Monday, September 28, 2009
Dahgram-Angorpota is a small Chitmohal (enclave) of BD, which is in India area. Bangladesh and Indian made a bilateral contract in 1974 to use Tin bigha corridor to get this Chitmohal by giving Barubari. By this contract Bangladesh handed over Barubari but India didn’t agree to use this corridor. At last in 1992 on 26th June Bangladesh got the scoop of using this corridor in some conditions. Now it is opend from 6.00 AM to 6.00 PM.
7 Reasons Why Bangladesh Should Never Allow Transit to India:By Abid Bahar, Canada
The issue is, the CTG is not an elected government and transit is an issue related to sovereignty, security and economic factors. The News Today Monday July 14 2008 reported: “The [CTG] government earlier was sympathetic about the transit issue. It was in a mood to propose to India to conduct a feasibility study on the rail transit but the Indian High Commissioner’’s public statement on this sensitive issue has forced the government to change its earlier position” the source said. Why should CTG show interest in it is question repeatedly asked in Bangladesh!
Why Bangladesh should never allow transit to India. Here are the reasons:
1. India has proven itself as an untrustworthy friend. During the liberation war, while helping Bangladesh liberation, it secretly built the Farakka dam. “Farakka was commissioned on permission from Mujib on the condition that it will have test run for only 40 days. But unfortunately those 40 days is yet to be finished (even after 37 years) and Bangladesh is getting the pinch of dry rivers. Further 54 other international waters were stopped by the friend of BAL making barrage/dams/ groins virtually making lower riparian country Bangladesh’s rivers dry.”
During Mujib time, the Rakkhi Bahini head was made an Indian. The jute head quarter was transferred to Delhi. With the Mujib -Indira Pact, river demarcation based on the mid current was made a farce. Bangladesh is losing land. It is now a serious problem. Mujib was persuaded to hand over the sovereignty of “BERUBARI” in return of “Tin Bigha.”But Tin Bigha was never returned. A Berline wall was built in Bengal to so-called stop Bangladeshis cross the border. India jammed the Bangladesh TV. As a matter of target practice, India regularly kills Bangladeshi joans in the border region. Even before the investigation, India blames Bangladesh for terrorist actions within its borders.
“Due to sinking of several ships in Chittagong Port during Liberation War…, it was difficult to import …essentials for war torn Bangladesh. Bangladesh requested India to just to allow using Calcutta Port for only six months in 1972. India refused the request.” “Bangladesh wanted only 16 miles transit to pave for easy trade between two SAARC countries Bangladesh and Nepal.” But it was refused. Now India wants 600 miles of corridor. Bangladesh should never allow transit to India.
2. Without the transit, India’s seven non Indian sisters in the North East that now depend on Bangladesh for manufactured goods, but with transit, India will sell its own product to the region and Bangladesh will lose.
3. India doesn’t want to allow Bangladesh to have land route with Nepal and Bhutan which is purely for trade purpose, India shows the excuse that it goes against its territorial integrity, using the same logic Bangladesh can not allow transit.
4. Financial benefit from transit fees would outweigh its other disadvantages. Bangladesh would risk destroying its own roads and highways, infect its citizens AIDS. Roads and highways will be neglected by the chauvinistic Indian traders and military personnel are passing through Bangladesh’s heartland.
5. India is an unreliable keeper of promises. It failed to keep up to the signed treaties of Barubari/ Farakka. India first fix these problems than only trust building will lead to transit.. RAW fed Indian chauvinistic government will never go for a fair deal because its sole purpose is to help Bangladesh into a failed state.
6. Transit through Bangladesh will allow India to increase its repression in its occupied North East. For such repression, Bangladesh suffered in the hand of Pakistan and now as a peace-loving country, it shouldn’t allow India to increase its repression over its non Hindi/ largely Asian/ Christian and Buddhist minority people unfortunately made part of India. At the same time such a deal would make Indian separatists rebels make Bangladesh a target.
7. Indian treaties are politically motivated. While Mujib signed the Mujib-Indra Treaty 25 year treaty results in the beginning of trade deficit, water shortage, border issues dispute, and dependence on India resulting in the India friendly Mujib’s unpopularity and within a short period of time made Bangladesh bankrupt, “the bottomless basket case” and brought his own death. If the past experience with India is a guide, it is believed that people in favor of transit to India are the ignorant India- lovers popularly known in Bangladesh as the “Indian Razakars” who are inviting trouble for Bangladesh. For such an issue we suggest for a national referendum. If people decide, let it be, if not, never!
Why the CTG to bother on the transit issue which the former two governments? It appears that the CTG was brought to power by groups aligned with foreign powers, one of them is India. The CTG brought to power through the excuse of anarchy. It seems it is showing its responsibility to its constituency-India.
It was through the AL led unrest and anarchy in late 2006-2007 that evaded the 90 days limit of the CTG duration. It appears that the CTG’s corruption charges are not real but to have the minus 2 policy and to install a future Moin U military government! This is now evident in General Moin U receiving the Indian 7 horses.
As it appears, Bangladesh is infested with RAW agents and unrest in the cities and in tribal areas continues while countries like Vietnam and Singapore continues the pace of development.
If allowed transit within the country, it will be bringing crocodile through digging a canal. Once transit is given, Bangladesh will not be in a position to take it back. India is increasingly becoming powerful. It will kill Bangladeshis with the excuse of being terrorists or drug -dealers, as US does in Columbia with its puppet government. India also has super connection with the Super Power US- Israel. For Bangladesh, India is a danger in the making! Never allow transit to India!
India is building war fleets and torpedoes to keep its growing power from Africa up to Australia in the Indian Ocean. Without the transit, Bangladesh’s existence is almost threatened but with transit, like the US-Pak former friendships, and today’s Pakistan, Bangladesh will be a breeding ground for anti-US- Indian fundamentalism. Never allow transit to India!
Finally, why India is forcing Bangladesh’s nonelected government for a deal? The answer is India is not a trustworthy friend. Its attitude is to create pressure and seek concession. Bangladesh to survive should never allow transit to India.
Bush’’s New Cons in Bangladesh! Why Hasina is silent?
The other development that “US Marine Corps wants to survey BD-India border-Collecting detailed terrain intelligence. US has asked for detailed terrain information about major cities including Dhaka as well as for details of all airports and airstrips in Bangladesh.” Who are these people taking advantage of the CTG government? Are these the Americans or Bush’s New Cons? Link: The Bangladesh Today:
US Marine Corps want to survey BD-India border-Collecting detailed terrain intelligence
http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=210183
Bangladeshis Unite!
Fight against the CTG for an Elected Government!
Save our Motherland Bangladesh!
Abid Bahar, Canada
E Mail : abidbahar@yahoo.com
http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=210559
————————————————
No transit facilities to India
By Abu Zafar Mahmood
India has been demanding transit facilities from Bangladesh for military purposes.Bangladesh must not involve in such suicidal risk.The caretaker government of Bangladesh also should not go for making dicision on such national issue.On the otherhand,a mass violence and tough struggle would be pushed against Army backed government if the foreign ministry surrender to the Indian authority in any way.
General Moin u Ahmed and Dr.Fakhruddin Ahmed also certainly be criticized and blamed severly.It will be easy to say that they are positioned through Indian supports to materialise the Indian interests and to turn Bangladesh a complete Indian colony and it could be strongly beleived that people will not have choice accept fighting against the caretakers and militaries.
Indian Authorities might think that it is the best time to put pressure this caretakers and the military commanders in absence of political government.Moreover might take the advantage of misusing the American-Indian tie on pressurising Bangladesh.In fact it is clear that Bangladesh was born a militant nation by it`s birth in the question of national soverienty and interests and will not accept Indian open supremacy in anyway.
It is mentionable that during the liberation war of Bangladesh in the year 1971 the Indian government manged to get signed a 7 points agreement by the acting president of exile government Syed Nazrul Islam.
Those 7 points of the agreement were:-
1.Those who actively participated as freedom fighters and were recognized as such would according to ability run the state administration of Bangladesh and the others would be removed from their employment and service.
2.The Indian and Bangladesh Armies would be made into a joint or comboned army where head would be the Indian Army chief.Only on his command couid war be waged.
3.Bangladesh will not have it`s own military force.
4.Instead a paramilitary force would be established to take care of the internal law and order situation.
5.There will bean open market between the two countries but from time to time through mutual discussions the principles of trade would be settled.
6.The Indian Army will remain in Bangladesh for an indefinite period.
7.India and Bangladesh would have the same foreign policy based on discussions between the two countries.
After this agreement was signed prime minister Indira Gandhi advised for the declaration war against pakistan.( This reference taken from the book `The war preparation of India-Pakistan and war` by Dr.kalidas Baidyo).He wrote Indian Army took the `possession` of Bangladesh on 16th December 1971.
In the surrender and sovereignty power document which was signed by General Niazi on behalf of defeated Pakistan Army and handed over to the General Arora of the Joint force it was no where mentioned whether this surrender document was then passed on to the Bangladesh Government later on.
At that time the Mujib Bahini composed of 10 thousands student leaders were trained under Indian intelligence agency RAW and controlled by thethen pro-Indian youth leaders Serajul alam khan,Sheikh Fazlul haq Moni,Abdur Razzak and Tofail Ahmed.This guerrilla commandos(Mujib Bahini) were driven against the exile government and Mukti Bahini always to keep them disturbed.
But what was the realities?
The international powers and leaders did not accept Indian possession on Bangladesh and did not come forward on recognizing Bangladesh,a sovereign nation untill Indian Army get out of it. Commander of Liberation war Sector Number 9 Major Mohammed Abdul Jalil initiated fighting against Indian Armies.
Our great leader Bongo Bondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after his release from pakistan jail,made a deal with Prime minister Indira Gandhi to withdraw the Indian Armies from Bangladesh.The occupied Army was withdrawn on March 12th 1972.The prime minister of India came Dhaka on March 19th and signed a joint declaration treaty of 25 years.This treaty also was denied and publicly opposed by great elderly leader Mowlana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and large section of freedom fighters.
The Great leader of Bangladesh Bongo Bondhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated .The role of Indian government and the activities of RAW in it are still big question mark in that respect.
The same theory was followed in the writings of Indian renowned defence analyst Mr.Rabi Rikhi.He wrote in his book,The war that never was: “India should at the earliest opportunity incorporate pakistan into the Republic followed by all the terrotories that composed India before Independence.The natural boundaries of India encompass the present-day states of India,pakistan and Bangladesh.Our geo-stratigic imperative requires a subordinate Srilanka,Burma and Bhutan,and a buffer Tibet and Afganistan.No matter what the cost,we must start the process of reintegration.The later we put it off,the more the eventual cost.Once Pakistan returns to the fold,the other states will return at a fraction of the cost and effort.Reintegration can be conducted either peacefully or by war.In 1975,Shiekh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated.Though Mrs Indira Gandhi first considered intervention and Army alerted 3 divisions,in the end the government hasitated and the moment passed.
The result: Our chance to keep the Bangladesh in our camp vanished.India would have been fully justified in intervening under the same doctrine that lets the soviet Union intervene in Poland and Afganistan and the United states of America in Nicaragua Grenada”
India propogates lots of false accusations against Bangladesh to isolate it from international freinds and United Nations.They follow the Adolf Hitler`s doctrine of accusations against the enemies.He accused and charged against Poland,Czechoslovakia and Austria of oppressing their ethnic German population before invading those countries.
Indian intellegence Agency-RAW using Dr. Kalidas Bodyo and HBC unity council to create Hindu state within Bangladesh by the Indian Border with the districts of Khulna,Jeshore,Kustia,Faridpur,Barisal and Potuakhali.His Hindu Armed fighters are known as Bongo sena.The name of his movement was Bongo bhumi movement.He started the formal attack on August 15th 1977 and the formal official declaration of Bongo Bhumi was announced on March 24th 1982.
In the meantime the name of Bongobhumi movement is changed into Human rights congress on Bangladeshi minorities-HRCBM.They stage drama on Hindu supression,make film on it.Use these documents in America and Canada for Indian Hindu`s political assylum application and on the otherhand use accusing Bangladesh and Muslims in favricted purposes.
On May 1989 in an interview with Dhaka Corrior Publication Dr.Kali Das was asked,Wel,Tell me,What may be the alternative to Bongobhumi movement?Mr.Das said,The alternative is only one,Bangladesh may accept submission and become a part of India.The Bongobhumi movement may be stopped if it(Bangladesh )accept total submission.(Daily Dinkaal-4th December,1993).
Indian foreign ministry says they love Bangladesh and for it`s Economic and Security reasons they will use the transit facilities only, not for India`s own Military reasons.Sikkim is the perfect example to make the world clear of the confusion.
The Indians claim to have had evidence that CIA was encouraging the king to seek independence.He married American girl.Indian security is endangered.So they instructed their external intelligence agency to make plot to through him in troubles.Then it was announced every where that king is conspiracing to assassinate all the popular political leaders and civil servants.Ruler will be the owner of absolute power which galvanized the publics against the ruler and brought public demonstration and resentment out of the streets.This prepared a perfect cover for the Indian Army to intervene in April 1973.
The ruler was convinced to make the legislature every 4 years.On April 10th The assembly made a decesion that`the institution of Chogyal is hereby abolished and Sikkim shall henceforth be a constituent unit of India`.
India`s justification was superficially based on the idea of democracy and human rights but it`s true motivations were derived from the deep of the Nehru doctrine and which was brought into play by theperceived US interest in Sikkim.
“India could least afford an unstable Sikkim or allow interference of any foreign country in Sikkim affairs… .It was also obvious that anunstableneighbor would become a grave threat to India`s national security… .So in response to Sikkim`s Assembly resolution,the constitution(Thirty eighth Amenment) Act was passed by Parliament,making Sikkim the 22nd State of the Indian Union on April 26th,1975″.RAW acquired the credit to bloodless transformation of a princely state into a democratic state of India.
Now the issue of impact of the Global climate change,Democracy,the issue of bringing the war criminals into justice,The internal face of major political leaders,price crisis of the commdities,Area determination of country,US-INDIA -CHINA interests conflict and the role of military in country,Naval base of the country,oil and gas mines etc are the main factors.In this time the pressure for transit is definitely highlights a dangerous threat to take into consideration and the entire nation must be united not to provide the enemy military to use the Soil of Bangladesh.
The conscious Bangladeshis might remember the valuable writings of india`s philosopher of expansionism Mr Jawharlal Nehru.In his book~`Discovery of India` he wrote, “India will inevitably exercise an important influence.India will also develop as the centre of economic and political activity in the Indian ocean area.The small national state is doomed.It may survive as a culturally autonomous area but not as an independent political unit”.
Abu Zafar Mahmood, journalist and South Asian affairs Analyst.Email:nynews21@gmail.com
http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=210657
Posted by Isha Khan bdmailer@gmail.com
Why Bangladesh should never allow transit to India. Here are the reasons:
1. India has proven itself as an untrustworthy friend. During the liberation war, while helping Bangladesh liberation, it secretly built the Farakka dam. “Farakka was commissioned on permission from Mujib on the condition that it will have test run for only 40 days. But unfortunately those 40 days is yet to be finished (even after 37 years) and Bangladesh is getting the pinch of dry rivers. Further 54 other international waters were stopped by the friend of BAL making barrage/dams/ groins virtually making lower riparian country Bangladesh’s rivers dry.”
During Mujib time, the Rakkhi Bahini head was made an Indian. The jute head quarter was transferred to Delhi. With the Mujib -Indira Pact, river demarcation based on the mid current was made a farce. Bangladesh is losing land. It is now a serious problem. Mujib was persuaded to hand over the sovereignty of “BERUBARI” in return of “Tin Bigha.”But Tin Bigha was never returned. A Berline wall was built in Bengal to so-called stop Bangladeshis cross the border. India jammed the Bangladesh TV. As a matter of target practice, India regularly kills Bangladeshi joans in the border region. Even before the investigation, India blames Bangladesh for terrorist actions within its borders.
“Due to sinking of several ships in Chittagong Port during Liberation War…, it was difficult to import …essentials for war torn Bangladesh. Bangladesh requested India to just to allow using Calcutta Port for only six months in 1972. India refused the request.” “Bangladesh wanted only 16 miles transit to pave for easy trade between two SAARC countries Bangladesh and Nepal.” But it was refused. Now India wants 600 miles of corridor. Bangladesh should never allow transit to India.
2. Without the transit, India’s seven non Indian sisters in the North East that now depend on Bangladesh for manufactured goods, but with transit, India will sell its own product to the region and Bangladesh will lose.
3. India doesn’t want to allow Bangladesh to have land route with Nepal and Bhutan which is purely for trade purpose, India shows the excuse that it goes against its territorial integrity, using the same logic Bangladesh can not allow transit.
4. Financial benefit from transit fees would outweigh its other disadvantages. Bangladesh would risk destroying its own roads and highways, infect its citizens AIDS. Roads and highways will be neglected by the chauvinistic Indian traders and military personnel are passing through Bangladesh’s heartland.
5. India is an unreliable keeper of promises. It failed to keep up to the signed treaties of Barubari/ Farakka. India first fix these problems than only trust building will lead to transit.. RAW fed Indian chauvinistic government will never go for a fair deal because its sole purpose is to help Bangladesh into a failed state.
6. Transit through Bangladesh will allow India to increase its repression in its occupied North East. For such repression, Bangladesh suffered in the hand of Pakistan and now as a peace-loving country, it shouldn’t allow India to increase its repression over its non Hindi/ largely Asian/ Christian and Buddhist minority people unfortunately made part of India. At the same time such a deal would make Indian separatists rebels make Bangladesh a target.
7. Indian treaties are politically motivated. While Mujib signed the Mujib-Indra Treaty 25 year treaty results in the beginning of trade deficit, water shortage, border issues dispute, and dependence on India resulting in the India friendly Mujib’s unpopularity and within a short period of time made Bangladesh bankrupt, “the bottomless basket case” and brought his own death. If the past experience with India is a guide, it is believed that people in favor of transit to India are the ignorant India- lovers popularly known in Bangladesh as the “Indian Razakars” who are inviting trouble for Bangladesh. For such an issue we suggest for a national referendum. If people decide, let it be, if not, never!
Why the CTG to bother on the transit issue which the former two governments? It appears that the CTG was brought to power by groups aligned with foreign powers, one of them is India. The CTG brought to power through the excuse of anarchy. It seems it is showing its responsibility to its constituency-India.
It was through the AL led unrest and anarchy in late 2006-2007 that evaded the 90 days limit of the CTG duration. It appears that the CTG’s corruption charges are not real but to have the minus 2 policy and to install a future Moin U military government! This is now evident in General Moin U receiving the Indian 7 horses.
As it appears, Bangladesh is infested with RAW agents and unrest in the cities and in tribal areas continues while countries like Vietnam and Singapore continues the pace of development.
If allowed transit within the country, it will be bringing crocodile through digging a canal. Once transit is given, Bangladesh will not be in a position to take it back. India is increasingly becoming powerful. It will kill Bangladeshis with the excuse of being terrorists or drug -dealers, as US does in Columbia with its puppet government. India also has super connection with the Super Power US- Israel. For Bangladesh, India is a danger in the making! Never allow transit to India!
India is building war fleets and torpedoes to keep its growing power from Africa up to Australia in the Indian Ocean. Without the transit, Bangladesh’s existence is almost threatened but with transit, like the US-Pak former friendships, and today’s Pakistan, Bangladesh will be a breeding ground for anti-US- Indian fundamentalism. Never allow transit to India!
Finally, why India is forcing Bangladesh’s nonelected government for a deal? The answer is India is not a trustworthy friend. Its attitude is to create pressure and seek concession. Bangladesh to survive should never allow transit to India.
Bush’’s New Cons in Bangladesh! Why Hasina is silent?
The other development that “US Marine Corps wants to survey BD-India border-Collecting detailed terrain intelligence. US has asked for detailed terrain information about major cities including Dhaka as well as for details of all airports and airstrips in Bangladesh.” Who are these people taking advantage of the CTG government? Are these the Americans or Bush’s New Cons? Link: The Bangladesh Today:
US Marine Corps want to survey BD-India border-Collecting detailed terrain intelligence
http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=210183
Bangladeshis Unite!
Fight against the CTG for an Elected Government!
Save our Motherland Bangladesh!
Abid Bahar, Canada
E Mail : abidbahar@yahoo.com
http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=210559
————————————————
No transit facilities to India
By Abu Zafar Mahmood
India has been demanding transit facilities from Bangladesh for military purposes.Bangladesh must not involve in such suicidal risk.The caretaker government of Bangladesh also should not go for making dicision on such national issue.On the otherhand,a mass violence and tough struggle would be pushed against Army backed government if the foreign ministry surrender to the Indian authority in any way.
General Moin u Ahmed and Dr.Fakhruddin Ahmed also certainly be criticized and blamed severly.It will be easy to say that they are positioned through Indian supports to materialise the Indian interests and to turn Bangladesh a complete Indian colony and it could be strongly beleived that people will not have choice accept fighting against the caretakers and militaries.
Indian Authorities might think that it is the best time to put pressure this caretakers and the military commanders in absence of political government.Moreover might take the advantage of misusing the American-Indian tie on pressurising Bangladesh.In fact it is clear that Bangladesh was born a militant nation by it`s birth in the question of national soverienty and interests and will not accept Indian open supremacy in anyway.
It is mentionable that during the liberation war of Bangladesh in the year 1971 the Indian government manged to get signed a 7 points agreement by the acting president of exile government Syed Nazrul Islam.
Those 7 points of the agreement were:-
1.Those who actively participated as freedom fighters and were recognized as such would according to ability run the state administration of Bangladesh and the others would be removed from their employment and service.
2.The Indian and Bangladesh Armies would be made into a joint or comboned army where head would be the Indian Army chief.Only on his command couid war be waged.
3.Bangladesh will not have it`s own military force.
4.Instead a paramilitary force would be established to take care of the internal law and order situation.
5.There will bean open market between the two countries but from time to time through mutual discussions the principles of trade would be settled.
6.The Indian Army will remain in Bangladesh for an indefinite period.
7.India and Bangladesh would have the same foreign policy based on discussions between the two countries.
After this agreement was signed prime minister Indira Gandhi advised for the declaration war against pakistan.( This reference taken from the book `The war preparation of India-Pakistan and war` by Dr.kalidas Baidyo).He wrote Indian Army took the `possession` of Bangladesh on 16th December 1971.
In the surrender and sovereignty power document which was signed by General Niazi on behalf of defeated Pakistan Army and handed over to the General Arora of the Joint force it was no where mentioned whether this surrender document was then passed on to the Bangladesh Government later on.
At that time the Mujib Bahini composed of 10 thousands student leaders were trained under Indian intelligence agency RAW and controlled by thethen pro-Indian youth leaders Serajul alam khan,Sheikh Fazlul haq Moni,Abdur Razzak and Tofail Ahmed.This guerrilla commandos(Mujib Bahini) were driven against the exile government and Mukti Bahini always to keep them disturbed.
But what was the realities?
The international powers and leaders did not accept Indian possession on Bangladesh and did not come forward on recognizing Bangladesh,a sovereign nation untill Indian Army get out of it. Commander of Liberation war Sector Number 9 Major Mohammed Abdul Jalil initiated fighting against Indian Armies.
Our great leader Bongo Bondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after his release from pakistan jail,made a deal with Prime minister Indira Gandhi to withdraw the Indian Armies from Bangladesh.The occupied Army was withdrawn on March 12th 1972.The prime minister of India came Dhaka on March 19th and signed a joint declaration treaty of 25 years.This treaty also was denied and publicly opposed by great elderly leader Mowlana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and large section of freedom fighters.
The Great leader of Bangladesh Bongo Bondhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated .The role of Indian government and the activities of RAW in it are still big question mark in that respect.
The same theory was followed in the writings of Indian renowned defence analyst Mr.Rabi Rikhi.He wrote in his book,The war that never was: “India should at the earliest opportunity incorporate pakistan into the Republic followed by all the terrotories that composed India before Independence.The natural boundaries of India encompass the present-day states of India,pakistan and Bangladesh.Our geo-stratigic imperative requires a subordinate Srilanka,Burma and Bhutan,and a buffer Tibet and Afganistan.No matter what the cost,we must start the process of reintegration.The later we put it off,the more the eventual cost.Once Pakistan returns to the fold,the other states will return at a fraction of the cost and effort.Reintegration can be conducted either peacefully or by war.In 1975,Shiekh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated.Though Mrs Indira Gandhi first considered intervention and Army alerted 3 divisions,in the end the government hasitated and the moment passed.
The result: Our chance to keep the Bangladesh in our camp vanished.India would have been fully justified in intervening under the same doctrine that lets the soviet Union intervene in Poland and Afganistan and the United states of America in Nicaragua Grenada”
India propogates lots of false accusations against Bangladesh to isolate it from international freinds and United Nations.They follow the Adolf Hitler`s doctrine of accusations against the enemies.He accused and charged against Poland,Czechoslovakia and Austria of oppressing their ethnic German population before invading those countries.
Indian intellegence Agency-RAW using Dr. Kalidas Bodyo and HBC unity council to create Hindu state within Bangladesh by the Indian Border with the districts of Khulna,Jeshore,Kustia,Faridpur,Barisal and Potuakhali.His Hindu Armed fighters are known as Bongo sena.The name of his movement was Bongo bhumi movement.He started the formal attack on August 15th 1977 and the formal official declaration of Bongo Bhumi was announced on March 24th 1982.
In the meantime the name of Bongobhumi movement is changed into Human rights congress on Bangladeshi minorities-HRCBM.They stage drama on Hindu supression,make film on it.Use these documents in America and Canada for Indian Hindu`s political assylum application and on the otherhand use accusing Bangladesh and Muslims in favricted purposes.
On May 1989 in an interview with Dhaka Corrior Publication Dr.Kali Das was asked,Wel,Tell me,What may be the alternative to Bongobhumi movement?Mr.Das said,The alternative is only one,Bangladesh may accept submission and become a part of India.The Bongobhumi movement may be stopped if it(Bangladesh )accept total submission.(Daily Dinkaal-4th December,1993).
Indian foreign ministry says they love Bangladesh and for it`s Economic and Security reasons they will use the transit facilities only, not for India`s own Military reasons.Sikkim is the perfect example to make the world clear of the confusion.
The Indians claim to have had evidence that CIA was encouraging the king to seek independence.He married American girl.Indian security is endangered.So they instructed their external intelligence agency to make plot to through him in troubles.Then it was announced every where that king is conspiracing to assassinate all the popular political leaders and civil servants.Ruler will be the owner of absolute power which galvanized the publics against the ruler and brought public demonstration and resentment out of the streets.This prepared a perfect cover for the Indian Army to intervene in April 1973.
The ruler was convinced to make the legislature every 4 years.On April 10th The assembly made a decesion that`the institution of Chogyal is hereby abolished and Sikkim shall henceforth be a constituent unit of India`.
India`s justification was superficially based on the idea of democracy and human rights but it`s true motivations were derived from the deep of the Nehru doctrine and which was brought into play by theperceived US interest in Sikkim.
“India could least afford an unstable Sikkim or allow interference of any foreign country in Sikkim affairs… .It was also obvious that anunstableneighbor would become a grave threat to India`s national security… .So in response to Sikkim`s Assembly resolution,the constitution(Thirty eighth Amenment) Act was passed by Parliament,making Sikkim the 22nd State of the Indian Union on April 26th,1975″.RAW acquired the credit to bloodless transformation of a princely state into a democratic state of India.
Now the issue of impact of the Global climate change,Democracy,the issue of bringing the war criminals into justice,The internal face of major political leaders,price crisis of the commdities,Area determination of country,US-INDIA -CHINA interests conflict and the role of military in country,Naval base of the country,oil and gas mines etc are the main factors.In this time the pressure for transit is definitely highlights a dangerous threat to take into consideration and the entire nation must be united not to provide the enemy military to use the Soil of Bangladesh.
The conscious Bangladeshis might remember the valuable writings of india`s philosopher of expansionism Mr Jawharlal Nehru.In his book~`Discovery of India` he wrote, “India will inevitably exercise an important influence.India will also develop as the centre of economic and political activity in the Indian ocean area.The small national state is doomed.It may survive as a culturally autonomous area but not as an independent political unit”.
Abu Zafar Mahmood, journalist and South Asian affairs Analyst.Email:nynews21@gmail.com
http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=210657
Posted by Isha Khan bdmailer@gmail.com
Dahgram-Angarpota dwellers still grope in dark:
Nighttime life is a bit nightmarish for the people of the cut-off enclave of Dahgram-Angarpota as power supply couldn't be given there for lack of permission from the Indian side, the sufferers said.
Many in the far-flung locality have learnt about the new government's flagship agenda Vision 2021 under which in the country will be lighted through providing electricity, but the unfortunate inhabitants of the enclave, isolated from mainland Bangladesh by an Indian strip of land, are still in the dark as to when the darkness from their life will end.
Some residents of the area, about 90 kilometers from Lalmonirhat district headquarters, lamented that the government had installed electric poles with wires in 1985, but power connection was yet to be given as Indian authorities do not allow electricity passing into the locality through the Tinbigha corridor which is owned by the neighboring country.
According to Lalmonirhat district administration, Bangladesh had eneterd into an agreement with the then Indian govenrment in 1974 to get the Tinbigha corridor in exchange for Berubari enclave. As per the deal, Bangladesh handed over Barubari. But the other party didn't reciprocate by making over the corridor.
Indian authorities have cited a case long pending with court for which their parliament couldn't ratify the treaty for the swap.
Tinbiga is sitauted in Kuchbihar district in the West Bengal state of India.
Follwing meetings and negotiations, finally on June 26, 1992, the stranded resdients of Dahgram-Angarpota got the facilitiy of conditional daytime access to the mainland through the corridor. Now the passage reamins open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Around 20,000 residents of Dahagram-Angarpota area are yet to get their right to free movement, even after 38 years of independence of the country, as they have no free access to the mainland round the clock.
"We are free in daytime and stranded at night," Yusuf Ali, a local rickshaw workers' leader, told a group of journalists who visited the enclave recently.
He said though the country got independence in 1971, the residents of this enclave have got a limited freedom for movement to and from the mainland since June 26, 1992.
The hapless people are also deprived of healthcare facilities, education and utility services.
They do not get proper medical facilities from a lone 10-bed hospital at Dahagram due to insufficient physicians, staff and medicines.
Dr Zillur Rahman, Medical Assistant of the hospital, said that there is only one MBBS doctor for the hospital who lives in Rangpur town and attends the hospital irregularly.
"The doctor is not interested to stay in the hospital for lack of power and other facilities," he said. Around 100 patients visit the hospital a day.
Another inhabitant of the enclave, Noor Banu, 50, said serious patients have to rush to Patgram Upazila Hospital passing through the Tinbigha corridor as there is no better treatment at the local hospital
"It is difficult for us to take a patient, specially in case of a pregnant mother, to the upazila hospital at night as the corridor is shut after sundown. It requires lengthy official procedure to get special permission from the Indian Border Security Force authority to use the corridor at night," said another enclave-dweller.
Nurul Islam, 60, a resident of Dahagram, said they are deprived of different civic amenities like power, proper education and so.
The poor villagers have to wait for months to sell their cattle, particularly at times of urgent need, as Indian BSF doesn't allow taking more than 10 cows a week through the corridor.
Besides, they have to take an advance slip from the local chairman with a fee to take their animals to Patgram for sale. On the other hand, they cannot bring them back if not sold, they said.
Abdul Motaleb, a teacher, said there is only one high school but no college in the area.
He made a strong plea that the authorities of both the countries take steps for ensuring movement to and from the enclave through the Tinbigha corridor round the clock.
Khudiram Bose
Khudiram Bose was a freedom fighter, who was one of the youngest revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. He was born on 3rd December 1889. Trailokyanath Basu, his father was a Tahsildar of the town and mother Lakshmipriya Devi was a religious lady. His birth place was Bahuvaini in Medinipur district, West Bengal.
Khudiram Bose was influenced by the notion of karma in the Bhagvad Gita , and was involved in revolutionary activities to free mother India from the clutches of British rule. Dissatisfied with the British policy of the partition of Bengal in 1905, he joined Jugantar - the party of revolutionary activists. At the tender age of sixteen, Bose left bombs near police stations and made government officials his victims. On the charges of carrying out a series of bomb attacks he was arrested.
In Muzzafarpur, Bihar,on 30th April, 1908 Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki planned to assasinate the Chief Presidency Magistrate Kingsford. The magistrate was known for his blatant judgements against the freedom fighters. They waited for Kingsford's carriage to come in front of the gate of European Club and blew up a carriage which was not carrying Kingsford. As a result of this unfortunate incident two innocent British ladies - Mrs.Kennedy and her daughter were killed. Both the revolutionaries fled the crime scene. Later Prafulla committed suicide and Khudiram was arrested.
On the charges of bomb attacks carried out by Khudiram Bose, he was sentenced to death at the age of 19.He was hanged to death on 11 August 1908.
MASTER DA SURJO SEN
His father's name was Ramaniranjan. A resident of Noapara in Chittagong, he was a teacher by profession. He was initiated into revolutionary ideas in 1916 by one of his teachers while he was a student of Intermediate Class in the Chittagong College and joined the renowned anarchist group Anushilan. But when he went to Behrampur College for BA course, came to know about Jugantar and became more inspired with their ideas. On his return to Chittagong in 1918, he organized Jugantar there. Every revolutionary groups were using Indian National Congress as umbrella to work. Consequently in 1929, Surya Sen became the president of the Chittagong district committee of the Indian National Congress[1]. He continued to organize the hardline patriotic organisations and first became a teacher of the National school in Nandankanan and then joined the Umatara school at Chandanpura. Hence, he was known as Mastarda (teacher brother).By 1923 Surya Sen spread the anarchist organization in different parts of Chittagong district. Aware of the limited equipment and other resources of the freedom fighters, he was convinced of the need for secret guerrilla warfare against the colonial Government. One of his early successful undertakings was a broad day robbery at the treasury office of the Assam-Bengal Railway at Chittagong on December 23, 1923.
Chittagong armoury raid and its aftermath
Main article: Chittagong Armoury Raid
His major success in the anti-British revolutionary violence was the Chittagong Armoury Raid on April 18, 1930. Subsequent to the raid, he marched to the Jalalabad hills along with his fellow revolutionaries. After the battle with the British troops on April 22, he escaped from there.
Surya Sen, being constantly followed up by the police, had to hide at the house of Sabitri Devi, a widow, near Patiya. A police and military force under Captain Cameron surrounded the house on 13 June 1932. Cameron was shot dead while ascending the staircase and Surya Sen along with Pritilata Waddedar and Kalpana Dutta escaped to safety.
Surya Sen was always in hiding, moving from one place to another. Sometimes he used to take a job as a workman; sometimes he would take a job as a farmer, or milkman, or priest, houseworker or even as a pious Muslim. This is how he used to avoid being captured.
Either because of money, or out of jealousy, or because of both, Netra Sen told the British Government that Surya Sen was at his house. As a result, the police came and captured him on February 16, 1933. This is how India's supreme hero was arrested. But before Netra Sen was able to get his 10,000-rupee reward he was killed by the revolutionaries .
This is how it happened. Netra Sen's wife was all for Surya Sen, and she was horrified by her husband's deed. She felt mortified by her husband's betrayal of Surya Sen. She couldn't believe her eyes; she couldn't believe her ears.
One evening she was serving her husband food when a great admirer of Surya Sen came into the house. He was carrying a very big knife, which is called a dal. With one stroke of the dal he chopped off the head of Netra Sen in the presence of his wife. Then slowly and stealthily he went away.
When the police arrived to investigate, they asked Netra Sen's wife if she had seen who the murderer was. She said, "I saw with my own eyes, but my heart will not permit me to tell you his name. I am sorry. I feel miserable that I was the wife of such a treacherous man, such an undivine man as Netra Sen. My husband betrayed the greatest hero of Chittagong. My husband betrayed a great son of Mother India. My husband cast a slur on the face of India. Therefore, I cannot tell the name of the person who took his life. He has definitely done the right thing. You can do anything with me. You can punish me, you can even kill me, but I shall never tell the name of the person who killed my husband. Our Master-da will be hanged, I know, but his name will forever be synonymous with India's immortal freedom-cry. Everybody loves him. Everybody adores him. I, too, love him and adore him, for he is the brightest sun in the firmament of Chittagong. Surya means sun and he is truly our sun."
Tarakeswar Dastidar, the new president of the Chittagong Branch Jugantar Party, made a preparation to rescue Surya Sen from the Chittagong Jail. But the plot was unearthed and consequently frustrated. Tarakeswar and Kalpana along with others were arrested. Special tribunals tried Surya Sen, Tarakeswar Dastidar, and Kalpana Datta in 1933.
Surya Sen along with his comrade Tarekeshwar Dastidar was hanged by the British rulers on January 12, 1934. Before the death sentence Surya Sen was brutally tortured. It was reported that the British executioners broke all his teeth with hammer and plucked all nails and broke all limbs and joints. He was dragged to the rope unconscious. After his death his death body wasn’t given any funeral. The prison authority, it was found later, put his dead body in a metallic cage and dumped into the bay of Bengal.
His last letter to his comrades, written on 11th January, will remain enshrined in history as the most eloquent testimony of the excellence of his manhood... "Death is knocking at my door. My mind is flying away towards infinity ... this is the moment to myself to embrace death as the dearest of friends. In this happy, sacred and crucial moment, what am I leaving for you all? Only one thing, my dream, a golden dream, the dream of a Free India. Dear comrades, march ahead; never retrace your step. Days of servitude are receding. Freedom's illuminating ray is visible over there. Arise and never give way to despair. Success is sure to come." [Arindam Ray, Ami amar bhogoban ke dekhini, kintu tar somporke jotota jani ta likhlam.
Pritilata Waddedar
Born in Chittagong on 5 May 1911, she was a meritorious student at the Dr. Khastagir Government Girls' School of Chittagong and passed the matriculation examination in the first division in 1928.[1] She continued her education in Eden College, Dhaka and in 1929, she passed the Intermediate examinations securing the fifth place among all the candidates from Dhaka Board.[1] Two years later, Pritilata graduated in Philosophy with distinction from Bethune College of Kolkata. In her college days, Pritilata was used to visit Ramkrishna Biswas, a rebel who later was hanged. Pritilata received combat training from Nirmal Sen. He died on 10/11 June 1932.In early 1930s, Pritilata joined Mastarda Surya Sen's armed resistance movement. In 1932, Surya Sen planned an attack on the Pahartali European Club, which bore the notorious sign 'Dogs and Indians not allowed'. He assigned Pritilata to lead a team of 10-12 men that would attack the Club on September 23, 1932.[1][2] Members of the team were instructed to carry potassium cyanide with them so that in case they were caught by police they could swallow it before the arrest. Kalpana Dutt, a fellow revolutionary of Pritilata said, "Surya Sen told us he does not support suiciding. But he took Potassium Cyanide from me before he went".[1] The raid was successful but Pritilata, dressed as a man was trapped without a way of escape on that fateful night. She committed suicide by swallowing the cyanide, thus ending her short endeavor in fighting for freedom of her country.
Repeal of 5th amendment will restore ’72 constitution, says Shafique
Law minister Shafique Ahmed on Sunday said that no amendment would be required to restore the original Constitution framed in 1972 if the Appellate Division upheld the High Court’s verdict that required scrapping of the Fifth Amendment.
‘The repeal of the Fifth Amendment will automatically restore the spirit of the 1972 Constitution…People want the High Court’s verdict to be honoured and materialised as it is a historical judgment reflecting the spirit of our liberation war,’ the law minister told reporters at his office.
The minister said secularism and democracy were integral parts of the basic spirit of the Constitution which was distorted by the Fifth Amendment brought about by a martial law government in 1975. ‘Democracy cannot flourish without secularism…It is a secular system of government,’ said Shafique.
The minister, however, dismissed the apprehension — expressed by pro-BNP lawyers and politicians — that the annulment of the Fifth Amendment meant restoration of the Fourth Amendment that had created the one-party BKSAL system of government in January 1975.
‘A referendum annulled the Fourth Amendment and there is no way of going back to the one-party system,’ he observed.
The High Court on 29 August, 2005 declared that the Fifth Amendment and the Martial Law Regulations issued between August 15, 1975 and April, 1979 were illegal. The Appellate Division, however, stayed the operation of the verdict the same evening.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on May 3 filed a petition seeking permission to appeal against the High Court’s verdict when the present government stopped fighting the legal battle and accepted the verdict. The petition is yet to be heard.
Shafique said that the hearing of the appeal would soon be put in the Supreme Court’s agenda.
‘The appeals in the Bangabandhu Murder Case are at the top of the list, after that comes the Jail Killing Case, and then maybe this one will be heard,’ he said.
Shafique also said that restoring the 1972 Constitution was not the end of everything. ‘There are many parts of the Constitution that need amendment. The government will place them for discussion in the Parliament.’
About the controversy raised by his recent statement that the government would seek the opinion of the Law Commission on constitutional amendments, the minister said, ‘It should not create any controversy as the commission cannot make any law. If we want to frame any law, it will be discussed in the cabinet and the parliament as well.’
‘The repeal of the Fifth Amendment will automatically restore the spirit of the 1972 Constitution…People want the High Court’s verdict to be honoured and materialised as it is a historical judgment reflecting the spirit of our liberation war,’ the law minister told reporters at his office.
The minister said secularism and democracy were integral parts of the basic spirit of the Constitution which was distorted by the Fifth Amendment brought about by a martial law government in 1975. ‘Democracy cannot flourish without secularism…It is a secular system of government,’ said Shafique.
The minister, however, dismissed the apprehension — expressed by pro-BNP lawyers and politicians — that the annulment of the Fifth Amendment meant restoration of the Fourth Amendment that had created the one-party BKSAL system of government in January 1975.
‘A referendum annulled the Fourth Amendment and there is no way of going back to the one-party system,’ he observed.
The High Court on 29 August, 2005 declared that the Fifth Amendment and the Martial Law Regulations issued between August 15, 1975 and April, 1979 were illegal. The Appellate Division, however, stayed the operation of the verdict the same evening.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on May 3 filed a petition seeking permission to appeal against the High Court’s verdict when the present government stopped fighting the legal battle and accepted the verdict. The petition is yet to be heard.
Shafique said that the hearing of the appeal would soon be put in the Supreme Court’s agenda.
‘The appeals in the Bangabandhu Murder Case are at the top of the list, after that comes the Jail Killing Case, and then maybe this one will be heard,’ he said.
Shafique also said that restoring the 1972 Constitution was not the end of everything. ‘There are many parts of the Constitution that need amendment. The government will place them for discussion in the Parliament.’
About the controversy raised by his recent statement that the government would seek the opinion of the Law Commission on constitutional amendments, the minister said, ‘It should not create any controversy as the commission cannot make any law. If we want to frame any law, it will be discussed in the cabinet and the parliament as well.’
Swine flu virus spreads in six more districts
Swine flu infection spread to six more districts during the Eid holidays raising the total number of patients to 604 in the country, with 232 new cases identified in the last two weeks.
‘The swine flu virus has spread in 21 districts including Dhaka so far. The virus spread in new six districts during Eid holidays as people moved to different districts,’ said Mahmudur Rahman, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research at a weekly press briefing on Sunday.
He said that they had detected 232 new cases of swine flu infection in last two weeks while the total number of confirmed swine flu patients reached to 604 so far since June 18, when the first case of swine flu infection was detected in the country.
He said three people so far died after contacting swine flu virus in the country but no new death due to the virus was reported in the last two weeks.
Another person died at Dhaka medical College Hospital reportedly from swine flu virus infection but there was no laboratory confirmation.
Mahmudur said the virus had spread mainly in four divisions, Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Sylhet.
‘Among the infected people, around 52 per cent are from Dhaka. Only around 15 per cent patients of the total infected people needed to be admitted to the hospitals,’ he said.
Mahmudur said the swine flu pandemic could continue for one year in the country. ‘There is no plan to close the swine flu units in the hospitals or stop other activities because the World Health Organisation has declared the flu pandemic.’
IEDCR officials, however, said the level of swine flu infection across the country was decreasing in the recent days.
ASM Alamgir, senior scientific officer of IEDCR, said the characteristics of the virus had not been changed in last six months.
‘The virus has not changed its characteristics in the past six months and the trend of the virus infection is decreasing. So there is little possibility that the virus will mix with other influenza viruses like dengue,’ he said.
Mahmudur said they would arrange a training programme for around 250 city school teachers in October so that the teachers could manage students. The training would be expanded to the whole country in phases, he added.
He hoped that the swine flu vaccine would reach the country in December and they would be able to start the vaccination early next year.
Mahmudur, meanwhile, said the number of patients with Dengue fever was increasing in the Dhaka city in last few days. ‘But the situation is under control because unlike the swine flu, the dengue fever can be identified immediately by platelet counting of the blood,’ he said.
‘The swine flu virus has spread in 21 districts including Dhaka so far. The virus spread in new six districts during Eid holidays as people moved to different districts,’ said Mahmudur Rahman, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research at a weekly press briefing on Sunday.
He said that they had detected 232 new cases of swine flu infection in last two weeks while the total number of confirmed swine flu patients reached to 604 so far since June 18, when the first case of swine flu infection was detected in the country.
He said three people so far died after contacting swine flu virus in the country but no new death due to the virus was reported in the last two weeks.
Another person died at Dhaka medical College Hospital reportedly from swine flu virus infection but there was no laboratory confirmation.
Mahmudur said the virus had spread mainly in four divisions, Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Sylhet.
‘Among the infected people, around 52 per cent are from Dhaka. Only around 15 per cent patients of the total infected people needed to be admitted to the hospitals,’ he said.
Mahmudur said the swine flu pandemic could continue for one year in the country. ‘There is no plan to close the swine flu units in the hospitals or stop other activities because the World Health Organisation has declared the flu pandemic.’
IEDCR officials, however, said the level of swine flu infection across the country was decreasing in the recent days.
ASM Alamgir, senior scientific officer of IEDCR, said the characteristics of the virus had not been changed in last six months.
‘The virus has not changed its characteristics in the past six months and the trend of the virus infection is decreasing. So there is little possibility that the virus will mix with other influenza viruses like dengue,’ he said.
Mahmudur said they would arrange a training programme for around 250 city school teachers in October so that the teachers could manage students. The training would be expanded to the whole country in phases, he added.
He hoped that the swine flu vaccine would reach the country in December and they would be able to start the vaccination early next year.
Mahmudur, meanwhile, said the number of patients with Dengue fever was increasing in the Dhaka city in last few days. ‘But the situation is under control because unlike the swine flu, the dengue fever can be identified immediately by platelet counting of the blood,’ he said.
RAB busts JMB den, arrests 5 operatives
The Rapid Action Battalion busted a training camp of the banned Islamist outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh and arrested five operatives, including its ‘second-in-command’ in Chittagong division, in operations in different districts Saturday night through Sunday morning.
RAB’s additional director general, Mizanur Rahman told reporters that its intelligence came to know that the outfit was running a training camp in the remote Shantipur village in Matiranga of Khagrachari district.
JMB operative Delwar Hossain Sajib established the training camp under the guidance of its sura member Shahed alias Osman. He took lease of four acres for the camp in the name of plantation on the directive of JMB amir Sayedur Rahman.
The RAB raided the hideout on Saturday night and arrested the outfit’s Chittagong division ‘second-in-command’ Abdur Rahim, 26, alias Zahid alias Habib alias Saiful alias Saifullah.
On the confessional statement of Rahim, the RAB team arrested the outfit’s ehsar (full-time) member Delwar Hossain alias Sajib 32, and his employee Younus Ali, 20, at Shantipur early Sunday. Delwar owns a poultry farm in the area.
Battalion sources also said that on the statements of the arrested, another team conducted a drive in Signboard area in Gazipur and arrested Delwar Hossain alias Dulal, 23, on Sunday morning.
A third team of the battalion arrested JMB ehsar member Monir Hossain alias Ripon, 25, at Dighirpar in Comilla in the same morning.
The RAB also seized a large number of militancy-related books, grenade components and explosive substances from their possession.
Arrested Abdur Rahim, at the briefing at the RAB headquarters, told newsmen that he along with other JMB operatives had made a futile attempt to attack an election campaign rally of BNP chief Khaleda Zia in Comilla on December 24, 2008.
RAB on that day recovered three improvised hand grenades from Nabiabad village in Devidwar upazila of Comilla, about an hour after Khaleda addressed an election rally four kilometres away at Chandina upazila headquarters.
The RAB men also arrested two operatives of the banned Islamist outfit and seized a 10kg bomb from a JMB den at Nabiabad village.
The BNP chief at a rally in Laxmipur later alleged that the grenades seized had been brought to kill her and disrupt the elections.
RAB’s additional director general, Mizanur Rahman told reporters that its intelligence came to know that the outfit was running a training camp in the remote Shantipur village in Matiranga of Khagrachari district.
JMB operative Delwar Hossain Sajib established the training camp under the guidance of its sura member Shahed alias Osman. He took lease of four acres for the camp in the name of plantation on the directive of JMB amir Sayedur Rahman.
The RAB raided the hideout on Saturday night and arrested the outfit’s Chittagong division ‘second-in-command’ Abdur Rahim, 26, alias Zahid alias Habib alias Saiful alias Saifullah.
On the confessional statement of Rahim, the RAB team arrested the outfit’s ehsar (full-time) member Delwar Hossain alias Sajib 32, and his employee Younus Ali, 20, at Shantipur early Sunday. Delwar owns a poultry farm in the area.
Battalion sources also said that on the statements of the arrested, another team conducted a drive in Signboard area in Gazipur and arrested Delwar Hossain alias Dulal, 23, on Sunday morning.
A third team of the battalion arrested JMB ehsar member Monir Hossain alias Ripon, 25, at Dighirpar in Comilla in the same morning.
The RAB also seized a large number of militancy-related books, grenade components and explosive substances from their possession.
Arrested Abdur Rahim, at the briefing at the RAB headquarters, told newsmen that he along with other JMB operatives had made a futile attempt to attack an election campaign rally of BNP chief Khaleda Zia in Comilla on December 24, 2008.
RAB on that day recovered three improvised hand grenades from Nabiabad village in Devidwar upazila of Comilla, about an hour after Khaleda addressed an election rally four kilometres away at Chandina upazila headquarters.
The RAB men also arrested two operatives of the banned Islamist outfit and seized a 10kg bomb from a JMB den at Nabiabad village.
The BNP chief at a rally in Laxmipur later alleged that the grenades seized had been brought to kill her and disrupt the elections.
728 RAB personnel punished in 5 yrs
Light to stern punitive action were taken against 728 officers and personnel of the Rapid Action Battalion till September 16 on various charges since its inception on March 26, 2004.
Human rights groups have alleged some personnel of the battalion, composed of officers and personnel from different forces, got involved in crimes such as extrajudicial killing, torture and extortions.
The battalion’s director general Hasan Mahmud Khandker at a briefing on September 3 said 577 persons were killed in 472 incidents of ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ with the battalion since its inception.
A number of cases have also been filed against the battalion officers and personnel on various charges including killing people in the name of ‘crossfire.’
In an incident, 10 battalion personnel were sued on June 16 on charges of killing two Dhaka Polytechnic Institute students on May 27 on Manik Mia Avenue..
A fruit trader on September 16 lodged an attempt-to-murder case against an assistant superintendent of police of the RAB 3.
The battalion the next day formed an inquiry committee into the attempt to murder allegation against the RAB-3 assistant superintendent Nuruzzaman lodged by the fruit trader.
In June, a criminal case was filed against three battalion officials, including an assistant superintendent of police, on charges of extortion. They were later sent to jail to face trial on extortion charges.
RAB personnel, it is alleged, have long been involved in various other criminal activities like nepotism, negligence of duty, and bribery.
Sources in the battalion said officers and personnel deputed to the battalion from different forces are entitled to an additional 70 per cent of their basic salaries in battalion allowance.
The battalion’s additional director general Mizanur Rahman Khan told New Age on September 16, ‘Punitive action was taken to maintain discipline in the force created to fight serious crimes.’
He claimed a stringent vigil has been ordered against activities such as professional misconduct or corruption to uphold the image of the force ‘which it earned through professional excellence in several years.’
The deputy chief of the battalion made the comments as the force, manned by the army, navy, air force, police and Bangladesh Rifles and Ansars personnel, came under media scrutiny in recent months after several incidents such as extortion, robbery or avenging themselves in settling personal scores by its personnel.
Asked about the allegation of attempt-to-murder against the RAB-3 assistant superintendent of police, he said, ‘We are going to form an inquiry committee to probe the allegation. We will take action against the RAB official if he is found guilty in the inquiry.’
‘We have already taken some measures to restrain RAB men from committing corruption through motivation and punishment,’ the RAB deputy chief said.
‘We first tried to motivate the corrupt RAB personnel not to get involved in corruption and other criminal activities,’ he said. ‘The corrupt RAB men who could not correct themselves would face exemplary punishment.’
RAB sources said out of the 728 RAB men, two Class I or commissioned officers were fired and 40 more officers of deputy assistant director level were given punishment for offences such as criminal activities, corruption, misconduct and unlawful activities.
Under minor punishments, the sources said, 296 personnel of different ranks were given warnings or reprimanded.
Punitive measures were taken under the RAB Ordinance and RAB Code of Conduct and Departmental Proceeding Regulations of 2005 by Special Court, Summary Court and Armed Police Battalion Act 2003, RAB sources said.
The battalion itself was empowered to try and jail its personnel for up to 10 years by instituting special and summary courts under the RAB ordinance, a RAB official said.
The official said 300 RAB men were dismissed from service or were given forced retirement while 10 others were jailed for varying terms after trial in criminal courts under the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
‘We have recently sent back 132 personnel, mostly military personnel, to their parent organisations with recommendations for punitive action against them while 27 others were already punished by their parent organisations,’ he said.
Human rights groups have alleged some personnel of the battalion, composed of officers and personnel from different forces, got involved in crimes such as extrajudicial killing, torture and extortions.
The battalion’s director general Hasan Mahmud Khandker at a briefing on September 3 said 577 persons were killed in 472 incidents of ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ with the battalion since its inception.
A number of cases have also been filed against the battalion officers and personnel on various charges including killing people in the name of ‘crossfire.’
In an incident, 10 battalion personnel were sued on June 16 on charges of killing two Dhaka Polytechnic Institute students on May 27 on Manik Mia Avenue..
A fruit trader on September 16 lodged an attempt-to-murder case against an assistant superintendent of police of the RAB 3.
The battalion the next day formed an inquiry committee into the attempt to murder allegation against the RAB-3 assistant superintendent Nuruzzaman lodged by the fruit trader.
In June, a criminal case was filed against three battalion officials, including an assistant superintendent of police, on charges of extortion. They were later sent to jail to face trial on extortion charges.
RAB personnel, it is alleged, have long been involved in various other criminal activities like nepotism, negligence of duty, and bribery.
Sources in the battalion said officers and personnel deputed to the battalion from different forces are entitled to an additional 70 per cent of their basic salaries in battalion allowance.
The battalion’s additional director general Mizanur Rahman Khan told New Age on September 16, ‘Punitive action was taken to maintain discipline in the force created to fight serious crimes.’
He claimed a stringent vigil has been ordered against activities such as professional misconduct or corruption to uphold the image of the force ‘which it earned through professional excellence in several years.’
The deputy chief of the battalion made the comments as the force, manned by the army, navy, air force, police and Bangladesh Rifles and Ansars personnel, came under media scrutiny in recent months after several incidents such as extortion, robbery or avenging themselves in settling personal scores by its personnel.
Asked about the allegation of attempt-to-murder against the RAB-3 assistant superintendent of police, he said, ‘We are going to form an inquiry committee to probe the allegation. We will take action against the RAB official if he is found guilty in the inquiry.’
‘We have already taken some measures to restrain RAB men from committing corruption through motivation and punishment,’ the RAB deputy chief said.
‘We first tried to motivate the corrupt RAB personnel not to get involved in corruption and other criminal activities,’ he said. ‘The corrupt RAB men who could not correct themselves would face exemplary punishment.’
RAB sources said out of the 728 RAB men, two Class I or commissioned officers were fired and 40 more officers of deputy assistant director level were given punishment for offences such as criminal activities, corruption, misconduct and unlawful activities.
Under minor punishments, the sources said, 296 personnel of different ranks were given warnings or reprimanded.
Punitive measures were taken under the RAB Ordinance and RAB Code of Conduct and Departmental Proceeding Regulations of 2005 by Special Court, Summary Court and Armed Police Battalion Act 2003, RAB sources said.
The battalion itself was empowered to try and jail its personnel for up to 10 years by instituting special and summary courts under the RAB ordinance, a RAB official said.
The official said 300 RAB men were dismissed from service or were given forced retirement while 10 others were jailed for varying terms after trial in criminal courts under the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
‘We have recently sent back 132 personnel, mostly military personnel, to their parent organisations with recommendations for punitive action against them while 27 others were already punished by their parent organisations,’ he said.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
EU ‘very worried’ on climate talks
The European Union on Thursday voiced deep concern about climate change negotiations, warning they were heading in the wrong direction with weeks to go before the make-or-break Copenhagen conference.
Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, the current head of the EU, came to the US city of Pittsburgh for a 20-nation economic summit after top-level talks at the United Nations on climate change.
'We are both very worried about the situation,' Reinfeldt said at a joint news conference with European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso.
'When it comes to the negotiations, they are in fact slowing down; they are not going in the right direction,' Reinfeldt said. 'We are very worried that we need to speed up the negotiations.'
Little more than two months remain until the conference in Copenhagen, which is meant to approve the framework of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark treaty that required cuts in emissions blamed for global warming.
The European Union and Japan have been the leading champions of the Kyoto Protocol, which made no requirements on developing nations to cut carbon emissions.
Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, the current head of the EU, came to the US city of Pittsburgh for a 20-nation economic summit after top-level talks at the United Nations on climate change.
'We are both very worried about the situation,' Reinfeldt said at a joint news conference with European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso.
'When it comes to the negotiations, they are in fact slowing down; they are not going in the right direction,' Reinfeldt said. 'We are very worried that we need to speed up the negotiations.'
Little more than two months remain until the conference in Copenhagen, which is meant to approve the framework of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark treaty that required cuts in emissions blamed for global warming.
The European Union and Japan have been the leading champions of the Kyoto Protocol, which made no requirements on developing nations to cut carbon emissions.
Grenade found at Puja mandap
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion seized a grenade from puja mandap in the city’s Banani area Friday night.
Panic spread through the devotees who started leaving the place soon after RAB men had seized the grenade, local sources said.
Major Mohammad Lokman Hossain of RAB-1 told New Age that they found an ARGES-72 brand grenade in an abandoned condition inside the mandap at around 8:20pm.
‘The grenade was thrown inside the mandap without pulling the safety pin that gave a clear indication about the criminals’ intention to create panic among the people,’ he said.
About involvement of the criminals in throwing the grenade, he said, ‘We can say nothing without investigation.’
RAB personnel cordoned off the area from where the grenade was recovered, he added.
Panic spread through the devotees who started leaving the place soon after RAB men had seized the grenade, local sources said.
Major Mohammad Lokman Hossain of RAB-1 told New Age that they found an ARGES-72 brand grenade in an abandoned condition inside the mandap at around 8:20pm.
‘The grenade was thrown inside the mandap without pulling the safety pin that gave a clear indication about the criminals’ intention to create panic among the people,’ he said.
About involvement of the criminals in throwing the grenade, he said, ‘We can say nothing without investigation.’
RAB personnel cordoned off the area from where the grenade was recovered, he added.
BDR man remanded in mutiny case
A Dhaka court on Friday remanded one more BDR personnel in police custody for two days for interrogation in connection with the February 25-26 mutiny at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Dhaka.
Metropolitan magistrate Moazzem Hossain passed the order for subedar Sirazul Islam after hearing an application of the Criminal Investigation Department seeking an eight-day remand.
The CID has been assigned to investigate the case filed in connection with the mutiny in which 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed.
With him, a total of 1,989 people, mostly BDR soldiers, have been shown arrested in the case and more than 1,000 of them were remanded in custody.
A total of 423 people, mostly BDR soldiers, have so far made confession before the magistrates in connection with the rebellion.
Over 1,000 BDR soldiers were sued for rising up against their officers at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Dhaka in February 25–26.
The Lalbagh police officer-in-charge, Nabajyoti Khisha, lodged the case against the soldiers. Earlier, the court had fixed September 30 for submitting investigation report of the case.
Metropolitan magistrate Moazzem Hossain passed the order for subedar Sirazul Islam after hearing an application of the Criminal Investigation Department seeking an eight-day remand.
The CID has been assigned to investigate the case filed in connection with the mutiny in which 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed.
With him, a total of 1,989 people, mostly BDR soldiers, have been shown arrested in the case and more than 1,000 of them were remanded in custody.
A total of 423 people, mostly BDR soldiers, have so far made confession before the magistrates in connection with the rebellion.
Over 1,000 BDR soldiers were sued for rising up against their officers at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Dhaka in February 25–26.
The Lalbagh police officer-in-charge, Nabajyoti Khisha, lodged the case against the soldiers. Earlier, the court had fixed September 30 for submitting investigation report of the case.
Electronic ID cards soon for security of secretariat
The government has decided to intensify security of Bangladesh Secretariat, the hub of the country’s administration, by introducing electronic identity cards for employees and visitors.
Officials familiar with the initiative told BSS that work is underway to introduce the EICs.
‘We will float a tender for the project as the preparatory work is nearing completion,’ an official said adding that the major objective of the task will be to check unauthorised entry into the secretariat for ensuring security in the country’s administrative heart.
He said the employees and the visitors would enter the offices by punching their respective cards to a readable machine while the number plates of listed vehicles of ministers and officials, which enter secretariat regularly, would be recorded in another device to be installed at the secretariat gates.
‘The device will allow the recorded vehicles to enter the secretariat directly, but it would give warning alarm while any visitor’s car passes through the gate,’ the official said.
The official said the plan was taken against the backdrop of growing security concern for the secretariat complex as it becomes unmanageable to scrutinise the entry of the growing number of visitors through the conventional way of the entry system.
‘The introduction of the EIC and the EVC is expected to improve the security vigilance on the secretariat premises and keep the records of incoming and outgoing employees more transparently,’ another official said.
He said the new system would also discourage manipulation at the gate by the unwanted visitors to the secretariat.
The source also said the ministry has a plan to set up card readable machine in front of each ministry so that visitors would not enter any ministry with the pass of the other ministries.
Officials familiar with the initiative told BSS that work is underway to introduce the EICs.
‘We will float a tender for the project as the preparatory work is nearing completion,’ an official said adding that the major objective of the task will be to check unauthorised entry into the secretariat for ensuring security in the country’s administrative heart.
He said the employees and the visitors would enter the offices by punching their respective cards to a readable machine while the number plates of listed vehicles of ministers and officials, which enter secretariat regularly, would be recorded in another device to be installed at the secretariat gates.
‘The device will allow the recorded vehicles to enter the secretariat directly, but it would give warning alarm while any visitor’s car passes through the gate,’ the official said.
The official said the plan was taken against the backdrop of growing security concern for the secretariat complex as it becomes unmanageable to scrutinise the entry of the growing number of visitors through the conventional way of the entry system.
‘The introduction of the EIC and the EVC is expected to improve the security vigilance on the secretariat premises and keep the records of incoming and outgoing employees more transparently,’ another official said.
He said the new system would also discourage manipulation at the gate by the unwanted visitors to the secretariat.
The source also said the ministry has a plan to set up card readable machine in front of each ministry so that visitors would not enter any ministry with the pass of the other ministries.
Swine flu death toll reaches 3,917: WHO
Some 3,917 people have died from swine flu infections since the A(H1N1) virus was uncovered in April, the World Health Organisation said Friday.
This marks a jump of 431 deaths compared to a week ago when 3,486 deaths were recorded, said the UN health agency in its weekly data on the pandemic published on its website.
The Americas region continued to post the highest number of fatal cases, at 2,948.
The Asia-Pacific region reported 702 deaths, while Europe recorded at least 154 fatalities.
In the Middle East, 72 people have succumbed to the virus while in Africa, 41 deaths have been recorded.
The northern hemisphere, which will soon enter the flu-prone winter season, is recording an overall increase in flu cases, while in the southern hemisphere the spread of flu has eased.
Three-quarters of all flu cases detected during the week of September 6 to 12 were pandemic flu cases, added the WHO.
This marks a jump of 431 deaths compared to a week ago when 3,486 deaths were recorded, said the UN health agency in its weekly data on the pandemic published on its website.
The Americas region continued to post the highest number of fatal cases, at 2,948.
The Asia-Pacific region reported 702 deaths, while Europe recorded at least 154 fatalities.
In the Middle East, 72 people have succumbed to the virus while in Africa, 41 deaths have been recorded.
The northern hemisphere, which will soon enter the flu-prone winter season, is recording an overall increase in flu cases, while in the southern hemisphere the spread of flu has eased.
Three-quarters of all flu cases detected during the week of September 6 to 12 were pandemic flu cases, added the WHO.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
DU girl student killed, husband arrested
A female student of Mass Communication and Journalism department of Dhaka University was killed at city's Mirpur on Saturday night.
The death of Mafruda Haque Sutpar, 26, a master's student of the department, sent in a shock wave to the university campus. Police arrested Sutpar's husband, Imrul Sadat Abir, as victim's elder brother, Aminul Haque, filed a case with Mirpur Model thana against Abir.
Investigating officer Shah Alam, Sub-inspector of the police station, said in initial investigation they found injury marks on two hands, abdomen and back side of Sutpar.
"She was killed," said the IO on the basis of prima facie findings to clear the mystery shrouding the student's death.The victim's elder brother stated in the case: My sister was killed in a planned way. I demand exemplary punishment of her killer.
DU Vice-chancellor Prof. Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique in his reaction, demanded maximum punishment for the killers of his student, "whoever might be involved in the killing".
The death of Mafruda Haque Sutpar, 26, a master's student of the department, sent in a shock wave to the university campus. Police arrested Sutpar's husband, Imrul Sadat Abir, as victim's elder brother, Aminul Haque, filed a case with Mirpur Model thana against Abir.
Investigating officer Shah Alam, Sub-inspector of the police station, said in initial investigation they found injury marks on two hands, abdomen and back side of Sutpar.
"She was killed," said the IO on the basis of prima facie findings to clear the mystery shrouding the student's death.The victim's elder brother stated in the case: My sister was killed in a planned way. I demand exemplary punishment of her killer.
DU Vice-chancellor Prof. Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique in his reaction, demanded maximum punishment for the killers of his student, "whoever might be involved in the killing".
Chevron makes major new gas find in Bangladesh
US energy group Chevron has made the biggest gas discovery in at least a decade in energy-starved Bangladesh, almost doubling the size of a field it is drilling there, a government official said Wednesday.
The US firm has told authorities its Bibiyana gas field in Sylhet, northeastern Bangladesh, contains 6.6 trillion cubic feet (186 billion cubic metres) of gas, up from its original size of 3.4 trillion cubic feet, Muktadir Ali, chairman of state-owned Petrobangla said.
"Out of the amount, some 4.4 trillion cubic feet (tcf) is recoverable. It's the biggest new gas finding in at least a decade," said Ali, whose company shares production with Chevron. A Chevron spokesman in Bangladesh said the company had submitted its latest reserve figure to Petrobangla recently but would not comment on exact figures. Bangladesh has been facing an acute shortage of gas since 2008, resulting in production cuts in hundreds of factories.
"The new findings mean we can now scale up gas production within a year and our gas reserve would last a few more years than originally thought," Ali said.
The country has proven recoverable gas reserves in the Bay of Bengal of more than 15 tcf, but some 60 percent of the amount has already been used. Petrobangla had said gas reserves in the South Asian country will start declining from 2012 and dry up by 2014-15 at present consumption rates if there were no new discoveries. The figure was released nearly a month after the country awarded three offshore exploration blocks to companies to search for oil and gas in the disputed waters of the Bay of Bengal.
The government granted two blocks to the US energy giant ConocoPhillips and another to Irish company Tullow despite ownership claims on some of the territories by neighbouring India and Myanmar. Experts have forecast major reserves of gas in the Bangladesh waters of the Bay of Bengal, after huge discoveries were made in the Myanmar and Indian areas of the bay. Bangladesh needs urgently to locate new sources of energy as the government forecasts the nation's current gas reserves will run out by 2014-15 at present consumption rates.
The US firm has told authorities its Bibiyana gas field in Sylhet, northeastern Bangladesh, contains 6.6 trillion cubic feet (186 billion cubic metres) of gas, up from its original size of 3.4 trillion cubic feet, Muktadir Ali, chairman of state-owned Petrobangla said.
"Out of the amount, some 4.4 trillion cubic feet (tcf) is recoverable. It's the biggest new gas finding in at least a decade," said Ali, whose company shares production with Chevron. A Chevron spokesman in Bangladesh said the company had submitted its latest reserve figure to Petrobangla recently but would not comment on exact figures. Bangladesh has been facing an acute shortage of gas since 2008, resulting in production cuts in hundreds of factories.
"The new findings mean we can now scale up gas production within a year and our gas reserve would last a few more years than originally thought," Ali said.
The country has proven recoverable gas reserves in the Bay of Bengal of more than 15 tcf, but some 60 percent of the amount has already been used. Petrobangla had said gas reserves in the South Asian country will start declining from 2012 and dry up by 2014-15 at present consumption rates if there were no new discoveries. The figure was released nearly a month after the country awarded three offshore exploration blocks to companies to search for oil and gas in the disputed waters of the Bay of Bengal.
The government granted two blocks to the US energy giant ConocoPhillips and another to Irish company Tullow despite ownership claims on some of the territories by neighbouring India and Myanmar. Experts have forecast major reserves of gas in the Bangladesh waters of the Bay of Bengal, after huge discoveries were made in the Myanmar and Indian areas of the bay. Bangladesh needs urgently to locate new sources of energy as the government forecasts the nation's current gas reserves will run out by 2014-15 at present consumption rates.
One more killed in shootout.......................................
43 extra-judicial killings in 7 weeks
Another alleged 'ringleader' was killed in 'shootout' with police at Harishankar Uttarlahini in Kushtia district town early Wednesday taking the total of such extra-judicial killings to 43 across the country in seven weeks from 1 August to 23 September. Among them 19 were killed in August and 24 in last 23 days.
According to UNB news agency, a ringleader of a terrorist gang was killed in a gunfight between his cohorts and law enforcers at Harishankar Uttarlahini in Kushtia district town early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Rashidul, 35, leader of 'Hamidul-Rashidul Bahini', hailing from Sheulia village in Kumarkhali upazila.
Rashidul was named accused in 18 cases, including four of murder, police said. Some 66 general diaries (GDs) were also filed against him, they added.
Earlier, the latest extra-judicial killing took place on September 19 when an alleged outlaw was killed in crossfire in Pabna.
Earlier, human rights watchdog Odhikar said 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August and most of them occurring in the southwestern region especially in Kushtia.
The human-rights organizations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside.
RAB recently said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until Aug 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004.
Meanwhile, Home minister Sahara Khatun recently said that the ongoing crackdown on outlaws and extremists in the southwest is based on a list prepared by the law-enforcement agencies.
"The law-enforcers are carrying out the clampdown as the extremists and terrorists regrouped in the south-western region," the minister told reporters at the Secretariat recently.
However, State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku said recently that nothing like crossfire exists. "The incidents of this sort take place when the law- enforcers try for self-defense during operation against the terrorists," he said.
According to UNB news agency, a ringleader of a terrorist gang was killed in a gunfight between his cohorts and law enforcers at Harishankar Uttarlahini in Kushtia district town early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Rashidul, 35, leader of 'Hamidul-Rashidul Bahini', hailing from Sheulia village in Kumarkhali upazila.
Rashidul was named accused in 18 cases, including four of murder, police said. Some 66 general diaries (GDs) were also filed against him, they added.
Earlier, the latest extra-judicial killing took place on September 19 when an alleged outlaw was killed in crossfire in Pabna.
Earlier, human rights watchdog Odhikar said 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August and most of them occurring in the southwestern region especially in Kushtia.
The human-rights organizations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside.
RAB recently said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until Aug 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004.
Meanwhile, Home minister Sahara Khatun recently said that the ongoing crackdown on outlaws and extremists in the southwest is based on a list prepared by the law-enforcement agencies.
"The law-enforcers are carrying out the clampdown as the extremists and terrorists regrouped in the south-western region," the minister told reporters at the Secretariat recently.
However, State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku said recently that nothing like crossfire exists. "The incidents of this sort take place when the law- enforcers try for self-defense during operation against the terrorists," he said.
Rajuk to take action against 198 buildings
DMP lists 344 buildings with no parking space or misusing space...........
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) will take action against 198 buildings located on busy city roads, the authorities of which occupy the roads for car parking while using their own parking spaces for other purposes.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police identified the buildings through a recent survey as part of its plan to curb traffic jam in the capital and sent the list to Rajuk, asking it for immediate measures.
The traffic department of DMP divided the capital into 11 zones for the survey and detected 344 buildings responsible for traffic congestions, which is a regular phenomenon in Dhaka city.
Of these buildings, 198 park vehicles on roads although they have their own parking spaces while the remaining 146 buildings do not have parking facilities in the plans submitted to Rajuk, DMP officials said.
The DMP conducted the survey on some roads in Hatkhola, Tikatuli, Motijheel, Fakirerpul, Gulistan, Islampur, Sadarghat, Siddeshwari, Golapbagh, Kamalapur, Khilgaon, Malibagh, Rampura, Shajadpur, Badda, Gulshan, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Mirpur, Shewrapara, Elephant Road, New Market, Kalabagan, Satmasjid Road and Uttara areas.
Buildings of Bangladesh Bank, Sonali Bank, Dhaka Bank and Uttara Bank are among the most prominent buildings on the list while most other buildings are markets, shopping malls, garment factories, hospitals, diagnostic centres and educational institutions.
"We have identified buildings that have been using their parking spaces for other purposes and parking vehicles occupying city roads," DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque told The Daily Star.
"We have sent the list of buildings to the Rajuk authorities, asking them for taking measures immediately," he said. "We also assured Rajuk of providing forces for assistance in enforcing its rules."
At a meeting at the communications ministry on August 20, the DMP commissioner made a commitment to take initiatives to free the capital's parking spaces in association with Rajuk.
Talking to The Daily Star, Rajuk's Development Control Director SK Abdul Mannan admitted that they received the list of buildings. He said they have already sent letters to the authorities of these buildings, asking them to open their car parks.
"On humanitarian grounds, we have given them time up to Eid vacation for taking steps in this regard. After then actions will be launched against buildings that fail to abide by," Mannan said, adding, "We are also publishing advertisements in this regard in different dailies."
Replying to a query, he said, "It will not be possible to go for action against all the buildings, mainly the government ones. We will request them to arrange alternative ways."
Sources said there are hundreds of buildings, which are not on the list, that use their car parks for other purposes and park vehicles occupying roads while hundreds of others have no parking grounds.
According to the DMP survey, buildings in Sutrapur Traffic Zone that use parking spaces for other purposes are Salauddin Bhaban and Russell Centre at Hatkhola, Nabarun Bhaban, Shubhechchha Plaza, Mamun Plaza and Delwar Complex on Shaheed Nazrul Islam Road, and Motaleb Mansion, Ittefaq Bhaban and Inqilab Bhaban on RK Mission Road.
Buildings in Sabujbagh Traffic Zone are Bengal Knitex, Mamtaj Memorial, Update Dental College, Hotel Jamini, Maps Diagnostic Centre and Kamalapur High School on Atish Dipankar Road, Nahar Tower, holding-69/5 and Niloy at Khilgaon railway gate, Malibagh Supermarket at Malibagh Chowdhury Para, Chowdhury Fashion, Malibagh Market, Dragon Tower, Green Tower, Owners' Apparels, holding-475 and Ashraf Fashion on DIT Road, Alam Sweets, Agrani Apparels and Mollah Tower in west Rampura, Altaf Tower, Alauddin Tower, Ambia Point and Hotel Jonaki in east Rampura, holding-58 in east Hajipara, Jamuna Bank at Hajipara, Chand Plaza, and Hotel Miraj in Chowdhury Para.
The buildings in Motijheel Traffic Zone are Adamjee Court, Uttara Bank, Sonali Bank, Bangladesh Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank, Dhaka Bank, Amin Court, Karim Chamber, Toyota Building, Stock Exchange Building, Ejaz Chamber and City Bank at Motijheel, Pubali Bank, Asia Tower, City Bank, Rupali Bank, State Bank of India and Janata Insurance Company at Dilkusha, Shatabdi Tower at Fakirerpul, Jiban Bima Bhaban on Rajuk Avenue and ML Village at Shantinagar.
Buildings identified in Mirpur Traffic Zone are Almas Tower on Mazar Road, Mukto Bangla Shopping Complex, Rabiul Plaza, Baghdad Shopping Complex, Prince Hotel, Bata Bazar-Prince Fast Food, Mukti Plaza, Muktijoddha Huq Plaza, Islam Plaza, Sweden Plaza and holding-9 in Mirpur Section-1.
In Pallabi Zone, Limo Showroom at Senpara Parbata, Hatil showroom at Shewrapara, Probal Community Centre at Kazipara, FIR Tower at Shewrapara, Meen Tower at Shewrapara, Upama Plaza at Mirpur Section-6, Kari Family Shopping Mall at Mirpur Section-6, Patwary Tower at Mirpur Section-11, Sarat Mansion and Mirpur Diagnostic Centre at Mirpur Section-10.
In Dhanmondi Traffic Zone, Haji Joynal Bhaban, Zahir AC Market, Tuhin Mallik Market, Amena Mansion, Minita Plaza, Monsur Bhaban, Hotel D Amazan, Sunrise Bhaban, Gafur Mansion, Jahanara Bhaban, Bata Bazar, Chistia Super Market and Khairunnesa Mansion on Elephant Road.
Fatema Arcade, Dhanmondi Plaza, Badruddoza Super Market, Hawkers' Market, Noor Jahan Super Market, Kashba Centre, New Market, Gausia Market, Chandni Chawk Market, Rafin Plaza, Chandrima Market and Alta Plaza on Mirpur Road.
Zobaida Super Market, Lakeview Super Market and Brothers' Mansion at Kalabagan.
Baku Shah Market at Nilkhet, Mawla building, SS Steel and Chinese Restaurant at Panthapath.
Xinxian Chinese Restaurant, Asia Pacific Engineering, Star Kabab, Prime Bank, Kakoli High School, Almas Shopping Mall and Utsab Restaurant on Satmasjid Road.
In Ramna Traffic Zone, Pir Yemeni Market and Ramna Bhaban at Gulistan, Mouchak Market and Anarkoli Market at Siddeshwari.
In Kotwali Traffic Zone, Sundarban Square and Amin Super Market at Gulistan, Baitul Mir International at Fulbaria, Jahangir Tower at Islampur, Get One Super Market and Sultana Super Market at Sadarghat.
In Mohakhali Traffic Zone, Purbachal, holding-204/B/1, ACC Auto, G Tower, Holding-190, Meghna Group at Gulshan Link Road in Tejgaon.
Holdings H/72, H/61, H/49 and H/79 at Mohakhali and holdings H/79/D, H/79/E and H/79/G at Chairman Bari.
Holding H/79/H, Haji Sahabuddin Mansion, holdings H/83, H/82, H/81, H/80, H/79, H/78 and H/55 at Banani.
In Gulshan Traffic Zone, Gulshan Shopping Centre at Gulshan-1, Haji Super Market, ML Bhaban, Rahman Bhaban, Columbia Super Market, Square Centre and Siddique Tower (East West University) at Mohakhali.
In Badda Traffic Zone, Jamalpur Tower, Confidence Centre, Alliance Building, Suvastu Tower, Tropical Homes and West Wind Paint at Shajadpur.
Fuji Tower and Hossain Super Market at North Badda, AJ Heights, Hakim Tower, Bank Asia, Bepari Configure Tower, Pran RFL Centre, Shamsher Group Ltd, Kazi Shopping Centre, Hakim Plaza and Bhuter Adda Chinese Restaurant at Badda.
In Uttara Traffic Zone, BNS Centre, Sayeed Grand Centre and Mamtaj Mahal Party Centre in Uttara Sector-7, Hayes and Haier at Sector-9, Camp Fire Restaurant, Black Rose Hotel, holding-04 at Sector-6.
Singapore Plaza, Alauddin Tower, HM Plaza, Bailey Complex, Kushal Centre, London Plaza, AH Tower, AB Super Market and Amir Complex at Sector-3, Popular Diagnostic, Apex Gallery, AK Tower and Sea Cell at Sector-4.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) will take action against 198 buildings located on busy city roads, the authorities of which occupy the roads for car parking while using their own parking spaces for other purposes.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police identified the buildings through a recent survey as part of its plan to curb traffic jam in the capital and sent the list to Rajuk, asking it for immediate measures.
The traffic department of DMP divided the capital into 11 zones for the survey and detected 344 buildings responsible for traffic congestions, which is a regular phenomenon in Dhaka city.
Of these buildings, 198 park vehicles on roads although they have their own parking spaces while the remaining 146 buildings do not have parking facilities in the plans submitted to Rajuk, DMP officials said.
The DMP conducted the survey on some roads in Hatkhola, Tikatuli, Motijheel, Fakirerpul, Gulistan, Islampur, Sadarghat, Siddeshwari, Golapbagh, Kamalapur, Khilgaon, Malibagh, Rampura, Shajadpur, Badda, Gulshan, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Mirpur, Shewrapara, Elephant Road, New Market, Kalabagan, Satmasjid Road and Uttara areas.
Buildings of Bangladesh Bank, Sonali Bank, Dhaka Bank and Uttara Bank are among the most prominent buildings on the list while most other buildings are markets, shopping malls, garment factories, hospitals, diagnostic centres and educational institutions.
"We have identified buildings that have been using their parking spaces for other purposes and parking vehicles occupying city roads," DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque told The Daily Star.
"We have sent the list of buildings to the Rajuk authorities, asking them for taking measures immediately," he said. "We also assured Rajuk of providing forces for assistance in enforcing its rules."
At a meeting at the communications ministry on August 20, the DMP commissioner made a commitment to take initiatives to free the capital's parking spaces in association with Rajuk.
Talking to The Daily Star, Rajuk's Development Control Director SK Abdul Mannan admitted that they received the list of buildings. He said they have already sent letters to the authorities of these buildings, asking them to open their car parks.
"On humanitarian grounds, we have given them time up to Eid vacation for taking steps in this regard. After then actions will be launched against buildings that fail to abide by," Mannan said, adding, "We are also publishing advertisements in this regard in different dailies."
Replying to a query, he said, "It will not be possible to go for action against all the buildings, mainly the government ones. We will request them to arrange alternative ways."
Sources said there are hundreds of buildings, which are not on the list, that use their car parks for other purposes and park vehicles occupying roads while hundreds of others have no parking grounds.
According to the DMP survey, buildings in Sutrapur Traffic Zone that use parking spaces for other purposes are Salauddin Bhaban and Russell Centre at Hatkhola, Nabarun Bhaban, Shubhechchha Plaza, Mamun Plaza and Delwar Complex on Shaheed Nazrul Islam Road, and Motaleb Mansion, Ittefaq Bhaban and Inqilab Bhaban on RK Mission Road.
Buildings in Sabujbagh Traffic Zone are Bengal Knitex, Mamtaj Memorial, Update Dental College, Hotel Jamini, Maps Diagnostic Centre and Kamalapur High School on Atish Dipankar Road, Nahar Tower, holding-69/5 and Niloy at Khilgaon railway gate, Malibagh Supermarket at Malibagh Chowdhury Para, Chowdhury Fashion, Malibagh Market, Dragon Tower, Green Tower, Owners' Apparels, holding-475 and Ashraf Fashion on DIT Road, Alam Sweets, Agrani Apparels and Mollah Tower in west Rampura, Altaf Tower, Alauddin Tower, Ambia Point and Hotel Jonaki in east Rampura, holding-58 in east Hajipara, Jamuna Bank at Hajipara, Chand Plaza, and Hotel Miraj in Chowdhury Para.
The buildings in Motijheel Traffic Zone are Adamjee Court, Uttara Bank, Sonali Bank, Bangladesh Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank, Dhaka Bank, Amin Court, Karim Chamber, Toyota Building, Stock Exchange Building, Ejaz Chamber and City Bank at Motijheel, Pubali Bank, Asia Tower, City Bank, Rupali Bank, State Bank of India and Janata Insurance Company at Dilkusha, Shatabdi Tower at Fakirerpul, Jiban Bima Bhaban on Rajuk Avenue and ML Village at Shantinagar.
Buildings identified in Mirpur Traffic Zone are Almas Tower on Mazar Road, Mukto Bangla Shopping Complex, Rabiul Plaza, Baghdad Shopping Complex, Prince Hotel, Bata Bazar-Prince Fast Food, Mukti Plaza, Muktijoddha Huq Plaza, Islam Plaza, Sweden Plaza and holding-9 in Mirpur Section-1.
In Pallabi Zone, Limo Showroom at Senpara Parbata, Hatil showroom at Shewrapara, Probal Community Centre at Kazipara, FIR Tower at Shewrapara, Meen Tower at Shewrapara, Upama Plaza at Mirpur Section-6, Kari Family Shopping Mall at Mirpur Section-6, Patwary Tower at Mirpur Section-11, Sarat Mansion and Mirpur Diagnostic Centre at Mirpur Section-10.
In Dhanmondi Traffic Zone, Haji Joynal Bhaban, Zahir AC Market, Tuhin Mallik Market, Amena Mansion, Minita Plaza, Monsur Bhaban, Hotel D Amazan, Sunrise Bhaban, Gafur Mansion, Jahanara Bhaban, Bata Bazar, Chistia Super Market and Khairunnesa Mansion on Elephant Road.
Fatema Arcade, Dhanmondi Plaza, Badruddoza Super Market, Hawkers' Market, Noor Jahan Super Market, Kashba Centre, New Market, Gausia Market, Chandni Chawk Market, Rafin Plaza, Chandrima Market and Alta Plaza on Mirpur Road.
Zobaida Super Market, Lakeview Super Market and Brothers' Mansion at Kalabagan.
Baku Shah Market at Nilkhet, Mawla building, SS Steel and Chinese Restaurant at Panthapath.
Xinxian Chinese Restaurant, Asia Pacific Engineering, Star Kabab, Prime Bank, Kakoli High School, Almas Shopping Mall and Utsab Restaurant on Satmasjid Road.
In Ramna Traffic Zone, Pir Yemeni Market and Ramna Bhaban at Gulistan, Mouchak Market and Anarkoli Market at Siddeshwari.
In Kotwali Traffic Zone, Sundarban Square and Amin Super Market at Gulistan, Baitul Mir International at Fulbaria, Jahangir Tower at Islampur, Get One Super Market and Sultana Super Market at Sadarghat.
In Mohakhali Traffic Zone, Purbachal, holding-204/B/1, ACC Auto, G Tower, Holding-190, Meghna Group at Gulshan Link Road in Tejgaon.
Holdings H/72, H/61, H/49 and H/79 at Mohakhali and holdings H/79/D, H/79/E and H/79/G at Chairman Bari.
Holding H/79/H, Haji Sahabuddin Mansion, holdings H/83, H/82, H/81, H/80, H/79, H/78 and H/55 at Banani.
In Gulshan Traffic Zone, Gulshan Shopping Centre at Gulshan-1, Haji Super Market, ML Bhaban, Rahman Bhaban, Columbia Super Market, Square Centre and Siddique Tower (East West University) at Mohakhali.
In Badda Traffic Zone, Jamalpur Tower, Confidence Centre, Alliance Building, Suvastu Tower, Tropical Homes and West Wind Paint at Shajadpur.
Fuji Tower and Hossain Super Market at North Badda, AJ Heights, Hakim Tower, Bank Asia, Bepari Configure Tower, Pran RFL Centre, Shamsher Group Ltd, Kazi Shopping Centre, Hakim Plaza and Bhuter Adda Chinese Restaurant at Badda.
In Uttara Traffic Zone, BNS Centre, Sayeed Grand Centre and Mamtaj Mahal Party Centre in Uttara Sector-7, Hayes and Haier at Sector-9, Camp Fire Restaurant, Black Rose Hotel, holding-04 at Sector-6.
Singapore Plaza, Alauddin Tower, HM Plaza, Bailey Complex, Kushal Centre, London Plaza, AH Tower, AB Super Market and Amir Complex at Sector-3, Popular Diagnostic, Apex Gallery, AK Tower and Sea Cell at Sector-4.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Conoco, Tullow asked to initial PSCs for 3 offshore blocks
Petrobangla on Thursday invited US company ConocoPhillips and the Irish company Tullow Oil to initial the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) for the three offshore blocks as early as possible.
The state-run corporation, in separate letters to the companies, informed Conoco that the government had decided to award it deep sea Blocks 10 and 11 and told Tullow that it would be awarded shallow sea Block 5.
‘We have sent letters to the companies today, inviting them to initial the Production Sharing Contracts as early as possible. We are hoping that the agreements will be initialled after the Eid vacations,’ Petrobangla’s chairman, Muqtadir Ali, told New Age on Thursday.
This is the first time that the government has officially contacted the companies to ask them to sign the PSCs, in spite of criticism and protest, after they participated in the tender for the blocks in February-May 2008.
Conoco, which submitted tender for eight blocks, and Tullow will be given eight to nine years to complete exploration of the blocks to find deposits of hydrocarbon.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month approved Petrobangla’s proposal to award the blocks to the companies after the Cabinet committee on economic affairs, headed by finance minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, approved the awarding of the blocks on August 24.
Energy officials said that after the representatives of the government, Petrobangla and the two companies initialled the PSCs, the agreements would be sent to the law ministry for being vetted.
‘After the law ministry has vetted the PSCs, they will be signed by all the three parties,’ said an official.
Various rights groups, energy experts and left-leaning political parities have been protesting against the government’s decision to award the blocks on the plea that the PSCs would allow export of up to 80 per cent of the gas extracted by the two companies.
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, which is spearheading the protests, enforced a half-day hartal in the city to underline the demand for scrapping the government’s decision to include the provision for export of gas in the PSCs.
The committee also said that it would go for a tougher movement after October 16 if the government did not withdraw its decision by that time.
The parliamentary standing committee on the power and energy ministry on Wednesday claimed that the protesters were ‘misleading’ the people and that the PSCs would not allow gas export.
The committee said that the PSC would be discussed in the parliament as demanded by some lawmakers, and the parliamentary committee would hear the leaders of oil and gas committee.
The state-run corporation, in separate letters to the companies, informed Conoco that the government had decided to award it deep sea Blocks 10 and 11 and told Tullow that it would be awarded shallow sea Block 5.
‘We have sent letters to the companies today, inviting them to initial the Production Sharing Contracts as early as possible. We are hoping that the agreements will be initialled after the Eid vacations,’ Petrobangla’s chairman, Muqtadir Ali, told New Age on Thursday.
This is the first time that the government has officially contacted the companies to ask them to sign the PSCs, in spite of criticism and protest, after they participated in the tender for the blocks in February-May 2008.
Conoco, which submitted tender for eight blocks, and Tullow will be given eight to nine years to complete exploration of the blocks to find deposits of hydrocarbon.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month approved Petrobangla’s proposal to award the blocks to the companies after the Cabinet committee on economic affairs, headed by finance minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, approved the awarding of the blocks on August 24.
Energy officials said that after the representatives of the government, Petrobangla and the two companies initialled the PSCs, the agreements would be sent to the law ministry for being vetted.
‘After the law ministry has vetted the PSCs, they will be signed by all the three parties,’ said an official.
Various rights groups, energy experts and left-leaning political parities have been protesting against the government’s decision to award the blocks on the plea that the PSCs would allow export of up to 80 per cent of the gas extracted by the two companies.
The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, which is spearheading the protests, enforced a half-day hartal in the city to underline the demand for scrapping the government’s decision to include the provision for export of gas in the PSCs.
The committee also said that it would go for a tougher movement after October 16 if the government did not withdraw its decision by that time.
The parliamentary standing committee on the power and energy ministry on Wednesday claimed that the protesters were ‘misleading’ the people and that the PSCs would not allow gas export.
The committee said that the PSC would be discussed in the parliament as demanded by some lawmakers, and the parliamentary committee would hear the leaders of oil and gas committee.
World food aid at 20-year low, 1b hungry
Food aid is at a 20-year low despite the number of critically hungry people soaring this year to its highest level ever, the United Nations relief agency said Wednesday.
The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time, the UN World Food Programme said, adding that it is facing a serious budget shortfall.
To date the WFP has confirmed $2.6 billion in funding for its 2009 budget of $6.7 billion.
‘This comes at a time of great vulnerability for the hungry,’ the WFP said in a statement.
‘Millions have been buffeted by the global financial downturn, their ability to buy food is limited by stubbornly high prices,’ the WFP said.
The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time, the UN World Food Programme said, adding that it is facing a serious budget shortfall.
To date the WFP has confirmed $2.6 billion in funding for its 2009 budget of $6.7 billion.
‘This comes at a time of great vulnerability for the hungry,’ the WFP said in a statement.
‘Millions have been buffeted by the global financial downturn, their ability to buy food is limited by stubbornly high prices,’ the WFP said.
BARAPUKURIA COALMINE Affected villagers besiege mining office for compensation
Hundreds of residents of the ten villages affected by land subsidence caused by coal-mining in Barapukuria on Thursday besieged the office of the mining company for about three hours, demanding due compensation.
They gathered in front of the office of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd at around 11:00am, demanding full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding that the villagers and the mining authorities had signed in May for payment of compensation for subsidence of their land.
Scuffling and chase and counter-chase took place between the protesters and the police at one point after the latter were deployed in the area. Angry people pelted the office building with brickbats and shattered the window panes.
The people alleged that although the authorities signed the MoU three months back, they were yet to get full compensation for subsidence of their land. The authorities have distributed around Tk 2 crore so far among the residents for the damage caused to their belongings like houses, schools and other establishments.
People complained that the authorities have also not informed them of what steps were being taken to compensate them.
However, the villagers stopped their protest programme after officials of the BCMCL assured them that their demands would be met soon, but in phases.
The managing director of the BCMCL, Md Quamruzzaman, told New Age that they had already given around Tk 2 crore to around 2,500 affected families of ten villages.
‘This amount was given as a lump sum on an emergency basis for compensating them for the damage caused to their establishments before we compensate them for subsidence of their lands. Each of the families got Tk 5,000-6,000 for each of the rooms in their homes. More will be given to them later,’ he said.
Quamruzzaman claimed that a few people with vested interest were instigating the general people to realise a huge amount of money from the government.
He said that the recent problem arose after they had fixed compensation for six Chatals (concrete yards for drying rice) at Tk 81,000, but the owners were demanding Tk 27 lakh. ‘These people are instigating the general people for realising the money,’ he claimed.
He said that Petrobangla had already taken up a Tk 300 crore project for compensating the villagers for loss of land and also acquiring land from them. ‘Once this project is approved by the government, the affected people will get the full compensation,’ he said.
The local people, however, said that they had participated in the demonstration as they had no knowledge of any project of the government for compensating them.
They gathered in front of the office of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd at around 11:00am, demanding full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding that the villagers and the mining authorities had signed in May for payment of compensation for subsidence of their land.
Scuffling and chase and counter-chase took place between the protesters and the police at one point after the latter were deployed in the area. Angry people pelted the office building with brickbats and shattered the window panes.
The people alleged that although the authorities signed the MoU three months back, they were yet to get full compensation for subsidence of their land. The authorities have distributed around Tk 2 crore so far among the residents for the damage caused to their belongings like houses, schools and other establishments.
People complained that the authorities have also not informed them of what steps were being taken to compensate them.
However, the villagers stopped their protest programme after officials of the BCMCL assured them that their demands would be met soon, but in phases.
The managing director of the BCMCL, Md Quamruzzaman, told New Age that they had already given around Tk 2 crore to around 2,500 affected families of ten villages.
‘This amount was given as a lump sum on an emergency basis for compensating them for the damage caused to their establishments before we compensate them for subsidence of their lands. Each of the families got Tk 5,000-6,000 for each of the rooms in their homes. More will be given to them later,’ he said.
Quamruzzaman claimed that a few people with vested interest were instigating the general people to realise a huge amount of money from the government.
He said that the recent problem arose after they had fixed compensation for six Chatals (concrete yards for drying rice) at Tk 81,000, but the owners were demanding Tk 27 lakh. ‘These people are instigating the general people for realising the money,’ he claimed.
He said that Petrobangla had already taken up a Tk 300 crore project for compensating the villagers for loss of land and also acquiring land from them. ‘Once this project is approved by the government, the affected people will get the full compensation,’ he said.
The local people, however, said that they had participated in the demonstration as they had no knowledge of any project of the government for compensating them.
Bibiyana has more gas than estimated, claims Chevron
American company Chevron has submitted to the Petrobangla a new estimate of gas reserve in the Bibiyana field, putting the ‘proven recoverable reserve’ at 4.4 trillion cubic feet, up by a staggering amount of 2.7 TCF, said Petrobangla officials.
Energy officials at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday presented the new estimate of gas reserve in the country’s second largest gas-field.
As per the new estimate, the ‘gas in place or proven gas reserve’ of the field has been put at 6.6 trillion cubic feet, of which 4.4 TCF is recoverable, said Petrobangla officials. The earlier estimate had showed that the proven gas reserve was around 2.51 TCF, and Petrobangla had estimated that around 60-70 per cent of the reserve was recoverable.
‘The PM told the meeting that it was good news for the country that the Bibiyana gas reserve was much higher than the earlier estimate. She was hopeful that more gas would be found,’ said a source who was present at the meeting.
Petrobangla officials said that Chevron submitted its new estimate, made by another US consultant, Degolyer and MacNaughton, on September 13.
‘We have now formed a committee to scrutinise the company’s new estimate. If the findings are right, production at the Bibiyana gas-field could be increased to around 1,000 million cubic feet per day in the next two years from the present production of 670mmcfd,’ Petrobangla’s chairman Muqtadir Ali told New Age on Thursday.
He said that the new estimate puts the total ‘proven plus provable reserve’ at more than 7 TCF and the ‘proven plus probable plus possible’ reserve at more than 8 TCF.
He claimed that the new estimate would remove the confusion surrounding the gas reserve and daily production rate at the Bibiyana field.
Energy experts and a seven-member expert committee of Petrobangla had earlier criticised Petrobangla for allowing Chevron to extract more than 450mmcfd of gas as the second estimate of gas reserve by another US company, Ryder and Scott, had put the proven reserve at 2.51 TCF.
After the initial estimate of Degolyer and MacNaughton put the proven reserve at 1.2 TCF in 2000, Chervon and Petrobangla agreed to appoint Ryder and Scott for again estimating the reserve.
After Ryder and Scott put the proven reserve at 2.51 TCF in 2008, Chevron insisted on a further study of the reserve and Petrobangla earlier this year allowed Chevron to appoint D&M.
‘When the two initial estimates were made, there was no data on gas pressure in the wellhead. After three years of production, D&M got all the data and found the “gas in place” or “proven reserve” of the field at 6.6 TCF, of which 4.4 TCF was recoverable,’ said Muqtadir.
One of the members of expert committee that scrutinised the report of the second estimate of the Ryder and Scott, however, was sceptical about the estimate.
‘The data we went through showed there was undeveloped proven reserve. I do not know whether they counted the undeveloped proven reserve to show a larger gas reserve. I will have to go through the detailed report of the D&M before making any comment,’ he said.
Muqtadir, however, said that all the data on gas pressure in the Bibiyana gas-field showed that the reserve would be higher than what Ryder and Scott had estimated.
The Titas gas-field of the Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd is the largest gas-field in the country with a proven reserve of 9 TCF.
Energy officials at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday presented the new estimate of gas reserve in the country’s second largest gas-field.
As per the new estimate, the ‘gas in place or proven gas reserve’ of the field has been put at 6.6 trillion cubic feet, of which 4.4 TCF is recoverable, said Petrobangla officials. The earlier estimate had showed that the proven gas reserve was around 2.51 TCF, and Petrobangla had estimated that around 60-70 per cent of the reserve was recoverable.
‘The PM told the meeting that it was good news for the country that the Bibiyana gas reserve was much higher than the earlier estimate. She was hopeful that more gas would be found,’ said a source who was present at the meeting.
Petrobangla officials said that Chevron submitted its new estimate, made by another US consultant, Degolyer and MacNaughton, on September 13.
‘We have now formed a committee to scrutinise the company’s new estimate. If the findings are right, production at the Bibiyana gas-field could be increased to around 1,000 million cubic feet per day in the next two years from the present production of 670mmcfd,’ Petrobangla’s chairman Muqtadir Ali told New Age on Thursday.
He said that the new estimate puts the total ‘proven plus provable reserve’ at more than 7 TCF and the ‘proven plus probable plus possible’ reserve at more than 8 TCF.
He claimed that the new estimate would remove the confusion surrounding the gas reserve and daily production rate at the Bibiyana field.
Energy experts and a seven-member expert committee of Petrobangla had earlier criticised Petrobangla for allowing Chevron to extract more than 450mmcfd of gas as the second estimate of gas reserve by another US company, Ryder and Scott, had put the proven reserve at 2.51 TCF.
After the initial estimate of Degolyer and MacNaughton put the proven reserve at 1.2 TCF in 2000, Chervon and Petrobangla agreed to appoint Ryder and Scott for again estimating the reserve.
After Ryder and Scott put the proven reserve at 2.51 TCF in 2008, Chevron insisted on a further study of the reserve and Petrobangla earlier this year allowed Chevron to appoint D&M.
‘When the two initial estimates were made, there was no data on gas pressure in the wellhead. After three years of production, D&M got all the data and found the “gas in place” or “proven reserve” of the field at 6.6 TCF, of which 4.4 TCF was recoverable,’ said Muqtadir.
One of the members of expert committee that scrutinised the report of the second estimate of the Ryder and Scott, however, was sceptical about the estimate.
‘The data we went through showed there was undeveloped proven reserve. I do not know whether they counted the undeveloped proven reserve to show a larger gas reserve. I will have to go through the detailed report of the D&M before making any comment,’ he said.
Muqtadir, however, said that all the data on gas pressure in the Bibiyana gas-field showed that the reserve would be higher than what Ryder and Scott had estimated.
The Titas gas-field of the Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd is the largest gas-field in the country with a proven reserve of 9 TCF.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
MARITIME BOUNDARIES
Bangladesh will take time, at least several months, to raise its objection at the United Nations to New Delhi’s claim over certain areas in the Bay of Bengal which has led to a dispute over demarcating maritime boundaries between the two neighbours.(The Newage)Foreign ministry officials told New Age that India has already submitted its claim on maritime delimitation to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, a UN body to deal with the law of the seas, in May 2009, one month ahead of its deadline.‘The commission is scheduled to ask Indian authorities for the hearing over its submission by March, 2010 and we are preparing to submit our response on Indian claims immediately before the hearing,’ said an official dealing with the process of Bangladesh’s claims over maritime boundary.Officials in Dhaka said that they were working out the country’s response to the Indian claims in the Bay of Bengal, but preferred to take time to strengthen its claims incorporating various arguments.With regards to delimitation of maritime boundary, the two South Asian neighbours have contentions over two areas—that of natural prolongation of the continental shelf and the baseline.India has argued that the course of the natural prolongation of continental shelf is from east to west which is rejected by Bangladesh saying it is from north to south.For delimitation of maritime boundary both Bangladesh and India have some overlapping claims on baselines.Bangladesh is preparing its case for extraction of marine resources, especially gas exploration, in the Bay of Bengal, but has not been able to invite tenders for block biddings as its maritime boundary has not been demarcated as yet.According to the United Nations Convention on Law of the Seas, Bangladesh must demarcate its sea boundaries by July 27, 2011, India by June 29, 2009 and Myanmar by May 21, 2009.‘We are taking preparations to put forward our objection at the UN by June to Myanmar’s claim and by November to India’s claim in the Bay of Bengal,’ an official involved with the issue told New Age.Myanmar has already submitted its claim on maritime delimitation to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, and Bangladesh put its response at the UN to Myanmar’s claim in July, 2009.As per the UN provision, claims submitted by any country would not be taken for final consideration before settling the objection raised by a neighbouring country which might have overlapping claims.Bangladesh resumed negotiations with India and Myanmar last year, during the regime of the military-controlled interim government, after a lapse of almost three decades.Dhaka opted to go for negotiations as India and Myanmar recently opposed Bangladesh’s offshore block biddings for exploration of oil and gas even within its own territorial waters as Dhaka did not have an internationally accepted exclusive economic zone.Bangladesh has problems with India and Myanmar on the issue of ‘starting point’ on how to mark the coastlines from the exclusive economic zone that has apparently overlapped claims of the three neighbouring countries due to the funnel-like shape of the Bay of Bengal.A country is supposed to enjoy its rights to fish and extract and explore other marine resources in its exclusive economic zone, an area of 200 nautical miles into an adjacent sea, according to international maritime law.
Ultimatum served on Govt to cancel gas lease out decision
The half-day hartal enforced by National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports in the city from 6 AM on Monday passed off peacefully without any major trouble. During the hartal hours traffic movement in the streets was thin, and attendance in schools, colleges, business centres and offices was relatively poor.However, life and business returned to normal after the hartal hours were over.Meanwhile, at the end of the hartal programme the oil, gas, committee served an ultimatum on the government to cancel by October 15, the decision to lease out three off-shore gas blocks to foreign companies with a provision for gas export.bdnews24.com adds: A half-day hartal in capital Dhaka, the first in nearly three years, ended at midday on Monday, having been loosely enforced by a citizen's pressure group. The National Committee on Protection of Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Port and Power ended the general strike with an ultimatum to the government. The committee called the hartal protesting the government's recently announced gas exploration deals with international companies. Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, convener of the citizen's pressure group said, "the government is hereby given up to October 15 to meet our five-point charter of demands, or the committee will call for a national conference on Oct 16," said Shahidullah. The national conference will decide further rigid programmes such as rallies, hartals, he said. The five-point charter of demands includes the cancellation of the model oil-gas distribution agreements, cancellation of leases given to two foreign firms for three offshore blocks, formulation of new model production-sharing contract ensuring 100 percent public ownership, full implementation of Phulbari Agreement 2006 and punishment to the attackers of member secretary Anu Muhammad and others. The hartal was enforced most strictly in the area between Paltan and Shahbagh with strong picketing. Student activists of left-leaning political organisations vandalised two buses in the morning at Shahbagh intersection. Police kept all approaches barricaded to the Paltan and Shahbagh intersections and only rickshaws plied. Vehicles were thin on the Airport Road during the hartal hours. Most educational institutions remained closed due to the strike, and office goers made arrangements other than cars to get to work, emptying the streets of traffic.
'Waterways to decrease significantly for Tipaimukh dam'
Speakers at a discussion yesterday said the country's waterways would decrease significantly if the proposed Tipaimukh dam is constructed, as its consequences would result in loss of navigability of rivers.
They called on the government to settle the problems with India through talks regarding water sharing in all the joint rivers on which India has built large or small dams.
They said this at the discussion on the probable impacts of Tipaimukh Dam in the country's rivers and waterways organised by MN Creations at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.
Owners of launches, oil tankers and river experts participated in the discussion.
Senior Vice-President of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carriers) Md Badiuzzaman Badal said Tipaimukh dam would result in significant loss of our waterways, adding that the government needs to sit with its Indian counterparts to solve the water-sharing problems with the neighbouring country.
“Not only the Tipaimukh dam is posing a threat to our rivers, but also many other small dams have been built over different common rivers,” he said.
“Rivers have been the lifelines of our economy for decades, but our governments have hardly paid any attention to the development of waterways,” Badal added.
Dr Ataur Rahman of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) in his presentation said the result would not be good if the proposed Tipaimukh Dam be built.
He said the navigability of rivers might decrease and, as a result, the salinity in the rivers increase and there would be a threat to the ecosystem in haors (water bodies) of Sylhet region.
The speakers said the countrymen should be given the exact information about the probable impacts of Tipaimukh dam and both India and Bangladesh should conduct a joint study on the environmental impacts.
Golam Kibria Tipu, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry, and Dr Shahriar Iqbal, associate professor of Buet, were also present.
They called on the government to settle the problems with India through talks regarding water sharing in all the joint rivers on which India has built large or small dams.
They said this at the discussion on the probable impacts of Tipaimukh Dam in the country's rivers and waterways organised by MN Creations at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.
Owners of launches, oil tankers and river experts participated in the discussion.
Senior Vice-President of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carriers) Md Badiuzzaman Badal said Tipaimukh dam would result in significant loss of our waterways, adding that the government needs to sit with its Indian counterparts to solve the water-sharing problems with the neighbouring country.
“Not only the Tipaimukh dam is posing a threat to our rivers, but also many other small dams have been built over different common rivers,” he said.
“Rivers have been the lifelines of our economy for decades, but our governments have hardly paid any attention to the development of waterways,” Badal added.
Dr Ataur Rahman of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) in his presentation said the result would not be good if the proposed Tipaimukh Dam be built.
He said the navigability of rivers might decrease and, as a result, the salinity in the rivers increase and there would be a threat to the ecosystem in haors (water bodies) of Sylhet region.
The speakers said the countrymen should be given the exact information about the probable impacts of Tipaimukh dam and both India and Bangladesh should conduct a joint study on the environmental impacts.
Golam Kibria Tipu, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry, and Dr Shahriar Iqbal, associate professor of Buet, were also present.
2 Bangladeshis gunned down by BSF along Dinajpur border
Dinajpur, Sep 14 (UNB) - Indian Border Security Force (BSF) gunned down two Bangladeshi nationals along Tajpur frontier in Chirirbandar upazila on Monday morning.The deceased were identified as Ruhul Amin, 30, and Mohsin, 18.According to BDR sources, the BSF members opened fire on the two at around 6 am while they were working in their field, leaving them dead on the spot.They said the BSF troops then intruded into Bangladesh territory and dragged away the bodies to their camp.Earlier on Saturday, BSF members shot two other Bangladeshis to death along Sundara border in the district.
39 extra-judicial killings in 6 weeks
One more person was killed in crossfire in Barisal on Tuesday taking the total of extra-judicial killings across the country during the last six weeks from 1 August to 15 September to 39. According to UNB, A regional leader of the outlawed 'Sarbahara Party' was killed in a gunfight between his accomplices and law-enforcers in Shwashanghat area undern Batajore Union of Gournadi upazila early Tuesday.(TBT Report)The deceased was identified as Babul Sardar, 35, regional leader of Zia Group of Sarbahara party and a resident of Batajore area.Police said a patrol team of Rapid Action Battalion and police was deployed on Monday in the area where crimes were reported rampant in recent days. But, some members of the Zia Group fired gun shots on the patrol team at about 3:30am, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight. "Babul was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while his accomplices fled the scene," said a spot account of the incident.Earlier, on Monday two more alleged terrorists were killed in crossfire in separate incidents in Dhaka and Kushtia. With them at least 38 people were killed in shootout with RAB and Police from August 1 to September 14. According to Human rights watchdog Odhikar 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August and most of them occurring in the southwestern region. The human-rights organizations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside. RAB recently said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until August 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004.
Trial of mutiny to be held under BDR Act, killing and looting under Speedy Trial Tribunal
The rebel border guards will be tried under the BDR Act for mutiny while the trial of the felonies like killings, looting, arson and so during the February 25-26 carnage will be conducted under the penal code by speedy trial tribunals.(UNB, Dhaka)After the Supreme Court disapproved of trial of the mutineers in the paramilitary force under the Army Act, the government on Tuesday took the decision on the trial mode in the light of the apex court's opinion on presidential reference on the legal puzzles. Briefing reporters after an hour-long inter-ministerial meeting at the Law Ministry, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said those who were involved in the mutiny and those indulged in killing, looting and other offences would be identified through investigation.The maximum punishment provided in the BDR act is seven years' imprisonment. He said the investigation has almost been completed and the charge sheet will be finalized towards the end of October while the trial process is expected to start at the beginning of November this year.The accused in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny case can appoint their lawyers in order to make the trial process transparent, he told the journalists."The dilemma over the trial of BDR mutiny has come to an end," said the Law Minister.However, notwithstanding the SC opinion, today's inter-ministerial meeting agreed in principle on a proposal for holding trial of such mutiny under the Army Act by issuing notification.Referring to the presidential reference to the Supreme Court, the Law Minister said the 11-member full bench of the Appellate Division headed by the Chief Justice opined that the mutineers cannot be tried under the army act. But the judges gave some observations.In the light of the observations of the Appellate Division, Barrister Shafique said, the BDR men involved in killing, looting and other related offences can be tried under the penal code.The inter-ministerial meeting was presided over by Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed. It was attended by Home Minister Sahara Khatun, State Minister for Law Adv Qamrul Islam, State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Islam Tuku, BDR chief Maj Gen Mainul Islam, the Law Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Attorney General, additional Attorney General and the Army Judge Advocate General.According to available information, a total of 74 people, including 57 army officers who were in the commanding positions in the border force, one army sepoy, two family members of army officers, eight BDR jawans and seven civilians were killed during the February 25-26 massacre inside the Pilkhana BDR headquarters. A total of 41 cases were filed in connection with the BDR mutiny at its Pilkhana headquarters. Of them, one case was filed in Dhaka while the rest in other places, prosecution sources said.Sources said that law-enforces have arrested a total of 1,974 border guards and 31 civilians in connection with the Pilkhana massacre. The main case on the carnage was filed with Lalbagh police station in Dhaka.hartal by a citizens
A half-day hartal by a citizens’ pressure group was observed partially in the capital on Monday in protest against the government’s decision to lease out three gas blocks to international oil giants.Local units of the group also staged demonstrations in different districts as a part of the programme.The National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port, backed by a section of left-leaning political parties, enforced the 6:00am-12:00 noon hartal – the first since the Awami League-led alliance government assumed office in January. The committee gave the government a fresh one-month ultimatum to fulfil its five-point charter of demands, including punishment of the persons responsible for the police attack on its activists on September 2.The government on August 24 approved oil and gas exploration deals with US ConocoPhillips and Ireland’s Tullow Oil Ltd in three offshore blocks.The police beat up protesters, including the committee’s member-secretary professor Anu Muhammad, on September 2 when they were marching towards the headquarters of the state-owned Petrobangla.Pro-hartal pickets started assembling at Purana Paltan, Shahbagh, Mirpur section 10, Asad Gate, Science Laboratory crossing, Plassey crossing, Malibagh, Shanir Akhra, Jatrabari, Bahadur Shah Park and Sadarghat from early in the morning. They held rallies and brought out processions asking the city dwellers to observe the hartal.Police set up barricades at all approaches to Purana Paltan and Shahbagh intersections and the Dhaka University area and diverted traffic elsewhere.Attendance at government and private offices, including the secretariat, was thin in the morning and the number of visitors to the administrative headquarters was remarkably low.Most of the educational institutions remained closed. Banks operated covertly keeping only their back doors open and the city malls started business late.Tarffic was thin during the hartal hours as s few public and private buses plied the city roads while the number of cars was very low. Rickshaws plied the roads without major disruptions.Inter-district buses delayed their journey from Gabtoli, Mahakhali and Sayedabad terminals due to shortage of passengers. Trains, however, left the city on time.Protesters picketed Purana Paltan area till noon. Mujahidul Islam Selim, MM Akash, Morshed Ali and Ruhin Hossain Prince of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Khalequzzaman, Bazlur Rashid Firoj and Razequzzaman Ratan of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Tipu Biswas of Jatiya Gana Front, Abdus Salam of Ganatantrik Majdur Party, Saiful Huq of Revolutionary Workers Party, Mushrefa Mishu of Democratic Revolutionary Party, Haider Akbar Khan Rano and Azizur Rahman of Workers Party (reconstituted), and Zonayed Saki of Ganasanghati Andolan led processions of respective organisations in the Paltan area.The national committee convener Sheikh Muhammad Shaheedullah led a separate procession.Cultural organisation Udichi Shilpi Gosthi entertained crowds at the intersection in the midst of rallies and processions.Pickets damaged two buses in front of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and beside the National Museum at around 7:00am prompting police to divert traffic from Sheraton, Matsya Bhaban and Kantaban crossings.Progressive Student Alliance held a rally in front of Aparajeya Bangla at Dhaka University expressing solidarity with the movement of the national committee.The protesters also burned copies of Bengali dailies Prothom Alo and Amader Samay at different places denouncing what they called their editorial stance against the movement to protect national resources.Deputy commissioner of Ramna zone, Atiqul Islam termed peaceful the situation during the hartal hours. ‘Law and order was totally under control… No violent incidents took place in the capital,’ he said.After the end of the hartal, the national committee held a rally at Muktangan and asked the government to fulfil its five-point charter of demands by October 15.‘We give the government until October 15 to meet our five-point charter of demands, or on October 16, the committee will call a national conference to decide tougher action programmes, including hartals and siege,’ Sheikh Muhammad Shaheedullah told the rally.The five-point charter of demands includes cancellation of the model oil-gas distribution contract 2008, cancellation of the proposed lease of three offshore blocks to foreign firms, formulation of a new model production-sharing contract ensuring 100 percent public ownership, full implementation of the Phulbari agreement 2006 and punishment of those responsible for the attack on Anu Muhammad and others on September 2.The committee will continue its campaign till October 15 to garner support for the demands.The national committee also staged demonstrations in divisional and district headquarters, including Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal, Sylhet and Rangpur.Some 50 people under the banner of the national committee brought out a procession and staged protest in front of the DC office in Barisal.In Khulna, the national committee brought out a procession from Shaheed Hadis park and paraded the city roads.The Rangpur district unit of the national committee held a rally and brought out a procession from the local press club vowing to continue the movement until demands were fulfilled.
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