EDUCATION

Friday, December 23, 2011

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal


Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal
Founded 1980
Headquarters 28/1 New Paltan, Dhaka
Ideology Nationalism, Progressiveness
Mother party Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Website
Bangladesh Jatiyotabadi Chhatradal (Bengali: জাতীয়তাবাদী ছাত্রদল Jatiyôtabadee Chhatrô Dôl), also known as JCD, is a student organization of Bangladesh that operates as the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).[1] Many of the top BNP leaders and policy-makers today have once been closely associated with JCD and came to acclaim as student leaders.
As the student wing of the BNP, Chhatra Dal goes by 19 major points[2], based on how the mother organization runs its political activities. After the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was founded by Ziaur Rahman, the necessity of a strong student organization was realized, after which Ziaur Rahman founded Chhatra Dol. Rahman's popularity as a radical reformer and charismatic appearance, especially to the youth of the country, triggered a mass recruitment to the organization at the first stages[citation needed].
At present Jatiyotabadi Chhatradal is led by a committee which is not like a student organization (the president is about to be 50 years))

Bangladesh Chhatra League


Bangladesh Chhatra League


Bangladesh Chhatra League
(BCL) is the largest, oldest and drastic student political party in Bangladesh. It is the student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League. Its motto is "Education | Peace | Prosperity" and its slogan is "Joy Bangla - Joy Bangabandhu". Bodiuzzaman Shohag and Siddique Nazmul Alam are the president and General Secretary of the present Committee of 'Bangladesh Chhatra League'. The rival student organization that is the Bangladesh jatiyatbadi Chatradal has a committee having irregular students (the president is about to be 50 years)


History
When British India was partitioned and the independent dominions of India and Pakistan were created in 1947, the region of Bengal was divided along religious lines. The predominantly Muslim eastern half was designated East Pakistan—and made part of the newly independent Pakistan—while the predominantly Hindu western part became the Indian state of West Bengal. Pakistan's history from 1947 to 1971 was marked by political instability and economic difficulties. Dominion status was rejected in 1956 in favor of an "Islamic republic within the Commonwealth." Attempts at civilian political rule failed, and the government imposed martial law between 1958 and 1962, and again between 1969 and 1971.
Almost from the advent of independent Pakistan in 1947, frictions developed between East and West Pakistan, which were separated by more than 1,000 miles of Indian territory. East Pakistanis felt exploited by the West Pakistan-dominated central government. Linguistic, cultural, and ethnic differences also contributed to the estrangement of East from West Pakistan. Bengalis strongly resisted attempts to impose Urdu as the sole official language of Pakistan. Responding to these grievances, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 4, 1948 formed a students' organization called the Chhatra League.
BCL, known as the East Pakistan Student League,formed in 4 January 1948. Mr. Naimuddin Ahmed became its first convener. When Chatra League was formally organized at that time Mr. Dabirul Islam became its President and Mr. Khaleque Nawaz Khan became General Secretary. Chatra league played heroic role in language movement, in 1962 education commission movement, 1966 six point movement, 1969 egaro dofa (11 point movement) andolon. The founder General secretary of the then East Pakistan chatra league Mr. Khaleque Nawaz Khan created a history by defeating incumbent Prime Minister of the then East Pakistan Mr. Nurul Amin in Jukto Front election in 1954 in Nandail constituency of Mymensingh. It is also mentionable Mr. Nurul Amin was also the last Prime Minister of all Pakistan in 1971 from December 7-December 20, 1971. Since the inception of the organisation, it has contributed a great deal to the 1969 Mass Upsurge, the 1971 Liberation War, the 1990 Anti-Autocracy Movement and other movements of the country. They formed "Mujib Bahinee", separate from Freedom Fighters, under the direct supervision and guide of RAW but before their taking part in liberation war, the war terminated.

Debate on Cut AL's link with BCL for criminal activities

Five noted educationists of the country have urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to sever all direct and indirect links between the Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League to maintain a congenial atmosphere at all educational institutions.Besides, Fifteen teachers of Rajshahi University expressed deep concern over the "criminal activities" of Bangladesh Chhatra League at the educational institutions and urged the government to take immediate steps in this regard. Nayeem Nizam, ex Chattra League activist and ex journalist of ATN Bangla now the chief reporter of Bangladesh Pratidin, demanded to the Govrernment for declaring chattra league as out law for three months in Daily Bangladesh Pratidin 5 May issue.But in the next day issue of Bangladesh Pratidin the ex Senior Gov't Official and ex-Chattra League Leader now the Editor of Weekly 'Sotta Katha' Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury react on the issue and advised not to stop chattra league but to control pollice officials linked with terror activists of Chattra League.

AL Minister Patrones BCL for terror action

Some of Awami MP's are patronising Chatta League. AL acting general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif also admitted that the allegation of patronisation by AL lawmakers is "partially" true. "They have also been asked not to consider recommendations of any minister, state minister, lawmaker and party leader in favour of Chhatra League wrongdoers," he said. But, many of senior AL leaders and ministers of the Government are directly insisting BCL activists. Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, on 11 July, called upon BCL not to fight among their factions but to beat opposition, in a public gathering. According to media the nation found that, behind the BCL Infighting due to minister's advice indeed and more provocative and irresponsible. The jute ministers comments burst the nation and draw sharp reaction.

Action of BCL

During general strike called in Bangladesh on June 27, 2010, members of the students and youth front of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League were openly seen on various roads with iron bars, field-hockey sticks and other weapons. They were mercilessly assaulting the opposition activists and leaders, while members of law enforcing agencies were seen giving protection and instigation to such unruly thuggish activists of the party in power. On 5 July two factions BCL clash in Jahangirnagar University left 33 people, including a top university administrator, injured. Chhatra League men locked in the clash over taking control of a dormitory and a piece of land near the campus. After comments of Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique BCL man killed by rivals at SYlhet on 12 July 2010. But, Chhatra League general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton declined comments on the minister’s remarks, ‘Being a man of ordinary position, I think I should not make comments on what a minister has said’ , published on The New Age on 12 July.

Why Chattra League Doing This?

It is a common question from all quarters of the nation about chattra league, why they are doing this? Why they are violent to the people? Why AL leaders including the premier of the nation could not control the terrorism of chattra league in most of the educational institute across the country? The question arose largely when the media of Bangladesh publishing or broadcasting headline news about chattra league for several months one after another which incident happened throughout the country. The most recent news was about the clash at Rajshahi University and beating a Civil Surgeon of Laxmipur. The news was headlined as BCL at it again: 10 injured in factional clash at RU and লক্ষ্মীপুরে সিভিল সার্জনসহ তিনজনকে ছাত্রলীগের মারধর!. Local Awami League leaders and Police officials said that, Extortion, control of halls lead to frequent clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League factions at Rajshahi University since January this year. This incident creates serious sparks both in general people, students and AL activists. At last BCL suspends activities of its RU unit after more than 25 clashes from February 2010. Following the clash, the rival factions filed two separate cases against each other, in which at least 32 activists of both groups were charged. Police arrested BCL Secretary of RU and finding its president to detain in the custody. After the clash an seriously injured BCL activist Nasrullah Nasim had died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was thrown from third floor of the RU hall by factional BCL group and has seriously injured in head, belly and spinal cord. Thus BCL become the top terror organisation in Bangladesh. The Media reported this as রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়: আতঙ্কের নাম ছাত্রলীগ.

Slogan of Chattra League

They often use 'Joy Bangla' (may Bangladesh win forever) to conduct any atrocities executed by them. On 26th April two factions of Dhaka University Chattra League clashes and cut their vain, legs, hands by huge Chapati, Ramdaa, Bothi, Da, Shabol etc., lathel arms and home-made bombs and sharp weapons by chanting the slogan 'Joy Bangla'. In this violence 70 students were injured including 3 are serious. Earlier in any campus in fighting with own faction or other student parties or in daccoitee, grabbing or beaten to police or teacher or guardian orstudent or any other terror works they chants this slogan. Besides they use 'Catch one by one and eat them at dawn or dusk'. The Vice Chancellor Professor A M S A Arefin said 'We are feared by seeing how a student can cut another students (legs, hands) in this ferocious way in this university'? The eminent educationist warns but BCL activists are doing their jobs shameless. On Saturday 30th April 2011 the two factions of BCL of Chittagong University fight against each. They beat, they cut the vein with knife, rod and other lethal arms. The disciplinary committee of CU expelled 7 terrorists of BCL for clash on CU. Earlier, two month ago BCL men ransack CU provost room.

 Prime Minister on stern action

As per organogam of BCL the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Was the Organizing Leader of BCL. But, last year she rejected to bear the responsibility of Chattra League and angrylly thrown the honorery post. Besides, demand raising to control chattra league the Prime Ministers office took attempt against violent BCL. On 30 April 2010 she ordered home ministry to take necessary action against tender violence, women harassment and other inhuman activities of BCL all over the country. Besides this renowned Awami League leaders are commeing to handle the total issues of chattra league. Earlier she asked BCL leaders to Maintain discipline in organisational activities. The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had refused to receive BCL leader's flower vases in a reception programme in Dhaka. The reception was arranged for 3rd anniversary of incoming day of Sheikh Hasina from abroad during the last military backed caretaker government. The BCL leaders then put the flower vases on the table and was harassed by the security guards of the Premier. By this way the PM warns Chattra League, but, Warnings not working. Some leaders of the ruling Awami League observed that the unruly activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League can be reined in only if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina plays a more serious role. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Meet With Grassroots AL for reviewing the performance of MPs and BCL is the top agenda. After Clash between two factions of BCL and Police at Islamic University at Kushtia the PM Citing an example, said, police had arrested some Bangladesh Chhatra League activists—who, according to her, are Chhatra Dal and Shibir men infiltrating BCL—on charges of creating anarchy at Islamic University. But they were released on bail within a month or two and again found engaged in creating unrest at the university yesterday. “The judiciary is independent. Now where shall go for a remedy?” said a frustrated Hasina. She said she talked to the vice-chancellor of the university over the phone yesterday and he also expressed frustration over the miscreants' release on bail. Hasina said she is collecting a list of troublemakers from all educational institutions and stern actions would be taken against them. She said intruders into BCL too would be on the list

 PM again warns BCL

The premier of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina warns BCL about their violence, clash between factions in educational institutions and terrorism for tender business, admission business, arms business etc. She was deliberating her speech on 31 August at Bangabandhu International Conference Hall for the memorial program of 15 August, deathly day of PM's family, organised by Chattra League. "We are collecting information and preparing a list of Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Dal activists who infiltrated into BCL and are committing violence in public universities and colleges," said Sheikh Hasina. Furthermore she warns BCL activities at BCL central council on 10 July 2011 at Bangabandhu International Conference Hall.

 Punishment Against Chattra League

Though many of Awami Lawmakers and police backed the recent activities of BCL some punishment has been awarded to the culprits of BCL from educational institute and BCL central committee. Among those punishment some are : জাহাঙ্গীরনগর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়: সভাপতি-সম্পাদকসহ ছাত্রলীগের ২২ নেতা-কর্মীকে বিভিন্ন মেয়াদে বহিষ্কার, রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ছাত্রলীগ: সভাপতি ও সম্পাদক চিরতরে বহিষ্কার, BCL infighting at JU leaves 33 hurt, VC assaulted, BCL suspends JU unit, expels 13, university suspends 17 students, Female BCL student leader expelled from college for sex scandal etc. But, Dr. H B M Iqbal, ex BAL MP and Nurunnabi Shaown, MP who is also accused for killing his friend Ibrahim at MP hostel has been acquitted from 4 murder case of Malibagh on 2001. This is motivated by political agenda which begins a new debate as Political label keeps justice at bay.

BCL About Their

  • 04-January : Chatra League's Birth Day
  • 10-January : Bangabandhu'r Swadesh Pratyaborton Dibosh
  • 24-January : Gono Ovvhurthan Dibosh
  • 14-february : Soirachar Birodi Chatra Ovvhurthan Dibosh
  • 21-February : International Mother Language Day
  • 02-March : Potaka Uttolon Dibosh
  • 07-March : The Independence Speech Of Bangabandhu
  • 26-March :Independence Day Of Bangladesh
  • 15-August : Jatio Shok Dibosh
  • 17-September : Jatio Shikhkha Dibosh
  • 03-November : Jail Hatya Dibosh
  • 10-November : Shahid Noor Hossain Dibosh
  • 27-November : Shahid Dr. Milon Dibosh
  • 04-December : Soirachar Bidodi Gono Ovvhurthan Dibosh
  • 14-December : Shaheed Buddijibi Dibosh
  • 16-December : Jatio Bijoy Dibosh

 See also

  • Bangladesh Awami League

 References

  • The nation, or Chhatra League...? - Rehnuma Ahmed, The Daily New Age 12 APril 2010.
  • Chhatra League’s sexual offences: - Rehnuma Ahmed, The Daily New Age 5 APril 2010.
  • Know About Chattra League -The Daily Star Archieve.
  • BCL Gone Crazy: Hasina warns, MPs ignore - The Daily Star 7 May 2010.
  • BANGLADESH: Newsmen attacked in two districts - AsiaMedia - Thursday, July 30, 2009.
  • বেপরোয়া ছাত্রলীগেক থামাবে কে ? - Bangladesh Pratidin 5 May 2010.
  • ছাত্রলীগের প্রতিপক্ষ ছাত্রলীগ - Bangladesh Pratidin 5 May 2010.
  • ছাত্রলীগকে তিন মাসের জন্য নিষিদ্ধ করুন - Bangladesh Pratidin 5 May 2010.
  • Female BCL student leader expelled from college for sex scandal - The Daily Independent 8 May 2010.
  • Go strict against BCL crimes - The Daily Star 8 May 2010.
  • When the BCL will be restrained? - The New Nation 8 May 2010.
  • Dhaka moves against errant ruling party cadres - MyNews.in May 8 Issue
  • Healing campus environment - The Financial Express 7 May 2010.
  • The audacity of the BCL - Comment of SA Mia, Canada, New Age 8 May 2010.
  • BM College suspends female BCL leader - New Age 8 May 2010.
  • Call for boycotting stalkers socially, politically - Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha report - New Age 8 May 2010.
  • তবুও কি ওরা থামেব না? - Daily Kaler Kantha 10 May 2010
  • Chattraleague: Not burrial but Medicare needed - Daily Amader Shomoy 14 May 2010
  • Activists urged for Syndicate free Chattra league - Daily Amader Shomoy 14 May 2010
  • বেপরোয়া ছাত্রলীগ - প্রথম আলো - 5 May 2010.
  • ঢাকা পলিটেকনিক ইনস্টিটিউট টেন্ডারবাজি, ছিনতাইসহ নানা অপকর্মে ‘ছাত্রলীগ’ নামধারীরা - প্রথম আলো - 26 May 2010.
  • Ghost of Frankenstein returns - The New Nation 6 May 2010.
  • BCL looks like fully out of control: Obaidul Kader: Cleansing drive in couple of months - The New Nation 6 May 2010.
  • BCL Gone Haywire Warnings not working - The Daily Star 25 June 2010.
  • রক্তক্ষয়ী সংঘর্ষ-গুলি আহত ৩৫, বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় থেকে ১৭ ছাত্র বহিষ্কৃত, জাহাঙ্গীরনগর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে ছাত্রলীগ আবার বেপরোয়া - প্রথম আলো - 6 Jul 2010.
  • BCL infighting at JU leaves 33 hurt, VC assaulted, BCL suspends JU unit, expels 13, university suspends 17 students - The Daily Star 6 Jul 2010.
  • BCL Off The Leash, Still- The Daily Star 6 Jul 2010.
  • জাহাঙ্গীরনগরে ভয়ংকর ছাত্রলীগ - Daily Kaler Kantha 6 Jul 2010.
  • BCL men rough up principal - - The Daily Star 23 June 2010.
  • Question Leak Scam, New bank account traced, AL, BCL leaders involved: police - The New Age 23 July 2010.
  • How Rapists Go Free - Star Weekend Magazine- Volume 8 Issue 89 | October 9, 2009 - Special Feature
  • 10 BCL men rape girl - The Daily Star 30 September 2009.
  • Rape is inevitable if not punished
  • রাজশাহী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়: আতঙ্কের নাম ছাত্রলীগ - Kaler Kantha - 25 August 2010.
  • Political label keeps justice at bay - The Daily Star 27 August 2010.
  • PM again warns BCL wrongdoers - The Daily Star 31 August 2010.
  • PM warns BCL against campus violence - The Daily New Age 31 August 2010.
  • ছাত্রলীগ ভয়ংকর - Kaler Kantha - 31 August 2010
  • Video links about BCL terror activities
  • ছাত্রলীগের দু’গ্রুপে সংঘর্ষ : জাবির ৭টি হলে গভীর রাতে পুলিশি তল্লাশি -Daily Amar Desh 29 January 2011
  • সমর্থকদের কোপালেন ছাত্রলীগের নেতা-কর্মীরা - প্রথম আলো - 27 April 2011.
  • BCL men clash at DU - The Daily Star 27 April 2011.
  • Editorial - Feuding in BCL, again - Demands high level intervention The Daily Star 28 April 2011.
  • জগন্নাথ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় - পুলিশের পর এবার ছাত্রলীগের পদদলন! - প্রথম আলো - 27 September 2011.
  • News for BCL activists expelled

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir


Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (BICS) (Bangla:বাংলাদেশ ইসলামী ছাত্রশিবির) (Bengali for 'Bangladesh Islamic Students Camp') is an Islamic student organization in Bangladesh. It is the de facto student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a political party.
This organization (Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (BICS)) was previously named as 'Islamai Chattra Shangha'. Its leaders and members allegedly took part in the systematic genocide perpetrated by the Pakistan Army on Bengali civilians during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.[citation needed] After Bangladesh became independent on 16 December 1971, the Chhatra Sangha was banned and its activists went into hiding or fled to Pakistan to evade prosecution for war crimes. However, after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, many leaders of Chhatra Sangha returned to Bangladesh. On 6 February 1977, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir was formed as a new name for Chhatra Sangha.

Dhaka’s History Dividation



Dhaka’s History Waiting to be Divided


oshairhat is the 111th municipality of Bangladesh but the first municipality was undoubtedly Dhaka. Today’s tremendously commercial, industrial, financial, sporting and cultural Dhaka was not the same in 400 years back. Politically very powerful, the capital city, the administrative headquarters of the Bangladesh is still growing though not healthily. It has grown all around, covering an area of some 360 square km and having a population of over 9.1 million. A considerable number of the inhabitants are very rich, thanks to capitalistic concentration of wealth. It is also home to the rising number of ‘Bangladeshi’ rich people. Most of the 28,000 crorepatis live here. No need to articulate that the creation of the independent state of Bangladesh in 1971 bestowed on Dhaka the glory and prestige of the capital of a sovereign country. This led to Dhaka’s phenomenal growth though not in a very planned way.
Dhaka has a comparatively long history. Its continuation in the pre-Muslim period is cumbersome to trace with certainty. But it grew as an urban centre in the Sultanate period and rose into prominence in the Mughal period when it enjoyed the position of a provincial capital. In 1800 and onward, Dhaka was a place of some importance especially in the pre-Mughal period, but it came to the limelight of history under the Mughals. The city then was a beautiful one, with greens available, dozens of canals, lots of playgrounds, open spaces. At the second phase, the turn down of the political power of the nawabs of Bengal and the rise of the East India Company led to the diminishing of the administrative importance of Dhaka in the late 18th century. In addition, the commercial and manufacturing policies of the East India Company wrecked the financial bases of the city. This naturally led to the shrinking of the physical extent of the city to such a degree that by the beginning of the 19th century Dhaka was a shadow of its former self. Its administrative importance, its trade and manufactures were virtually gone. Likewise its cultural and social activities dwindled greatly.
In the Mughal era Dhaka developed rapidly due to its advantageous geographical setting and its political and administrative significance as the capital. And later as the sub-capital of a very wealthy and ingenious province its prospered internally and externally. Trade in famous manufactures, especially the Muslin went up. At its climax during the Mughal period, the city with its suburbs was said to encompass a population of some 900,000. The population comprised graciousness, high officials, business people, soldiers, manufacturers, traders and service people of various kinds. The inhabitants were of different races and religions. The city proper stretched seven to ten miles along the Buriganga and up to two and a half miles inland. The suburbs extended from the Buriganga to the Tongi Bridge, fifteen miles to the north, and from Mirpur-Jafarabad on the west some ten miles east to Postogola. The administrative importance of Dhaka further grew dramatically during the years 1905-11 when it was made the capital of the new province of East Bengal and Assam. The superstructure of a provincial administration was introduced with different departments and various high and middle-ranking officials.
Thirty six years ticked by. There was no movement, visible development. If we look further, after 1947 the Dhaka municipal government underwent from the contradictory demands of political pragmatism and administrative efficiency. Following the dawn of Pakistan in 1947, Dhaka became the capital of the new province of East Bengal. And thus this rise in the status of the city did not straight away modify the status of its local government, which was a metropolis. The municipal government of Dhaka set up in 1864 was suitable for the type of urban centre which then it was a small divisional headquarters. It then covered vicinity comprising approximately some 8 square miles with a population of some 52,000. In view of the prevailing disordered circumstances soon after the partition and the movement of population the ordinary activities of the then Dhaka Municipality suffered much and the administration could not be carried out in the old manners. Even the periodical election of the municipal commissioners and chairman and vice-chairmen could not be held because of the mammoth change in the electoral roll and other inconveniences. This situation lasted until 1958 when the country came under the military rule and municipal bodies along with other local bodies were perched on the brink and senior civil servants and other local officers were entrusted with the job of running the municipal bodies.

Shakib Al Hasan


Shakib Al Hasan



Shakib Al Hasan, also known as Saqibul Hasan, (Bengali: সাকিব আল হাসান) (born 24 March 1987 in Magura) is a Bangladeshi cricketer who made his One Day International debut against Zimbabwe in August 2006. He is a left-handed middle order batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He emerged from Bangladesh's only educational sports institution. Hasan is a slow left-arm orthodox. He has played in 12 under...

Bangladesh Test Victory


Bangladesh Test Victory


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dhaka district

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BNP Bangladesh Nationalist Party

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BNP questions president dialogue




BNP questions motive of dialogue


BNP yesterday questioned the motive of the dialogue President Zillur Rahman is holding with the political parties on formation of a new Election Commission.
“The president is a highly respected person. But he does not determine politics. And that is why it's not comprehensible why he is holding the dialogue,” party's acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a press briefing at the party's central office at Naya Paltan.
“The president is not supposed to take such initiatives,” he said, adding that the move should have been made by the people who can implement political parties' recommendations on forming the Election Commission.
Zillur Rahman yesterday opened the dialogue amid uncertainty looming over its success. On the first day, he held talks with leaders of Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, two components of the Awami League-led ruling alliance that made Zillur president in 2009.
The main opposition party is yet to decide on joining the talks. The party maintains it will make the decision after getting a formal invitation.
Asked what if they get invited, Fakhrul avoided a direct reply but said, "We didn't say that we won't take part. We didn't get any invitation. The decision will be made at the party standing committee meeting.”
According to the constitution, it is for the prime minister to send names of the potential candidates for the post of the chief election commissioner and two other election commissioners to the president for signing, he said. "And so we don't see any reason behind the talks called by the president.”

TIB proposed to the president to form a special committee



TIB for special body to form new EC


Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday proposed to the president to form a special committee comprising members of both ruling and opposition parties to find out candidates eligible for chief election commissioner and other commissioners.
The committee would be made up of five to seven members, including the Speaker with equal number of members from both sides, they said.
The proposals were submitted to President Zillur Rahman on December 21 through a letter, said a press release.
TIB in the letter welcomed the president's initiative to discuss the issue with the political parties.
It also proposed to list five to seven candidates suitable for the posts who would be non-political, neutral, able and beyond the question of ethics.
A proposal was also made to arrange a public hearing by the parliamentary standing committees on the selected candidates based on which a short list will be prepared.
TIB suggested that the list should be made public before submitting it to the president.
The president will announce the name of the chief election commissioner and other commissioners from the list without consulting anyone else, including the prime minister.
Executive director of TIB Dr Iftekharuzzaman said it is possible to ensure effectiveness of election commission by the participation of every concerned person, based on consensus and appointing them through a transparent process.
Formulating a complete and clear Act on appointing commissioners and chief election commissioners is necessary to ensure transparency, he said.

engineers seek 'protection' from ministry of bangladesh



RHD engineers seek 'protection' from ministry

Their demand comes amid ACC enquiry about projects to find graft 



Fearful of the widening net of Anti-Corruption Commission surveillance on them, a few hundred Roads and Highways Department engineers yesterday demanded that no organisation other than the communications ministry take action against them should they make or have made any mistakes.
They also demanded that the ministry should take responsibility for their activities. They made the demand at a meeting, held at the RHD auditorium, attended by Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Communications Secretary Monzor Hossain and Joint Secretary (development) of the Communications Ministry Farid Uddin Ahmed. The meeting was also attended by nearly 250 engineers from across the country.
However, the communications minister, having delivered a brief speech, left the meeting before the engineers voiced their demands.
Some engineers have been in a state of panic as a three-member ACC team, formed in September to sniff out corruption, recently started scrutinising documents related to various ongoing road development projects and their expenditures. They have been meeting officials engaged in the projects and demanding to see documents.
Apart from investigating the cases against the corrupt RHD officials, the anti-graft body has also been carrying out an institutional enquiry into the RHD to dig deeper into the corruption within the department.
“If any individual indulges in corruption it will be discovered in our enquiry and action will be taken accordingly,” ACC Chairman Ghulam Rahman has told The Daily Star. He said the ACC officials could go through any documents of the RHD in the course of the enquiry.
“The ministry should punish us if there is any fault in our activities. We need a batobrikkha [a banyan tree that protects],” Superintendent Engineer of RHD Iftekhar Kabir, also vice-president of RHD Engineers' Association, told Communications Secretary Monzor Hossain at the meeting.

time for action in bangladesh




News Analysis
From Denial to Recognition

Now time for action


Even in the grim news there was something welcoming when Finance Minister AMA Muhith finally said achieving the targeted 7 percent growth might not be possible.
Not that Muhith said anything that we had not perceived earlier. The way the economy was rolling, it was evident that not all was going well and that we would end up with a low growth scenario.
But till now he was steadfastly denying anything wrong in the economy. With him all the cabinet ministers including the prime minister herself jumped on the bandwagon of denial. They drew a rosy picture of the economy while wiser heads cringed.
But finally the finance minister admitted, or should we rather say recognised, that the economy is on a downslide.
This is a relief statement not because "bad news is good news". But because we have a proper and official assessment of the situation. We are no longer acting the ostrich. This means we can now plan for a recovery and make policy decisions.
Amidst everything, he deserves thanks for admitting the reality. More so because this is not the political culture of the day to say that things are not in their right shapes. Rather political leaders fall into the Goebbelian wisdom that you deny and keep on telling lies until everyone believes them (one may well recall how the political leadership once dealt with the August 21 grenade attack or the Bangla Bhai syndrome).

bd jp and jsd propose to president for search committee



JP, JSD propose search committee

President opens dialogue on new Election Commission



Participating in the talks with President Zillur Rahman, Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal yesterday proposed formation of a committee to search for eligible and acceptable individuals to constitute a new Election Commission.
Both the parties' suggestions are almost identical to the present EC's proposals in this regard, and they also sought curtailing the government's unilateral authority to form Election Commission.
The current EC had earlier suggested making a law providing for an independent search committee for selecting persons subject to parliamentary scrutiny to man a new EC.
The government had also repeatedly announced earlier that it would go for enactment of a law in line with the EC's proposals, but it is yet to make any such move.
On expiry of the tenure of the present EC in early February, the president, on advice of the prime minister, will have to appoint a chief election commissioner and other election commissioners to form the new EC.
Against this backdrop, the president started the talks with political parties yesterday, seeking their opinion on the matter.
"Political parties' well-thought opinion will play an important role to constituting the new election commission," a government press release quoted the president as saying after the first day's talks at the Bangabhaban.
The dialogue with JP was held first, followed by that with JSD, both components of the Awami League-led ruling alliance.
Talking to journalists after the talks, JP Chairman HM Ershad said, "We have proposed a search committee. But we did not suggest any specific name for constituting a new Election Commission.”
Heads of different constitutional entities such as the chief justice, chairman of the Public Service Commission and auditor general might be included in the search committee, said Ershad, who led a 16-member delegation.
JP will later propose some names for the post of chief election commissioner and commissioners, Ershad said. "We will send a letter along with our proposals to the president within two or three days."
Asked about the main opposition BNP's reluctance to join the dialogue, he replied, “Whoever joins or not, the country will not wait for anyone."
JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu, who led an 11-member delegation at the dialogue, said they suggested formation of a committee, which could consist of 10 members and styled as nomination committee.
The main task of this committee will be to choose the eligible persons and send their names to an all-party parliamentary selection committee for scrutiny. The House committee will then send those to the president for the formation of a new EC, he told journalists.
Replying to a question, Inu said they will send a list of names within a day or two.
About BNP's stance over this issue, he said, "The party is hatching a conspiracy instead of practising democracy."
On Monday, the president will hold talks with Workers Party of Bangladesh and Jatiya Party (Manju).

Electricity tariff hiked again in bangladesh




Power tariff hiked again

Retail level users to pay 13pc higher effective from Dec 1, another 7pc hike from Feb 1; rise draws flak    



Electricity price has gone up by Tk 0.55 per unit from December 1 for all retail customers across the country, dealing a blow to the general users who consume less.
The price of per kilowatt hour electricity has soared by 13.24 percent to Tk 4.71 in the first phase of the two-stage increment, said Syed Yusuf Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).
The energy regulator will again increase the retail tariff by 7.09 percent on February 1 next year, taking the per unit price to Tk 5.02, which is 21.28 percent up from the last month's Tk 4.16.
Yusuf, who announced the hike at a press conference at his office in the city yesterday, also said they had increased power tariff by 5 percent for charities, irrigation pumps and religious institutions.
This is the second rise in retail power tariff this year. On February 8, the BERC increased the average retail electricity tariff by 5 percent.
Yusuf said the increase in electricity price would help the government save about Tk 1,000 crore annual subsidies. He, however, said the estimate is not final.
"The government is paying a huge amount of money for energy subsidies, contributing to rising inflation and higher bank borrowing. This price hike will ease the pressure on the government coffers."
The former bureaucrat said although they are increasing the power tariff for such users as agricultural pumps, religious institutions, charities and the rural poor, the commission has tried to keep the hike within tolerable levels.
"Although these are sensitive areas, we have to increase their tariff as we cannot forget that electricity price in Bangladesh is the lowest in the world," he said.
However, the increase drew criticism from analysts and consumer rights group.
Akbar Ali Khan, former caretaker government adviser, said the rise would have impact on inflation, directly and mostly indirectly. "Production cost will increase as direct impact. Indirectly, it will create pressure on inflation and the price of products will go up."
The government could make two to three thousand crore taka by hiking the prices, he said. "But the government is running a budget of one lakh and 60 thousand crore taka. It should have thought while preparing the budget if it would be able to deliver or not."
He also said the production cost of electricity is very high in Bangladesh. "Electricity is not being produced in the most efficient way. Nobody is talking about improving management. I think reducing production cost can be one answer to subsidies."
Quazi Faruque, president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said the new tariff is a double whammy for ordinary people. "In one hand, they will buy electricity at higher prices. On the other hand, they will pay more to buy industrial items which are produced using electricity."
"It is unfortunate. This will only worsen ordinary people's economic condition," he told The Daily Star over the phone.
Yesterday's price hike came a month after the bulk power price was increased by 16.79 percent to Tk 3.27 a unit, which took effect on December 1.
From now on, distributor-wise, customers will enjoy different price levels as the country's five power suppliers maintain different tariffs for different groups.
Customers of Bangladesh Power Development Board, the country's lone buyer of electricity from generation companies, will pay 13.62 percent more from December 1 and 6.74 percent more from February 1.
Rural Electrification Board's customers who pay more than their urban peers will see their electricity bills rise by 10.74 percent in the first instalment and 6.58 percent in the second one.
Dhaka Electricity Supply Company (Desco) will charge its customers 14.16 percent more from December 1 and 7.44 percent more from February 1.
Clients of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) will have to pay 15.42 percent more in the first phase and 7.76 percent more in the second phase.
West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDCO) will charge 12.69 percent more from December 1 and 12.94 percent more from February 1.
Despite the tariff support, only Desco will be able to make profit among all distributors. WZPDCO would reach break even and DPDC has the potential to overcome Tk 8 crore in losses if it tries hard, said BERC Member Engineer Md Emdadul Haque.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

EDUCATION: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

EDUCATION: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান In office 11 April 1971 – 12 January 1972 Prime Minist...

Cold batters life



Cold batters life

Dense fog continues to disrupt communications


Weather continues to get chillier while fog is getting thicker everyday disrupting life and claiming more lives across the country.
Hundreds, mostly children and elderly people, have been suffering from cold-related complications due to the more than week-long spell when the dense fog disrupting communications by roads, rivers and air.
In the last three days till yesterday afternoon, at least eight people died of cold-related diseases in Pabna, Gopalganj and Madaripur, report our district correspondents.
Because of the foggy weather, the sun is often invisible these days in most parts of the country.
Sources at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) told The Daily Star that ferry services on Mawa-Kaorakandi and Paturia-Daulatdia routes were severely disrupted due to the dense fog.
Seven ferries had to anchor in the middle of the river while five others remained stranded at Mawa and Kaorakandi piers for 11 hours from 10:00pm Tuesday, forcing thousands of people into indescribable sufferings.
In Gopalganj, sixty-five year-old Amena Begum of Kotalipara upazila died on Wednesday as she fell seriously ill due to severe cold. She died hours after receiving primary aid at her residence the same day, said Manik Hawladar, chairman of Bandhabari union.
Meanwhile, Md Kari, 55, who was suffering from serious cold-related complications, died at Muksudpur Upazila Health Complex with deteriorating condition on Tuesday night.
In Madaripur, at least three people died in the last three days. Family sources said Jagadish Mondol, 35, died on Monday while Mahadeb Das, 45, and a 40-year-old unidentified woman Tuesday night in Rajoir upazila.

EDUCATION: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

EDUCATION: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ জামায়াতে ইসলামী), previously known as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (a.k.a 'Jamaat') is the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh, it is one of the largest Islamic parties on the subcontinent. Jamaat joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in an alliance and lead a four-party coalition government during 2001-2006 and held ...

Student abducted, killed for ransom



Student abducted, killed for ransom

A first year student of Jhenidah Technical School and College was found dead yesterday night, nine days after he was abducted for ransom.
The dead, Hamidur Rahman Shahed, 18, was the son of former municipality secretary Sheikh Abdul Kader in the town.
Family sources said Shahed had been missing since December 13 when he went out to recharge his mobile. Later, the abductors phoned his family members and demanded Tk 30 lakh as ransom.
The body was found around 8:30pm yesterday in an under-construction house at Chaklapara village near the town after children while playing got bad smell and informed local people.
Police came in and recovered the body digging the ground floor's muddy surface.
Victim's elder brother Faruk Hossain Shawon recognised the body.
Talking to The Daily Star, Abdul Kader, father of the victim, said first the abductors demanded Tk 30 lakh; but later they claimed Tk 20 lakh. They told Kader to go to Binodia Park at Jessore with the ransom.
But as he told them that he could at best pay Tk 30,000, the abductors did not phone him again. Kader also informed the police and Rab about the abduction but they could not find Shahed.
Jhenidah Superintendent of Police Rezaul Karim claimed that it was not a matter of abduction. “It might have happened for three reasons -- land conflict, quarrel with his friends or love affair.”
Police have arrested two suspects in this regard. They are Partho and Tarun of the same area, he said.
On December 19, the body of a ten-year-old girl, Shrabanti, was found tied in a sack under the bridge of Jhenidah town. She was also reportedly abducted for ransom.

New Election Commission President's talks begin today



New Election Commission

President's talks begin today

JP, JSD to join first day's dialogue; BNP yet to respond


With uncertainty looming large over the success of talks, President Zillur Rahman today opens dialogues with political parties seeking their opinion on the formation of a new Election Commission.
The current commission's tenure expires in early February.
On the first day, he will consult with senior leaders of Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, two components of Awami League-led ruling alliance that elected Zillur to presidency in 2009.
Senior leaders of the main opposition BNP have already taken a stance against joining the talks. The party may reply to the president's invitation once it gets it and then urge him to open a dialogue on restoration of the caretaker government system, which is the party's all-important issue now, sources in the party said.
BNP insiders say that the Bangabhaban's decision not to invite Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a key ally of the BNP-led alliance, has pushed BNP more towards not joining the talks. The Bangabhaban, the president's office and residence, decided not to invite Jamaat-e-Islami to the talks for its anti-liberation role in 1971. The party's top leaders are detained in connection with crimes against humanity.
"Restoration of the caretaker government is now the top agenda of BNP. So, we want this issue to be resolved first and we are ready to hold talks with the government in this regard," said Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, a member of BNP's national standing committee.
"In the name of holding talks, the government is using the presidency for its own political gains. The talks will not be successful," he said, terming the dialogues eyewash.
If the BNP finally boycotts the talks, possibility of forging a consensus on the formation of the new Election Commission will be very slim.
Like some political analysts, outgoing Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda on Tuesday also expressed his doubt about the success of the talks which were suddenly initiated by the president. All signs now suggest that political weather will be stormy in the coming days.
Meanwhile, ruling Awami League acting General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said the president made the move to constitute an Election Commission acceptable to all and all parties should join the talks. "For the first time in the country's history, the president made such a move," he said.
Asked about BNP's possible boycott, Hanif, also special assistant to the prime minister, said, "They [BNP] will lose the opportunity to make their opinion on the formation of the new Election Commission count, if they boycott the talks."
The Bangabhaban announced on December 18 that the president will begin the talks with political parties from December 22. It followed by sending invitations to Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. On Tuesday it also sent invitation letters to six other political parties for talks in the coming week.
"We will send invitations to other political parties gradually in the next week," president's Press Secretary AKM Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan told The Daily Star yesterday. According to him, the ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP will get invitations in the next week. He said 20 political parties will be invited to the talks.

Muhith now tells of hurdles to 7pc growth



Muhith now tells of hurdles to 7pc growth 




Achieving the projected seven percent economic growth might not be possible in the current fiscal year due to high import cost, spiralling inflation, downward investment flow and excessive subsidies in public spending, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said yesterday.
Earlier on many occasions, including in his budget speech in parliament, the minister termed the target realistic and attainable.
But speaking at a programme yesterday, he said factors like excessive bank borrowing by the government and high inflation rate are hindering the targeted growth.
Muhith was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day 11th annual SANEI (South Asia Network of Economic Research Institutes) at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital.
“Commodity price is totally upset,” he said, adding that subsidies in petroleum products and other commodities contributed to a soaring inflation. “We're in a very difficult situation with inflation. The inflation has already crossed double digit."
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the inflation crossed double digit in March this year while it was around 11.5 percent in the last two months.
Muhith claimed that the government had to go for excessive bank borrowing this year as prices of electricity and fuel were not adjusted timely.
Inadequate utilisation of foreign fund also led to a high bank borrowing, he said, adding, “A lot of aid was negotiated, but not utilised."
Between July 1 and November 17 this year, the government borrowed Tk 18,986 crore from banks, which is Tk 29 crore more than the current fiscal year's borrowing target of Tk 18,957 crore, according to Bangladesh Bank.
In the current FY, the budgetary allocation for subsidy is Tk 20,477 crore. But different ministries demanded Tk 46,000 crore, finance ministry sources said.
Of them, the Power Development Board sought Tk 10,000 crore while the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Tk 16,700 crore.
The minister also defended production of electricity and import of petroleum products, including furnace oil, at higher costs, saying they would boost industrial growth.
Electricity is one of the elements that were bringing the economy down, he said, and added that the government had been purchasing electricity from rental power plants temporarily.
“You must have the dual fuel system because we have the problem of gas,” he added.
Saying that the investment rate in the country has remained static at 24 percent of the GDP for over a decade, the finance minister said it was still too low.
“The flow of investment is extremely low at a time when we're planning to achieve seven percent economic growth.”
He suggested using more foreign resources and mobilising domestic resources for achieving the projected growth.
Presiding over the occasion, TN Srinivasan, chairman of SANEI Research Advisory Panel, said subsidy in South Asia is nothing new, but the problem is that a big chunk of it was not justified.

BNP procession foiled by cops



BNP procession foiled by cops

Central office cordoned off; 8 activists held



Police yesterday thwarted a BNP move to bring out a mass procession in the city's Nayapaltan area protesting “government's repression and police attack” on the opposition activists and secret killings.
Police did not even let BNP men, excepting some senior leaders, gather at their central office there.
Though the procession was scheduled for 3:00pm, law enforcers cordoned off the office in the morning well before the party activists started gathering there around 9:00am. A three-tier police barricade prevented them from entering the office.
Around 3:30pm, police fired tear gas shells and water cannon and baton-charged pro-opposition lawyers to disperse them at a procession at Nightingale intersection near the party office.
At least eight persons including two female workers were picked up by police when they were trying to enter the office.
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Anwar Hossain said, “We feared that anarchy could break out and requested them not to bring out any procession.”
Coming out of the office at 3:45pm, around 30 leaders led by party acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir started a procession. But they were forced to stop just within 50 yards.
At one stage, they scuffled with police and sat down on the street, but could not stay for long.
During the brief sit-in there, Mirza Fakhrul said the government has created a “war-like” situation to obstruct opposition's protest programme. “Democracy and human rights are now at stake.”
The government has created panic in people's mind using Rab and police, he mentioned.
“Leaders and workers of BNP and its front and associate bodies were stopped by police at different points in the city on their way to join the procession,” complained Fakhrul.
Dhaka city BNP convener Sadeque Hossain Khoka said police obstructed BNP's procession, though section 144 (of the code of criminal procedure) was not imposed. “The Awami League government has even beaten the Pakistani misrule,” he added.
After about 20 minutes, the BNP leaders returned to the party office chanting slogans.
Several thousand police and Rab personnel were deployed in Nayapaltan, Bijoynagar and Purana Paltan areas. Some mobile teams of police with armoured vehicles and water cannons patrolled the vicinity of the BNP office.
Earlier on Monday Fakhrul declared the mass procession following Sunday's violence in the city centring BNP's reception to freedom fighters.
Opposition activists fought running battles with law enforcers and vandalised some vehicles in the city on Sunday. At least 12 handmade bombs went off leaving one person dead and scores injured.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

banglabazar patrika logo


Motiur Rahman Nizami



Motiur Rahman Nizami


Motiur Rahman Nizami
Leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Incumbent
Assumed office
2000
Preceded byGhulam Azam
Minister of Agriculture
In office
10 October 2001 – 22 May 2003
Minister of Industries
In office
22 May 2003 – 28 October 2006
Member of Parliament
for Pabna-1
In office
1 October 2001 – 28 October 2006
Preceded byProfessor Abu Sayed
Succeeded byMd. Shamsul Haque
Majority135,982 (57.68%)
In office
27 February 1991 – 16 February 1996
Succeeded byProfessor Abu Sayed
Majority55,707 (36.85%)
Personal details
Born31 March 1943 (age 68)
Pabna, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Political partyJamaat-e-Islami
Spouse(s)Shamsunnahar Nizami
Alma materDhaka University
ProfessionPolitician
ReligionIslam
Websitewww.motiurrahmannizami.com
Motiur Rahman Nizami (Bengali: মতিউর রহমান নিজামী), (born 31 March 1943) is the current chief (Ameer) of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, which is the largest Islamic political party in Bangladesh.

Jamaat and Al-Badr activist

Nizami rose in the ranks of the Jamaat-e-Islami in East Pakistan in the 1960s, after being a leader of a student organization, Islamic Chhatro Shango (now Islami Chhatro Shibir). During the liberation war of 1971, Nizami actively supported the cause of West Pakistan and formed the Al-Badr Force in which he acted as the supreme commander of the Al-Badr Militia.[1] As the leader of Al-Badr, Nizami advocated deadly violence against minority Hindus, and in an article in the Daily Sangram published in 14 November 1971, Nizami claimed, "It is our conviction that the day is not far off when, standing side by side with our armed forces, our youth will raise the victorious flag of Islam the world over by defeating the Hindu Army and finishing off Hindustan".[2][3]
On Nizamis orders, The Al-Badr militia took active part in rape, extortion, loot and specially capturing and killing of Bengalis who supported the liberation, including a pre-planned massacre on December 14, 1971, when the Al-Badr militia along with Pakistan Army rounded up hundreds of doctors, professors, writers, and other Bengali intellectuals, and executed them.[4][5][6] Al-Badar militia also helped Pakistany forces to fight against the Freedom Fighters of Bangladesh Liberation War.

 Political career

After taking over the rule of Bangladesh in 1975, Ziaur Rahman allowed democratic political parties to organise themselves, which had been banned since March of the same year. Under the rule of Ziaur Rahman, top Jamaat leaders such as Ghulam Azam and Nizami whose party were banned by the subsequent government after liberation, returned to Bangladesh in 1978 and revived the Jamaat party. Nizami emerged as a key leader of the Jamaat, organising the Islami Chhatra Shibir (Jammat Students Organisation), which serves as the youth wing of the Jamaat. In 1991, he was elected as a Member of Parliament, representing Jamaat-e-Islami for the constituency of Pabna-1, and was Jamaat's Parliamentary Party leader during until 1994.[7]
However, during the 1996 elections, he lost out to both the candidates for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League in his constituency, and Professor Abu Sayed of the Awami League replaced him. Nizami took over as the Ameer from Ghulam Azam in 2001.[8] In the same year, representing his party as part of a four-party alliance including BNP, he won in Pabna-1, receiving 57.68% of the votes.[9] Nizami served as the Industrial Minister from 2003 to 2006, after a two-year term as the Minister of Agriculture.
Nizami was defeated in the general election held on 29 December 2008 as a candidate of 4-party alliance, losing his seat for Pabna-1 to Md. Shamsul Haque by 8.2%. He received 45.6% of the votes, out of which 41.03% votes were from BNP supporters. His opponent representing the Awami League won, having 53.8%.

Controversies

 War crimes

During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he is alleged to have acted as the supreme commander of the Al-Badr militia, which had allegedly taken part in various war crimes including killing of hundreds of intellectuals around the country. His misdoings were finally brought into attention in the year 2009, when the Awami League reopened the cases pending against him.[citation needed]

Allegations of corruption

The Anti-corruption Commission of Bangladesh indicted Nizami on the GATCO Corruption case, in which he along with several other politicians are alleged to have granted illegally a container-depot contract to the local firm GATCO.[10] A warrant was issued to arrest Nizami along with 12 others on May 15, 2008.
Nizami was accused of conspiring with 12 other politicians to award the contract to GATCO despite the fact that GATCO did not meed the conditions of the tender. The case filed by the Anti-corruption Commission of Bangladesh Govt. alleges that, the deal with GATCO caused a total loss of more than 100 million Bangladeshi Taka to the Government.[11] Nizami denied the charges, which he has said are politically motivated.[12] He was released after two months on bail.

 Hurting religious sentiments

Dhaka Jamaat chief Rafiqul Islam, in a public speech on March 17, 2010, compared the tortured life of the Prophet Muhammad of Islam propagating truth in the face of persecution with the life of Nizami, who was facing the same. On March 21, Bangladesh Tariqat Federation sued Rafiqul, Nizami and other Jamaat members for hurting Islamic sentiments of the masses by comparing Nizami with the Prophet[13].
Nizami, along with 3 other senior Jamaat leaders, were arrested on such accusations on March 29, 2010, and are still awaiting trial.[14]

 Arms smuggling case

Nizami is accused for aiding the smuggling of ten trucks of arms from the Chittagong port on 1 April 2004,[15] supposedly supplied by Pakistan to the ULFA insurgents in Assam, India. Nizami was the Industries Minister during that time.
He is currently in prison, and has been shown arrested for the smuggling, along with other crimes described above. His recent bail petition on 7 September 2011 was denied.[15]

See also



Bangladesh slaps travel ban on war crime suspects


Moulana Motiur Rahman Nizami, chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami, waves to his supporters during a rally in Dhaka February 11, 2006. REUTERS/Rafiqur Rahman/Files
DHAKA | Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:54pm IST
(Reuters) - Bangladesh imposed a travel ban on Monday on 40 people, mostly leaders of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, over alleged war crimes during the country's war of independence four decades ago.
The party has denied charges that it collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war, and has accused the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of concocting war crimes charges to try to undermine it.
Jamaat is the main ally of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and the country's largest Islamic political party.
Those banned from leaving the country included Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, his deputy Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, and another key leader, Delwar Hossain Saidee, who were arrested last month on charges ranging from obstructing police to sedition.
Immigration officials at Dhaka's Hazrat Shah Jalal international airport said they had received a list of 40 people with photographs, along with instructions from the government not to allow them to leave the country.
Police said the same list was also posted at other international airports, seaports and border transit points.
The government plans to begin war crimes trials soon, and police said some suspects including former Jamaat chief Golam Azam, had been preparing to flee the country.
Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, won independence with India's help in December 1971 following a nine-month war against Pakistan. Around 3 million people were killed and thousands of women raped.
Authorities also filed charges on Monday against more than 800 paramilitary troops accused of involvement in a mutiny last year. The charges include murder, torture and concealing the corpses of those killed, an investigating officer said.
The mutineers killed 74 people including 57 army officers commanding the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles in a dispute over wages and the command structure.
The mutiny occurred less than two months after Hasina returned to power in January 2009 after polls that ended two years of rule by an army-backed interim authority. One of her election pledges was putting war criminals on trial.
The mutiny threatened to undermine Hasina's government and some thought it might lead the military to try to take back power. But the authorities ended the rebellion within two days through negotiations. More than 2,300 paramilitary soldiers were detained in Dhaka, of whom 801 were charged on Monday.

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
Deputy Leader of
Bangladesh Jammat-e-Islami
Member of Parliament
for Pirojpur-1
In office
June 12, 1996 – December 29, 2008
Preceded by Shudangsu Shekhor Halder
Succeeded by AKMA Awal (Saidur Rahman)
Majority 33,377 (17.36%)
Personal details
Born February 2, 1940 (age 71)
Pirojpur, Bangladesh
Nationality Bangladeshi
Political party Jamaat-e-Islami
Alma mater Islamic University Karachi
Occupation Politician
Profession Islamic orator
Religion Sunni Islam
Delwar Hossain Sayeedi (Bengali: দেলওয়ার হোসেন সাঈদী, pronounced Delowar Hossein Saeedi; born 2 February 1942), is a Bangladeshi Islamic orator and politician. He was a former Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2008, and is one of the most prominent leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party.

 Background

Delwar Sayeedi was born February 2, 1940, in a village located in Indurkani, Pirojpur (Barisal Division). His father, Yusuf Sayedee was an Islamic orater. He received his first primary religious education at his local village madrassa which was built by his father.[1]
Later in life he studied further on Islamic education by attending, the Sarsina Alia Madrasah in 1962, and then the Khulna Alia Madrasah.[1] He completed his religious education at the Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia (Binoria Town Madrassa) in Karachi, Pakistan. Sayeedi after completing his religious studies then focused on studying politics. He is fluent in Urdu, Bengali, Arabic, Punjabi and has basic knowledge of English.

Political career

Sayeedi was a leader and Rajshahi University Unit President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.[2]
He became a prominent leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a Member of Parliament in the Jatiyo Sangshad representing Jamaat, for the constituency of Pirojpur-1.
Sayeedi is one a prominent religious telepreachers in Bangladesh, and has held talks and tafseer's across the country.

Foreign travel

In July 2006 Sayeedi travelled to the UK to address rallies in London and Luton after the foreign office cleared his entry.[8] His entry was controversial with British MP's. In leaked emails reported by The Times, an adviser, Eric Taylor said that Sayeedi’s "previous visits to the UK have been reportedly marred by violence caused by his supporters."[9] On 13 July 2006, a British journalist Martin Bright created a documentary called Who Speaks For Muslims? where it features Sayeedi, claiming to have extreme views.[10] Sayeedi has a large following within the British Bangladeshi community, he was invited to speak at the East London Mosque on 14 July 2006, the then secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari supported his invite.[11]
On July 24, 2009, Sayeedi was prevented from going abroad by the immigration officials at Zia International Airport. Later, he Challenged the Government's restriction on his foreign travel by filing a writ petition with the High Court on July 27. The Attorney General stated before the Chamber Judge that Maulana Sayeedi was against the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 and argued that if Sayeedi is not barred to go abroad he might conduct propaganda against government moves to sue war criminals.[12]

Accusations of Extremism

Sayeedi proclaimed that Courts won’t be allowed to control Fatwas (religious edicts), instead Fatwas would control the Court.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag; see the help page
Sayeedi threatened the local correspondents (in Pirojpur) of the leading newspapers and asked them to leave Pirojpur as they wrote about Sayeedi’s role in 1971.[13]
By announcing the blasphemy law, he asked the government to ban the book Pak Sar Jameen Saad Baad written by eminent writer and Professor (at University of Dhaka) Humayun Azad. His call to ban the book was followed by a brutal attack on the professor by a group of young men.[14]

Apprehension

Police arrested Mr. Sayeedi on June 29, 2010 after a magistrate court issued arrest warrants against him including three other political leaders as they did not appear before the court to face a charge accusing them of hurting religious sentiments of Muslims. The case was filed by Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, secretary general of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation On March 21, 2010.[15][16]

 


 Most popular Islamic scholar of Bangladesh victim of politically   


Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, senior leader from Bangladesh’s largest Islamic party has been charged with war crimes for allegedly leading groups that took part in killing, looting, arson and rape of Bangladeshis during the country’s 1971 independence war against Pakistan.

Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan that year – with help from India – after a nine-month war.

A special tribunal has been up by the Bangladesh government to deal with charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from the war.

The tribunal accepted 20 of 31 charges filed by the prosecution against Delwar Hossain Sayeedi of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, including those that he aided Pakistan.

Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed an estimated 3 million people, raped about 200,000 women and forced millions to flee their homes during the war.

Sayeedi is accused of being involved in the killing of more than 50 people, torching villages, rape, looting and forcibly converting Hindus to Islam. He has denied the allegations.

Mr Sayedee is among seven people, including two from the main opposition Bangladeshi Nationalist Party, facing trial. All of them deny the accusations and accuse the government of carrying out a vendetta.

The party says the charges against its leaders are politically motivated. Jamaat-e-Islami was a key partner in the 2001-2006 government headed by Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister and current opposition leader.

Zia, the longtime political rival of the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has called the tribunal a farce.

The international community has called on the Bangladesh government to ensure that the tribunal is free and impartial.

Human Rights bodies critical about the law: New York-based Human Rights Watch has called for changes to the tribunal, including allowing the accused to question its impartiality, which current law prohibits. Human Rights Watch says the tribunal needs to change some of its procedures to ensure a fair trial which meets international standards.

“It’s politically motivated case. It aims at tarnishing the image of my client,” said Sayedee’s lawyer Tajul Islam.

The lawyer of Maulana Delawar Hossain Sayeedi argued in the tribunal not to form charge against his client as the charges of war crime against his client is not specific.
The prosecution of the tribunal could not make any specific charge of war crime against Sayeedi. Claiming this he said “Though a lot of stories has been stated but are not specified when and where these occurred”.

Strangely there is no specific evidence against Sayedee of being relevant with these stories of Pirojpur.
 
There is no mention in the charge sheet that who is killed by him, where, in which date and time, and what was his role in the assassination during the Liberation War of 1971.
 
The Govt. has urged only that Maulana Sayeedi has killed 40 people somewhere once in a day during the war. In reply of this urge of the Govt., the lawyers said more that on the basis of this type of imaginary and rootless charge sheet the arrangement of such trial against any prisoner is beyond example.
 
As per defence lawyer, there are so many weakness and incompleteness in to the International Crime Law.  The trial is being performed without defining Crime.
 
‘Crime’ is not defined in this law: ‘Crime’ is not defined in this law. Trial cannot be performed without defining Crime referred to various International Criminal Court Laws and the decisions regarding this.
 
Bangladesh Supreme court has some positive decisions to accept International Laws if they are relevant with Bangladesh.
 
It is mentioned in the Article 25 of the Constitution of Bangladesh that the base of international relation will be to respect the principles mentioned in the international laws and United Nations contacts. So, Bangladesh should enrich laws picking from international laws where law is incomplete or weak.
 
Practically there is no legal base of the charge against Mr. Sayeedi. There is no mention of his crime in the charge sheet in any occurrence.
 
It is said that rape has been occurred, but not said to whom and when it has been conducted.
It is said that property has been destroyed but not said about quantity.
 
No logical information regarding killings is mentioned in specific charges.
 
No trial may be conducted if there is no mention of the name and address of the victim and specific mention of time.
 
Charge has been formed from the speeches of the ruling alliance witnesses: According to Syed Haider, one of the tribunal prosecutor charge has been formed from the speeches of the witnesses. We have mentioned what they have said. After all these things, if crime is not proven we have nothing to do.
Nothing is mentioned specifically about the name of the place of crime. The charge mentioned only the name of the village, but no mention under which union or thana.
 
Interestingly the charge mentioned that Mr. Sayeedi has killed that person in any day between March 25 to Dec. 16, 1971. How it comes? You didn’t mention time specifically.”
 
The explanation of Govt. prosecutor in this regarding during tribunal hearing is that, “the man who was killed then could tell specifically that I died on that day.’ He argued that,” After passing so many days it is not possible to mention more specific time. Setting example he said, “A wife has been raped in front of his husband or a son has been killed in front of his mother … Can that husband or the mother remember the time of occurrence?”
 
Then he added, “You may accept the evidence, may accept or reject it partially or may reject it totally – that’s after you. But we have tried to prove the crime.”
 
Profile: Moulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee:
Moulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee is a devoted soul whose only struggle is to disseminate the light of the Quran all over the world including his birth land Bangladesh. Allah (SWT) has made him blessed bestowing multifaceted genius upon him. He is in one and the same person who is an artful orator, popular leader and organizer. Maulana Sayedee was one of Deputy Leaders of Jamaat Parliamentary Party and a member of the Central Executive Committee of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
 
Moulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee was born in Pirojpur on 2 Februry 1940. The name of his father is Maulana Yusuf Sayedee who was a very familiar name in the northern region as a good orator and ‘pir’ (saint). He completed his primary education at the Madrasah in his native village built by his father.
 
Afterwards, he studied in Sarsina Alia Madrasah and Khulna Alia Madrasah. In 1962 he did Kamil degree from Sarsina Alia Madrasah. After that he devoted himself to research on various doctrines and language including religion, philosophy, science, politics, economy, state policy, foreign policy, psychology for five years.
 
Maulana Sayedee started his chequred life as a “Dayee Ila Allah” (caller to the way of Allah) in 1967. He has been disseminating the Dawah of Quran at home and abroad. He is a dauntless soldier in the way of Allah. He never retreated in the face of the enemy’s severe attack while preaching the message of the Quran. During the Mujib regime Maulana Sayedee was arrested and sent to jail in 1975. Under went imprisonment until the Mujib dynasty was collapsed.
 
Maulna Sayedee has widely traveled different foreign countries across the world every year. Till now he traveled 50 foreign countries at the invitation of different international organizations. Maulana Sayeedee performed hajj (Pilgrimage) almost every year since 1976. He performed Hajj twice at the invitation of royal guest Saudi Arabia govt.
 
Maulana Sayedee is a prolific writer too. He composed so far 30 books. His two books have been translated from England and America.
Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee is a popular leader. He was elected as a member of parliament (MP) from his Pirojpur Sadar constituency twice 1996 and 2001 respectively. In 1996 parliamentary election, he was elected as an MP and became the leader of Jamaat Parliamentary group. He then played stronger role with three members of parliament. He was alone who fought the then ruling party Awami league MP and defeated them by his eloquent, informative and rescannable speech. So the then ruling party tried to harass him to stooping microphone or intimidating him in different ways. But he was fearless and uncompromising. He was elected as an MP from his constancy Pirojpur sadar by garnering massive vote on 1st October 2001.
 
Despite his engagement in Tafsir  mahfil at home and abroad he is actively involved in organizational work. He is now Nayebe Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
 
Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee is actively associated with innumerable social welfare organizations. He is one of adviser of Rubitat Alam Al Islami. He is a founder member of Shariah council of Islamic bank Bangladesh Ltd. And is an adviser of Islami University trustee board, Chittagong. He is the chairman of Jamia Dinniya Tongi, Dhaka, Jamia Kasemia, Narshingdi, Darul Quran Siddiquia Alia Madrasah, Khulna, Darul Haman Shishu Sadan, Narshingdi and SB Madinatul Ulam Madrasah, Pirojpur. He is advisor, Patron and chief patron of good number of organizations at home and abroad. He is the life member of Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh.
 
Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee is a respected person. He is one of the most popular leaders in Islamic arena. Till now six hundred non-Muslim embraced Islam shortly after listening to his epoch making Tafsir.