Is Hasina’s Bangladesh at war with itself or Pakistan-lovers?

[BanglaBhoot]

By Naveed Ahmad
Published: February 18, 2016

Pakistan recently declared a female Bangladeshi diplomat ‘persona non grata’ in a tit-for-tat act. The diplomatic ruckus is not an isolated happening between the two foreign ministries but the row is not an easy one to settle this time around.

Dhaka never stops hitting the headlines whenever Hasina Wajid comes to power, be it the mid-1990s or 2009 onwards. She won a key two-thirds majority six years ago and took office with the promise to take on political rivals like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). True to her words, Wajid started the controversial process of settling scores with dissidents of the 1971 liberation war. The War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, tasked to investigate and find evidence, completed its report in 2008 and identified 1,600 suspects. Instead of moving an international court, Wajid created one at home in 2009. She named the domestic judicial panel the ‘International’ Crimes Tribunal but the bench was only mandated to try Bangladeshi citizens.

Of the 24 sentenced to death so far, JI’s Obaidul Haque, Ataur Rahman and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and BNP’s Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury are a few prominent leaders who have been hanged for their support for Pakistan in the 1971 war of independence.

Moreover, Bangladesh has banned Wajid’s political rival Jamaat-i-Islami ahead of the 2014 general elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition party BNP for alleged rigging and strong-arm tactics of the ruling party. Over 500 people have been killed in political violence during the past three years. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other international organisations have openly questioned the transparency and fairness of these so-called war crime trials in Bangladesh.

The executions come amid repeated calls by Awami League MPs for severing diplomatic ties with Pakistan, alleging Islamabad’s attempts to instigate militancy and terrorism in the country.

During his official visit to Bangladesh a year after Wajid’s stint, General Pervez Musharraf expressed regret for the atrocities committed in 1971. “Your brothers and sisters in Pakistan share the pain of the events in 1971. The excesses committed during the unfortunate period are regretted. Let us bury the past in the spirit of magnanimity. Let not the light of the future be dimmed,” he said.

While the government of Bangladesh welcomed the gesture, Wajid-led opposition denounced the regret as inadequate. Even prior to the setting up of the so-called international tribunal, Wajid frustrated Islamabad’s attempts to normalise relations.

In 2009, Dhaka turned down Dr Khawaja Alqama’s nomination as ambassador of Pakistan. His father Khawaja Khairuddin was the mayor of Dhaka in the 1960s and the best-known face of the Muslim League too. The Awami League ideologues criticised Pakistan’s choice of an ethnic Bengali for his father opted against living in Bangladesh. Later, appointed as ambassador to Yemen, Alqama could have changed the course of Pakistan-Bangladesh ties had Wajid opted for a more pragmatic policy. Ironically, his cousin was serving Bangladesh’s envoy in Islamabad at the time.

After the August 15, 1975 coup in Bangladesh, independence architect Sheikh Mujeebur Rahman and most of Wajid’s family members were assassinated. Wajid and her sister Sheikh Rehana could escape the mayhem for they were already abroad. They later spent much of their exile in India. She continued her politics there until 1981 before returning to Dhaka. As Bangladesh’s premier since 2009 her friendship, nostalgia and thankfulness to India continue to have enormous influence on policies. Her critics see her as more hawkish and revengeful than her own father.

By opening Pandora’s box of the 1971 war of independence, the Bengali premier is violating the Tripartite Agreement signed between Islamabad, New Delhi and Dhaka on April 9, 1974. Without any provocation from Pakistan, Bangladeshi leadership has opted to worsen the bilateral relations by opening settled issues of the past. Observers believe that Wajid has shown little seriousness to extremist trends in the country, including the rise of Daesh, instead she has routed out the militants from the mainstream political arena.

Many analysts believe that Wajid is settling political scores by reviving the memories of 1971 and bringing Pakistan back to the discussion table. Her re-election has paved her way for political revenge against rivals like BNP and JI.

Interestingly, India is neither concerned with shrinking political space in Bangladesh nor the growth of extremism in the country. Islamabad has so far resorted to caution but watched the developments with enormous attention.

Is Hasina’s Bangladesh at war with itself or Pakistan-lovers? - The Express Tribune

 

[Kompromat]

The way Bangladesh is going, it will be hardly surprising if Hasina ends up becoming one of India's states in near future.

 

[EAK]

An Indian minister in disguise..

 

[Paksanity]

By Naveed Ahmad
Published: February 18, 2016

Pakistan recently declared a female Bangladeshi diplomat ‘persona non grata’ in a tit-for-tat act. The diplomatic ruckus is not an isolated happening between the two foreign ministries but the row is not an easy one to settle this time around.

Dhaka never stops hitting the headlines whenever Hasina Wajid comes to power, be it the mid-1990s or 2009 onwards. She won a key two-thirds majority six years ago and took office with the promise to take on political rivals like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). True to her words, Wajid started the controversial process of settling scores with dissidents of the 1971 liberation war. The War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, tasked to investigate and find evidence, completed its report in 2008 and identified 1,600 suspects. Instead of moving an international court, Wajid created one at home in 2009. She named the domestic judicial panel the ‘International’ Crimes Tribunal but the bench was only mandated to try Bangladeshi citizens.

Of the 24 sentenced to death so far, JI’s Obaidul Haque, Ataur Rahman and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and BNP’s Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury are a few prominent leaders who have been hanged for their support for Pakistan in the 1971 war of independence.

Moreover, Bangladesh has banned Wajid’s political rival Jamaat-i-Islami ahead of the 2014 general elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition party BNP for alleged rigging and strong-arm tactics of the ruling party. Over 500 people have been killed in political violence during the past three years. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other international organisations have openly questioned the transparency and fairness of these so-called war crime trials in Bangladesh.

The executions come amid repeated calls by Awami League MPs for severing diplomatic ties with Pakistan, alleging Islamabad’s attempts to instigate militancy and terrorism in the country.

During his official visit to Bangladesh a year after Wajid’s stint, General Pervez Musharraf expressed regret for the atrocities committed in 1971. “Your brothers and sisters in Pakistan share the pain of the events in 1971. The excesses committed during the unfortunate period are regretted. Let us bury the past in the spirit of magnanimity. Let not the light of the future be dimmed,” he said.

While the government of Bangladesh welcomed the gesture, Wajid-led opposition denounced the regret as inadequate. Even prior to the setting up of the so-called international tribunal, Wajid frustrated Islamabad’s attempts to normalise relations.

In 2009, Dhaka turned down Dr Khawaja Alqama’s nomination as ambassador of Pakistan. His father Khawaja Khairuddin was the mayor of Dhaka in the 1960s and the best-known face of the Muslim League too. The Awami League ideologues criticised Pakistan’s choice of an ethnic Bengali for his father opted against living in Bangladesh. Later, appointed as ambassador to Yemen, Alqama could have changed the course of Pakistan-Bangladesh ties had Wajid opted for a more pragmatic policy. Ironically, his cousin was serving Bangladesh’s envoy in Islamabad at the time.

After the August 15, 1975 coup in Bangladesh, independence architect Sheikh Mujeebur Rahman and most of Wajid’s family members were assassinated. Wajid and her sister Sheikh Rehana could escape the mayhem for they were already abroad. They later spent much of their exile in India. She continued her politics there until 1981 before returning to Dhaka. As Bangladesh’s premier since 2009 her friendship, nostalgia and thankfulness to India continue to have enormous influence on policies. Her critics see her as more hawkish and revengeful than her own father.

By opening Pandora’s box of the 1971 war of independence, the Bengali premier is violating the Tripartite Agreement signed between Islamabad, New Delhi and Dhaka on April 9, 1974. Without any provocation from Pakistan, Bangladeshi leadership has opted to worsen the bilateral relations by opening settled issues of the past. Observers believe that Wajid has shown little seriousness to extremist trends in the country, including the rise of Daesh, instead she has routed out the militants from the mainstream political arena.

Many analysts believe that Wajid is settling political scores by reviving the memories of 1971 and bringing Pakistan back to the discussion table. Her re-election has paved her way for political revenge against rivals like BNP and JI.

Interestingly, India is neither concerned with shrinking political space in Bangladesh nor the growth of extremism in the country. Islamabad has so far resorted to caution but watched the developments with enormous attention.

Is Hasina’s Bangladesh at war with itself or Pakistan-lovers? - The Express Tribune

I don't know what she wants to achieve by promoting enmity between Pakistan and Bangladesh? Perhaps keeping attention of people on non issues. After all three nations did sign a treaty in the interest of everyone. Those who were hanged are citizens of Bangladesh now not Pakistan. It's all so........ weird.

 

[Al-zakir]

Until recently, Pakistan was quiet and did nothing to stop this blabber mouth. I'm happy for the fact that Pakistan financially paying some attention. This Hindustani Dalal needed to be stop long time ago. In fact it's over due.

 

[jetray]

By Naveed Ahmad
Published: February 18, 2016

Pakistan recently declared a female Bangladeshi diplomat ‘persona non grata’ in a tit-for-tat act. The diplomatic ruckus is not an isolated happening between the two foreign ministries but the row is not an easy one to settle this time around.

Dhaka never stops hitting the headlines whenever Hasina Wajid comes to power, be it the mid-1990s or 2009 onwards. She won a key two-thirds majority six years ago and took office with the promise to take on political rivals like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). True to her words, Wajid started the controversial process of settling scores with dissidents of the 1971 liberation war. The War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, tasked to investigate and find evidence, completed its report in 2008 and identified 1,600 suspects. Instead of moving an international court, Wajid created one at home in 2009. She named the domestic judicial panel the ‘International’ Crimes Tribunal but the bench was only mandated to try Bangladeshi citizens.

Of the 24 sentenced to death so far, JI’s Obaidul Haque, Ataur Rahman and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and BNP’s Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury are a few prominent leaders who have been hanged for their support for Pakistan in the 1971 war of independence.

Moreover, Bangladesh has banned Wajid’s political rival Jamaat-i-Islami ahead of the 2014 general elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition party BNP for alleged rigging and strong-arm tactics of the ruling party. Over 500 people have been killed in political violence during the past three years. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other international organisations have openly questioned the transparency and fairness of these so-called war crime trials in Bangladesh.

The executions come amid repeated calls by Awami League MPs for severing diplomatic ties with Pakistan, alleging Islamabad’s attempts to instigate militancy and terrorism in the country.

During his official visit to Bangladesh a year after Wajid’s stint, General Pervez Musharraf expressed regret for the atrocities committed in 1971. “Your brothers and sisters in Pakistan share the pain of the events in 1971. The excesses committed during the unfortunate period are regretted. Let us bury the past in the spirit of magnanimity. Let not the light of the future be dimmed,” he said.

While the government of Bangladesh welcomed the gesture, Wajid-led opposition denounced the regret as inadequate. Even prior to the setting up of the so-called international tribunal, Wajid frustrated Islamabad’s attempts to normalise relations.

In 2009, Dhaka turned down Dr Khawaja Alqama’s nomination as ambassador of Pakistan. His father Khawaja Khairuddin was the mayor of Dhaka in the 1960s and the best-known face of the Muslim League too. The Awami League ideologues criticised Pakistan’s choice of an ethnic Bengali for his father opted against living in Bangladesh. Later, appointed as ambassador to Yemen, Alqama could have changed the course of Pakistan-Bangladesh ties had Wajid opted for a more pragmatic policy. Ironically, his cousin was serving Bangladesh’s envoy in Islamabad at the time.

After the August 15, 1975 coup in Bangladesh, independence architect Sheikh Mujeebur Rahman and most of Wajid’s family members were assassinated. Wajid and her sister Sheikh Rehana could escape the mayhem for they were already abroad. They later spent much of their exile in India. She continued her politics there until 1981 before returning to Dhaka. As Bangladesh’s premier since 2009 her friendship, nostalgia and thankfulness to India continue to have enormous influence on policies. Her critics see her as more hawkish and revengeful than her own father.

By opening Pandora’s box of the 1971 war of independence, the Bengali premier is violating the Tripartite Agreement signed between Islamabad, New Delhi and Dhaka on April 9, 1974. Without any provocation from Pakistan, Bangladeshi leadership has opted to worsen the bilateral relations by opening settled issues of the past. Observers believe that Wajid has shown little seriousness to extremist trends in the country, including the rise of Daesh, instead she has routed out the militants from the mainstream political arena.

Many analysts believe that Wajid is settling political scores by reviving the memories of 1971 and bringing Pakistan back to the discussion table. Her re-election has paved her way for political revenge against rivals like BNP and JI.

Interestingly, India is neither concerned with shrinking political space in Bangladesh nor the growth of extremism in the country. Islamabad has so far resorted to caution but watched the developments with enormous attention.

Is Hasina’s Bangladesh at war with itself or Pakistan-lovers? - The Express Tribune

So says a pakistan news paper which is 1000 miles far away. Perhaps they have not taken into consideration the economic growth of bangladesh into consideration due to sheer jealousy. It seems ppl are more hurt bcos of shrinking influence rather than any genuine concern for democracy in bangladesh.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Comment: Drama around Bangladesh editor

Muhammad Ali Siddiqi

FRIENDS of Bangladesh would be shocked to know of the warrant of arrest issued by a court against Mahfuz Anam, the owner-publisher of the Daily Star, one of the country’s most prestigious English dailies and a member of the Asian News Network of 22 South and South Asian newspapers.

The warrants got going after several cases of defamation and sedition were registered against Anam for publishing, nearly a decade ago, some reports alleging corruption by Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina Wajid, now prime minister. If convicted, Anam could face a two-year jail term, though the prime minister’s son wants a case of treason.

Law Minister Anisul Haq insists that it is not a warrant of arrest but a summons, but the editors’ council and various journalists’ organisation have condemned the issuance of summons, with Gholam Sarwar, chief of the Editors’ Council, calling it “inappropriate”, especially because many newspapers, and not just the Daily Star, had carried the leaked stories, based on information given by the caretaker military government in 2007-08.

As Mozammel Khan, convener of the Canadian Committee for Human Rights in Bangladesh, pointed out, Anam had gone on TV and admitted that the publication of the leaked reports was the “biggest mistake” he had made in his professional career. The government, as Khan rightly marked, should have drawn satisfaction from the fact that the allegations were not proved and that Anam had acknowledged his mistake by saying that he published them without an independent verification of the facts.

Earlier this month, I got a taste of Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian bent of mind when, in spite of the 15-day visa which the BD Deputy High Commission in Karachi gave me, I was told by Dhaka authorities I would not be allowed to stay longer than three days. The occasion was the Daily Star’s 25h anniversary, which the paper wanted to celebrate in a big way by inviting journalists from Saarc and Asean countries. It was a one-day gala celebration, with the guests reaching Dhaka on Feb 4 and leaving on the 6th.

I had looked forward to the event because I had last visited BD 30 years ago on the occasion of the founding of Saarc. I wanted to see and write about Bangladesh’s economic development, the capital city’s changing skyline, the fast-expanding middle class, and women’s participation in the country’s progress in a big way. Besides, I have friends in Bangladesh, including Abdul Subhan, who was with me at Dawn decades ago, and Fayza (nee Haq) de la Harpe, who was my colleague at The Sun, Karachi, now defunct. She is now one of the country’s leading columnists. I also wanted to meet some lawmakers and social activists to know their views about the polarisation that is threatening to rip apart the country’s social and political fabric and to write something that would not necessarily be anti-government. But when I requested my gracious hosts that my return flight be kept open, I felt sorry I had embarrassed them.

My hosts’ reticence was bewildering for me. So I contacted a source in Dhaka, who told me that the government had sought an assurance from the Daily Star that their guests would arrive on Feb 4 and leave promptly on the 6th. No one could overstay. I could still have flown to Dhaka and stayed on, but that would have embarrassed my hosts because of the undertaking they had given to a government that is waging war on free speech.

Anam doesn’t belong to the ruling party, his paper doesn’t toe the official line, and he has made Daily Star the fiercely independent paper it is. More important, since Sheikh Hasina has been preoccupied with her version of the 1971 trauma and war, she should recognise, as Bangladeshi patriots do, Anam’s role in what they call the ‘liberation war’ and his paper’s support for the so-called war crime trials in which her government seems to have specialised.

Despite the trappings of democracy, Bangladesh under the rule of Sheikh Hasina has become a police state in which the media and the opposition are hounded, government critics are jailed and people accused of alleged war crimes committed four decades ago are executed after trials that international rights agencies and observers consider a farce. Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League is in power because it has stolen an election. Previously, Bangladesh had elections under neutral governments; Sheikh Hasina amended the constitution and presided over an election which a large number of political parties, including the main opposition Bangladesh National Party headed by Khalda Zia, boycotted. International observers called it an electoral fraud.

As the Human Rights Watch 2015 report on the Awami League government’s performance said, security forces carried out “abductions, killings, and arbitrary arrests, particularly targeting opposition leaders and supporters”.

Anam is now being demonised, his effigies are being burnt on a cue from the ruling party, cases of defamation and sedition have been registered against him in many cities, and ruling party MPs allege in parliament that Anam was hand in glove with the intelligence agencies. Yet, a government lacking moral authority has taken no action against those intelligence agencies responsible for the leaks. As C.R. Abrar of Daily Star says, Anam is paying “an undue price” for his “candid self-criticism”, because it takes “immense courage to admit one’s shortcomings in public, particularly in a divided polity where passions rule over reason”.

Comment: Drama around Bangladesh editor - Newspaper - DAWN.COM

 

[Riyad]

The way Bangladesh is going, it will be hardly surprising if Hasina ends up becoming one of India's states in near future.

That will never happen. Hasina is a very powerful leader in Bangladesh, not because she is pro-India. She is way more influential than her rival pro-Pakistani Khaleda. There is a reason why Hasina is way more powerful. Its because of her stand against Pakistan lovers.

 

[ito]

Hasina is intelligent. She knows that the relations between BD and Pakistan are inconsequential given their respective geographic locations. Good relations with India will help BD achieve its economic and strategic objectives...

The below facts are a testimony to her strategy.

Bangladesh and Pakistan: The table has been turned | Dhaka Tribune

 

[I.R.A]

She will be killed one day. That is the fate of all the fanatics and hateful people who commit crime and try to please murderers.

 

[bongbang]

 

[bongbang]

She will be killed one day. That is the fate of all the fanatics and hateful people who commit crime and try to please murderers.

90% Bangladeshis are like her. AL 40%, BNP 35%, JP=10%, JeI=5%, 10% others. Barring JeI 5% and BNP's khaleda fraction (BNP is divided in thousand fractions) all others are like her. Their variation is different on the basis of how more or less one hate pakistan or can gather their contribution for in support of independence. That is why killing her wont work as she is on her early 70 and another like her will replace.

I don't know what she wants to achieve by promoting enmity between Pakistan and Bangladesh? Perhaps keeping attention of people on non issues. After all three nations did sign a treaty in the interest of everyone. Those who were hanged are citizens of Bangladesh now not Pakistan. It's all so........ weird.

Her party was victim of pro pak people in 1975 and onward. Those days were gone but they again started attacking 2001-2006. So she is trying to settle that matter.

 

[I.R.A]

90% Bangladeshis are like her. AL 40%, BNP 35%, JP=10%, JeI=5%, 10% others. Barring JeI 5% and BNP's khaleda fraction (BNP is divided in thousand fractions) all others are like her. Their variation is different on the basis of how more or less one hate pakistan or can gather their contribution for in support of independence. That is why killing her wont work as she is on her early 70 and another like her will replace.

Why should I believe you? I met a young Bangladeshi boy once in Oman, a very nice boy, not much educated but he could speak in broken Urdu and I did not see any hate in eyes for me being Pakistani. He would prefer sitting with me in my office all day and sharing how his country is like.

 

[bongbang]

Why should I believe you? I met a young Bangladeshi boy once in Oman, a very nice boy, not much educated but he could speak in broken Urdu and I did not see any hate in eyes for me being Pakistani. He would prefer sitting with me in my office all day and sharing how his country is like.

Just poke him next time about his view on Pakistan and see the result. That is why I say more or less hate. There are tons of other issues Pak is just another. Most Bangladeshis will go well with present Pakistan but bitterness will come out if brought old issues. People will just avoid things probably or engage in their present issues. Hasina doing thousands other work and this hate issue maybe 1 so your attention came to that particular issue barring all others. And Bangladeshis are talented they learn everything quickly. Urdu isnt issue as Hindi channels are dominating here.

 

[Brahmaputra Mail]

Bangladesh is doing house cleaning and Pakistan shouldn't bother about it. It's no more a colony of Pakistan afterall. Let them take decisions like a sovereign country. Or is it that Pakistan is butthurt about the fact that Bangladesh is hitting hard on its proxies ?