BANGLADESH: Military must not dominate civil administration

[BanglaBhoot]

Khaleda addresses Sylhet rallies: Conspiracy on to make country a vassal state

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia urged the people, particularly the nationalist and Islamic forces, to vote for her party and alliance in December 29 parliament elections to protect nation's sovereignty and ensure development and economic progress.

"This is going to be an important election for the nation. You'll have to give a correct decision in this election as the future of the country depends on it," she made the remarks while addressing election rallies at Lalabazar and Doyameer in Osmaninagar of Sylhet and Auskandi in Nabiganj thana of Habiganj district.

Launching her formal electioneering after offering fateha at the mazars of Hazrat Shahjalal ®, Hazrat Shah Paran ® and Hazrat Gazi Borhanuddin ®, Khaleda urged the people to cast vote for "sheaf of paddy" and elect the 4-party alliance candidates to protect the country, people and economy.

"The country is passing through a very difficult time. Conspiracy is on to make the nation a vassal state. If you remain united all conspiracies will be foiled as in the past," she said.

The former Prime Minister promised that if voted to power, her government will ensure food security, bring down prices of essentials, generate employment, provide free education for girls up to Degree level and expand IT education.

In the two years under the caretaker government no development work was done, rather economy has been thrown into shambles and people into starvation, she said, adding that the country has been pushed back 20 years during the last two years.

Khaleda said if the nationalist and Islamic forces are elected to power, political and economic stability will be established.

Terming the cancellation of January 22, 2007 election as a conspiracy, she alleged that a plot was cooked up to send her abroad by force and turn Bangladesh into a vassal state. "Since I didn't agree to leave the country, I was put in jail, my family was repressed and my party leaders and workers were persecuted," she said.

Khaldea introduced BNP candidates Shafi Chowdhury at Lalabazar, Ilias Ali at Osmaninagar and Sheikh Sujat Mia at Auskandi and sought vote for them.

Earlier BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia offered fateha at the mazars of Hazrat Shahjalal (R), Hazrat Shah Paran (R) and hazrat Gazi Borhanuddin (R) in this holy city Friday before launching her formal electioneering for the December 29 parliament elections.

Khaleda who left Dhaka by road at 8-30am reached Sylhet at 12-15pm. Attired in white chiffon saree, she went to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjala (R) at 2-08pm and stayed there for about 15-minute when she offered prayer and fateha.

Later, she went to the shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran (R), about 8 kms from the city and offered fateha there at 2:38pm. She also offered fateha at the mazar of Hazrat Gazi Borhanuddin (R) at 3:05pm.

Witnesses said thousands of BNP supporters greeted Khaleda as she arrived in Sylhet.

A large number of her supporters were also seen at both the shrines chanting slogans for BNP. In the last parliament elections, she also began her electioneering after offering fateha at the two holy shrines.

On her way from Dhaka to Sylhet, BNP candidates and supporters greeted her at different points holding welcome banners and party's election symbol "sheaf of paddy".

After visiting the shrines Khaleda addressed her first election rally at Lalabazar in Sylhet town.

The New Nation - Internet Edition

 

[BanglaBhoot]

The AL election manifesto: Pros & Cons

On 10 November, The Bangladesh Today carried a commentary titled "What the AL and BNP need to tell us". Well, the AL President Sheikh Hasina has herself unveiled the party's election manifesto on 12 December, telling us all what they are going to do for the Nation if they are voted to form the next parliament and the government. Before going into a discussion of the pros and cons of the election manifesto, it is necessary to mention that the AL is a mass political party, the oldest one in the Country, well attuned to the times and the demands, hopes and aspirations of millions of people of this Country. It ought therefore, to come as no surprise that the AL would address the major issues with which the people of the Nation are concerned about.

The AL election manifesto is basically a programme of action which broadly tells us that they are going to contain inflation and keep prices of commodities low, that they are going to vitalize industries and agriculture, that they are going to ensure for us our basic right of food, shelter, clothing, education and health, that they aim not to reduce poverty but to eliminate it, that they are going to ensure employment for the masses of young people, that they are going to ensure food and energy security, that they are going to tackle militancy and terrorism, that they are going to ensure good governance through reduction of corruption, through changes in political culture, through transparency and accountability of public administration, through allowing the judiciary to function affectively and independently, through making the parliament affective and through implementation of local government and that through all these measures they are going to ensure social, economic and political equity and justice of the people of this Nation. Besides these concrete aspects, the AL manifesto contains a few pages of populist propaganda which is not as bad as it sounds because as a mass political party, it needs to appeal both to emotions as well as to logic; fortunately though there is more of logic than emotion, more of substance than of bluster. These are all the pros of the AL election manifesto.

Coming to the cons, it needs to be said that the AL has somehow felt it necessary to unveil its manifesto in a 5 star hotel in Dhaka where only the "elites" of the civil society, the intellengencia, the foreign diplomatic corps and the media were allowed in, amid tight security. This is rather a contradiction in terms if the AL still lays claim to being a mass political party - the masses in their teeming millions are out there in thousands of villages and small towns and it is to them that the AL "message" has to be carried to. It would have been much more becoming of AL and in keeping with the traditions of its founding father Bangabandhu, that the first ones to know of the AL manifesto are the people who will vote it in and out of government.
Except for a few rhetorical sentences, the AL has scrupulously avoided telling us what they are going to do about our corruption-ridden, inefficient and ineffective Judiciary, Police, Public Administration, Bureaucracy and a Military which makes a grab for political power every once in a while, for without a through-going reform in these, social, economic and political equity and justice which the AL promises in its manifesto is not going to come about.

The greatest of the cons however, is that these programmes of action which the AL promises will raise the expectations and hopes of the people for a better, brighter future and if these are not implemented, there will be a political and social backlash which will tear apart the AL. The consequences of not fulfilling expectations after they have been raised, can be devastating as the AL well knows from its long history.

editorial

 

[TopCat]

Coming to the cons, it needs to be said that the AL has somehow felt it necessary to unveil its manifesto in a 5 star hotel in Dhaka where only the "elites" of the civil society, the intellengencia, the foreign diplomatic corps and the media were allowed in, amid tight security.

Except for a few rhetorical sentences, the AL has scrupulously avoided telling us what they are going to do about our corruption-ridden, inefficient and ineffective Judiciary, Police, Public Administration, Bureaucracy and a Military which makes a grab for political power every once in a while, for without a through-going reform in these, social, economic and political equity and justice which the AL promises in its manifesto is not going to come about.

The AL was known to be a party of ordinary people and they should have declared the manifesto in some open place like Shahid Minar or in Paltan Moydan. I agree with this with the author. I know other political parties already selected the same venue for the same purpose.
I also agree with other part with the author. Yes people of Bangladesh always do have a high expectation on AL and on other left aligned political parties and the author is no different.
But above all, the good thing is that if they could do whatever they told us willing to do, bangladesh will change the face on earth. Also I was watching Mr. Muhit who made this manifesto (who will be most likely the finance minister for the next five years) said that, the existing budget will be able to bear the cost of his new agendas only by reorganizing the resources. He does not see any major financial constraint to implement these. I like to buy his words.

 

[TopCat]

Khaleda addresses Sylhet rallies: Conspiracy on to make country a vassal state
Khaleda said if the nationalist and Islamic forces are elected to power, political and economic stability will be established.
The New Nation - Internet Edition

The newly changed BNP looks more like remainance of pre independent Muslim League. I am afraid that the people of Bangladesh may throw that party to dustbin like Muslim League, if they keep trying to promote this kind of negative politics. Historically people never accepted this philosophy in this country. This is just my guts feelings...

 

[BanglaBhoot]

We all know now that the whole 1/11 changeover was intended to help bring the AL to power since however corrupt the BNP the people of Bangladesh have a deep hatred for the AL as it is always dependent on India and follows their agenda.

 

[TopCat]

Religion exploiting leaflets ask to vote against non-Muslims
Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon

A vested interest group is distributing three types of leaflets among villagers of Thakurgaon-1 constituency using religious sentiments to apparently persuade Muslim voters to vote against Awami League-led grand alliance candidate Ramesh Chandra Sen.

The leaflets--one containing verses from the Quran and their translation, another a parody of a popular song and the other a few short Bangla verses, bear the name of Bangladesh Muslim League presidium member M Shamsul Haque.

The leaflet titled "Al-Quraner Bani" (teachings of the Quran) quotes different verses and clearly asks Muslims not to cast votes for a non-Muslim candidate in the December 29 parliamentary elections.

The leaflet also says Islam does not accept the idea of secularism, which it says is a complete deviation from Islamic ideology.

Another leaflet titled "Voter Panchali" urges people to elect the BNP-led four-party alliance candidate, Mirza Fakhrul Islam.

When the leaflets were shown to Thakurgaon district Election Officer Md Saiful Islam, he told The Daily Star that the quotations from the Quran printed in the leaflet are not false.

"It is not a violation of electoral rules since no Muslim League candidate is participating in the election from this constituency," he said.

Grand alliance candidate Ramesh Chandra Sen, however, claimed it to be a clear violation of the electoral rules as the Election Commission has strictly prohibited the use of religious sentiment in electoral campaigns.

“Traditionally, a communal harmony has existed in this area for long. But this type of propaganda might disrupt that harmony," he told The Daily Star.

The Awami League submitted a written complaint objecting to such campaign to the district election investigation committee yesterday afternoon, said party leader in the district advocate Altafur Rahman.

He also claimed that Shamsul Haque, who has been shown as a presidium member of Bangladesh Muslim League in a leaflet, is actually the present vice-president of Thakurgaon Sadar BNP committee.

Shamsul Haque could not be contacted for comments after several attempts.

 

[TopCat]

Religion exploiting leaflets ask to vote against non-Muslims
Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon

A vested interest group is distributing three types of leaflets among villagers of Thakurgaon-1 constituency using religious sentiments to apparently persuade Muslim voters to vote against Awami League-led grand alliance candidate Ramesh Chandra Sen.

The leaflets--one containing verses from the Quran and their translation, another a parody of a popular song and the other a few short Bangla verses, bear the name of Bangladesh Muslim League presidium member M Shamsul Haque.

The leaflet titled "Al-Quraner Bani" (teachings of the Quran) quotes different verses and clearly asks Muslims not to cast votes for a non-Muslim candidate in the December 29 parliamentary elections.

The leaflet also says Islam does not accept the idea of secularism, which it says is a complete deviation from Islamic ideology.

Another leaflet titled "Voter Panchali" urges people to elect the BNP-led four-party alliance candidate, Mirza Fakhrul Islam.

When the leaflets were shown to Thakurgaon district Election Officer Md Saiful Islam, he told The Daily Star that the quotations from the Quran printed in the leaflet are not false.

"It is not a violation of electoral rules since no Muslim League candidate is participating in the election from this constituency," he said.

Grand alliance candidate Ramesh Chandra Sen, however, claimed it to be a clear violation of the electoral rules as the Election Commission has strictly prohibited the use of religious sentiment in electoral campaigns.

“Traditionally, a communal harmony has existed in this area for long. But this type of propaganda might disrupt that harmony," he told The Daily Star.

The Awami League submitted a written complaint objecting to such campaign to the district election investigation committee yesterday afternoon, said party leader in the district advocate Altafur Rahman.

He also claimed that Shamsul Haque, who has been shown as a presidium member of Bangladesh Muslim League in a leaflet, is actually the present vice-president of Thakurgaon Sadar BNP committee.

Shamsul Haque could not be contacted for comments after several attempts.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Mahfuz Anam is a RAW guy and everyone in BD knows it and he highlights this stuff as India is backing the AL.

 

[idune]

Religion exploiting leaflets ask to vote against non-Muslims

Communal environment, violence and atrocities are indian phenomenon; NOT exists in Bangladesh. In india Muslims, Christians and Sikh and even lower caste Hindus are everyday victim. With indian instruction Awami league has adapted manifesto item to label Bangladeshis as communal and extremists.

First indian media manufacture news to put communal label and then known indian agents like Mahfuz Anam and Motiur Rahman use their propaganda news paper to repackage it. Then offcouse people who live in indian dream like to post in internet.

People already know the propaganda mechanism and who are behind these news.

Here indo-Awami nexus is playing two fold game plan. One, play victim and get sympathy vote from Hindu population. Two, draw attention from external elements. Same game indo-Awami nexus played for last seven years.

When Awami league and indian media/govt propagate and label Bangladesh and its people and non Hindu candidate as communal and extremists, that opens door to identify what they are up to and who are behind it. And perhaps opens door to provide eye for an eye answer.

 

[TopCat]

Communal environment, violence and atrocities are indian phenomenon; NOT exists in Bangladesh.

I agree with you.... If you live beside a dog, does not mean you yourself should become a dog... What is happening in India, should not mean we ourselves should start doing it. What I am trying to project here, some idiots (even though they are very less in number) who is doing it, and those who just keeps a blind eye on them, is not helping Bangladesh in anyways. We should envision a modern prosperous nation, different than that of our neighbor. We have all the ingredients to do that.. Thanks

 

[TopCat]

The reason I referred to this report is that, how a reactionary political party uses all the loopholes in the law and promote hatred in the society. They always did that in past and doing it now. This is a dummy candidate used by BNP and he stood for Muslim League. He is used for spreading Propaganda in favor of BNP candidate. Even though this time EC tried to stop this kind of practice by not allowing dummy candidate, but it found a way to do it anyways.. I feel shame seeing that this is the second biggest party in the country.. Hopefully it will not be the case anymore after this election....

 

[idune]

Iajdani said
What is happening in India, should not mean we ourselves should start doing it.

Yet you subscribe indian manufactured communal tone and propagate it. That’s just sheer oxymoronic!!!!

The reason I referred to this report is that, how a reactionary political party uses all the loopholes in the law and promote hatred in the society. They always did that in past and doing it now. This is a dummy candidate used by BNP and he stood for Muslim League. He is used for spreading Propaganda in favor of BNP candidate. Even though this time EC tried to stop this kind of practice by not allowing dummy candidate, but it found a way to do it anyways.. I feel shame seeing that this is the second biggest party in the country.. Hopefully it will not be the case anymore after this election....

You should check what reactionary really means and context to use it.
As for Muslim league propaganda, in Bangladesh Muslim league has virtually not existed and try to relate hoax story for india propaganda ploy will not go anywhere. Bangladeshi people have better things to care about in their life and livelihood.

Besides just repeating lie over and again does not make it true. But some people can never come out of living indian dream.

 

[Omar1984]

Military is supposed to fight, not rule.

The reason why the military is relatively non-corrupt is because they are not engaged in running the country.

Sometimes a country that has some really hateful neighbors is better off under military rule to protect its own nation.

 

[Durran3]

The Whole Concept of Iron Fist just because the Civil Government is corrupt is completely absurd.. and you have to look no further than Pakistan to see the consequences.

There is a Filtering process in the political system, when your national assembly because mature enough it will filter the bad politicians and give way to new and better ones. You just have to let it stay and stop military intervention again and again because it gives the power back to those who got kicked out in the first place.

 

[Durran3]

The Whole Concept of Iron Fist just because the Civil Government is corrupt is completely absurd.. and you have to look no further than Pakistan to see the consequences.

There is a Filtering process in the political system, when your national assembly becomes mature enough it will filter the bad politicians and give way to new and better ones. You just have to let it stay and stop military intervention again and again because it gives the power back to those who got kicked out in the first place.