My Desh: General Moeen U Ahmed

Shubro writes: My say on an issue like this would not make much difference, however, in the collective-sense it might have some meaning in the end. Here's my opinion of Bangladesh's incumbent ruler General Moeen.

I remember the morning I woke up to find a complete blackout surrounding me. I had unwillingly become the slave of the much-hyped communication media, or this is what I realized. Nobody knew what was happening.

Then in the evening when the president Iajuddin Ahmed (Piyajuddin; Onionuddin - according to Sheikh Hasina) read out a predetermined script from his unknown masters. He was sweating in his expensive suit.

He approached the nation with caution, advising them of the dire circumstances that had led to the emergency-rule in Bangladesh. As a matter of thought the military came into the scene as a group who could guide the nation to prosperity after years of naked-corruption by the ruling elites.

It is noteworthy that an army-enterprise called 'Sena Kalyan Sangstha' had set a precedent by running profitable businesses in so many sectors like cement, oil etc.; A citizen like me had hoped this profitable venture might also send of its good managers to the rescue, so we could at least drop the charge of being a lame nation. Since then, advisers have come and gone.

On to the real matter: Do I really believe that General Moeen is a saint?

Sometimes, maybe I think he is better than all those greedy-pigs we have had in the past. I remember one taxi-driver telling me how the prevalence of drugs were the cause of few greedy-ministers. I believe General Moeen will not drop to those levels. My final conclusion about General Moeen is, he will fail to make a lasting impact, because corruption is so-much rooted in our thoughts, it is hard for the most organized to shape this nation to a perfect mold. The influence of his foreign well-wishers is not going to help his cause.

His most dangerous issues however, lie within the country. An example of this is the constant patronization of some politicians. The worst example is the scarcity of basic necessities in the market. While people starve, this sorry nation is joining the world economy with pride.

Mama says:

I found these interesting comments on Rumi's blog, just thought they were amusing & interesting. They actually provide some real insight. >>>

Initially some may have had an utopian belief that it was Fakhruddin Ahmed. Then someone kept thinking of Masud U Chowdhury. And lately the name of Zahangir Alam, a Lt general and the Quarter Master General of Bangladesh Army is coming up as a major power broker. Despite all these speculations, General Moeen U Ahmed has successfully managed to look in control.

In fact this powerful quarter is the facilitator of 1/11. General Moeen is the embodiment of a combination of figures like Kamal Hossain, Rehman Sobhan, Mahfuz Anam and Debapriya Bhattacharya.

Drafted from Bangladesh Social Network: My Voice

The 'Trial of Sheikh-Hasina'

The extortion-trial of the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has formally begun. But the businessman who filed the case told the court that it was not Sheikh Hasina who had demanded the payment, but one of her cousins.

Sheikh Hasina and family-members deny receiving payments of about $435,000 from the businessman from 1996 to 2001.

'Politically motivated'
The special court set up on the grounds of Bangladesh's defunct parliament to try this case - after numerous adjournments - heard from Azam J. Chowdhury, the owner of a power company.

He said, Sheikh Selim, the cousin of the then Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, demanded this money, saying that some of it would go to Hasina herself. Mr Chowdhury said he did not have any direct contact with Hasina.

Via BBC

Student-protest continues in Bangladesh

Students have continued their protests in Dhaka against the leakage of question-papers for exams under the National-University.

Students of Dhaka-College on Tuesday took to the streets and blocked traffic on Mirpur-Road. "The students should not pay for this kind of errors, which is a fault of the authorities." they demanded.

Via Bangladesh-Blogger

Rice-Corruption in Bangladesh

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury has termed the ongoing rice-crisis, as a matter-of-corruption.

At a news-briefing, Hasan Mashhud said: "The act that is not acceptable to conscience is corruption. Acute scarcity of rice is corruption."

"I have nothing to do. The government will take steps in this regard.", he said in reply to a question whether ACC would track-corruption behind the crisis.

Via Daily-Star

> Bangladesh 'facing rice crisis'

The urge-to-end state of emergency

Major political parties have called for the lifting of a state of emergency in Bangladesh after the army-backed interim government said it was committed to holding a parliamentary election at the end of the year.

The interim authority imposed a state-of-emergency after it took over on January 11, 2007 after months of political violence and a series of strikes.

Both parties are suffering internal conflict since their leaders, Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, were arrested on corruption and abuse of power charges. The women, who alternated as prime minister over 15 years to October 2006, have been in jail for months awaiting trial.

Via Reuters

Bangladesh:Former minister jailed for terrorism links

A court in Bangladesh has jailed a former minister for 31 years for aiding Islamic militants who were hanged for killing two judges, officials said.

The court in Rajshahi town convicted Aminul Huq for helping Jamatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB).

Mr Huq served as telecommunications minister in the government of former prime-minister Khaleda Zia.

In recent years, Bangladesh has seen violence by militants wanting to establish strict Islamic practices in the country.

In August 2005, more than 300 explosive devices were set off almost simultaneously in 50 cities and towns.

News Via BBC

UK MPs denounce Hasina's arrest

Six UK politicians have called for the Bangladesh authorities to release the former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who was arrested on extortion charges.

In a letter to The Times newspaper in London, they said they were gravely concerned about the manner in which Sheikh Hasina was arrested. "We are... gravely concerned about the undignified arrest this week of... Sheikh Hasina," the British politicians' letter published in The Times read.

Sheikh Hasina was arrested last week after a raid on her house in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka.

Her bitter rival, Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Khaleda Zia, also faces criminal charges and has been ordered to appear before a court by 26 August over tax evasion allegations.

News via BBC

Security stepped-up after Hasina arrest

Police boosted security across Bangladesh on Tuesday fearing violent protests after ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was arrested on extortion charges.

Hasina, 59, who was prime minister from 1996 to 2001, was denied bail on Monday and ordered to be held in jail until her trial. She is being detained in a building inside the National Parliament complex that has been converted into a high security jail, authorities said.

Defense lawyer Abdul Matin Khasru said Hasina is accused of extorting about US$441,000 (€320,000) from a company in return for allowing it to build a power station while she was in office.

News via IHT

Bangladesh police detain Sheikh Hasina

DHAKA (Reuters) - Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was arrested from her Dhaka home on Monday and taken to a local court, her party said.

It was not immediately clear on what charges Hasina was detained, but she has previously faced murder charges during political violence late last year and allegations of extortion.

Television channels showed hundreds of policmen escorting Hasina, the chief of the Awami League party, to a metropolitan court. Police had surrounded Hasina's house since Sunday midnight, witnesses said.

Bangladesh: Military's Six Months in Power

When high-profile politicians were jailed in Dhaka for alleged corruption after an interim government took power in January, there was widespread incredulity in a country where political leaders were never seen as accountable.

Six months on, many people acknowledge that the army-backed administration is determined to root out corruption.

More than 170 political leaders are behind bars. The crackdown has earned accolades among ordinary people who are disillusioned with politicians.

Many of them have been accused of amassing personal wealth and ignoring the country's development needs.

Related Link: VOA News Report

Some analysts think the emergency administration will only hold elections when it has achieved its other major goal, reforming the country's two main political parties.

Despite the delay in elections, many people remain optimistic that the interim government can lead the country out of the crisis it faced in January. Then, differences between the two main political parties on how to hold elections triggered bloody street battles.

News via VOA

17,000 arrested in Bangladesh

DHAKA (Thomson Financial) - Bangladesh's military-backed emergency government has arrested 17,000 people as part of its corruption crackdown, an official said on Wednesday.

Those detained include at least 150 leading politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats, a home ministry official told Agence France-Presse.

Bangladesh graft lawyer resigns

Bangladesh's chief anti-corruption prosecutor has resigned, just a month after being appointed.

Mahbubur Rahman, a former lawmaker in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was appointed chief prosecutor for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) some weeks ago.

He had been a controversial choice, as many leading figures currently detained in the anti-corruption drive are BNP members.

News via BBC

Anwar Hossain Manju sentenced

DHAKA (Reuters) - A Bangladesh court on Tuesday sentenced a former minister to five years in jail for possessing banned alcoholic drinks, court officials said.

The court also ordered former communication minister Anwar Hossain Manju to pay a fine of 10,000 taka ($145) or serve an additional six months in jail. The sentence was passed in his absence as he has been missing since March when police seized 22 bottles of Scotch whisky and several cans of beer during a search of his residence.

Manju, owner of Bangladesh's leading newspaper chain, the Ittefaq Group of Publications, served in the cabinet of former president Hossain Mohammad Ershad from 1982 to 1990.

He is the younger brother of Mainul Hosein, adviser to the interim government and head of the law ministry.

Former PMs lose control of parties

Former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, are looking extremely isolated in the unofficial political-scene.

While there is a ban on political activities, the military-backed interim administration is allowing influential members of both-parties to discuss the inevitable possibilities of reforms, from within.

In recent round-table meetings, different factions in both parties have been eager to get their message to the media, after years of suppression from the very top. Critics have however suggested that, the military intelligence has been successful enough to pervade the once daunting barriers of both the leading parties.

Leading Awami League stalwart Tofael Ahmed, a former minister said that, "while a proposal to curb the power of party president is under discussion , no proposals would be taken leaving out Sheikh Hasina".

Bangladesh: Environments worst friend

In Chittagong, families of the recently deceased in the monsoon ravaged region are seeking answers from the current interim-administration, after years of constant depletion and destruction of their own environment.

Special NFB-Blog report

Image by Monsoon Lover

In the 1990's, after the inauguration of democracy, Bangladesh witnessed a boom in its real estate sector. What followed it, was shameless destruction of nature reserves all over Bangladesh. Chittagong was not the only victim.

Places like Sylhet, the greater region of Dhaka, and outskirts of other major cities like Barisal, Rajshahi, Khulna and Narayanganj became the prized property for fly-by real estate companies, who exploited their contacts in government through regular pay-offs.

Leading companies in the private sector were the main culprits, though, ironically government sector organizations played a pivotal role in depleting the environment to its current state.

While Chittagong has seen the worst display of human-exploitation, in recent years. In Sylhet, tea estates and other natural entities have been crushed, as companies exploited relaxed environmental legislations, aiming to build the so called mega-cities of the future, targeted towards the large expatriate community.

Dhaka's environment has been brought to its current depleted state by companies like the Bashundhara Group (East West Property Development), Rangs Group, Partex Group and other leading private sector developers. Critics of Bangladeshi governments since the 90's, have widely accused politicians of profiting from deals worth millions.

Some have even alleged that, the leading ladies Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were the recipients of prized real-estate possessions from some leading real-estate developers. The current caretaker government has been forced to look deeply behind the cause of the death of more than a hundred people, in a night of stormy-weather.

It has formed a high-level team to investigate, why for years, the beautiful mountains of Chittagong were savaged by profiteering & land-grabbing rackets, led by politicans, businesses and high-ranking government officials.

Whatever the outcome of the investigations of the environment-trade carried out by businesses and politicians alike, It will take many-years for Bangladesh to regain its lost environmental treasures.

However, we hope criminals, whether politicians or businesses; are brought to justice, so Bangladesh can be saved from becoming the worst friend to world-environment.

Amanullah Aman convicted

The special anti-corruption court of Bangladesh has handed down its first conviction and sentence to a former government minister.

Amanullah Aman, state minister for employment in the last government of Khaleda Zia, has been jailed for 13 years.

The former minister for labour and employment was found guilty of amassing wealth through illegal means. His lawyers say he will appeal against his sentence. His wife has also been handed a three-year sentence for giving false information about their wealth.

The emergency government - backed by the military - came to power five months ago and has vowed to clean up politics.

News via BBC

Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to be exposed

Following the leakage of sensitive-tapes to the media, regarding interviews with leading politicians. Preparations are on full-swing among the current Bangladeshi administrators to expose the leading ladies to the Bangladeshis, who have been long revered as idols.

The investigative-unit (TFI) is preparing a case for a humiliating exit for Sheikh Hasina & Khaleda Zia, leaders of Awami League & the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, respectively. Reports from Dhaka suggest; to build a platform for their exit, edited details of these controversial interviews will be shown on television.

Both leaders are likely to be questioned at their homes, and, if the investigators aren't greeted with cooperation, they will use evidence from the interrogations.

Bangladesh joins the political spin game!

The airwaves of Dhaka is rife with the news of how much Sheikh Hasina extorted from businesses, offering them generous licenses to operate in the public domain.

Apparent conversations of officials with the arrested politicans, including Awami League's 'Abdul Jalil', are increasingly occupying the discussions in tea-stalls among the rural communities in Bangladesh.

While the majority of the public are supportive of the current interim-government's actions, some have questioned the leakage of such sensitive materials.

The defense argues that, this leakage of interviews of the accused, proves that it's 'the-end' for both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

Related Link: Political Spin

> Image by Little Tramp

Sheikh Hasina's USA trip fails

Following a tide of questions from her own party members about the ongoing corruption charges, Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League leader has been barred from traveling abroad.

She was due to leave for the USA to see her pregnant daughter.

The last time Sheikh Hasina travelled abroad was in April, when Bangladesh's army-backed interim government tried to prevent her return and force her into exile.

Earlier this week, she was prevented from going to the port of Chittagong to see victims of a recent mudslide. She said then that the move was "inhuman, undemocratic, unconstitutional and against the freedom of an individual".

News enhanced via BBC South Asia

Revolutionizing Bangladeshi Politics

Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi, an editor, a nationalist (Founding member of the Bangladeshi Nationalist movement, BNP.), and a failed visionary; has been constantly occupying the airwaves of Bangladesh, very-recently.

In 2004, in an interview with VOA, Mr. Qureshi spoke about his parties plans for a leaner and greener Bangladesh.

In 2007, Mr. Qureshi envisages a Bangladesh, where only a handful of parties will conduct national affairs. He visions a country, where only "seven or eight political parties will be active in political affairs".

News via ATN Bangla