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India assures help to Bangladesh in restructuring BDR

Press Trust Of India

New Delhi, April 01, 2009
First Published: 15:00 IST(1/4/2009)
Last Updated: 15:03 IST(1/4/2009)

India on Wednesday assured Bangladesh that any “recalcitrant elements” of the BDR will not be allowed to enter the country and offered all possible help in restructuring of the paramilitary force there.

“We have expressed our full support to the Bangladesh government and BDR in restructuring the force. We will ensure that BDR recalcitrant elements do not enter into India at any cost and if any one caught we would hand them over to Bangladesh,” BSF Director General M L Kumawat said during a joint press conference with his BDR counterpart.

BDR chief Brigadier-General Mainul Islam requested the BSF to continue the “prudence and wisdom” shown at the borders since the bloody mutiny of February 25 and 26 by rebel troops of the paramilitary in which 58 Army officers were killed.

“The BSF has shown prudence and wisdom during the (BDR mutiny) crisis. It has been dealing the whole matter with wisdom and we expect them to do so in the future,” Islam told reporters here.

Islam, who led a six-member delegation for 29th Border Coordination Conference, was speaking after signing a Joint Record of Discussions with Kumawat in New Delhi.

“The saddest episode ever happened in world took place in Bangladesh... no BDR jawan could dare to cross the border into India as the BSF showed wisdom,” Islam said while expressing his gratitude for India’s support and cooperation during the recent crisis,“ he said.

India assures help to Bangladesh in restructuring BDR- Hindustan Times

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Do you not think that this is another attempt to reconstitute the Rakkhi Bahini but in the guise of a border security force?

With India being the prime suspect in the Pilkhana massacre we should be suspicious of all statements coming from India.
 
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Sircar, Moudud, Rawshan return to JS in by-polls

Bogra-6 : Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, BNP-Bogra-7: Barrister Moudud Ahmed, BNP-Kurigram-2: Zafar Ali, AL-Rangpur-6: Abul Kalam Azad, AL-Rangpur-3: Rawshan Ershad, JP-Kishoreganj-6: Nazmul Hasan Papon, AL

Friday April 03 2009 01:55:04 AM BDT

In a turn of events, former Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, ex-Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed and former First Lady Rawshan Ershad staged a comeback in parliamentary politics as they won Thursday's by-elections. They lost their seats in their respective home constituencies in Panchagarh, Noakhali and Mymensingh in the(The Independent)

parliamentary elections held on Dec 29 last year in a changed time following two years of emergency rule and political purge in which heads of many bigwigs had rolled.

By a stroke of luck, Barrister Sircar and Barrister Moudud were elected from the two seats in Bogra vacated by their party chief and former PM Khaleda Zia, who had won the highest allocation of three seats.

Bogra is considered a stronghold of BNP as BNP's founder and slain President Ziaur Rahman was born there.

Out of the six seats on stake in today's voting, the ruling Awami League won two seats -one each from Rangpur and Kurigram districts. The AL added another feather to its hat as Jatiya Party lost out one seat in its stronghold.

Awami League candidate Abul Kalam Azad won the Peerganj seat in Rangpur vacated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina's cousin Sheikh Helal was earlier declared elected unopposed from a seat in Bagerhat, also vacated by Hasina.

Nazmul Hasan Papan, son of President Zillur Rahman, inherited the seat of his father in Kishoreganj. Zillur vacated the seat before his election to the office of President in January.

In the by-elections, which should have been an acid test for it after the massive election victory in December, Awami League gained an additional seat by capturing Jatiya Party's in Kurigram vacated by former President HM Ershad.

Ershad's wife Roushan Ershad won from a seat in Rangpur vacated by her husband. Rangpur is the home district of Ershad and stronghold of the Jatiya Party.

According to unofficial results from the election commission, out of six constituencies where by-elections were held Thursday, the ruling Awami League secured three seats, opposition BNP retained its two and Jatiya Party won one seat but lost one.

Unofficial results are:

Bogra-6 : Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, BNP (1,39,531 votes), Momtajuddin-AL (53,430 votes), Bogra-7: Barrister Moudud Ahmed, BNP (1,75,079 votes), Mustafa Alam Nanno, AL (97,257 votes), Kurigram-2: Zafar Ali, AL (1,40,748 votes), Golam Habib Dulal, JP (46,616 votes), Rangpur-6: Abul Kalam Azad, AL (1,12,721 votes), Noor Mohammad Mondal, BNP (35,857 votes) Rangpur-3: Rawshan Ershad, JP (87,847 votes), Rahimuddin Bhorasha, BNP (25,524 votes), Kishoreganj-6: Nazmul Hasan Papon, AL (1,06,147 votes), Shariful Alam, BNP (68,327 votes)

Golam Habib of JP, who lost in Kurigram, rejected the results complaining Awami League activists have thrown out his polling agents from 30 centres. His supporters were threatened and discouraged to cast votes in many centres, he said.

Stray incidents were reported from Bogra where police resorted to lathi charge to maintain peace leaving three BNP activists injured.

Seven people, two BNP and five Awami League activists, were injured in several polling centres in the by-elections to Bogra-6 and 7 constituencies. The supporters of the two parties clashed in five centres.

One Awami League activist was arrested on charges of violence and polling officer Shawkat Ali was suspended and detained on charges of campaigning for BNP candidate Jamiruddin Sircar in separate incidents.

Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda predicted a low turnout, on the eve of the by-polls, compared to the Dec 29 general election.

"Voters may be a bit reluctant to go to polling stations, as this is the third occasion after parliamentary and Upazila elections, within a relatively short period," he said Wednesday.

"Besides, farmers are busy with irrigation."

The CEC said the commission had taken all steps for free and fair election.

"I don't see any sign of elections possibly being rigged, there is no such scope," said Huda.

The EC appointed its own officials as returning officers for the first time in parliamentary polls.

In another rarity, the army and BDR were not being deployed to maintain election security in the wake February's mutiny.

Election officials said greater numbers of RAB, police and ansars were engaged, instead.

Election campaigning came to a stop on Tuesday midnight, bans were imposed on all vehicular movement from Wednesday midnight and a public holiday was declared in election areas to facilitate voting.

http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=255885
 
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Mashhud quits, quietly

Mashhud will have to account for Tk 13 crore expenditure on ACC lawyers

Thursday April 02 2009 22:08:52 PM BDT



The Anticorruption Commission chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury stepped down Thursday, saying there was no need to spell out the reason for his resignation. "I think you all know the situation now prevailing; there's no need for me explain it," the former army chief briefed reporters(The Bangladesh Today)

before leaving the ACC headquarters in the city at around 4pm.

"There is a need for a new leadership now to bring swiftness to the work of the ACC," said Chowdhury.

"I would like to talk with about two topics today. First, I've resigned by the will of Allah.

"And the second, I express my gratitude and thank the journalists for extending me cooperation in discharging my duties over the last two years," Chowdhury said.

He said he worked to prevent corruption and the work required cooperation from all.

The corruption issue was yet to be solved. There are lot of opportunities to work, Chowdhury said.

"I think there's need for a new leadership to bring swiftness to the work of [the ACC]."

He said he believed that his successors will press on with the anti-graft drives.

The time to evaluate the two-year activities of the ACC under his leadership was yet to come, as prevention of corruption had been a tough one, Chowdhury said.

Without taking any questions from the press, he got in his car and left for his residence, ending his last workday since he took over on Feb. 25, 2007.

Senior government officials had earlier told bdnews24.com the ACC chief sent his resignation letter to the Bangabhaban around noon.

Chowdhury met with his officials at the headquarters after 3pm and bid them bye.

He was appointed on Feb 22 by the Fakhruddin Ahmed-led army-installed caretaker government after resigning as an adviser to the caretaker government led by president Iajuddin Ahmed.

Chowdhury led the antigraft body in its drive against top political figures during the immediate past caretaker regime.

MPs from the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP have since demanded his resignation.

In the opening session of the ninth parliament, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Feb. 4 told parliament that the ACC should be "reconstituted" to ensure its own accountability, giving rise to widespread buzz that it might be a resignation call for the ACC chief.

The PM had said that the anti-graft drive during the caretaker government's two-year tenure became an "anti-politician drive", and that the ACC was itself tainted by allegations of corruption.

The next day, Chowdhury rebuffed the prime minister's allegations against the anti-graft body, saying she was "not right".

"The Anticorruption Commission has conducted its drive on specific information and evidence. The remark that the commission was used to shackle politicians is not right," Chowdhury had said.

He met the prime minister on Jan. 21 and discussed ACC's management.

"I hope the government would take appropriate steps on the basis of necessity."

Staff Correspondent

Law State Minister Advocate Kamrul Islam said ACC Chairman Hasan Mashud Chowdhury's resignation will pave the way for launching anti-corruption drive effectively against real corrupt.

At a press briefing at his ministry Thursday, he said that the ACC Chairman was used during two years of the caretaker government to file false cases against the politicians in a bid to harass them.

He said as a politician he is very much happy with the news of ACC Chairman's resignation as the commission could not concentrate on curbing real criminals for its attention towards politicians.

However he said the government did not create any pressurise on ACC Chairman to compel him to resign, rather ACC Chairman has resigned responding to his conscience and sense of guilt.

He said his government believes in independent functioning of ACC and in any way it will not interfere in the work of the commission which will be led by another competent person replacing Hasan Mashud.

About false cases against politicians he said all cases against most of the politicians specially Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were false and afterwards the plaintiffs either refused to have filed any cases against her.

Asked whether the corruption cases against politicians will be withdrawn he said that the law ministry has not taken any finals decision about withdrawing the cases which were filed during caretaker government's regime as yet.

In a another query Law State Minister said subject to falsity of corruption pending cases against the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of opposition Begum Khaleda Zia will be dismissed in future.

During rule of four party alliance led by BNP many false cases were filed against Awami League leaders and example of Saber Hossain Chowdhury is enough as he was sued for stealing eating plate from a ferry and in connection with bombing at a cinema hall in Mymensingh, he said.

He said the outgoing ACC Chairman will have to account for Tk 13 crore which was expended by way of making payment to ACC prosecutors and other lawyers in prosecuting politicians in false cases.

Kamrul Islam said "Apart from this Tk 13 crore more money was expended for other purposes and such expenditure was wastage of public money. As the accused persons are out of jail and leading a free life then what is the justification of expending huge money. We require ACC Chairman to account for this money."

About judicial officers' meeting with Law Minister he said their demand for posting them in the law ministry as per seniority is logical as law provides that 75 % posts to be filled by judicial officers.

"They discussed with law minister and me several times and today they requested us to arranging their appointment with the Prime Minister as the judicial officers would like to talk to her on the issue of their demands."

A source in the Law Ministry said that the judicial officers have other demands for not giving executive magistrates judicial powers in the interest of meaningful implementation of separation of the judiciary in line with the directives of the Supreme Court in Majder Hossain case known as separation of judiciary case.

http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=255802

His days ended I presume
 
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One more 1/11 (local) conspirator bite the dust. Moeen U is the next big one, lets see what happens to him.
 
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He left with his dignity as he was unable to push forward with the the pending cases in ACC. It was due to, govts employment of DG of ACC and the political affiliation of the ACC stuffs.
Mashud was a man of honor and this is the first time in BD's history, somebody without being kicked resigned.
God bless him and I extend my good will for him.
 
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Gen. Masshud was one of the co-conspirators of Gen. Moin U Ahmed and is also responsible for the mess we are now facing. He did not leave his post honorably he just didn't realise that the AL were such big bastards and would eventually betray him. Most of army men who brought the AL power are now in a similar category.
 
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Gen. Masshud was one of the co-conspirators of Gen. Moin U Ahmed and is also responsible for the mess we are now facing. He did not leave his post honorably he just didn't realise that the AL were such big bastards and would eventually betray him. Most of army men who brought the AL power are now in a similar category.

Thats too much of a harsh comment for him.. I disagree.
 
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Gen. Masshud was one of the co-conspirators of Gen. Moin U Ahmed and is also responsible for the mess we are now facing. He did not leave his post honorably he just didn't realise that the AL were such big bastards and would eventually betray him. Most of army men who brought the AL power are now in a similar category.

No complain from here brother. This bastards deserve their due. :smokin:
 
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Was it not Gen. Masshud who precipitated the crisis as an advisor to the original caretaker government under President Iajuddin by resigning along with Indian dalals Sultana Kamal, Akbar Ali Khan and Dr. Sami. If they had stayed at their posts then 1/11 would not have happened and all the mess we are now facing under the AL would have been avoided. Somewhere along the line India hijacked everything and brought the AL to power through Gen. Moin U Ahmed. Could Gen. Moin U Ahmed have carried out his dastardly plan without the help of Gen. Masshud. What did Gen. Masshud actually achieve as ACC Chairman? He spent 13 Crore on lawyers but not a single conviction is sticking. If he had resigned during the caretaker government of Fakhruddin I would have appreciated it more. He allowed the AL politicians out of jail 3 months before the BNP and so they had longer to campaign and prepare themselves for the elections. He kept the BNP under pressure so that they would participate in the rigged elections. Gen. Masshud is as responsible as all the other army officers who helped bring in the AL.

It is up to him to now to rectify the situation by speaking out and then he might be forgiven.
 
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The “quiet” quitting of the Chairman ACC

On 02 April 2009, the Chairman ACC resigned from his post, saying that there was no need to spell out the reasons for his resignation; it was understood that he was under considerable political pressure to do so. The State Minister for Law, Advocate Kamrul Islam rather gleefully commented that he was happy that the Chairman ACC had resigned and the commission could now concentrate on curbing "real criminals" as opposed to harassing politicians.

Lieutenant General Hasan Mashud Chowdhury (Retd) took over as the Chairman of the ACC a couple of weeks after the Emergency was declared on 11 January 2007. Within days after he took over he publicly declared a personal "jihad" against corruption, specifically targeting politicians, businessmen connected with politics and their wives and grown up children, instituting thousands of investigations and cases against them, while the Emergency government put them in jails without any specific charges.
The politicians and the other people, against whom charges of corruption were brought, bore it out for two long years and after the emergency was lifted, elections were held and the AL government took office, they got back at the ACC through the "normal" process of law. The process of investigations and cases of anti-corruption cost crores of takas to the national exchequer; the ACC doling out Tk. 13 crorer alone to prominent lawyers to pursue cases. Many of those that the Emergency government and the ACC targeted, are now sitting in the Parliament making laws, including the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. So, all of these efforts and expenditures of money led to "zilch" as far as curbing corruption is concerned.

Instead of quietly concentrating on building up the structures of an institution which could lawfully and legally pursue corruption, Lt. Gen Hasan Mashud Chowdhury personalized a national issue into a one-man crusade against corruption, going extensively to the media and the "public", making himself the most "visible" person of the Emergency regime. Such authoritarian and totalitarian approach to anti-corruption led to an unprecedented witch hunt of colossal proportions, targeting anyone whom Hasan Mashud Chowdhury "thought" was corrupted.

The Emergency government and more specifically its prime mover General Moeen.U.Ahmed, the (still going strong) Chief of Army Staff found in Hasan Mashud Chowdhury an individual ready and willing to be the hatchet-man for cutting to size the politicians. The politicians however, refused to be cut down to size and Hasan Mashud Chowdhury offered himself up as the "fall-guy".

Lieutenant General Hasan Mashud Chowdhury (Retd) is a proud man - proud of his integrity, proud of his accomplishments, proud of his competence and proud of his religious convictions. Such pride can lead men up psychological blind alleys where they brook no obstacles to the fulfillment of their own ambitions and drives - ultimately ofcourse they achieve nothing and cause great harm to the society which throws them up in times of great crises. Such indeed is the price of pride.

editorial
 
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There should be watch on Hasan Mashud Chowdhury so he does not flee the country. There is chance he may go to Australia. Rigorous questioning may reveal conspiracy surrounding 1/11 specially foreign hand.

But offcourse Awami league has different agenda.
 
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Hasina 'withdraws' from BCL

Dhaka , April 4 (bdnews24.com)—Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has decided to withdraw as 'organisational head' of Bangladesh Chhatra League, AL spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam said Saturday.

Ashraf was briefing the media after an emergency meeting of the party presidium, chaired by Hasina Saturday, in the wake of ongoing Chhatra League violence on campuses countrywide.

Ashraf said the government had ordered a severe crackdown against campus violence "starting now".

Asked about BCL activities after Hasina's withdrawal, he said they would go on "peacefully".

"Chhatra League is beset with organisational problems for inefficiency of the central committee," he said, of the ruling AL-backed student body.

He said the government urged all to stop terror activities and extortion in the name of student politics.

He also warned that it was cracking down countrywide on all violence by "students or in the name of students".

"The government has instructed law enforcing agencies to take the sternest action against violence by students leaders, members or activists, or anyone perpetrating violence, extortion, tender rigging in the guise of students," he said.

"The action starts now," said Ashraf.

He said none, not BCL activists or any others, would be spared if they were involved in such criminal acts.

'Parent organisations responsible'

Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner was questioned by reporters about police action against ongoing campus violence and use of arms by the ruling party-backed Chhatra League at a DMP meeting earlier in the day.

He said it was the responsibility of the "parent organisation" and the educational institutions concerned to supervise students' activities.

The police, of course, would take all actions against criminal behaviour, he added.

Ongoing clashes

Meanwhile, at least 12 people were injured earlier Saturday in Chhatra League factional fighting at Jagannath University.

The violence sparked off at around 11:30am in front of arts faculty between activists led by JagU's BCL unit president and supporters of the unit's general secretary.

"We want peace on the campus. I have asked police not to spare those responsible at any cost," vice chancellor Mesbah Uddin told bdnews24.com.

'Stern warnings'

JagU's BCL unit, among other university units, have faced several stern warnings from Hasina, Awami League and central BCL leaders in past weeks.

Units of the ruling party-backed student organisation have been involved in factional fights, and clashes with rival student bodies, for control of campuses countrywide since January, when AL came to power.

Central BCL leaders were forced to dissolve BCL's JU unit on Feb 17 after recurrent clashes over control of residential halls. But violence has continued unabated on the campus.

Jahangirnagar University saw another bout of violence on Friday as BCL activists wielding machetes, hockey sticks and other lethal weapons in factional clashes that left at least 10 persons injured and some eight dormitory rooms vandalised.

Hasina 'withdraws' from BCL :: Politics :: bdnews24.com ::
 
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Shafiq slams Ershad for 'state religion'

Dhaka, Apr 4 (bdnews24.com) – The law minister Saturday slammed Jatiya Party chief and former president HM Ershad for introducing state religion during his 1982-1990 regime, in violation of what the minister said the nation's core principles.

"The amendment to make Islam the state religion was contrary to the fundamentals, such as secularism, of the country's 1972 constitution," Shafiq Ahmed said.

Former military ruler Gen Ershad, now a ruling party ally, in a controversial eighth amendment to the constitution in the 1980s, attempted to set up High Court divisions in all divisional towns and also made Islam as state religion.

On whether the incumbent government would repeal the amendment, he said: "The government is now only two and a half months old. We should not make any comment now. Let's wait and see."

Shafiq also said the process of war crimes trials was likely to start this month.

The minister was speaking at a scholarship awards ceremony organised by the Greater Comilla Association at the National Press Club auditorium.

In his address, Shafiq asked educationists to present the "true history" of the liberation war.

"We should tell the true history of the liberation war to the new generation. We have to present the reality, as well, of people who collaborated with the Pakistan army in looting, arson and killing of intellectuals, " he said.

Shafiq also stressed the necessity of modernisation of the madrasa curriculum. "We have to create employment for the madrasa students by modernising the education system."

"It will not be wise to keep them outside development activities," he said.

There is no scope for confusion on the government's position on madrasas, he said.

Shafiq slams Ershad for 'state religion' :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::
 
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Shafiq slams Ershad for 'state religion'

Dhaka, Apr 4 (bdnews24.com) – The law minister Saturday slammed Jatiya Party chief and former president HM Ershad for introducing state religion during his 1982-1990 regime, in violation of what the minister said the nation's core principles.

"The amendment to make Islam the state religion was contrary to the fundamentals, such as secularism, of the country's 1972 constitution," Shafiq Ahmed said.

Former military ruler Gen Ershad, now a ruling party ally, in a controversial eighth amendment to the constitution in the 1980s, attempted to set up High Court divisions in all divisional towns and also made Islam as state religion.

On whether the incumbent government would repeal the amendment, he said: "The government is now only two and a half months old. We should not make any comment now. Let's wait and see."

Shafiq also said the process of war crimes trials was likely to start this month.

The minister was speaking at a scholarship awards ceremony organised by the Greater Comilla Association at the National Press Club auditorium.

In his address, Shafiq asked educationists to present the "true history" of the liberation war.

"We should tell the true history of the liberation war to the new generation. We have to present the reality, as well, of people who collaborated with the Pakistan army in looting, arson and killing of intellectuals, " he said.

Shafiq also stressed the necessity of modernisation of the madrasa curriculum. "We have to create employment for the madrasa students by modernising the education system."

"It will not be wise to keep them outside development activities," he said.

There is no scope for confusion on the government's position on madrasas, he said.

Shafiq slams Ershad for 'state religion' :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

Ershad..........na ghar ka na bahar ka.........Loser

And what kind of Muslim criticized Islam being state Realign...... Bigger loser

Oh yeah Awami kind of Islamic named Muslim......no surprise there.............
 
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Shafiq slams Ershad for 'state religion'

Dhaka, Apr 4 (bdnews24.com) – .........On whether the incumbent government would repeal the amendment, he said: "The government is now only two and a half months old. We should not make any comment now. Let's wait and see."..........

........There is no scope for confusion on the government's position on madrasas, he said.

Do above 2 newslines comprise--in this news item--the actual message: Islam and Madrasas are going to be hit soon ?

If yes, does the ultimate motive behind BDR carnage is stemmed from such scheme ?
 
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