Khan Thoughts: 2009-10-25

Saturday 31 October 2009

Even wondered what is it that makes Yahoo or Google different from the millions of websites that are there? Is it the leadership of the top management or the visionary thought process of its owners or is the success attributed to some great marketing techniques? We will take a leaf from the books of some of the worlds most visited websites and try to figure out what exactly is the reason for their all round success and who are all the people behind these household names.

1. yahoo - Started by Jerry Yang and David Filo in 1994-both Stanford Graduates, Yahoo was basically a personal site which was named- ‘Jerry’s guide to World Wide Web’. It was later named Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle (YAHOO). As time progressed, Yahoo added new technologies, and with its highly-liked domain name, attracts almost 16 billion visitors annually, making it rule the roost among the most visited websites of all time.

2. google - Another brainchild of Stanford Graduates, Google was the idea of Sergey Brim and Larry Page. They has made a ‘web crawler’ as a part of their academic projects and later evolved the algorithm to make one of the most efficient search engines in the world. Google was started in 1998, and later took on the world and is one of the most visited websites that we have today. Google own many other companies and websites, which themselves are among the most visited websites in the world. Owing to innovative commercial ideas (adwords and adsense being the two most well-known), Larry and Sergey have a net worth of more than 18 Billion USD as of today.

3. youtube Owned as a subsidiary of Google, Youtube was initially started by three Paypal employees- Chad Hurley, Jawed Karim and Steve Chen in 2005. Due to the heavy demand and utilization of the online-video sharing concept that You tube had introduced, it soon became one of the most visited websites. Within and year, Google had sealed a deal with You tube and bought it from its creators.

4. Live was launched by MSN way back in 2005 as one of the first windows personalized experience services. Customizable with gadgets and other mini devices, Live also enables the user to have RSS feed which allows users to view the latest news instantly on their desktops and other connected gadgets. The sheer use of technology saw live skyrocket to success and become one of the most visited websites around.

5. Facebook We see so many social networking sites around. Facebook.com is one of the pioneers in this field. The concept was founded and drafted by a then- Harvard Student- Mark Zuckerberg. The site was launched for Harvard students in 2004 and the concept was later extended to other colleges and Universities and was finally made available for anyone who was more than 13 years of age. With more than 110 million active users, Facebook.com is definitely in our list of worlds most visited websites.

6.msn Almost every internet user is familiar with MSN. The site has been present since time immortal, and its popularity is mainly due to the unabated presence of MSN around the world. Launched way back in 1995, MSN or the Microsoft Network was a huge success, and is even today. Nathan Myrvohld was the man largely responsible for giving this concept concrete shape back then and making it one of the most visited websites of all time.

7. myspace Myspace is another one of those social networking sites, with a difference though. Brad Greenspan, the CEO and founder of euniverse, had teemed up with other employees of the same company to mimic the success of Friendster with a change. That change was in the form of brighter colors, better features and more liveliness, making Myspace an instant success.

8.wikipedia Wikipedia Founded as a more open and complementary version of Naupedia (an encyclopedia in the making), Wikipedia has been a huge success. As a brain child of Jimmy Wales (the founder of Naupedia) and his co-worker Larry Sanger, Wikipedia attract almost 700 million visitors annually and is a collaborative effort to provide knowledge to everyone for free. A site much loved by scholars and laymen alike, it is definitely going to last for a lot many years in the list of most visited websites in the world.

9. blogger was launched by Pyra labs in 1999 and taken over by Google in 2003. Being one of the oldest free blogging services, it has become one of the most visited websites of the modern era.

10. baidu As the favorite website of the world’s most populous country, Baidu.com is definitely one of the most visited websites in the world. The concept of a search engine specializing in music and image (multimedia) searches is a new one and is being loved by its users around the world, especially in China.

New conspiracy against Bangladesh

Right after the mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles [BDR] troops, which is partially resolved by now only at its Dhaka headquarters, some vested interest groups are becoming increasingly active in giving a bad name to the Bangladesh Army by claiming, “They are corrupt violators of rules and abusers of human rights”. Such a campaign is aimed at stopping the participation of the Bangladesh Army in the United Nations Peace Keeping Force.

Some so-called intellectuals in Bangladesh are also adding their voices against the Army and are trying to justify the heinous crime committed by the mutineer BDR troops.

Bangladeshi Economist Anu Muhammad saw the rebellion of BDR soldiers as a “class revolt, though the cruelty in it was extreme”.

 “Discrimination was going on in the regimented forces for so long and people had accepted it for sometime. But the situation began altering with the changes in society, as the soldiers in the forces were part of the society’s subaltern section,” he said.

Playwright and cultural activist, Mamunur Rashid said “It was the most shocking event for the nation. What the Bangladesh Rifles members have done is not right, although it was clear that the repression by officers reached an intolerable level. But I think the government has to go deep into the matter that led the soldiers commit such cruelty.”

My personal analysis is the statement by both Anu Mahmud and Mamunur Rashid are designed in indirectly justifying the criminal actions by the mutineer BDR troops.

On a television talk show, former military officer turned political leader General [Retired] C. R. Dutta said, “The BDR revolt is the outburst of their decade old accumulated anger.”

Here again, General Dutta tried to defend the notoriety of BDR troops.

Meanwhile, public sentiment is growing increasingly against the killing and atrocity by the mutineer BDR troops. No grievances can justify a mutiny and killings by a disciplined force anywhere in the world and those who murdered officers at the BDR headquarters should be tried under the laws of the country.

The general sentiment of the people and defence personnel on Thursday turned strongly against the BDR mutineers as news and pictures of the brutal killings of army officers started to emerge in newspapers and on television channels. The bodies recovered from the sewage system bore marks of utter brutality. The bodies were mutilated by gunshots and bayonet charges and were ruthlessly dumped in the sewage system.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s general amnesty to the mutineer troops, defense experts said, “It’s globally common ethics not to support any mutiny or terrorist acts.”

“If there are grievances, there are many other civilised ways to express that. If mutiny is justified, it would then simply welcome terrorism. While amnesty may be acceptable for the general mutineers considering that there could be more bloodshed otherwise, those who committed the murders should be tried under the laws of the land. They cannot be pardoned.”

Commenting on the mutinee, some said, the way the killings took place surely indicates that there was a hardcore element, which wanted to give the mutiny a face of almost unprecedented brutality. The group, their relationship and linkage should be brought into cleansing daylight through proper and professional non-partisan investigations. The government should look into the facts in a most serious fashion.

The rebellion by a section of soldiers against the officers at the Pilkhana headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles in the capital of Dhaka, which started Wednesday morning and continued late into Thursday afternoon, has put the country in a grave crisis. The members of the paramilitary BDR constantly guard our national borders in difficult situations, while the members of the armed forces have been raised to defend our national territory if and when attacked; our nation-state badly needs these two forces to maintain healthy relations. After the revolt in BDR, entire bordering areas of Bangladesh are in extreme security situations, and there are reports of strengthening of security measures by our neighboring nations as well as deploying special commandos for unknown but presumable reasons.

Now, let me humbly point to a number of extremely important but very crucial issues, which the government needs to address forthwith:

When the notoriety inside BDR headquarters was continuing, although all the private television channels were covering the incident, state-owned Bangladesh Television was busy broadcasting an entertainment program, as if nothing happened in the country. Such senseless behavior of Bangladesh Television is not only a serious offense by its staff, but to the information ministry itself. It may be mentioned here that the information secretary was just removed from his job only a week ago for writing a notoriously abusive poem on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and members of his family. Bangladesh Television [BTV] is under the information ministry. Many believe that, BTV’s roles might have been intentional to put the government into questioned position.

After dead bodies of army officers came out through the sewerage line at Kamrangirchar in Dhaka, their bodies were laid out on ground and members of law enforcing agencies called local people to load the bodies into trucks in a very dishonorable manner.. The law enforcing agencies should have used stretchers to honorably shift the bodies to the trucks. Secondly, none of the representatives of the government visited that spot right after recovery of the bodies. Bangladesh Television was again continuing its entertainment and fun programs, thus not even showing a special scroll of condolence on its screen for the loved ones of the dead.

The BDR mutiny was not a mere random incident. No way! It was a very well planned and well organized undertaking, with many key organizers involved from behind the scenea. It was also reported that on the previous night of the mutiny, leaflets were distributed amongst the troops of BDR. They even collected the red and yellow color mask and bandana much ahead of it. So, they were absolutely prepared for the revolt and murder of 146 army officers, in a planned way to create a vacuum right within our armed forces. Moreover, some of the mutineer soldiers were referring to the Prime Minister as “Amader Netri” [Our leader]. To a soldier, how does a PM turn into a leader? Moreover, most of the mutineer troops were appearing before the mass media without any mask, as they knew that their faces would be seen by the television viewers. Were they already sure of plans for a general amnesty, even before any government delegation met them?

 And, most interestingly, why did the government decide to send Jahangir Kabir Nanak, MP and Mirza Azam, MP to Bangladesh Riffles headquarters as their first representative for negotiations? Why not any senior leader like Tofael Ahmed or Suranjit Sen Gupta? Or a senior minister like Motia Chowdhury? Any special reason? Did these two leaders have some contact points already inside BDR?

The Bangladesh government must make necessary arrangements for the decent burial of the killed officers with all due respect and honor. They should be accorded the honor of national heroes. Moreover, the government definitely should identify the entire conspiracy behind such brutality. There should also be proper investigation on the cases of rapes inside the BDR headquarters during the 30-hour mutiny. And finally, the government should do everything possible to stop dangerous anti-army propaganda inside and outside Bangladesh by various elements.

Armed forces are the guards of our sovereignty. They have been sacrificing lives since the independence of this country. Many officers sacrificed their lives during the war of independence. Dignity and prestige of this institution should be upheld under any and all circumstance. There should never be any compromise in this regard! 

Bangladesh: Tears of anger

More than 50 decomposing bodies of murdered officers of the Bangladesh Rifles [who were sent on deputation by the Bangladesh Army] has so far been recovered from a number of mass-graves inside the Bangladesh Rifles Head Quarters at Pilkhana in Dhaka. Some were recovered too from the sewage line flowing from the BDR Headquarters to the Buriganga River.

Meanwhile, according to the latest information, most of the killings and rapes took place after the Prime Minister announced General Amnesty to the mutineer BD troops on Wednesday afternoon. It is further now known that the delegation of mutineers on their return from the Prime Minister’s residence, told their fellow rebel comrades to ‘clear-up’ the remaining number of detained officers as well as to give a ‘good lesson’ to the female officer members. The mutineers were also burying the dead bodies of the army officers during the more than 30-hours they had in the name of negotiations with the government.

Civil War in Pakistan?

Understandable gloom all round today after a major bomb blast at a market in Peshawar in Pakistan yesterday. The blast, which came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was visiting Islamabad, claimed more than 100 lives, and has sparked renewed warnings about the possibility of the country sliding into civil war.

An op-ed by journalist Abdus Sattar Ghazali yesterday sums up the mood of those warning that the offensive by Pakistan’s efforts to fight militants could further destabilise the country:

‘The pro-government tribes are being armed by the Pakistan government. Many pro-government tribal leaders have been killed. A suicide bomb attack on a pro-government tribal jirga in Orakzai killed at least 51 people and more than 200 wounded last year…To add fuel to the fire, the Interior Minister this week announced raising a students' militia to combat terrorism. For sure, this will further divide the polarized society.’

Ghazali also reiterates what our Pakistan correspondent told me, that the latest military operation in Waziristan is being conducted under a media blackout, with journalists banned from the area.

Under these conditions, rumours are rife, as amply demonstrated by Ghazali’s speculation over whether notorious US private security firm Blackwater is involved:

‘The US has gradually increased its covert presence in Pakistan. There are reports that Iraq ill-famed US private mercenary army Blackwater is operating in Pakistan freely. It is not only operating in Peshawar but now in Islamabad under a front Washington-based company, Creative Associates International Inc (CAII) which has opened an office in Peshawar to work on projects in the nearby tribal agencies of Pakistan. All of these projects, interestingly, are linked to the US government.’
Comments like these are proof if any was needed that the Pakistan government’s decision to block media access is already backfiring.

Eyes on Ball, Not Navels

The news today that Malaysian authorities have seized more than 15,000 bibles in recent months again highlights some of the simmering religious tensions in the country, with many from minority faiths arguing the government is pandering to the Muslim majority.

There’s a nice piece here by Bloomberg columnist William Pesek on why the Malaysian government needs to keep its eye on the ball, not on the navel (Beyonce’s to be specific—she’s called off another concert there over complaints her show is too raunchy).

As he notes:

‘The plight of this particular pop star won’t be affected. She’ll make millions performing somewhere else. You won’t find many Beyonce CDs in my collection. And folks are free to object to her bellybutton shaking before their eyes on moral grounds. Too bad there isn’t similar, if not more, outrage over the real problems facing Malaysia.’

RAW destroying Bangladesh

Most of the members of the forums know that RAW’s nefarious activities in subcontinent in general and in Bangladesh in particular has become menacing.Many of You might be knowing that journalist and researcher Mohammad Zainal Abedin has written a revealing book:”RAW and Bangladesh”. Two Pakistani writers have highly spoke of this book:
“RAW AND BANGLADESH” By Zainal Abedin Published by :Fatema shahab
7. Fakirapool,Inner Circular Road Motijheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, First Edition: November, 1995
Cover Design : Zobayer Alam

Dedicated To Those Fighters Who Shall Protect Our Independence, Sovereignty And

Religious Identity From Generation To Generation. Printing:Madina Printers.
38/2. Banglabazar Dhaka-llOO. Bangladesh. Distributor: Madina Publications 38/2, Banglabazar Dhaka-I 100. Bangladesh All Rights Reserved by the Author Price: Taka-125 US $ -5

PREFACE

The eventful days of 1971 remain ever fresh in my memory despite the passage of long 25 years. As I ponder over the events, one particular incident chastises me the most. It happened during April 1971. Although the operation of Pakistan Army had started in Dhaka on the night of 25 March but my home district Noakhali was still out of its purview. I, along with some other leaders was busy in organising resistance forces in our area. Volunteers from far off villages and shoals had assembled in large numbers in the district headquarters. They carried assortment of weapons, some even carried bamboo sticks, spears, arrows, javelins etc. They were determined to fight for realization of the just rights of the Bengalis.

I, as a student leader had played significant role in popularising 6- points in my area. I had many admirers and political supporters. My most staunch supporter and admirer was a neighbour. He was a middle-aged, ‘mature and sober person. He had stood by m)’! during difficult days of Ayub regime. In fact, without his assistance and support, it would not have been possible for me to become a front rank student leader.

I had immense respect and regard for him. I was thrilled when I spotted him in the make shift camp set up for the resistance forces. I greeted him warmly. But he remained cold and unmoved. His eyes were dazed and he seemed lost. I thought that he was concerned about Pakistan Army’s imminent advance to our area and its consequences for us.He got hold of my hand and took me to a nearby restaurant. As we sipped tea, he started narrating the history of pre-1947 Bengal. He mentioned gory details of how the Hindus used to treat the Muslims and explained the reasons for creation of Pakistan. He said that struggling for one’s right is different from break up of the country. He stated that India would first weaken us by breaking our unity and then exploit us. He added that his life time experiences had told him that India would never be sincere to Muslims. With tears in his eyes and hands trembling with emotions he quipped, “Are you again going to make us the slaves of the Hindus?”.

I must admit that I did not give any serious thought to his urging. I was too young and emotional. Besides, I was so involved with my cause that I had little time or scope to think about future. In fact, had I not known his background, I would have dismissed him as a ‘ collaborator’ .

However, the said question now haunts me often. The realization of what lay in store for us had started soon after I crossed over to India where I was assigned to elite Mujib Bahini. The attitude of our Indian handlers and trainers indicated that they treated us (the Freedom Fighters) not as friends but as agents. However, the real Indian face lay bare after the surrender of Pakistani forces, when I saw the large scale loot and plunder by the Indian Army personnel.

The Indian soldiers appeared to be the modern edition of the Maratha Cavalry who is notorious in history for plundering Bengal during the middle age. The Indian soldiers swooped on everything they found and carried them away to India. Their haste for plunder made our people believe that they had been waiting for such I an opportunity for centuries and they were not ready to waste even a single moment when the cherished opportunity arrived. Indian soldiers imposed curfew on our towns, industrial bases, ports, cantonments, commercial centres and even residential areas to make the looting easier. They lifted every thing from ceiling fan to military equipment, utensils to water taps. Thousands of Army vehicles were used to carry looted goods to India.

History has recorded few such cruel and henious plunders. Such a large scale plunder could not have been possible without connivance of higher Indian authorities. Otherwise how could the soldiers have dared to commit such a pillage?It was evident from the conduct of the Indian Army that they treated Bangladesh as a colony. That was the time when the question asked by my neighbour seriously surfaced in my mind. Since then I have been pondering but am unable to give any definite answer. I only pray that history proves his .apprehensions wrong.Frequently I face question from some quarters how I write about Indian misdoings while I am myself a freedom fighter, who had got training, shelter and help from Indians during liberation war. My answer to them is that I do what a real freedom fighter ought to do. I cannot remain quiet about excesses committed against my motherland irrespective of who is the’ perpetrator of the excesses. If India had given a fair deal to Bangladesh,nobody would say anything against her. But India through her notorious deeds has proved time and again that she is not our friend but an arch roguish foe. India has posed a grave threat to our independence and sovereignty.

Thus the duty and responsibility of a genuine freedom fighter calls upon me to stand up to the enemy of Bangladesh in whatever manner I can.It is now evident that India had helped the creation of Bangladesh with the aim that it would be a step forward towards the reunification of India. Soon after creation of Bangladesh, India let loose all forces at her command to cripple the newly born country. Their aim was to precipitate its collapse and eventual merger with India to realize part of the Brahmanic dream about ‘Akhand Bharat’.

The most significant player of this henious game is India’s notorious intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing commonly known as RAW.Since its inception in 1968 RAW has been an unobtrusive instrument for achieving Indian foreign policy objectives. RAW had worked assiduously in the erstwhile East Pakistan and had succeeded in establishing an elaborate network of spies and subversive elements. After establishment of Bangladesh the said network was further expanded as there was no check or obstacle in her way in the new country. RAW has spread her tentacles in almost all spheres of Bangladesh. Its network is growing like a cancer.

However, except for occasional news and features in some newspapers, no detailed account of RAW’s activities has been documented. During 1994-95, I wrote a series of articles about RAW’s nefarious activities in Bangladesh in the Weekly Muslim Jahan. Having read the same a large number of my readers and friends goaded me to publish a comprehensive book on the subject. The result is in your hands in form of this book.

Here I would like to dispel the impression that RAW is an insurmountable or a super organisation. In fact, contrary to that it has stagnated into an unwieldy and sluggish organisation. Its strong point is its vast resources. But there is no reason to be over-awed by it. Certainly the RAW’s onslaught can be effectively countered as has been proved time and again by patriotic Bangladeshis.

Through this book I want to send a clear message to RAW in particular and Indian rulers in general that Bangladesh is not a country which will bend down in the face of their covert and overt intrigues. Let RAW and its toadies understand that the nation that achieved her independence through tears and blood will foil their designs. There will never be any compromise with the enemies. Therefore, intrigues RAW has been indulging in during the last quarter century must end. We may live in hardship and misery, yet we value our independence and sovereignty. Bangladesh may be a small and a weak country, yet it is our pride, our identity. We believe in Tipu Sultan’s dictum, ” One day life of a lion is better than hundred years life of a jackal”.

I may add that some well wishers had advised me due to concern for my security, not to antagonise RAW, a ruthless organisation. My answer to them was that as a true Muslim and patriot I cannot keep quiet when my motherland is being trampled. For me life is not more precious than the sanctity of my mother land. Moreover, I could have been killed in 1971 war. This life is a bonus. I am not afraid of sacrificing anything for my country.

The publication of this book could not have been possible without support and encouragement from the Editor of the Weekly Muslim Jahan, Mr. Mutafa Moinuddin Khan. I am also grateful to Moulana Mohiuddin Khan, a renowned intellectual, for his invaluable help and suggestions. Besides I am indebted to large number of my readers and friends who after reading series of my articles in the Weekly Muslim Jahan encouraged and persuaded me to compile this book. I am also thankful to of those dailies, weeklies, periodicals and authors of the books from whom I took help and also quoted in the book

The original book was in Bengali. But later I decided to publish an English version as well for greater awareness about RAW’s nefarious activities particularly by the international community. For obvious reasons the English version is not a literal translation. Besides, some portions have been revised and updated. Hence some variance may be found by readers of the two versions.My head bows down before Almighty Allah in all humility to thank him as He gave me strength to undertake this arduous and sensitive work and enable me to present it to my readers. All glory and praise be toAllah. Errors, omissions and limitations, if any, are mine. I must frankly admit that it is not an all encompassing work. Full exposure of RAW’s machinations requires hundreds of volumes. I urge all patriotic writers and researchers to come forward and help in unveiling the ugly face of this treacherous organisation which is eating into the vitals of Bangladesh. May Allah help us

Bangladesh Peelkhana massacre: Another RAW commando operation to destabilize country & create civil war?

As the extent of mayhem perpetrated on the army officers in the confines of BDR headquarters at Peelkhana grounds is being revealed, the whole nation is terribly shocked and scared of its potential consequences. While it is still too early to get a complete picture of what actually happened there on February 25-26, it is quite clear that large numbers of armed BDR solders not only rebelled against their lawful commanding officers (deputed from the army) but they also carried out a most gruesome murder campaign in cold blood. According to a pres report as many as 135 army officers were killed or missing in the two-day mayhem (PM holds lengthy talks with officers :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::, March 1, 2009). We condemn these acts of barbarity in strongest terms and convey our wholehearted sympathy to the family and friends of the victims.

At the time of writing this essay (22.00 GMT, March 1), the nation is still in a state of shock and mourning. The rebellion has been quelled with many rebels in detention and others being asked to report for duty. Obviously it would take few days for some sort of normalcy to return. The exact numbers of those detained or who have reported back for duty are not yet known. We shall get a clearer picture in the next few days.

Meanwhile, many questions are being raised about the Peelkhana massacre and the masterminds behind the tragedy. The government has claimed success in bringing an end to the uprising and disarming the rebels ‘peacefully’, but others have criticised it for unnecessary delay which allowed the killers and most BDR soldiers to escape before the army could move into Peelkhana.

The BDR soldiers on duty at the border posts, who were initially reported to have deserted on the rebellion at their Dhaka Headquarters, appear to have, by now, calmed down and returning to duties, preventing a total collapse of security at the border. And in these efforts, one should appreciate the role of the army which has shown tremendous courage and restraint in taking any immediate retaliatory actions against the rebel BDR soldiers. The army should also be thanked for not defying the authority of the lawful civilian government. There were apprehensions in public mind that the army might take over, but this did not happen. The country has been spared another spell of undemocratic military rule.

It is good to see that other political leaders including the leader of main opposition BNP have condemned the BDR rebellion and murder of army officers on the Peelkhana ground. They have also offered all cooperation needed by the government to conduct a thorough enquiry into this tragic event for the sake of truth and revealing the facts before the nation so that the renegade soldiers and their accomplices may be exposed and punished. Although the BNP leader Khaleda Zia made a mild criticism about the delay in government response to the rebellion on February 25, she was unequivocal in supporting the government and army efforts in suppressing the revolt. But she was immediately criticised by some BAL leaders for not being quick enough to condemn the killers! (It is perhaps in our national culture to give more emphasis on smaller bits rather on looking a problem from a bigger perspective).

The government has already initiated an investigation process headed by home minister Sahara Khatun with representatives from other concerned ministries and agencies. The Sahara Committee is expected to submit a report within a week. It is also expected that the armed forces, BDR and different intelligence agencies will carry out their own investigations. While we have had the bad experience of many important investigations being conducted unprofessionally and hiding many unpleasant truths, we do hope that all the enquiries and investigations related to the BDR revolt would be carried out professionally and completely to unravel the truth and identify the real culprits. It is also important that the government make public the salient points of the reports so that our people can restore their faith in the process of democratic governance. And under no circumstances, they would hide any failure or negligence on the part of any state organs or powerful quarters whether local or foreign.

At the initial stage, the Peelkhana massacre looked like the wild actions by some disgruntled BDR soldiers who were dissatisfied with their service conditions and alleged ill-treatment by commanding officers from the army ranks. However, it is quite clear by now that the massacre is not the instantaneous action of few individuals bent on taking revenge on their alleged ‘corrupt’ and ‘oppressive’ commanders but the result of a sophisticated ‘commando operation’ executed by the agents of powerful conspirators to destabilise Bangladesh as a state and demobilise its defence and security branches. Sowing seeds of confusion, mistrust, panic and hatred among different branches of state organs especially the armed forces and the border security forces as well as among the general public appear to be the immediate aim of this anti-Bangladesh operation. The long-term objectives were and still remain to push the country towards a civil war situation, to cripple its own defence capabilities and create another ‘Somalia’ or ‘D R Congo’, to make it ungovernable without physical and financial support of the self-proclaimed ‘international’ or ‘regional’ imperialists and hegemonists. In other words, cripple Bangladesh by all possible means so that at one stage it is forced to ‘invite foreign saviours’.

It should be noted that both the government and opposition political leaders are agreed on the point that there is a deep rooted conspiracy behind the Peelkhana massacre. But who are the conspirators with such a hostile design on Bangladesh? Who are the people to profit from a ‘dysfunctional government’ or ‘failed state’ of Bangladesh? Would they ever be identified and exposed to our people and to the world?

While the whole country is passing through a terrible shock and trying to recover from the trauma, it is quite disheartening to observe that some Indian quarters and their Bangladeshi cohorts are carrying out a campaign of ‘rumors’ and ‘unsubstantiated news’ regarding the Peelkhana tragedy.

As soon as the news of the BDR revolt started to filter out of Peelkhana, a New Delhi based news agency CNN-IBN carried a ‘story’ about the involvement of some opposition political parties including Bangladesh Jamat-e-Islami in the revolt. Similar ‘stories’ were also carried in the pro-BJP Bangla daily ‘Anandabazar Potrika’ of Kolkata. During the last five days, about twenty such ‘news’ items and articles have been published in different Indian media outlets. Anandabazar Potrika reported on March 1, that the army wants the prime minister to implicate several politicians including Moudud Ahmed (BNP) and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, MP (BAL, State Minister, LGRD) and Mirza Azam MP (BAL, Chief Whip) as associates of the BDR rebels. We can not be sure at this stage if this sort of ‘news’ is true or false, but the question arises: how the Anandabazar journalists ‘know’ so much inside information that even the Dhaka journalists do not know?

Clearly one group of people are suggesting that the Peelkhana massacre has been planned and executed by Jamat-i-Islami or similar ‘Islamist’ groups with active support of a section of Bangladesh security services including the army and DGFI. The main ‘argument’ is that these groups are opposed to BAL’s ‘secularism’ and proposed trial of the ‘war criminals’. One Indian security analyst, B. Raman, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, has alleged that BDR has ‘unfriendly attitude’ towards India and that many of them have links with ‘fundamentalist and jihadi elements’ (Bad Omens From Bangladesh, February 27, 2009). Mr. Raman has also alleged that BDR killed 15 Indian BSF in 2001 (Sheikh Hasina was also the prime minister then) wrongfully and mutilated their bodies, but did not mention that the BSF forces, as aggressors, tried to physically occupy some Bangladesh lands and those BSF members killed were several miles inside Bangladesh border. I wrote two newspaper articles at that time exposing the nature of Indian hypocrisy and aggression towards Bangladesh, which were subsequently included in my book ‘Bangladesher Rajniti : Mookh O Mookhosh’. I also exposed the anti-Bangladesh nature of a section of our media and ‘intellectuals’ who condemned the defending BDR forces and their commander Maj. Gen. Fazlur Rahman and supported the Indian aggressors. It is very unfortunate that Bangladesh is perhaps the only country in the world where some influential media and public figures always condemn their own government, army and security forces (even if they do it right) and find no fault in the actions of Indian government and BSF (even if they are wrong). Some of these misguided elements and agents have even written newspaper articles arguing that ‘Bangladesh does not need any army’. One well known pro-Indian columnist based in London was reported last year to have said in a meeting of ‘Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Unity Council’ (a R&AW inspired anti-Bangladesh, anti-Muslim outfit) in New York that they should wage ‘armed struggle’ to realize their demands!

So it is only natural that the Indian hegemonists and their Bangladeshi agents and supporters would try to blame those political parties and leaders who oppose the ‘Great Indian Game Design’ for the some political parties including Jamat-i-Islami and BNP, who are opposed to various Indian attempts to reduce Bangladesh as a client state.

I do not wish to say the some ‘Islamist’ groups may not be involved in the BDR massacre. But as far as we know these groups have mostly been subdued already by Bangladesh security forces. The remnants are still there, but would any body believe, unless concrete evidences are provided, that they have the motives and extreme military precision required for such an operation? It is also true that BNP is politically opposed to BAL and many of its pro-Indian policies, but what would they gain by destroying BDR, the first line of Bangladesh defence along the border? BAL propagandists have always tried to gain political points by portraying BNP as an Uttor Para (or Dhaka cantonment) supported party, due to the fact that BNP has stood for a strong defence force. Is there any reason for this party to hatch conspiracy and incite violence within BDR so that about 130 mid ranking officers of Bangladesh army and defenders of country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty would be brutally killed? Is Khlaeda Zia or even Moudud Ahmed so naïve that they do not understand the implications of such a dangerous plot to destroy Bangladesh defence forces?

It is now revealed by eye-witness account of a surviving army officer that the murder campaign was initiated by a group of about 12-14 young people who arrived at the Peelkhana Durbar Hall in an arms loaded pick-up van NOT belonging to the BDR. It is also clear the whole episode of the officers’ massacre was completed in about 1-2 hours and that delaying tactics were then adopted to bury or hide most of the dead bodies and for the ring leaders to escape. There are of course hundreds of questions that need answers for proper investigations, but the central question is the true identity of the above gang of assassins. Were any or all of them BDR soldiers or a ‘commando group’ trained and operated by an external agency like R&AW or MOSSAD? There is little doubt that this group is the core of the murderous operation and that it carried out its assigned task very successfully. This was no ordinary operation; it must have been carried out by a highly trained, professional group as portrayed in many Hollywood films. If we assume that it was an ‘outside job’, then it would be wrong to exclude R&AW and/or MOSSAD as possible masterminds of this operation. Both these organizations have the motives, conspiratorial, organisational and technical capabilities and resources for this type of commando operation. They also have the past experience of planning and executing ‘commando operations’ in other countries. Bangladesh is an easy target for them, because there is no shortage of local accomplices in exchange of money or other ‘benefits’.

According to a report in the Telegraph (Calcutta), the Indian government is ready to send ‘peace-keepers’ into Bangladesh if the government requests for such ‘help’ (The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Indian peace mission signal, February 27, 2009). This sort of Indian offer for ‘help’ looks suspicious since Bangladesh does not need any help from Indian military to solve its internal problems. It is also strange that despite the US support to Hasina government’s handling of the Peelkhana crisis, one Indian report suggests that ‘the US too is encouraging India to play a “stabilising role” in the region’ (The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Dhaka disarm request to Delhi Eye on rebels on the run, March 1, 2009). Obviously, some media people in India think that Bangladesh is ripe for their military intervention. But nothing can be further from the truth. Indian military forces are not welcome in Bangladesh under any pretext and any such adventurous move (even if any government is stupid enough to request for such Indian ‘help’) will be resisted by our people. We are aware of the Indian ‘peace-keeping’ role in Sri Lanka.

In conclusion, we hope that Bangladesh authorities (both civil and military) would carry out thorough investigations into the whole conspiracy against the country’s sovereign existence (not only against the BAL government as some quarters want us to believe or against the army). It is a crime against Bangladesh itself, and should be treated as such. The investigations must be based on concrete evidences and facts, to find out the truth, to expose the traitors, foreign agents and infiltrators (even if some of them are powerful), and to punish the culprits. No conclusions should be to drawn to fit into some pre-conceived hypothesis or on the ‘advice’ of some foreign agencies. We do not want any ‘show trial’ as happened in the past, but a genuine dispensation of justice.

azimkhan1983@gmail.com

Friday 30 October 2009

South Asian Leaders pledge to expand economic cooperation and fight poverty & terrorism

The leaders of the seven South Asian nations concluded their Dhaka summit on 13 November 2005, with a promise to intensify efforts for peace, poverty alleviation and progress for 1400 million people of the region. The present member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. However, in this Dhaka SAARC Summit, the member countries agreed to include Afghanistan also as a new member of the Association.

This 13th regional summit marked the starting of a new decade for SAARC with its completion of 20 years. SAARC started its journey, effective from its first summit at Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1985.

At the end of its two-day meeting, the summit adopted a 53-point Dhaka Declaration, pledging to draw a road map for the next decade, slash trade barriers from next year to boost economic growth and combat poverty and terrorism.

Combating terrorism and poverty alleviation figured prominently in the addresses of the seven heads of state. They also stressed the need for setting up effective measures to cope with the natural calamities and disasters. It may be mentioned here that during the year of 2005 alone the people of South Asia suffered a lot due to tsunami and earthquake. The South Asian leaders expressed their determination to work together to implement the SAARC proposals and called for implementing the agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) to be effective from January 2006.

During its last two decades SAARC could not deliver enough for the people of the region. This was mainly due to the differences between two major partners of SAARC – India and Pakistan. However, during the recent years with the progress of various confidence building initiative and peace process from both the side, the environment for the understanding and cooperation among the countries of the region has improved. Inter-region flow of trade and tourism is on the increase now.

New SAARC Chairperson Khaleda Zia (Bangladesh prime minister) declared that the leaders at the summit have designated the coming 2006-2015 decade as the "Decade of Implementation" and proclaimed it as the “SAARC Decade of Poverty Alleviation”.

The heads of states in their statements welcomed the inclusion of Afghanistan as the eighth member of SAARC and China and Japan as an observer to the regional grouping. I have every confidence that it will open a new chapter in the history of South Asia, she told the summit.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose country will host the next SAARC summit, said the threat, poverty posed to regional stability had rightly been at the centre of the discussions at the summit. The magnitude of this problem remains a major concern. It will require sustained and targeted efforts in order to reduce and eliminate the poverty in South Asia. He further said that during the coming days South Asia need to emerge as a part of the impressive resurgence of larger economic platform of Asia.

In addition to tackling poverty, the leaders also agreed to set up a disaster preparedness centre in the Indian capital New Delhi. This step is required in view of two devastating natural disasters in the region -- December 2005 killer tsunami and last month’s (October 2005) sever earthquake in Kashmir.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said it was time to recognize the impact of conflict on the region’s economies. As we look at the 20 years of SAARC, we cannot escape the conclusion that South Asia lags behind its larger Asian neighborhoods in terms of economic and social advancement, he said. We have remained embroiled with conflict management. So we need to move towards conflict resolution, he said. He also suggested that in order to promote and expand IT in the region India may take the initiative, similarly for micro-credit Bangladesh and for tourism Maldives may play their role.

Maldives President Mamun Abdul Gayum suggested forming a SAARC Human rights body to take care and improve the Human rights aspect in the region. It may be mentioned here that President Gayum is the only head of the state attending all the SAARC summits since 1985.

The Nepalese King Gayanendra spoke very loudly about the need to combat terrorism in an effective manner. Nepal is already facing awful terrorist upsurge since last few years. He urged all the countries to provide proper attention to this growing menace of terrorism. He also informed that anti terrorist steps taken by his government will not be harmful for functioning of democracy in Nepal.

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumartunga delivered her views on the economic development and poverty alleviation for the region. It was the last Saarc Summit for her as she would retire after the November 2005 election in her country.

The Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup also spoke about the need for effective poverty alleviation measures for the region. Moreover, he spoke about the great cultural heritage of the region of South Asia marked by diversity and unity.

The Dhaka Declaration promised speedy resolution of the unsettled issues in respect of implementation of SAFTA from January 1, 2006. It was noted that it may be a first step towards evolving a regional economic union. "The launching of SAFTA would mark an important milestone towards a South Asian economic union," said the declaration.

It was agreed that all negotiations for the preparations of the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) would be concluded by the end of November 2005.

The deal, if implemented, would create the world’s biggest free trade area and it will contribute vigorously in raising the living standards in South Asia.

South Asia's intra-regional trade is only 3 to 4 percent of its total trade volume although it has a wide range of economic potentials and a 450-million-strong middle class, bigger than the population of the US and Canada combined or the European Union (EU).It may be noted here that, trade among the EU member states is 66 percent of their total trade volume and that among the ASEAN member nations it is 28 percent, while the intra regional trade among the South Asian countries is only 3 to 4 percent.

A proposal by India for a South Asian open skies agreement that would remove restrictions on flights operated by state-owned and private airlines from seven countries would be examined by SAARC officials to consider about its implementation. India proposed to open up a South Asia University comprising the educationist and research scholars from the seven countries. India also proposed to establish a South Asia Food Security Store to meet the emergency needs, in case of any food shortage any part of the region.

The seven nations further agreed on a range of joint strategies aimed at combating terrorism, according to the summit declaration formally adopted at the closing session.

The 8-page declaration says the leaders have expressed satisfaction at ratification of the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Convention on Suppression of Terrorism by all the member states. They called for putting in place effective mechanisms for its implementation. The seven nations agreed on a range of joint strategies aimed at combating terrorism.

The summit leaders recognized the years 2006 to 2015 as the SAARC "Decade for Poverty Alleviation.” It was also decided to establish a SAARC Poverty Alleviation Fund to deal with this challenge for the region.

Though there is a South Asian Development Fund (SADF) for supporting the development needs and poverty alleviation, in absence effective rules it could not be utilized properly so far. An amount of US dollar one hundred million already contributed by India for this fund has remained unutilized so far.

The declaration endorsed the recommendation for establishing a SAARC Energy Centre in Islamabad, Pakistan to promote development of energy resources including hydropower, energy trade in the region, and renewable and alternative energy, and also to upgrade Energy efficiency and conservation in the region.

On South Asia's environmental challenges and natural disasters, the leaders decided to consider the modalities for having a Regional Environment Treaty in furthering environmental cooperation among the SAARC members.

They also approved the recommendation for expanding regional programs and projects on early warning, preparedness and management of tsunami and other natural disasters. The leaders also called for elaboration of a Comprehensive Framework on Early Warning and Disaster Management.

The seven heads of state and government underscored the urgency to put in place a permanent regional response mechanism dedicated to disaster preparedness, emergency relief and rehabilitation to ensure immediate response. They directed the national authorities concerned to coordinate their activities in areas of disaster management such as early warning, exchange of information, training and sharing of experiences and best practices in emergency relief efforts.

The leaders reiterated their pledge to continue working in the next decade and beyond to address the formidable challenges faced by women and children, especially the girls. They also reaffirmed their strong resolve to continue working together to address the problems posed by trafficking in women and children.

The summit leaders directed for taking concrete measures to enforce the provisions of the Regional Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances through an appropriate regional mechanism.

The SAARC member states also signed three major agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, liberalization of visa regime and establishment of a SAARC arbitration council.

Member states accepted in principle that the SAARC secretariat should be expanded and taken beyond its current role of a transit facility.

The region is also endowed with immense geographical advantages, considerable natural and human resources and a large and vibrant market of middle class consumers.

SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC) established in Islamabad, Pakistan in 1999, to be made more and more effective during the coming days.

In the comprehensive charter of combined actions the SAARC leaders also agreed to enhance cooperation in international political and economic environment to address social challenges and threats to environment and natural disasters and also to facilitate People to people contact through tourism.

The spirit of SAARC needs to be sustained by efforts promoting people-to-people contact and by a vibrant civil society throughout South Asia. Travel visa rules may be relaxed gradually for this purpose.

The people of South Asia expect a conflict free and peaceful region, activated with mutual cooperation and development as agreed by the SAARC Summit.

Quran: the root of Islamic violance

The Quran contains many verses that call Muslims to war with nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule. Some are quite graphic, with commands to chop off heads and fingers and kill infidels wherever they may be hiding. Muslims who do not join the fight are called 'hypocrites' and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter.

Quran (9:20) - "Those who believe, and have left their homes and striven with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way are of much greater worth in Allah's sight. These are they who are triumphant." The Arabic word interpreted as "striving" in this verse is the same root as "Jihad". The context is obviously holy war.

Quran (2:191-193) - "And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing... but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun(the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)"

Quran (8:39) - "And fight with them until there is no more fitna (disorder, unbelief) and religion is all for Allah" Some translations interpret "fitna" as "persecution", but the traditional understanding of this word is not supported by the historical context (See notes for 2:193).

Quran (8:65) - "O Prophet, exhort the believers to fight..."

Quran (5:33) - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"

Quran (4:104) - "And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they (too) suffer pain as you suffer pain..." Is pursuing an injured and retreating enemy really an act of self-defense?

Indian Expansionism: Harmful for Peace in South Asia

The encroachment of Nepalese land in Susta VDC, Nawalparasi clearly demonstrates how India is trying to take advantage of current political mess in Nepal by encroaching Nepalese territory. While Indian embassy's staffers in Kathmandu keep themselves busy trying to paint India's friendly attitude by providing funds to build bridges and inaugurating school buildings in terai, their government in New Delhi makes Nepalese pay for the financial aid provided to Nepal by ripping off their national identity. However, what could be the better time than this to encroach a smaller state's territory? Political parties are wrestling with King to grab the power and king is
flexing his muscle to maintain status quo. New Delhi does understand that neither political parties that are busy protesting in the street nor King residing in the Narayanhiti trying to garner India's support can afford to displease India by voicing their concern over Susta. As both the warring parties are trying their best to remain in good books of India, poor in Susta are forcibly getting converted into Indian citizens without much opposition from the government and political parties that are meant to fight for the citizens right. Citizens of Susta are the recent victims of bullish and oppressive policies of the Indian expansionists.

Nepal is not only the nation that is having a border dispute with India. India has an ongoing border dispute with China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Although, the areas in contention with China and Pakistan are among
the largest existing land boundary disputes in the world. The Indo-Bangladeshi contention over New Moore/South Talpatty Island and Indo-Nepali dispute over Kalapani and Susta involve comparatively small area. But the point here is not how big or small the area of dispute is. It's about the India's attitude towards it neighbors in the region. With three-quarters of the landmass, population and economy of the region, India has developed a bullish and hegemonic attitude towards its neighbor. Even after having fought wars with China and a recent war (Kargil) over Kashmir with Pakistan, India has not acknowledged the importance of peaceful coexistence. In addition to the already existing issues such as Kalapani which has been forcibly occupied by the Indian army; the Laxmanpur Barrage that has resulted in the flooding of Nepalese villages; the Mahakali treaty that is unfairly loaded in favor of India, the recent Susta encroachment exhibits India's increasing lust over foreign territories. What New Delhi should understand is, national boundaries are symptomatic of wider bilateral relations and manifestations of national identity. They can be trip-wires of war. The seething anger of the people of China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal against the Indian expansionism may burst into the open any time in near future. The people of these countries in order to ascertain their self respect and nationalism can burst open and harm Indian interests and establishments in their respective countries and the region as they did during the Hritik Roshan Fiasco in Nepal.

The anti-Indian feeling in Nepal is at the highest level and the Nepalese citizens are bitter to the core. India should realize that relationship built on genuine equality and mutual respect, is the only guarantee for peace and development in South Asia.

Propaganda of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council

It is very unfortunate that a rootless and signboard-oriented organisation named Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), is engaged in subversive acts of defaming Bangladesh at home and abroad. BHBCUC acts as a tool of neighbouring countries of Bangladesh to implement its ulterior design. One of the burning examples of its notorious activities, are the letters sent to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and to Bill Clinton's Global Institute.

The letters were identical in their contents, views and objectives. Both of them repeated the same fabricated and baseless allegations that were used earlier thousands of times since the ruling alliance government assumed power in Bangladesh in 2001. BHBCUC has immediate and far-reaching objectives. Its short-term objective is to launch slanderous allegation against the government and Muslims who are liberal democrats and comprise about 90 per cent of the total population of Bangladesh.

The main objective of the present write-up is to disprove the allegation that BHBCUC and its mentor propagate in home and abroad through their different channels. The letter written to Kofi Annan itself proves for whose interest BHBCUC works. It makes same allegation what India makes. It wants to damage the image of Bangladesh , which also India does and wants. BHBCUC also invited foreign intervention in Bangladesh, which is also an Indian agenda. But India cannot officially suggest UN Secretary General to prohibit the presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and cancel her address to the UN General Assembly. India used BHBCUC to write letter to Kofi Annan with the request that Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia should not be allowed to address the General Assembly because of the following reasons.

Her government is engaged in killing and torturing the opposition elements. This allegation is totally untrue. It is the agenda of pro-India political party in Bangladesh. No innocent activist belonging to opposition parties was killed so far. It is known to all that many terrorists to avoid the harassment and arrest outwardly join political parties to use them as shield. These terrorists created a reign of terror in the country since the present government came to power. Law enforcers naturally nabbed some of these terrorists and a few of them were killed in cross-firing. When they were taken to recover arms from the hideouts, their accomplices opened fire at the law enforcers and at times terrorists were killed. BHBCUC in its letter branded cross-firing as extra-judicial killing. The most wanted terrorists were killed by shootings of their accomplice, but BHBCUC and its mentors hold the government responsible for it. These types of killings are vogue in India, and elsewhere in the world. India eliminated hundreds of thousands of freedom fighters in Kashmir, Punjab and Northeast Indian states during the last 58 years. Besides, several lakhs of Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and Untouchable Hindus were killed in India in communal and caste violence and rioting. But none ever suggested that the Indian Prime Minister should be barred from addressing any session of UN. Making such request, BHBCUC virtually stood against Bangladesh, its independence and sovereignty. BHBCUC elements frequently make such irresponsible and treasonous comments and demands. If the government was really communal, no BHBCUC element could have stayed in the country.

Another allegation of BHBCUC is that the members of the minority communities are the victims of rape, murder, torture and arson. This is also an allegation propagated by India. To justify their claims, agents were let loose to make fabricated stories in home and abroad. But after investigation, it was found that none of the reports were genuine. On several occasions, police arrested some Hindus when they were making video footage to send them abroad. Even some Indian nationals of West Bengal were branded as Bangladeshis and they narrated fake stories of torture, rape, murder and arson to Indian and pro-Indian journalists, who circulated them in print and electronic media. India also hired some foreign journalists to make believable the fake stories of human rights violation in Bangladesh.

The allegation of BHBCUC about the closure of ETV proves what type of falsity it can propagate. It mentioned in the letter that the government of Khaleda Zia illegally and intentionally closed down the ETV Channel. The reality is that the then government illegally allowed privately owned ETV to use the property and other facilities of state-owned national TV, Bangladesh Television. Some leading personalities of Bangladesh took the shelter of the High Court and the Court declared the process of handing over public property to the privately-managed ETV illegal. In this way it was closed down. Government had nothing to do with the verdict of the Court.

It is to be mentioned that the foreigners are not duly informed of the happenings in Bangladesh. Availing of this situation, India, and her Bangladesh tentacles launch slanderous media campaign against Bangladesh. BHBCUC also spoke in favour of an NGO, named Proshika, saying that the government curbed its activities. . Proshika is infamous for its pro-India tilt. It was found involved in organizing, beyond its legal capacity, an anti-government sit-in programme clandestinely, called by a pro-India political party. Naturally government had to react, when its existence faced from an NGO, which was supposed to work for social welfare, not to implement other's political agenda. It is found that BHBCUC supports those fake issues, which are backed by India and her Bangladeshi allies.

Another fake allegation that BHBCUC made in the letter is the "rise of the warlords and terrorist groups" under the present government. It named Jagrato Muslim Janata Bangladesh, Bangla Bhai, Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh, etc. that were backed, in its (BHBBCU) language, by the government to surface. But the reality is something otherwise. The arrestees after the serial blast confessed that the bombs, their materials and technology were brought from India through different border routes. It was repeatedly flashed in the print media that ring leaders of JMB used to visit India without visa and legal documents on regular basis and held rounds of talks with the Indian secret services.

It is to be mentioned that India since Sheikh Hasina's regime (1996-2001) tried to make it believe to the Western world that Bangladesh is den of the Muslim extremists. India-financed dailies in Bangladesh tuning to Indian line published hundreds of fake news saying that the Muslim extremists were being trained in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sundarbans and even in some institutions like madrashs and other religious sites. Police and other agencies of Bangladesh rushed to the spots as mentioned in the dailies. But after thorough investigation law enforcers found nothing. Several Western counties also investigated the fabricated reports and allegations made by India and the press, and found nothing. This made USA to repeatedly claim that there is no Islamic militancy in Bangladesh and it is a liberal Muslim democratic country. So it has become an imperative for India to justify her claim and allegation against Bangladesh. After US-led war on terror, India became more serious to brand Bangladesh as home of the terrorists. Her policymakers came to this conclusion to recruit agents from amongst those who are, at least, outwardly in favour of Islamic rule in Bangladesh. India used its own Muslim religious personalities to recruit and instigate their disciples to work for so-called Islamic revolution in Bangladesh . In this way, India succeeded in floating Muslim extremist outfits in Bangladesh to justify her claim before the international community.

Bangladeshi Muslims do not believe in extremism, as Islam does not allow it. The government drive, to net the criminals of August 17 bomb attacks, was hailed by all people irrespective of their ideological and political affiliation. If the government had any link with terrorist groups, they would not have disturbed the government under any circumstances. It is the adversaries of the present government that let loose its agents in the name of Islam, apprehending that their allies would not come to power in the next election if the present government is allowed to work smoothly and peacefully.

To isolate the government from the people, the adversaries used their 'trump card,' of serial bombings. It is as like as a horns of dilemma for the government. If the government nabs the people having beard in their face and caps on their head, it will naturally hurt the feelings of some Muslims who are not aware of the real reason of arrest. So they will go against the government. On the other hand, if the government does not arrest these persons apprehending people's resentment, it will prove that the government protects the terrorists. As a result, India and Western countries will find an excuse to invade Bangladesh, or at least squeeze it by imposing trade embargo, which India already threatened to do.

To incite the Western powers, BHBCUC did not forget to mention in the letter about child labour in Bangladesh, which prevails in all the third world counties, including India . Child labour and all the problems, including bombing also prevailed during the regime of Sheikh Hasina, but BHBCUC never spoke against them.

It is clear for whom BHBCUC works. BHBCUC and its mentors want to install a puppet government in Bangladesh. They know that if the four-party alliance remains intact and run for election jointly, pro-Indian elements will face a debacle. So their immediate target is to breach the unity of the alliance. For this reason, pro-Indian elements launched campaign against Jammat-e-Islam, in absence of which BNP may not be able to return to power. BHBCUC letters are directed to defame the Bangladesh government in the UN. BHBCUC mercenaries may also create more incidents of terror to throw the government to more awkward situation. Western countries, including UN should realise the games of India and its agents in Bangladesh like BHBCUC. India's long-term goal is to grab Bangladesh or make it a vassal state, if occupation is not possible.

Reports repeatedly published in the print media that Indian intelligence agencies train the Bangladeshi terrorists in Indian cities and military cantonments. Terrorists and armed cadres of the immediate-past government fled to India just after the general election of 2001. They were given guerrilla training by RAW. Besides, to disturb and disintegrate Bangladesh RAW raised several organisations, including 'Bangasena,' 'Bangladesh Udbastu Kollyan Samity,' 'Shaktisena,' etc., using those Indian nationals who or whose ancestors migrated voluntarily to India prior to or after the partition of the subcontinent in 1947. These oranisations, are believed to be involved in the subversive activities in the country.

Above all, the BHBCUC - a RAW-controlled group, comprise mainly with the Hindus, do not believe in the existence of Bangladesh. BHBCUC leaders, including Chitta Ranjan Datta, Nim Chandra Bhoumik, often make slanderous, and insulting comments against the country and its Muslim citizens in order to hurt and agitate them, so that communal riots could break out in the country. Government for unknown reason does not take stern action against the most treacherous anti-state communal comments of BHBCUC. Local socio-political parties, even the print media, are totally indifferent of the anti-state comments and activities of BHBCUC. Seminars, symposium and particularly TV-talk shows should be arranged in the national and private TV channels to unmask such activities. Whenever BHBCUC leaders make any objectionable and irresponsible comments they should be interrogated instantly and formal cases should be lodged against them on behalf of the patriotic citizens of the country. Due to the passive mood of the government and the common citizens, international community may think the comments of BHBCUC leaders as true and genuine. On the other hand BHBCUC leaders think that they are unchangeable and none can face them. Common citizens also started to think like this. So time has come to take action against them. Those who are using the name of BHBCUC in order to launch anti-Bangladesh propaganda in American and European counties should also be brought before the Court. Cases should be filed against them for their fake and irresponsible propaganda.

Besides, the illegal Indians, whose number exceeds one lakh, who are engaged in several professions from shopkeepers to business executives, might have linked with the terrorist activities inside Bangladesh. These illegal Indians should immediately be identified and legal action must be taken against them on an emergency basis. Otherwise the security and existence of the country will face serious debacle in future. These illegal Indians may be used to install a pro-Indian government in Bangladesh. All the private enterprises should immediately be asked to remove the Indian nationals from their organisations, otherwise legal actions should also be taken against them.*

Another Look at Mahatma Gandhi

Many myths abound about Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand known as Mahatma "Great Souled") Gandhi (1869-1948). He was not born to a poor Indian family. His father was dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar, the capital of a small principality in Gujarat in western India under British suzerainty. He later became dewan of Rajkot.

He married at the age of 13 and was a mediocre student. In his adolescence he defied his repressive environment by petty thieving, meat eating, smoking, and professed atheism.

Until the age of 18 He spoke very little English. His main language was Gujarati.

He wanted to be a medical doctor - more precisely, a surgeon. His family forced his to study law.

His first political activity was as a member of the executive committee of the London Vegetarian Society.

He went to South Africa because he couldn't find work in India. He was a poor lawyer, in both senses of the word. He suffered from stage fright.

The "Encyclopedia Britannica" describes his first days there:

"Africa was to present to Gandhi challenges and opportunities that he could hardly have conceived. In a Durban court, he was asked by the European magistrate to take off his turban; he refused and left the courtroom.

A few days later, while traveling to Pretoria, he was unceremoniously thrown out of a first-class railway compartment and left shivering and brooding at Pietermaritzburg Station; in the further course of the journey he was beaten up by the white driver of a stagecoach because he would not travel on the footboard to make room for a European passenger; and finally he was barred from hotels reserved "for Europeans only." These humiliations were the daily lot of Indian traders and labourers in Natal who had learned to pocket them with the same resignation with which they pocketed their meagre earnings."

He was about to sail to London when he read about a bill to deprive the Indians of their right to vote. He decided to stay. It is in Johannesburg, South Africa that his first civil disobedience ("Satyagraha") campaign was staged - not in India.

Gandhi's life was at peril many times. He was almost lynched in Durban as early as January 1897. He was assassinated in 1948.

He was not a pacifist. Nor was he anti-British. In fact, when the Boer war broke out in what is now South Africa, he organized a volunteer corps of 11,000 Indians to defend the British colony of Natal.
Sam Vaknin ( http://samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Global Politician, Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101.

The Current Indian Policy in Kashmir

Since 1947 when India tactically annexed Kashmir, added it to Indian Union and began militarizing Kashmir, New Delhi's pollicy for Kashmir has been focused on strategies to keep Kashmir under its custody. This article examines the recent trend in Indian policy, which is deadly desutrous, in occupyed Kashmir.

India squeezes Kashmir resources

The chief purpose of imperialism and colonialism is to siphon off the natural resources and exploit the local human resources of the nation under foreign occupation to the benefits of the occupying countries. Foreign masters would have full control over every thing that is available in the colony, both living and non-living. It is precisely for this reason that terrorist forces are stationed in Kashmir . Since the Kashmiris protested against shifting the resources from Kashmir India began military operation in the valley and converted it into a cantonment. Obviously much of Kashmir's human as well as natural resources have been exploited by India by utilizing the “excellent services” of the available pro-India elements. By comprehending the issue well, the senior freedom fighting Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani has focused upon the Kashmir ’s political economy. After his recent complaint about the funds, meant for the development in various constituencies, being held back for electoral reasons, Geelani has apparently deflated the New Delhi ’s claim of pampering Kashmir through sops and huge economic packages.

Exposing the Indian “grants” announcement as a mere poll gimmick, Geelani, quoting official figures to deduce his point about the economic subterfuge in Kashmir for which he directly blamed New Delhi and its proponents in the state, drew up an interesting mathematical calculation by claiming that India was earning more out of its investments in J&K than it was actually extending in the name of financial assistance. The annual power export from the state to India and the tax money generated through central government departments plus the revenue earned by cellular companies comes over to Rest 24831Crore as against the budget allocations of Rest 19899 Cr from the Union government.

For past two decades the freedom movement in Kashmir has underwent many phases. Kashmiris have tried out all possible methods to make the occupying India to vacate Kashmir , but in vein. At the outset of armed revolt, independence leaders would play the cheerleaders of the underground freedom fighters or the so-called “militant” commanders. Then came the phase of distancing from those holding arms, followed by a competitive zeal to enter into a bilateral dialogue with New Delhi and Islamabad while asserting that Kashmir movement is fought on political, diplomatic and armed fronts and all fronts are complementary to each other. An overwhelming presence of armed forces and the recurring clashes between the civilians and the army or paramilitary always defused the attempts aimed at striking a political transition in Kashmir ’s freedom movement. The main irritant in restraining demonic India has been the pro-India elements in Kashmir claiming “gifts’ from Delhi Masters.

QUIT KASHMIR MOVEMENT?

Kashmir has sacrificed its best patriots for the solemn cause of re-Independence from India . JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik also has pointed out an uncomfortable truth for India . He says if till 1989 an entrenched sentiment powered the movement, now it was propelled by an undisputable blend of sentiment and sacrifices. He has warned of another 1990 like rebellion if the Kashmir dispute was not resolved forthwith. Another top separatist leader Shabir Ahamad Shah has been insisting that the post 2002 political scene in Kashmir should not be mistaken as New Delhi ’s victory because the mainstream leaders have been shying away from pleading for Indian constitution and are able to stand in front of people only when they choose to paddle the separatist line.

Geelani, Shah and Malik enjoy popular support in J&K’s major part. While on the one hand Kashmiri independence politics seems to have enriched its political content, on the other hand New Delhi still appears unwilling to strengthen the democratic set up and the indigenous constitutional identity of Kashmir . New Delhi will be adding another mistake to a dubious list of errors if it chose to ignore the dynamics of the latest freedom talk in Kashmir by peaceful means. Having dealt with the Kashmir problem for six eventful decades, New Delhi is expected to realize the fact that where a public sentiment is against the state you can always rent the loyalties but you cannot buy them out permanently. Geelani’s economics is so potent that it can easily strike the chords in the civil society. India has just one best option: QUIT KASHMIR ! Let New Delhi undertake some serious cost benefit analysis on Kashmir .

Indian "democratic” malpractices in Kashmir

India want to see the alien free nation Kashmir as a part of Hindustan by introducing all malpractices and ill-feelings, apart from terrorism in Kashmir . India exports not only terrorist forces to Kashmir and the military equipment, but also malpractices, so routinely prevalent in Indian polls. These tactics are being transplanted to Kashmir , now the JK state and under Indian occupation, to buy voters to justify continued Indian occupation. Apart form locals, sources say, an estimated 3 lakh non-locals would be used by the Government to cast votes in the forthcoming assembly elections. These paid outsiders from Indian side will be used in forthcoming assembly elections to cast votes and, if necessary, create problems on the name of Kashmiris.

Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Geelani warned Kashmiris of dire consequences if they continue to give shelter to them (non-locals) in their houses. Settling non –locals in the Valley is a part of a large conspiracy hatched to wipe out the identity of the Kashmiris and mainstream parties are facilitating it.” Geelani urged the people not to provide accommodation to non-locals as “most of them are involved in criminal activities.” By giving them shelter in our houses we are cutting our own roots. We should stop encouraging them. Mainstream political outfits encourage illegal and immoral means in poll to get the pro-India candidates elected in the forth e coming polls in militarized Kashmir . Coming down heavily on the mainstream parties the veteran leader has rightly said that Congress, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC), “only differ in names” but they have the same agenda of “Oppressing and exploiting Kashmiris.” These parties can go to any extent for the sake of power.

Even as the secret graveyards and Cantonment AIDS issue have taken the defenseless Kashmiris by shock, it is also a strange phenomenon that nearly eight lakh kanals of land in the state is under the occupation of troops, nearly 75 acres of land has been provided to every battalion for establishing the camps. Expressing serious concern over the schools being opened by the Army under operation Sadbavna, the Hurriyat (G) chairman urged the parents not to send their wards to these schools. "Such schools are meant not only to divert the Muslim children from the right path but also to dilute the tradition and culture of Kashmir ".

AIDS in Cantonment

Now one more ghastly feature has been accredited to Kashmiri agony: the AIDs among the personnel of military forces. AIDs are considered as one of the deadliest desease and it has entered Kashmir endangering the life of people there.
Already anxious over the increasing number of the fratricides thousands of soldiers in the Indian Armed Forces are suffering from AIDS and the graph is increasing yearly.

According to sources total of six thousand one hundred and eight soldiers have been infected by the deadly diseased while the monthly rate varies from 30-40 across the country. "Despite taking measures by organizing AIDS awareness programs by the non- governmental organizations and other organizations but the number even goes increasing" sources said adding that increase in number was alarming and can even be proved fatal for Indian armed forces.

Defence ministry spokesman said that the total number of AIDS cases in three services Army, Navy and Air Force as compiled for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 is numbering 255, but has not revealed the number of cases as of today. Obviously the number has been increasing. According to him, the Armed Forces have established 10 Immuno Deficiency Centres in selected Military Hospitals. These centres provide investigation, treatment and follow up all HIV positive persons in the Armed Forces under the supervision of a physician, dermatologist, pathologist and a public health specialist. The centres are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities for detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS cases. Regular follow up of patients, there close relatives, along with education about the illness is also carried.

From various ankles, Kashmir is literally under siege now from neighbor India . And India has absolutely zero tolerance to any criticism of how treats Muslims in India and Kashmiris. India is using agents on the internet to propagate Indian democratic and secular values which India does not respect. There are so many guys and ladies tracking any criticism of India and pursue elimination goals to se that person who criticize Indian mother does not get his views published. It is working well in India where the Media behave more like Indian intelligent wings than the real Fourth estate protecting the honor and dignity of Muslim citizens in India and Kashmir and are being mis/guided by secret service guys.

UN, therefore, has to play not only a constructive role in securing sovereignty of Kashmiris from occupying India , but also protect the Kashmiris from all sorts of problems created by India , including brutality and diseases. UN must also use its power to stop India form utilizing the doubtful vague or notorious “services” of the NGOs in Kashmir . World Health Organization (WHO) must intervene now to check AIDs and other crude diseases from attacking the defenseless Kashmiris. UN must initiate steps for Kashmir freedom.

Indian militarization and occupation of Kashmir must end and Kashmir must be set free at the earliest. India cannot hope to have another option, nor can it wish any.

Bangladesh: Justice is only for the little people

I read news and opinion piece in Bangladesh newspapers related to corruption and people's perspective toward it. I read with a great amusement how some people stay cool and not even bother by the mountain of corruption. If media reflect any percentage of views in real ground, it is almost shocking how they show tolerance toward corruption. Some people took it as part of the life very well. Now that's a compliment. One probably will go crazy if he would not or can not take this as business as usual. Isn't Bangladesh a part of this civilized world? Is there any respect for justice in any part of the society in Bangladesh? Actually, there is. It is for the little people who must obey the law. It is the little people to whom justice is served. It is the little people who, with all the hardship in life, keep Bangladesh a part of the civilized world. Well, at least as of now.

Let me bring your attention to a recent court verdict. Md Shahid Mia, a technician from Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, was sentenced to three years in jail for taking Tk 5,000 in bribe. Few local newspapers reported this in May 22, 2008.

"A special Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced an official of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company to three years in jail for taking Tk 5,000 in bribe."

"Convicted Md Shahid Mia will have to serve one more year in jail in failure to pay a fine of Tk 1 lakh. Judge Md Sirajul Haque also issued an order to confiscate the cell phone of Shahid."

"Ebadullah al Mamun, managing director of Quality Re-rolling Mills, filed the case against him with Shyampur police station on May 6 last year. According to case details, Shahid demanded Tk 5,000 for a utility connection. The Rapid Action Battalion arrested him."

Shahid Mia's wife was present in the court room. Shahid Mia hugged his wife to give her some comfort after the verdict. His lawyer Rehana Alam told him that this is the list possible punishment for the crime. It can not be reduced. This is for just taking 5000 taka (73 dollars) bribe. No other crime, corruption or illegal property involved.

There is nothing surprising here. He did the crime, so he got the punishment. It could have been any other civilized country. The criminals would get similar punishment.

Now I want you to take a moment and rethink this. Just 73 dollars of corrupt money can put you 3 years in prison. Even in Bangladesh, it can. Does people in Bangladesh realized it? I am sure some people do realize it. Shahid Mia and his family realized. Many more people like Shahid Mia realize it every day.

What about big fishes, do they realize? I am talking about those people who have taken millions of dollars in bribe along with other crime, corruption and illegal property. How many thousands years of imprisonment would they get in punishment? Well, they never did. Punishment is reserved only for the little people in Bangladesh. Those who acquired millions of dollars in corruption never faced any punishment. Shouldn't they get the punishment?

Is it too unfair to say that this punishment, as justified as it is, would be an insult to the justice system if the top criminals of the nation wonder free?

I read some opinion articles in few daily newspapers with lot of amusement. I don't really understand this. How could an educated person argue in favor of those corrupt criminals? How could they do it in a civilized society? Don't they have any shame at all? Apparently they don't have any shame. What could be the reason?

Could it be that these so called intellectuals are not belongs to this civilized world? Could it be that they some how lost the sense of what is wrong and what is right? Or, is it because that these so called intellectuals are beneficiary of the corrupt officials and politicians? Is it because that these so called intellectuals are the creation of the top corrupt circle of Bangladesh? Isn't it true that those who support the evils are indeed part of the same evil?

Is it possible that the people of Bangladesh can come out of the box of wrong doers and their evil intellectual propaganda machine? I certainly hope so.

'Minus' formula never works

Since political changes in Bangladesh, media is continuing to speculate the 'minus' formula anticipating exclusion of two of the former Prime Ministers from politics, who headed two largest political parties namely Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Military backed interim government in Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh), are possibly taking steps with the ultimate dream of seeing both Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Awami League being completely eliminated from politics or at least grabbing the command of these parties with some picked up 'leaders' such as Major (Retired) Hafiz Uddin or Suranjit Sen Gupta. In very recent step, the interim government has also expanded its thuggish attitude towards Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh by arresting its leader Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami. Now political pundits in Dhaka are even seeing minus three or even more predictions of minuses.

Minus two Formula is the so-called ongoing political attempt in Bangladesh to banish the former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina from politics forever. Khaleda Zia, the widow of former President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman, is the Chairperson of his old party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. She was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996, and then again from 2001 to 2006. Sheikh Hasina, the President of the Awami League since 1981, was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nationalist leader and the first president of Bangladesh. For the past 15 years the two ladies successively enjoyed the "power" or headed the opposition party in Bangladesh. While both have some popularity, they themselves are very hostile to each other. Although they both played key roles in the downfall of dictator Hossain Mohammad Ershad in 1990 to restore democracy in Bangladesh, they have not been in unanimity in any issue whatsoever ever since. The one in the opposition has rather routinely called for strikes and shutdowns causing destruction to the economy and hampering normal life.

Since 1990, with ouster of military dictator Hussain Muhammed Ershad, who is known as the founding father of corruption in the country, Bangladesh has seen gradual failure of democracy, continued spiralling of corruption, awe-inspiring political violence, that have become only worse with time. A common belief is that both the ladies have failed as leaders; the nation should find their replacement - a better leader. Khaleda Zia's 2001-2006 term was particularly plagued by rising religious militancy, terrorism, rampant corruption (including successive dismal reports by Transparency International), a rise in alleged attacks on minority groups (such as Hindus and Ahmadiyas as documented by the US State Department and Amnesty International) and an increasingly explosive political environment. An election was scheduled for the end of 2006, however it did not take place. The caretaker government was accused of BNP bias by Hasina, who fomented nationwide protests and shutdowns. The bitter rivalry of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Awami League was pushing the country towards a civil war. The head of the caretaker government stepped down, many believe under pressure from the military and Fakhruddin Ahmed was selected to replace him. Emergency law has been declared and a massive campaign to crack down on corruption ensued. The election is postponed indefinitely, probably at least a year as better voter lists are being generated.

Both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina hold absolute power over the internal decision making process of their respective political parties. They have so far not encouraged the practice of democracy within the party although they are very vocal about establishing democratic practices for the country. Sheikh Hasina tried to instigate reform measures by retiring everyone over 60 in her party. This would have effectively banned her in the process, but many interpreted this as a reason to bring her son, Sajeeb Wazed to the throne.

Interim government's chief executive, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed's administration, amid some domestic and international protestations, is now giving signals that it will end the ultimate authority of Hasina and Zia over their parties at any cost. It believes that true democracy cannot be established in Bangladesh if these two major political parties of the country are not run democratically. With this end in view, the government is going forward very tactfully without being explicit. This very political attempt goes by the name of Minus two Formula.

Both Sheikh Hasina and Khaled Zia have intended to continue dynasty politics. Khadeda's son, Tarique Rahman was set to become the next leader of BNP. Tarique Rahman was the joint-secretary of BNP during Khaleda's last term. But he was only second in line when it came to political power.

Similarly Sheikh Hasina invited her son, Sajeeb Wazed to visit Bangladesh on numerous occasions. He plays an active political role in Awami League and was believed to replace Sheikh Hasina as the next leader of Awami League despite some reservations within the party.

The Minus 2 Formula was intended to abolish these dynasties and in the process split up the BNP and Awami League parties so that these divided parties would care more about the contributors rather than the ideological figureheads their biological successors. As a result Tarique Rahman (son of Khaleda Zia) is now in jail while BNP is effectively fractured and is continuing without him.

Due to waning popularity in the party (as a result of Sheikh Hasin'a arrest), Sajeeb Wazed (son of Sheikh Hasina) opts to stay in the US and lead a 'worldwide revolution', while Awami League members are restructuring without his input.

The 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis began in October 2006 when a caretaker government — designated by the constitution to oversee the vote — assumed power without exhausting the provisions of selection of Chief of Caretaker government at the end of October. Its purpose was to steer the country through the scheduled parliamentary elections. However, on 3 January 2007, the Awami League made its predicted announcement that it (and the 18 smaller parties attached to it) would boycott the general election scheduled to be held on 22 January 2007, questioning its fairness and the non-availability of an accurate voters list. This announcement led to widespread violence and political rioting. This on-going political crisis has stemmed largely from an apparent politicalisation of the civil administration, election commission and defense force that was perceived to be skewing the election process towards a pre-determined result. This follows on from almost 2 decades of bitter rivalry between the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The BNP-led government stepped down in October at the end of their term. Although the caretaker government was appointed immediately afterwards, Awami League and its allies maintained their position regarding the fairness of the upcoming election.

Violence erupted throughout the country, killing more than 40 people. According to Bangladesh's unique electoral system, a caretaker government is entrusted to oversee the national parliamentary elections, which must be held within ninety days of dissolving a parliament. The constitution stipulates that the last retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court lead this caretaker government as its Chief Advisor (with status of Prime Minister) and would appoint a maximum of ten advisors (with status of ministers) to assist him. The caretaker government runs all the state's affairs during these ninety days, including conducting the nationwide parliamentary elections. However, during this time, the Defense Ministry's charge is transferred to the country's President, who assumes the role of Commander-in-Chief.

At the end of BNP's 2001-2006 term, Awami League accused BNP of politicising the top levels of civil government as well as the election commission, judiciary and the command of the Army, claiming that a free and fair poll would not be possible unless mass changes were brought about in the administration. They also questioned the immediate past Chief Justice's neutrality and accused him of being biased towards BNP.

Amid protests and violence led by Awami League right after the term of BNP ended in October 2006, the former Chief Justice K M Hasan declined to take the job of Chief Advisor (CA). As a final option in the constitution, President Iajuddin Ahmed himself took the role, in addition to his own responsibilities, and appointed an advisory council.

Awami League, although wary of Iajuddin as the CA, agreed to take part in the elections but also demanded that he bring mass changes in the administration to free it from BNP's politicisation. They also demanded that a new and accurate voter list be compiled. The allegation that the Voter list was flawed has been somewhat supported by EU's election observers. Awami League also accused Iajuddin of being a puppet of BNP and on January 3, 2007 finally declared that they would boycott the election and violence broke out across the country.

On January 11, 2007, the United Nations and the European Union suspended their election monitoring operations because they felt that conditions for a credible vote did not exist. In a statement, the EU said, "The European Commission has decided to suspend its Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Bangladesh covering the parliamentary elections on 22nd January. The European Commission has called back the long-term observers already on the ground, and will not deploy the other phases of its observation mission, which was due to be led by MEP Alexander Graf Lambsdorff." A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that "The political crisis in Bangladesh has severely jeopardized the legitimacy of the electoral process. The announced cancellation of numerous international observation missions is regrettable. The United Nations has had to suspend all technical support to the electoral process, including by closing its International Coordination Office for Election Observers in Dhaka.

On the same day as the UN and EU withdrawal from the election procedures, chief advisor of the caretaker government Iajuddin Ahmed (the current president) announced a state of emergency in Bangladesh after weeks of political crisis over the upcoming elections, implementing a late night to early morning (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) curfew. It has been suggested that that was in fact a form of coup. Within hours of the state of emergency declaration, President Ahmed announced his resignation as chief advisor, as well as the postponement of the scheduled election. Prior to his own resignation, he accepted those of nine of the ten advisors of the caretaker government. The remaining advisor on the board Fazlul Haque was then appointed by President Ahmed as the interim chief advisor. "It is fairly apparent that it was done under pressure from the army because of the threat that the country could lose its peacekeeping role," said analyst Zafar Sobhan, a columnist for an English language newspaper in Dhaka. On January 12, 2007, the former Bangladesh Bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed was sworn in as the new chief advisor. Mr. Ahmed appointed five advisors on January 13 to form the new interim government. The curfew was lifted once the police received reports of Fakruddin Ahmed being named the head of the caretaker government. The state of emergency, however, continues to be in effect until further notice, and it suspends some basic rights provided by the constitution, such as the freedom of movement, assembly, and speech.

The most important part of the ongoing drive of the present military backed interim government in Bangladesh against corruption is, althought it claims of cleansing country's politics from corruption, muscle power and black money, the founding father of corruption in Bangladeshi politics, former military dictator Hussain Muhammed Ershad or members of his team (some have already left Ershad's company) like Shah Moazzem Hussain, Major General (Retired) Mahmudul Hassan (known as thief of Baghdad), Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Ruhul Amin Howlader, Kazi Zafar Ahmed (known as Sugar Zafar), Shwafiqul Ghani Swapan, Fakhrul Islam Munshi, Momota Wahab, Jinat Musharraf (Ershad's concubine) and many others are surprisingly left out of such anti corruption drive.

Main figure from Bangladesh army, who is also the second man in country's national committee for combating corruption is Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury. Although he showed merciless attitude towards many, he spared his own brother-in-law, Major (Sacked) Sayeed Iskander, who is the brother of Khaleda Zia and the most corrupt man in Bangladesh. With the help of Masud Uddin, it is reported that, Iskander was allowed to leave Bangladesh silently with members of his family. Similarly, Barrister Aminul Huq, who is one of the top corrupts in BNP government fled the country with the help of his own brother, who is a Major General. There are many such instances, such as the case of Major (Retired) Kamrul Islam, a corrupt minister in BNP cabinet, who is yet to come under proper actions, despite the fact that Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) served a notice on him asking statement of wealth. There are rumors in Dhaka that, members of ACC are becoming rich by using their present position, as many in the country are considering this organization as most notorious.

Everything, whatever the present military backed government in Bangladesh is doing is aimed at ultimately minusing top figures in major political parties, and replacing those posts with army loyalists, in order to ensure a kind of unique martial law in the country for years.

Similar formula was adopted by Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf as well as military junta in Thailand. But, finally neither Musharraf nor the junta in Bangkok could finally accomplish their goals. People voted those politicians back to power. Pakistan is already slipping out of Musharraf's grip. Thaksin Shinawatra is back to Thailand as a hero. Who knows what will happen in Bangladesh. Return of the Begums or midnight abscond of the members in the government and its back ground forces in the country?

Experts are smelling blood and flesh in Bangladeshi politics soon with the growing assumption of no election during next couple of years. Someone say, there will be a military takeover, while other say, mass revolution. What fate awaits this South Asian nation, possibly time will say. But, one thing the present rulers in Dhaka need to know, minus formula never works!

Khan Thoughts