News from Bangladesh-Updates and Discussion

[Al-zakir]

Bangladesh's new government facing fresh challenges

2009-03-18 22:34:16

by Shams Chowdhury

DHAKA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- After overcoming the crucial aftermath of last month's border guard mutiny, Bangladesh's new government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing newer challenges of the impact of the global economic downturn, power shortage and foreign direct investment.

The Feb. 25-26 mutiny staged by members of paramilitary border force Bangladesh Rifle (BDR) at their headquarters in capital Dhaka that left more than 70 people dead had virtually put her new government in tatters.

The mutiny against the commanding army officers had slowed down the administrative functions as the two-month old government was fully occupied to tackle its aftermath of reported grievance in the country's armed forces.

In last few days Hasina has massively reshuffled the civil administration, the police department and the army hierarchy, putting the things in the right track to meet her ambitious election manifesto.

Political analysts say dusts started settling down. Hasina who assumed the office on Jan. 6 now has established her grip over the evolving situation.

But a critical task before Hasina who came to power for the second term after 1996-2001 is to complete the ongoing investigations into the BDR mutiny and bring the killers to justice.

However, apart from the BDR incident, analysts say newer challenges are waiting for the new government as the country has felt pinch of the ongoing global financial meltdown.

The economic downturn has already started whipping the country's manpower export and apparel sector, the country's potential means to earn foreign exchanges.

Last year Bangladesh received record amount of remittance of 9.02 billion U.S. dollars but recruiting agencies here said the remittance, which contribute to 12 percent of GDP, will shrink this year as worker recipient countries stopped recruiting workers in the wake of the economic contraction.

Recently Malaysia has canceled 55,000 visas for Bangladesh workers. Some 400,000 Bangladeshi labors are working in construction, agriculture and service sectors of that country, a major recipient country of Bangladeshi workers.

The garment sector, accounting for more than 76 percent of total export earning, is also receiving less orders from European and American buyers battered by the recession.

President of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association Abdus Salam Morshedi said buyers' order has already shrunk by 25 percent following the recession.

To cope with the situation the country's apex trade body Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry proposed 60 billion taka (about 857.1 million U.S. dollars) stimulus plans to support the apparel and other sectors facing the impact.

Bangladesh's Finance Minister AMA Muhith recently admitted thatsome export sectors have been hit by the recession. He apprehended "serious problem" at the least for the next two fiscal years (2009-10, 2010-11).

Expressing his concern, the finance minister said "We are in a tight situation for next two years...I'm really anxious about how to move on."

The minister hinted the government is likely to announce a bailout package for the business sector early next month. A high-powered all party task force headed by Muhith will sit on March 24to map out a crisis-shooting plan.

World Bank vice-president for South Asia Isabel Guerrero who came here early this month suggested strengthening the social safety-net program to face the fallout of the global recession.

As summer season is coming, the formidable power crisis has become another challenge to the government, as authorities is seemed unable to meet the demand of power during the upcoming peak season.

According to control room of Power Ministry, the country generates over 3,300 MW electricity on average against a demand for more than 4,500 MW currently. But the situation will obviously worsen in summer.

Hasina's two-and-half-month old government is now also trying to focus on how to tackle unemployment and to bring overseas investment to boost economy and fulfill her ambitious election manifesto.

News Analysis: Bangladesh's new government facing fresh challenges_English_Xinhua

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Rulers turning Bangladesh into a land of panic

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury

When Sheikh Hasina [the present Prime Minister, who was elected through a landslide victory in December 29, 2008 general election] announced her electoral manifesto titled ‘Vision 2021 – Changing the days’, people of Bangladesh, once again thought, this time, possibly, the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman might be having a real charisma for the nation as she might also have learnt some lesson during two-year’s interim government rule, which pushed her inside prison on series of corruption charges. But, gradually aspiration, dream and hope of the people of Bangladeshi are getting faded, when Sheikh Hasina’s government, instead of ensuring peace and prosperity for the people, has very successfully turned the country into a land of panic.

Everywhere is a kind of insecurity and panic. The country is under the blanket of unknown risk of terror attack. Extra security measures are already taken within the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister’s office and residence as well as National Parliament House, in fear of Islamist militant attack. Such tension and panic is increasing with the statements of the members of the government as well as some intellectuals and officials.

Newly appointed commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police invited Principals of all the English medium and missionary educational institutions in the Capital to alert them about possible terror attack. Subsequently, members of law enforcement agencies are deployed in most of the educational institutions, thus creating a kind of panic in the minds of the students and guardians.

“This is a terrible situation, where we have to send children to educational institutions under extreme risk”, said a concerned guardian.

Bangladeshis are already passing through very difficult time. Terrific load-shedding, water crisis, economic crisis, increase in various forms of crimes including theft, robbery, hijacking, extortion etc are making lives very complicated. And, now the latest episode of attack fear, will surely add to the sufferings and agonies of the people of Bangladesh.

Although people are pushed into increased sufferings, ruling government is continuing its own-styled propaganda to convince the local and international community that, there was hands of Islamist militants behind the February 25-26 Massacre inside Bangladesh Rifles [BDR] headquarters in Dhaka, which killed more than 70 army officers.

Commerce Minister, Lt. Col [Retired] Faruk Khan is leading such campaign while others are also joining this notion. Home Minister, Sahara Khatun categorically told reporters on March 20, 2009 that country’s law and order situation was in the worst ever form.

Faruk Khan is the chief coordinator of the three investigation committees formed to find out facts behind the brutal massacre inside BDR headquarters. It may be mentioned here that, Bangladesh Army, government and Criminal Investigation Department [CID] are conducting separate investigations into the matter. Although Faruk Khan categorically blamed the Islamist militants and saw foreign connection behind the bloody massacre, none of the investigation committees ever endorsed such statement. Even CID, an investigation agency under Ministry of Home Affairs, categorically said that, they were yet to trace any militant connection to this massacre.

Investigators have so far arrested several mutineer BDR soldiers including a city leader of the ruling party for their involvement behind the massacre. Although nothing related to the interrogation of the arrested Awami League leader is reported to the press, some newspapers in Bangladesh are continuing to publish scoop on the investigation quoting ‘anonymous’ sources within intelligence agencies.

There is also serious confusion about the modus of trial of the killers of February 25-26 massacre and their collaborators in Bangladesh. On March 19, 2009, local and international news media published news stating that these people will be tried in court martial.

Agencies quoted the minister, "We have decided to try the mutineers under court martial, as the BDR is commanded and managed by the army regulations," Shafique Ahmed, minister for Law, Justice and parliamentary affairs.

Rejecting the news in local and international media, quoting his own statement, Minister Shafiq Ahmed on March 20, 2009 said, government has not taken any decision on the modus of trial into the BDR Massacre.

He said such decision can only be taken on receipt of the investigation report. Meanwhile, chief coordinator of the investigation teams as well as Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said, investigation into the BDR Massacre issue will take much longer time.

Retired Lt. Col. Faruk Khan is continuing to give his assumptive statements on the possible figures behind the BDR Carnage. Experts opine that the probe committees are still halfway through their investigations into the February carnage. And any individual with minimum element of sanity will agree that the findings must be shrouded in confidentiality until they are finished.

Khan even told reporters that, Islamist militants have penetrated inside Bangladeshi law enforcing and disciplined forces. He repeated his assertion a week later and, to make it juicier from his party's standpoint, said proofs of some civilians with links to JMB had also been found. Most political analysts perceive it as an oblique caveat, an attempt to fudge an honest and truthful investigation, and, if one may, to let the real culprits off the hook. Even his colleagues in the government, as well as the chief investigator, have publicly distanced themselves from Col Faruk's views. Both the LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed have said it would be premature to point finger at anyone until the probes are complete. Chief Investigator Abdul Quahhar Akhond said nothing could be assumed on who was or were behind the carnage until the last piece of evidence was examined. In an enquiry like this, implications and ramifications may emerge at the last moment.

There is also question to the need to have any coordinator at all and that too in the person of a highly partisan politician like Faruk Khan. As many as five independent agencies conducted investigation into Mumbai massacre on 27 November 2008. But there was no coordinator, not to speak at all of a political coordinator.
Three agencies worked separately to get to the bottom of the World Trade Center attack issue in New York on 11 September, 2001. But there was no coordinator, not to speak of a political coordinator. Neither was any politician involved in any of those investigations. The tasks were left entirely to the specialists. Why then do you need a coordinator unless the intention is to prejudice the investigation?

Dhaka’s front-ranking weekly newspaper, Holiday, raised several questions related to the BDR carnage of February 25-26. It said, “Why did the government not let the army follow its basic military manual and move in soon after the mutiny broke out?

“Who is the beneficiary of this decision? Why did the government allow more than 24 hours to let the rebels flee with arms and ammunitions and the properties they looted from the army officer's quarters? These are tough questions, and they will continue to beg answers for God knows how many light years. But the immediate job of the coordinator is to see that the investigators don't spend too much time on it.

“The fourth and the fifth aim of the coordination is perhaps most interesting. The fourth is to see if the entire incident could be exploited to catch some political rivals with charges of their involvement in the carnage.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI team, which arrived in Bangladesh to investigate the February Massacre case, said the carnage at BDR headquarters last month was a conspiracy.

The FBI agents made the observation after comparing the BDR incident with mutinies staged by military and paramilitary forces in other countries, said officials of Criminal Investigation Department [CID] after a meeting with the team.

There are several indications and even certain degree of evidences that a number of front-ranking politicians, mostly belonging to the ruling party were directly or indirectly involved behind the BDR Carnage. The government is under tremendous pressure from such powerful perpetrators in silently killing the investigation thus bringing out a ‘cooked-up imaginary story’ to the nation and the global community regarding the carnage. As part of such efforts and pressures, important figures in the government are continuing to give senseless statements regarding the bloody massacre.

Meanwhile, panic generated by the ruling party and its allies in the government has put the very image of Bangladesh into deep crisis. International investments will not only decline for such panic spreading strategy, but many of the investors may even withdraw from this country. There will be severe adverse affect on country’s manpower export sector. Moreover, such propaganda will paint Bangladesh as a country under acute threat crisis from the militants. Do the members in the ruling party at least think about such negative impacts? Or, they are ready to turn Bangladesh into a land, where foreign forces will need to come for ‘combating militancy’? And, the ruling party is in this dangerous game, just for the sake of salvaging their own partymen, who plotted, conspired and collaborated the killers in February. Shame on such unpatriotic people!

Weekly Blitz l Most Influential Newspaper in Bangladesh

 

[BanglaBhoot]

6000 PEOPLE LAND ARRESTED IN BANGLADESH

Special Correspondent

In a latest move, Bangladesh government has imposed restrictions on above 3,000 ‘suspected war criminals’, mostly belonging to opposition political parties, from leaving the country.

Law minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed told reporters, “The government had already imposed a restriction on suspected war criminals that prevents them from travelling abroad.”

Earlier in another move, government sent at least four list of various people, such as politicians, businessmen, industrialists, bankers, journalists, ex civil and military officers etc., to the immigration department, baring them from leaving the country.

Names in the lists mostly belong to political opponents of the ruling party.

Total number of people, restricted from leaving Bangladesh now stands above 6,000. This is for the first time, such a huge number of people are barred from travelling abroad.

Some of the people were even not allowed to leave on medical ground despite specific orders from the higher courts.

In authoratarian regimes, such moves are regularly taken, which is termed by international community and human rights groups as ‘Land Arrest’.

Weekly Blitz l Most Influential Newspaper in Bangladesh

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

'Suspected war criminals'? Sounds like a political victimization campaign is about to begin.

How independent is the judiciary in Bangladesh right now? And will such cases go in front of the regular courts or special courts set up by the new government?

 

[TopCat]

'Suspected war criminals'? Sounds like a political victimization campaign is about to begin.

How independent is the judiciary in Bangladesh right now? And will such cases go in front of the regular courts or special courts set up by the new government?

War criminals are not entitled to any regular court protection. They will be tried under war crime tribunal.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

'Suspected war criminals'? Sounds like a political victimization campaign is about to begin.

How independent is the judiciary in Bangladesh right now? And will such cases go in front of the regular courts or special courts set up by the new government?

Yes this is probably the beginning of political repression in the name of war crimes. It is unlikely there will be a fair trial process. Everyone who is a threat to this government will be classified as a war criminal.

 

[TopCat]

Hasina's doc made BSMMU VC
Tue, Mar 24th, 2009 11:17 pm BdST Dial 2324 from your mobile for latest news



Dhaka, Mar 24 (bdnews24.com) — Prime Minister Sheik Hasina's personal physician Prof Pran Gopal Dutta has been appointed as new vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

Chairman of neuromedicine, Prof Anisul Haque, and chairman of neonatology, Prof Shahidullah, were appointed as pro vice-chancellors, the health ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

President of BSMMU Teachers Association, Prof Muazzem Hossain, was appointed treasurer.

Former VC Nazrul Islam, along with his pro-VCs and treasurer, resigned his post on Sunday, citing 'personal reasons', though Islam also said at the time he had faced pressures from doctors and other quarters over appointments to vacant posts.

 

[TopCat]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This again solidify that, caretaker govt should have finished reform agenda including minus 2.
We just back to square one now within 2 mos.

 

[leonblack08]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

We are actually in a "Totalitarian" state.If we were to become at this state,it was better under the rule of military.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

We are actually in a "Totalitarian" state.If we were to become at this state,it was better under the rule of military.

I think most people are hoping this government ends soon. No one realised the AL would make such a mess and so soon.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

'Militancy not a threat to our image, yet'

Dhaka, March 25 (bdnews24.com)—Foreign minister Dipu Moni says she does not see 'militancy' as a threat to the country's image abroad right now as terrorism was not being faced by Bangladesh alone.

Hours before her departure for Malaysia on Wednesday, the foreign minister told journalists: "Right at this moment, I don't consider militancy, if the situation does not deteriorate further, as a challenge for the country's image."

"Many countries in the world have been facing the menace of terrorism and militancy. This is not a problem only in Bangladesh or any particular country," Dipu Moni told reporters at her first press conference since her appointment as foreign minister on Jan 6

"Like many countries, business activities, investments and their foreign relations go uninterrupted despite terrorist and militant attacks. These are also going in our country," she said.

As reporters pressed her on a number of ministers recently cautioning the country of militant attacks on different civilian targets, Dipu Moni said militancy could not go deeper following the victory of secular democratic parties in the Dec 29 elections.

With the foreign minister preparing to leave for Kuala Lumpur later in the day, she also revealed that a "politically sensitive" statement made by the Bangladesh labour counsellor in Kuala Lumpur might have caused the cancellation of 55,000 Malaysian visas for Bangladeshi workers.

She, however, said the demand for Bangladeshi workers in Southeast Asian nations was still high despite global recession.

Dipu Moni is set to attend the general assembly of the ruling party of Malaysia as representative of the prime minister. Labour and overseas employment minister Mosharraf Hossain will join her, flying from Geneva.

Business concerns

On Monday, the head of the country's top trade body had said excessive references to militancy could tarnish Bangladesh's image in the international community, having a direct negative impact on the economy.

"We all should be aware that if there is too much talk of militancy, others might take it to be true," FBCCI president Annisul Huq said in a pre-budget discussion.

He attributed the references to 'militant activity' in the country for refusal of foreign visas to two FBCCI directors.

"There are also rumours in the air that the Malaysian government cancelled the work permits of 55,000 Bangladeshi workers due to militant activities here," Huq said.

"I don't believe this personally, but if it is true, it's really a sad instance for us," said Huq.

Huq was speaking amid widespread reports in the media that militancy may be on the rise in Bangladesh and speculation that the Feb 25-26 BDR mutiny may also have had militant links.

Massive arms haul at Bhola madrasa

Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Battalion on Tuesday seized a massive cache of arms and ammunition, bomb-making materials and equipment from a madrasa complex at Borhanuddin Upazila, some 20 kilometres from Bhola district headquarters.

The elite anticrime force detained four suspected militants including two staffers of Green Crescent Madrasa and Orphanage at Ram Keshobpur in Sachra union in the three-hour raid from noon on the madrasa.

Leader of the Barisal-8 RAB team, which carried out the raid, Major K M Mamun said 'Green Crescent' was found to be an 'NGO' based in London.

The recovery includes four handguns, four shotguns, 700 handgun and 200 shotgun bullets, two binoculars, two remote-control devices, six life jackets, 20 facemasks, two walkie-talkies and as many mobile phones.

'Militancy not a threat to our image, yet' :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

--------------------------------------------------------------

....... and so according to Dipu Bhabi we should wait for the militancy issue to start affecting our national image and then shut about it??? A wonderful foreign policy suggestion from the secular democratic bhabi.

.

 

[leonblack08]

Bangladesh probes British connection to JMB den

Bangladesh security forces said today that an Islamic seminary where they found a "mini-ordnance factory" during a crackdown on suspected militants was owned by a British-based charity.

A London-based charity was running the Green Crescent Madrassa and Orphanage, which was opened only 45 days ago on the remote southern island of Bhola, a Rapid Action Battalion commander (RAB) said.

The RAB has so far arrested four people including a teacher and three caretakers and has launched a hunt for the owner of the charity, a British citizen known by his nickname Faisal, KM Mamunur Rashid said.

"It is a big madras's and we have so far gathered that this whole compound is being used for militant training. The charity also has plans to build two more madras's in Bhola," he said.

The RAB commander added that after more than a day of searching, security officials have found books encouraging Muslims to take up arms, a large cache of weapons, thousands of bullets and explosives.

"It's a mini-ordinance factory. We have found huge amounts of ammunition and enough equipment to make several hundred grenades and improvised explosive devices," he said

Bangladesh authorities have long viewed madras's as being recruiting grounds for Islamic militant groups. The country was hit by a series of coordinated bomb attacks in August 2005.

The seizure comes as authorities investigate dozens of Muslim charities in the impoverished country over allegations they are funding extremists.

The probe is in response to last month's mutiny at a military base in the capital, Dhaka, in which Islamic militants are suspected to have played a role.

More than 70 people were killed, including at least 56 senior army officers, in the revolt at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters.

The Daily Star - Details News

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Any comments about the timing of this?

 

[M_Saint]

As I have predicted that the trial of 'War Criminals' will be another grand deception, it is becomming true. Question is why on earth the trial can't be in held on regular court? The idea of having a 'Special Tribunal' is actually setting up the stage to try political opponents of JI/SHIBIR leaders. If Pakistanis stay mum and don't hunt 'Indian war criminals' up to the last one then their time will also come like this IMO. Today JI leaders are helpless, that's why IND is taking advantage of the situation and their liquidation would create vacuum for 'Islamic revival' that would pvae way path of Hinduization.

::Welcome to Daily Naya Diganta::

 

[TopCat]

As I have predicted that the trial of 'War Criminals' will be another grand deception, it is becomming true. Question is why on earth the trial can't be in held on regular court? The idea of having a 'Special Tribunal' is actually setting up the stage to try political opponents of JI/SHIBIR leaders. If Pakistanis stay mum and don't hunt 'Indian war criminals' up to the last one then their time will also come like this IMO. Today JI leaders are helpless, that's why IND is taking advantage of the situation and their liquidation would create vacuum for 'Islamic revival' that would pvae way path of Hinduization.

::Welcome to Daily Naya Diganta::

There wont be Shibir leaders, but few Top JI leadership will be tried specially if they had role in intellectuals killing.
In the grassroot you will see mostly village touts, who did most of the massacares joining Rajakar Bahini.

 

[M_Saint]

There wont be Shibir leaders, but few Top JI leadership will be tried specially if they had role in intellectuals killing.
In the grassroot you will see mostly village touts, who did most of the massacares joining Rajakar Bahini.

Almost all of the Shibir leaders have borne after 71, so their trials would bother even the 'Foolish of the fools' but have you noticed the killings of Shibir leaders throughout the country (Nomani is the latest in Rajshahi Univv)? Those are systematic, planned and organized assassinations to root out the 'Reviving efforts' of Islamic systems IMO (Judiciary, Legislator, Banking, Financial etc). And my research proves that it is the hidden objective of the INDO-ZION led so-called WOT. The heads of the JI are only surviving people that can carry on struggle of ‘Islamic state hood’ since there is qualitative and intellectual vacuum in BNP or other Islamic party's leaderships. And by liquidating them, IND will establish its dominance over us for a long time. Also it makes me laugh when you say that they will be tried for intellectual murders since they are ones that have been asking for judicial inquiry about it. So, now I ask you again, why don't you want to take the challenge on trying them in a third and neutral country? Let's extend it by putting 'my head' as a prize if you find them guilty, will you do the same if you can't? Are you ready to accept the challenge?


And by liquidating them IND will establish its dominence over us for long time. Also it makes me laugh when you say that they will be tried for intellectual murders since they are ones that have been asking for judicial inquiry about it. So, now I ask you again why don't you want them to take the challenge on trying them in a third and neutral country? Let's extend it by putting 'my head' as a prize if you find them guilty, will you do the same? Are you ready to accept the challenge?