Bangladesh: Absolute power corrupts absolutely

[idune]

No anti-Islamic law if AL voted to power
Says Matia Chowdhury

Awami League (AL) will not formulate any anti-Islamic law if voted to power since the party is committed to restoring the image of Islam as a religion of peace and equality, said Awami League presidium member Matia Chowdhury yesterday.

"Awami League and its allies do not want to use Islam as a political tool in the elections," Matia said while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Awami League Media Centre in the capital's Dhanmondi.

The media centre has been launched to facilitate work of professional journalists covering the parliamentary election slated for December 29.

Matia Chowdhury said they strongly oppose the forces that use the name of Islam for political purposes.

"The extremists have tarnished the image of Islam as a religion of peace. Awami League will do everything to restore the image of Islam," she said adding that they would also ensure the rights to practise all religions.

The Awami League leader said if voted to power, her party will ensure freedom of press and free flow of information.

"We are pledge-bound to ensure trial of torture and killing of journalists," Matia Chowdhury added.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was supposed to inaugurate the media centre at House No 33/B, Road No-4 but she could not be there for health reasons.

"All information about the grand alliance's election activities and its candidates will be available at the media centre," co-chairman of Awami League election conducting committee HT Imam told reporters.

The centre will be alert to any propaganda against the grand electoral alliance candidates and take necessary steps.

It will remain open from 10:00am to 11:00pm until December 25 and from 10:00am to 12:00 midnight from December 26 to 29.

Bangladesh Awami League

Weeklyblitz.net : Internet Edition

 

[idune]

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son and advisor to Hasina, PM elect of Bangladesh, said about Bangladesh

["Islamic extremism is also on the rise in Bangladesh because of the growing numbers of Islamists in the military. The Islamists cleverly began growing their numbers within the Army by training for the Army Entrance Exams at madrassas. This madrassa training was necessary because of the relative difficulty associated with passing these exams. The military is attractive because of both its respected status and its high employment opportunities in a country where unemployment ranges from 20 percent to 30 percent for younger males. High demand formilitary posts has resulted in an entrance exam designed to limit the number of recruits. Before this madrassa Entrance Exam campaign, only 5 percent of military recruits came from madrassas in 2001. By 2006, at the end of the BNP's reign, madrassas supplied nearly 35 percent of the Army recruits. In a country that has seen four military coup d'etats in its short 37 year history, the astronomical growth of Islamists in the military is troubling to say the least."

Wazed and Ciovacco question if it would actually be possible to stem the "growing tide of Islamism in a country that has seen the sale of burkas rise nearly 500 percent in the last five years"? After answering "yes", they spend the rest of their paper (the next 3 of 5 pages) outlining their plan for secular renewal.]

Harvard International Review: Stemming the Rise of Islamic Extremism in Bangladesh

 

[idune]

madrassas supplied nearly 35 percent of the Army recruits
...
sale of burkas rise nearly 500 percent in the last five years
-- by Sajeeb Wazed Joy advisor to Hasina

These are most distorted and blatant lie about people of Bangladesh and its military. View by none other than advisor to Hasina, PM elect.

One hand Awami league decleared no anti islamic law on the other Awami league portray Bangladesh and its institution as fundamentalist using blatant lie.

Bangladeshi general population do not read Harvard Review and don’t realize the deception trap they have stepped into.

 

[azmax007]

These are most distorted and blatant lie about people of Bangladesh and its military. View by none other than advisor to Hasina, PM elect.

One hand Awami league decleared no anti islamic law on the other Awami league portray Bangladesh and its institution as fundamentalist using blatant lie.

Bangladeshi general population do not read Harvard Review and don’t realize the deception trap they have stepped into.

lolz, sajeeb is way out there, I read he drinks and does alot of other bad stuff and here he defaces the BD Army who protected his mom

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Post-polls violence leaves 30 more people wounded

Staff Correspondent

More 30 people were allegedly injured in attacks by Awami League activists and AL office in Jamalpur was vandalised in the post–polls violence on Wednesday and Thursday, after the general elections on December 29.

In Jamalpur, unknown miscreants vandalised the Awami League office at Kendua Kalibari on early Thursday. Unknown persons stormed the office and damaged the portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina there.

The local leaders of AL blamed the rival BNP activists for the incident while BNP leaders termed the blaming ‘false’ and the incident ‘stage managed’ to harass the opponents.

In Jessore, a defeated BNP contestant, Abul Hossain Azad, who fought for the Jessore-6 constituency, came under attacks allegedly by the activists of rival Awami League at Bhatpara under Abhoynagar upazila on Wednesday evening.

Azad alleged that a number of AL activists, led by Dilip Goswami, Rabiul Islam, Abdul Kuddus and Abdul Azim, assaulted him physically.

A 70-year-old Kobad Ali of Ganganandapur village under Jhikargachha upazila complained that a group of rival party supporters attacked him with a spade as he supported the 4-party alliance candidate. He was undergoing treatment at Jessore General Hospital.

Kazi Shajahan Sabuj, Benapole correspondent of the Channel-1 television, and Mashiar Rahman, Beanpole correspondent of Daily Sangram, came under attacks of the AL activists at the land port, alleged the journalists.

At least 25 supporters of the BNP-led four-party alliance were injured in attacks allegedly by the rival AL activists at several places in Jessore.

The notorious persons with criminal records, who went into hiding after the state of emergency was declared, came out and engaged in criminal activities again, the alliance leaders observed.

Kkaledur Rahman Tito, MP-elect from the Jessore-3 constituency, at a briefing in Jessore Press Club appealed to the AL activists to refrain from attacking opponents and urged the law enforcers to maintain strictly the law and order situation.

In Kishoreganj, the post-polls violence was continuing in Kuliarchar upazila as three more BNP activists were hospitalised on Wednesday night.

Khaja Miah, an activist of Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, the youth front of BNP, and Humayun Kabir, a worker of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student front of BNP, were among the injured in attacks by the AL activists. They were admitted to Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital in Bazitpur with wounds.

In another incident, Lahut, 55, an activist of Kishoreganj municipality unit of BNP, became seriously wounded in an attack by unknown persons on Wednesday night at the local Bazar bus-terminal. He was also admitted to the Bazitpur hospital.

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/jan/02/front.html#2

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Commentary: Violence following election victory can’t be acceptable

The post-election violence between rival Awami League and BNP political workers all over the country has so far claimed four lives and caused injuries to over 1000 persons, according to newspaper reports. The violence is escalating instead of diminishing despite call from Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and the adviser for home affairs.

The violence started very much on 29 December night when results of the elections were pouring in indicating a sweeping victory for the Awami League-led grand alliance. The attackers are storming homes of rival political workers, beating them up and damaging their property out of vengeance, witness accounts say.

In some cases revenge attacks are also taking place. The administration has so far taken punitive action against the officer in charge of Kaliakoir Thana of Kishoreganj for reported neglect of duty to prevent violence.

The attacks are very unfortunate. The incidents of violence may be covered up as outcome of political rivalry. But a close look would show that taking advantage of the present volatile situation and the period of transition people are trying to take possession of disputed property, and harass people over long-lasting family feud or hatred, or even snatch property of people using sheer physical prowess. Escalation of violence has been reported from Pabna, Chittagong, Chuadanga, Jessore,

Bagerhat, Barisal, Jhalakathi, Chandpur, Kishoreganj, Feni and many other districts.

The administration needs to take harsh measures against the perpetrators of violence which otherwise would carry the threat of going out of control in case the victims are left with no option but to defend themselves. Under such circumstances, no opposition candidates would be able to contest this month's Upazila elections.

There may be arguments of post-election violence of the past to justify the spate of violence now. But those who engage in physically hurting their neighbours or snatching their properties are known to be of not sound backgrounds. Many of them have criminal records. No law abiding and peace-loving citizen can engage in such heinous acts.

Leaders of the Awami League and its allies who have overwhelmingly won the election have a responsibility not only to make appeals to their workers to see to it that rival political workers or activists are not physically assaulted. They should activate their organisational networks and party leaders at different levels to persuade the misled ones from charting the destructive path.

Violence following election victory is a shame. It should be stopped at all costs.

The New Nation - Internet Edition

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Pranab to visit B'desh

After the ‘friendly’ government led by Sheikh Hasina takes charge of Bangladesh next week, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government may send a high-level delegation to Dhaka this month itself.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who enjoys an excellent rapport with Hasina, will lead the delegation in the first formal high-level interaction with the new government of Bangladesh.

Although the Bangladeshi government is yet to officially invite Mukherjee, informal interactions have already started to finalise the schedule for the first official Indian visit to Dhaka under the new government.

Top sources in the external affairs ministry suggested the visit would be to a courtesy call to Hasina, an old friend of India who is set to assume power after a landslide victory in the recent elections. However, two major issues — terrorism and cross-border trade and investment — may also be discussed as the UPA government has just four months in office before facing the next Lok Sabha elections.

The Indian foreign office has categorically ruled out applying any pressure tactics on the new government for pursuing its agenda.

“We have to give Hasina some time to settle down. She already knows about our concerns. The new government would also have its own domestic agenda to fulfil. We are expecting close cooperation with the Bangladeshi government,” a top source told Business Standard.

Hasina has already announced that she would not allow the Bangladeshi soil to be used by the jihadis against India, something that India also expects from Pakistan. But deportation of top Ulfa (United Liberation Front of Assam) fugitives may not be an easy task for Hasina.

Pranab to visit B'desh

 

[BanglaBhoot]

PM invites Sheikh Hasina to India, Pranab to go to Bangladesh

New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) Congratulating Sheikh Hasina on her electoral victory in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday invited her to visit India “at your earliest possible convenience”. He said he would ask his “senior colleague External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to visit Bangladesh as soon as possible to personally convey our good wishes”.

The prime minister had also called Hasina, president of the Awami League of Bangladesh, Tuesday morning to congratulate her for her party’s landslide victory - and hailed the return of democracy to Bangladesh after two years.

“I also take this opportunity to invite your excellency to visit India at your earliest possible convenience. I am asking my senior colleague, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, to visit Bangladesh as soon as possible to personally convey our good wishes,” a statement issued here said.

“Please accept my heartiest congratulations on your electoral victory. The successful conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections is a reflection of the desire of the people of Bangladesh for democracy, development and progress

“I am confident that under your leadership, Bangladesh will attain even greater heights,” the statement said.

Noting that India and Bangladesh share historically close and friendly relations, the prime minister said: “I wish to assure you of India’s commitment to the further strengthening and deepening of our relations with Bangladesh. I look forward to working with you towards this end for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.”

“Please accept, Excellency; my best wishes for your good health and personal well being and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Bangladesh,” the statement said.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash in a statement here said: “India congratulates the people of Bangladesh on the fair, peaceful and free conduct of their general elections which mark the return to multi-party democratic politics in a close and friendly neighbour”.

“The historic victory of the Awami League and the Grand Alliance led by Sheikh Hasina is a major landmark in democratic politics in South Asia,” the spokesperson added.

Alluding to the large turnout of voters, India termed the election “a resounding victory for democracy”.

“India and Bangladesh share common values, a commitment to democracy and a multi-faceted historical relationship, in every field of human endeavour,” Prakash said.

“India looks forward to working closely with the newly elected government in Bangladesh to further strengthen our bonds of friendship and cooperation in the quest for peace and development,” he said.

With terrorism in the region a pressing concern, specially after the Mumbai attacks, the victory of Sheikh Hasina has brought some comfort to New Delhi as she took some tough steps against the anti-India militant groups when she was in power in the mid-1990s.

In contrast, there was a sharp spike in militancy and Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh during Khaleda Zia’s tenure.

In a stunning landslide victory, former premier Sheikh Hasina’s alliance defeated her archrival and former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led four-party grouping in Monday’s elections that took place after nearly two years of army-backed rule in Dhaka.

The grand alliance bagged 258 seats, which included 229 seats by Awami League, in the 300-seat parliament, the Election Commission said in Dhaka.

The 61-year-old Sheikh Hasina, whose father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the nation to independence, returned to power after spending months in custody on murder and corruption charges.

PM invites Sheikh Hasina to India, Pranab to go to Bangladesh (Second Lead)

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Ballot counterfoils found in Chandpur

Chandpur, January 2 (bdnews24.com) – Chandpur police retrieved 300 abandoned ballot counterfoils from a ditch close to Chandpur Akkas Ali Government Primary School on Friday.

Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station sub-inspector Monir Ahmed told bdnews24.com Jihad, 15, a seventh-grade student of the Chandpur Akkas Ali Government Primary School went playing cricket with his friends in the morning in the school ground shared by both schools.

As Jihad attempted to retrieve the ball they had perhaps dropped into the ditch beside the primary school, he chanced upon a packet of ballot counterfoils buried under a pile of brickbats there.

Jihad informed everyone nearby of the incident. The locals then informed the police, who seized the finds on the spot upon inspection.

The counterfoils are parts of ballots numbering 0226901 to 0227001of book no. 2270, 0228001 to 0228100 of book 2264 and 0226301 to 0226400 of an unidentified coverless book.

Nurul Islam Nizami, additional deputy commissioner and police superintendent Krishnapada Roy of Chandpur told bdnews24.com they had inspected the place of occurrence and ordered an enquiry.

Punitive measures will be taken against those responsible for the offence, they said.

District BNP acting president Safiuddin Ahmed told bdnews24.com the recovery proved that his party was made to concede defeat through a stage-managed polls, a blueprint of which had been made earlier.

More of these piles of counterfoils might be found countrywide if a thorough search was carried out, Safiuddin said.

Chandpur district Awami League vice-president Yousuf Gazi told bdnews24.com the matter, under investigation by the administration, was a conspiracy.

Ballot counterfoils found in Chandpur :: Politics :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[leonblack08]

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son and advisor to Hasina, PM elect of Bangladesh, said about Bangladesh

["Islamic extremism is also on the rise in Bangladesh because of the growing numbers of Islamists in the military. The Islamists cleverly began growing their numbers within the Army by training for the Army Entrance Exams at madrassas. This madrassa training was necessary because of the relative difficulty associated with passing these exams. The military is attractive because of both its respected status and its high employment opportunities in a country where unemployment ranges from 20 percent to 30 percent for younger males. High demand formilitary posts has resulted in an entrance exam designed to limit the number of recruits. Before this madrassa Entrance Exam campaign, only 5 percent of military recruits came from madrassas in 2001. By 2006, at the end of the BNP's reign, madrassas supplied nearly 35 percent of the Army recruits. In a country that has seen four military coup d'etats in its short 37 year history, the astronomical growth of Islamists in the military is troubling to say the least."

Wazed and Ciovacco question if it would actually be possible to stem the "growing tide of Islamism in a country that has seen the sale of burkas rise nearly 500 percent in the last five years"? After answering "yes", they spend the rest of their paper (the next 3 of 5 pages) outlining their plan for secular renewal.]

Harvard International Review: Stemming the Rise of Islamic Extremism in Bangladesh

He is a lollipop and Unfit to rule.Sometime back I also heard he invested lot of money in business of some kind.The source of the money is "unknown".

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Hasina invites Pronab Mukherjee to oath taking ceremony

Kolkata's largely circulated Bengali daily newspaper Anandabazar Patrika (ABP) has reported on December 31 that Sheikh Hasina has invited Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to remain present in her oath taking ceremony in Dhaka.

According to the ABP report, the grand alliance leader and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has made a phone call to the Foreign Minister of India Pronab Mukherjee requesting him to remain present at the oath taking ceremony of her next government.

This was reported in the (ABP) in its 31st December issue, which this correspondent retrieved from Internet. The ABP correspondent Joyanta Ghosal reported from New Delhi, quoting a source at South Block (India's foreign ministry), that the Manmohan Singh government did not want to go ahead with any great expectation about Bangladesh although the grand alliance of Sheikh Hasina won a great victory.

The report states that Sheikh Hasina means the past illusion of liberation war particularly to the people of West Bengal. The report probably for the first time prefixed the word 'Bangabandhu' before the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and said: "Yet the Bangalee Foreign Minister of India does not want to go by emotion, though the daughter of 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is poised to come to power."

ABP report says that after her victory in the election Sheikh Hasina called the Bangalee Foreign Minister of India, "Dada, you will have to come to participate in the oath taking ceremony (of my government) with Boudi." But the Foreign Minister of India has not yet decided whether he will attend the oath taking ceremony in Dhaka, though he will surely visit Bangladesh before the elections of Lok Sabha, the report added.

Several years ago when Pronob Babu switched his responsibility from Defence Minister to Foreign Minister, the Foreign Minister of the BNP government was the first among the foreign countries who sent him the congratulatory message, the report said. The report added that India had invited Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed to participate in the SAARC Conference after the installation of the Caretaker Government (CG) of Bangladesh to power.

The report said that, at that time a journalist, who is close to Hasina, asked a question to this correspondent as to why India was not coming forward in support of Sheikh Hasina openly in such a restive situation. India did not do that. On the other hand, Foreign Minister Pronab Mukherjee went to visit Bangladesh with relief materials.

During that visit it was seen that Pronob Babu was repeatedly informing the CG about matters of mutual concern and he never wanted to poke his nose into the internal politics of Dhaka. As Pronab Babu says: "This is 2008, not 1971. At that time what India did that was the necessity of the given circumstances. Now the situation has changed."

The ABP report further said: "Now India's stance is, India would establish relations with whoever comes to power in the sovereign neighbouring country. Even Delhi can not say that "it would not keep relationship if military rule is imposed in any neighbouring country."

The report pointed out that once Indian premier Pundit Nehru opened dialogue with Field Marshal Ayub Khan of Pakistan. Indira Gandhi was compelled to initiate talks with Gen. Ziaul Haque after the hanging of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Again Atal Bihari Bazpayee gave democratic recognition to Parvez Musharraf by according him red carpet reception at the Agra Summit just after the wounds of Kargil war. Atal Bihari Vajpayee government also maintained good relations with Bangladesh during the rule of Khaleda Zia, and continued bilateral relations.

The report recalled that during the SAARC conference in Katmandhu, Khaleda Zia listened to Vajpayee's prescription for curing her knee pain. Again Brojesh Misra did not hesitate to visit Dhaka to warn about terrorist activities against India."

The report stated: "Pranob Babu, a follower of Indira Gandhi, knows Sheikh Hasina personally for a long time." It is doubtless that Sheikh Hasina has an image of a 'daughter of the same household' to New Delhi and West Bengal. It is obviously easy for India to go for diplomatic negotiations with the same much known 'daughter of Mujib'. But the Foreign Minister i.e. Indian government is aware of the limitations of the future government of Dhaka.

The report further said in the past Hasina had to pay a heavy price for her 'friend of India image', when she was in power. Hasina also learnt a lesson from her past experience. This time Jatiya Party of Ershad is the ally of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, if Jamaat-e-Islami is the ally of Khaleda Zia's BNP. Like the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Jatiya Party also announced that they would introduce blasphemy law in their party manifesto. And it was Ershad who declared Islam as the State religion when he was in power. As a result the other religious communities became second class citizens.

The report further added: "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to lead the country towards the path of secularism. Delhi is doubtful about the ability of the 'daughter of Mujib' to renounce the influence of the fundamentalist forces, when the party of Ershad is her ally. Jatiya Party of Ershad also bagged 27 seats; so it will have some kind of control. Besides, there will be a control from the cantonment, whoever may come to power, under the given political situation of Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina is also not beyond the control of the military, though she is not like Khaleda. Keeping all these in mind India wants to strengthen the relations with Bangladesh because of recent conflict with Pakistan. The objective is that Pakistan can not use Bangladesh as the field of its anti-India activities. Referring to the act of terrorism on the soil of Bangladesh Pronab Babu has made it crystal clear. He said, "The problem will be raised when new government will be installed. Let us see how far we can achieve."

The Ananada Bazar Patrika report further stated: "This was the only hope of Delhi that the military and Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh have not been strengthened as in Pakistan." This time it is also clear in the elections' result. The military wanted a fragile government. People have voted en-masse in favour of the alliance of Sheikh Hasina. The Jamaat-e-Islami has become obscure as it is seen in the results of the votes. Yet it is not that the extreme forces of the party of Ershad would try to hold the country inside 'veils'. Will Hasina be able to complete the trial of the killers of Sheikh Mujib by neglecting those extreme forces? Will Hasina be able to chant the slogans of development by discarding the anti-Indian card, when Norendra Modi is not stepping back from demolishing temple in the interest of development ? South Block is waiting to see that."

HOLIDAY > FRONT PAGE

 

[leonblack08]

Hasina invites Pronab Mukherjee to oath taking ceremony

Hasina beKolkata's largely circulated Bengali daily newspaper Anandabazar Patrika (ABP) has reported on December 31 that Sheikh Hasina has invited Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to remain present in her oath taking ceremony in Dhaka.

According to the ABP report, the grand alliance leader and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has made a phone call to the Foreign Minister of India Pronab Mukherjee requesting him to remain present at the oath taking ceremony of her next government.

This was reported in the (ABP) in its 31st December issue, which this correspondent retrieved from Internet. The ABP correspondent Joyanta Ghosal reported from New Delhi, quoting a source at South Block (India's foreign ministry), that the Manmohan Singh government did not want to go ahead with any great expectation about Bangladesh although the grand alliance of Sheikh Hasina won a great victory.

The report states that Sheikh Hasina means the past illusion of liberation war particularly to the people of West Bengal. The report probably for the first time prefixed the word 'Bangabandhu' before the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and said: "Yet the Bangalee Foreign Minister of India does not want to go by emotion, though the daughter of 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is poised to come to power."

ABP report says that after her victory in the election Sheikh Hasina called the Bangalee Foreign Minister of India, "Dada, you will have to come to participate in the oath taking ceremony (of my government) with Boudi." But the Foreign Minister of India has not yet decided whether he will attend the oath taking ceremony in Dhaka, though he will surely visit Bangladesh before the elections of Lok Sabha, the report added.

Several years ago when Pronob Babu switched his responsibility from Defence Minister to Foreign Minister, the Foreign Minister of the BNP government was the first among the foreign countries who sent him the congratulatory message, the report said. The report added that India had invited Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed to participate in the SAARC Conference after the installation of the Caretaker Government (CG) of Bangladesh to power.

The report said that, at that time a journalist, who is close to Hasina, asked a question to this correspondent as to why India was not coming forward in support of Sheikh Hasina openly in such a restive situation. India did not do that. On the other hand, Foreign Minister Pronab Mukherjee went to visit Bangladesh with relief materials.

During that visit it was seen that Pronob Babu was repeatedly informing the CG about matters of mutual concern and he never wanted to poke his nose into the internal politics of Dhaka. As Pronab Babu says: "This is 2008, not 1971. At that time what India did that was the necessity of the given circumstances. Now the situation has changed."

The ABP report further said: "Now India's stance is, India would establish relations with whoever comes to power in the sovereign neighbouring country. Even Delhi can not say that "it would not keep relationship if military rule is imposed in any neighbouring country."

The report pointed out that once Indian premier Pundit Nehru opened dialogue with Field Marshal Ayub Khan of Pakistan. Indira Gandhi was compelled to initiate talks with Gen. Ziaul Haque after the hanging of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Again Atal Bihari Bazpayee gave democratic recognition to Parvez Musharraf by according him red carpet reception at the Agra Summit just after the wounds of Kargil war. Atal Bihari Vajpayee government also maintained good relations with Bangladesh during the rule of Khaleda Zia, and continued bilateral relations.

The report recalled that during the SAARC conference in Katmandhu, Khaleda Zia listened to Vajpayee's prescription for curing her knee pain. Again Brojesh Misra did not hesitate to visit Dhaka to warn about terrorist activities against India."

The report stated: "Pranob Babu, a follower of Indira Gandhi, knows Sheikh Hasina personally for a long time." It is doubtless that Sheikh Hasina has an image of a 'daughter of the same household' to New Delhi and West Bengal. It is obviously easy for India to go for diplomatic negotiations with the same much known 'daughter of Mujib'. But the Foreign Minister i.e. Indian government is aware of the limitations of the future government of Dhaka.

The report further said in the past Hasina had to pay a heavy price for her 'friend of India image', when she was in power. Hasina also learnt a lesson from her past experience. This time Jatiya Party of Ershad is the ally of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, if Jamaat-e-Islami is the ally of Khaleda Zia's BNP. Like the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Jatiya Party also announced that they would introduce blasphemy law in their party manifesto. And it was Ershad who declared Islam as the State religion when he was in power. As a result the other religious communities became second class citizens.

The report further added: "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to lead the country towards the path of secularism. Delhi is doubtful about the ability of the 'daughter of Mujib' to renounce the influence of the fundamentalist forces, when the party of Ershad is her ally. Jatiya Party of Ershad also bagged 27 seats; so it will have some kind of control. Besides, there will be a control from the cantonment, whoever may come to power, under the given political situation of Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina is also not beyond the control of the military, though she is not like Khaleda. Keeping all these in mind India wants to strengthen the relations with Bangladesh because of recent conflict with Pakistan. The objective is that Pakistan can not use Bangladesh as the field of its anti-India activities. Referring to the act of terrorism on the soil of Bangladesh Pronab Babu has made it crystal clear. He said, "The problem will be raised when new government will be installed. Let us see how far we can achieve."

The Ananada Bazar Patrika report further stated: "This was the only hope of Delhi that the military and Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh have not been strengthened as in Pakistan." This time it is also clear in the elections' result. The military wanted a fragile government. People have voted en-masse in favour of the alliance of Sheikh Hasina. The Jamaat-e-Islami has become obscure as it is seen in the results of the votes. Yet it is not that the extreme forces of the party of Ershad would try to hold the country inside 'veils'. Will Hasina be able to complete the trial of the killers of Sheikh Mujib by neglecting those extreme forces? Will able to chant the slogans of development by discarding the anti-Indian card, when Norendra Modi is not stepping back from demolishing temple in the interest of development ? South Block is waiting to see that."

HOLIDAY > FRONT PAGE

I won't be surprised if Hasina is also assasinated.

The Ananada Bazar Patrika report further stated: "This was the only hope of Delhi that the military and Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh have not been strengthened as in Pakistan."

What do they mean by that??

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Battle for presidency heats up

Dhaka, Jan 2 (bdnews24.com) – The simmering tension between Awami League and Jatiya Party over the largely ceremonial presidency boiled over into a full-blown battle on Friday, a day before their MPs take oath to office.

Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on Friday said the nation and his supporters wanted to see him become present, hours after AL general secretary Abdul Jalil had said they wanted to see veteran Zillur Rahman as titular head of state.

Jalil told bdnews24.com, "We would like Zillur Rahman to become president and the Awami League president Sheikh Hasina prime minister."

The post of head of state has been the bone of contention between the big two in the grand alliance in the days leading to the general election.

Elected MPs of AL, JP and other splinter parties are set to take oath on Saturday. The AL won a staggering 230 seats out of 299 on offer, with JPO taking 27 and others five so far.

Ershad broke up with the AL-led alliance after talks to settle the share of seats to put up candidates had failed.

He had rushed a news conference to break the news and also said he wanted presidency, in a veiled reference that AL was non-committal about the demand.

"[As a key ally of Awami League-led grand alliance], my being president is the demand of the people of the country and ours as well," the former president told reporters on Friday.

He pressed his case at a programme marking the 24th founding anniversary of the party at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

The former president, however, said the AL was yet to invite him to discussion about the presidency and the cabinet.

Asked about the AL's wish, Ershad said, "I'm senior to Zillur Rahman."

He declined comment when asked what would his next move be if he was not given the presidency.

At the programme, Ershad claimed his party had helped whip up massive public support in favour of the grand alliance in the Dec. 29 election due to the JP's involvement.

JP secretary general Ruhul Amin Hawladar said, "Our leaders and supporters want to see HM Ershad as president."

"We'd an electoral slogan that Awami League president Sheikh Hasina will be prime minister and Ershad will be president.

"It snatched the victory for grand alliance," he claimed

Battle for presidency heats up :: Election 2008 :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Cadres of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) captures Dhaka University rooms ignoring Hasina’s directive

Ignoring Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's instructions, cadres of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) have occupied the rooms of many students, journalists and leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in all dormitories of Dhaka University.

Resident students alleged that the BCL cadres have also gathered firearms in the university halls which, along with the internal clashes among BCL factions, has frightened them.

Meanwhile, DU authorities on Thursday postponed all examinations until January 5, for "unavoidable reasons".

After the landslide victory of the AL-led grand alliance in the ninth parliamentary elections, Hasina directed BCL General Secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton not to engage in any violence on the campus, BCL sources said.

Hasina also directed BCL top leaders for taking strict action against those responsible for such violence, if any.

But cadres of the AL's student wing vandalised furniture and documents of JCD men and locked the rooms of many journalists, including DU correspondent of the daily Sangbad and a sub-editor of The Daily Star. They also vandalised the rooms of reporters of the daily Sangram and daily Nayadiganta.

Besides, a few former BCL leaders, who were not on the campus during the last seven years because of the dominance by JCD--student wing of BNP, have returned to campus with a good number of outsiders and firearms.

Hundreds of general students, who are roommates of JCD leaders, found their rooms locked after returning to their dormitories after the month-long Eid and winter vacations in the last three days.

A resident of Mohsin Hall told The Daily Star that he voted for the AL-led grand alliance thinking that there will be changes in all sectors. "But there is no change. Chhatra League men are doing the same as the Chhatra Dal," he said.

Sources concerned said after return of the former BCL men and their cadres the overall situation in the dormitories and on the campus is almost out of control of DU unit BCL President Shohel Rana Tipu and General Secretary Sajjad Saqib Badsha.

Talking to The Daily Star, both the leaders blamed these unwanted incidents on these former party men many of whom are not students anymore.

Top BCL leaders at DU said these BCL men are trying to establish their dominance in the dorms afresh by any means, especially by bringing in firearms, although they have no acceptance at the grassroots level.

Many warned of sudden massive violence on the campus if the situation is not controlled immediately.

Top BCL leaders have conveyed this message to the leaders of its DU unit, but the latter are unable to handle violent situation and anti-organisational activities as internal conflicts are increasing gradually.

Sources said the incumbent committee of the BCL unit at DU would be dissolved soon because of this.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Political fascism on display in Bangladesh?

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury

Newly elected members of parliament in Bangladesh will be taking oath on Saturday afternoon, while the government led by Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister will be installed on January 6 2009 at 6:30 pm. Media in Bangladesh are seeing high hope of something very extra ordinary by the next government, which not only will give stronger base to democracy but will also make an end to the decade old culture of political hatred and confrontation as well as end of the culture of political parties patronizing hooligans and musclemen. After the landslide and historic victory of Bangladesh Awami League in the just concluded election, most of the people are hoping for a better Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina with a group of extremely cherismatic people in her cabinet. Some analysts are even saying that, while her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman architected the creation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina will now play the extremely crutial role of turning the country into a land of infinite possibility, as well as dampen the rise of Islamists millitancy and radical Islam.

But, some news appeared in local dailies in Bangladesh are certainly generating concern in the minds of the people with a big question is political fascism is on display in the country. Let us have a look into only some of such news items:

1. One of the leading dailies, The Manabzamin reported Awami League supporters attacked the residence of a youth front leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party where 10 people were seriously injured. The report said, supporters of Awami League attacked the residecen and small shop owned by Rafiqul Islam and Angur Ali, both belonging to BNP’s Jubo Dal [Youth Party] with hockey-sticks which left Angur Ali, Salman Miah, Mohon Miah, Ruhel Miah, Selim Miah, Mohon Miah, Jahangir Miah and Tofazzol critically injured. All of the injured BNP men were admitted with Osmani Hospital in Sylhet.

2. At Comilla district in Bangladesh, a BNP worker named Shamsul Huq died in a local clinic. According to information, right after unofficial announcement of election result, members of Grand Alliance [led by Bangladesh Awami League] brought out a prosession. After seeing Shamsul Huq [who worked as the polling agent for BNP candiate], members of Grand Alliance in the prosession, severely injured him with hockey stick and locally make knife. Shamsul Huq was immediately rushed to a local clinic named ‘Ma Moni’, where he died after 5 days. It is further learnt that Shamsul Huq was a teacher with Hazatkhola High School in Comilla [Bangladesh]. Officer in charge of the local police station said, they found injury spots at various portions of the body of Shamsul Huq.

3. Members of Awami League student front named ‘Bangladesh Chatra League’ have captured all the residential halls in Dhaka University after massive ransack and burning of valuable papers such as books, educational certificates, identity cards, passport etc. According to information, all the rooms belonging to members of student wings of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami were attacked and ransacked and later Chatra League activists put 4-5 locks in each of the doors. Such anarchy by the members of student wing of Chatra League left the entire university campus in extreme reign of fear. General students, who are not belonging to any of the political forces or parties are refraining from attending classes, fearing sudden attach by the members of Bangladesh Awami League’s student activists. The vice chancellor of Dhaka University Professor SMA Fayez has decided to resign at any moment.

4. In Magura district, Awami League activists attacked a number of shops, business establishments and houses of BNP leaders. At least 15 women including children were critically injured in such incidents. Many of the workers and supporters of BNP left their village in fear of any sudden attack by the Awami League activists.

5. In Khulna’s Dumuria Upazillah Awami League activists severely injured one local minority [Hindu] man named Fakir Das for casting vote in favor of BNP candidate. Fakir Das is admitted in hospital in critical condition. Another minority member named Jyotish Mondal was attacked by Awami League men while he was working in peddy field. Awami League men beat Jyotish Mondal in the peddy field with wooden stick thus serious injuring his face and head. Some of the female members of families in the locality are also reportedly raped by Awami League activists for casting vote in favor of BNP candidates. It is further learnt that Chatra League activists are also demanding extortion from the local businessmen and continuing to loot cattles from the poor farmers. Local administration is keeping mum on each of such incidents are are hasitant in taking any action.

6. Members and activists belong to Bangladesh Awami League and Jatiyo Party are continuing their reign of terror in Pirganj under Rangpur district. They attacked a local agro comples owned by BNP’s former minister, looted cash and valuables thus ransacking the entire project. According to eye witnesses at least 300 Awami League and Jatiyo Party workers attacked the project and continuing devastation for hours. When members of law enforcing agencies came to control the situation, Awami League activists argued that, the BNP men had created such project with money accrued through corruption. Now, they [Awami League] men are taking share from such ventures.

7. Supporters and members of Bangladesj Awami League attacked and ransacked two schools in Jhalokathi district. A source in local Awami League told reporters that their workers went to the educational institutions to destroy the potraits of former Prime Minister.

8. In Modhupur under Tangail district, hundreds of local men were attacked and injured by Awami League activists for for voting in favor of BNP candidates.

All the above information are just part of what is going on in the country. And, of course, this is no good news for any new government. We want to believe that chief of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina will certainly ensure good governance and she will not allow any such anarchism on the people of the country, which gave her a historic victory. As the new government will take oath on Tuesday, it is well understood that the entire administration will not be able to ignore any verbal instruction by the next Prime Minister of this country. Let us just keep our fingers crossed to see a very timely and bold step by Sheikh Hasina.

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