British Airways refuses to fly Hasina to Dhaka:

British Airways refuses to fly Hasina to Dhaka

Dhaka court issues arrest warrant against her in Paltan killing caseStar ReportThe British Airways (BA) last night refused to fly former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from London to Bangladesh as a Dhaka court ordered her arrest in October 28 Paltan killing case.
A tearful Hasina left the airport at Bangladesh time 8:10pm after intense negotiations with the BA authorities, who told the Awami League (AL) chief that the government would not let the flight land in Dhaka if they carried her, Syed Nahas Pasha, editor of the largest circulated UK-based Bengali newsweekly Janamat, told The Daily Star over the phone.
Hasina, who had two British MPs with her during the negotiations, was also asked by BA authorities to consider the 'safety and security' of the passengers on the flight, who would be facing an uncertain fate with Hasina on board.
As an emotional Hasina was leaving the airport, she told reporters, "I am the daughter of the father of the nation. I will return to the country, for sure."
"Today an arrest warrant has been issued against me. Before that they imposed a ban on my return. I am ready to accept any consequences in the country. I want to be back with my people on my own soil. Whatever be my fate, I will return to Bangladesh," she said.
Asked whether she would stay in London or return to her son and daughter in the United States, Hasina said she will remain in London for now but decide her future soon.
The AL chief entered London's Heathrow airport at 7:15pm and was accompanied by British Labour Party MP Emily Thornberry, who later said that there must be some miscommunication that resulted in Hasina being barred from returning home.
Thornberry, who also engaged in negotiations with the BA authorities, told reporters that she would raise the issue with British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and also in British parliament.
Hasina was accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, other family members, and a number of UK-unit AL leaders and activists.
Arrest Warrant Against HasinaA Dhaka court yesterday issued arrest warrants against Awami League (AL) chief and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others after accepting the charge sheet in connection with the Paltan killings on October 28 last year.
The same court accepted the charge sheet submitted against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami and nine others for killing a Workers Party activist.
Two others who were issued arrest warrants yesterday are former home minister Mohammad Nasim and another AL activist Kiron alias Abdul Malek. They have been shown absconding in the charge sheet, even though Nasim is now in jail custody.
The investigation officer (IO) prayed to the court for issuance of arrest warrants against the accused 'fugitives' and confiscating their properties.
After scrutinising the case docket and other relevant documents of the case, Metropolitan Magistrate Mir Ali Reza passed the order on the IO's plea for issuance of arrest warrants against them.
But the court did not pass any order on the IO's plea for confiscating their movable properties.
The court directed the authorities concerned to send the copies of arrest warrant to the respective addresses of fugitives Hasina, Naism and Kiron.
Following the order, general recording office (GRO) sent a copy of arrest warrant issued against Hasina to the officer-in-charge (OC) of Dhanmondi Police Station yesterday.
Earlier on April 11, police pressed charges against Hasina, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu and 42 others for killing five Jamaat-e-Islami activists and injuring several others.
The IO dropped names of Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed and 14 others from the charge sheet, as the charges brought against them were not proved.
Of them, Roymohon Shil, Omar Faruq and Sumon are now in jail custody.
Forty others including Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Dr HBM Iqbal and Jahangir Kabir Nanak were earlier granted bail from the High Court.
Two sub-inspectors of detective branch (DB) had submitted the charge sheets in both cases to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka showing 91 people as prosecution witnesses.
Prior to the takeover of power by the caretaker government on October 28, seven people were killed in a fierce clash between activists of AL-led 14-party coalition and Jamaat-e-Islami in Paltan area. A day later Workers Party and Jamaat filed separate cases in connection with the same incident with Paltan Police Station.
In the case filed by Jamaat, complainant ATM Sirajul Islam, amir of the Paltan unit of the Islamist party, mentioned that on directives from AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu, the other accused killed five Jamaat activists and injured several others.
In the first information report the complainant had not named Hasina as an accused but the charge sheet had the AL chief as an accused.
The IO put Hasina's name at number 31 on the list of 46 accused as he claimed that the AL chief had been found to be involved in the incident.
Case Against Jamaat The same court yesterday accepted the charge sheet submitted against Matiur Rahman Nizami and nine others in connection with the killing of a Workers Party activist on October 28 last year.
The court also sent it to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court for taking next steps, as the case was ready for trial.
The IO of the case, AKM Idris Hossain, sub-inspector of the Detective Branch of police, pressed charges against 10 leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir for the killing of a Workers Party activist Rasel Ahmed Khan.
Nine others are former minister and Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Senior Secretary General of Jamaat Quamaruzzaman, Central Nayeb-e-Amir Mokbul Ahmed, Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam, Dhaka City Unit Amir of Jamaat Rafikul Islam, Paltan Unit Amir ATM Sirajul Islam, Islami Chhatra Shibir President Shafikul Islam Masud and its General Secretary Zahid Hossain, and President of Dhaka University Unit of Chhatra Shibir Shishir Monir.
On October 28 last year, activists of Jamaat and its student front Chhatra Shibir gathered in front of the north gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque and launched an attack on the AL-led 14-party coalition activists when they were passing through the area, the prosecution said.
The attack sparked a fierce battle between the rival political activists. During the battle, Shibir activists were found shooting with firearms.
Their rivals also reportedly launched a counter attack with oars and sticks.
Sheikh Hasina talks to newsmen at Heathrow Airport in London yesterday.Courtesy: Syed Nahas Pasha

Pahela Baishakh Bangla New Year 1414

Bangalees' biggest carnival todayStaff CorrespondentWith the sunrise ushering in Pahela Baishakh, people from all walks of life will welcome Bangla New Year 1414 today all over the country while most residents of the capital will throng Ramna Batomul to take part in the biggest carnival of the Bangalees.
Men in panjabi and pyjama, women in sari, and children in colourful dress--all will gather at traditional Baishakhi Mela (fair)--a major feature of the celebration of the first day of Bangla New Year. The celebrations also feature cultural functions at Ramna Udyan, Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University (DU), and other places in the capital and elsewhere.
The festivity starts off early in the morning with the gathering of thousands of people under the banyan tree at Ramna Udyan where artistes of cultural organisation Chhayanaut will sing the traditional Pahela Baishakh song of Rabindranath Tagore--"Esho hey Baishakh"--to welcome the day.
Mangal Shobhajatra, a procession seeking well-being of all, will start from the Institute of Fine Arts in the morning.
People will be gorging themselves on delicacies--Panta Bhat (rice soaked in water), hilsha fry, lentil and smoked chilli--at home and places of Baishakhi congregations.
Three-layer security measures have been taken to dispel concerns that stemmed from the deadly bomb blasts at the Chhayanaut Pahela Baishakh programme in 2001 killing at least 10 people.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police declared the roads from Shahbagh to Matsya Bhaban and from Teachers-Students Centre (TSC) to Doel Chattar off-limits to vehicles.
The day is a public holiday. Numerous social, political and cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to celebrate the day.
Bangladesh Betar and all television channels will air special programmes and newspapers will publish special supplements.
The start of Bangla year with Baishakh has its roots in the days of Mughal Emperor Akbar during 1556-1609. According to one of several opinions about the origin of Bangla year, this was the time when peasants used to pay their taxes to the emperor.
When Bangladesh came under the Mughal rule in 1576, Akbar decided to adopt the Hijri year and termed this season "Fasali" (crop). Thus, Pahela Baishakh marked the start of the crop season.
The present form of the Pahela Baishakh celebrations has some political significance and was introduced in 1965 when Chhayanaut organised its celebration programmes in protest against the suppression of Bangalee culture by the then Pakistan government.
After independence in 1971, the festival became a symbol of the country's nationalist movement as well as an integral part of the people's cultural heritage.
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and its Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, and Liberal Democratic Party President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury gave separate messages on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh and conveyed New Year's greetings to the people.
CULTURAL PROGRAMMESThe main attraction of the day is Chhayanaut artistes' rendition of Baishakhi welcome songs at Ramna Udyan at sunrise.
The Institute of Fine Arts yesterday started three-day programmes to celebrate the Bangla New Year.
Students and teachers of the institute will bring out the Mangal Shobhajatra at 9:30am. Puppet show and other traditional cultural programmes will be held at the Bakultala of the institute from 11:00am.
The Baishakh Udjapan Council will hold cultural functions at different places in the city.
The DU chalked out a five-day Baishakh Festival at TSC from April 15 to 19.
Dhaka City Corporation will keep open the Shaheed Zia Shishu Park for all on the day from 11:00am.
Sammilito Sangskritik Jote will organise cultural programmes at the Rabindra Sarobar amphitheatre in Dhanmondi and the Central Shaheed Minar at 4:30pm.
The Liberation War Museum organises a cultural programme on its premises from 10:00am.
Cultural organisation Monpala organises its programme at TSC from 9:00am to 1:00pm today.
Wrishiz Shilpi Gosthi organises a cultural programme at the Narkelbithi Chattar on Bhashani Road. Poet Mahbub Ul Alam will be inaugurate the programme.
Bangladesh Shishu Sangathan Oikya Jote will organise a "dress as you like" programme for children at Bangladesh Shishu Academy at 9:00am.
Pink City will organise a celebration programme at East Baridhara in the afternoon. Justice Latifur Rahman, Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Justice Sultan Hossain Khan and other renowned personalities will be present at the programme.
Sonargaon Hotel will also celebrate Pahela Baishakh with "authentic Bangladeshi cuisine" at its restaurants. There will be arrangements for folk songs.
Suryasen Bitarka Dhara will organise an open debate at the DU business studies faculty at 7:00pm.
Publication house Oitijya will sell its books at 40 percent discount from its Banglabazar outlet on the day.
The Dhaka Club will celebrate Pahela Baishakh by holding a session of folk and patriotic songs.
The Bengal Foundation has arranged a three-day music programme at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts from yesterday.
Sangskritik Jote and Jogsutro will hold a cultural programme at Jahangirnagar University.
Among other organisations, Gulshan Society, Baridhara Society, Bangladesh Chhatra Maitree, Bangladesh Kite Association, Pratibandhi Kalyan Society, Dhakabashi, Benuka Institute of Fine Arts, American International University have chalked out celebration programmes.

Yunu's second letter

Yunus' second letter

Dear Citizen,

I am writing to you again. First, let me express my salam to you. I could never imagine that I would get such massive response from the letter I wrote to you on February 11, 2007.
ACCEPT MY SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDEYou have encouraged my entry into politics with such logic and emotions that I could not help being astonished. I again felt the infinite blessings of Allah on me. From your replies, I have come to realise that how deep into your hearts you have let me in and you have put me in a position of great trust.
You have come forward and advised me with the desire to create a new politics for a new Bangladesh. A handful of young volunteers have been struggling to keep up with the incessant flow of mails, emails, fax and sms that you have sent to me after reading my letter in the newspapers. Your letters are continuing to flood in. The replies ranged from the people in remote villages of Bangladesh to the enthusiastic expatriates. I have received many valuable advices through your letters. I thank you from the depth of my heart. I express my gratitude to you. I also thank those who have asked me not to join politics out of their love for me. To them, I only have to say that only Allah can give us respect. If one wants respect, that person should earn it himself or herself. I want to go ahead with what I think is my duty. Overall, the message that you have clearly articulated to me, is that people from all walks of life want to go forward with me with a wish to bring widespread changes. I have no way to disappoint them.
I AM JOINING POLITICS WITH YOUR ADVICEIn light of your enthusiasm, I have decided to take part in your efforts for creating a new politics. I will join politics and establish a new party. Please pray, so that I can fulfill your wishes and so that Allah's blessings are with me, as always. The foundation of my new party will gradually build up through the same consultative process I have used to come to this decision.
I have received many proposals regarding the name of the party and have decided on proposing the name 'Nagorik Shakti' (Citizens' Power) to constantly remind the people of the creation of a new politics through unleashing the hidden power among all citizens. In short, we can use "Shakti" for promoting the party. We want to establish our beloved country among the frontline countries with the slogan "March ahead, Bangladesh." We want the central motto to be the pledge being echoed inside each proud citizen today: "We Can."
I have expressed on several occasions my ideas and opinions on the objectives and programmes the party requires to build a new Bangladesh. In this regard, I am enthusiastically trying to discern the hopes and desires of the nation. The messages that I have received from you recently, contained some questions, some opinions and some preferences on this matter. You wanted to know what would be my party's goal and purpose? I will outline the goals and purpose of the party later. The party itself will decide on it once it is formed.
Let me say which aspects would characterise 'Nagorik Shakti' as a political party. I have been saying these for years. The politics of this party would be to move towards the future by coalescing the people under a unified goal; not to go around in the circles of the past by creating divisions. The activists in the towns and villages would be in charge of the party's policy making. Those who break the law will not be allowed to become its leaders. All the nominations from the party for all elections, including national parliamentary elections, would be given by the local committee; and they will decide on the candidate by comprehensively considering their honestly and competency. To maintain public relations, it will follow alternatives to grand rallies. Women and the youth would be the lifeblood of this party, they would come to the leadership in huge numbers. This party will not judge everything from the party perspective; rather it will consult all other parties, non-political citizens, experts, expatriates and others. They will move forward together. Overall, this party would be the beacon of national unity and implementation of the nation's dreams.
OUR POLITICSOur politics would be the politics to materialise the dream of the liberation war. This politics would be a politics of unity, a politics of peace, a politics to establish honesty, a politics of labour, a politics to change the fate of the people as quickly as possible by reviving a new work ethics, a politics to send poverty to the museum. This politics will be non-communal, secular, democratic, good governance, free from corruption and against politicisation. It will be the politics of equity for women in all spheres, building the future of young generation and not to bow down to foreign power and to stand in the world holding the head high. I am urging all the citizens to come forward actively in support of this politics to make it a success.
IMPERATIVES FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THIS POLITICSCome, let us start our work from this moment to establish these characteristics. Let our preparations begin by maintaining the existing provision of internal politics. Key areas of our activities at this moment will be our respective constituencies, villages and wards; take initiative to form, as many possible, 20-member 'Primary Preparatory Team'. If you are staying outside your area, try to visit your area and contact people to take the initiative. It is your task to do the work of the organisation in your area. It is also your task to select honest and competent candidates and make them win in national and local elections; others will not do it for you. And it is also your duty to contribute money and other resources for it according to your ability. Those who can afford, can set up preparatory offices and contact centres of 'Nagorik Shakti' with their own initiative and financing, if necessary at your shop or personal workplace or own house, and hang signboards and banners in this regard. It will be better if these are many in number in an area. Write name of the party and our declaration (March ahead, Bangladesh) in clear letters on them. Make arrangements as best as you can to receive phones, letters, faxes, emails from people, give information and receive people's opinion and let me know. Let the volunteers work here. Send us information and get recorded after forming a 'Primary Preparatory Team' or setting up preparatory offices and contact centres. Also encourage your friends to form preparatory teams. The success of 'Nagorik Shakti' will depend on your zeal and efforts. For the time being, begin your preparatory stage work on the basis of the draft outline as written below. The draft will be finalised after receiving opinion of all.
FORM PRIMARY PREPARATORY TEAMThose, who will be member of the party, set up one or more offices in each ward of the villages of Bangladesh. Form preparatory teams in each ward as many as possible. Each 'Primary Preparatory Team' will comprise of 20 members with one convenor. These will be formed on the basis of different groups. Innumerable such preparatory teams of same groups may be there in each ward or you alone can form several such teams. Make sure that the number of teams of women members is equal to those of the men. Special initiatives have to be taken to form teams of women. To form teams, the groups would be: 1. male students, 2. female students, 3. adolescent male workers, 4. adolescent female workers, 5. young male workers, 6. young female workers, 7. young male social workers, 8. young female social workers, 9. young male service-holders, 10. young female service-holders, 11. young male professionals, 12. young female professionals, 13. young housewives, 14. farmers, 15. workers, 16. professionals, 17. service-holders, 18. small entrepreneurs, 19. businessmen, 20. young male businessmen, 21. young female businessmen, 22. housewives, 23. elderly men, 24. elderly women. It is not mandatory that each of the groups will have to form team. If any group has small number of members they may form team after joining members of other groups.
Elect a group-convenor in a ward (mahalla in the cases of metro cities) from among the convenors of all the teams in the ward. The group-convenors will form a convenors team. One of the tasks of the convenors team is that it would form a 'Ward Preparatory Team' with honest, competent and enthusiastic people of the ward. It will be your collective task to bring in the right people in this regard. Electing at least one third from among women for the 'Ward Preparatory Team' and other teams at all levels is a must; but equal number of male and female members is desirable. Form Union or town or Metro-ward preparatory team with three elected members of each 'Ward Preparatory Team' or 'Mahalla Preparatory Team' in case of metro cities. With three elected members from each such team, form 'Constituency Preparatory Team'. The 'Constituency Preparatory Team' will play the key role in nominating the panel of honest and competent candidates for national and local elections and it, after getting approval at party selection at all levels of union/town/metro-ward, will later be sent to central committee. The district and national level teams can also be formed this way. By electing 'Constituency Team' at this moment quickly, we will have to begin the task of finding out honest and competent candidates for national and local elections. You yourselves will be able to turn these preparatory teams later into well-formed committees. After forming group-based 'Primary Preparatory Teams' as many as possible, you go forward to form preparatory teams at next levels. We will distribute detailed policy to all about the formation process of 'preparatory teams' at different levels to make things clear to all. I myself will begin the task of forming a general preparatory team with those among you who will be identified as more successful leaders among you and the experts.
The ward level team will have many duties. They will be responsible for local development and political organisation. Its key duty will be freeing the area from poverty. Key among its political duties will be to review continuously who will be eligible for contesting in the elections and for which post, and taking the responsibility of electoral task, to perform the task of nominating candidates.
THOSE WHO ARE WORKING OUTSIDE THEIR AREASThose, who are working in a distant workplace outside their village, take a week's leave and go to your village. Going there, form as many as possible Primary Preparatory Teams and come back. These processes will not start if you do not go there. Preparatory teams would form one after another as soon as you go there. Encourage union parishad chairmen and members to establish ward-level preparatory teams. Now there's no scope in criticising politics from your living rooms. Now is the time to overturn the political culture of the past. You are the sole creator of this change. If possible, take a long leave from work and go to your home. It is doubtful whether the chance to change politics would ever come again. Do not let it slip away with indolence. Your fate and the fate of future generations are in your hands.
SUPPORTERS GROUPSThose who cannot come within the organisational structure because of personal reasons, please establish Nagarik Shakti Supporters Group from wherever you are or join your local supporters group. Three to 20 people can join each supporters group, including members or non-members of the party. Let me know the creation of the supporters group and its future developments. Even friends who are located in different areas can establish a supporters group. You can create your supporters group through emails, telephones or even through a blog on the Internet. Contact others and encourage them to create supporters groups. This force is needed to enforce the required change.
Dear Expatriate brothers and sistersI am especially thankful to you. I have received a huge number of emails and telephone calls from you. You have expressed your trust in me. You have clearly stated your interest in bringing change to the country's political arena. Now is the time to start work. Create supporters groups in the countries of residence. Establish its offices at your workplace or your home. Build up communication centres. Effectively use the modes of communication, discussion and disseminating information available through the Internet. Take steps to create supporters groups in your own village or your town back in Bangladesh. If possible, visit the country for a week or two. Go to your locality and create supporters groups. Ensure financial assistance for them. Identify and then talk to honest and competent candidates and then encourage them to join Nagorik Shakti. Constantly maintain contact with us and describe your activities. Give us your advice at every step. If possible, take leave from work or your business to come back during elections. This is your chance to earn the honour of establishing a new politics in the country with your own hands.
Dear YouthYou are the greatest strength of this country. You will establish a respectful future for this country. You surely want widespread changes in the political arena, then you must come forward with innovation and enthusiasm. You will have to build up organisations across the country. You must create effective and proactive support by establishing Nagorik Shakti Supporters Groups in schools, colleges and universities. You must echo the clarion call of "March ahead, Bangladesh."
Call to the women of the countryHalf of the country's people are women. But, your role in the decision-making process is ignored. You have to come forward in publicising the new identity of Bangladesh. You can become a very powerful force in the materialising the dream of a new country. Gather your relatives and friends. Build up Nagorik Shakti Supporters Group. Everyone from Rural women to urban women, teachers, doctors, nurses, and students, all have to come forward. Now is the time to shed your dilemmas, fears, anxieties, and divisions to march forward in resolute steps. Come forward to ensure this beautiful nation becomes a country of peace.
You are the Citizens PowerI will be very happy if preparatory teams are set up in each locality. Those who have and will express such, I will understand that they have come forward to implement the dream of creating a new politics with their own labour, money and assets. You are the citizens' power. I want to work with you. I strongly believe that many others would follow in your footsteps. The challenge ahead of you is big, and time is short. But you cannot forget that citizens' power is a very powerful force. All of you have a strong belief in your heart "I can." We want to awaken the entire nation with the declaration "March ahead, Bangladesh." The merciful Allah will help us.
I am extremely sorry that I could not reply to your messages separately. I will certainly try to do so. But you must continue your communication with me. Your letters are shining the light on the path ahead. Please do not take this light away.
My address, fax number, phone numbers etc will remain unchanged. I am again providing them below. Others have expressed interest in volunteering on conveying your messages to me and vice versa. I will create more opportunities for them. Those who want to assist me in whichever way, please let me know in writing. I urgently need you. Otherwise, arrange the conveyance of people's messages to me by creating preparatory offices and communication centres in your own areas. I am waiting for your progress reports, advice and opinions.
Thank you and greetingsMuhammad YunusFebruary 22, 2007

Yunus names his party.

Yunus names his party, decides to contest next polls
Staff Correspondent

Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday primarily announced the name of his political party as Nagorik Shakti (citizens’ power), saying the organisation would contest the next parliamentary election. The father of micro-credit, who in an open letter earlier this month sought people’s opinions on his joining politics, said he had finally decided to enter the new realm. Yunus said his party would be formally launched soon. ‘Since my decision to launch a political party is finalised, I will of course contest the polls if everything goes smoothly’ he told New Age on Sunday, adding, ‘There is no question of backing out.’ Yunus, however, said he would have more consultations with the people before the formal launch of the party. ‘The objectives of my organisation will be doing healthy politics keeping away from the path of violence pursued by the country’s [other] political parties… I will do the politics of unity,’ he said. Asked what would be his next step, he said he would write to people again seeking their final endorsement of the principles and objectives of the proposed party. He said he did not invite any one to join his party but would consider it if people from other parties express their willingness to join. About the criticism by major political parties of his decision to venture into politics, Yunus on his return from Chittagong told journalists at the Zia International Airport that they [other parties] would make their comments. ‘I do not deal in words, my business is of work. I will do politics of unity.’ He indicated that his proposed party might field candidates for all 300 constituencies in next parliamentary elections. ‘I think the situation has come to such a pass that there is no scope for backing out,’ Yunus said. About his party-building plan the Nobel laureate said he envisaged organising people from villages and wards by forming 20-member preparatory committees in each unit who would identify themselves as ‘Yunus Samarthak Gosthi or Yunus supporters’ club.

DR YUNU'S PERSONAL LETTER

My personal letter to you

Dear citizen,

I am writing this letter to you with the hope of receiving a personal reply from you. You might have noticed in what situation many people requested me to join politics and why I had to consider it with utmost importance. I, like you, witnessed where our political culture has brought the country and how it attempted to destroy the country's future possibilities. The way the present caretaker government is trying to create an acceptable atmosphere by carrying out necessary reforms has made me optimistic along with all citizens of the country. In this situation, I feel it with my heart that I should, showing due respect to the people's expectation of me, participate in the mission of taking the nation to the height it deserves. It is now clear to all that it is not possible to reach the goal maintaining the existing political culture; it is only possible by bringing a comprehensive change to the culture. Through my work and experience, I feel with all my heart that the people with their innate sense of endeavour and creativity can achieve the impossible if political goodwill, competent leadership and good governance can be established. If I have to form a political party in response to the people's desire, it will be dedicated to this very objective.
I have received pure love and respect from people of all ages ranging from the poorest to the most powerful, I do not know when again a Bangladeshi individual will have this good fortune. By the grace of Allah, I am a very fortunate man. There is nothing left for me to desire. I know that joining politics is to become controversial. I am ready to take the risk if you think me joining politics will help in ushering of a new political climate.
It is high time to form the proper political structure conducive to the huge task of building a Bangladesh we all dream of, by freeing ourselves from all past frustrations. I need the active participation and assistance of you and all others like you if I have to go forward with this mission. I need your advice on how I should go forward. I also want to know how you want to participate and assist in this task. The efforts of you and me to realise everybody's desire for a new politics in order to build a new Bangladesh will get strength if these can be learnt from you in the form of a letter.
You can give your advice in your own style on any topic regarding the formation of a new political party. I can point out some topics as examples: a) how the party can stay involved with the people of all villages and neighbourhoods and work to realise their expectations; b) how the party can be helpful to the common people in their daily struggle and in solving their problems; c) how the organisations of the party can be built on the basis of spontaneous devotion of men and women of all ages and professions; d) what can be done to encourage the eager, enthusiastic, honest and competent people of all levels to align with the party and to become active in it; e) how the honest and competent among them, having public support, can be nominated for different local and national elections; f) how can we ensure transparency and honesty of all the people involved with the party, and of the party itself; g) how democracy can be established within the party; h) how can the flow of opinions directly from the grassroots level be ensured; and i) how the officials and employees serving in state institutions can be prevented from turning into activists of political parties -- your thoughts and advice on many such questions are vital.
At the same time, it is important to know what role you (and your friends) can play in the party, how you can actively contribute or support, is also very important to know. For example, you can play the role: a) of a member of a village or neighbourhood-level organisation; b) of a pioneer of the party's welfare initiatives; c) of a local organiser; d) of an organiser of a community organisation; e) of an activist taking party calls widely among the people; f) of an adviserresearchertheoretician for the party; g) you can contribute to the party by using your special skills or expert knowledge in its service; h) by taking a leadership role in popularising the party as an enthusiastic supporter; i) by demonstrating your organising power; and so on.
I want to know your opinion and get your advice whether you are a political leader, activist, leader or worker of an association or organisation, industrialist, businessman, professor, teacher, shopkeeper, farmer, labourer, artist-writer-thinker, professional, journalist, service holder, housewife, teenager, youth or an expatriate Bangladeshi.
Please write a short or detail personal reply to my letter. Your friends, all members of your family, neighbours, classmates and colleagues can also put in their thoughts in the same letter. You can reply through email and distribute copies of it among all your acquaintances. You can also send a short reply through SMS and encourage all your acquaintances to do the same. You can send copies of my letter to your relatives and friends abroad and encourage them to reply. It will not be possible to come out clean from old politics if a strong momentum for a new politics is not created. We will not be able to reach our goal with feeble support.
I hope my letter and your reply to it will only be the beginning of our sincere communication. The communication established will be able to go forward actively towards a common goal from now on.
You can use my following address to send your reply or may arrange to send it to me in any other way.
Contact Address:

Dr Muhammad Yunus

HAL Mars6/D, 66 Outer Circular Road

Moghbazar, Dhaka 1217

Fax: 9334656

Email: prof.yunus@gmail.com, dryunus2006@yahoo.com

You can call the following numbers for inquiries about the letter:

01713082277, 01717760870

Waiting for your reply.

With thanks and greetings,

Muhammad YunusFebruary 11, 2007(Translated from Bangla by The Daily Star)

"Army has no intention to capture power in Bangladesh"

Army has no intention to capture powerArmy chief Lt Gen Moeen also says armed forces not running country, under new situation politicians won't be able to do politics squandering moneyUnb, BandarbanArmy Chief Lt General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday categorically said the military has no intention to capture power or run the government, but they are assisting the caretaker government to put the country back on the right track.
"The army has no intention to take over. We are not even running the government. But we like to see this government successful as we want to put the country on the right track through concerted efforts of all," he said.
General Ahmed reflected some harsh truths about the trend of politics, mindset of politicians and governance while exchanging views with representatives of the civil administration, political party leaders, journalists and representatives of government and non-government agencies at Bandarban Cantonment
The army chief said the nation needs efficient and honest politicians to move forward as "our politicians do not understand anything beyond their self-interest."
He said a new situation has been ushered in now in the country where politicians will not be able to do politics squandering money. Those who could not do politics so long for want of money will now get the opportunity.
Explaining the background of the promulgation of a state of emergency in the country by the president, General Moeen said the past caretaker government had tired to forge consensus between the two parties for holding a credible election. But it failed, as neither of the two was ready to budge an inch, which resulted in deterioration of the situation.
In this context, he recalled the grisly scene on Dhaka streets on October 28 last year when some people trampled to death another man-a scene "never seen anywhere in the world. This brutal scene was not only witnessed by people at home but also abroad and "everyone has hated us".
He noted that unilateral elections (Jan 22) would not have been accepted at home and abroad and all, including army, BDR, police and ansars, would have been blamed for that debacle.
Under the circumstances, the president decided to impose the state of emergency. He also decided to step down from the office of chief adviser and appointed a new chief adviser. He said new advisers were appointed on the criteria of honesty, competence and sincerity.
"Now it needs people's support. This opportunity will not come time and again," the army chief said, adding that it "should not happen so".
General Moeen urged all to come forward to make a fresh start in national life with a clean slate. "Let's cooperate with this government so we can steer the nation forward," he said.
In an apparent emotion-choked voice, the army chief said the country was destroyed in last 35 years. He likened the predicament of the country to a derailed train.
"We need a heavy crane to put the train back on the track--and strength of the people is the crane. Once you can put the train on the track, it will move smoothly," he said in metaphorical terms about the imperative of a rescue operation in such situation.
Citing corruption an example of degeneration of the polity, the general deplored that because of disputes over who will get the "10 percent" kickbacks, a $ 200m machine-readable passport project could not be implemented.
He said government provides subsidy for fertiliser to help the poor farmers, but, unfortunately, those fertilisers were smuggled out of the country by the vested quarters.
Referring to recent incidents of arson in garment factories that earn 70 percent of country's foreign exchange, General Moeen deplored that this export industry was burnt and destroyed in a planned way. "There is politics behind it," he said, adding, "We even do not try to understand our own well-being."
" We have eaten up the vitals of the country over the years, leaving the country like a skeleton."
About national or voter ID card, General Moeen said some intellectuals said that it will require Tk 1000 crore and five years time. But, he said they have made a calculation that suggests that ID card for the voters is possible within 10-12 months at an estimated cost of Tk 300 crore.
Lashing out at massive corruption, the general wondered how the expensive BMW, Mercedes Benz, Ford cars could ply the streets in Dhaka when people in America even have to think twice before buying such luxury cars. "Where does the money come from? This is our farmers' money," he said.
Referring to non-payment of electricity bills, he said the rich people and companies whose monthly income is Tk 5 lakh or Tk 10 lakh do not pay the bill. But if any action is taken against the defaulters, they go to court for writs. "If we could not change this situation, our next generation would call us name," he told the meeting.
General Moeen said the present government has separated the judiciary from the executive in seven days and is trying to reform the Election Commission. He said the reforms will be brought in the Election Commission so that corrupt politicians cannot do politics.
Criticising the mindset of the politicians, the general said the time has come to stop the politics capitalising on money. The nation needs a competent political leadership so Bangladesh could achieve development and progress like Malaysia and Singapore.
He told the meeting that 90 per cent people support the present caretaker government and the government should now move the country in right direction with the strength of this support.



We whole heartedly support above statement but keeping the democratics process intact for the future generation.

Bravo to the people who have the guts to make it Happen

The suited-booted picture of the corrupt politicians,businessman and political pimps.


Midnight crackdown on 'corrupt' politiciansSQ Chy, Nazmul Huda, Falu, Iqbal Hasan, Saifur's son, Nasim, Salman among the big fish nettedStaff CorrespondentThe joint forces finally made a move against the hitherto untouchable corrupt bigwigs of BNP and Awami League (AL), detaining seven former ministers and several other top politicians of both the parties, the names of which have become synonymous to unbridled corruption over the years.
The high profile detainees include Nazmul Huda, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Mohammad Nasim.
The arrests, which came three weeks into former central bank governor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led caretaker government's declaration of war against corruptionists and criminal godfathers, were made in the first three hours of yesterday.
Preparations are on to bring graft charges against the detainees, according to sources.
The joint forces also have the names of 41 other top politicians and businessmen on their wanted list and will soon make an announcement for them to surrender, the sources said.
Apart from former communications minister Huda, and former prime minister Khaleda Zia's parliamentary affairs adviser SQ Chowdhury, other detainees from the BNP fold are former state minister for civil aviation Mir Nasir Uddin, former Dhaka-10 lawmaker and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's political secretary Mosaddak Ali Falu, former state minister for power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, former state minister for labour and employment Amanullah Aman, former deputy minister for land Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, former lawmaker from Khagrachhari Abdul Wadood Bhuiyan, former lawmaker from Sylhet Naser Rahman who is also former finance minister Saifur Rahman's son, and former lawmaker from Comilla Manjurul Ahsan Munshi.
Arrestees from AL are former home minister Mohammad Nasim, Adviser to AL and Beximco Vice-chairman Salman F Rahman, former state minister for planning Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former member of parliament (MP) Lotus Kamal, and Swechhasebak League General Secretary Pankaj Devnath.
The security forces also raided the houses of Ali Asgar Lobi, a former BNP MP, Hasnat Abudullah, former chief whip and cousin of AL President Sheikh Hasina, Jubo League Chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and its Secretary Mirza Azam, but did not find any of them.
The forces seized two firearms and 137 bullets from Ruhul Quddus Talukder's house at Alaipur in Natore town and his village home at Ramsa, Kazipur early yesterday.
None of Jamaat-e-Islami however was arrested during the drive and none of the detainees were produced before the court or handed over to police till filing of this report yesterday evening.
According to well placed sources, the detainees are being interrogated in army custody but details of it could not be learnt immediately and the government did not make any official statement in this regard.
However, advisers to the caretaker government Barrister Mainul Husein and Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin yesterday said the detainees were arrested 'most probably' on charges of corruption.
Although military governments cracked down on politicians in the past, successive political governments miserably failed to rise above narrow party interests, and rather arrested and harassed only rival politicians.
Former military ruler HM Ershad however was punished for corruption and served time in jail, creating the lone exception in the political culture.
Since assuming power on January 12, the seemingly resolute interim government uttered strong words promising curbing of corruption, and depoliticisation of the administration and public institutions.
Saying that pervasive corruption and plundering of national wealth by a handful of dishonest people pushed the national economy, society and politics into a disastrous state, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin said in his January 21 address to the nation that tough actions would be taken soon in a methodical way to curb corruption.
THE DRIVE Although the joint forces detained over 41,000 across the country since the declaration of emergency, top corrupt politicians and businessmen, excepting BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tareque Rahman's business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun, remained untouched until yesterday.
The operation to apprehend the big fishes began after the clock had ticked zero hours. Split in several teams, the joint forces comprising members of the police, armed forces, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), having the power to arrest anyone without a warrant under the rules of emergency, raided the houses of the 'corrupt' top politicians and businessmen.
The combined forces picked up Mohammad Nasim around 1:30am yesterday from his Dhanmondi residence in the capital, his family said.
"Entering our house, the forces asked him (Nasim) to go with them. As I asked why and where they are taking him, they gave no explanation and said they had orders from their bosses," wife of the former home minister told reporters. The forces searched the chest of drawers of Nasim and took away some of his diaries too.
"When I asked, from where we'll get information about him, the officers remained silent for a minute and suggested us to contact the local police station," Nasim's wife added.
Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was taken into custody from his Dhanmondi house at about 2:30am. His family moved to another house after his arrest, Salauddin's personal assistant Mujibur Rahman told The Daily Star. "We are totally in the dark about where he is being kept," he said.
The joint forces last night arrested Falu from his house in Old DOHS in the capital.
Sources said the forces picked him up at 10:45pm after he had returned from Biswa Ijtema. Before his arrest, Falu met Khaleda in Hawa Bhaban.
Falu surrendered to the joint forces after calling them asking whether they had been looking for him as they had raided his house the night before. He asked the forces to come and pick him up from his DOHS residence if they wanted to arrest him.
Falu had gone under the shelter of immediate past prime minister Khaleda Zia since the start of the current anti-crime drive. The joint forces were in communication with him over the last few days warning him that the consequences would be dire if he did not surrender, which led to his surrender last night.
Falu has amassed a huge amount of wealth during the five years of four-party regime and was also one of the main conspirators behind the scam of siphoning crores of taka from Oriental Bank.
UNB quoted Nazmul Huda's family as saying that the forces picked him up from his Dhanmondi residence at about 1:15am.
Meanwhile, Mohiuddin Alamgir's wife Sitara Alamgir told reporters that the security forces detained her husband at 3:00am.
The joint forces arrested Naser Rahman from his Banani residence in the capital around 1:00am, according to a family source.
Wadood Bhuiyan was picked up from his residence in Khagrachhari hill town in the early hours of yesterday, according to sources.
Pankaj Devnath was picked up around 2:30am from his Dhanmondi flat, according to his family.
After arresting them, the joint forces took them to undisclosed locations for interrogation.
The family of Salman Rahman expressed concern, saying they do not know the whereabouts of Salman.
Meantime, family members of some of the arrested BNP leaders expressed concern about the whereabouts and conditions of the arrestees.
Talking to reporters after their meeting with Khaleda Zia in Hawa Bhaban last night, Humayun Quader Chowdhury, son of SQ Chowdhury, Sabera Aman, wife of Amanullah Aman, Barrister Mir Helal, son of Mir Nasiruddin, Javed Helal Mahmud, son of Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Rezaul Hasan Munshi, son of Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, and Barrister Nazmul Huda's daughter expressed the concern.
CRACKDOWN TO CONTINUEThe caretaker government will continue the crackdown on corruptionists irrespective of their positions in the society or in political parties, adviser Mainul Husein and MA Matin said yesterday.
"If evidence of corruption are found, the government will not hesitate to take steps against the top politicians," Mainul told reporters yesterday.
"Only proofs of corruption will matter in taking such actions, neither the identities of the persons nor their positions in parties will be considered," said Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Matin adding that actions will be taken even against those at the highest levels in political parties.
Hours into the declaration of the state of emergency, security men arrested former AL lawmaker Kamal Majumder in Dhaka. Among those who were arrested later are Giasuddin Al Mamun, Chittagong BNP leader Dastagir Chowdhury, and Tangail transport leader Murad Siddiqui.
Security men recently also barred Gias Quader Chowdhury, Salman F Rahman, and Tanjim Ahmed Sohel from going abroad.

Dr Yunus should open up a Political institution or a foundation not a political party.

Dr Yunus should open up a Political institution or a foundation not a political party.
Says Kawser Jamal, initiator of www.changeBangladesh.com

We have enough political parties in the country but not enough honest political leadership in the parties itself. We need leaders who are honest, educated, schooled, trained, dynamic and non-favourtism to their family and friends.We need good leaders inside the parties to make good decisions not like the one in present days leadership which is full of filthy old guards to name a few Jalil, Amu,Razzak, Mirza Abbas,,Maya,,Delwar,Hossians, Saifur Rahman and much more in both AWL and BNP and more on other parties respectively This is what we lack in Bangladesh true leadership and true love for the nation with in the party and it’s people.
To be a doctor you need go to school-college for four year MBBS degree. To be a engineer you need to go to school for 4-5 years, to join Government service you have to give BCS exam(which is a crappy system anyways) and so on but to be a politicians there are no requirements and no degrees needed.
This is totally a discrimination towards all other class of hard working people and flaws in the system itself. Because we our self open the door for the crooks,thugs and corrupt people to come and join politics and make decisions for us and ruin us.We all work hard to be what we want to be and here in politics you have no criteria this is just an injustice to the people of Bangladesh.
The Gonda’s and Rongbuzz and Tom Dick and Harry can come and join politics what are their qualifications?How many murders they did commit?How popular Goonda they are how many people know them and are scared of them?How many rape they have perform? How many women have nightmares for them?How much extortion money they have gathered? How much the Businesses fear themHow much illegal money they have?
How many illegal business they run in front of the nose of the police and administration?
How much vote they can captured or how much muscle power they have to snatch vote ballot at the election?
How many activist they can arrange for picketing, meeting and hartals and killing ?
Please answer me?
Same goes to the leaders who just have a family back ground. They lived half of their life abroad and than go back and become leaders without any proper knowledge about our system and people and the country just because they have certain criteria.
They are sons or daughters or Jamai of someone party chief or influencial leaders.They have western education ( they paid hard earned tax payers money of Bangladeshi people to get that education not like Dr Yunus where he has fulbright scholarship).They have money and they are moderately good looking or well groomed. They want the luxury of our country not the hard and honest working life of the west but their family forced them to run the dynasty other wise family would be power less.
Both class of these type of people are not fit for political leadership. As much as Tareq’s lack of political leadership due to corruption and nepotism same exact points goes to Joy if he ever join politics he lacks the will to serve people or understand people of Bangladesh he was never there to understand or know the common people of the country who means the most to the nation. They both are lacking the political wills and charisma and the passion to serve the nation selflessly that’s what we are striving for in Bangladesh. Tareq is after corruption and money and Joy is after is luxury life in the west and his family life. Both of these young aspirants party upcoming leaders don’t have the zeal to lead a nation from their heart. If they can proof us that they have what it needs to be a leader and sacrifice their earthy wants and need and help the country to rebuild, we would accept them whole heartedly but if they don’t there shouldn’t be any entrance for them to be in politics. Political dynasty should not determine the political entrance for any body. You have to proof your self to the nation.
“To be a leader you have to be a giver not a taker”
What Dr Yunu’s need to form is a Political Institution or a foundation like Clinton Foundation in Little rock, Arkansas. Where Politics would be taught and engraved in the students blood with a theme like:Politics for PeoplePolitics for PeacePolitics for ProsperityPolitics for equalityPolitics for Welfare of the nation and the world.Politics for Communal Harmony
Politics for Political Stability

The way BUET produce science graduates and talented students who are called the Oxforder’s of the East and Harvarder’s of the East same way Dr Yunus should teach and trained political leaders and government service employees who will in the long run get to the decision making process and make a difference. We need a school of thoughts the doctrine of Ghandhi and Martin Luther King’s vision embezzled in Dr Yunus institution to embedded in the the mind and body and blood of the young Bangladeshi citizens. Who will know what truth is ? who will know what feeling, is ? who will know what non-violence mean? Who will know what communal harmony means? Who will know what education and teachings mean? Who will know the real meaning of love and honesty and interegrity.
I think from my knowledge and experiences about Bangladesh this is what we need. We are not taught or trained against how to tackle the bad part of the society like corruption , partisanship, nepotism, or respecting others and such other things. We need an institution or a guide to follow and Dr Yunus should be the one to do that and create students and fellow from his institution who will eventually join Political parties of their choice to do politics for the nation politics for the people and politics for the welfare of the nation.

But at the end if our noble laureate decide to form a political party as he is well experienced and knowledgeable than me I might be the first person to join the party to help him by any means with out any personal gain with more support from all around the world and Bangladesh but would make him understand to form the political foundation to create new leadership for sure.
Thanks
Kawser Jamal
Kawserjamal@yahoo.com
To give your view please leave comments on the blog below, the link is provided.
http://www.changebangladesh.blogspot.com/
Founder of ChangeBangladesh
Working for better Bangladesh Together.
www.changeBangladesh.com
Dis: The views and ideas expressed here are solely of Kawser Jamal himself not of the Change Bangladesh Management team or the board members.

Voters' dilemma

Badrul Islam, Uttara, Dhaka
Thirty-five years has passed since Bangladesh became independent and yet our elected representatives, have failed to provide for the voters, their Constitutional right for "Democratic Government" and an "Electoral Body" that will formulate procedures for a "Free and Fair Election". Today the Voters find themselves in "the horns of a dilemma" in respect of three major points; (1) Will there be an election? (2) Will they be able to vote? (3) Will they be able to trust their elected representatives, collectively (in power and in opposition) to follow democratic principles to the letter, in formulating policies that will assure them of an enriched and secured life?
The "dilemma" is directly attributed to the recent failure of the "Dialogue" between the AL and BNP, mainly due the lack of political will, wisdom, and strategy; and indirectly to the CG system, which is not free from weaknesses as the voters and political parties are now witnessing.
However, the voters find it pathetic and difficult to comprehend that their elected representatives as leaders and political activists: (1) lack human qualities and feelings, (2) that in utter disregard of human life and sufferings, adopt undemocratic methods to settle their disputes, (3) that without consent from voters (through a simple "YES" and "NO" poll system) opted directly for a programme of laying siege and blockade paralyzing the country, (5) in the street battles, against each other, its Bengalis killing the Bengalis and (4) When all the "Hullabaloo" is over, the voters have to vote for these representatives!
In his article," Strange indeed is this land"( The Daily Star July 2,2006) Shahnoor Wahid states, "Then we have this special breed of people who go about doing business of politics as they are not good at anything else. Strangely enough, these self-proclaimed people's leaders or netas in Bengali are always asking for people's blood! They goad others to lay down their lives so that they may go to power and buy brand new duty-free cars."
The "dilemma" for the citizens continues, as elections must be held for Bangladesh to continue to remain within the frame of democracy.
Meanwhile, concrete solutions have, NOT, yet been found. The ten member Advisers are facing compounding problems, but, as reported in all TV channels, they have jointly submitted to the President/CA their recommendations and now "It's only the President " who will decide-and that's the major weakness of the CG system; whereas, if the Election Commission was strengthened and made a completely independent institution, the President couldn't negate the decision of the CEC.
Let's pray for wisdom to prevail amongst all those who are negotiating for democracy and especially the President, who, by virtue of his position, is currently the most powerful administrator ; but hopefully as citizen first, and President next, he will remain morally obliged to work for the well being of the nation.

Feel free to post your comments on the article below.

CBd thrilled with 10 Advisers for CTG

Drumroll... from left in the picture are the Care Taker Advisers and they are Human rights activist Advocate Sultana Kamal, Chairperson of Scholastica Pvt Ltd Yasmin Murshed, Prof Emeritus Sufia Rahman, Journalist Mahbubul Alam, former secretary Dhiraj Kumar Nath, former inspector general of police M Azizul Haque, former foreign secretary CM Shafi Sami, Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, former cabinet secretary Dr Akbar Ali Khan and Justice Fazlul Haque is being sworn in as adviser to the caretaker government by Chief Adviser Prof Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban last night at around 10:30 pm.

There was a lot of speculation amongst the parties and the media and amongst the deshbashi about the 'who' factor. Who will be the adviser to the CTChief? Now we have a group to lobby for reform, for positive change and for meaning change. Everyone should get ready and make sure they have their talking points ready. CBd is going to be sending an Idea portfolio to the CTG. All your suggestion is welcome. GO join CBd yahoo-group today so your ideas are included. We must give them very good ideas and create the best way they will absorb this information in the shortest possible time. Now what to do about MA Aziz? Let us think about ways to help him resign his post. Read about the CTG apointment here

'Banker to the poor' Dr Younus the Greatest of all.

OSLO (AFP) - Attack the causes of poverty and you remove the roots of conflict -- that is the message the Nobel Committee wanted to send out by awarding its Peace Prize to the creator of a micro-credit scheme which benefits millions, analysts said on Friday.







Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus, the so-called "Banker to the Poor", and the Grameen Bank he founded three decades ago were the surprise winners of the award for pioneering a system of small-scale loans that has helped 6.6 million people escape the grind of poverty.
As the head of the Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjoes, said: "Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty."
A glance at recent Peace Prize winners reveals a shift in emphasis in the thinking of the secretive five-member committee away from the classic role of peacemaker, as it has honoured people working in the fields of human rights and the environment.
Asle Sveen, a Norwegian historian who closely follows the Nobel Prize, told AFP: "It is the first time that the fight against poverty has been rewarded in itself.
"There were enough good nominations in the area of conflict resolution in the strictest sense but the Nobel Committee is increasingly taking the fight to the fundamental reasons for which war is waged.
"It is not enough to make peace, this peace must be a just peace and the causes of war, such as hunger and poverty, must be treated at their roots."
Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai was another surprise winner in 2004 and the latest award shows that the Nobel Committee is moving with the times, said Sverre Lodgaard, the director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.
"Challenges to peace have become different over the years. We have become more aware of new connections which impact on our security.
"Peace is not just the absence of war but also the absence of reasons for having a war. The committee has been good at updating its concept of peace," Lodgaard said.
"The prize this year is distinct because it's really focused on Yunus' contribution to alleviate poverty.
"There is a good justification for that. There are more lives lost because of extreme poverty than because of war."
He said the Nobel jury had probably expanded its reach as far as it could go for now.
"I don't see much of an expansion in terms of fields or subject areas for a while because I think that the Committee has come to its outer limits," he said.
Lodgaard said however that new categories within the existing fields, such as artists or poets, could be rewarded for their role in creating the conditions for peace.
Stein Toennesson, the head of the Peace Research Institute of Oslo, said he believed a genuine peace broker such as former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, who helped end a three-decade conflict in the Indonesian province of Aceh last year, should have won.
"Yunus and the Grameen Bank are very good winners but I would have preferred someone who did something earth-shattering for peace," Toennesson said.
Ahtisaari, a veteran mediator whose also led Namibia to independence and helped end the fighting in






We the Change Bangladesh team salute Dr Younus for making us proud to day to be a Bangladeshi.

Calculationeering

Ershad just negated his joining BNP coalition in Khulna saying he may contest on all 300 constituency on his own. This man is a master of misdirection. Unpredictable and unreliable. He says one thing and does another. In the end what he will do is anybody's guess. Election Calculationeers analysing how to create majority in Sangsad realises how irrelevant Jammat will become if JP joins the four party coalition. Amongst the masses Jammat has little support on its own. In 91 Jammat got the least number of seats. Only in coalition does Jammat do well. Especially under BNP in 2001 did Jammat win most seats. Some people want Ershad to join four party coalition for this very reason. We at CBd watch in horror as we have still no voter list, no effort by the poltical elite to seat for talks to lessen the burden on the caretaker government and abosolute disregard for national interest.

When common sense leaves Chairman of Board of Investment

this is the result. The defamation suit filed by Executive Chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI) Mahmudur Rahman and the consequent warrants issued is a mockery of our lower courts. This is one more example of what happens when the judiciary is entwined with the legislative. If this kind of desperate measures are taken by the steward of this administration during its last leg, when will calm cool headed national priority strategic thinking take place? Something is rotten in the state of Bangla and it's not the Civil soceity. Its important to understand the lead up to this current debacle.

Voice of America Interview of ChangeBangladesh.

Few days ago there was a brief interview of ChangeBangladesh organization in Voice of America Bangla by Sarkar Kabiruddin where Kawser Jamal on behalf of ChangeBangladesh expressed the organization's views and ideas and its existance in different part of the world. For more information about our organization please stay tuned to our website.
www.changeBangladesh.com

Here is the short description and a link to the interview please give us your feed back.


Kawsar Jamal for Change Bangladesh
By Sarkar Kabiruddin Washington30-July-2006
Interview with Kawsar Jamal
Listen to Interview with Kawsar Jamal
Kawsar Jamal is an IT professional and has his own consulting firm on web site designing and net-working. He studied in the University of Arkansas, Little Rock and lives there.
In an exclusive interview with VOA Bangla Service he talks about his newly formed website group called , “ Change Bangladesh.” The objectives of this group is to implement programs as envisioned by the new generation of Bangladeshis across the board and take Bangladesh forward along the direction of modern development.
Kawsar says the group's immediate plan is to motivate Bangladeshi voters to cast their votes in the coming elections based on the merit of candidates, specially their honesty & integrity and not necessarily on party lines or any other consideration .


Please click here to listen to the interview

http://www.voanews.com/bangla/2006-07-30-voa4.cfm

The International Technology Academy( TITA) at Dhaka,Bangladesh

Changebangladesh have started to receive some outstanding project proposals. One such non-solicited came from amongst our very own Mr M. Chowdhury, he is a Chemical Eng and CEO of Amreteck Pharma Group,also serving as Senior Validation Engineer, Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA. The concept of the academy is unique to say the least and could create a network of professional network for Bangladeshis home and abroad thus strengthening our local industries with non-foreign Bangladeshi consultants. This project is very much inline with our Competent leadership initiative. Please read the proposal and liberally comment. We are very excited that changebangladesh may become a conduit for Bangladeshi working professionals all over the world to go back home and create a sustainable dynamic economy. Hope is in the dreaming. Dream with us of the impossible. Together we will make change a reality for Bangladesh.

Link

Destructive role of Chief election Commisioner(MA Aziz) confusing voter list issue

Here we are again with the election knocking at the door and the voters of the country have little clue if they are on the list and if not where they can go to fix the error. The election commisioner is playing a dubious role at best and worse leading the country into an uncertain time without a prepared voter's list. The Bangladesh Observer did an editorial on the topic this week, a must read. The daily star reports today the consequence of these bad leadership by the EC. A much lamentable state of affairs. This must be fixed.

Taking a closer look at the Bangladesh election commission

Yesterday’s clashes with the opposition and cops are unprecedented development of demented illogical analytical minds. What the heck are people thinking fighting their own people?! We seem to have totally failed to ingrain the importance of muslims respect for each other, respect for countrymen, the teachings of Islam as a religion and just plain common sense.

Don't give me equal protest rule argument, its mute for the Bangladeshi context. Figure out other means of protest. We have done this same hartal,gerou thing for way too long. Its past getting old. Be creative! Leave our streets alone. Its belongs to all people in Bangladesh not only the activists.

Today's post is going to take a closer look at this mess and try to make some sense of it all.

Why are activists surrounding the EC? They are mad cause the man in charge just sucks. So Why does he not resign? Well lets just put it this way-he is too stubborn and stupid to realize what he is doing to his country. He has no vision and lacks sympathy for the continuity of the institution that he works for. Same goes for that judge who does not make any public statements about whether he will stay or go if BNP makes him chief when the Caretaker governments takes control.

Historically, the significance of the election commission has been at the whim of the one in power. The institution was enacted since the constitution but was not allowed to function because the formers leaders of the country was basically power grabbers. Yes, including the co-fathers of the nation; Mr Mujib(the father of the nation depending on whom you talk to) and Mr Zia(the other father commander-in-chief depending on whom you talk to here as well). They saw little use of an independent place where everyone is registered and verified and voted their opinion come election time. This is a human instinct to hoard power once in charge and by this measure none of the preceding people who came to power measured up. For that matter the people in power now are doing a piss poor job of strengthening an institution(EC) at the crux of any democracy .

By the way what is democracy-”Will of the people”- well will of the people this week is to march in the streets, how exactly is that serving the working man and woman who drives our economy? ‘It’s the economy stupid’, here I quote former U.S. President Bill Clinton slogan directly from his first presidential campaign. He is a smart man so why are we in Bangladesh trying to reinvent the wheel? Do we not think it’s the economy that will provide for us and our children? What is the point of paralyzing communication network, surrounding office buildings and parading on our arterial streets that keep our economy running smoothly? Where is the common sense of our political elite gone? We in changebangladesh want to know, when will it be back? Do you need help political leaders, do you need to talk? Talk to the people whom you are serving,talk amongst each other, figure it out. The streets are not yours alone. Be responsible and have some common sense. It’s the economy stupid!

Daily star link

Wiki :politics of Bangladesh

Bravo Hasina and Khaledah you guys really help Bangladesh to get there.

Dogs, cats move freely in pediatric ward in Kishoreganj Sadar Adhunik Hospital: Sick babies share beds
KishoreganjA baby admitted to Kishoreganj Sadar Adhunik Hospital for treatment of pneumonia is now attacked with diarrhoea also.
Three-month old Asadullah was admitted to the pediatric ward on June 12. The kid was shifted to diarrhoea ward before pneumonia was treated.
"My son was attacked with diarrhoea because of the filthy atmosphere there (pediatric ward)", his father Misir Uddin claimed while talking to this correspondent during a visit to the hospital on Friday.
"Even dogs and cats move freely there", he alleged. The room is dirty and disease-carrying flies and insects are all around. There is stinky smell as the floor is not cleaned regularly, he alleged. "Now my son is fighting for life", he said.
This correspondent also found a dog roaming in a room in the ward.
Sick babies were seen sharing beds in the pediatric ward. Salma Begum, mother of 10-month old pneumonia patient Roman said, "I admitted my baby to the ward for treatment of pneumonia. She has been kept on a bed along with two others, she said.
Diseases spread from one baby to another as they lie on the same bed, another mother, Salma, alleged Shamsunnaher, mother of two-year-old Junayed was seen helping her son inhale oxygen from an oxygen cylinder, which should be operated by a trained nurse.
No nurse or doctor was found in the ward from 12 noon to 1:30 pm on Friday.
A total of 53 babies were seen on 22 beds in the pediatric ward.
When contacted, Civil Surgeon (CS) Saij Uddin said babies share beds because of lack of beds. Asked about allegation of unhygienic condition, he said he will look into the matter and take steps immediately.
There has been a rush of pneumonia patients in the hospital as the disease spread in the district in last two weeks. It killed two babies and attacked over 500 during the period, sources at the Sadar hospital said.
The dead are Diba, 7, of Binnati area of Kishoreganj Sadar upazila and a three-day old unidentified baby from Choddosota area of the upazila.
A dog moving freely in the pediatric ward in Kishoreganj Sadar Ahdunik Hospital. PHOTO: STAR

BhangChoor the path for the Victory to the parliament.

The V sign what does it mean?

What Victory sign is this?

Whose Victory was that?

Who are his bosses that he is showing the Victory sign to ?

Who won from this Victory of this Young Man? Surely not any living Bangladeshi.

DHAKA (Reuters) - Opposition activists fought pitched battles with police in the Bangladesh capital on Wednesday on the second day of a two-day strike to press for electoral reforms.
Police used batons and fired teargas shells to disperse activists in the city's Mahakhali and Mirpur areas, witnesses said. At least one car was set ablaze.
An opposition alliance led by the Awami League called the strike to try to force the government to accept demands for electoral reform ahead of next January's parliamentary election.
The demands include the removal of the election commissioner and an opposition say in the caretaker administration to be appointed to run the country ahead of the polls.
"We are agitating to assert our democratic rights. But the government shows no tolerance because it is an autocratic regime," said Tofayel Ahmed, a former minister and senior Awami leader.
More than 100 people were injured on the first day of the strike in clashes between activists and police. Seven vehicles including a police car were burned and about 50 other vehicles were damaged in the capital and elsewhere, police and witnesses said.
On Tuesday police detained about 200 activists, including women, across the country. They would be prosecuted for "attacking police, damaging public property and creating anarchy", police said.

The Question lies what are they getting out of it ? the Property and Cars and Publics belongings which are set ablaze and broken in to pieces who will pay for that?

Can we get this money from Mercantile Bank as Mr Jaheel (Jalil) the owner will pay

Can we get this money from the swiss account of Sheikh Hasina ?

Can we get this money from the Foreign account of the AWL Bank account ?

Whats the address to send the invoice of the damages being done ?

When BNP was in opposition they did the samething and now as AWL is in opposition they are doing the same thing?

DO they really care about us ? Do these two parties with their allies and chamchas really feel 1% for the country?

Sheihk Hasina's son and daughter live in USA all MP ministers sons and daughters stay abroad

in foreign country for education or better life .BNP Tareq Zia ride in the new series Mercedes and his daughters and families are in the security of Army what about the common people? You and me ?

Is there any one thinking about us the poor ones?

Is there a need for the emergence of the third force?

Lets make a movement against Hartal no matter who is in oppostion this strategy has to stop this won't work. We want Peace and harmony we want to live are we asking too much from these two uneducated ladies?

Feel free give your comments.

2 RMG units set ablaze, 100 damaged, 1 killed Are we Stupid?

Angry garment workers(inset), throng the highway in front of Dhaka EPZ demanding payment of arrear wages and higher wages. They torched buses parked on a field while a garment factory is in flames in the background. PHOTO: STAR






A garment worker of Savar export processing zone (EPZ) was killed yesterday as several thousand of his colleagues clashed with employees loyal to the owners of factories while rampaging through the area demanding that their 11-point charter of demands including a pay raise be met.
Workers of different garment factories in the EPZ yesterday came out on the street, set two factories on fire, damaged more than a hundred factories and a number of vehicles, and put up barricades to drive home their demands. They also demanded payment of all unpaid salaries, overtime wages, basic wages for all, and an end to harassment by employees loyal to the owners of factories.
They torched 10 to 12 vehicles on Parishad road in Ashulia inside the EPZ.
More than a hundred persons including workers, police and journalists were injured as employees loyal to the owners attacked the workers.
Rana, 25, a garment worker from the EPZ, was admitted to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation with a bullet wound in the back. He died there in late afternoon. Tejgaon police sent the body to Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsy. Three other garment workers were admitted to hospitals with bullet wounds.
Another worker Saiful, 30, received treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital for an injury in the head.
This was the second incident of garment workers' protest in a week in the capital. Following the incident EPZ authorities announced a two-day shutdown of the factories.
Demonstrating workers became violent as a rumour spread that at least one worker in the EPZ was killed as law enforcers opened fire.
A witness said the incident started as workers of Universe Knitting Factory in the EPZ called a strike yesterday morning for fair 'piece rate' (rate of wages per piece of ready made garment).
Workers of the production unit, who do not get basic wages, demanded basic and overtime wages.
"Employees loyal to the owner keep three percent from our salaries for an unknown reason. They have been doing it for years making the workers angry," said Ashiq, a worker from Universe.
Following an altercation with the management regarding yesterday's strike and their demands, the workers of Universe got locked in a battle with employees loyal to the owner. Some workers vandalized some cars inside the EPZ. The Ansars opened a few rounds of fire to control the mob, which made the workers more violent and they started damaging factories, sources said.
The demonstrating workers went to other factories and asked the workers there to join them. Hundreds of workers stepped out on the street and started damaging vehicles and throwing brickbats at windowpanes of garment factories and the EPZ branch of Shahjalal Bank.
Within an hour several thousand workers with iron rods, bamboos, and wooden planks in hands blocked the Savar-Ashulia road and started attacking all garment factories around.
"They do not pay us wages regularly. So we are on the street and damaging factories," said a garment worker.
They put up barricades on the Ashulia-Tongi road, forcing several hundred vehicles on the busy route to halt in long queues till 5:00pm. Hundreds of workers were seen walking all the way from Savar EPZ to Tongi Bridge as no vehicle was plying the road.
Fire brigade sources said the workers set fire to the factory of Bando Design Ltd in Jamgara area near Fantasy Kingdom and to A-1 Garments Factory inside the EPZ.
"Suddenly they came and started throwing brickbats at my factory. Cloths worth at least Tk 15 crore were damaged as they set my factory on fire. They also burned five buses of my factory," said Siddiqur Rahman, chairman of Bando.
BDNEWS reported that Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) said agitators from outside incited the workers, forced into the EPZ and ransacked garment factories there. It said there are several Chinese, Korean and Malaysian factories in Savar EPZ.
PHOTOJOURNALIST ASSAULTEDSaiful Islam Kallol, a photojournalist of the daily Prothom Alo was assaulted by some employees loyal to the management of a garment factory inside the EPZ while discharging his duties there. He was assaulted as he went inside a factory to take photograph of a scene where some employees were beating some workers. The employees of the factory beat Saiful up and vandalised his motorbike.
RAB TOOK CONTROL As the workers became furious, the law enforcers allegedly took a passive posture at one stage. Later large contingents of armed police and RAB went to the scene at 2:00pm. A bullhorn in hand, a RAB officer reached the EPZ gate and told the workers that persons responsible for opening fire on them will be punished.
Getting the assurance the workers slowly calmed down. However, they continued damaging factories at different places outside the EPZ.
While throwing brickbats at a glass façade of Irish Knitwear Ltd, one of the workers said the owner of Irish Knitwear has not been paying workers' wages for the last two months.
As this report was being filed yesterday evening hundreds of police and RAB personnel took control of the area while hundreds of workers were still demonstrating at the EPZ gate.


So who is behind this?

They are saying India is it because they don't have the guts to utter the word Opposition?

So India from thousands mile away putting fire in our Factories? Indain did progress a lot?

Isn't it all political ? are we stupid or the government is stupid or the opposition is stupid?