate that now he wants keeps the
> > nations image hostage and play his emotions card once again to keep his
> > position.
> > > Â
> > > It is so childish for him and his lawyer Dr. Kamal Hossain to say that
> > if he was allowed to violate the bank law for ten years then he should
> > not be blamed about it at any letter stage? Does Dr. Yunus mean
> > violation get justified if it was not challenged or corrected in time?
> > > Â
> > > Are we going to say that recent epoch making judgment of high court on
> > nullifying all military rule of seventies and eighties in Bangladesh and
> > declaring it as illegal occupation of power was wrong judgment as it
> > happened thirty years ago and no one challenged it earlier therefore
> > illegal unconstitutional occupation of power by military rulers was
> > justified!
> > > Â
> > > High interest Grameen’s micro credit is nothing but unambiguous
> > rape of frail but lucrative financial body of poor of the poorest
> > especially women. Most vulnerable segment of the society is trapped into
> > Grameen’s loan shark landing microfinance policy, calamitous
> > attempt of the poor to escape from local loan shark known as Mohajon to
> > get caught by institutionalized shark loan lender named Grameen is
> > unfortunate and unwanted.
> > > Â
> > > It’s a farce that the poor of the poorest who need the most low
> > interest finance to change their ill fate are locked into maximum high
> > interest loan up to 30 percent from Grameen while the affluent society
> > gets loan at very low interest some where 10 to 12 percent from
> > commercial banks. Now Grameen might say we are giving loan to someone
> > with no collateral therefore we have to cover our risk. No comments on
> > that as that is a fact, however then question comes, do not call this
> > sort of loan sharking a social enterprise call it what it is.
> > > Â
> > > In U.S. to often you will get advertisement about car loan or housing
> > loan with bad credit or no credit everyone applies everyone gets credit.
> > Those lenders are known in the U.S. as loan sharking institution and
> > they do not challenge it. If Dr. Yunus also agrees that Grameen does the
> > same then their will be no question but question comes when he claims to
> > be doing business of social just. Grameen’s over exorbitant
> > interest rates and alleged coercive debt collection policy has no
> > difference then shark lender of the west.
> > >
> > > What is Loan Shark: A loan shark is a person or body that offers
> > unsecured loans at high interest rates to individuals, often enforcing
> > repayment by blackmail or threats of violence. Dose that sounds Dr.
> > Yunus and Grameen Bank, Yes it dose. Wikipedia Link explains the
> > characteristics of Loan Shark: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loan_shark
> > > Â
> > > If wants know more about the result of Grameen Loan Sharking business
> > and hide and seek game then go to this link and play the video:
> > http://www.france24.com/en/20080404-bangladesh-burden-microcredit-caring\
> > -grameen-bank-mohammed-yunnus
> > > Â
> > > Watching this video will raise very suspicious question what Grameen
> > and Dr. Yunus wants to hide from getting out? Its no wonder anymore why
> > Dr. Yunus wrote a personal memo to NORAD asking help to keep donors fund
> > misappropriation secret, WHY? What he is scared off! Why Dr, Yunus
> > appointed director Noorjahan Bagom ask her security to tie the
> > journalist who simply says that he wants to ask some question! Hope one
> > day the poor of the poorest will know about the name of the game.
> > > Â
> > > I just read his public statement (March 7th 2011) where he makes calls
> > to the nation. That is just tricky rubbish. When a case is waiting for
> > ruling, his public statement is a mere attempt to fuel confusion among
> > mass people and pressure on the court to take the verdict in his favor.
> > > Â
> > > He and his lawyears are making evry effort to make our justice system
> > look bad, that is not right thing to do for a Nobel lauriate! He himself
> > went to the court challenging Bangladesh Bank notice of his removal now
> > after three days of deliveration his lawyears are talking saying they
> > might not get justice. Dr. Yunus is following a carbon copy plan of
> > Khaleda Zia after she lost her house and court fiasco played by her
> > lawyear.
> > > Â
> > > Within months of getting the Nobel Prize he applied this same sort
> > of public call/statement technique during last military CTG attempting
> > to grab political power in the vacuum using help from military
> > intelligence unit. I surely hope dr. Yunus stop this uncalled technique
> > and keep faith on system.
> > > Â
> > > IÂ certainly hope Nobel laureate Dr. Yunus will come intto his
> > sense and do what is good for the Bank and its poor borrowers not
> > just looking at self interest. Reduce the interest burden from the poor
> > and be a real benevolent banker of the poor. Above all, he will abide by
> > the law of the land as any other ordinary citizen and not claim aspecial
> > stature just becouse of he is a Nobel laureate.
> > > Â
> > > Â
> > > Shamim Chowdhury
> > > Maryland, U.S.A.
> > > Email: veirsmill@ yahoo.com
> > >
> >
>


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[ALOCHONA] Indian Army website removes BD Liberation War page



Indian Army website removes BD Liberation War page



http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/03/29/74450


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[ALOCHONA] Low and disorder



Vehicles vandalised within police reach


http://amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/03/29/74442

http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-03-29/news/142524

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=179560

Dhaka, Mar 28 (bdnews24.com) — Malibagh is just within five-minute walking distance from Razarbagh Police Lines. But no police were seen during the time when rickshaw-pullers vandalised over 100 vehicles on the road stretching from Purana Paltan to Rampura via Malibagh.

Driver 'Slahuddin', whose car was vandalised, told bdnews24.com that there were only two traffic policemen in the area when the demonstrating rickshaw-pullers broke all the window glasses of his car on Monday noon. "They vandalised one car after another but no police was seen," he alleged. 'Jasim', salesman of a Mouchak Market shop, alleged that the demonstrators attacked a vehicle carrying schoolchildren.

Rickshaw-pullers and owners went on the rampage during demonstrations against a government decision that made the three-wheelers out of bounds on the streets.

Witnesses said the demonstrators forming small groups damaged vehicles with sticks, rods and brickbats. All the shops in the area were shut during the destruction as panic spread over the people. The demonstrators, however, left the area when transport workers, local hawkers and shop employees started to gather around 12:30pm.

Police sergeant Bulbul Ahmed told bdnews24.com that the demonstrators went on rampage in the area from 11:30am to 12pm.

"I had nothing to do but inform the control room when they started to vandalise the police box along with the vehicles," he claimed. "You'll be attacked if you protest such an incident," he added. Traffic police constable Enamul Haque said, "No one came when the control room was informed. The situation didn't get worse if they had come in time."

Ramna police chief Shibli Noman, with two constables, was seen at Mouchak intersection around 12:30pm. The first vehicle of riot police reached the area around 1pm but left the place five minutes later. About the absence of police in the area during the vandalism, Noman told bdnews24.com, "We couldn't reach Malibagh-Mouchak area in time as we completed our preparations centring Muktangan." He claimed that one demonstrator was arrested while vandalising the police box at Mouchak Market intersection. A case was filed in this connection, he added.

Traffic in the capital's Muktangan, Purana Paltan, Kakrail, Mouchak and Moghbazar came to a halt from around 10:00am to 1pm during the demonstration staged by Bangladesh Rickshaw-Van Owners and Workers Protest Council.

Seven people were also injured during the skirmishes and admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The council, a platform of 25 organisations, organised a rally at Muktangan to press their 10-point charter of demands. Council convenor R A Zaman, however, denied vandalising of vehicles by their activists saying they had nothing to do with the vandalism and injury of the seven people.



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[ALOCHONA] Awami Propaganda'r Bhejal Tablet

See cartoon:

http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/03/27/74072

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[ALOCHONA] Fwd: Transit: Warning unheeded by govt!



------ Forwarded message ----------

From: Zoglul Husain <zoglul@hotmail.co.uk>


Govt goes ahead with transit of Indian Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC), but trailers already got stuck in a road-ferry problem, of which many warned beforehand:
 
(Please click to read Amar Desh report of 29 March 2011)
http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/03/29/74438
 
Professor Talukdar Moniruzzaman: It is a threat to our infrastructure and national security, India is making us stand face to face with North East India's freedom fighters!

Dr. Mahbub Ullah: Govt has ignored people's aspirations and the independence and sovereignty of the country to agree to the transit facility. It is a threat to our sovereignty and is an economic loss.

NAP called on people to build movement against transit. They asserted that the govt is engaged in the conspiracy of turning the country into a vassal state of India.
 
(Please click to read):
http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2011/03/29/74475

All the patriots must stand as one to peacefully resist the conspiracy!
 

 
 
 



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[ALOCHONA] WikiLeaks - Anti-Indian sentiment and perceived Islamist threat in Bangladesh



WikiLeaks - Anti-Indian sentiment and Indo-US cooperation on perceived Islamist threat in Bangladesh

Noting the possibility that opposition leader Sheikh Hasina would not run for office, Deo was not hopeful that there would be anything resembling free and fair elections in Bangladesh. The Joint Secretary commented that the BNP was willing to tamper with the electoral system to ensure a victory. DAS Gastright told Deo that along with the EU's USD 25 million for election monitors, the US was committing USD 10 million for elections, to convey to the BDG that the international community is watching closely, and that the US is emphasizing a closely scrutinized process, instead of personalities. Deo welcomed this observation, reiterating that India wants to coordinate closely with the US on Bangladesh.

Full Story –

 

http://deshcalling.blogspot.com/2011/03/wikileaks-anti-indian-sentiment-and.html

 



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[ALOCHONA] Watch Andalib speech in JS



 Plz follow the link
 
 
M.A.Mannan AZAD
Editor:www.parisvisionnews.com



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Re: [ALOCHONA] Daily Star: Col Nadir Ali - Memories of 1971; One Man's Story of Insanity, Loss and Redemption



A real story of a good and noble person who despite not being a Bengali showed his generosity more than some Bengali apologists who still tries to show their Pakistani card. Thank you Robin for sending this to us.

Akbar Hussain


 

On Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 1:31 PM, Robin Khundkar <rkhundkar@earthlink.net> wrote:
 


Food for Thought

Memories of 1971

One Man's Story of Insanity, Loss and Redemption

Farah Ghuznavi

Daily Star

http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/03/04/food.htm

 

This fortnight has provided me with much more than normal rations of food for thought. It started when I encountered a write-up stating that the website health.com lists writing as one of the top 10 professions in which people are most likely to suffer from depression. That probably won't come as a surprise to many people, since there are so many well-known writers who have struggled with depression, including Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath and Hemingway. Genius and mental health issues often - though not always - travelling in hand in glove appears to be a bit of a no-brainer, but more average creative types can also be prone to above-average mood swings.

 

As the article went on to argue on a lighter note, the issue of how writing might affect people not prone to depression also raises some interesting questions. After all, if you take an otherwise healthy person, shut him up alone for hours at a time, day after day, month after month, year after year, watch him pack on the pounds as physical exercise becomes a thing of the past, ask him to write, knowing that the end result can never be perfect - and, for good measure, tell him there's no way of guaranteeing if he'll be published, or paid - the results could quite reasonably be expected to be alarming.

 

But looking on the positive side, if happy people might not want to risk becoming writers, then those who in any case have "heavy heads" (as a good friend of mine likes to put it), might have less to lose. In fact, given how cathartic writing can be, they could have a lot to gain. I was reminded of all this at a talk recently organised by the BRAC Development Institute (BDI) with the 1971 Collective and other partners that brought together academics and activists from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to discuss the Liberation War of 1971.

 

One of the speakers was a Pakistani man – Nadir Ali - who is an ex-lieutenant colonel and was part of the occupying Pakistani forces in Bangladesh in 1971. He said a number of interesting and very moving things about his time here. I don't have space to go into all of it, but in Ali's own words the experience led to him "spending three years in the nuthouse". Given attitudes towards mental health in this part of the world, a public admission of that nature is unusual enough; but given that he was sharing his wartime experiences with people who had lived through it as victims, I was awed by his brutal honesty about the war, the role played by his nation, and what he saw and did himself.

 

He had never killed civilians, or sanctioned such killings, Ali stated quite clearly. But he went on to say that that did not vindicate him in any way; not in the eyes of the world, not before those of us who were judging him, and certainly not for all the times that he found he was standing in judgment of himself.

 

Ali was appalled by what the army expected him to do, and followed his conscience more loyally than army policy. On one occasion, accompanied by the soldiers in his battalion, he encountered a Hindu doctor who was stopped and required to identify himself. Since the man's name gave away his religious identity, Ali found himself obliquely warning him to be careful about providing information when asked for his name in those troubled times, and sent him on his way. When one of the soldiers accompanying him asked if he should shoot the departing doctor (for being a Hindu), Ali responded, "If you touch your rifle, I will shoot you."

 

Another time, he ended up freeing a man being beaten by collaborators for supposedly raising funds for the freedom fighters. On this occasion too, the soldiers under his command had wanted to shoot the man concerned. In another, very painful instance, Ali was not so lucky in carrying off his attempted rescue. He was sharply reprimanded by his commanding officer for assigning soldiers to protect a group of Hindus who had been attacked by collaborators, where a number of children had also been hurt. He was peremptorily and callously instructed to "get rid of them" by whatever means necessary.

 

The attitudes of his fellow officers were, by and large, dissimilar to his own – they had few qualms about following orders, and in some cases, did so with gusto. Ali recalled one of his colleagues rejoicing on a day when he claimed to have killed a number of unarmed freedom fighters in Feni, brush firing into their midst during a daylight gathering by the river. He said, "I told him, those were not freedom fighters; they would never gather in large numbers during the day in an exposed area. It was a very hot day, and they were probably villagers who had come there in the hope of catching a breeze." My fellow officer responded, 'Who cares?! They were all bastard Bengals anyway!'"

 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Nadir Ali's nervous breakdown was already underway by the time he left Bangladesh; and the day before departure when he went to take leave of his commanding officer, the man prevented him from seeing the senior general. Asked why, he later told Ali that he had in fact arrived dressed in a dhoti, and would have risked severe punishment if the general had seen him wearing clothing associated with not only Bengalis, but Hindu Bengalis.

 

Ali said, "I told him, 'You shouldn't have stopped me. I wanted to tell the general that I am a Bengali now.' I was already living in a different place in my head by then, one that didn't exist!" One can only be grateful that his commanding officer turned him away; otherwise it's possible that he would not have survived to tell the tale.

 

After his discharge from the Pakistan army on the grounds of disability in 1973, Ali went through the near impossible task of, as he described it, putting himself back together; and in that process, rediscovering himself as a person. It must have been a lonely process, since the wider environment in Pakistani society at the time was not remotely sympathetic to his situation. Ali credits his wife for somehow holding things together for the family during that time.

 

He began writing prose and poetry in his mother tongue, Punjabi. Interestingly, he credits his encounter with the Bangla language for bringing him back to his own - both through understanding the crucial importance of our language to the construction of the Bengali identity, and to his realisation that - as his first language – Punjabi would be the best way of communicating his thoughts and ideas to the wider world. His first volume of poetry was dominated by his Bangladesh experience.

 

I recently read something by the writer John Rember, who said, addressing others who write:

 

There is something inside of you that is damaging your life. There is in most people who get involved in this business. One of the great challenges of life is to turn weaknesses into strengths, evils into good things, and we're never finished with it until we're dead. Writing is the best way I know to grasp those dark things we don't know about ourselves and begin to work with them, and to finally see what the mirror is trying so hard to tell us.

 

Listening to Nadir Ali speak, I realised that this is one man who has not only reached deep into himself to grasp those dark things - some too terrible to bear - he has emerged tempered by the experience; and against all odds, able to face himself in the mirror.




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[ALOCHONA] Important article on BD judiciary



 Plz  follow the link:
 
 
 
M.A.Mannan AZAD
Editor:www.parisvisionnews.com



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[ALOCHONA] Re: Declaration of Independence : Documents



Friends,


If anybody goes back to the archives of N. papers of Jan to March 1971 they will find news regarding the armed Forces stationed in then E.Pak  including EPR that all the Bangalee Officers and Ranks were neutralized and kept isolated from the mainstream of running of the units. 

Specially the most important and sensitive department i.e communication like wireless system of Army/EPR was taken over by the forces from the W.Pak and non-Bengalee ranks. 

So, how could the declaration as claimed that the Shadhinata declaration was sent at 12 midnight of 25th March to EPR wireless(who had the courage to go to handover the deshodrohi (as considered by then state machinery) declaration to the Pakis against pakis for relay throughout the country and world ?

In such a volatile situation( Uttal March 1971) when Pakis were preparing to crash on the Bangalees how could they accept and relay the Shadhinata Declaration as claimed ?????????????????????????????????

On Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 12:11 AM, Zoglul Husain <zoglul@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
I refer to Dr. Abid Bahar's recent posting as follows, forwarded by Faruque Alamgir (faruquealamgir@gmail.com):
 
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 4:55 PM, abid bahar <abid.bahar@gmail.com> wrote:

Mujib Wanted Confederation
 
Comment:
On the 25th night Mujib was last approached by Tajuddin to sign a handwritten statement about the declaration of independence which Mujib declined. Where does this myth of the declaration by telegram by Mujib come from? It seems that the telegram was circulated by the AL high command and a copy was also sent to Chittagong. 
Referring to Mujib's confusing moves, Abul Mansur Ahmad says in his book, "I did not understand Mujib then, I do not understand him now."  He adds, "Sheikh Mujib surrendered without resistance. He did not try to escape nor hide himself." Mansur Ahmad questioned "Is this the way the leader of a people fight against opposition?" (Amer Dekha Rajnitir... p. 551-555) 
 

Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:25:09 +0600
Subject: Declaration of Independence : Documents
From: bdmailer@gmail.com
To:

Declaration of Independence : Documents





http://www.prothom-alo.com/26-march/



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Re: [ALOCHONA] Banning the Fatwa a Miscarriage of Justice!



Dear Dr.Raashed,


Recently I had a chance to read an article by you on Fatwa and its relevance to civil laws in Bangladesh. Since I strongly believe in the freedom of speech, which I very much doubt Islam does, I have respect for your opinion but totally disagree with all what you have said in the article. The problem with Islamic scholars that they always does not want to be involve in serious discussions on issues with Islam. They are always afraid that by doing so they may lose their so called imaan.

I want to ask you on what basis you want parallel medieval tribal edicts what you call Fatwa with an already existing legal system in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is not a country ruled by a Taliban system therefore asking for fatwa's to be a part of law is just an attempt to bring anarchy in a nation which is poor and still rule of law needs to be established.

How educated people like you talk like an illiterate village mullah who has no knowledge beyond a few suras of Koran which he can't even translate properly. I find this attitude is a determined effort to mix politics and religion, a lethal brew to create confusion and anarchy.  

By doing so you are not serving Islam in any way. The Muslims are in a bad shape because they are being pushed to adapt a lifestyle not supported by pragmatic ideas. Islam is being used by the so called Islamic scholars to create fear not enlightenment. In the name Allah vicious thing are propagated to create a notion that fear is the key. The level of intolerance is so high that Islam has lost all credibility in the non Muslim world.

For every misfortune the west is being held responsible blocking the window for any soul searching.

Remember that no community in the world will ever go forward if they continue to blame others for their problems.

 

I hope you will respond to me and confront me if I am wrong.

 

Regards

Akbar Hussain

Canada



On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 2:02 AM, Noishorgik <bidrohee@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

Banning the Fatwa a Miscarriage of Justice!

 

Dr. R. Raashed

(Ph.D. School of Law, Macquarie University Sydney, Australia)

Managing Director,

Islamic Information Services Australia (Legal and General)

 

The legal system in Bangladesh is an extension of the British Westminister legal regimes and procedures. In a country where some 90% of population is Muslim, it's a failure on the part of the country's political system that this colonial misfit still being forced upon the public some after sixty five years from the independence. Through independence the British colonial rule was rejected by the population yet, the cunning and the shrewd among the nation wouldn't let it depart from its fate. The colonial masters are on foot guarding their agents and interest quarters in Muslim countries. But it is no pride that as a nation we have failed to distinguish between a friend and a foe. Guised under the garbs as the judiciary or executives, the stooges are happy for the servitude and indeed, are colonized at heart. Banning the Islamic Fatwa in the courts of Bangladesh represents a feature for the colonial past and hence, a distinct failure at the same time.

 

As a slogan, the colonial stooges maintain entrenched love and loyalty for what they call the secular and religiously neutral identity. In reality however, their love and bias for the colonial legacies are intense. In the context of Bangladesh, it is to be juxtaposed with what the Qur'an (02:165) puts as Muslims' love for God should have been much stronger. This contrast will explain the reason why the judgment at point instigated the formidable opposition. Given the demography of the country, the judges of the courts in Bangladesh, must reflect the wishes and aspirations of people through their judgments. Banning the Islamic Fatwa would thus represent an assault on public interest.

 

A judgment is never an individual view of the judge on an issue before him/her. Instead it must reflect the realistic application of a legal instrument in its holistic consideration. The legal instrument in this sense is the written law which in every sense is also a trust in the custody of a judge or a tribunal. But a huge gap between the law in this sense and its application is a true picture for most of the judiciary and executives in Bangladesh. This is also true of many other Muslim countries. This article is only an analytical approach to the legal reality in Bangladesh and hence does not intend to hurt the public prestige of the relevant courts. In relation to the judgment banning the Fatwa, its text is important. But its context is rather crucial and thus, demands a neutral readership.

 

Through their judgment of banning Islamic Fatwa in a blanket form, the two judges of the High Court in Bangladesh have in fact struck through the hearts of 90% Muslims in the country. Worse still the duo of the tribunal have failed to appreciate this aspect of their decision. The naivety rooted in this judgment is apparent from the two judges' approach to the law in isolation from the social reality. A shallow approach to law such as this is a liability for the nation it was meant to serve. We may think of a novice in other offices, but in the application of law there is no provision for the apprentice judges. Said simply, the mediocrity has therefore, no place in law and legality. To secure the justice, not only the best and the brightest should practice the law, but also, the legal mechanism in the country must cater for this. Undoubtedly, banning the Islamic Fatwa in a blanket form drew a bad picture of legal reality in Bangladesh. Fortunately, however the Appeal Court did comprehend the gravity of the consequences and suspended its operation pending the outcome of the appeal. It is obviously a very limited comfort. We must accept that those initiating the appeal for this ominous judgment deserve being applauded. The hearing of the appeal is now continuing and hence, the relevance of this commentary.

 

A word of caution: While reaching conclusions, we will not prejudge the religious affiliation of His Hon. Justice Golam Rabbani and his partner in the tribunal Justice Najmun Ara Sultana. The excuse to reprimand this critique under the provision as "contempt of the court" does not arise. The tribunal consist of these two judges banned the Islamic Fatwa in Bangladesh in 2001. It is however, our solid right to judge the merit behind their decision given the damages it caused to the hearts of millions of Muslims in the country and beyond. We already know that the Arabic names do not necessarily make anyone a Muslim or a believer, to be precise. For an individual to be a believer or otherwise is absolutely a personal choice. Hence in our derivations, no expectation would be built on the ground of the two judges' religious persuasion. By accepting the membership to a tribunal, they two judges have obviously adopted the liability for their judgment's professional integrity being critically and vehemently scrutinized. Throughout this commentary, our focus will therefore, remain on this aspect of the judgment's professional cohesion and integrity.

 

We have a reason to presuppose that the two judges in this case are traditionally trained on the issues of law and legality in Bangladesh. Hence, they were expected to uphold the basic principles of justice for all while delivering a judgment in a case of nationwide significance. While making a judgment in such a sensitive case, what went missing was the very essence of the legal sensibility on the part of the two judges. The judgment miserably failed to protect the value system of Bangladesh as a Muslim majority nation that its constitution envisaged to protect. As the judgment of banning the Fatwa was delivered in 2001, the saga of the 5th amendment cancellation in 2010 was never an issue then. This judgment has also failed on being sensitive to the national feelings and emotion of 90% Muslims in the country. We don't dispute that there may well be the cases where the institution of the Islamic Fatwa have been misused. Consequently, the subjects are victimized. It may well be true that not all those issuing the Fatwa in Bangladesh do have the due credentials to do so. This being the reality, the institution of issuing the Fatwa should have been regulated with the appropriate directives being issued by the court to the executives.

 

As a rule of thumb, the legal procedures aim at protecting fairness by de jure (by law) or by defacto (by the issues of fact) mechanisms. The Westminister system of legislature which has been the source of legal culture in Bangladesh is based on this basic principle. By applying a blanket ban on practice of duly made out Islamic Fatwa the two judges of the High Court have clearly failed on this account as well. This failure provided a clear case where the incompetent judges performing to the opposite direction of their appointment and office. This judgment can only be described as substandard. The misuse of Fatwa by those that are not duly qualified may warrant that this institution is regularized. Instead of applying a blanket ban, the court may in fact have won the appreciation of all by codifying the practice. This goodwill however, remained totally absent from this judgment and hence is the challenge of its professional integrity. In absence of this, the only option remaining open is either the misinformed ill will of the tribunal to the institution of Fatwa or worse still, an instance of outrageous incompetence.

 

Let's now focus on the judgment itself and analyse critically its legal aspects. This decision although suspended later on by the Court of Appeal, has recently been brought before the appeal court for the review. At the outset we must accept that the decision on this case is fraught with consequences. This judgment should have cared for the impact it is going to have on the public. Handling the religious emotion without the due care and most importantly, interfering with the fundamental legal instrument of the Islamic fatwa have the impetus to plunge the nation into civil war. The Islamic edicts issued in personal or collective issues, by the duly qualified Islamic scholars can never be eradicated. Anyway considered, it is an issue of natural justice. It is one of the most fundamental pillars of the Islamic Shair'a and hence, above the court of law's jurisdiction.

 

The constitution of Bangladesh provides for the freedom of choice and religion. By the operation of this supreme law as a legal instrument therefore, the constitution also provides the guarantee that Muslims in the country are free to seek the scholarly made out Islamic opinions where relevant, with a freedom to abide by them as well. The judgment has also failed to comprehend the true understanding of the Fatwa in Islam. When put in this perspective, the judgment banning the Islamic Fatwa in fact, defeats the operational provision of Bangladesh constitution whereby it guarantees the freedom of choice and religion. The Westminister system of administering justice represents a series of legislative procedures all of which are committed to reflect the wishes and aspirations of people in a country. This legal principle is engrained and deeply rooted in any democratic system that seeks to emulate the Westminister system.

 

The court of Justice Golam Rabbani and Justice Najmun Ara Sultana has also failed on this ground. Venturing out to impose a blanket ban on Islamic Fatwas is a clear mark of short-sightedness on the part of this judgment. To say the minimum, this type of summary justice reflects the phenomenon as the miscarriage of justice itself in the system. This judgment has rightfully brought about the shame of injustice upon the nation that is paying for these judges. While deliberating, the tribunal has clearly failed to look into the law in its holistic nature and application. Should we then propose that a judgment should be merit checked before delivering? May be we should! A piecemeal approach to the law and its institutions, albeit easy, is bound to defeat the purpose behind the law. The judgment banning the Islamic Fatwa is an outstanding example.

 

It is in this context that when established beyond doubt, the intention of the law makers also becomes a strong legal instrument in the Westminister system of administering justice. Maintaining an overall outlook to the legal institutions needs a sound culture of absolute adherence to legality alone. The seat of justice is in the heart of the judges. But where the judges are corrupt or incompetent, the legal institution administering justice must take all the blames for the failure. The judges are also human beings and thus, are susceptible to being swayed by the fear or favour while fostering a particular orientation in a judgment.

 

It is an open truth that the legal institutions in Bangladesh are found to be cardinally corrupt in public opinion. But is it in fact true that they are indeed corrupt, is a million dollar question! The mechanism for disciplining the deliberate failure on the part of the judges must also be in place. Bangladesh where the judges are appointed along the line of political loyalties, paying back for such appointments is bound to victimize first the conscience of a neutral bystander. Prior to allocating a case that deals with the issues of public conscience and interest, the High Court should therefore, do a bit of in-house cleaning exercise. An audit of competency and neutrality in a judge should therefore precede the final allocation of such a case.

 

A Disqualified Law Minister:

Bangladesh where the merit based appointment of judges is at stake, the audit of competency must determine first, whether a single judge or a tribunal is competent enough to handle the case at hand and comprehend its consequences. The past ideo-political affiliation of the judges should be the deterrent from assigning to them a case that may encroach upon the bounds of neutrality. Once a government dubbed as the most corrupt on earth boasts the law and order, it becomes nothing but a laughing stock. People in Bangladesh are either, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians or nature worshippers. The only fabric that binds them all is belief in a religion, revealed or otherwise. The atheists thus, constitute a sheer minority in the make-up of its population. A minister for women's rights and welfare should be a woman herself. For the same reason, an atheist is an outright misfit for the law ministry. Short of realizing this, a government is either naive or a part of criminal complicity against the public interest.

 

Appointing the law minster of a highly religious nation such as Bangladesh, a self confessed communist who by definition is also the atheist, is an outright misfit and indeed, a grotesque blasphemy. In a sense, this is the hypocrisy on the part of a government that undertakes the obligation to guarantee public aspirations. Instead of interfering with the peoples' choices, this huge inconsistency is the debacle that the High Court should look into first. Without dealing with this inconsistency head on, administration of true justice will continue to be a mirage and daydream. The audacity to uphold the institution of justice at any cost needs the brave-hearted professionalism and the legal scholarship in the judges. When a judgment fails, the justice seekers do pay with their rights. But more importantly, losing the neutrality in the system of justice administration is indeed, a grave ominous sign for a religiously diverse country like Bangladesh. Should we then trust a fox with our chickens? May we then conclude that when the conscience becomes corrupt, justice is lost from the inception?

 

The constitution of Bangladesh needs to be re-done:

Let's now refer back to the judgment of blanket banning the Islamic Fatwa by the tribunal under the scrutiny. From observing the procedures of appeal, it appears that the attorneys on both sides of the application have got their approach to the case totally wrong. The attorney of the plaintiff sought to argue the case from the pure Islamic point of view, which has no place before the court in Bangladesh. The Westminister system of administering justice may therefore be excused if it decides to look at such submissions at askance. In fact, the future of this case lies squarely in arguing it on the basis of law makers' intention behind drawing up the constitution. The holistic approach to this supreme law of the nation will only guide the appeal court that the judgment of the tribunal was dangerously, localized and superficial and thus, needs to being scrapped at once.

 

It is almost annoying to note that the court appointed ten lawyers as amicus curiae (the friends of the court without any substantive credentials on Islamic law. The arguments rendered by some of its members are devoid of legal substance and hence, are ludicrous. To start with, the concept of referring a court to the amicus curia is based in the Vatican and thus rooted very much in the Christian culture of Catholicism. Making such a church based concept the jury in deciding the outcome of the Islamic Fatwa is and outright ridicule! It is a glowing example of ignorance on the part of the High Court in Bangladesh in deciding the prerequisites before setting a competent appeal process.

 

Equally disturbing is the submissions of the attorney for the defendant who in naivety, opted to argue his case also from the localized view of the constitutional provisions. By this approach he in fact failed to establish any real relevance. If it is true that the defense attorney had in fact contribution to draw up the current constitution of Bangladesh, he should have been disqualified on the basis of conflict of interest. His argument is almost blasphemous as to who is the source of the real power by the constitution. Ironically however, the judgment under the appeal hammer of the court, had failed in the first place, to uphold the provisions of the constitution itself.

 

To start with, the constitution of Bangladesh has not gone through the stringent procedures of public plebiscites and hence, it is urgently needed to be done again. In its current form, it can be described as a temporary legal document dedicated to care for the interest of an emerging nation. It clearly lacks the commitment to cater for the wide ranging interests of Bangladesh as a nation. Without undertaking a genuine and widespread public consultation, a constitution will serve nothing but an elitist approach to the law and legality. This is the guilt that Bangladesh as a Muslim nation continued to live for the last forty one years. It will indeed be a national pride for a forward looking government in future to set the foundation of the nation right to re-cast a realistic constitution based on true and wide-scaled public consultation. In fact, it can be a good public agenda for campaigning re-election by a strong political party now. Prior to this, speaking of a true representative justice system in Bangladesh will continue to be a daydream.

 

·         Dr. Raashed is the author for "The Book that Contains No Doubt" due to be published soon!




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