Khaleda wrote it: Washington Times

[BDforever]

The Washington Times has confirmed that they carried an article by Khaleda Zia on Jan 30 only after being certain that she had written it.

The Opposition Leader touched off a political storm by denying having done so, prompting bdnews24.com to contact the American newspaper.

In an email, its Executive Editor David S Jackson said they were “confident in its authenticity”.

“The article that appeared in The Washington Times was submitted to us by Mark Pursey, a London-based intermediary acting on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia. We have been in touch with Mr. Pursey both before and after the publication of the article,” he said.

Pursey is one of the partners of the British PR company BTP Advisers, a communications consultancy with a network of partners across Europe, Africa and emerging markets.

According to the institution’s website, he also has extensive polling and message creation experience, having worked on every UK general election campaign from 1992 onwards.

He was previously the Communications Officer for the worldwide Vodafone Group as well as Vice-President for Communications at Deutsche Asset Management.

After the US suspended Bangladesh’s preferential trade status on Jun 27, Khaleda told Parliament on Saturday that the Washington Times article was not written by her.

“Some are speaking about an article published in a foreign newspaper under my name. But I didn’t send any letter,” she had said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was present in Parliament during Khaleda’s speech, raised a copy of that article written, but Khaleda said, “It’s not written by me.”

The article titled “ZIA: The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh” called upon the US and western nations to come forward to ‘save democracy’ in Bangladesh and that they should consider targeting travel and other sanctions.Hasina insisted Khaleda indeed was the author saying, “There is a lot of similarity between that article and her speech today (Saturday).”

“There is no use denying it. It says here – Khaleda Zia’s article, former Prime Minister and present Opposition Leader. This is available on the Internet,” Hasina said.

Khaleda had drawn immediate flak from the ruling party for the article. Some even said it amounted to sedition and threatened legal measures.

A day after its publication, BNP leader Moudud Ahmed had said Khaleda had written the article to draw the attention of the US and other well-wishers of Bangladesh. “It was not to protect BNP ... it was to guard democracy in the country,” he said.
The party’s spokesperson, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, too, had said she had written it to “highlight the current state of the country”.

However, Moudud denied making any statements on the article on Monday evening after the party chief’s denial.

source: Khaleda wrote it: Washington Times - bdnews24.com

 

[Zabaniyah]

It was written by someone else. She could not have written such an article in English all by herself.

Probably written as per her instructions judging the brilliant intellect displayed on the article!

 

[Banglar Bagh]

It was written by someone else. She could not have written such an article in English all by herself.

Probably written as per her instructions judging the brilliant intellect displayed on the article!

LOL... I heard Khaleda once hired a DU professor of English for some English lessons. Suffice to say that never helped.

 

[Mattrixx]

But she and her party denied it hundred times. But hell yeah its true, she didnt write it

ZIA: The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh
Corruption and stealing threaten a once-vibrant nation

Will 2013 be a watershed in U.S.-Bangladeshi relations? My country of 150 million people, located between India and Myanmar, has been independent since 1971, when the United States was one of the first nations to recognize our right to self-determination. Yet in the past year, relations have been strained to the point where the United States may be accused of standing idle while democracy in Bangladesh is undermined and its economic allegiance shifts toward other growing world powers.

This is not to say that the U.S. government, Congress or agencies they help lead have done nothing. Six months ago, the World Bank withdrew nearly $2 billion in funding for a four-mile bridge project, the largest single infrastructure project in Bangladesh for 40 years, and demanded an inquiry into ministerial corruption and misappropriation of funds.

At the same time, members of the U.S. congressional caucus on Bangladesh condemned the government — in particular Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — for removing Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus from his post as managing director of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh’s award-winning microfinance institution that has pulled millions out of poverty. The reason for his ouster? Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the honor was presented to the wrong person: “If anybody in Bangladesh deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, it is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”

Most Bangladeshis would disagree that Ms. Hasina has any claim on the prize. Just ask the families of some 300 people who have been registered as missing since 2009 at the hands of Ms. Hasina's Rapid Action Battalion — a paramilitary wing of the police. Or consider the family of murdered workers’ rights campaigner Aminul Islam, on whose behalf the AFL-CIO is campaigning to overturn U.S.-Bangladeshi trade preferences. Political leaders and their supporters who are being accused by a local war crimes tribunal of involvement in atrocities during the 1971 war of independence also would question Ms. Hasina’s right to the Nobel Prize.

The U.S. ambassador for war crimes has condemned Ms. Hasina’s government for trying only opponents of the regime. In December, the Economist published leaked emails and phone recordings revealing the complicity of the Hasina administration in these trials, and how they are abusing them to issue death sentences to Ms. Hasina’s political opponents.

The simple fact is that over the past five years, Bangladesh has been moving rapidly away from being one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies toward a single family taking over the levers of power. Now Ms. Hasina is attempting to remove from the constitution the need for a caretaker government — six months before the election. Indeed, she herself helped institute this rule, which calls for a nonpolitical government to take the reigns of power and oversee the electoral process unencumbered by political interference.

Having a caretaker government has been the insurance that elections are free and fair. If the voters decide to vote for a new government, then power must change hands. Despite millions joining in street protests against plans to ditch the caretaker government system before the general election this year, Ms. Hasina seems intent on pushing ahead, believing it will allow her to be re-elected despite popular opposition to her rule.

Bangladesh’s neighbor Burma is emerging from exile with the visit of President Obama in the aftermath of his re-election. India continues its growth as the world’s largest democracy. If Bangladesh succumbs to the rule of one family, it would be a major step backward for the region. Southeast Asia is now a region full of hope because of the freedoms America has helped foster. Under a caretaker government, the people of Bangladesh have the chance to express their will through the ballot box.

The United States and its allies, such as Great Britain, have the influence to insist that a caretaker government is instituted so the views of the voters are respected. To ensure this, their words and actions must be much stronger, to keep Bangladesh from slipping away from democracy. Congress and the British Parliament must continue to honor individuals such as Mr. Yunus for what he has achieved to alleviate poverty, while others such as Ms. Hasina have merely coveted recognition.

They also must explain to Ms. Hasina that general preferences for trade will be withdrawn if those who support workers’ rights and have political views opposed to those of the prime minister are not now allowed to express their beliefs. The Western powers should consider targeted travel and other sanctions against those in the regime who undermine democracy, freedom of speech and human rights. They should say and do these things publicly, for all our citizens to see and hear. This is how the United States can ensure that its mission to democratize the world continues.

It was once said, “There is a higher court than courts of justice, and that is the court of conscience.” It is impossible to say in good conscience that democracy, justice and the alleviation of poverty in Bangladesh under Ms. Hasina are safe. Indeed, all are in grave danger. It is time for the world, led by America, to act and ensure that democracy is saved in Bangladesh.

Begum Khaleda Zia is former prime minister of Bangladesh and current leader of the opposition.

Read more: ZIA: The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh - Washington Times

 

[the just]

He he he , as if US of A was waiting for her Highness to command what to do to BD.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

It was written by someone named Suhel who is close to Begum Khaleda Zia as mentioned by Amardesh editor which was leaked earlier by Bangla leaks. There Mahmudur Rahman also said that BNP is losing popularity by aligning itself with Jamaat.

Khaleda Zia is politically dead: Amardesh Editor Mahmudur Rahman

 

[Roybot]

Wow a leader of opposition calling on a foreign power to come and interfere in their domestic affairs, amazing!

Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan's ex ambassador to America is facing court trial cause of similar charges. Bangladeshis should drag Khaleda to court and press treason charges on her.

Talk about modern day Mir Jafar!

 

[dray]

Power hungry politicians can sell their country to win elections....this is treason!!!

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=492092560868043

 

[J dud]

Power hungry politicians can sell their country to win elections....this is treason!!!

did you read the article..............she asked US and world leaders to put pressure on the GOVT if it does not improve worker rights and political freedom .........

this article was published in 30 january.............. unfortunately our govt didnt heed to her concerns about worker rights and we lost 1200+ lives because of greedy factory owners

 

[J dud]

Wow a leader of opposition calling on a foreign power to come and interfere in their domestic affairs, amazing!

Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan's ex ambassador to America is facing court trial cause of similar charges. Bangladeshis should drag Khaleda to court and press treason charges on her.

Talk about modern day Mir Jafar!

lol at your brainfart..................she wrote an article in washington times which calls for more pressure on the govt if it doesnt improve labor rights and we all saw the disaster that happened afterwords........ which supports her point about the lack of worker rights in BD

here we have you, an indian (the last ones who should be talking about foreign interference in BD) comparing her to a guy who asked US to install military puppet govt in PK

 

[livingdead]

lol at your brainfart..................she wrote an article in washington times which calls for more pressure on the govt if it doesnt improve labor rights and we all saw the disaster that happened afterwords........ which supports her point about the lack of worker rights in BD

here we have you, an indian (the last ones who should be talking about foreign interference in BD) comparing her to a guy who asked US to install military puppet govt in PK

there is difference between a political leader and an NGO. Opposition party leader cannot openly ask for help from foreign country to work against own govt, even if the reason is good.
No wonder she is distancing herself now.

 

[J dud]

there is difference between a political leader and an NGO. Opposition party leader cannot openly ask for help from foreign country to work against own govt, even if the reason is good.
No wonder she is distancing herself now.

i know it was a stupidity on BNPs part but comparing her to hussain haqqani is pure idiotic

 

[BanglaBhoot]

The BNP have recently made some moronic decisions. I found the book release of Tareque Rahman quite laughable since he had no contribution to it.

 

[BDforever]

The BNP have recently made some moronic decisions. I found the book release of Tareque Rahman quite laughable since he had no contribution to it.

our all political parties are fking Ba**ard, they can go so low to remain in power or to loot the country, we need serious political reformation.