Strange happenings in Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
October 14, 2009
Lack of diplomatic efforts:
China is blocking natural flow of Brahmaputra river by setting a 40 Mega watt hydro power station. Construction of the dam for this project has already started, while Bangladesh is yet to raise voice against such illegal actions of Beijing. As per international law on river, China has no right to construct such dam unilaterally without consent of the countries, which would be severely affected by such project. Due to this project, Bangladesh´s agriculture will be serious affected. Knowing these facts, Bangladeshi foreign ministry is maintaining total silence, for reason unknown.
Bangladeshi experts are already fearing massive desertation of rivers due to this hydro power station constructed by China. They say, this project will directly affect country´s agricultural sector as well as disrupt environmental and ecological balance.
When asked in the Parliament, minister for Water Resources in Bangladesh, Shahjahan Khan showed total ignorance about this project. He said, "I am not aware of this project".
A member of parliament raised the issue in the house saying, implementation of this project by China will ultimately dry-up the Brahmaputra river in Bangladesh. A vast area in Bangladesh will be completely deserted.
Member of Parliament Shahjahan Khan said, once China´s plan to build the 40 Mega watt power station is implemented, minimum 2,900 kilomemeter of river bases in Bangladesh shall dry-up.
Beijing on the other hand is alluring Bangladesh and India saying, once this project is completed, both Dhaka and New delhi can buy electricity from this hydro power station. China also claims that, this dam will save Bangladesh from floods. It is alleged that, Beijing has never discussed this important issue with Dhaka.
Strange tendency:
Awami League led government has issued broadcast license to 10 new private television channels on Monday with unwritten condition that each of the channels should tag minimum 3 influential members of the ruling party in the Board of Directors.
For past few years, most of the broadcast licenses in the country were issued on the basis of political consideration. BNP-led Islamist government issued license most to its party cadres and influential leaders without considering minimum experience or expertise of the initiators of these satellite based private television channels.
The trend is continued even during the present government, where all the recipients of the recently issued licenses are linked with the ruling party. And for the first time, the ministry is suggested to tag minimum 3 influential members of the ruling party in each of these TV channels.
There is even allegation of granting broadcast license to a particular chanel named ´My-TV´ which was continuing broadcast via satellite for more than a year without any permission issued by the ministry. Such continuation of broadcast without license is an offense as per the existing law of the land. But, present government ignored such crime of My-TV and granted license to them even, just because a few influential members of the ruling party are involved with this channel.
A serious allegation:
Former director general of Bangladesh Riffles [border security force], Major General [Retired] Fazlur Rahman claimed that Indian government has sent three thousand well trained under-cover commandos inside Bangladesh.
He said, though they are Hindus but as per New delhi´s plan, they are sent as Muslims [bearing beard and Islamic cap] inside Bangladesh with a very notorious mission.
Major General [Retired] Fazlur Rahman claims that, once movement of Indian vehicles will start once the Asian Highway project is implemented, these commandoes will make offensives on Indian convoys and subsequently India will raise this issue with United Nations saying, they need to send their tropp within the soil of Bangladesh for protecting ´Indian properties´.
General Rahman sees ´invasion´ of Indian army inside Bangladesh in near future. It may be mentioned here that, Major General Fazlur Rahman is known to be anti-Indian element in Bangladesh with Islamist connections.
Turning into a police state:
Bangladesh has possibly turning or surely destined to turning into a police state. A number of incidents of recent past clearly show that, members of law enforcing agencies are using their ´official power´ in harrassing citizen of the country in various forms.
Few weeks back, a leading entrepreneur of the country, Abul Kalam Azad was arrested by police for allegedly assaulting a police inspector inside his office. It was also reported that, police took Azad into remand for ´interrogation´ where he was brutally tortured by a number of police officers.
Later an investigation committee was formed by the government to identify the fact behind the entire episode. The committee submitted its report on October 12, 2009 stating, the entire incident was a great fabrication by the members of law enforcing agencies. It [the committee] suggested punishment to officer-in-charge of Paltan Police Station in Dhaka, sub-inspector Mazharul Islam and Inspector Golam Sarwar.
It may be mentioned here that, police inspector Golam Sarwar went into the office of entrepreneur Abul Kalam Azad demanding handsom amount as ´monthly donation´ for the Paltan Police station for ´smoothly running his business´.
When Azad refused to pay any such amount, the police inspector immediately called his colleagues from Paltan Police Station, who subsequently made a story stating Azad illegally held the police officer inside his office and physically assaulted him. Later Azad was arrested and tortured in police custody.
An eye witness later told reporters that, Abul Kalam Azad was brought to Paltan Police Station after the court granted permission to police´s petition for remand for interrogation.
During interrogation, Azad was blidfolded and were given electric shock as well beaten by inspector Golam Sarwar and his colleagues. Officer-in-charge of Paltan Police Station took entrepreneur Azad inside his office chamber at the police station during late hours and severely assaulted him for hours.
Paltal Police Station is learnt to be one of the most controversial places in Dhaka, which regularly shelters thugs and culprits and even cooperates with the criminals in various forms of crime. Members of Paltan Police Station sat mum and witness the entire episode of extreme hooliganism, when the office of Weekly Blitz was attached on February 22, 2009 by a groups of ruling party thugs led by one Shamim, officer of Directorate of Forces Intelligence [DGFI].
After more than 8 months of attack on the office of Weekly Blitz newspaper by armed hooligans belong to ruling party in Bangladesh, members of law enforcing agencies are reluctant in taking any action, as some high ups in the government and police administration instructed the investigation officer not to 'harass' any of the accused in this case as they belong to the ruling party.
On February 22, 35-40 armed terrorists belonging to the ruling party, led by Ruhul Amin attacked the office of Blitz newspaper. They instructed the caretaker named Anwar of the commercial center named Skylark Point [where the Blitz office was located] to lock the outside gate and continued their notorious actions in the broad day light for hours in presence of members of law enforcing and various intelligence agencies.
Despite lodging of a case more than 5 days back [Case No. 65, under section 143, 448, 323, 342, 384, 380, 427 and 506], members of law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh are showing extreme reluctance in arresting any of the attackers, mostly belonging to the ruling party, who attacked the office of Weekly Blitz on Sunday [February 22, 2009], physically assaulted the editor and other members, abused the female staffs and looted laptop and other valuables in a broad day light, in presence of One Shamim from DGFI [Directorate General of Forces Intelligence]. Members of law enforcing agencies were witnessing the incident silently as the attackers were mostly activists and members of the ruling party in Bangladesh. Others who were in the gang are identified as Shintu, Liton, Yunus, Anwar, Siraj, Lavlu, Kajol etc. According to police sources, most of them were thugs belonging to the ruling party.
Earlier a person named Advocate Shintu, claiming to be the advisor of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, phoned the Blitz editor and demanded TK. 500,000 [US$ 8,400 approximately] as extortion. Shintu also told the Blitz editor that, he is one of the decision makers helping Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in appointing her cabinet colleagues.
When contacted, an officer on duty at Paltan Police Station told Weekly Blitz that, they have specific instruction of neither investigating the case nor arresting anyone as the accused are from the ruling party.
As a result, till date, police did not arrest any of the culprits, although a case was lodged with Paltan police station on the day of incident. It is learnt that the police is trying to kill the investigation process as the attackers enjoyed support from influential leaders of the ruling party.
China is blocking natural flow of Brahmaputra river by setting a 40 Mega watt hydro power station. Construction of the dam for this project has already started, while Bangladesh is yet to raise voice against such illegal actions of Beijing. As per international law on river, China has no right to construct such dam unilaterally without consent of the countries, which would be severely affected by such project. Due to this project, Bangladesh´s agriculture will be serious affected. Knowing these facts, Bangladeshi foreign ministry is maintaining total silence, for reason unknown.
Bangladeshi experts are already fearing massive desertation of rivers due to this hydro power station constructed by China. They say, this project will directly affect country´s agricultural sector as well as disrupt environmental and ecological balance.
When asked in the Parliament, minister for Water Resources in Bangladesh, Shahjahan Khan showed total ignorance about this project. He said, "I am not aware of this project".
A member of parliament raised the issue in the house saying, implementation of this project by China will ultimately dry-up the Brahmaputra river in Bangladesh. A vast area in Bangladesh will be completely deserted.
Member of Parliament Shahjahan Khan said, once China´s plan to build the 40 Mega watt power station is implemented, minimum 2,900 kilomemeter of river bases in Bangladesh shall dry-up.
Beijing on the other hand is alluring Bangladesh and India saying, once this project is completed, both Dhaka and New delhi can buy electricity from this hydro power station. China also claims that, this dam will save Bangladesh from floods. It is alleged that, Beijing has never discussed this important issue with Dhaka.
Strange tendency:
Awami League led government has issued broadcast license to 10 new private television channels on Monday with unwritten condition that each of the channels should tag minimum 3 influential members of the ruling party in the Board of Directors.
For past few years, most of the broadcast licenses in the country were issued on the basis of political consideration. BNP-led Islamist government issued license most to its party cadres and influential leaders without considering minimum experience or expertise of the initiators of these satellite based private television channels.
The trend is continued even during the present government, where all the recipients of the recently issued licenses are linked with the ruling party. And for the first time, the ministry is suggested to tag minimum 3 influential members of the ruling party in each of these TV channels.
There is even allegation of granting broadcast license to a particular chanel named ´My-TV´ which was continuing broadcast via satellite for more than a year without any permission issued by the ministry. Such continuation of broadcast without license is an offense as per the existing law of the land. But, present government ignored such crime of My-TV and granted license to them even, just because a few influential members of the ruling party are involved with this channel.
A serious allegation:
Former director general of Bangladesh Riffles [border security force], Major General [Retired] Fazlur Rahman claimed that Indian government has sent three thousand well trained under-cover commandos inside Bangladesh.
He said, though they are Hindus but as per New delhi´s plan, they are sent as Muslims [bearing beard and Islamic cap] inside Bangladesh with a very notorious mission.
Major General [Retired] Fazlur Rahman claims that, once movement of Indian vehicles will start once the Asian Highway project is implemented, these commandoes will make offensives on Indian convoys and subsequently India will raise this issue with United Nations saying, they need to send their tropp within the soil of Bangladesh for protecting ´Indian properties´.
General Rahman sees ´invasion´ of Indian army inside Bangladesh in near future. It may be mentioned here that, Major General Fazlur Rahman is known to be anti-Indian element in Bangladesh with Islamist connections.
Turning into a police state:
Bangladesh has possibly turning or surely destined to turning into a police state. A number of incidents of recent past clearly show that, members of law enforcing agencies are using their ´official power´ in harrassing citizen of the country in various forms.
Few weeks back, a leading entrepreneur of the country, Abul Kalam Azad was arrested by police for allegedly assaulting a police inspector inside his office. It was also reported that, police took Azad into remand for ´interrogation´ where he was brutally tortured by a number of police officers.
Later an investigation committee was formed by the government to identify the fact behind the entire episode. The committee submitted its report on October 12, 2009 stating, the entire incident was a great fabrication by the members of law enforcing agencies. It [the committee] suggested punishment to officer-in-charge of Paltan Police Station in Dhaka, sub-inspector Mazharul Islam and Inspector Golam Sarwar.
It may be mentioned here that, police inspector Golam Sarwar went into the office of entrepreneur Abul Kalam Azad demanding handsom amount as ´monthly donation´ for the Paltan Police station for ´smoothly running his business´.
When Azad refused to pay any such amount, the police inspector immediately called his colleagues from Paltan Police Station, who subsequently made a story stating Azad illegally held the police officer inside his office and physically assaulted him. Later Azad was arrested and tortured in police custody.
An eye witness later told reporters that, Abul Kalam Azad was brought to Paltan Police Station after the court granted permission to police´s petition for remand for interrogation.
During interrogation, Azad was blidfolded and were given electric shock as well beaten by inspector Golam Sarwar and his colleagues. Officer-in-charge of Paltan Police Station took entrepreneur Azad inside his office chamber at the police station during late hours and severely assaulted him for hours.
Paltal Police Station is learnt to be one of the most controversial places in Dhaka, which regularly shelters thugs and culprits and even cooperates with the criminals in various forms of crime. Members of Paltan Police Station sat mum and witness the entire episode of extreme hooliganism, when the office of Weekly Blitz was attached on February 22, 2009 by a groups of ruling party thugs led by one Shamim, officer of Directorate of Forces Intelligence [DGFI].
After more than 8 months of attack on the office of Weekly Blitz newspaper by armed hooligans belong to ruling party in Bangladesh, members of law enforcing agencies are reluctant in taking any action, as some high ups in the government and police administration instructed the investigation officer not to 'harass' any of the accused in this case as they belong to the ruling party.
On February 22, 35-40 armed terrorists belonging to the ruling party, led by Ruhul Amin attacked the office of Blitz newspaper. They instructed the caretaker named Anwar of the commercial center named Skylark Point [where the Blitz office was located] to lock the outside gate and continued their notorious actions in the broad day light for hours in presence of members of law enforcing and various intelligence agencies.
Despite lodging of a case more than 5 days back [Case No. 65, under section 143, 448, 323, 342, 384, 380, 427 and 506], members of law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh are showing extreme reluctance in arresting any of the attackers, mostly belonging to the ruling party, who attacked the office of Weekly Blitz on Sunday [February 22, 2009], physically assaulted the editor and other members, abused the female staffs and looted laptop and other valuables in a broad day light, in presence of One Shamim from DGFI [Directorate General of Forces Intelligence]. Members of law enforcing agencies were witnessing the incident silently as the attackers were mostly activists and members of the ruling party in Bangladesh. Others who were in the gang are identified as Shintu, Liton, Yunus, Anwar, Siraj, Lavlu, Kajol etc. According to police sources, most of them were thugs belonging to the ruling party.
Earlier a person named Advocate Shintu, claiming to be the advisor of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, phoned the Blitz editor and demanded TK. 500,000 [US$ 8,400 approximately] as extortion. Shintu also told the Blitz editor that, he is one of the decision makers helping Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in appointing her cabinet colleagues.
When contacted, an officer on duty at Paltan Police Station told Weekly Blitz that, they have specific instruction of neither investigating the case nor arresting anyone as the accused are from the ruling party.
As a result, till date, police did not arrest any of the culprits, although a case was lodged with Paltan police station on the day of incident. It is learnt that the police is trying to kill the investigation process as the attackers enjoyed support from influential leaders of the ruling party.
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