Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
He is the editor of Weekly Blitz. This newspaper has both print and online edition reaching mostly policymakers, politicians, entrepreneurs, students, think tanks, civil and millitary officials, clergies and cross section of people in the world.
Weekly Blitz is the largest and most infleutial English language newspaper published in Bangladesh. Online edition of the only anti Jihadist newspaper in the Muslim world is available online on www.weeklyblitz.net
Journalist, writer, poet, lyrist, author, political analyst and peace activist, Choudhury, started his career in journalism in 1989 as the Correspondent of TASS, state news agency of Soviet Union. Later he was promoted as the Chief Correspodent of Itar-Tass in Bangladesh.
On November 29, 2003, he was arrested at Zia International Airport in Bangladesh on his way to Israel to attend a peace conference. Choudhury was tortured, imprisoned and denied medical treatment in prison. Government brought sedition, treason and blasphemy charges against him for confronting religious extremism, advocating inter-faith dialogue and demanding relations between Dhaka and Jerusalem. He was released on April 30, 2005 after imprisonment of seventeen months. Although released on bail, Choudhury continues to face sedition, treason and blasphemy charges and the trial continues in a court in Dhaka. Sedition bears capital punishment [death penalty] according to law in Bangladesh.
Choudhury is the recipient of PEN USA Freedom to Write Award in 2005; American Jewish Committee's Moral Courage Award in 2006; Monaco Media Award in 2007 and Key to Englewood City [USA] in 2007.
He has written a number of books on various issues. His latest book titled 'Injustice and Jihad' was published in October 2007. Italian publication house Neftasia Editore has published Choudhury's book titled 'Non Sono Colpevole' in May 2008.
Choudhury's latest book titled 'Inside Madrassa', which contains descriptive and elaborate information on condition of Madrassas in Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Muslim nations has been published in October 2009. This book is a result of comprehensive research by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury for several years. Interested people can buy a copy of this book by contacting Blitz Publications, ediblitz@yahoo.com
In today's world, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is perhaps the most quoted Bangladeshi journalist in the international media.
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Sun, The Washington Times, The Australian, The Berliner Zeitung, The Jewish State, The Jewish Week, The Guardian and many other leading international and regional dailies and periodicals have published numerous editorials on Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury.
Office of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury's newspaper, Weekly Blitz was bombed by Islamist millitants in Dhaka [Bangladesh] in July 2006.
On October 5, 2006, armed terrorists attacked the his office and physically assaulted him.
On 18th March 2008, members of Rapid Action Battalion [infamous of extra-judicial murders] abducted Mr. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury at gun point from his office. He was blind-folded and physically assaulted. Because of quick actions by US Peace Activist Dr. Richard L Benkin and Rep. Mark Steven Kirkand other esteemed members of United States Congress, Choudhury escaped RAB's deathtrap.
On February 22, 2009, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury's newspaper office was once again attacked by the armed thugs belonging to ruling party. He and his staffs were physically assaulted and the attackers looted his laptop along with two manuscripts of his un-published books.
US Congress, European Parliament, Australian Senate passed resolutions demanding dropping of the false case of Mr. Choudhury and to give him proper security and stop all forms of harrassments. But, Bangladeshi authorities in Dhaka, instead of showing minimum respect to such calls, withdrew police protection from the residence of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury in May 2008.
Shoaib Choudhury is a permanent member of PENUSA; Advisory Board Member of Islam-Israel Fellowship; Director, Forcefield NFP.
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is invited by many prestigious institutions in the world for giving lecture on the topic of his work. Yale University [New Haven, USA], Rutgers University [New Jersey, USA] and Hudon Institute [NYC] invited Choudhury to give lectures during October and November 2009.
Contact Information
Articles by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
November 17, 2009
Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party´s secretary general Khondokar Delwar Hossain alleged that the government was ´influencing the court´ in getting a verdict as per their wills. While, Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed rejected such allegations saying, courts and judges were completely independent in making decision. It is believed that Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] is a beneficiary of the August 15, 1975 assassination of Bangabandhu. In this case, it is natural that this party will be sympathetic towards the self-proclaimed killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
November 17, 2009
There is also no action yet by the Bangladeshi government in banning another notorious Islamist outfit named Hizbut Towhid, which is continuing its activities in the country, as well as continuing to sell hate materials amongst Bangladeshi people and spreading hatred through its website. Hizbut Towhid terms Jews and Christians as ´enemies of Islam´ and call on its members and other fellow Muslims in waging ´jihad´ against Jews and Christians.
November 17, 2009
They said, Saudi Arabia established economic relations with Israel since 2005, while a large number of Muslim and Arab nations are having either diplomatic or economic relations with Jerusalem for years. In contrary, Bangladesh maintains total ban on Israel including postal ban, telecommunication ban, shipping ban, business ban and travel ban. Many of the Bangladeshi officials, being brain-washed by Iranian or Jihadist notions, consider Israel as a ´enemy nation´ of Bangladesh.
November 17, 2009
Masum also said the battalion personnel had videoed arranged sequences of seizure of drug substances from his room. He was also videoed along with the wife of the owner of the house, he said.
November 17, 2009
Few months back, Hizbut Towhid activists were arrested in different parts of Bangladesh, while they were distributing leaflets against Kindergarten schools and English medium education system in Bangladesh. It is learnt from various reliable sources that, Bayeejid Khan Panni has successfully recrited some West educated people in his group, who are working in preparing various publications for this notorious terror outfit. In recent months, the group has started agressively spreading its hate message amongst people with the intention of creating Jihadist mentality in the minds of commoners.
October 13, 2009
In the case of Islam some western scholars have found that because of its Prophet´s fusion of military and spiritual authority and because Quranic laws are deemed to be final the space for democratic debate for the formation of secular laws does not exist in Muslim societies. Some other scholars however have found that appropriation of political Islam by Islamic fundamentalists is untenable and millions of Muslims living outside the Arab world live in intermittent democracies and they may not become victims of so-called Islamic Free Election Trap in which fundamentalists use democratic means to get to power only to abolish democratic practices through legislation.
October 18, 2009
While everyone in the world are always in favor of protecting minority rights, it is also equally expected from the religious minorities in the world that they won´t use religious sentiment in covering any form of illegal activities, as some of the Hindu leaders in Dhaka [Bangladesh] have committed in the mentioned case.
October 13, 2009
Such propaganda centering India and Israel was purposefully made by the members of Iranian terror outfit with the ulterior motive of instigating anti-Indian and anti-Israel sentiment in all Muslim nations, including Bangladesh.
October 18, 2009
Leaders of the ruling party and those ministers are very confident to believe that, they will be in power at least till 2021 as they have very successfully tamed the major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party already. Visibly there is no political opponent of the ruling party in Bangladesh now. The parliament is also under the absolute control of the ruling party. Opposition is continuing to boycott the parliament. Alarmingly, Bangladesh is gradually heading towards ´Democratic Autocracy´ or may be even worst, which is named in many nations as ´Family Dynasty´.
October 18, 2009
In Africa the colonial powers abolished slavery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, but in areas outside their jurisdiction, such as the Mahdist empire in Sudan, the practice continued to thrive. Now, institutional slavery has been banned worldwide, but there are numerous reports of women sex slaves in areas without an effective government control, such as, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, northern Uganda, Congo, Niger and Mauritania. In Ghana, Togo, and Benin, a form of religious prostitution known as trokosi ["ritual servitude"] forcibly keeps thousands of girls and women in traditional shrines as "wives of the gods", where priests perform the sexual function in place of the gods.
October 18, 2009
Despite lodging of a case more than 5 days back [Case No. 65, under section 143, 448, 323, 342, 384, 380, 427 and 506], members of law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh are showing extreme reluctance in arresting any of the attackers, mostly belonging to the ruling party, who attacked the office of Weekly Blitz on Sunday [February 22, 2009], physically assaulted the editor and other members, abused the female staffs and looted laptop and other valuables in a broad day light, in presence of One Shamim from DGFI [Directorate General of Forces Intelligence]. Members of law enforcing agencies were witnessing the incident silently as the attackers were mostly activists and members of the ruling party in Bangladesh. Others who were in the gang are identified as Shintu, Liton, Yunus, Anwar, Siraj, Lavlu, Kajol etc. According to police sources, most of them were thugs belonging to the ruling party.
October 13, 2009
According to a figure, only in 2008, more than 10,000 Hindu women and girls were raped in various parts of Bangladesh. The total number of such brutality would be several folds higher, if the cases of such notoriety in Pakistan and other Muslim nations are taken into consideration.
October 13, 2009
This paper deals with the Tablighi Jamaat [TJ], which is the mother of all the Pakistan-based jehadi organisations active not only in the CARs, Chechnya and Dagestan, but also in other parts of the world.
October 13, 2009
Trend of forceful conversion of religious minorities to Islam is increasing in Bangladesh especially after the increase of activities of Tablighi jamaat as well as provocative sermons by Muslim clergies in the mosques. These clergies and Tablighis offer heaven for the person and his parents and fore-parents for a successful conversion of a religious minority girl or boy into Islam.
October 13, 2009
General Rahman sees ´invasion´ of Indian army inside Bangladesh in near future. It may be mentioned here that, Major General Fazlur Rahman is known to be anti-Indian element in Bangladesh with Islamist connections.
October 13, 2009
According to regional media, 27,000 Bangladeshi women and children have been forced into prostitution in Indian brothels only during 1997. Bangladesh and Nepal are the main sources of trafficked children in south Asia, while women from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal are regularly trafficked to India...
October 13, 2009
However, the Articles 76 and 82 of the 1982 UNCLOS lay down the methods of delimitation of sea boundary between adjacent states [distinct from opposite states, such as Sri Lanka and India]. According to these articles, first the states shall settle the boundary through negotiations. If negotiations fail, the principle of equity will apply, implying that justice and fairness must be the hallmark of settlement. Main argument is, delimitation of sea boundary between two adjacent states, such as Bangladesh and India, is different from that of opposite states such as India and Sri Lanka or Australia and Indonesia.
October 03, 2009
Both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were denied medical treatment in prison and large number of political leaders were arrested, harrased, humuliated and finally extorted by the military controlled regime under the directives of General Moeen u Ahmed. In one particular case, when a former junior minister was arrested and placed on remand for interrogation and taken inside Dhaka Cantonment, he was forced to open a bank account with Sonali bank [state owned bank in Bangladesh] and subsequently had to deposit TK. 70 million [US$ 1 million] in that account thus finally drawing the amount and handing it over to his interrogators, who were officers under command of General Moeen. It is also learnt that similar broad-day-light extortion was a regular phenomenon by the military controlled regime in Bangladesh during its entire rule.
October 02, 2009
There is anticipation that Delhi is going to use the Air Force to combat the Maoists within India. Home Minister P Chidamabaram has drawn a plan for 'final assault' on the red rebels with proposal to use the air power. The planned drive is to begin from two central states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, the epicentre of the Maoists. Senior officials of the Home Ministry said the plan is being discussed in an appropriate committee where the minister's say will carry major weight.
October 02, 2009
Bangladesh has also failed to raise the issue of having rights to peaceful use of nuclear energy in agriculture, health, industry and science areas. It also did not speak about other energy efficiency or solar energy goals, though it loudly talked about it in the 2021 vision. Bangladesh has missed an opportunity to alert the international community about the problems that it is facing in conflict resolutions with neighbouring countries. Though not specifically, it could have made general appeal on the issues like implementation of the law of the sea and resolving dispute over maritime boundary and trans-boundary water management.
September 26, 2009
For the last few years Hizb Ut Towhid has been carrying out secret operations in the name of 'dawat' in different parts of the country, especially in the southern region. In some cases Bangladeshi law enforcing agencies also arrested some activists of different Islamic organizations during their suspicious activities.
September 26, 2009
Talking about deals with a Swedish company for sugar and edible oil, he said: "Enquiring through the Swedish embassy it was found that the address of the company was fake. After canceling the deal, Faruq Khan asked the company to submit their tender again. The address was false even the next time. Why did he do that over and over again? Later, we found that he [Faruk Khan, commerce minister in Bangladesh] had personal relation with the company."
September 10, 2009
Officials in Dhaka, however, observed despite mounting pressure from New Delhi, Bangladesh cannot afford to allow India any transit for certain factors such as lack of infrastructure and logistics, absence of in-depth assessment of possible gains from such ´economic issue´ and implication on internal security.
September 20, 2009
Although Christian festivals like Christmas are now a days extremely known and popular as well celebrated even by the non-Christian community, Jewish festivals such as Rosh Hashanah are yet to be known well amongst 99 per cent of the Muslim population in the Asian nations. According to a statitics, during 2008, more than five million Christmas cards were sold only in Bangladesh, which is a Muslim dominated country, while in Hindu dominated India, a total number of 310 million Christmas cards were sold. Christmas cards are even sold in huge volume in China. The reason behind such high volume sale of Christmas cards, is non-Christian population in the world, generally prefer printing or using a common cards, which combined both Christmas and English New year greeting cards.
September 18, 2009
At about 10 in the evening there was a hot altercation between a student of Mohasin Hall on a flimsy ground. On that ground the student of Mohasin Hall called some other 15-20 residential students of said Hall over phone and they jointly tortured Swapan Mondal and brought him before TSC Auditorium, branded him as extortionist, started beating mercilessly.
September 18, 2009
There are surely honest and dedicated people in Bangladesh politics. We, as Bangladeshi, surely feel proud of those leaders, no matter whether we belong to any political party or platform or not. But, unfortunately, number of such honest leaders are very few. In each of the parties, we can hardly find 10-12 people like this, who are extremely honest and committed to the nation. But, very unfortunately, those leaders are never at the commanding position in our politics. Mostly corrupt and shameless goes into glamorous positions in Bangladeshi politics. This is truly unfortunate.
September 18, 2009
Professor Dr. kalimullah demanded immediate returning of the Jewish synagogue to country´s Jewish population as well stop all forms of repression on Jews in Bangladesh.
September 18, 2009
And, now here is another disturbing news of attack on Hindu temple by some miscreants belonging to the ruling party at Bangladesh´s southern district of Kushtia. According to information, several perpetrators entered two Temples at Kushtia, damaged Hindu deities´ Sunday, September 07, 2009 at night. Such tragic incident took place in the Hindu neighborhood just few weeks before the biggest Hindu festival named Durga Puja.
September 18, 2009
By all means, the former flight attendant of Saudi Arabian Airlines knew tha meaning of invitation to ´private meeting´ by the Saudis. It was nothing but another attempt of sexual exploitation, which is a regular but untold phenomenon in Saudi Arabia. So she decided to fight back.
September 05, 2009
He claimed that the arrested teenagers were taken to the Basij militia base, where they were blindfolded, stripped to their underwear, whipped with cables and then locked in a steel shipping container.
September 12, 2009
Some singers and cultural activists, a number of times organized cultural programs in Dhaka as well other parts of the country for raising fund to help the family of Baul Abdul Karim for his treatment. Such programs were properly publicized. But, my point here is, why the government was turning completely deaf in paying any attention to this important issue? What those idiots in cultural affairs ministry were doing? Why did they not take any measure in contributing in helping this precious son of the soil, in at least getting proper treatment?
September 10, 2009
The greatest appropriation of Hindu property took place immediately after independence during the first Awami League government [1972-75] and during the first period of rule of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party [1976-1980]. Dr Barkat's work also showed that since 1948, 75% of the land of religious minorities in East Pakistan and subsequent Bangladesh had been confiscated through provisions of the Act.
September 10, 2009
In the Islamic Republic it is illegal to execute a young woman, regardless of her crime, if she is a virgin, he explained. Therefore a "wedding" ceremony is conducted the night before the execution: The young girl is forced to have sexual intercourse with a prison guard - essentially raped by her "husband."
September 06, 2009
Second point is, some idiots are continuing to say that, I was ousted from Inqilab Television for misappropriation of money. What a damn lie again! Even the owners of Daily Inqilab never made such remarks. In fact, being the managing director in Inqilab Television, I had no chance to sign cheques to do financial transactions. These were controlled by the owners of Inqilab. Furthermore, this television channel never went on air even for one minute. No program was ever purchased for this channel. So, where is the ´misappropriation theory´?
September 01, 2009
Many people claim that the Pilkhana Massacre was pre set by the rulers with a blue print of damaging Bangladesh´s border security forces, with the aim of turning Bangladesh ultimately into a sub-servient like some small nations in the region. Recent actions of the government centering Chittagong Hill Tract Area is another episode of anti-Bangladesh activities. There are many reasons for everyone to feel rather greatly concerned at many of the actions and ´enthusiasms´ of the present government in Bangladesh, which ultimately may put the very independence and sovereignty of the nation into jeopardy.
September 01, 2009
Market for Bangladeshi manpower is getting narrower every week, while the government is continuing to fail in taking any steps in resolving the crisis. It is anticipated that, more than 60 per cent of Bangladeshi workers abroad may return home by next year, if the present government especially the foreign ministry will continue to fail in talking to the respective countries, which had been recruiting Bangladeshi workers and find any solution to the crisis.
September 01, 2009
Hearing this news, I immediately told Benkin, this is the beginning of a long journey. People of United States will one day elect Mark Kirk as their next President. I have no doubt, after John F Kennedy, Mark Kirk will be the most glorious and memorable President in the history of United States, once he is elected to White House. Why? Because, Kirk is the man of integrity and commitment. He values human rights, democracy and has the courage to fight religious extremism.
September 01, 2009
Since the new government in Dhaka came in power in January 2009 under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister, it was always expected by people that religious minorities will be safer during the tenure of this new government as Awami League claims to be a secular political party. But, the track record of minority repression is no better than any previous governments in the country.
September 01, 2009
Since the Islamic revolution prostitution has speeded through cities and even between teens from age 14 and there are many factors that we should consider here like high inflation rate usually more than %17, more than %35 unemployment rate specially between young generations 18-35 ages, poor economic status between more than %60 of people, high poverty between %40 – %50 of people, drug addiction like heroin, lack of fun for young generations, high rate of divorce it´s about %30 - %40 and lack of freedom for whole population extends the problem.
September 01, 2009
The present government also continues illegal ban on the religious publications of Ahmediya religious minority group in Bangladesh. Such ban was enforced by the BNP led Islamist government few years back, when some local fanatics continued anti-Ahmediya activities and demanding declaring Ahmediyas as ´non Muslims´.
September 01, 2009
In recent months, several small or hidden Islamist organizations were identified even in a "Secural Nation" or "Moderate Muslim Nation" like Bangladesh, who´s main agenda are almost similar to Al Qaida. In June 2009, one such organization sent threat fax message to a number of Western missions in Dhaka [capital of Bangladesh], which was never investigated by the authorities concerned for reason unknown.
September 01, 2009
On June 24, 2009, at about 10-30 to 11.00 p.m. Ms. Archana Rani Rajbangshi [victim adolescent girl] came out from her house to fetch water from tube well in darkness. Suddenly the perpetrators namely 1. Sadhan Sarkar, 2. Mohammed Halem Uddin, 3. Mohammed Golap Shikdar, and 4. Mohammed Iman Bepari grabbed the victims mouth and abducted her to a nearby bush, robbed of gold ornaments, unclothed her, and finally gang raped. While raping, as the victim tried to resist, the perpetrators made assaults on her body with hand, nails and teeth. At one stage, the victim became senseless.
July 22, 2009
During general election on December 2008, the present Grand Alliance led by Bangladesh came in power with huge mandate from the people of Bangladesh, just because of its secular ideology and commitments of combating radical Islam. But, since they came in power, there is no sign of any actions by the present government in combating religious extremism. Rather, like all other previous governments and regimes, the present government is also continuing to behave like appeasers of Islamists.
July 07, 2009
There is bad news about minority repression from various parts of Bangladesh. According to minority groups and individuals, torture of religious minorities as well as grabbing their properties by the members of ruling party are taking place on a regular basis. Even in some cases, ruling party men grabbed temples of Hindu community and started constructing commercial complexes on them.
July 07, 2009
Although several Bangladeshi high officials also echoed the opinion of the Bangladeshi foreign minister, according to a report published in vernacular daily Amader Shomoy [which is owned by Taslima Nasrin´s second husband Nayeemul Islam Khan], Bangladeshi missions abroad are continuing to decline renewing the passport of this award winning feminist activist. Recently Taslima Nasrin went to Bangladeshi embassy in United States, which also declined to renew her passport.
July 07, 2009
I am genuinely, a secular person. I have been fighting for women´s rights and freedom. My fight is not against any particular religion. I always believe in secular state and secular education. Religion should be people´s personal matter. Nobody should be persecuted or oppressed for their beliefs (religious or atheism), gender, color or ethnicity. It is very painful to see that the largest democracy of the world can´t give shelter to a secular writer whose entire life is dedicated to secular humanism.
July 02, 2009
With the exposure of corruption of several advisors in the interim government as well as Prime Minister´s ´interesting´ instructions to her party-men, law and order situation in Bangladesh is in its ever worst state. On Friday [June 26, 2009] three businessmen were killed in broad day light by the members of professional extortionist group at Dhaka´s Kawranbazar commercial area.
July 02, 2009
Pakistani intelligence agency ISI [Inter Service Intelligence] continues to patronize and support anti-Indian notions by funding any group extending support for Kashmiri separatists while Iran continues massive propaganda against Israel through its own missions in a number of nations. In Bangladesh, Iranians are spending huge amount of money in promoting anti-Israel and anti-US sentiments. Most of the street demonstrations burning Israeli and American flags are secretly funded by Iran to give instigations to people in adopting anti Semitic and anti US notions.
June 26, 2009
And, we all know the cases of sexual genital mutilation of women in several Muslim countries in Africa and elsewhere. Before any women reach her age of 10, clitoris are mutilated so that she loses the sense of any sexual comfort in entire life. By doing so, the men dominated society turn the women into mere sexual tool of comfort for them. Nothing more!
June 26, 2009
In each of the Muslim nations, where Shariah Law is in practice, women are the worst sufferers and represseds. By giving false interpretation of Koran, Muslim chergies try to treat women as mere tools of serving men´s luster. Some women, of course oppose to such hellish lives, but unfortunately they not only get driven out from homes, as well, they even end up in endless miseries entering grips of flesh traders or brothels.
June 26, 2009
What differences people have so far witnessed in this country? Violence in almost all the campuses by the student wing activist of the ruling party causing closure of many educational institutions? Beating of journalists by the MPs of the ruling party? Assault on the religious minorities? Worst ever law and order situation? Rise of Islamist militancy where even Al Qaeda gave threats to a number of foreign missions? Anger in the minds of business community at the huge rise in extortion? Daily murders and rapes? Grabbing of properties by the members of the ruling party? Turning national broadcast media into mere family property of Bangabandhu family? Lauding family dynasty in politics? What? And what not?
June 26, 2009
Such reluctance of the government naturally annoyed the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces. When the Prime Minister went to meet them at the Sena Kunja auditorium two days after this bloody massacre, quite naturally some of the members of the armed forces were expressing their shock and grievance to the Prime Minister.
June 26, 2009
Barrister Moinul Hussain, while commenting on the assassination of Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto [hours after her assassination] told Bangladeshi media that, Bangladesh was not a party in war on terror. He harshly criticized Pakistan´s joining the war on terror and combating Islamist militancy.
May 24, 2009
In years after the visit of Hillary Clinto, the entire village turned into a land of horror. Extreme poverty due to high interest charged by Dr. Yunus pushed them towards starvation, poverty and other social problems. Child marriage is very common in that village. A large number of females from the village ended up in local and neighboring brothels, which were virtually sold by parents due to poverty.
May 15, 2009
Businessmen and entrepreneurs have already expressed severe dissatisfaction at the alarming rise in extortion. It is learnt that in most cases, ruling party thugs and cadres are involving in extortion. Members of law enforcing agencies are rather found helpless in the hands of these ´powerful´ people.
April 19, 2009
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina´s son and advisor Sajib Wajed Joy is for the first time included in the ´Umrah Diplomacy´, which certainly is aimed not only in getting favor from Saudi Arabia in continuing Bangladeshi workers in that country but also to give a signal to Saudis that the present government is not intending any offensives on radical Islam. I never heard, the anti-Madrassa Sajib Wajed Joy ever showing any interest in performing Umrah. But, this time, he truly is accompanying his mother to Saudi Arabia with the huge entourage. Such pilgrimages are not to please the God, but to please the Saudi monarchs or in other word, the Dynastic Monarchism.
April 02, 2009
In Bangladesh, for decades, Madrassas are mostly run by half educated teachers, who understand the theme of giving instigation of religious hatred amongst the students. Same notion also exists in the mind of clergies in the mosques. Friday sermons in the mosques are nothing but filled with hate speech and provocation towards killing Jews and Christians.
April 01, 2009
Possibly Sheikh Hasina will face serious problems in smooth functioning of her government with such over-assumptive minister or police officer. But, the PM should know with certainty that all these statements and ´forecasts´ have damaged the image of Bangladesh internationally.
March 28, 2009
In this mish-mash of wealthy Arab women covered in silk black chadors, Indian families in saris, young poseurs with Iranian pop T-shirts, armies of men in dishdashas and fake gold Rolexes, phalanxes of Japanese minibuses and American delivery vans, and the frenzy of trading simultaneously in English, Arabic, Bengali, Urdu, Turkish, Farsi, Russian, German, Tagalog, Thai, Gujarati, Afrikaans or Swahili, the lingua franca is indisputably English, not Arabic.
March 26, 2009
In Bangladesh, democracy possibly won´t be established in real sense just by continuing the present electoral system. Political parties are extremely proliferated and lacking in democratic practices within parties. Two of the largest political parties are virtually under the dictatorial administration of two particular figures, who belong to their family dynasty. Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] was forced to announce Khaleda Zia as its life-long party chief. Awami League also holds a similar notion. Critics may opine saying, if these parties are failing to establish democracy within their own party system, how they can ensure a proper democracy and rules of law in the country, only by being elected after every five years. This is surely a valid question.
March 22, 2009
A number of ministers in the present government, especially Commerce Minister Lt. Col. [Retired] Faruk Khan, who is also the chief coordinator of the probe committees, continued to forecast the possible outcome of the investigation. In a series of statements, he said, militancy has penetrated inside the law enforcing and disciplined forces in Bangladesh; foreign links have been found behind the February carnage inside Bangladesh Riffles headquarters; Islamist militancy group is behind the massacre etc.
March 21, 2009
Retired Lt. Col. Faruk Khan is continuing to give his assumptive statements on the possible figures behind the BDR Carnage. Experts opine that the probe committees are still halfway through their investigations into the February carnage. And any individual with minimum element of sanity will agree that the findings must be shrouded in confidentiality until they are finished.
March 21, 2009
It may be mentioned here that, more than 100,000 students are attending English medium and missionary educational institutions in Bangladesh. On the other hand, there are above 69,000 Madrassas with additional number of kindergarten and kindergarten cadet Madrassas in the country. Experts consider Madrassas as breeding ground of Jihadists. It is also learnt that more than 300,000 students come out of various types of Madrassas in Bangladesh, most of whom are brain-washed with religious hatred, Jihadists mentality and high aspiration of becoming ´martyr´ in any religious war. Teachers in religious schools allure young students towards martyrdom with heaven, 72-virgins and many more eternal gifts.
March 20, 2009
Bangladesh government recently confessed that Islamist militants have penetrated into the disciplined forces and law enforcing agencies. This is surely sensation news for the entire world. But, we should also rewind our memories to another dimension of the entire issue. During 1996-2001, when Awami League government was in power, they announced general amnesty for the leftist terrorists and their kingpins around the country. Following that announcement, thousands of leftist terrorists surrendered arms to the government. It was also reported in the media that, a large section of such former leftist terrorists were recruited in Ansar [one of the law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh]. Some were also recruited in police.
March 15, 2009
On the other hand, taking the advantage of unique situation in Bangladesh, Islamist millitancy group named Hizb Ut Tahrir are trying to become active with their anti India and anti-US as well as anti-West propaganda, thus labeling India as the main conspirators behind the February Massacre.
March 15, 2009
In 1990, Zardari was accused of threatening to kill a businessman with a remote-controlled bomb unless he withdrew money from a bank as pay-off. Zardari earned the nickname, "Mr 10%" following allegations of corruption. Zardari was released from jail in 1993 and became a government minister. From 1997 to 2004, Zardari was kept in jail on corruption charges and accusations of murder. Pakistani investigators accused Zardari and his wife Benazir for embezzling as much as US$1.5 billion from government accounts. He was also accused of allegedly plotting the murder of Murtaza Bhutto, the brother of his wife Benazir Bhutto. He was later cleared.
March 13, 2009
There is another bad news already by now centering the BDR massacre. A leader of the ruling party has already been arrested for his involvement behind this massacre. It is learnt that a significant volume of arms, ammunitions and grenades were already smuggled out of the BDR headquarters by the fleeing jawans of the Bangladesh Riffles. It is even reported that, some of the pro-ruling party terrorists are already possessing such arms, ammunitions and grenades and even some of them are already trading in such looted items. Investigators should also keep close-eyes on this matter.
March 14, 2009
The mystery of PM´s refusal to attend the dinner at BDR headquarters on February 26, 2009 is yet to be known. It was confirmed that, the Prime Minister´s office conveyed the message on February 22, 2009 with the top level officials of BDR that the PM was unable to attend the dinner. This is a big question as to why Sheikh Hasina turned down the invitation almost 3 days before the massacre. Any advance intelligence report? Yes, the PM has also endorsed the fact right inside the Parliament that she received intelligence report in advance about such incident. In this case, natural question may arise here as to why the PM did not initiate any actions in combating the potential notoriety inside the BDR headquarters.
March 08, 2009
Now, let me bring here, one more angle of the entire notoriety. I brought the matter of Shamim, who claimed to be an officer of DGFI. Unofficially I was told that, DGFI did not send anyone to my office for attack, nor there any officer in that name. It may be mentioned here that, Shamim claimed himself to be an officer of DGFI not only while assaulting me but he made this claim even in presence of some officers of Paltan Police Station and other intelligence agencies. None ever dared to challenge this.
March 02, 2009
Now, again, the very controversial and questioned police officer like Abdul Kahhar Akhand, who had already been questioned of his efficiency and expertise by the higher judiciary of Bangladesh, has been appointed as the Investigation Officer [IO] of the very sensitive and important BDR Massacre case.
March 03, 2009
Meanwhile, some of the figures in the rulling party, whose names are already included in the list of suspects expressed grave concern at the beginning of ´Operation Rebel Hunt´ by the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces from Monday. At the requests of such elements, the matter was raised during the cabinet meeting on the same day and the Prime Minister instructed her Principal Staff Officer to communicate a message that, during the Operation Rebel Hunt, only members of the rebel Bangladesh Riffles troops can be arrested. Others [even if suspected in the case], cannot be arrested by the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces.
March 02, 2009
While massacre was continuing inside the BDR headquarters, one army officer was engaged in sending fax messages to various people in support of mutineers and alleging the director general [my newspaper, Weekly Blitz has investigated this matter and learnt that one officer in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel sent such messages. This officer communicated with a large number of people who are aligned with the ruling party].
March 01, 2009
Most unfortunate part of the entire episode is, some politicians belong to both ruling and opposition parties have started blame-game centering this entire incident. Some of the leaders of the ruling party, including Jahangir Kabir Nanak even gave public statements in this regard. It is anticipated that any investigation led by the ministers of the government will not find out the facts. Rather, it will be aimed at putting the allegation of political opponents. Experts feel that, only neutral and quick investigation can find out the facts behind such brutality and murders.
March 01, 2009
Operation Rebel Hunt has already started to findout each and every culprits of the most heinous notoriety of the age. Bangladesh will never forgive the killers or their behind-screen instigators. Masks of killers shall be removed soon. The entire nation of 150 million people in Bangladesh are now gathered in single platform to try the killers of our armed forces. By now, some of the killers are already identified. Many will be identified soon. Even those ghosts hiding inside the mastard seed will also been identified. Perpetrators will do a serious mistake if they will feel that they can suppress their real face from the trial.
February 28, 2009
Very unfortunately, Major General [Retired] Fazlur Rahman, who headed Bangladesh Riffles few years back, made quick comments on Wednesday noon, hours after the outbreak of the mutiny, echoing the untrue demand and claims of the renegade troops. It is also important to find out as to why this controversial man was over enthusiastic in joining voice with the renegade troops, with the ulterior intention of giving much instigation to BDR troop brutality. Investigators trying to find out the facts behind should immediately collect the television footage of General [Retired] Fazlur Rahman´s interview with a local television channel. In case of necessity, he should also be interrogated in this regard as to why he was over-enthusiastic in giving a quick reaction with concocted facts.
February 27, 2009
When the notoriety inside BDR headquarters was continuing, although all the private television channels were covering the incident, state-owned Bangladesh Television was busy in broadcasting entertainment program, as if nothing happened in the country. Such senseless behavior of Bangladesh Television is not only a serious offense by its staffs but the information ministry itself. It may be mentioned here that the information secretary was just removed from his job only a week back for writing a notoriously abusive poem on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and members of his family. Bangladesh Television [BTV] is under the information ministry. Many believe that, BTV´s roles might have been intentional to put the government into questioned position.
February 27, 2009
In the meantime, some of the officials of a particular para-millitary intelligence agency in Bangladesh is continuing to say that, Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] had hands behind the entire mutiny. They are saying, at the suggestion of some of the senior leaders of the party, leader of the opposition and former Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia did not stay at her residence inside the Dhaka Cantonment on Wednesday night. They [the intelligence officers] want to justify that, Khaleda Zia refrained from staying at home, because, she was having hand behind this extreme notoriety.
February 25, 2009
Political analysts believe that the revolt won´t be a threat to the stability of the state, but it´s certainly a serious threat to the security forces and their standing, their place in the structure of the state.
February 14, 2009
According to Islamic dictionary, Zakat or ´alms for the poor´ is the Islamic principle of giving a percentage of one´s income to charity. It is often compared to the system of tithing and alms, but it serves principally as the welfare contribution to poor and deprived people in the Muslim lands, although others may have a rightful share. Zakat's similar-sounding, Arabic language analog is the Hebrew word Tzedakah, the charitable obligation in ancient Israel through to present day Judaism. It is the duty of the Islamic state not just to collect Zakat, but to distribute it fairly as well. Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
February 14, 2009
In Bangladesh, a few Islamist parties are regularly opposing the celebration of St. Valentines Day. One of such groups named Hizb Ut Tahrir, which regularly opposes West and all other religions except Islam, even circulated leaflets in Bangladesh with the call for stopping the culture of celebrating St. Valentine´s day. But, good news is, the degree of celebration is increasing in this country like many other Muslim nations in the world.
February 05, 2009
And, I know, my brother, Dr. Benkin more than anyone else. He will never retreat from giving a proper lesson to such nasty elements like Maqsood Alshams. Describing the entire matter, Dr. Benkin wrote in a number of newspapers in the world, where he said, "An anti-Israel conference scheduled to be held in an official Australian state building was canceled after a small group of dedicated individuals revealed the conference leader´s anti-Semitic motives. Maqsood Alshams, an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh, planned the conference to debate the issue of charging Israel with war crimes for its recent actions in Gaza. Since arriving Down Under in the 1990s, Alshams had become a darling of the Australian left and became known as a "human rights" advocate. It is within that context that spews his relentless anti-Israel venom.
February 05, 2009
The Mumbai Massacre took place at Nariman House, Taj Hotel and Oberoi Hotel, where Islamist militants ruthlessly killed innocent people, which surely is a result of religious hatred and intolerance.
December 25, 2008
Anyway, the election on December 29 is gradually becoming a ´mission possible´. Bangladesh will shift from military controlled autocracy to democratic track from the New Year. In this case, the most important question now should come in front of the entire nation – if either of the political heavyweights, especially the two Begums will be ready to accept the election result. We have past track record of unfortunate stories. None of the politicians in Bangladesh are ready to accept their defeat in the election.
October 27, 2008
Tania although cheating people for quite sometime, she was recently caught red-handed while she cheated a foreign company named Nam Nam Corporation [owned by the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea]. According to allegation lodged by the DPR Korea Embassy in Bangladesh, Tania Amir received Euro 15,000 in cash and Bangladesh Taka 100,000 against a promise of giving legal opinion on a matter related to pending bills of Maddhyapara Hard Rock Minning Project at Dinazpur district in the country. Although Bangladeshi law prohibits its citizen from receiving cash foreign currency, Tania Amir considers herself above law and she continues to deal with her foreign clients in the illegal manner for quite some time.
October 27, 2008
Zardari was challenged by Justice (Retired) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, a former judge nominated by Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, and Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who was nominated by the PML-Q, which backed Musharraf. According to the Constitution of 1973 presently in vogue (but declared for major amendments by Zardari) the President of Pakistan, who must be a Muslim and a male, is elected by an electoral college composed of members of the two houses of parliament - the 342 seat lower house National Assembly and the 100 member upper house Senate, as well as members of the four provincial assemblies - Sindh, Punjab, North West Frontier and Balochistan. The assemblies have total of 1170 seats, but the number of electoral college votes is 702 since provincial assembly votes are counted on a proportional basis. The new president, who obtains the largest number of votes, will serve for five years as Pakistan's 11th president since 1956, when the country became an Islamic Republic, excluding acting presidents and CMLAs [Chief Martial Law Administrators] during times of military rule. Voting was in progress at the Parliament House, while the Senate members finished casting their votes.
September 22, 2008
But the bad news is, Bangladeshi voters will have two options to pick the bad from the worst or worst from the bad. In both cases, the country will once again enter the era of massive corruption and looting of public money by using political might. Moreover, Bangladesh´s aspiration of entering the new age of multi-party democracy and democracy within parties will bogg into the Bay of Bengal atleast for a distant future. Possibly it will be time again for international organizations like Transparency International to place Bangladesh once again at the top of the most corrupt nations for the sixth time. Those who care about good democracy will surely get hurt at this latest episode of political carricature in Bangladesh.
September 21, 2008
Vowing to establish Caliphate rule in Bangladesh, HT´s Chief Coordinator Mahiuddin Ahmed openly threatened that HT-B activists will "stomp the city streets and no one will be able to live in peace on the soil of Bangladesh if […] leaders are not released in 48 hours."His speech was definitely full of rhetoric and very much in the line of Hizbut´s global Islamic agenda. Mahiuddin Ahmed´s speech was clearly in tandem of HT´s Ummatic agenda and its believe in God´s government. He affirmed, We always want to oust all governments in all Muslim countries in the world to establish Khelafat [Caliphate] states. We have been asking for establishing Khelafat rule in the country instead of the present servile government since our first procession in the country. He also took the opportunity to blame the media for not branding the USA as a terrorist state.
August 24, 2008
Meanhwile, Noca Inc has indicated that it has the total arrangement to offer Urea [both prilled and granular] to other countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Phillippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Middle east, Turkey, Egypt, China, Taiwan, Korea [South and North] and other African and American countries. It said, CIF or FOB offer for any of the listed countries are much lower than their existing price of purchase.
July 24, 2008
Barkat Ulla Bulu is the forefront name in Bangladesh who cashed millions of Taka through corruption and by controlling syndicate businesses in increasing price of essentials during the BNP-Islamist rule. Although many innocent people are also arrested by the present government on corruption suspicion, Barkat Ulla Bulu reportedly is sheltered by an influential individual, just because, he hails from the same district. It is even learnt that Bulu is continuing to spend significant amount of money in keeping himself out of prison.
July 24, 2008
In September 2006, Weekly Blitz forecasted millitary intervention in Bangladesh and corruption charges en messe against the politicians. At that time, many of the political heavy-weight laughed at such commentary. But, by January 11, 2007, everything became crystal clear to everyone. Now, it is time for us to give a fresh forecast. By committing numerous mistakes, and by adopting the policy of playing dubious role, the present government is gradually exhausting its breathing oxygel cylinder. May be the cylinder will turn empty soon. And, let the members of the government try to imagine the fate.
July 24, 2008
There is a common belief that Bangladesh is floating on natural resources, especially gas and oil, which in reality is true. But, local experts in this sector are purchased by the foreign interest groups with heavy compensation, thus leaving the entire nation into furstration. In many of the countries in the world, such experts are always under intelligence monitoring. But, in Bangladesh, it is always very exception.
July 24, 2008
Before making any comments on former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her sons, let me bring here an unique example of a former Political Secretary to her. When BNP-Islamist Coalition government came in power, Musaddeq Ali Falu was just a normal activist of Bangladesh Nationalist Party with lower middle class status. But, as soon as he grabbed the post of the political secretary to the PM, he emerged as a multi-millionaire, acquiring ownership of various businesses and finally landing as the ´Media Moghul´ in Bangladesh. No one disclosed where was the ´Magic Lamp´ secretly stored inside the PM´s office, which turned the fortune of this man just in months.
July 24, 2008
There is no doubt that the rulers in Dhaka are at least partially aware of what fate awaits them after December 2008. Understanding this, they might either get prepared to hold the election as per schedule and handover power to the elected government by abandoning the former heavyweight in the large political parties. Surely the government is taking Awami League and BNP into their serious consideration, while there is no sign of any interest in bringing ´reform´ within Jatiyo Party, which is owned [not led] by former millitary dictator Huseein Muhammed Ershad. Bunch of corrupts and culprits as well as terrorists are holding various posts and positions in this party. But, the millitary controlled interim government is silent even to utter a single word against Ershad? Why? People will surely understand, the reason behind such lack of interest by the rulers in Dhaka in taking any initiative for reform with Jatiyo Party is because, Ershad is a former millitary ruler.
July 14, 2008
Bangladesh is under indirect military rule since January 11, 2007, when the much anticipated election was postponed due to massive political confrontation. Everyone is convinced that such actions by the armed forces were surely required to save the nation from possible civil war. Meanwhile, since political changes in 2007, the present rulers in Dhaka are showing significant actions in combating corruption. But, in recent past, due to its fear of not finding any exit point, the present government has entered into a secret agreement with Awami League, thus releasing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on unusual bail and now are even considering to withdraw all the corruption charges against her, in order to place Awami League in power, which has equally promised the present government in giving a smooth exit point. But, political analysts feel that, such hidden agreement with Awami League might ultimately back fire, as other mainstream political parties may turn angry at this unique arrangement. On the other hand, ultra Islamist parties like Khelafat Majlish feels delighted seeing the hope of coming back of Awami League in power, as Khelafat Majlish signed a treaty with Awami League in 2006 for establishment of Shariah Law in Bangladesh, once it [Awami League] gets into country´s administration. It is even learnt that, pro-Saudi Islamist leader in Bangladesh [who also enjoys close ties with Al Qaeda], Moulana Muhiddun Khan is working to form a 22-Party grand alliance of all Islamist forces, with the aim of becoming running mate of Awami League in the next possible government in Dhaka. Moulana Muhiddin is one of the front ranking vocals in establishing Shariah Law in Bangladesh. He is also one of the top patrons of anti-Semitic notions in that country.
July 06, 2008
Commenting on Al Qaida´s expansion of activities to Bangladesh, analysts in Weekly Blitz said, such situation will be extremely volatile especially for journalists and newspapers confronting rise of radical Islam. It may be mentioned here that, Weekly Blitz office was bombed in July 2006 by Islamist militancy group. Bangladesh government deployed police protection, which was withdrawn several months back by the present government in Dhaka.
June 13, 2008
Persecution of religious minority groups in Bangladesh is very unfortunately increasing in past several months. This specific case is just one amongst many, which are even not reported in fear of trouble or social obstacles. But, this reported case of rape and murder of Bituni Asru D Silva as well rape of her mother Sima D Silva is gradually turning prominent internationally.
June 13, 2008
After assuming in office, the interim government took drastic drive in combating corruption, nepotism, terrorism and evil forces. Large number of politicians along with some questioned or controversial businessmen were arrested during such drive. Honest and tested individual like Lieutenant General [Retired] Hassan Mashhud Chowdhury was appointed as the Chairman of Anti Corruption Commission, thus giving absolute right to the organization in combating corruption. Meanhwile, ACC has shown highest zeal in charge-sheeting several politicians and questioned inviduals. Trials and even conviction orders are becoming regular in Bangladesh for past several months.
June 05, 2008
Mining experts opine that, MPHMP could be taken as a model for Bangladesh and similar projects could be implemented within the North Bengal districts such as Rangpur, Sayedpur, Panchagarh etc. "Bangladesh needs to have at least three more project like Madhyapara in order to meet the local demand", said the expert.
May 24, 2008
Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed then stayed for more than an hour after delivering his speech at the meeting that lasted for more than two hours. In his speech, the head of the government dispelled the confusions over the elections and pledged to hold the polls at any cost by December.
May 24, 2008
Moriarty underscored the need for an anti-corruption curriculum in the education system and independence of all public institutions, including the Anti-Corruption Commission, to eradicate the root of corruption from Bangladesh.
May 24, 2008
It may be mentioned here that, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed was sent to United Nations as permanent representative of Bangladesh by the former BNP-Islamist Coalitions government. Later his ´fortune´ gliterred and he became the foreign advisor as his own sister´s husband, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed became the chief executive in the military backed interim government in Bangladesh. Here we must need to take a note of the fact that, Dr. Iftekhar was a man in the good book of BNP [one of the corrupt political parties] and its Islamist Coalition partners.
May 16, 2008
Transparency International report is prepared by the Berlin – based Transparency International. The CPI of 2007 was prepared from the 14 surveys conducted by internationally renowned 10 independent bodies.
May 02, 2008
Some people in Nepal suspected that Gyanendra was responsible for the royal palace massacre on June 1, 2001 and blamed Dipendra so that he could assume the throne himself. Gyanendra, not as beloved in the country as his brother Birendra, had been third in line to the throne before the massacre. He was out of town [in Pokhara] during the massacre and was the closest surviving relative of the king. Gyanendra's wife and son were in the room at the royal palace during the massacre. While his son escaped with slight injuries, his wife was injured during the incident. Feeding the rumour is the allegation that Dipendra was mortally wounded by a gunshot to the left side of the head, while Dipendra was right-handed. Some believe that this casts doubt on whether the injury was self-inflicted.
April 29, 2008
Several analysts are seeing hidden cooperation between Al Qaeda and Nepalese Maoists, which helped Maoists in attaining such landslide victory in Nepal. There is reportedly a hidden agreement between the two in allowing Al Qaeda outfits in the South Asian region [in Nepal] to operate without any legal obstacles. Now, after the victory of Maoists, it is anticipated that activities of Al Qaeda and other Islamists terror groups will greatly increase.
April 30, 2008
It is also learnt that, Shafiqul Huq Bhuiyan continues blackmailing various people through a group of his ´own people´ who lodge false complaints against the targeted person, while as the next step Shafiq picks ups the person concerned and extracts heavy ransom in exchange of release. Moreover, some of his men collect information on wealthy businessmen or their kins and Shafiqul Huq will be immediately plotting a conspiracy in arresting those people with planted YABA tablets to squeeze huge money. Right after arrest, the person concerned has to pay TK. 1-5 hundred thousand on the spot to escape severe physical torture.
April 26, 2008
Jerusalem has been sacred to the Jews since the 10th century BCE, as the site of Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple. It is mentioned in the Bible 632 times. Today, the Western Wall, a remnant of the Second Temple, is a holy site for Jews, second only to the Temple Mount itself. Synagogues around the world are traditionally built with the Holy Ark facing Jerusalem, and Arks within Jerusalem face the "Holy of Holies". As prescribed in the Mishna and codified in the Shulchan Aruch, daily prayers are recited while facing towards Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Many Jews have "Mizrach" plaques hung on a wall of their homes to indicate the direction of prayer.
April 28, 2008
As a sovereign nation, Bangladesh has got the right to fix its international policy and even has the right to accept or reject relations with any of the nations. That is why possibly, Dhaka continues to seize all types of relations with Jerusalem despite the fact that World Trade Organization [WTO] rule stops any of its member countries from continuing total ban on relations with others. Extremely conservative countries like Saudi Arabia even opened trade with Israel in order to avert any unwarranted situation thus arising out of the WTO rule.
April 24, 2008
It is also learnt that this man has created his personal cadres with RAB-3 for gathering information on rich people in the locality. Then he conspires in making a drama of operation at the residence of business establishment of that individual thus coming up with the story of recovery of illegal materials including drug. Once the drama is held successfully, the person concerned in taken to RAB-3 office in Dhaka´s busiest down-town area and heavy amount of money is demanded from him for saving his life from being killed in ´cross fire´.
April 24, 2008
The most important achievement of the present government was to leave a strong signal to the entire nation that no one was above law. Since the independence of the country in 1971, people in power and politics were considered to be mostly above law. Taking advantage of such excellent situation, many got involved in massive corruption, nepotism and various forms of illegal activities. Even, during October 2006, the nation witnessed with greatest dismay the atrocities and murder of people right on the streets of the capital under direct instructions of the chief of one of the largest political parties. The nation was made captive in the hands of few thousand political activists when the later captured major streets in Dhaka and other parts of the country with bamboo and other lethal weapons in the name of political protests.
April 25, 2008
It is learnt that present rulers in Dhaka are increasingly taking anti-American stand. It was made clear when the foreign office issued a statements following a comment by Geeta Pasi [who was then charge d affairs]. Military backed interim government is looking for new allies. That is why, during the current tour of Chinese foreign minister in Bangladesh, the issue of enhancing defense cooperation between Dhaka and Beijing came very prominently. There are also indications of Dhaka´s refreshed initiatives in boosting relations with Tehran, while everyone in the world are absolutely aware of the fact that Iran is the country, which patronizes global terror.
April 25, 2008
Mr. McCain's position on the shield law is the same as the two Democratic senators contending for their party's presidential nomination. Spokesmen yesterday for both the Clinton and Obama campaigns said the Democratic candidates supported the Free Flow of Information Act. Senator Obama was an initial co-sponsor of the bill currently before the Senate. The position of the presidential candidates contrasts not only with that of the White House but also with views expressed by the heads of most of the executive branch agencies and departments that deal in classified information. The Department of Justice on its Web site has devoted a special page to posting letters to Congress from these department heads opposing the bill.
April 24, 2008
This is the meaning of the victory of the Maoists in the elections to the first popularly elected constituent assembly in south Asia. This is the victory of the Nepali people against their feudal oppressors, the triumph of popular sentiment over the malicious propaganda of the media, the success of the republic over the kingdom, the attainment of sovereignty against foreign interference and the conquest of Katmandu by the rest of Nepal.
April 18, 2008
In our case, the masterminds were Captain Shafiq and one Shahidul Islam, who is the deputy director with RAB-3. Shahidul is not an army man. He came to Rapid Action Battalion from Ansar. According to various confirmed information, both Shahidul and Captain Shafiq are extremely polluted individuals. Captain Shafiq enjoys special privileges within the force for making a record of killing 29 people in past couple of years. On the other hand, Shahidul Islam is learnt to have made his fortune by using his position in RAB. In just few years, this man has turned into a multi millionaire and owns several business establishments in the country in various names.
April 18, 2008
Talking to Weekly Blitz, a senior diplomat from a donor country commented that power crisis is one of the major issues the present government needed to attend several months back. But, due to their lack of experience as well as no commitment to the nation, this problem has remained unattended thus finally pushing the entire nation into serious sufferings. The source further said that, if any drastic policy is not taken by the present government in resolving the crisis, Bangladesh may finally end up in seeing a large number of foreign investors wrapping up their projects from this country.
April 16, 2008
Fundamentalists are men who emulate the looks and actions of the Prophet Mohammed. Yet, they give the Prophet and Islam a very bad name, as they perpetuate and even add to the western perception that Islam was won by force or the sword. By this I mean by the sword and not by conversion. Yet these self-righteous and arrogant men claim to be speaking in the name of Allah and act like the Prophet. They try to squash any positive action of peace by not only squashing but trying to kill all those who oppose them, making their vision that of a totalitarian theocracy that will allow no free exchange of ideas, the development of thinking such as ijtihad or even speech. The golden age of Islam was built on this ebullition of ideas that made it prosper and which gave so much to the world, such as algebra, alchemy; they even kept and preserved philosophy.
April 16, 2008
The front desk asked their identity but they became angry on the front desk staff and crashed into our office. They were followed by another 10-12 people; all in plain clothe holding AK-47 and pistols. RAB men entered each of the rooms and forced the staffs to get into one room at gun point.
April 16, 2008
Impunity accentuates illegal measures that the High Court sought to address. On 23 February 2003, the Bangladesh Sangshad (Parliament) passed the Joint Drive Indemnity Act barring people from seeking justice through the courts for the deaths and human rights violations that occurred during the "Operation Clean Heart" anti-crime drive, which caused custodial death of 51 persons and involved an unknown number of torture victims. Despite intervention of the High Court on 13 April 2003 by issuing a show cause notice to the government regarding the legality of the Indemnity Act, the law continues to be in force and therefore no action is maintainable before the courts of law. In the few instances where charges were levied, punishment of those found guilty was predominantly administrative. The RAB personnel enjoy similar impunity and the courts can do little. RAB has been openly resorting to blatant human rights violations including extra judicial executions.
April 15, 2008
Many of the recruits were given the most dangerous tasks in the battlefield, clearing mines and portering. According to Asian intelligence sources, recruits were paid TK 30,OOO ($525) on joining and then Tk10,OOO ($175) per month. The families of recruits killed in action were offered TK 100,000 ($1,750). Recruits were taken mostly via Nepal to Pakistan, where they were trained and sent on to military camps in Afghanistan. It is not known how many people from this part of Bangladesh - Rohingyas and others - fought in Afghanistan.
April 15, 2008
The incidents of Thursday and Friday in Dhaka evidently stands in favor of national and international claims that Bangladesh was gradually going inside tight grips of Islamists, who are conspiring to establish a Taliban type government in the country. Notorious Al Qaeda has reportedly infiltrated within Bangladesh through a number of groups, including Hizb Ut Tahrir [HT], a notorious groups banned in a number of countries. The interim government did not take any action against the leaders of HT for violating the State of Emergency or for even confronting the law enforcing agencies on Thursday. Policy of the Bangladeshi administration is always destined in appeasing radical Islam and Islamist forces. Such elements under the banner of various Islamist groups are considering themselves ´above law´ and continuing to violate country´s law and order thus creating a complete anarchy in the society. Local and international experts were already predicting that Bangladesh was becoming hub of international terror. Recent incidents stand very prominently in favor of such claims.
April 15, 2008
If we start believing that the next general election in Bangladesh shall be held by the stipulated time frame as promised by the present interim government, it will be natural to assess the entire process initiated by the government in holding a free and fair poll. Some of the advisors in the government are meeting major political parties in private meetings, which they term as pre-dialogue for creating atmosphere of the real dialogue. On the other hand, some quarters are trying to put pressure on the government to abandon Jamaat-e-Islami and other anti-liberation forces from such dialogue process.
April 15, 2008
Just recently British Home Minister Jacqui Smith told reporters during her visit to Dhaka that there is links between Bangladeshi and British terror groups. Such statement will stand in favor of claims by many terrorism experts that Bangladesh was becoming a hub of international terror.
April 15, 2008
During her recent visit to Bangladesh, the British home secretary, Jacqui Smith, said there was a ´terrorist linkage´ between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom and iterated her government´s commitment towards cooperation with Dhaka on countering terrorism and extremism and further ...
April 15, 2008
Many of the politicians [both inside and outside jail] are already seeing hopes of biding farewell to unelected government in the country through a general election in less than either month. Some of these politicians are even making fresh calculations on ways and means of participating in the election as some are already convicted in corruption charges. It is greatly speculated that a large section of political heavyweights in Bangladesh may be barred from at least the next general election as most of them will get sentences in corruption cases.
April 15, 2008
The latest editorial in Wall Street Journal starts saying "Bangladesh's military caretaker government says it is serious about restoring democracy and the rule of law to the country. But Dhaka's escalating harassment of one of its most prominent journalists suggests otherwise."
April 15, 2008
We all know that many of the religious fanatics and Islamists around the world would be feeling explicitly delighted at this notorious statement of the Al Qaeda hoodlum. But, this threat leaves great concern to all the peace-loving people around the world. This monster has once again proved to us all that, Al Qaeda or any of the Islamist groups in the world do not deserve any mercy. They should be completely eliminated along with their pals and patrons. In order to doing so, we definitely need to expedite global efforts in combating radical Islam.
April 15, 2008
But, despite such actions, it is greatly alleged that, RAB is gradually turning into a Frankenstein, which ignores human rights and continues various forms of extra judicial activities. There are hundreds of allegations against RAB officials for being involved in extortion, abduction, rape and even dealing in drugs and weapons. Some of the members of RAB uses organized black mailing racket to trap innocent people and finally extract money from the victims with various excuses.