----- Forwarded Message -----
From: SyedAslam <syed.aslam3@gmail.com>
To: khabor@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2012 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [KHABOR] Re: SAJEEB WAZED
From: SyedAslam <syed.aslam3@gmail.com>
To: khabor@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2012 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [KHABOR] Re: SAJEEB WAZED
Tarique Zia : " Symbol of "kleptocratic government and violent politics" in Bangladesh .....the notorious and widely feared" son of former premier Khaleda Zia .....
WikiLeaks: Tarique Zia – a threat to US National interest
by Shakhawat Liton and Shamim Ashraf
Portraying Tarique Rahman as a symbol of "kleptocratic government and violent politics" in Bangladesh, the US embassy in Dhaka even recommended blocking his entry into the United States. The embassy believed Tarique was "guilty of egregious political corruption that has had a serious adverse effect on US national interests", namely the stability of democratic institutions and US foreign assistance goals, a leaked US embassy cable says. James F Moriarty, the then US ambassador, sent the confidential cable on November 3, 2008 to Washington and WikiLeaks published it on August 30 this year. He cited several examples of Tarique's major corruption as he described his worries in the cable about the possible impact of giving him access into the US.
The decision in this regard, however, could not be known. Tarique has been staying in London since September 2008.
About six months after Moriarty's recommendation, Geeta Pasi, chargé d' affaires of US embassy in Dhaka, sent another cable to Washington on Tarique. It said the State Department was considering a determination for visa revocation for him under the Presidential Proclamation.
Tarique's corrupt practices have had deleterious effects on the US interests, Moriarty wrote, adding "His antics have weakened public confidence in government and eroded the stability of democratic institutions. Tarique's well-established reputation for flouting the rule of law directly threatens US financial assistance goals directed toward reforming legal codes, strengthening good governance and halting judicial abuses." The bribery, embezzlement, and culture of corruption that the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's elder son has helped create and maintain in Bangladesh has directly and irreparably undermined US businesses, resulting in many lost opportunities, Moriarty wrote.
"His theft of millions of dollars in public money has undermined political stability in this moderate, Muslim-majority nation and subverted US attempts to foster a stable democratic government, a key objective in this strategically important region," reads the cable. Tarique's flagrant corruption has also seriously threatened specific US Mission goals, it said.
The US embassy in Dhaka has three key priorities for Bangladesh: democratization, development, and denial of space to terrorists. "Tarique's audaciously corrupt activities jeopardize all three."
"His history of embezzlement, extortion, and interference in the judicial process undermines the rule of law and threatens to upend the US goal of a stable, democratic Bangladesh. The climate of corrupt business practices and bribe solicitation that Tarique fostered derailed US efforts to promote economic development by discouraging much needed foreign investment and complicating the international operations of US companies." Tarique's "flagrant disregard" for the rule of law had provided potent ground for terrorists to gain a foothold in Bangladesh while also exacerbating poverty and weakening democratic institutions, the cable said." In short, much of what is wrong in Bangladesh can be blamed on Tarique and his cronies," Moriarty wrote.
The US ambassador recommended that Tarique could be subject to Presidential Proclamation 7750 that can block one's entry into the US for the aforementioned reasons. The cable, however, said the embassy was not seeking to apply the proclamation for Tarique's wife Zubaida Rahman, their daughter Zaima Rahman or his mother Khaleda Zia.
The elder son of Khaleda Zia, who led the government in 1991-1996 and later 2001-2006, became an all influential party leader during BNP's second term in office. During the period, he established an alternative centre of power at Hawa Bhaban, the then political office of the chairperson. It was open secret that Tarique and his cronies used to interfere in the government activities and control all major business deals.
He, however, became powerless after his arrest during the tenure of immediate past army-backed caretaker government.
Terming him "the notorious and widely feared" son of former premier Khaleda Zia, the US ambassador mentioned that Tarique, arrested in an anti-corruption crackdown in March 2007, was released on bail on September 3 the next year. He flew to the UK on September 11 for medical treatment. As a condition for his release, Tarique had to quit the post of BNP's senior joint secretary general, after enjoying the position for about five years. But still abroad, he was made all-powerful senior vice chairman in December 2009 with a clear mandate to lead BNP in absence of his mother.
The cable termed Tarique "notorious for flagrantly and frequently demanding bribes in connection with government procurement actions and appointments to political office". Saying that Tarique's release occurred despite multiple pending cases against him on charges of corruption, extortion, bribery, embezzlement and tax evasion, Moriarty wrote:
"With deep political ties that reach the highest court in the land, Tarique managed to manipulate the judicial process and overcome a concerted effort by the Caretaker Government to block his bail.""We believe Tarique has several passports, including a new one in which the UK issued him a visa in September. Another passport contains a five year multiple-entry B1/B2 visa (issued May 11, 2005). We suspect that passport is being held by the government."
Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) leveled serious charges against Tarique, the cable said, adding he reportedly had accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit wealth. There are multiple extortion cases pending against him, founded on the testimony of numerous prominent business owners who he victimized and exploited, the cable said.
"In one case, Tarique allegedly threatened Al Amin Construction owner Amin Ahmed with closure of the company unless he received a payment of 150,000 USD. Other local business leaders, including Mohammad Aftab Uddin Khan of Reza Construction Ltd, Mir Zahir Hossian of Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd, and Harun Ferdousi have each filed accusations detailing a systematic pattern of extortion on a multi-million dollar scale."
The ACC had also filed charges of concealing ill-gotten wealth, and the National Board of Revenue had brought tax evasion charges against Tarique, it added. Tarique's corrupt activities were not limited to extortion of local companies, Moriarty wrote.
Saying that the ACC had also uncovered evidence in several bribery cases involving both foreign and local firms and individuals, he listed the following examples:
SIEMENS
According to a witness who funneled bribes from Siemens to Tarique and his brother Koko, Tarique received a bribe of approximately two percent on all Siemens deals in Bangladesh (paid in US dollars). This case is currently being pursued by Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture and the FBI.
HARBIN COMPANY
ACC sources report that the Harbin Company, a Chinese construction company, paid $750,000 to Tarique to open a plant. According to the ACC, one of Tarique's cronies received the bribe and transported it to Singapore for deposit with Citibank.
MONEM CONSTRUCTION
An ACC investigator advised Embassy officials that Monem Construction paid a bribe worth $450,000 to Tarique to secure contracts.
KABIR MURDER CASE
The ACC has evidence that Tarique accepted a $3.1 million bribe to thwart the prosecution of a murder case against Sanvir Sobhan, the son of Bashundhara Group chairman. Sanvir was accused in the killing of Humayun Kabir, a director of the business conglomerate. An investigation by the ACC confirmed Tarique had solicited the payment, promising to clear Sanvir of all charges.
Moriarty also wrote that beyond bribery and extortion, the ACC reported Tarique had also become involved in an elaborate and lucrative embezzlement scheme. With the help of several accomplices, he succeeded in looting $3 lakh from the Zia Orphanage Trust fund. He quoted an ACC source saying Tarique, who is a co-signatory to the trust fund account, used funds from the trust for a land purchase in his hometown. He also provided signed checks drawn from the orphanage fund accounts to BNP party members for their 2006 election campaigns.
Also read:
On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 10:17 AM, M. Alam <lean_alam@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Mohammad Hossain <mhossain52@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [KHABOR] Re: SAJEEB WAZED
To: khabor@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, May 18, 2012, 7:58 AM
I also heard so.
--- On Thu, 5/17/12, Desh Bondhu <desh_bondhu@ymail.com> wrote:
From: Desh Bondhu <desh_bondhu@ymail.com>
Subject: [KHABOR] Re: SAJEEB WAZED
To:
Received: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 5:56 PM
From: shadhin Bangla <shadhin071@gmail.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, 17 May 2012, 4:43
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Re: SAJEEB WAZED , THE FUTURE LEADER !!!!!!
I am sorry to say...butSajeb Wajed Joy is one of the most corrupt person even though he is not in Bangladesh.The information you see in the news are done by Paid Journalists who does nothing but playing song for them.
Most of the VOIP business in Bangladesh are being controlled by him and by doing that he is pocketing in millions of dollars. With his leaning towards the SUMMIT Corporation and its corrupt minister MR. Faruk Khan (10%) is ruining the economy and siphoning hard earned currency of Bangladesh.Ask anyone in Bangladesh and they will tell you the real story (if they are courageous, as the government is harassing anyone and any public with it FASCIST attitudes).
Thank you.On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 9:17 AM, ezajur <Ezajur@yahoo.com> wrote:
You have prejudged him because you want him and assumed he will be leader using that old Bongu village talk... "time will tell".
Like other hypocrites and shubidabadees you hide yourself and pretend to be neutral.
Mr Wazed indeed. More like Sugar Dadddy.
--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Shah Deeldar" <shahdeeldar@...> wrote:
>
>
> I am not going to prejudge Mr. Wazed. Only time will tell how good leader he would be. On paper, this man has better quality than whole BNP mafia and its two princes.
> -SD
> --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Muhammad Ali <manik195709@> wrote:
> >
> > Sajeeb A. Wazed Joy on ITC Programme 2012; The Asian Century : Securing the Global Promise.
> > by Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 10:40am ·
> > "Bangladesh is a classic text book case study of how dynasties can be a curse or a boon. We have two political dynasties in our country, one was started
> > by my family, and the other was founded by our first military dictator
> > who took power by force. A bad leader confers the same bad traits to
> > his dynasty."
> > Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, special speaker in the session of "SOUTH ASIA BRAINSTORM: Is Dynasty a Burden or Boon?" [March 17, 2012].
> > Â
> > India Today Conclave, a concern of India Today group has been organizing
> > programmes since 2002 focusing on different issues of Asia, especially
> > South Asia. Among other noted speakers Mr. Sajeeb Wazed represented
> > Bangladesh as speaker of Programme 2012. India Today Conclave’ has
> > become one of the most prestigious congregation of the high profile
> > personalities all over the world. People like Al Gore, Sara Palin, Dalai Lama, Dr. Mammohon Sing participated in ‘India Today Conclave’.
> > Â
> > Sajeeb Wazed
> > Source : India Today Conclave
> > Making a rare public appearance, Bangladesh's Sajeeb Wazed, Special Adviser to Awami League traced his entry into politics by citing the absolute
> > chaos in his country post the 2001 elections which compelled him to
> > return from the United States to draw attention to the wave of
> > atrocities being perpetuated by the opposition party, the Bangladesh
> > National Party.
> > Â
> > Sajeeb Wazed is an information
> > technology expert based in Washington, DC. He has worked in the industry for over a decade. This includes a start-up company in Silicon Valley
> > that he co-founded that raised over $8 million in venture capital.
> > Presently, he has his own consulting practice in the Washington area
> > with clients that have included the World Bank. He is the architect of
> > the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ plan that is one of the key manifestos of the
> > present government of Bangladesh.
> > Â
> > Outside of
> > his professional life, he has also played a supporting role in
> > Bangladeshi politics. Son of Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the current prime
> > minister of Bangladesh, and grandson of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh, Mr Wazed has been responsible for managing the country’s relations with the US and lobbying there. He was actively
> > involved in the campaign to stop the then government of Bangladesh from
> > holding a rigged election in 2007. After the subsequent military
> > takeover, he was a key player in restoring democracy to Bangladesh.
> > Â
> > He has a bachelor’s degree in physics, mathematics and computer science
> > from Bangalore University, a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering
> > from the University of Texas and a master’s in public administration
> > degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. He has been named as one of 250
> > Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum.
> > Like · · Share
> > *
> >
> > * 10 people like this.
> > * * Sheikh Mahfuzur Rahman we(Bangladesh) need your-self.
> > March 19 at 2:27am · Like
> > * Akramur Nipun Joy vai/rangpur a asla 01754882525 A call diben
> > March 23 at 4:43pm · Like
> > * Hanif Mahmud Thanks
> > April 20 at 9:55am via mobile · Like
> > * Write a comment...
> >
>