Sunday, April 3, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

Dear Robin

Finding myself alone at a stake burning would not upset me because a stake burning is ludricous. I used the term as a figure of speech. But then how does a figure of speech become more distasteful than thugs of a democratically elected government actually raping and actually getting political protection? Or more distasteful than educated and smart people staying silent about such a thing whilst defending the very system than allows this to happen? Come on man. We can get upset when this happens elsewhere in the world. Why not be upset when this happens in Bangladesh?

People are getting ruined or getting killed by AL or BNP.

I don't have all the policy answers. But I do know we should be angry - or at least annoyed?

And we must start by telling the truth. We have inadvertently created a culture of knowing the truth but not publicly admitting it. This culture is everywhere. And we must change this. I wanted to to say we must smash it :)

Telling the truth about our condition in Bangladesh is easy. Telling the simple yet uncomfortable truth does not make anyone a hero or a genius.

All mortals are indeed imperfect. But then thats what Nethrists say all the time to excuse away the crassest flaws of their Nethri. Your imperfections and my imperfections did not cause anyone's murder, anyone's education to be ruined, anyone's property to be stolen, anyone's principles to be compromised, anyone's hopes to be crushed - on a massive scale.

We have got to protest this. Some like me scream crazily. Others, in growing numbers, write and speak and spread the message of dissatisfaction and discontent. All voices are needed.

I have my own purpose. I am not defined by rants on this forum. I am, as we say in Desh, in the field. And my job is to take on the educated Nethrist. My language and arguments are crafted for them. Not you. I grew up listening to them - it was their country. Now look at our country. Our Nethrists are the biggest bunch of choto lok in the world.

I don't have all the answers at a moments notice. But I do know you got to try and smack the crap out of the cockroach as soon as you see it :)

You know the last resort argument of the educated Nethrist? It's "Amra Tho Fakir".

Ezajur Rahman

Kuwait

Re: [ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

Thank you Ejaz for reassuring me.

You might ofcourse find yourself all alone. Since stake burning might result in no one left standing since all mortals have some kind of imperfection .

Much relieved that you are on the contrary feeling rejuvenated and ready with all answers at a moments notice!

-----Original Message-----
From: ezajur
Sent: Apr 3, 2011 8:54 AM
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

Dear Robin

The state of rock and roll in Bangladesh is a reflection of the state of Bangladesh. We are a nation of dancing queens so boogie woogie is the least of our priorities. We need rock and roll which will lend voice to discontent and rebellion and which will shape the course of the young Bangladeshi male. As of now the righteous Bangladeshi male is crushed and defeated. We need the crap kicked out of us and the sense kicked into us. I'm working on a band project J

Andalib is connected every which way, as I have already indicated. Further inspection will no doubt reveal he is flawed. None of which detracts from the significance of the truth he spoke that day.

Bangladesh will face corrupt political dynasties the way the world has always faced corrupt political dynasties. And that does not preclude violence, as our own history continues to show. Violent short cuts and the machinations of individuals and groups, whether altruistic or otherwise, are inevitable, even natural. After all, these political dynasties also exercise violence and entrench themselves in ways which may require forcible removal.

No softie phase for me. You will find Andalib had more flashes of the Angry Young Man in his speech than flashes of anything else. I am, in fact, rejuvenated.

Our politicians have urinated continuously on the graves of every young uneducated and forgotten teenage kid that picked up a gun in 1971.

I'm supposed to be bloody angry.

And you aren't befuddled in the Land of the Great Satan. You know the dirty, awful truth. Like many, you just haven't chosen to jump in the gutter of Bangladesh and take on the scum who support status quo politics in Bangladesh. And yet you could effortlessly carve them up into pieces with your intellect. Far easier to mock Angry Young Men. Alas. Poor me.

In my country, my Bangladesh, thugs of a ruling, democratically elected party can rape a child and get away with it. And people with degrees from your nearest university not only keep quiet about such crimes but actively defend the status quo.

May they burn at the stake.

Ezajur Rahman

Kuwait

Re: [ALOCHONA] MP Andalib

Dear Ejaz

Yes a Rock and Roller he may but can he dance the boogie woogie!!!

Incidentally, I am told he is a member of a prominent dynasty with bloodlines going every which way. Furthermore, his political lines extending to all parties and factions. Not that it matters to me since Bangladesh has to deal with its inherited political/ruling culture and that change must come naturally not through violent short cuts based on some altruistic individual or group's opinion whether such forcible removal is justified or not.

Hope this is not the stirrings of a "softie" phase. That would seriously undermine the 'angry young man" tough talking no nonsense person I have become so used to and fond of.

Robin

Befuddled in the Land of the Great Satan

-----Original Message-----
From: ezajur
Sent: Mar 31, 2011 7:21 AM
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ALOCHONA] MP Andalib

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSFEGwwjUYo

Finally. An MP who understands rock and roll :)

He's getting thousands of hits on Facebook and this particular speech has been received with raucous applause at many levels.

I hope you enjoy this speech as much as I did.

I have heard he is the son of AL Sheikh Selim's sister and married to the daughter of AL Sheikh Helal. Wow! A rare example of a Deshi man standing up to his in laws :) He is also an MP for Bhola and President of Jatiya Party (Monju)!

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[ALOCHONA] Two PMs misled :Call to punish culprits in govt system

Two PMs misled :Call to punish culprits in govt system

The High Court verdict declaring the BGMEA building illegal will up-hold the rule of law, development experts and professionals said yesterday. They also demanded punishment of the government officials responsible for involving the country's two prime ministers in the foundation laying and launching ceremonies of the building, keeping the two unaware of its illegality.

The then prime minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation in November 1998, while another premier Khaleda Zia inaugurated the building in October 2006. The HC yesterday ordered the occupants to vacate the 15-storey building in the capital's Begunbari canal area within three months from receiving the verdict.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) constructed the building although Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) did not approve its design.

Mubasshar Hussain, president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), said the public works minister and secretary and the Rajuk chairman who covered this up should be punished.

Rajuk Chairman Md Nurul Huda said the then government officials should have informed the two prime ministers that the building had no approval. "We served notice asking the BGMEA authorities not to construct the building without approval but they did not pay any heed," Huda told The Daily Star yesterday.

Though Rajuk did not approve the building's design, it issued clearance for using the land to construct the building in the middle of the canal. The environment department, Dhaka Wasa and Civil Aviation Authorities also issued clearance certificates.

Meanwhile, BGMEA President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said they will appeal against the HC verdict and approach the president and the prime minister to protect the building. The overall interest of the garment sector should be taken into consideration, he said. "The building was not built overnight. Why didn't the authorities object then?" he said.

Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury, a former BGMEA president, said the government itself has many buildings without approved design. BGMEA officials say they bought a two-bigha plot in the canal area from the Export Promotion Bureau at Tk 2.7 crore.In July 2003, Rajuk instructed BGMEA to consult the Buet expert team that was carrying out a study for Begunbari-Hatirjheel Development Project. But BGMEA did not comply, they added.

Project's technical experts also said the building was "not compatible" with the idea of conserving Begunbari canal as a sewer facility.In a move to rectify the unauthorised construction, Rajuk in July 2006 asked BGMEA to pay a penalty of Tk Tk 12.5 lakh (ten times more than the regular fees), demolish certain portions of the building and build an approach bridge clearing the canal's water flow.

BGMEA initially declined to comply but later paid the penalty. It, however, evaded other conditions. The matter remained unresolved throughout the caretaker government's rule. About yesterday's HC verdict, Prof Sarwar Jahan, president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, said it is a landmark precedence to remove illegal obstruction in implementing planned development.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=180366

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[ALOCHONA] Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank

Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank

by Jahangir Alam Sarker

Courtesy New Age 4/4/11

RECENTLY, a Bangladeshi court upheld the government's decision to dismiss Dr Muhammad Yunus from the bank he founded nearly 30 years ago. When research institutions across the world are opening Yunus centres and microcredit departments for studying his thoughts and ideas, debates and discussions started all over the world on his removal from the post of the managing director of the Grameen Bank. The government has apparently taken the decision on two grounds. First, the Bangladesh Bank sanction was not obtained prior to the appointment. Secondly, Yunus had crossed 60 years which is the age-limit for service. If we look a bit carefully, it will appear that the law was not adhered to in the true sense. No one says Dr Yunus is above the law, but it is necessary to take steps against a personality like him in the proper way.

One of the fundamental points is that, to remove anyone from service, it is necessary to serve a notice upon him to show cause. It is unfortunate and yet true that Dr Yunus has been removed without any notice. He was not given any opportunity to defend himself. There remains the question if the customary rule as to termination from the service has been followed.

Today, it is necessary to discuss the Grameen Bank Ordinance with all other related laws and rules. The law with which the Grameen Bank is administrated is the Grameen Bank Ordinance 1983. The managing directorate has been empowered to frame rules in the interest of efficient management under Section 36 of the ordinance. There is no necessity for getting the rules approved by the government under Section 14 of the Grameen Bank (Amendment) Law 1990. In light of the said provisions, the Grameen Bank framed a rule wherein it has been provided that there shall not be a definite age-limit for holding the post in the management and the rules framed shall not apply in the case of the director of management of the bank. Therefore, we may say the lack of approval of the government regarding age limit provisions, which the Bangladesh Bank used to remove him, is not supported by law.

Question of legality can be raised if the Bangladesh Bank removed Dr Yunus according to the provision in the General Clauses Act that he who gives service can terminate. The appointment to the post of managing director is given by the board of directors of the Grameen Bank. The Bangladesh Bank can approve or disapprove of it. The question is that if the terms and conditions imposed on Dr Yunus by the Bangladesh Bank during the time of his appointment in 1990 had been broken at all in light of the provision of the rules of 2001, then why the Bangladesh Bank had accepted those for so long. The Bangladesh Bank cannot take a different role after the lapse of more than two decades.

It will not be wrong to say that the government has, by removing Dr Yunus, come under pressure of the foreign media beyond the territory of our state, and have been criticised strongly for the steps taken. Because of that, the image of our government has not improved and rather deteriorated, which none of us find hard to understand. The New York Times titled its news item as `The promoter of the small scale loan [is] ousted.' Expressing its view, the paper said in the article that the central bank of Bangladesh has forcefully removed Dr Yunus. It also concentrated on the comments of the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, that Yunus was sucking the blood of the poor people in the name of eradicating poverty. Dean Nelson, the editor for Southeast Asia Affairs, mentioned in a report in the influential British daily, The Telegraph, that Yunus had been removed at the behest of the prime minister. If it is so, nothing can be sadder than this. On the other hand, The Guardian said the Bangladesh government wanted to take full control of the bank, and hence the removal of Yunus. The Independent said a long and continued dispute existed between Sheikh Hasina and Muhammad Yunus, as a result of which he was forcefully removed from the Grameen Bank. Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail said Yunus had been a victim of the nasty politics of Bangladesh.

Whatever may be in the law regarding the removal of Dr Yunus, a world famous personality ought not to have been handled in this way by the government. The government could have solved this by some other way. Norwegian officials have already said the issues giving birth to the allegations brought against the Grameen Bank by the Norwegian Television documentary were resolved long ago. The Friends of Grameen has condemned the harassment of Yunus. In a statement, the organisation has condemned the action of the Bangladesh government.

It is not to be forgotten that Dr Yunus and Grameen Bank are tied with one thread, which no one can untie. Due to this episode, the respect of the common people to Dr Yunus and Grameen Bank has multiplied. Bangladesh has to take such steps so that its image is not blemished. If we cannot rise above our narrowness, in the days to come the development of the country will be hit hard for sure.

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[ALOCHONA] Rally for Yunus

Rally for Yunus

37 lakh Grameen borrowers sign support for Nobel hero

Daily Star 4/4/11 Staff Correspondent

Politicians, civil society members, lawyers, journalists and Grameen Bank borrowers have urged the prime minister not to give in to the influence of the people around her and allow Prof Muhammad Yunus to run his microfinance bank.

The plea came from a solidarity rally yesterday at the Jatiya Press Club, where papers with signatures of 37 lakh Grameen borrowers defending the Nobel laureate were put on display.

The event was organised by "The Citizens' Committee to Protect the Honour of Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus," a national support platform for the Grameen founder.

The committee was formed after Bangladesh Bank relieved the microfinance pioneer of the post of managing director at Grameen. The committee includes politicians, lawyers, civil society members, rights activists and professionals.

Politician ASM Abdur Rob said no civilised people in the world can perceive the so-called demand that the Nobel Peace Prize must be returned to the Nobel Committee.

The politician urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to fathom the impact of Dr Yunus' removal from the bank and make the right move to redress it.

Senior journalist ABM Musa said only a few had controlled wealth in the country in the past. "But it is Yunus who has given people an opportunity to lift themselves from poverty and become better-off than before. He has helped women get out of the confines of home."

Zafarullah Chowdhury, founder of Gono Shasthya Kendra, said people around the prime minister are plotting to disgrace Yunus, eventually leading her towards a crisis.

Asif Nazrul, professor of law at Dhaka University, said the ongoing struggle is a fight between a section of deviant politicians, journalists and civil society, and the rest. "This is a fight between the powerless, and the dirty and power-hungry people."

Former lawmaker Humayun Kabir said the Yunus issue is a political matter, not a legal one. "The issue cannot be resolved in court. It has to be settled politically, out of court."

He urged the government to cancel the central bank order to remove Yunus from Grameen and allow the microfinance bank to work independently.

ABM Mostafa Ameen, the committee convenor, said the Bangladesh Bank order is unacceptable, unjust and unwanted.

Political activist Abdul Maleq Ratan said, "Yunus has shown people a way to get out of poverty. For those, poverty was almost inevitable."

Rights activist Shirin Huq said: "It is unprecedented that 37 lakh people have signed up for a cause."

Al-Amin, a postgraduate student of Jagannath University, who has taken an education loan from Grameen Bank to pursue higher education, narrated how the microcredit organisation helped him continue education.

"My rickshaw-puller father could not afford my educational expenses when I passed the higher secondary certificate exams. I did not receive any support from the government or banks. Grameen Bank stepped in to help me," he said.

Ratna Begum, a Grameen Bank borrower from Sylhet, said she used to do menial jobs to make a living. A loan from the microcredit bank has changed her life.

Grameen has 83 lakh borrowers across the country. The microfinance bank is currently providing scholarships and education loans to 54,000 students to help them pursue higher education.

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[ALOCHONA] Low and disorder

Low and disorder

38 custodial deaths in 3 months: http://jugantor.us/enews/issue/2011/04/02/news0510.php

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[ALOCHONA] Dr Moshiur Rahman on transit fee

Dr Moshiur Rahman on transit fee

http://dailynayadiganta.com/2011/04/03/fullnews.asp?News_ID=270473&sec=1

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[ALOCHONA] Why does AL-BNP resemble Fakhruddin-Moeen combo?

Why does AL-BNP resemble Fakhruddin-Moeen combo?

Afsan Chowdhury

Fakhruddin-Moeen (F-M) bashing appears to be a favourite pastime of some who conveniently forget that at least for once the politicians had created such a situation that military intervention was impossible to avoid. BNP handled the caretaker government situation so bad that it ended up with Prof. Iajuddin as the president and the PM, a sort of a constitutional clowning rarely heard of while the AL produced street violence at an unprecedented level. Most people wanted some kind of an ending to the terrifying situation and the military intervention on 1/11was welcomed by all to end chaos. It was a relief and anybody claiming otherwise is in denial or being hypocritical.

* * *

Historical evidence shows that Bangladesh can be ruled by three parties only; the BNP, the AL and the Army. The three 'parties' generally have ruled in sequence and the quality of the three regimes rarely varies. The army has had phases when it ruled directly and then went into a civilian phase such as with the BNP and the Jatiya Party. BNP has become more civilian over time and JP has simply crashed out as it meets neither civilian nor army political needs.

We are unlikely to have any other choices ever because if there is actually one, which new interest would the new party represent? Since all the elite interests have been served, we have moved into a phase of political stability whether we like it or not. The Fakhruddin-Moeen duo ensured that politicians can go on ruling even after having really messed things up.

* * *

While the army has intervened several times before, the Moeen takeover was different because it was not propelled by choice but a sense of survival of the army. The BNP mess of 2007 was terrible and the AL position so extreme that violence broke out. It was almost on way to become a South Asian version of Somalia. That would of course have had extreme consequences and no one would want to hire peacekeepers from Somalia/Bangladesh.

Since peacekeeping is the main source of quality income for the army, it moved in to protect its pay packet. Once in power, they of course tried to consolidate their rule. It behaved just as any other political party would. In 2007, the AL and the BNP didn't behave any different. They too wanted power and went to any length to achieve that. Then why should the army act any different?

* * *

Many people complain about repression during the F-M regime but how much more repressive is it from any of the other regimes? The parliamentary sub-committee has called the F-M due to their role in beating up Dhaka University students. We think this is very important, very necessary and should be pursued but we should not forget that the first killing of students occurred in 1973 when demonstrating students in front of the American Centre at Topkhana were shot dead.

I think it's only fair to remember that the tradition of killing and beating students is a longish one and all the parties have sustained it over the ages whether BNP, AL or the army.

* * *

Part of the resentment of the mainstream politicians is that the F-M regime went after them and did so as the public cheered. The F-M regime came after the mind boggling corruption of 'Tarique Zia regime' whose odour still hangs around us. It went after politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and all others who had corruption allegations against them. Of course the entire process was handled very ineptly and it was as much of a mess as possible but what it did was enough to make politicians feel vulnerable. They never felt this way before and that is why F-M generates anxiety like no other regime. Very few politicians have ever been tried for corruption, but that regime came close. How can one not go after their memory because that is quite an uneasy one?

* * *

Whatever may be the initial circumstances regarding its coming to power, the F-M rapidly became a standard army political regime and this charge was led by the DGFI. The arrests, humiliation and general harassment of politicians were made to get rid of the top leaders and create a negative image of civilian politicians. They went after the political parties by instigating reformist groups within the parties in an attempt to isolate the leadership and later also tried floating a few new ones.

They next tried to force both Hasina and Khaleda to quit Bangladesh and failing that tried to try them for corruption which also failed resoundingly. All of the above attempts failed proving that the military was neither competent nor grown up when it came to politics.

* * *

The biggest obstacle of our politics is that both parties believe that they can do no wrong. Our military believes in that too. Its anti-corruption drive was limited to civilians only and no army person was investigated or scrutinised let alone charged. In fact they are never done so. If there is no anti-corruption office within the military, isn't this assuming that the army is clean? Give me a break!

On what basis is this done when we know from experience what army officers do even when running martial law regimes? Does Hasina or Khaleda think their party people are corrupt, inept or full of themselves? Nor does the army. So much like each other.

* * *

F-M duo was smarter when seeing exit doors close, they rapidly moved to transferring power to the same parties they tried to damage and if possible destroy. Power arrangements with civilian rivals ensured a better deal for all.

There is no evidence that the military cheated with the aid of the EC in 2008 elections but even if it did, backing BNP was out of the question with its huge stigma of corruption and misrule. AL was the only sensible horse to back but even without an inch of support, AL would have won the elections. BNP was at its worst in that year.

* * *

Why do we trash the F-M combo when the tripartite agreement amongst the three groups works best for all? By taking a middle space, the army doesn't have to intervene directly and can go on doing peacekeeping happily. It has accepted that the age of direct rule is over but can now tilt towards one or the other as it sees fit to serve its own interest. They are friends and brothers of our civilian politicians. Together they keep the system going.

——————————————–

Afsan Chowdhury is a journalist and researcher.

http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2011/04/04/why-does-al-bnp-resemble-fakhruddin-moeen-combo/

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[ALOCHONA] Dhaka road to be named after Indira

Dhaka road to be named after Indira

Dhaka, Apr 4 (bdnews24.com) – The government proposes to name an important road in the capital after late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi to honour her contribution to the Liberation War. "India played an important role in the 1971 war and Bangabandhu acknowledged that many a time. To honour her, the government is planning to rechristen an important road after her name," said a source in the liberation war affairs ministry.

Then Supreme Soviet presidium chairman Nicholai Vichtorivich Padagarni and prime minister Alexi Nicholai Cosinig had expressed concern over the arrest of Bangabandhu in 1971 and asked the then Paksitani regime to release him, the source said. "Roads named after them in the diplomatic area are also being planned." According to the source, many Indian defence personnel were martyred in the war and a separate monument would be built to honour them in Suhrawardy Udyan.

Since then foreign ministers of Russia and India, Andre Gromiko and Sarder Sharan Singh, played a significant role in favour of Bangladesh, they will be accorded given special honour as well, the source informed. Soviet navy made the Chittagong port mine-free and many of them were dead or injured in the process, "so they would also be recognised for their outstanding contribution," the source added. "The foreign citizens will be given honorary citizenship and they will be presented with a crest of 50 gram gold of 18 carat," the source revealed.

Heads of states, politicians, artists, authors, philosophers and intellectuals, human right activists or students, journalists, professionals, international organisations, defence personnel and civilians, diplomats and women leaders have also been included in the list.

Meanwhile, foreign minister Dipu Moni said the list of the foreign nationals contributing to the Liberation War would be completed this year. "The 40th anniversary of independence will end next Mar 25, but we want to publish the list by December," she said after a meeting of the National Committee on Honouring Foreign Nationals in Liberation War at the foreign ministry on Sunday. "We will sit again by mid-May and discuss a list of over 500 foreign nationals," she said.

In the list, some Pakistani nationals were also included as they also condemned and protested against genocide in Bangladesh, Moni said.

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Re: [ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

Thank you Ejaz for reassuring me.

You might ofcourse find yourself all alone. Since stake burning might result in no one left standing since all mortals have some kind of imperfection .

Much relieved that you are on the contrary feeling rejuvenated and ready with all answers at a moments notice!

-----Original Message-----
From: ezajur
Sent: Apr 3, 2011 8:54 AM
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

Dear Robin

The state of rock and roll in Bangladesh is a reflection of the state of Bangladesh. We are a nation of dancing queens so boogie woogie is the least of our priorities. We need rock and roll which will lend voice to discontent and rebellion and which will shape the course of the young Bangladeshi male. As of now the righteous Bangladeshi male is crushed and defeated. We need the crap kicked out of us and the sense kicked into us. I'm working on a band project J

Andalib is connected every which way, as I have already indicated. Further inspection will no doubt reveal he is flawed. None of which detracts from the significance of the truth he spoke that day.

Bangladesh will face corrupt political dynasties the way the world has always faced corrupt political dynasties. And that does not preclude violence, as our own history continues to show. Violent short cuts and the machinations of individuals and groups, whether altruistic or otherwise, are inevitable, even natural. After all, these political dynasties also exercise violence and entrench themselves in ways which may require forcible removal.

No softie phase for me. You will find Andalib had more flashes of the Angry Young Man in his speech than flashes of anything else. I am, in fact, rejuvenated.

Our politicians have urinated continuously on the graves of every young uneducated and forgotten teenage kid that picked up a gun in 1971.

I'm supposed to be bloody angry.

And you aren't befuddled in the Land of the Great Satan. You know the dirty, awful truth. Like many, you just haven't chosen to jump in the gutter of Bangladesh and take on the scum who support status quo politics in Bangladesh. And yet you could effortlessly carve them up into pieces with your intellect. Far easier to mock Angry Young Men. Alas. Poor me.

In my country, my Bangladesh, thugs of a ruling, democratically elected party can rape a child and get away with it. And people with degrees from your nearest university not only keep quiet about such crimes but actively defend the status quo.

May they burn at the stake.

Ezajur Rahman

Kuwait

Re: [ALOCHONA] MP Andalib

Dear Ejaz

Yes a Rock and Roller he may but can he dance the boogie woogie!!!

Incidentally, I am told he is a member of a prominent dynasty with bloodlines going every which way. Furthermore, his political lines extending to all parties and factions. Not that it matters to me since Bangladesh has to deal with its inherited political/ruling culture and that change must come naturally not through violent short cuts based on some altruistic individual or group's opinion whether such forcible removal is justified or not.

Hope this is not the stirrings of a "softie" phase. That would seriously undermine the 'angry young man" tough talking no nonsense person I have become so used to and fond of.

Robin

Befuddled in the Land of the Great Satan

-----Original Message-----
From: ezajur
Sent: Mar 31, 2011 7:21 AM
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ALOCHONA] MP Andalib

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSFEGwwjUYo

Finally. An MP who understands rock and roll :)

He's getting thousands of hits on Facebook and this particular speech has been received with raucous applause at many levels.

I hope you enjoy this speech as much as I did.

I have heard he is the son of AL Sheikh Selim's sister and married to the daughter of AL Sheikh Helal. Wow! A rare example of a Deshi man standing up to his in laws :) He is also an MP for Bhola and President of Jatiya Party (Monju)!

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[ALOCHONA] Finally API Park to be ready by 2012 in Bangladesh: M M Chowdhury, an important lobbyist/advocate/supporter for this project since 2007

API Park to be ready by 2012: minister

Dhaka, Apr 3 (bdnews24.com) — Construction of the proposed industrial park for manufacturing pharmaceutical ingredients will complete by 2012, the industries minister has said.

"If the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) project can be set up, we need not to import raw materials for this industry from next year," Dilip Barua said on Sunday while addressing a seminar on "Globalisation of Drug Industry" at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) is implementing the construction work which was likely to begin in April last year.

The project was first undertaken in 2008, but was later extended by one year due to complication in land acquisition.

Due to the delay, the project cost of rose from Tk 2.13 billion to Tk 2.35 billion.

The minister said if implemented, the 200-acre project, sited at Bausia of Gazaria Upazila under Munshiganj district, would help earning exports of generic drugs worth $10 million.

"The significance of pharmaceutical industry is rising in line with the increasing number of population," he said.

Barua also stated that the local companies fulfil 97 percent of the internal demands alongside exporting in 80 countries.

bdnews24.com/si/ach/pks/2045h

Regards,

M M Chowdhury

Founder/CEO, Amreteck Pharma USA

www.amreteckpharma.com

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[ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

Dear Robin

The state of rock and roll in Bangladesh is a reflection of the state of Bangladesh. We are a nation of dancing queens so boogie woogie is the least of our priorities. We need rock and roll which will lend voice to discontent and rebellion and which will shape the course of the young Bangladeshi male. As of now the righteous Bangladeshi male is crushed and defeated. We need the crap kicked out of us and the sense kicked into us. I'm working on a band project J

Andalib is connected every which way, as I have already indicated. Further inspection will no doubt reveal he is flawed. None of which detracts from the significance of the truth he spoke that day.

Bangladesh will face corrupt political dynasties the way the world has always faced corrupt political dynasties. And that does not preclude violence, as our own history continues to show. Violent short cuts and the machinations of individuals and groups, whether altruistic or otherwise, are inevitable, even natural. After all, these political dynasties also exercise violence and entrench themselves in ways which may require forcible removal.

No softie phase for me. You will find Andalib had more flashes of the Angry Young Man in his speech than flashes of anything else. I am, in fact, rejuvenated.

Our politicians have urinated continuously on the graves of every young uneducated and forgotten teenage kid that picked up a gun in 1971.

I'm supposed to be bloody angry.

And you aren't befuddled in the Land of the Great Satan. You know the dirty, awful truth. Like many, you just haven't chosen to jump in the gutter of Bangladesh and take on the scum who support status quo politics in Bangladesh. And yet you could effortlessly carve them up into pieces with your intellect. Far easier to mock Angry Young Men. Alas. Poor me.

In my country, my Bangladesh, thugs of a ruling, democratically elected party can rape a child and get away with it. And people with degrees from your nearest university not only keep quiet about such crimes but actively defend the status quo.

May they burn at the stake.

Ezajur Rahman

Kuwait

Re: [ALOCHONA] MP Andalib

Dear Ejaz

Yes a Rock and Roller he may but can he dance the boogie woogie!!!

Incidentally, I am told he is a member of a prominent dynasty with bloodlines going every which way. Furthermore, his political lines extending to all parties and factions. Not that it matters to me since Bangladesh has to deal with its inherited political/ruling culture and that change must come naturally not through violent short cuts based on some altruistic individual or group's opinion whether such forcible removal is justified or not.

Hope this is not the stirrings of a "softie" phase. That would seriously undermine the 'angry young man" tough talking no nonsense person I have become so used to and fond of.

Robin

Befuddled in the Land of the Great Satan

-----Original Message-----
From: ezajur
Sent: Mar 31, 2011 7:21 AM
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ALOCHONA] MP Andalib

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSFEGwwjUYo

Finally. An MP who understands rock and roll :)

He's getting thousands of hits on Facebook and this particular speech has been received with raucous applause at many levels.

I hope you enjoy this speech as much as I did.

I have heard he is the son of AL Sheikh Selim's sister and married to the daughter of AL Sheikh Helal. Wow! A rare example of a Deshi man standing up to his in laws :) He is also an MP for Bhola and President of Jatiya Party (Monju)!

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[ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

Sounds like no one in your whole family could talk like Andalib because you are not from Mujib's family.

If Mujib were alive today he would prefer to sit next to Andalib in Parliament than next to anyone else.

Kamal, Jamal, Selim, Helal, Joy, Moni, Taposh - Andalib is better than the whole bunch.

You do not deny anything that Andalib said and yet you cannot repeat anything he said.

Mujib stood up to the mafia of the Pakistan government. No wonder Andalib is standing up to the mafia of the AL.

Don't give Mujib credit for Andalib when you prefer Rehana anyday.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Muhammad Ali <manik195709@...> wrote:
>
> Any way he is the product of BANGABANDHU'S FAMILY !!!!!
> Â
> Dr. Manik
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: ezajur Ezajur@...
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thu, March 31, 2011 8:21:11 AM
> Subject: [ALOCHONA] MP Andalib
>
> Â
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSFEGwwjUYo
>
> Finally. An MP who understands rock and roll :)
>
> He's getting thousands of hits on Facebook and this particular speech has been
> received with raucous applause at many levels.
>
> I hope you enjoy this speech as much as I did.
>
> I have heard he is the son of AL Sheikh Selim's sister and married to the
> daughter of AL Sheikh Helal. Wow! A rare example of a Deshi man standing up to
> his in laws :) He is also an MP for Bhola and President of Jatiya Party (Monju)!
>

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Re: [ALOCHONA] CNG time bomb ticks

In Sonar Bangla, fitness certificates can in fact only be bought through dalals (currently Mujib's dalals). There is no way to get one legally....at all. So expect more deshis to be killed through the tradition of incompetence and corruption established by Mujib.

On the other hand, why is this such a big deal? There are more important and critical issues to deal with. For example:

- there's still a bunch of really old men out there we need to kill for crimes committed over 40 years ago that were forgiven by Mujib anyway.

- there's some words in the constitution (you know, the one that nobody follows at all) to be changed.

- there's still space left on an A4 sheet after writing down Hasina's honors that need to be filled.

- there's still some do-gooders out there that need to be humiliated and dragged down.

All in all and in keeping with the politicians and their idolaters - so what if thousands die because of old CNG cylinders? They should be grateful they lived at all.

Joy Bangla!

Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@rahman.com

From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>

Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com

Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 10:29:45 +0600

To: <undisclosed-recipients>

ReplyTo: alochona@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [ALOCHONA] CNG time bomb ticks

CNG time bomb ticks

Passengers of CNG-run public transports are running the risk of cylinder
explosion as several thousand such vehicles are in service across the country
with CNG cylinders beyond their usability limit.

Officials concerned told New Age that the cylinders installed in the vehicles in
mid-80s in the country were still in service beyond their lifespan although they
should undergo fitness test every five years. The vehicles with cylinders
installed later, are also running on the roads without fitness test.

Zakir Hossain, general secretary of Bangladesh CNG filling station and
conversion workshop owners association, told New Age that several thousand
CNG-driven vehicles were in service with eight to 10 years old cylinders that
had not undergone fitness test. 'Generally, a CNG cylinder lasts 15 years and
law stipulates that they should be checked after five years in operation,' he
added.
He said that owners of CNG-driven vehicles, particularly the ones used in public
transport, were ignorant about the risk involved if their cylinders did not
undergo fitness test every five years. 'They seem little interested in having
their cylinders checked or replaced,' he said.

MA Rashid Sarkar, professor of mechanical engineering department at Bangladesh
University of Engineering and Technology, told New Age accidents caused by CNG
cylinder explosion took place quite often and the number of such accidents was
increasing every day. In most of the cases, old cylinders have been found to be
the reason, he added.He said that a CNG cylinder explosion could cause a terrible destruction blowing
up the vehicle and also damaging others nearby which could take a heavy toll of
lives.

Admitting the gravity of the situation, experts, officials and agencies
concerned called for putting in place an effective mechanism to enforce the
rules so that the CNG cylinders undergo fitness test every five years and the
spent ones were replaced.Zakir told New Age that the number of workshops which carry out fitness test of
CNG cylinders was very few which could hardly cope with an increasing number of
CNG-run vehicles.

'There is no enforcement of law or monitoring on the ground to check fitness
of the CNG cylinders and replace the old ones,' he said.
Khairul Bashar, director general of explosives department, told New Age that
owners of the CNG-driven vehicles were supposed to have their cylinders checked
at an authorised workshop and it was the responsibility of the refueling
stations to check the fitness certificate of the cylinders before refueling.
'The explosives department has permitted eight to nine workshops across the
country to do the job,' he added.

Employees of several CNG refueling stations, however, expressed ignorance about
their duty to check whether the cylinders of the vehicles have fitness stickers
on them when they come to the station for refueling. The explosives department,
however, has no initiatives to monitor it.

In reply to a question, Bashar told New Age that they had no vigilance teams to
monitor whether or not the CNG stations and other agencies concerned were
carrying out their duties.
He attributed the reason to lack of logistics and manpower.
Zakir told New Age that there were about two lakh CNG-driven vehicles in the
country and 60,000 to 70,000 of them were used as public transports. A large
number of CNG-run public transports like three wheelers, human howlers and buses
were plying the roads without legal documents, he said.

Osman Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Federation, told New
Age that the associations concerned had called for modification of the BRTA
ordinance.

Zakir told New Age that a large number of CNG-run vehicles appeared in the
streets in 2002-03 when the government banned two-stroke three wheelers and
allowed private entrepreneurs to invest in CNG conversion business.
Now, there are 130 CNG conversion workshops in the country and about a hundred
CNG-run vehicles are being prepared every day to hit the road, he said.

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/13877.html

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Re: [ALOCHONA] FW: A Victory For Secular Democracy-- A Pakistani view of BD'sConstitution

All very lofty and fatuous....much like so much drivel vomited on Independence Day. So how will this change help us? So Jamat will become illegal - that just means the fanatics have left the field but the criminals are still playing. Given that Jamat has never been in power, this is all just typical intellectual window dressing and ultimately irrelevant.

The world is waiting with bated breath? Really?

The only thing the world has been interested in has been our treatment of Prof Yunus and we saw how well that was received!!

No, the demise of Jamat helps no-one other than the criminals, the godfathers and the idolaters.

Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@rahman.com

From: Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>

Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com

Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 16:03:25 -0400

ReplyTo: alochona@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [ALOCHONA] FW: A Victory For Secular Democracy-- A Pakistani view of BD's Constitution

Please click on the Title for a full version of South Asia web magazine where this article appeared.

I only wish the present Govt. led by Awami League would have the guts to stand up to the pressure of the Islamists and Jehadists and declare Jamaat, et al illegal and unconstitutional once and for all.

The whole world is awaiting with bated breath for Bangladesh to lead the way! Pakistan would be the first to cheer the success of our long struggle. Nepal, who has just extricated herself from being designated as a Hindu Monarchy, will join the cheer. Not so India, because India's avowed secularism is in tatters, and BD's official secular status would put them in shame.

Farida Majid

Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 10:52:40 -0400
Subject: A Victory For Secular Democracy

The Court emphasized secularism as the guiding state policy. It held that religious non-discrimination and protection for all faiths, even for non-believers, should be the main responsibility of the state. It explained that secularism means ensuring religious tolerance and freedom of faith without any favor or discrimination. The Court, in unequivocal terms, condemned the actions of the military junta to convert secular Bangladesh into a theocratic state

A Victory For Secular Democracy

By Huzaima Bukhari and Dr. Ikramul Haq • Region • April 2010

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has declared the Fifth Amendment in the constitution unlawful as it

allowed religion-based politics, not envisaged by the original document.

The recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh reaffirming secular pluralistic constitutional democracy and barring use of religion in politics, has once again revived debate about the motives and purposes behind the partition of India. Dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971 exploded the myth that the "real" purpose behind establishment of Pakistan was establishment of an Islamic State. The two-nation theory, based on the foundation of religious divide of Hindus and Muslims, received an irretrievable setback when the Bengalis were maltreated by the ruling elite of West Pakistan. This ultimately led to a division of the Muslim state, proving that socio-economic factors play a decisive role in politics. Religion is just one of the ploys to achieve political goals

.

It is well-documented (see Secular and Nationalist Jinnah by Dr. Ajeet Jawed), that Quaid-i-Azam wanted a secular Pakistan. Throughout his political career, he struggled against both Hindu and Muslim extremists. After independence, the feudal class with the help of its cronies - bureaucrats, clergymen and men in khaki - managed to hijack the new state and converted it into an Islamic Republic. Islam does not permit feudalism and its main stress is on the empowerment of the have-nots. Even in the very beginning, these classes tried to tamper with the famous speech of the Quaid, but failed to do so as Dr. Ajeet Jawed says in his book: "...it was allowed to be published in full only after Dawn's editor, Altaf Hussain, threatened those who were trying to tamper with it to go to Jinnah himself if the press advice was not withdrawn." For building a secular Pakistan, Dr. Jawed writes, the Quaid sought the help of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, because, as he said in his letter to Badshah Khan, he was "surrounded by thieves and scoundrels" through whom he could do nothing. With a mass of evidence, Dr. Ajeet Jawed has established that the Quaid remained a secularist and nationalist up to the last moment of his life

.

The decision of the Bangladesh Supreme Court must be seen in this historic perspective. It reflects the ideology of the founding fathers and has restored the original constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. In the wake of this verdict, the Election Commission of Bangladesh, on January 26, 2010, asked the three Islamic parties - Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan and Tarikat Federation - to amend their charters as they were in conflict with the supreme law of the country

.

Just as Quaid-e-Azam was betrayed by the feudal class in his party, the founding father of Bangladesh also met the same fate. Sheikh Mujib's Awami League gave the nation its first constitution within one year of independence, based on the four cardinal principles - secularism, nationalism, socialism and democracy. Bangladesh became the third major Muslim country to officially embrace secularism after Turkey and Tunis. On August 15, 1975, Sheikh Mujib was assassinated along with his family. Luckily, Rehana and Hasina, his two daughters, residing outside Bangladesh, survived. In the wake of Sheikh Mujib's assassination, the country unfortunately witnessed a number of coups and countercoups within a very short span - from August 15 to November 7, 1975.

The successor of Sheikh Mujib, Moshtaque Khondkar, selected Chief Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem as President. Deriving power through martial law proclamations, he abolished secularism from the constitution by amending Article 38. The lifting of the ban on religion-based politics paved the way for theocratic parties to campaign in the name of religion. Abu Sadat transferred powers to Ziaur Rehman on November 26, 1976 after a deal that he would indemnify his illegal takeover as well as all actions taken between August 15, 1975 and April 9, 1979 and passing of the Fifth Amendment that ratified martial law proclamations including desecularisation of the constitution. Subsequently, Ziaur Rehman was assassinated by junior army officers and General Ershad took control, declaring Martial Law on March 24, 1982.

General Ershad, like General Ziaul Haq, abused religion for the perpetuation of his rule and Islam was made the state religion. In the wake of a popular democratic movement, his military rule came to an end and democracy was restored in 1991. In 1996, the Awami League once again won elections and abrogated all the unconstitutional amendments to sanction the trial of the assassins of Sheikh Mujib. In 2005, the Fifth Amendment was struck down by the High Court. The Court emphasized secularism as the guiding state policy. It held that religious non-discrimination and protection for all faiths, even for non-believers, should be the main responsibility of the state. It explained that secularism means ensuring religious tolerance and freedom of faith without any favor or discrimination. The Court, in unequivocal terms, condemned the actions of the military junta to convert secular Bangladesh into a theocratic state.

The Court's ruling was contested by the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), led by the widow of Ziaur Rehman, Khalida Zia. The Court granted a stay order that was ultimately vacated on January 3, 2010. As a result, the original Article 38 of the Constitution became operative and barred the use of religion or communal connotations in politics. This has been termed as a major development not only in Bangladesh but the entire Muslim world. It is commonly advocated in the West that Islam and pluralistic democracy are incompatible. The very use of Islam as state religion, critics of Muslim world say, negates the concept of democracy. Secularism requires that at the state level, there should be no propagation of religion and it should be the personal matter of citizens.

In the peculiar political milieu of Bangladesh and elsewhere in the Muslim world, religion has become a tool in the hands of vested interests. The mushroom growth of so-called Islamic political parties is a cause of concern for all. These parties, backed by military establishments, exploit the masses and grab the nation's wealth, all in the name of Islam. Militants are their front men, terrorism their weapon and they themselves are the pawns of neo-imperialism. In the face of these realities, it is heartening to see that the Supreme Court of Bangladesh has upheld the High Court's ruling delivered in 2005, declaring the Fifth Amendment in the constitution unlawful as it allowed religion-based politics, not envisaged by the framers of the original document.

In Bangladesh, this decision of the Supreme Court may enhance hostility between the two traditionally rival parties - the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and BNP led by Khaleda Zia, widow of Ziaur Rehman.

The verdict is a defeat for the BNP that challenged the High Court decision in 2005 and secured a tay. BNP will have to surrender to the commands of the law.

Article 41 of the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees freedom of religion. It says:
(1). Subject to law, public order and morality,

a. every citizen has the right to profess, practice or propagate any religion;

b. every religious community or denomination has the right to establish, maintain and manage its religious institutions.

(2). No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction, or to take part in or to attend any religious ceremony or worship, if that instruction, ceremony or worship relates to a religion other than his own.

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Sunday, April 3, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

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[ALOCHONA] Rally for Yunus

Rally for Yunus

37 lakh Grameen borrowers sign support for Nobel hero

[ALOCHONA] Low and disorder

[ALOCHONA] Dr Moshiur Rahman on transit fee

[ALOCHONA] Why does AL-BNP resemble Fakhruddin-Moeen combo?

[ALOCHONA] Dhaka road to be named after Indira

Re: [ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

[ALOCHONA] Finally API Park to be ready by 2012 in Bangladesh: M M Chowdhury, an important lobbyist/advocate/supporter for this project since 2007

[ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

[ALOCHONA] Re: MP Andalib

Re: [ALOCHONA] CNG time bomb ticks

Re: [ALOCHONA] FW: A Victory For Secular Democracy-- A Pakistani view of BD'sConstitution

A Victory For Secular Democracy

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By Huzaima Bukhari and Dr. Ikramul Haq • Region • April 2010