Figuring Out

There has been dialogs inside Election Commission, where apart from one party, all of parties found there leaders enjoying ‘constructive’ discussion with three Election Commissioners. That one party is BNP which was not found important to be called of. I was really happy at it. A party that won General Election for five times with two consecutive terms was not called. This definitely sounds ridiculous but I found my self cheered at it. Again, there has been a round table dialog at Amader Shomoy office. This dialog was participated by political leaders and thinkers from different parties like Awami League, Ganotantri Party, Workers Party, 11 Dol, CPB, LDP etc. My reaction was a smile once again when I saw no considerably outspoken leader from BNP was present there.

I think there is no more room to get furious at how this government deals with BNP; rather we should now smile at this regime’s desperation of pulling the strings which is once going to pull them down. After the long lasting restoration of democracy, BNP led the longest serving democratic government of Bangladesh. Not only that, lets just take a look at simple statistics. In 2001 election, the total votes of Bangladesh have nearly equally been shared by BNP & Awami League. The percentage was a pretty higher for BNP and ultimately that triumph ended up with a BNP’s two-third majority in the house. And this BNP is now being totally disregarded by this government. It’s still not quite clear that what really this government is trying to implement. Apparently, their activities are showing that they want to write their entire story by conserving no role for BNP. I said, apparently. We can put these retrospections into a perspective.

The dedicated election machine, the Election Commission is almost done with all of its political dialog drama without having a single second of discussion with BNP. As an elite unit of democracy which’s stringency indicates the perfection of democracy of a nation, Election Commission’s stance about BNP is in no way explicable as neutral. This is the part of the fate that has now showed up to BNP, I guess just for two basic reasons. One is, BNP however is may be equally popular as Awami League as a major party, but BNP’s international recognition is a party that held up the longest serving position of power in democracy of Bangladesh. And the other one is, unlike Awami League, there is a clearly visible divider line, which left no confusion among supporters and the whole nation to understand that which part is real & which one is the result of forgery. Begum Zia’s appointment of Khandoker Delwar Hussain has been an extremely prudent decision so far, which easily pushed the ‘reformist’ part to back foot helplessly. And ultimately the real BNP is now feeling all dimensions of present government’s wrath. If we look back, the game of this government that has resulted with a ‘reformist’ faction in BNP, this same game was started being played with both BNP & Awami League. Players in BNP were Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Maj. Hafizuddin and in Awami League were Amir Hussain Amu, Mukul Bose etc. And there were some who I guess have volunteered, like Gen. Z.A. Khan, Mofazzal Karim, Zahiruddin Shwapon etc.

But the aftermath has been different to BNP. The entire phase of reformation insistence was engineered by present government, that’s quite clear, because this was initially raised in BNP & Awami League. Other minnows like Jatiyo Party, Jamaat Islam, reformation was just a peremptory to them as well as they only talked about this when media asked them questions on it. Mainly the drama of reformation was only written for BNP & Awami League, whereas parties like Jatiyo Party, Jamaat Islam, 11 Dol, were just left in pristine condition. But the stage was too bumpy that this government finally couldn’t succeed to approach as plans. As result, aftermath of this drama came with two different types of effects on BNP & Awami League. This is an absolute truth that the main reason behind Sheikh Hasina’s arrest was her attempts of communication with her international contacts, which Sajib Wajed Joy is still trying to do. We can link Tasneem Khalil’s torture with this as there is a pretty similarity between these two incidents. Tasneem Khalil was tortured because he did the ‘blunder’ to this government by saying things to diplomats. And the same thing happened here, Sheikh Hasina was able to draw a huge magnitude of international attention, may be more than Begum Zia could do. Still we can see lawyers like Payam Akhavan & William Sloan are coming to Bangladesh and putting clear cut comments on this regime’s coarsely role about judiciary actions against Sheikh Hasina. The journey of BNP after the arrest of Begum Zia could be just an offbeat chronicle. But the decision that Begum Khaleda Zia made just prior to her arrest was the most crucial one. I believe this government had a well-planed roadmap about their future course of action on BNP that was mostly revolving around the role of Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. But Khandoker Delwar’s appointment and Mannan’s suspension order came so rapidly that this regime was left perplexed apart. Consequently many players came to the scene and many incidents started taking place. But the divider line between the main BNP & Hafiz-Saifur faction was just being clearer as this government was making failed attempts one by one.

On the other hand, this regime found it far more comfortable to deal with Awami League. Because there was serious lack of leaders in Awami League who can have a vocal role from the side of Sheikh Hasina as Delwar is doing for Begum Zia. The difference between this regime’s plans with BNP & Awami League was made just because the recognition of the real BNP part is far more strong. On the other hand Awami League supporters still are not confirmed whether their party is running at orders of Sheikh Hasina or at will of present regime. A particular property of this present regime is interesting that many of it’s activities are just the repetition of history. As Farhad Mazhar has written in Naya Diganto, in 1983, Lt.Gen. Ershad went to India because he has plans about Awami League. The stringency of the real BNP made him uncomfortable and he found Sheikh Hasina convincible if he made to buy a key from India. So Ershad went to India and bought a key, which made Bangladesh to pay for it. This move resulted with Sheikh Hasina’ taking part in the general election in 1986. But this was most pathetic for Sheikh Hasina that her active part in the election couldn’t resist Ershad’s Jatiyo Party to win the election. Gen. Moeen’s visit to India I guess is just a repetition of history in this case. And this idea appears as more possible to happen when we see a FIR to be filed by ACC against 10 members of Begum Zia’s cabinet including herself, just on the following day of Gen. Deepak Kumar presented horses worthy of $0.85 million to Gen. Moeen. Not only that, this regime’s proud media partner Amader Shomoy arranged a dialog that I talked about earlier, where leaders from all parties apart from BNP were present and enjoyed ‘constructive’ discussion. Again ‘not only that’, CEC Dr. Shamsul Huda claimed his dialog with parties to be extremely successful, without having a single word spent with any of leaders of the party which has the latest position in the house with more than two third majority.

I have heard some people to say that this regime has a plan to convince Awami League to go for the election with their alliance. That election will ultimately be a selection that will buy a lead for Awami League to form a government, absolutely with a purified look of Democracy. After that, this regime’s backers, Armed Forces will either pull back showing complete apathy to politics, or they will do whatever the can do to breed more violent political anarchy in Bangladesh. If that finally happens, this will be enough to give birth of hatred distrust of Bangladeshi people on Democracy. That probably will widen the path of present regime to go for a long time hold of power. This is sounding like some fortuneteller is talking. “This will happen after that. That will happen after that.”

I want to finish this post with something other than a sigh. T.H. Khan, who is Begum Zia’s lawyer and also is an Adviser to the Chairperson, has debated in the High Court. The case was about CEC Shamsul Huda’s perplexed role which sent the invitation letter of the dialog to Maj. Hafizuddin as the GS of the party, whereas Hafiz now is no more interested call himself the GS of BNP anymore. I heard now he calls themselves “we reformists & our leader Saifur Rahman”. I am quoting highlights of T.H. Khan’s debate inside the court room claiming EC’s letter to be illogical & illegal.

Detained Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s counsel TH Khan told the High Court on Wednesday that the chief election commissioner made the commission controversial before the general election trying to divide the party.

Khan made the remarks while making his submission in the High Court bench of Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Mamnoon Rahman on a writ petition filed by Khaleda, also a former prime minister, challenging the validity of the commission’s letter inviting the reformist faction of BNP for dialogue on electoral reforms.

The election commission had tried to divide the BNP by inviting the party faction secretary general Hafizuddin Ahmed for electoral reforms talks, argued TH Khan opening the hearing on the writ petition.

The court adjourned the hearing till Monday.

To invite Hafizuddin, the commission gave a judgment on whoever the mainstream in the BNP was, that was not function to the commission, argued TH Khan, also adviser to the BNP chairperson.

Pointing out the commission’s reply to the High Court rule, Khan questioned the commission’s reasoning about ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ in sending the invitation letter to Hafizuddin.

‘This theory can only be applied in case of emergency situation of the state, but nothing such happened in this case,’ Khan contended.

In its reply, the commission also explained that expulsion of Mannan Bhiuyan from the post of party’s general secretary was a violation of ‘natural justice’.

‘The chairperson will decide who will remain in the party, but who has empowered the commission to interfere the intra-party matters,’ the counsel posed question.

Before adjournment of the hearing, the commission’s Kamal Hossain told the court, ‘The commission has no intention to deal with the intra-party conflicts continuing over supremacy on the BNP.’

‘The Party may resolve the matter and send the name to the commission to represent the party in the dialogue,’ he said.

‘If the party fails to resolve the issue, the court may give its decision and the commission will go by the verdict,’ said Kamal.

Kamal Hossain earlier submitted the reply of the commission saying that the case had no implication as the dialogue was scheduled for November 22, 2007 and the schedule already expired.

Quoting from separate replies submitted by four BNP standing committee members RA Gani, M Shamsul Islam, Khondker Mahabubuddin Ahmad and Chowdhury Tanbir Ahmed Siddiqui, Khan dubbed ‘midnight coup’ the October 29 standing committee meeting that appointed Saifur Rahman as acting chairperson and Hafiz acting secretary general.

According to their replies, the four standing committee members claimed that they had just joined a tea party hosted by former finance minister Saifur Rahman at his Gulshan residence that night.

Two ‘unidentified officials’ were present at the late evening party, the BNP leaders said, adding that they were to sign a resolution draft by the two, who forced them to do so on ’special circumstance.’

According to the BNP constitution, Khan contended, none but the chairperson can convene a meting of the standing committee and fifty percent of the standing committee members must be present during the meeting, otherwise there would be no quorum to the standing committee meeting.

‘There was only six members out of the 15 standing committee members,’ TH Khan claimed.

Halting the commission dialogue with the BNP scheduled for November 22, the High Court on November 18, 2007 issued the rule on the commission and the government to explain why the commission’s invitation letter addressed to Hafiz would not be declared illegal.

 Quote Courtesy: E-Bangladesh

Bangladesh is Furious

Things have gone high. Gen. Moeen U Ahmed flew to India in an Indian Airliner. In this circumstances, I don’t consider myself worthy to describe anything. So I will let you know about how two prominent columnist think on the this.

Moeen’s extraordinary India visit
and govt’s approval of security
cage on border

Nurul Kabir

The unelected government of Fakhruddin Ahmed has visibly swallowed the Indian proposal of constructing a ‘security cage’ on both sides of the border to resume direct passenger train service between Dhaka and Kolkata – a humiliating proposal that the previous government had refused to accept. The people of Bangladesh have always been in favour of maintaining close contact with the people of India, with whom they share common history and culture in many areas, and therefore welcome the perceived train services. The people of Bangladesh, however, rightly felt uncomfortable with the Indian idea of passing the trains through a ‘box-type’ cage to be constructed on the ‘no man’s land, which, the Indian negotiators believe, would deter illegal immigration, if there is any. Bangladesh had, therefore, rightly been refusing to entertain the humiliating proposal. Subsequently, the agreement of the direct train service, initiated in July 2001 and almost finalised in July 2007, did not materialise. Suddenly, Fakhruddin’s cabinet approved the Indian proposal on Monday! Notably, India has direct train services with its arch rival Pakistan, but the trains do not pass through any cages.
What, however, is especially noteworthy is that the cabinet approval of the Indian proposal came the day General Moeen U Ahmed, chief of our armed forces, which propelled Fakhruddin to power, began his extraordinary visit to New Delhi, the capital of India. The visit appears extraordinary because the general, who is believed to have been the prime backer of the otherwise unpopular government of Fakhruddin Ahmed, is scheduled to hold talks with a couple of Indian cabinet members including foreign minister Pranab Mukharjee, and also the chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal, Buddhadev Bhattacharya. This is alarming. In ordinary visits, our general is not supposed to have official talks with foreign politicians, particularly when the two countries involved have quite a good number of disputed issues to be resolved through political negotiations. That the visit is an extraordinary one is also reflected in the political enthusiasm of the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, who had reportedly visited prior to the general’s departure for Delhi, Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Zillur Rahman, the acting president of the Awami League. None of the parties involved clearly told our people as to what transpired in those meetings, creating a lot of concerns in the public mind as regards what issues would come up during general Moeen’s discussions with Indian policy makers. The concern has further deepened after our government’s approval of the Indian proposal to construct the controversial security cage on no man’s land immediately before the visit. Are the unelected incumbents passing any message to the Indian political establishment? We do not know.
However, what we know is that the hegemonic powers, regional or global, usually like weak governments in the neighbourhood as the hegemon finds it easy to settle disputed issues with the weak to the former’s advantage. And the weakest government is the one which is not elected by the people, as is the case in Bangladesh today. The weak governments, if ambitious to cling to power without people’s mandate for long, usually seek cooperation of the hegemonic powers, and at times they succeed in it, albeit at the cost of national interests. We only hope that general Moeen’s extraordinary visit to Delhi would not cost us very dearly, and expect that he upon his return would apprise us all, at the least, of what issues he discussed with Indian leaders, and what are the possible implications of those discussions for our people.

[This has originally been published in Editorial of New Age]

* * * * *

Where’re We Going?

Farhad Mazhar

[This has originally been published in Sub-editorial of Daily Naya Diganta]

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Nowadays

Comilla was going through a massive urbanization. In Dhaka, many of us heard of a word “Comilla Body” in discussions regarding rickshaw. This name “Comilla Body” means a specialized version of rickshaw that is built in Comilla and this is special for its comparatively wider seats than others. As Comilla is one of major production places, Comilla herself is a place well-filled up by rickshaws. Though all of these, Comilla was near to be a town with better traffic system. After the Municipality election in 2005, Comilla’s city life was started to be reconstructed in multiple dimensions. A massive upgrade was planned and the implementation was going on in a good speed. After all Comilla’s people were convinced very much that they are now going to get something which their fellow ministers never could or tried to provide. Every cabinet since liberation contained with one or more ministers from constituencies of Comilla. But the major reformation was started in 2005-06 timeline. Plans to upgrade sewerage system, traffic systems were made and started to work. Major areas & comparatively gloomy areas of the town, ultimately the whole town was started changing face. Sidewalks, squares, the court area and other governmental establishments, started appearing in excellent look with gardens and plantations. Other areas like Jail Road, Court Road and even Chakbazar were brought under beautification plans, which Comilla people have never seen before. All of these development efforts have been well driven up to January 11 of 2007.

Manirul Haque Shakku is one of those who have been black-listed on this regime’s first hour purge (?) after 1/11. But Shakku however slipped of the raid as well as the arrest, somehow made it to get out of Bangladesh. Like many other of BNP & Awami League leaders, residence of Manirul Haque Shakku was ravaged by the raid of security forces. But Shakku was nowhere there. This regime fortunately or unfortunately missed Shakku. The job they did on Qaiyum Commissioner, but couldn’t do it on Shakku. I don’t know where he lives now. Rumors almost forthright, says that Shakku now lives in a place near Indo-Bangladesh border, definitely on Indian territory. You will be surprised, the massive city reformation or upgrade or development whatever you say, was initiated by Comilla’s Municipality Chairman Manirul Haque Shakku. As Manirul Haque Shakku has left the scene, Comilla’s development work is apparently closed.

Right this time, Comilla people have nobody to reach for their problems to be heard. No municipality chairman, no MP, no BNP or Awami League’s top leaders there are now reachable. I could not find a single person who is capable of being an active & effective listener of public when they will come with problems. People are exhausted with rocketing price hike, especially rice price. Rickshaw pullers say,

“We can buy the rice that costs Tk.34, but this ain’t worthy to eat. Now we have to buy the rice that costs Tk.42, that we cannot afford to buy for both of meals in the day…”, “…we cannot afford for children to eat rice two times for school. They have to eat either before the school, or after the school…”, “…coming days are going to be harder & harsher, we don’t know what to do then”.

Another group of people have been found, who lost their living after this regime started wrecking illegal establishments. Their shops were under those roofs and for fault of the landlord, they are now one of them who keep walking around different NGOs and other organizations, if there is any job or any scheme to get a loan & start afresh. But no hope is found. Their faces remain gloomy. Eventually those faces get gloomier when they find that their families have to remain unfed/half-fed for one more day.

A Bangladesh cricket fan at a moment asked a very clever question. He was eagerly keeping eyes on TV, watching Bangladesh South Africa test match. He found that Chief Advisor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, his Press Secretary Fahim Munaim & Election Commissioner Brig.Gen. Sakhawat Hussain are seating inside the hospitality box. They were enjoying the match. This was Brig. Sakhawat who was talking to Dr. Fakhruddin with a wide smile, and Dr. Fakhruddin’s reactions let us know they were talking about amazing six that Ashraful hit to the gallery. The question was, as the Chief Advisor are enjoying the test match with his Press Secretary & Election Commissioner, it’s very easy to assume that there is at least peace in Bangladesh right this moment. There is fury, depression & may be anger inside people but that still is kept inside and no sign of bursting out is seen yet. There is also no threat by any foreign power to attack Bangladesh in near future. So, why still there is the State of Emergency? What is the reason of this now? The only logic this regime can show to validate their stance with SOE, that Bangladesh is still not calm & quiet. If so, if still Bangladesh ain’t calm & quiet, how a Chief Advisor desires to enjoy a test match? There is nothing wrong if a man desires some amusement. But at least admit that there is yet nothing violently wrong! At least lift the SOE up!

I guess Gen. Matin somehow guessed that a blogger today is writing on their stance with SOE. So he made a speech. That off course is not about lifting up emergency orders, rather Mr. Matin wanted to know whether there is any legal barrier to hold the election amid State of Emergency, if there is no, what’s wrong if they hold the election amid SOE ?!?

I am waiting for Barrister Rafiqul Haque to say something and some other bloggers to write further on it. Because I am in completely “mukher bhasha hariye felechhi” situation. I can’t say anything.

Difference Between Two “Gen. Pervez”s

Gen. Pervez Musharraf & Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. Two Generals of Pakistan Army, both can be called as Gen. Pervez. One of them has created most mauling reputation of Pakistan Army since his appearance, and the other has ordered something that is considerably the best thing Pakistani people have got from their army in last 9 years. Jingo has tried to explain something about Bangladesh, out of Gen. Kayani’s declaration to put an end of military’s involvement & influence over Pakistan’s politics.

Why Doesn’t Bangladesh Expect This Magnanimity?

originally posted by jingo

After a report came out here in Daily Telegraph, I decided to write this post. Probably, Pakistan Army has come as no blessing for Pakistani people in last ten years, like the way it has come on 17 February. Chief of Staff of Pakistan Army Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has passed a decree that declares the official full-stop in military’s political involvement in Pakistan. Not only that, General Kayani has also taken the matter of a lot of military appointments over the civil administration, which has been being hugely implemented since President Musharraf took over in 1999.

Daily Telegraph Says,

The new head of Pakistan’s army has ordered the military to end its involvement in the country’s politics. Gen Ashfaq Kiani’s decree, issued on the eve of today’s parliamentary election, reversed President Pervez Musharraf’s policy of including the military in politics and removes a key pillar of support from him.

A senior military source told The Daily Telegraph that “the move includes plans to overhaul the role of the military intelligence agencies in national politics”, paving the way for a withdrawal of political support for the president.

The source claimed that one of Mr Musharraf close allies, who is the head of one of the military intelligence agencies, would be removed from his post after the election.

Present Director General of the Pakistan Army’s Military Intelligence is Maj.Gen. Mian Nadeem Ijaz Ahmed. One of Musharraf’s extreme loyalists, who was the brigade commander of 111 Brigade in 1999 during Musharraf’s coup d’état. 111 Brigade in Pakistan Army is just like the 46 Brigade of Bangladesh; its duty is to protect the capital and its commander plays an extremely vital role for the national security.

Daily Telegraph also says,

Gen Kayani has recalled hundreds of army personnel from posts in civilian institutions – civilian officials have long complained about military officers taking up senior posts in the civil service, universities and ministries.
However the army’s popularity has been mauled by its meddling in politics and morale has been lowered by the numerous deadly attacks mounted by Islamic militants.

“The army needs a civilian president to give it political cover for the unpopular prosecution of America’s war on terror,” said a Western military official.

The taciturn, chain-smoking Gen Kiani is now seen as the key player in Pakistan’s near future. He is widely respected in Western circles and is seen as a safe bet to pursue Pakistan’s difficult campaign against al-Qa’eda and Taliban militants.
He was described as “brilliant” by one American officer, but Pakistani political analysts caution that every new army chief is initially hailed as the great hope.

I don’t know, in this present state of agitation & long lasting political anarchy, how Pakistani people are feeling after learning this order from their Army Chief of Staff. But, it would be a great feeling for me if I were that lucky to hear that, considering from the point of view of Bangladesh’s present condition, where the Army is getting involved in politics and that is giving no good result so far. I don’t know how Gen. Kayani will play his role of Army COS in the future of Pakistani politics, but his declaration discouraging military to interrupt national politics has been a remarkable story for every army backed governments in this world. Notably, Gen. Kayani, was a top written name of the list of Musharraf’s loyalists in Pakistan military. Today, I don’t know how he has been promising to Pakistani people, but his role has been a great confusion & tension for Musharraf & off course Gen. Ijaz, who was expected to be the next chief of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

If we consider Gen. Kayani’s decision as a magnanimity and democracy friendly, as Bangladeshi, can’t we deserve this from our military. Whatever Pakistan Army’s reputation outside Pakistan is, they were quite popular before 2000 in Pakistan. Musharraf has kicked that popularity out of scene hugely. In Bangladesh, Bangladesh Army was no unpopular before the 1/11 controversy. So, why doesn’t Bangladesh expect this magnanimity from her Army Chief of Staff? Doesn’t Bangladesh deserve this?

Desperation Unplugged

Desperation Unplugged.

I hope these two words look like enough to describe present stance of the caretaker government to promote their aided traitors, whom they want to present or call or recognize as the reformist faction, but the traitors’ faction indeed. I don’t blame this regime fully, because they have bought that faction and now is aiding. But it’s the truth that only imprudent people can easily be bought. This happened inside BNP in 1983, many top leaders went to Gen. Ershad’s pocket. Exactly the same thing is happening now. The recent statement by the Deputy Inspector General of Prison Maj. Shamsul Haider Siddiqui showed that this regime has now been on the streets with all of its weapons to take on BNP.

I think it did not find it much difficult to buy out Zillur Rahman as well as the entire Awami League out of Sheikh Hasina’s control, as Zillur now sounds like any of this regime’s spokesman. But the game turned hard and dramatic when they tried same formula in BNP. They found Hafiz, Mannan, Saifur in BNP as well as they found Amu, Tofael, Mukul in Awami League. But in case of a kingpin, they found nobody like Zillur in BNP. This regime’s most unfortunately, this is Khandoker Delwar Hussain, accompanied by R.A. Gani, Rizvi Ahmed, and counseled by stubborn personalities like Bar. Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim, Adv. Sanah-ullah Mia & Adv. Nawshad Zamir. This regime has felt by this time that how unbreakable & how strong Khandoker Delwar Hussain is, having one of sons tortured inhumanly inside unknown custody, having a daughter got fired from her rightful appointment of a governmental physician. So, this regime has now been through the desperation unplugged, which will let them spare no effort to thrash the real BNP. But I suggest them they should better rethink.

I have put a story written by Zakaria Mandal, about some new players in this regime’s desperate stance and the ultimate aftermath.

What’s their target?

To reach the triumph with BNP under their lead?

fooh!

Killing a Man

Death is the end of the life of a biological organism. Death may refer to the end of life as either an event or condition. Many factors can cause or contribute to an organism’s death, including predation, disease, habitat destruction, senescence, malnutrition and accidents or physical injury.

Qaiyum Khan was one of the strongest voices of Dhaka Metropolitan BNP. Since his first triumph in 1996 City Corporation Election, Qaiyum was the unbeaten Ward Commissioner of Badda area to the time being killed. He was one of those persons, who have been arrested overnight 1/11’s coup d’état. He was arrested by civil dressed security forces before the first sunrise after 1/11. Do you know why? He was arrested in the charge of “conspiracy against the regime”. Then, heart-diseased & high blood-pressure suffered Qaiyum Khan was kept inside jail for consequent twelve months without any properness of treatment, whereas both the lower court & high court declared that Qaiyum’s detention was absolutely illegal. But this military government saw it no important to care about what those civilian court says. They keeps Qaiyum inside jail. However, at Qaiyum’s lawyers’ constant request and notification of Qaiyum’s illegal & timed-out detention to the court, court forced this regime to release Qaiyum. Then may be on January 6 this year, Qaiyum was released. But in the way Brig. Hannan Shah got rearrested yesterday, Qaiyum was picked up by civil-dressed security forces in the same way, before he walked passing the shadow of the jail gate on the ground. Qaiyum Khan got arrested again. And do you know this time why? This time, Qaiyum was arrested because of the fear of violating the state of emergency and charge of conspiracy against the government. Qaiyum was treated in the remand in such way, which an uncompromising BNP leader can expect from this regime. You have already seen how a Senior Joint General Secretary of BNP, Tarique Rahman has been tortured, so I see no reason to explain about how Qaiyum was tortured. Not only the torture, Qaiyum in this 12 months has not been gone through any proper treatment, while his family was frequently notifying jail authority as well as the court about Qaiyum’s poor health.

Upcoming City Corporation election, where BNP’s campaign could have an effective influence of once Deputy Mayor Qaiyum Khan, today Qaiyum Khan has been a victim of this regime’s wrath on major political parties, whereas other parties like Jatiyo Party, Jamaat Islam have been kept untouched. Leaders-activists-supporters of BNP & Awami League and their wings like ChhatroDol-ChhatroLeague, JuboDol-JuboLeague have been detained, tortured and harassed lavishly. Now what is going on, those detainees have started losing their lives, through the nastiest debate of whether they have been killed or not.

A family, contains a father, a mother, brothers & sisters. When the father or the brother of someone is in jail with no good reason, that person knows that his/her husband or brother is ill but there is no treatment, I can’t explain that what the mental condition of those wives or sisters or children can be. After all of these, when that woman gets the phone call, that her husband has died inside the jail, how she can take this? She looked at her husband being taken to jail a year ago. Now after 394 days without any communication, without any call, without a single moment passed together, that person comes out of that place where this comeback is actually a departure forever. How they feel? How the family feels? How can they give a solace to themselves? Why their dear died? Just sighs come out. What else!?

Today, Moazzem Hussain Alal has been arrested. His apartment was raided by the police officer, Shibli Noman the OC of Mohammadpur Thana, who has been alleged as one of masterminds of Jessore’s journalist Shamshur Rahman’s murder in 1997. Mrs. Shamsur Rahman told to the media, to police & to the court for several times that this Shibli Noman, then an SI of Jessore (Kotowali) Thana, came along with the shooter of Shamsur Rahman to his chamber and he was present there at the very moment Shamsur Rahman was shot to death at point blank range. This accursed police inspector was this regime’s choice to arrest Moazzem Hussain Alal. I ain’t thundered at it anymore, because OC Noman has been the fittest choice according to the inhuman kind of this regime. Alal today has been a part of this regime’s repression chronicle. The cursed chronicle which had Tarique Rahman, Hannan Shah, Chhatro Dol’s Fazlul Bari Helal at earlier part, now has Alal and in future this can be Rizvi Ahmed.

Today, this of my posts will have no conclusion. Only some words, if you consider these to be the conclusion, are- human rights, humanity & honesty are several things, which have been suspended brutally in the present chapter of Bangladeshi history. Bangladesh in her history of 37 years, has never witnessed inhuman brutality just to propagate the political wrath, like this present military regime is doing, unlike BKSALite era, unlike Ershad’s autocracy era, even sometimes unlike nine months long tenure of plunder by foreign tyrants. This regime is just killing people.

It’s Getting Worse & Worse, Drastically Nude

Ex-BNP MP Moazzem Hossain Alal arrested

Dhaka, February 08 (bdnews24.com)— Police arrested former BNP lawmaker Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal from his Lalmatia residence Friday morning, police said.

“Advocate Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal was arrested from Lucky Apartments at Lalmatia at 8:30 in connection with a case filed against him with Fatullah police station on charges of breaching the Emergency Powers Rules,” Mohammadpur police chief Shibli Noman told bdnews24.com.

Jahangir, Alal’s assistant told bdnews24.com,”Police in civilian clothes led by a police officer arrested my boss from his residence this morning.”

Alal faces another EPR breaching case filed against him on November 7, 2007 on charges of harassing the former army chief Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman while all were exiting from the late President Zia’s mausoleum after offering flowers at his grave.

Moazzem is also the general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, a front organisation of BNP.

bdnews24.com/sm/wz/1059 hours

I can now forecast a little bit that what my next post will be about. Note it, Torture of Alal, Ill-fated unification attempt of BNP, Arrest of some other mainstream BNP leaders, This regime’s “otirikto falafali” about violation of SOE etc.

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This regime had a plan about BNP. They set that hollow & shiny headed Mannan Bhuiyan. Mannan project failed totally because this regime found that Mannan is popular in no mean rather supporters just are looking for Mannan Bhuiyan’s head knowing that he took sides against Begum Zia. Then Maj. Hafiz, another traitor showed up, the self proclaimed “big leader” to be the icon of BNP reformists. Hafiz and some other boot-lickers like Gen. Z.A. Khan, started the show just like the one people enjoy before the first cage of the Central Zoo at Mirpur. One day, Maj. Hafiz’s sole counsel, a General, got slapped frequently by sandal by a Jubodol activist at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at broad day light, as this regime got the idea that how grass-root activists think about reformists. So Maj. Hafiz project ultimately came failed. Then Prothom Alo’s claimed coup d’état happened in BNP presidium at night. Saifur made himself the Acting Chairperson while Maj. Hafiz called himself the General Secretary. That coup d’état was so strong & so honest that, right now Saifur wants to resign by any mean at any moment, and Maj. Hafiz claims that actually he is not the General Secretary, actually the General Secretary is Khandoker Delwar Hussain.

On the other hand, what happened to the real part? How they have been harassed? After the “chika-mara” coup d’état, Khandoker Delwar Hussain was taken to unknown location by security officers (allegedly Brig. Amin & Brig. Bari), his son has been tortured half to death, his daughter has lost her job of a government physician and Khandoker Delwar himself receives a bunch of phone calls with threats everyday. Tarique Rahman passes days after days under remand, loses his ability to walk himself. When he appeals to the court for the safety of his life, the court says to the IO, “next time treat him carefully”. May be this regime spoke through the mouth of court that, “next time treat him so carefully that he loses his ability to say further to the court”. Ultimately it happens, Tarique lookes worse when he comes to BSMMU Hospital. Tarique & Koko get the remand whenever Khaleda Zia denies any of this regime’s propositions. Tayeba Mazumder’s corpse starts decomposition for the delay of burying. Begum Zia sees her mother’s dead body under total DGFI surveillance. Dead body of Tayeba Mazumdar travels about 850 kilometers Dinajpur-Dhaka-Dinajpur trip just for the reason, that our Generals don’t want this family to be united for a single moment, the scariest family to them ever.

Today, this regime did one of most hate-mongering deeds they ever did, just manipulated the system to harass Brig. Hannan Shah. After he was released at the court-order, he came out of Narayanganj Jail. Then he was immediately taken to the court forcibly by some civil dressed security officers, and ultimately notified that he has been arrested again. An overfed sub-inspector named Mahbub Hassan told that Hannan Shah was found to arrange a rally that created public nuisance, so he has been arrested for the violation of state of emergency. That rally, he talked about, was never found by any of local people. Local journalists even have no information about any rally held by Hannan Shah. Hannan Shah told to journalists, “I am a retired army officer and a former minister. I am a member of a political party. Up to eight plainclothes security officials took me to court by microbus shortly after I left the jail. I did not join any rally. I did not violate any emergency powers rule. If I had attended any rally, reporters would have known it.” So, you can easily understand what happened there today.

It’s not like these are the facts those only have come visible to me or to other bloggers. These are the facts, which have been seen, understood and realized by each & every people of this country. Bangladesh has a population of 1½ billion though, this is really a small country. A simple rickshaw-puller keeps in touch with what is happening in the country very much well. If anybody thinks of keeping the media refrained from the true story by buying the ethics of some media-hold like RTV, Prothom Alo, Daily Star, Chanel I, BTV, this is mere impossible. One thing all of us should understand that, people are god-damned crazy for the truth. They are crazy to know what’s going on under cover; they are crazy of knowing what’s being hidden from them, what’s being not shown to them. And when the truth is frequently & frequently obstructed to reach the destination, that ultimately speeds it up.

 

 

A Suggestion

Sikder Haseeb Khan & Mashuqur Rahman, widely known as Mash and one of writers of Drishtipat blog have come with their suggestions of proposed National Security Structure with a democratic model. This article has also been published here in Daily Star Forum & here in Drishtipat Writers’ Collective.

 

National security: The democratic model
Mashuqur Rahman | Sikder Haseeb Khan

 

Preserving and protecting national security is one of the most important responsibilities of any government. As foreign policy and national security challenges have become more complex, governments have looked to devise appropriate analytic and decision-making bodies. One such innovation has been the National Security Council.

In democracies that have adopted the National Security Council, the council acts as an advisory body on national security policy to an elected head of government. It is subordinate to the head of government (which in Bangladesh would be the prime minister), and has no authority over the decisions of the government’s chief executive. In its more severe form, however, the National Security Council is often used to exert military control over policy, even after power is handed over to civilian governments (Thailand is an example of this).

Munem Wasif/ Driknews

There has been some discussion recently about forming a National Security Council in Bangladesh. This article aims to add to that discussion by reviewing the role and structure of the National Security Council (NSC) in the United States, which is considered the prototypical example of such a body under a democratic system. While security is the council’s area of concern, the three key features of the US NSC are its restrictive role as an advisory body, its focus on external, not internal, issues, and its mechanism to assert civilian control over security affairs in a democracy.

A purely advisory role
In the United States, the chief executive authority in the government rests with an elected president. The president is also the commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the United States and is responsible for executing the national security policy of the country. To facilitate the president’s decision making, an advisory group called the National Security Council was created in 1947 by a law passed by the US Congress. The law, known as the National Security Act of 1947, was a consequence of lessons learned during the military campaigns of World War II and an anticipated need to coordinate the different “hard” and “soft” dimensions of security during the Cold War. According to the act, the NSC was created to “advise the President with respect to the integration of domestic, foreign, and military policies relating to the national security so as to enable the military services and the other departments and agencies of the Government to cooperate more effectively in matters involving the national security.”

Like its economic counterpart (the National Economic Council), the NSC is part of the Executive Office of the President. Its meetings are chaired by the president, or a person designated by the president, and attended regularly by the vice president and key members of the cabinet, including the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, and the secretary of treasury. Heads of other departments are often invited to attend NSC meetings when appropriate. To help coordinate national security policy and response among the different departments of the government, the president appoints a national security advisor, who acts as White House’s top analyst and focal point on security-related issues.

A focus on external security
In the United States, a strong system of checks and balances keeps foreign and domestic security apart and civilian command firm. There has also been a legal and political tradition of keeping the military out of domestic policy and domestic deployment. James Madison, one of the founders of the American political system, wrote powerfully in 1788: “A standing force, therefore, is a dangerous, at the same time that it may be a necessary, provision. On the smallest scale it has its inconveniences. On an extensive scale its consequences may be fatal. On any scale it is an object of laudable circumspection and precaution. A wise nation will combine all these considerations; and, whilst it does not rashly preclude itself from any resource which may become essential to its safety, will exert all its prudence in diminishing both the necessity and the danger of resorting to one which may be inauspicious to its liberties.” The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and its update of 1956 formally limited government authority of using the military for enforcing domestic law and order.

This tradition of separating foreign and domestic security has influenced the design of the NSC. The NSC deals mostly with external threats to national security, such as the Soviet threat during the Cold War or the threat of terrorism now. During the Clinton administration, the NSC’s main concerns were the Balkan Wars, Somalia, consequences of the first Gulf War, and the expansion of NATO. In the current administration, the War on Terror is the main concern and the Middle East the primary focus, with secondary concerns around North Korea, China, Pakistan, and an increasingly assertive Russia. In all this, the NSC advises the president and the cabinet on external security — and it is the president who ultimately makes policy decisions to the extent permitted by the Congress.

Control by civilians
It is the same type of checks and balances that keep the control of the NSC in civilian hands. In addition to the civilian heads of departments, the director of National Intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attend National Security Council meetings. The Joint Chiefs of Staff consists of the service chiefs of the four major branches of the United States military: the army, the navy, the air force, and the marine corps. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is one of the service chiefs and is appointed to his position after being nominated by the president and confirmed by the United States Senate. The chairman is the only non-civilian member who is a regular attendee of NSC meetings. The chairman attends the meetings in his capacity as the principal military advisor to the president of the United States.

All the service chiefs of the US military, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, report to the civilian secretary of defense, who in turn works for the president. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, though they are service chiefs, do not have any command authority over the US military. To separate military advice from military command authority, the US Congress passed a law known as the Goldwater-Nichols Act.

Goldwater-Nichols ensures that the military chain of command in the United States runs firmly from the civilian president, to the civilian secretary of defense, directly to the military combatant commander in the theater of military operations. The service chiefs (Joint Chiefs of Staff) do not have any operational control over the US military and act, through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in an advisory role to the president of the United States. This separation of military advice from military chain of command is one of the crucial mechanisms to safeguard civilian control of the military, and thereby national security affairs, in the United States.

A mixed record
In more than half a century of existence the US National Security Council has had a mixed history. Each American president has molded and used the National Security Council according to his own personal style. Some presidents, such as John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, made little use of the National Security Council, relying instead on ad-hoc policy making sessions and personal relationships with department heads. Still other presidents, such as Richard Nixon and George H. W. Bush, relied heavily on the council to gather information and shape national security policy.

Often the effectiveness of the council has depended on the strength of the national security advisor and the advisor’s ability to balance the competing agendas and personalities of the secretary of defense and the secretary of state. Strong national security advisors, such as Henry Kissinger, have had significant influence in using the National Security Council to provide the president with national security policy options, although the policies so formed did not always meet with success and at times led to spectacular failures.

Most recently under President George W. Bush, a weak national security advisor faced with a powerful secretary of defense and a weak secretary of state resulted in a National Security Council that was ineffective in providing the president with informed national security advice. The outcome was a foreign policy blunder and a march to war based on one of the most significant intelligence failures in United States history.

Democratic and the non-democratic parallels
All in all, even in the most powerful country in the world, the NSC has been neither indispensable nor unquestionably successful. But what remains unquestionable is that in the US, the NSC’s role has been restricted carefully to prevent military interference in elected authority. In contrast, in countries like Turkey and Pakistan, such councils are set up essentially to retain and exert military control over a wide range of policy. This is potentially dangerous: it creates an unaccountable authority, compromises the value of democracy, and undermines the professional purpose and integrity of the military by thoroughly politicising it. But one thing that Pakistan and Turkey have in common is that they both face troubling external security environments. Bangladesh faces a far less complex external threat environment; therefore, any perceived benefit of setting up a National Security Council should be weighed carefully.

Tanvir Ahmed/ Driknews

Even in the United States, which faces the most complex external security environment in the world, the National Security Council remains a purely advisory tool for elected governments to use, with a focus on external, not domestic, issues, and commanded in both letter and spirit by civilians, not the military. In a country where power belongs to the people, national security policy has been no exception, even in times of turbulence and war.

(the end)

This extended part of this post (not of the article) has been added due to comments on some basic issues of the article. To go through corresponding discussion, click here. 

“Mash’s model sounds no inappropriate to me”

Neither to me, because the issue Blazin raised to say it improper (a third world nation issue) does not apply here I guess. Because NS structure of a nation is fully up to that nation’s defense system. If the military likes to have a sound position over there, you have to understand that they deserve that. Particularly in Bangladesh, where one of major NS tools is DGFI, ran by military, Army can demand to have better hold in the National Security Structure.

Now examples of India can be shown to disagree this logic. On the other hand India can be a good example that will make sense that Mash’s suggestions can be taken. Yes I know that in India, their NS structure is less held by military than that of Pakistan or other neighboring nations (I will consider our neighbors, because this extended part is to answer a point under the “third world” issue). I think, this has been possible in India because India has been ruled by Democracy almost all of its time-period. So, their military has been taught that they should not be dreaming to takeover the country in any condition (like Bangladesh Armed Forces did in 1/11). As their government found it easy to develop an NS structure out of strong influence of military. The executive bodies of most of their NS tools (DIA, R&AW, ARC etc.) contain high police-executives, bureaucrats along with army Generals. I was totally thundered after knowing, one of RAW’s heads was once a Kerala Police Commissioner. You know this has been possible in India, just because they have such practice from the beginning. If we go to older days, during the British era, topmost intelligence agency in India was Intelligence Bureau (IB). IB was ran by British intelligence officers who were not from military at all. So, IB was one of initial points of RAW’s (ultimately India’s overall NS Structure) evolution, as it came from a more/less non-military background and RAW ultimately is not a military based intel agency though India’s entire National Security Community is based on RAW. I will strongly state that this has been possible in India not for any mysterious reason, the only reason is India’s central admin has always been ran by a democratic system.

But Bangladesh unfortunately started herself with BAKSLite democracy which never can be called as “democracy” after all. Finally democracy came to Bangladesh in 1991 though, now is under a total halted state after 1/11’s coup d’état. So, our NS Structure never got a chance to build itself in a proper shape.

But, what Mash told here, as a suggestion, where he never told to adopt American NS system. Or if he says so, will it be wrong? do we have a lot of better examples? Everyone knows about notorious chapters in American NS structure those we often watch in movies, but this is an absolute truth, that not for a single term, US’s National Security structure has been ran by the military all in all. Military men came to power of agencies like NSA, CIA but that’s just because the President wanted so & the senate approved. Neither the President nor the Senate approved their Generals to be the chief, under any kind of pressure. If someone wants to put an example of a completely democracy-ruled National Security Structure, one of its claimers is America. Thats why Mash has put examples from US I guess. He just wanted to say that their is no alternative of having a NS structure that will sustain democracy in every means.

Prothom Alo’s VAS

Bangladeshi mobile companies, subscribers are paying for the connections or calls or SMS, beside these mobile operators often provide them with some value added services (VAS) which motivates a good customer-service-provider relationship.

All of us know about under-table financial transactions in the media. Journalists are often paid to do some favor, like putting counter-stories or cover-stories to protect the image of the payer. But I think no high subscription rated newspaper does this thing so openly, like Prothom Alo does.

In 2005 when Jamuna Group’s owner Nurul Islam Babul was down to the street with all of his wraths & capabilities to take on Bashundhara Group’s owner ‘Shahalam’ Mohammad Akbar Sobhan, Daily Jugantor everyday was publishing boom busting reports regarding financial & social illegitimacy of Shahalam. After months passed of that one-sided war, Prothom Alo came to the scene. I don’t remember the date, sometime in mid 2005, Prothom Alo published a full 4 pages supplement. This supplement showed how great Shahalam is, how greatly he contributed to internationalize the business arena of Bangladesh, what he did for Bangladesh, how he became a housing-pioneer by his Bashundhara Housing. This also told of contribution, brilliancy & devotion to the nation of Shahalam’s sons (by the way, all of Mr. Shahalam’s sons & Mr. Shahalam himself are my school seniors) Prothom Alo didn’t show any negligence to the properness of that report, because Prothom Alo knows how to serve its customers; legitimate or illegitimate, who cares. Mr. Shahalam just said his own word through the mouth of Prothom Alo, showed that money can buy anything, at least the cheap attitude Prothom Alo. I was thundered at that time that how a quite bigger newspaper, who claim themselves to be “progotishil” (progressive), have been sold at this stage. I guess this thunder just happened to me at that time or to other who saw that supplement. But now, nude & abhorring real face of Prothom Alo has been quite clearly visible to everyone I guess.

Now, Prothom Alo has provided some value added service to this regime, that was out of assignment, or may be included to their “propaganda” assignment, I don’t know.

I said in the previous post, that Prothom Alo krauts (as well as this regime’s masterminds) have kept their mouth shut on the matter of Mr. Payam Akhavan’s appearance. But today they have opened their mouth. Unfortunately a report that has been remarked as “news analysis” and they didn’t dare to mention name of that cheapened guy who actually wrote it. This absolutely one sided counter story, has referred Prothom Alo to be the mouthpiece of this regime. Or I can say them as to be a print-media version of CNN to that of United States. You know this regime has had many lessons from United States, so why there shouldn’t be a propaganda platform? Daily Star Prothom Alo gang has been chosen as the propaganda platform of this regime from very beginning when Fahim Munaim was selected as the Press Secretary to the Chief adviser. But now, things are running little nude I guess. I don’t know if Prothom Alo has thought of the future when Bangladesh will be back to the rule of democracy to a government absolutely out of this regime’s influence. What will happen to them?

All the time previously, Prothom Alo wanted to shape an image of them which describes them as an off-beat progressive newspaper, who cares about unheard voices & untold facts. To validate this disguise, Prothom Alo was very much often to focus many off-beat issues like tribal matters, tribal lifestyles or promoting any tribal personality. But, they have found totally sleeping or ignoring the fact, when the brutal murder of tribal leader Cholesh Richil was committed inside an Amry camp. This misdeed had several witnesses who also have been tortured by army but ultimately survived. Prothom Alo just ignored the whole issue. A guy who has read nothing but Prothom Alo last one year, will never know that this regime has killed Cholesh Richil, this regime has played with the corpse of Tayeba Mazumdar, this regime has tortured Tarique Rahman half to death, this regime has ignored the say of the plaintiff of Sheikh Hasina’s case, this regime has tortured Dhaka University teachers & students. That unlucky person will never know that pirates made an attempt to hijack a party that has the record to win the election with two third majority & that person will never know that one of those pirates, a turncoat has been beaten by sandal. That person will also miss that how public saluted our patriot armed forces. Many facts those have been frequently nudging this whole nation rather the whole world but Prothom Alo kept its “progotishil” readers just out of these. They have just kept themselves busy in doing this.

It’s really very strange that how these persons like Motiur Rahman, Mahfuz Anam remain in such position of Bangladeshi media, whereas these persons not for a single moment concern about the interest of this nation, two rudely traitor journalists. I still ain’t too sure about other kingpins of this regime to be that rudely out of any patriotism, but these two journalists never wanted prosperity of Bangladesh for sure. If they have come to any interest of this country, this is for sure that a big big personal interest of these two men worked undercover, not like the deliberation to do something good for Bangladesh.

THE UNPREVENTABLE : Payam Akhavan Says

The Unpreventable

Payam Akhavan, has been just a “na pari shohite, na pari kichhu kohite” matter for the present regime. There was confusions whether this lawyer will be okayed to get in Bangladesh or not. But the ill-mannered wrath of this regime’s masterminds was not enough to put an obstacle on Mr. Akhavan’s arrival to Bangladesh. Neither “antorjatik khyati-shomponno ainjibi” Dr. Kamal Hussain, nor any of Daily Star Prothom Alo krauts have created noise about the whole thing centralizing Payam Akhavan. Because these men know very well that they are not of that caliber to participate a debate to put Payam Akhavan into a controversial situation. By the way Prothom Alo & Daily Star is under narcolepsy syndromes from very earlier. So keeping all dirty interruption of Prothom Alo, Daily Star, Dr. Kamal Hussain or some other of this regime’s sympathizers aside, Mr. Akhavan just came, observed, spoke and simply went away. And, like the photo of flying click on the military man by the sandal-wearing passer-by, these statements of Payam Akhavan has been another mighty slap on them. This will be a hemorrhaging damage of this regime if they find no good answer to counter this matter. Observing profoundly, I found that no part of this regime has ever strongly denied complaints of human rights violation on political detainees. I don’t know why. I think, this regime is really missing a Barrister Moinul indeed. You know this chatterbox had always something to say, answers of all questions.

Payam Akhavan Says

“I had reviewed the file of the Azam J. Chowdhury case and found the prosecution case to be wholly without merit.”
“There is pressure to get her convicted. There is no basis for keeping her confined. Sheikh Hasina must be immediately released.”
“I should note that my observation that this trial falls far short of human rights standards is by no means isolated or unprecedented.”
“If there was no interference in the judicial process, Sheikh Hasina should be freed tomorrow.”
“I come with no political agenda beyond asking that her rights to a fair trial and fundamental freedoms be respected in accordance both with the constitution of Bangladesh and its obligation under the United Nations human rights covenants to which it is a signatory.”
“This is a semi-camera court in the sense that a few people were allowed to witness the trial. Even the court was smaller. Hundreds of people, who were barred by the police, have the right to witness the trial.”
“Hasina’s cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim was kept blindfolded without food and sleep for 48 hours, and given electric shocks forcing him to sign a statement to implicate Sheikh Hasina in the case.”

“My optimism is conditional. I have deep regard for Bangladesh’s judiciary which is the guardian of the rule of law.”

“I will spare no effort in utilizing the procedure of the United Nations human rights system, to ensure that her fundamental human rights are respected in accordance with international law.”

Payam Akhavan told all of these in a press conference held at Sonargaon Hotel just prior to his departure putting an end to the 5 days visit to Bangladesh.

 

Courtesy: Fazle Arif