US, UK tried to block Bangladesh creation
November 25, 2008
The US and UK tried to persuade a top advocate of Bangladesh to help roll back the country’s liberation struggle in 1971, citing future threats from “Hindu majority India”, says a book by a former Indian diplomat. Reports Times of Idia. But Justice Abu Sayeed Choudhury, who was based in London, not only rejected the Western interventions but personally conveyed the secret American move to then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Campaign, media restrictions go
November 4, 2008
The government has revoked clauses 5 and 6 of Emergency Powers Rules 2007, removing media restrictions and barriers to campaign rallies and processions, an announcement said Monday
Parliamentary and Upazila candidates will now be able to assemble supporters and organise rallies in accordance with the Representation of the People Order 1972 and the 2008 Upazila law, a home ministry circular said.
Cyclone Reshmi wrecks devastation in South-West
October 28, 2008
At least 9 killed, livestock perish, many houses and crops damaged
UNB, Dhaka
Cyclone ‘Reshmi’ swept over southwestern coastal belts of the country early on Monday, leaving at least nine people dead and many houses and crops on vast tracts of land damaged.
Three people were killed in Patuaknali while two each in Barisal, Chandpur and Bhola districts during the late-night scourge over the coast.
Several hundred cattle also perished in storms and tidal surge whipped by the cyclone that hit the coast at the dead of night, said reports from UNB district correspondents.
Hazera, 48, and Runa, 9, died when their houses collapsed on them in Char Fashion upazila of Bhola as this coastal district fell under the eye of the violent storm. The cyclonic storm destroyed nearly 3,000 mud houses while tidal surge whipped by it washed away some parts of an embankment on this island of the Bay flooding a vast area.
The cyclone ripped through different upazilas of Bhola, Barisal, Pirojpur and Patuakhali districts and adjoining coastal areas, including Char Fashion, Patharghata, Saronkhola, Mothbaria, Golachipa, Mehendiganj, Bakerganj, Hijla and Muladi, from nearly 3am to 5:30am.
Manirul Islam, officer-in-Charge of Mehendiganj upazila of Barisal, said the dead body of Ainal Khan, 71, was recovered from Maskata River on Monday morning.
Badrul Huq, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Muladi, said Fakrunnesa, 40, of Boalia village died as a tree blew down on her.
Barisal Water Development Board and Port authority sources said a portion of the town-protection embankment got severely damaged.
On Nov 15 last year, super-cyclone Sidr also moved through the Barisal-Khulna region from the Bay of Bengal and eventually pounded the Sunderbans mangrove forest and its neighborhoods. Thereafter, another cyclone codenamed Nargis in May this year finally changed its course into Myanmar with a devastating force.
In Bagerhat, worst hit by last year’s Sidr, the sea-storm Reshmi damaged over 500 thatched houses and capsized 15 fishing trawlers in the Bay. Over 50 fishermen of these trawlers were reported missing.
The storm also damaged standing crops on vast tracts of land in the coastal areas of the district situated in the vicinities of the Sunderbans and uprooted hundreds of trees.
Alauddin, a farmer of Kachikhali, said 15 trawlers sank with 150 fishermen off different areas, including Dublar char, Katka, Meheralirchar and Narkelbaria while Reshmi was crossing over the district. Of them, over 100 managed to swim ashore while the rest went missing. Power remained cut-off since Sunday midnight as a number of trees and their branches crashed on the electric lines.
Acting Chairman of Mongla Port M Lutfar Rahman said loading and unloading of goods from cargo ships have halted at the seaport since Sunday morning. “At present four ships berthed in the port and all vessels are safe.”
In Patuakhali, three people were killed and at least 11 others, including nine fishermen, were missing and around 5,000 thatched houses damaged by the cyclonic storm.
Ranjit Kumar, upazila nirbahi officer of Kolapara upazila of Patuakhali, said that Narayan Chandra Mistri, 47, of Kalapara town died of heart attack when his family members were frantically searching for safe shelter amid raging storms.
Besides, bodies of two unidentified fishermen were recovered from Char Gangamoti area on Monday morning.
District Control room sources said the cyclone damaged standing crops in 7500 acres of land, 4,906 thatched houses and 50 fish enclosures.
Cross-dam was damaged at four points in Kolapara uapzila and one point in Golachipa upazila. Many people have been marooned in the char areas for the sudden flooding by tidal water. Officer-in-Charge of Dashmina thana said 11 people remained missing in Kolapara and Golachipa uapzilas while over 200 cattle perished in char areas. River-port authority said the plying of vessels on all routes has been suspended.
In Khulna, vast tracts of land in Dakop and Koira upazilas were submerged as two cross- dams of Water Development Board gave in under a surge of water early Monday.
Over 400 fish enclosures were also washed away and over 200 thatched houses damaged as the seawater entered through the breaches in the dam at about 1:30am.
Dakop Upzila Nirbahi Officer M Mohsin Ali said a fishing-trawler and 18 boats were overturned by the storms in Sibsha river in the early hours of the day. But the fishermen managed to swim ashore. Several hundred dwellings and educational institutions were damaged while over 200 cattle died as Reshmi lashed Noakhali district at midnight.
Besides, the cyclonic storm also battered electric poles in some areas, disrupting power supply.
In Chandpur, two people were killed as a tree fell on them during the storm.
One of the deceased was identified as Sahabuddin, 40, of Faridganj upazila but the minor boy killed in Hajiganj uapzila could not be identified.
Besides, 1,000 thatched houses were damaged in Kochua, Saharasti, Matlab North, Haimchar, Faridganj and Sadar uapzilas.
Meanwhile, the cyclone turned into land depression after crossing over the coast. Moving through Faridpur, Madaripur, Chandpur and Dhaka and adjoining areas towards north-northeast direction and was lying over Meghalaya and adjoining Bangladesh, a latest Met bulletin said.
“It is likely to move in a northeasterly direction further inland and weaken gradually. Steep pressure gradient persists over North Bay. Squally weather may continue to affect the maritime ports,” it said.
Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla seaports have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three rpt three. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
Source: The Bangladesh Today
Schedules for JS and UZ polls on Nov 2
October 26, 2008
Convicted under EPR ineligible for contesting elections: CEC
Staff Correspondent
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda on Saturday said the schedule for long stalled 9th parliamentary and overdue upazilla polls would be declared on November 2.
“The EC is set to announce the schedules for general and upazilla polls by Nov 2. We hope that the next elections will be held in a free, fair manner,” said CEC while inaugurating a training programme on electoral laws and rules for deputy commissioners (DCs) of different districts across the country at National Economic Council Auditorium yesterday morning.
“The persons who have been convicted under the emergency power rules will not be eligible for contesting the ensuing elections. But if any one is convicted by any court under normal laws less then two years will be able to file nomination paper for contesting the elections,” CEC said.
He said the main agenda of election commission is to hold the next parliamentary elections in a meaningful manner so that it could get credibility at home and abroad.
“We the three election commissioners do not have any personal agenda rather our main goal is to present a credible general election to hand over the power to an elected government to strengthen the democracy for ensuring smooth development of the country,” Huda said.
He directed the deputy commission to work beyond threat and fear from the day of announcing schedule to holding the election in impartial manner.
“You will have to work fearlessly and this is a golden opportunity for the government officials to apply the electoral laws and rules to hold a credible election,” He said. “Only the EC has the right to direct the returning officers in terms of election purposes, even the Chief Adviser (CA) has no right to dictate the returning officers during election period.”
He asked the DC’s to be careful so that no voter is deprived of casting votes for such a silly mistake as spelling in names.
“Only the candidates of registered political parties would be able to contest the election in the forthcoming elections, this time the rebels in different parties will not get the opportunity to contest the elections,” He said.
On the occasion, other two election commissioners Sohul Hossain and Brig General (Retd) Shakhwat Hossain also spoke in the meeting.
Shakhawat said, “The EC has made the electoral laws after having a series of discussion with different professionals including political parties. Only the DC’s can play a vital role in holding the election in a free and impartial manner. In the ballots paper, there will be the symbols of registered political parties, so it will help voters in casting votes.”
“Earlier, many honest and qualified persons could not contest the polls as it was difficult for them to keep in election race against the black money holders and muscle powers,” he added.
Sohul Hossain said, “The long waited election is going to held on December 18. If we want to see an impartial election, you (DC’s) will have to play an important role in applying the electoral laws during elections.”
Source: The Bangladesh Today
Financial crisis threatens poverty reduction
October 18, 2008
Aid to poor countries is dwindling as rich ones pump trillions of dollars into their crumbling financial systems, threatening UN poverty reduction goals, the founder of the UN Millennium Goal Campaign said on Friday.
“If everybody lives up to their promise, they (the goals) are still reachable. If not, we are in a big trouble,” Eveline Herfkens said on the sidelines of an international food forum.
“When the financial markets sneeze, the poor get pneumonia.”
In 2000, United Nations’ members set the Millennium Development Goals to cut in half the number of people living on less than $1 a day, halve the number of people suffering from hunger and boost development aid by 2015.
“I really would hope that our finance ministers who find trillions of dollars to beef up their own systems will not forget about a few billions that they promised to the poor,” Herfkens told Reuters.
She said even before the crisis broke out aid to the poor countries was shrinking last year.
In a similar complaint, Jacques Diouf, head of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, said on Thursday his U.N. agency only received 10 percent of the $22 billion pledged in June to help fight hunger in poor countries.
Herfkens said the financial turmoil would hit developing countries in a variety of ways as poor countries are hammered by aid cuts and by falling demand from rich countries.
“It also means less access to credit for poor countries, less investment into poor countries,” she said.
Echoing her concerns, Milan Mayor and forum host Letizia Moratti said rich countries should open up their markets for products from less-developed nations.
“We need to rethink many of our policies, make them less selfish,” Moratti said in addressing the forum.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said all countries should act to keep the financial crisis from slowing down the fight against hunger.
Source: bdnews24
EC extends party registration deadline by 5 days
October 14, 2008
In the face of growing demand from BNP and its allies, the Election Commission has extended the deadline for collecting and submitting registration forms by five days from October 15 to Oct 20.
“Some major political parties including BNP and Jamaat appealed to the EC seeking extension of the deadline for registration with us. Considering their problems, we have decided to extend the timeframe by five days up to October 20,” Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda told reporters responding to a query at the EC secretariat yesterday.
However, the CEC said the deadline for completing the registration would not be changed. “There is no chance of changing the EC deadline for completing the registration of the political parties with the commission. From October 20 to Oct 30, in these 10 days the EC would scrutinize the documents submitted by the parties.” Huda added.
“It is impossible for the EC to extend the deadline any more as the EC is firmly determined to complete the registration of the political parties within the time frame set by commission. I hope all parties would be able to apply to the commission for registration within the extended deadline,” Huda said.
“The commission would not only scrutinize the constitutions of country’s established political parties, but it would also scrutinize extensively the new political parties before allowing them to get registered with EC,” Huda said.
Asked whether the emergency will be lifted before the parliamentary elections as per the demand of major political parties, CEC Huda replied, “The political parties should discuss with the caretaker government appraising their problems.”
Replying to a question about possible verdict over re-demarcation of the parliamentary constituencies, CEC hoped that the verdict would come in favour of the Election Commission.
Source: The Bangladesh Today
Pak troops fire on US helicopters
September 27, 2008
AP/UNB, Kabul
Pakistani soldiers fired at American helicopters that were escorting Afghan and US ground troops along the volatile border, sparking a five-minute ground battle between the countries which have been allies in the war on terrorism, officials said.
Attempting to play down Thursday’s incident - the first serious exchange with Pakistani forces acknowledged by the US - Pakistan’s president said only “flares” were fired at foreign helicopters that he said had strayed across the border from Afghanistan into his country.
The five-minute exchange, which could have easily escalated into a much bigger conflict, could heighten tensions at a time the United States is stepping up cross-border operations in a region known as a haven for Taliban and al-Qaida militants. It also came as new Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was in New York meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai was scheduled to meet with US President George W Bush on Friday.
Two American OH-58 reconnaissance helicopters, known as Kiowas, were on a routine patrol in the eastern province of Khost when they received small arms fire from the Pakistani border post, said Tech Sgt Kevin Wallace, a US military spokesman in Bagram. There was no damage to aircraft or crew, officials said. US Central Command spokesman Rear Adm Greg Smith said the helicopters had been escorting US troops and Afghan border police. When the helicopters were fired on, the ground forces fired rounds meant not to hit the Pakistani troops, but “to make certain that they realized they should stop shooting,” Smith said from Centcom headquarters in Florida.
The Pakistani forces fired back during a skirmish that lasted about five minutes. The joint patrol was moving about a mile inside Afghanistan, with the helicopters flying above, Smith said. The Pakistani military disputed the US version, saying its troops fired warning shots when the two helicopters crossed over the border - and that the US helicopters fired back. “When the helicopters passed over our border post and were well within Pakistani territory, own security forces fires anticipatory warning shots. On this, the helicopters returned fire and flew back,” a Pakistani military statement said.
In New York, Zardari said his military fired only “flares” at foreign helicopters that he claimed had strayed across the border from Afghanistan. Zardari said before his meeting with Rice that his forces fired only as a way “to make sure that they know that they crossed the border line.”
Later, in an emotion-charged speech at the U.N. General Assembly, Zardari vowed to continue the fight against terrorists but warned against allied incursions into Pakistan.
“Just as we will not let Pakistan’s territory to be used by terrorists for attacks against our people and our neighbors, we cannot allow our territory and our sovereignty to be violated by our friends,” Zardari said.
“Unilateral actions of great powers should not inflame the passions of allies,” he said.
The Pakistani military said the matter was “being resolved” in consultations between the army and the NATO force in Afghanistan. A NATO statement said the militaries were “working together to resolve the matter.”
The shooting comes amid a string of cross-border incidents, including a raid by American commandos into Pakistan’s tribal areas Sept 3 that angered many in Pakistan, and the apparent crash landing because of possible mechanical failure of a US spy drone this week in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Source: The Bangladesh Today
27th BCS results finally out
September 24, 2008
The results of 27th Bangladesh Civil Service examinations have been published after long delays and legal wrangles.
Chairman of the Public Service Commission Dr Sa’adat Hussain told bdnews24.com Tuesday: “The results have been published after 16 months of tireless efforts.”
“I had said last month the results would be out within 35 working days. We have managed to publish them before that.”
Some 10,412 examinees have passed the 27th BCS exams, with the names of 3,239 being recommended for appointment. Of them, 822 women have been recommended under the 25 percent female quota.
The PSC said the results have been published in two categories—a merit quota and a priority quota.
Allegations of question leaks, politicisation, bribery and nepotism over past years have marred the transparency of the BCS exams.
The PSC posted an advertisement on June 28, 2005 for the 27th BCS exams, seeking applications for 1,776 vacant posts.
As many as 1,36,105 people applied and 1,18,339 took the exams. Of them, over 26,000 examinees passed written tests. The authorities recalled 16,418 for vivas.
The PSC declared 3,567 candidates successful after the oral tests, asking the authorities to appoint them.
However, the interim cabinet cancelled the viva results of the 27th BCS exams on May 30, 2007, to “restore trust of the people in the Public Service Commission” and establish transparency in the wake of several news reports over irregularities.
Source: bdnews24
Web problems hit release of al Qaeda 9/11 video
September 23, 2008
An al Qaeda video to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks has appeared on the Internet more than a week late, after Islamist websites it uses went down and a technical glitch further delayed its distribution.
The delay of the much-touted 87-minute video, and the disappearance of the main Islamist sites — possibly after being targeted by hackers — have marred al Qaeda’s usual celebration of its attacks on US cities in 2001.
Excerpts from the video — a compilation of documentary footage and messages by al Qaeda leaders including its deputy head Ayman al-Zawahri — were aired on Sept. 8 by Al Jazeera television, which did not say how it obtained them.
But the full version hit websites only on Friday, eight days after the anniversary. Al Qaeda has marked the date in the past with timely releases, including a tape on Sept. 7 last year in which leader Osama bin Laden appeared on video for the first time in nearly three years, addressing the American people.
Al Qaeda attaches great importance to spreading web-based propaganda and know-how through its specialist media arm as-Sahab, whose productions are often highly professional.
It was unclear why the websites normally favoured by the group had gone down. By Saturday, the two most popular were still out of action.
TONGUE-IN-CHEEK
India’s Hindustan Times pointed the finger at Internet intelligence websites, which responded in tongue-in-cheek fashion.
Rusty Shackleford of My Pet Jawa (www.mypetjawa.mu.nu) denied his web group was behind any cyber-attack on the websites. “But if I was responsible I’d deny it,” he added.
Aaron Weisburd of www.internet-haganah.com wrote: “The actual reasons for this are not known to me (and I would say that even if I actually knew what was going on).”
When less popular Islamist websites finally managed to post links to the much-hyped video — which includes a “last will” recording by one of the Sept. 11 hijackers — downloaders noted that the password given to them was wrong.
This further delayed the release and unnerved al Qaeda sympathisers, one of whom wrote: “May God bless you my brothers, but the password is wrong.”
The video, in which Zawahri accused Iran of taking part in a Western “crusade” against Islam, showed apparently recent footage of senior al Qaeda figure Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, casting doubt on a report that he was killed on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan last month.
The closure of the Sunni websites coincided with an apparently widespread cyberattack which shut down some 300 Shi’ite Muslim sites, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. Fars blamed this on hardline Wahhabi Sunni hackers in the United Arab Emirates.
Hackers calling themselves Group XP took responsibility for defacing the website (www.sistani.org) of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s highest Shi’ite authority. The group said the Shi’ite sites were attacked for “offending Sunnis”.
Visitors could push a button to see US humorist Bill Maher making fun of Sistani’s religious edicts on a television show segment posted on youtube.com.
Source: bdnews24
Students protest as JU clears teacher of sex-scandal
September 14, 2008
Authorities of Jahangirnagar University have cleared head of the drama and dramatics department Md Sanwar Hossain in a sex-scandal case.
The decision, announced at 7pm Saturday after a special syndicate meeting, sparked widespread student unrest on the university campus.
The students started their protests when vice chancellor Muniruzzaman and other syndicate members handed waiting reporters a press release stating that they had cleared Hossain of all charges of sexual harassment against four female students due to a lack of evidence.
Students once again resorted to locking the vice-chancellor and other syndicate members from 7pm-9.30pm inside the administrative building to press their demand for sacking the accused teacher.
The disgruntled students also blocked the road in front of the administrative building and ransack several buses parked in the transport bay.
The incident also resulted in a number of injuries when police baton-charged the students in an attempt to bring the situation under control.
The meeting had started under strict police protection at 2.30 in the afternoon, with 10 out of 12 syndicate members present. Around 12 platoon police were deployed at different locations in the campus.
Police initially barred students from attempting to march on the administrative building, although a number succeeded in hearing the VC read out the decision from the press release.
It was at this point that the syndicate members were forced to retreat to the safety of the administrative building and were subsequently locked in.
Nazmul Alam, additional police super of Dhaka told bdnews24.com: “We work according to the order of the vice-chancellor.”
On July 29, the university authorities held a special syndicate meeting to discuss long-standing student demands for regulations to be enforced regarding sexual harassment, as well the allegations against Mr Hossain.
That meeting concluded without any decision and students laid siege to the vice chancellor and other syndicate members in the university’s administrative building overnight.
The following day they were released on condition that the accused teacher is suspended and regulations regarding sexual harassment implemented by Aug 5.
Chhatra Union president SM Shubho, leader of the protesting students, told bdnews24.com Tuesday: “We have held a demonstration today and will announce further action later.”
The original allegations were made on May 3 when four female students of the university’s drama department submitted a written statement accusing the drama teacher of improprieties.
A three-month boycott of the class ensued as demands for the removal of the teacher went on.
The JU authorities have so far formed three different committees to investigate the allegations against Sanwar Hossain.