DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh wants a consignment of ancient artifacts on loan to France for an upcoming exhibition to be returned after two 1,500 year-old statues of the Hindu God Vishnu were stolen while awaiting shipment from Dhaka airport.

“The Guimet Museum (in Paris) would be informed, regretfully, that it would not be possible to go ahead with holding the exhibition of the items as planned,” a statement from the office of the head of the interim government said on Tuesday.

One consignment of items had already been successfully sent to France when the theft occurred on Saturday as a second shipment was being loaded on a Paris-bound flight.

A government spokesman said the French exhibition would have to be cancelled and the artifacts already in Paris returned to Bangladesh.

The authorities have ordered the remaining items at Dhaka airport to be returned to their collections.

The initial decision to ship the rare items abroad had prompted opposition from art lovers and conservators who expressed concerns the artifacts might go missing in transit.

Police have arrested 15 individuals in connection with the thefts.

(Reporting by Nizam Ahmed, Editing by Matthew Jones)

By B. Roy
Dhaka, Dec.22 (ANI): Some vested interests in Bangladesh have alleged that the Indian Government is exporting rice to Bangladesh that is rotten in quality, and if this “word of mouth rumour” gains credence, it could affect bilateral ties between the two countries.
According to informed sources, a section in Bangladesh, known for their traditional India baiting, is responsible for spreading this rumour, and have suggested that the Government of India would do well to ensure the export of quality rice.
There is a view that anti-India sentiment is building up in Bangladesh, and there are senior people like former judge and member of the Bangladesh Election Commission, Abdul Rab, who have publicly stated that the issue of the trial of war criminals in Bangladesh, has been fomented by India to divide the country.
Intellectuals and representatives of NGOs’ in Bangladesh, besides university dons and key civil society members are appalled over the caretaker government’s inability to “differentiate between the head, the body and the tail of the problems” facing Bangladeshi society.
An eminent economist and sociologist told this agency in an informal chat over the phone, that the army-backed caretaker government “seems to have lost its way and is flaying its hands in the dark, hoping to hit a solution”.
The economist, who preferred not to be named at this stage, told the BBC’s Bengali service recently that the immediate approach of the caretaker government should be to at least procure the cheapest cereals - rice and wheat - and provide it to the people.
There is a view that the machinery is just not functioning, and is constricted by overwhelming responsibilities. There are people in the government who are literally sitting with their arms folded. For instance, some of the government institutions, including those responsible or connected with procurement and the issuing of licenses are acting in an almost frozen manner.
Over the years, these departments have developed an institutionalised system of corruption where, everyone from the top downwards get their fixed cuts from deals.
With the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) very recently looking into these work systems, these agencies have had to put up their defences.
The Council of Advisors’ Purchase Committee have recently approved the procurement of rice and wheat from local suppliers totalling around 2.6 million tonnes. This was done on December 17.
The crackdown on corruption has slowed down the business of small and middle-level food importers. More than 400,000 people have been detained since January 11 this year, the day a state of emergency was declared in Bangladesh. Most of them were detained on “suspicion” and belong to different strata of society.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TI, however, reports that the level of corruption in the country has not gone down. Questions are being asked as to how the caretaker government plans to deal with this assessment, and why no ordinance has been issued to check these hoarders of foodstuff. (ANI)

GE Energy has netted its biggest order ever for Jenbacher gas engines for power plants in Bangladesh.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Atlanta-based GE Energy said it will supply 28 Jenbacher J620 GS natural gas-fueled engines to Doreen Power Generation & Systems Ltd. and Doreen Power House & Technologies Ltd. Combined, the engines will generate about 81 MW in electricity at four new power plants in developing areas of the South Asian country. The engines are set for delivery in July 2008 and will begin operating in the fourth quarter of 2008.

GE (NYSE: GE) now has more than 100 installed Jenbacher units in Bangladesh.

The trial of the four teachers and 15 students of Dhaka University began yesterday in the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Court in Dhaka.

ACMM Golam Robbani has recorded deposition of complainant Sergeant Shawkat Ahmed of Shahbagh thana in the trial, which was the first session of the Court after the charge framing in the case.

The case was filed with the Shahbagh thana against four teachers and 15 students for making provocative statements and encouraging illegal demonstration, which began on August 20, under sections 3 (4) and 6 (10) of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

The four detained teachers-Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) President Prof Sadrul Amin, General Secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science Prof Harun Or Rashid and Chairman of Applied Physics and Electronic Department Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmik and detained student Maniruzzaman Sardar were produced before the Court yesterday.

Other 14 accused students were shown as fugitive in the case. Complainant Sergeant Shawkat Ahmed in his deposition to the Court refrained from naming the four teachers or anybody else as accused, court sources said.

ACMM Golam Robbani fixed December 24 for further hearing of the case.

The case against the detained teachers and students of Dhaka University was filed following students and teachers unrest centring an untoward incident between Army jawans and a group of students at the university playground on August 19. The students launched an agitation immediately.

Situation went out of control on the following day, when thousands of students backed by the DUTA started demonstration, resulting clashes between the agitating students and police. The Government on August 20 withdrew Army camp from the university and the Army closed the responsible sepoy. But the agitation sharply spread in all the public universities and cities of the country.

The Government had to clampdown curfew in the capital and the divisional towns, and closed down all universities and colleges in these cities. Police lodged case against the teachers and students on August 22 with Shahbagh thana.

The Joint Forces arrested three DU teachers-DUTA General Secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science Prof Harun Or Rashid and Chairman of Applied Physics and Electronic Department Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmik at one stage, while DUTA President Prof Sadrul Amin surrendered to the Court latter.

Family members of the detained teachers and DUTA through Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr SMA Fayez started parleys with the Government to secure their release.

The Vice-Chancellor had a number of meetings with President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed and pleaded for their release.

The Government started taking lenient view and granting presidential clemency to four convicted teachers of Rajshahi University sent a signal that the administration may release the detained Dhaka University teachers also.

Meanwhile, Our Court Correspondent reports: the charge sheet against former Chief Conservator of Forest Osman Gani was submitted to the Court yesterday.

Osman Gani was accused of amassing huge movable and immovable property through illegal means, while his wife was made co-accused of the case as she allegedly cooperated with her husband in the mischief.

Assistant Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) SM Aktar Hamid Bhuiyan yesterday submitted the charge sheet, making 52 persons witnesses in the case.

On May 30, Joint Forces arrested Osman Gani with huge money and gold ornaments from his Uttara residence in the city. Later ACC Deputy Director Golam Shahriar Chowdhury filed the case against the accused with Uttara thana in Dhaka city.

New Nation
Bangladesh, Tuesday, December 18, 2007

People in the city of Magura did not allow the burial of Rajakar Rezaul Karim Rizu after his death. He was a very notorious Rajakar in that area during the war of independence in 1971. He brutally killed a number of Freedom Fighters and innocent people. His brutal killing of a lady teacher Helena is still remembered by the local people.

After the independence Rizu Rajakar fled to Chittagong and sheltered by Jamat-e-Islami people. Later he was appointed as a teacher in Chittagong University. He was always hated by other people around for his role in 1971. Recently after his death people did not allow this Rajakar and butcher to be buried in Magura.

A freedom fighter yesterday accused Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Matiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and seven of their party men of killing two freedom fighters during the liberation war.

Mozaffar Ahmad Khan, Dhaka district unit Muktijoddha commander, filed the murder case, stating that the Jamaat men killed his nephew Osman Gani and fellow freedom fighter Golam Mostafa alias Tukub Ali on November 25 in 1971.

Meantime, another Dhaka court will give order today on whether to approve of registering a sedition case against Mojaheed, Abdul Quader Mollah and Shah Mohammad Hannan, former chairman of Islami Bank, as a regular one.

On December 5, freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman filed the sedition case with Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court for the three men’s anti-liberation activities.

Recording the statement of Mozaffar Ahmad Khan, Judicial Magistrate Ashiqul Khabir directed officer-in-charge at Keraniganj Police Station to register the double murder as a first information report.

The court also asked the OC to take action against the accused after investigation into the matter.

Mozaffar showed eight people, including himself and the victims’ parents, as witnesses in the case.

Other accused are two assistant secretary generals of the Jamaat, Mohammad Abdul Quader Mollah and Mohammad Quamruzzaman, Keraniganj upazila unit Amir Haji Nazim Uddin, Islami Chhatra Sangha leader KG Karim Babla, and Abul Kashem, Foyzur Rahman Foyaz and Yasin. The last three were al-Badr, Razakar and al-Shams activists during the war.

The case was filed under sections 447/448/436/302/109/114 of the Bangladesh Penal Code.

Complainant Mozaffar said sixty to seventy other unknown activists of the three militias took part in killing, torching and looting valuables in Keraniganj on the day.

He mentioned that the accused formed collaborating forces like Razakar, al-Badr and al-Shams during the liberation war with a view to exterminating the Bangali nation.

Nizami was made al-Badr commander of Pakistan while Mojaheed acted as commander of its East Pakistan wing, said the complainant adding that Quader and Quamruzzaman and their other accomplices also formed the higher rung of al-Badr.

The three militias took to indiscriminate killing of freedom fighters and intellectuals on orders from Nizami, Mojaheed, Quader and Quamruzzaman, he said.

On directives from the four, the other accused killed countless people in Keraniganj and torched their houses. They also raped women in the area.

The plaintiff said on November 24 in 1971, when the nation was on the threshold of victory, his nephew Osman Gani and Golam Mostafa went to their houses to meet their parents and relatives.

The next day al-Shams and al-Badr militias, dressed in grey, surrounded their houses and hacked them to death with sharp weapons at about 8:30am, Mozaffar said adding that he went to the spot with his force on information only to find that the four Jamaat leaders had sent in Pakistani force there who, along with their local collaborators, torched hundreds of houses and killed countless people in the area.

The two victims are state-acknowledged freedom fighters for which their families now get government allowances.

The victims’ families never got justice even though they went door to door for justice, he said adding that the accused were behind bars till 1975 but walked out of prison after the annulment of Collaborators Act in December 31, 1975.

The complainant said as the subsequent governments ran their regimes with the assistance of al-Badr, al-Shams and Razakar, the families did not get justice from them.

Advocates Abu Mohammad Abdur Razzak and Ashraful Islam appeared for the complainant.

Meantime, Fazlur Rahman’s sedition case statement mentioned that Mojaheed, who was social welfare minister during the four-party coalition government of the BNP, denied his party’s anti-liberation role on October 25 this year and also claimed that anti-liberation forces never existed in the country.

On the next day, Hannan termed the liberation war a ‘civil war’ in a private satellite television talk show and made derogatory remarks about it.

Quader Mollah at a discussion on October 31 said freedom fighters joined the liberation war to have beautiful Indian women and for grabbing Hindu property.

Three criminal cases were filed against Quader with a Madaripur court for his derogative remarks.

by Dr. Abdul Momen*

March 23, 1971 : Journey to Sylhet

I just came to pick up my sister who was a medical doctor at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). While entering the building, I met Tajuddin Ahmed, Molla Jalaluddin, Obaidur Rahman and few other Awami League (AL) leaders. They came to see some wounded AL supporters at the DMCH. I knew Tajuddin and Molla Jalaluddin. I met them in Rawalpindi and Lahore in 1969 during Ayub’s Round Table Conference (RTC). I asked them about the progress of their dialogue with President General Yahya Khan. He did not show much enthusiasm, and instead asked me about my well being. I went to my sister’s (Apa) room. She was not there. I met a class friend of mine, Shohidul Huq, who was a Medical Representative at the time. Now he is a big businessman. He is a good soul, always very friendly, helpful and forthright. When Apa came to her room, Shohid advised her to send her kids to Sylhet to avoid any likely trouble if ‘dialogue’ fails. Shohid had always been very close to Obaidur Rahman and he assured that he would let us know the latest developments. Apa was worried as she had two small kids, Sayyyied, an infant and Lubna, a toddler. Now Lubna is a mother and a financial consultant. Their father, a young promising surgeon, Humayun Kabir (31) died in a car accident in Khulna in June 1970 when Sayyied was an infant. Now Sayyied is the General Manager of the ETV television channel. Expatriates like me are thankful to Sayyied and his boss, A. S. Mahmud, Chairman of the ETV as their private TV channel did a wonder… it facilitated us to watch Bangladeshi news, dramas, cinemas, and life of Bangladesh even from abroad, for example, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ETV news is objective and therefore very popular. Due to ETV, the cable sales has gone up significantly especially amongst its 900,000 Bangladeshi expatriates and many in Riyadh would ask you to join dinner parties after the 8 O’clock news of ETV [ Dhaka ’s 11 PM is Riyadh ’s 8 PM ].

We left for Sylhet on 23rd March 1971 . My immediate boss, a Pakistani did not allow me leave of absence. However, I just vanished and reported to work on December 19, 1971 from Gauhati ( India ).. This does not mean that I was always in India during this long 8 months and 26 days. In fact, I mostly lived within then East Pakistan during the war of liberation and went through the horrors and tension of the occupation army.

On 26th morning when there was no ‘Radio Dhaka’, we knew that the situation went wrong. However, reports of massacre in Dhaka reached to us on 27th morning…. More details came on 28th. On 28th March we first listened the voice of Major Ziaur Rahman from the clandestine radio who in the name of ‘Sheikh Mujib’ announced that the Bangladeshis are at war with Pakistani occupation forces [Ami Major Zia bolchi…Jatir Mohan Netha Sheikh Mujibur Rahman er na-mee ami sadhinotha gushona…].

On 2nd April, we heard sounds of fire exchange at night. The following day, we learned that when the Pakistan army asked the Bengali jawans to surrender their arms and ammunitions, they refused at the Telikhal BDR camp and therefore, there was an exchange of fire. The martial law government imposed curfew and therefore, it was difficult to gather information.

April 4, 1971 : A Historic Day for Sylhet
On this day, the independence movement started in Sylhet town from my house. On that morning I went to see my friend, Shabbir Ahmed, formerly VP of Sylhet M. C. College Chatra Sangshad and Chatra League. He was a very close friend of mine. East Pakistan Governor Monayem Khan barred Shabbir from studying in any of the colleges of the province as he threw his sandal at the podium of President Ayub Khan at a meeting at the Sylhet Circuit House. I requested many people including Dr. AKM. Rabbani, then DC of Sylhet, Minister Abdus Salam, Police Chief Kazi Anwarul Huq, then Chatra League leaders Fazlul Huq Moni and Abdur Razzaque, et al to release him from jail but in vain. We employed Advocate Chowdhury ATM Masud [later Justice and Chief Election Commissioner] to get his bail. Finally, Zamir Ali, a NSF leader of S. M. Hall managed to get him released. When Bangladesh was created, he became a JSD leader. Later he went to England to do CA and settled in Cambridge (UK). While we were talking, suddenly I was informed that firing started in my locality, Dhupadigirper. I rushed to my home but could not proceed further. There were none on the road, the rickshaw puller was afraid to move. I got down and walked fast. When I reached my house, the main gate was locked. I somehow managed to enter. On entrance, I saw 10/12 Bangladeshi BDR jawans in our compound. They have taken positions. They assured us and asked me to get a barricade erected near the Agricultural Office, 20 yards from my house. We did erect the barricade. My parents were afraid and my father reminded me that the military government had declared that if any barricade were erected in front of the house, they would demolish the house. We heard that a young Punjabi, a body builder, who works at the nearby United Engineers (Aslam Co.) had been shot dead earlier.

Soon a military van came and stopped near our gate. It was about 3 PM in the afternoon. This is the military’s announcement van. Our house is located between two roads, one leading to Tamabil known as Sylhet-Shilong Road and another to Jatarpur-Chalibander area and therefore, it was easy to see even the Banderbazar, 1or 2 kilometer from home–very strategically located. When the road was built, my grandfather, Khan Bahadur Abdur Rahim then a SDO donated the land for the road and my father’s maternal uncle, Abdul Hamid, a member of Assam Legislative Assembly was a big leader, a powerful Minister and a Speaker of the assembly.

As soon as Sikander, the announcer, started announcement of curfew, the valiant BDR fighters opened fire. But the van escaped. After it left, we knew that the Pakistani army would arrive soon. Therefore, we started putting up all sorts of barricades in our wooden doors and glass windows. We put up piles of bookshelves, tables, chairs, and mattresses. The bookshelves were very heavy…bookshelves of bounded law books/documents belonged to my father who was a lawyer. Very interestingly, God gave us enormous strength to move those heavy bookshelves at the time. I wonder how we did that. They saved us from bullets. We found so many bullets inside the pages of those books and voluminous documents later.

Within 20 minutes, two armored vehicles came. A few soldiers got down nearly 40 yards from our home and started walking forward by the roadside. Soon they started shooting and it continued for hours. Mortar shells demolished the walls of our home. The handle of the easy chair on which my father was seated suddenly hit and went away. But miraculously, he was unhurt. We lay down on the floor. The sun was setting and the house appears to have caught fire. By 8 PM the shooting stopped. The BDR and the Pak army left. We could see couples of roadside shanty stores burning. There was not a single human being around. All was very quiet. We were extremely tired and exhausted. I don’t know when I slept on the floor. At midnight , I wake up as rainwater was falling on me. Then we could realize that the rooftop of the house had been blown away at the mortar attacks. Before dawn a couple of people showed up and they were surprised as we were still alive under the debris. Soon we decided to escape. We went to our neighbor’s house, Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, a businessman. He is originally from Karimgonj , India . Two of his brothers were politicians; one was a member of the Indian Lok Sabha and another in the Assam Assembly. Mr. Chowdhury was a staunch supporter of Ayub Muslim League and his best friend, Ajmal Ali Chowdhury was Ayub’s Minister for Commerce and Industry. Mannan family also was surprised to see us alive. None could ever think that we could survive such an onslaught and barrage of bullets. I have also never seen Sikander, the announcer since that day.

By 8:30 AM , the whole area was crowded with thousands of people. There were two dead bodies. It was difficult to identify them as foxes have eaten them up. However, they had khaki uniforms. When we went back to collect money and ornaments from our house, we found people were looting our stuff. It was very sad. Before dawn when we left we did not take any money even. By 9 AM , we saw a Pakistani jet came and strafed the area. People vanished.. Many dived into the waters of Dhupadighi, a lovely pond [now most of it is filled up to erect shanty stores]. Soon we saw, two more jets come and dropped bombs. We thought our Kitchen, separated from the main house, the 1st Muslim League Office of Sylhet, was on fire [when my father joined All India Muslim League and started organizing it in Sylhet, he had to leave his parental home, named ‘Shaheb Bari’ in Raynager as his father was an SDO, a British Civil Servant. Initially, our kitchen was only built and it soon became the Muslim League Office as he was its Secretary]. As jets started coming and coming again, we all ran out and finally could not proceed further as shooting started all around us. We settled at a ‘lakrier dum’ or store for fuel-woods near Howapara, nearly 1.5 miles away from our house. There was no bathroom and no food. Infant Sayyied and Lubna were crying.

However, by afternoon we could reach Zindabazar at our maternal uncle’s house, Dr. Syed Shah Anwar Chowdhury. We had a good meal after 24 hours and we could listen to the Indian and the BBC radio as well. We observed that the world was still functioning and normal although last night, we thought ‘everybody died’!! Since our uncle was a strong supporter of AL , we decided to move out of his house and later, we settled at the house of Mohammed Ishaque, another uncle (Fufa) at Howapara, Sylhet. He was a retired government official, a Muslim Leaguer and he had a neat and lovely bungalow.

The whole of Sylhet by the time was liberated. When I was going back to my house to release our chicken, pigeons, cows, dogs, I met a few prisoners that were just released from the Sylhet jail. There was great relief as well as uncertainty. When I reached my home, I reflected on my father’s saying. He said before leaving home, ‘ Pakistan was created in this house and its destruction started from here. Ayub Kha, Yahya Kha, Tikka Kha, Choto Kha, Boro Kha — none fought for Pakistan . They have no love for the country. They destroyed our dream…’. In fact, our home was the first Muslim League Office of Sylhet. My father who was very active in the Indian independence movement especially Pakistan was fully devastated. He quit his college when Gandhi called for ‘non-cooperation movement’. However, his father who was Deputy Commissioner in Gauhati at the time forced him to finish his BA, MA and LLB. During Sylhet referendum through which Sylhet was included into Pakistan , my father was its Secretary and our home was virtually the Sylhet Referendum Committee Office. His maternal uncle, Maulvi Abdul Hamid was a Minister in the Assam and a senior Muslim League leader. The President of Sylhet Referendum Committee was Maulvi Abdul Matin Chowdhury (Khola Miah) and he used to stay in our house as his house was away from Sylhet town by 10/15 miles [on those days it was very difficult to travel]. Many political leaders of undivided India, for example, Maulana Akram Khan, Sadre Isphani, HS Suhrawardhy, AK Fazlul Huq, Abul Hashem, Maulana Bashani, Abdur Rab Nisthar, Maulana Sahul Osmany and young political workers like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Fazlul Qader Chowdhury, Molla Jalaluddin, Hamidul Huq Chowdhury, Mahmud Ali, Abdus Samad Azad, Dewan Farid Ghazi, ATM Masud (later judge & Chief Election Commissioner), Sarequm Abdullah, Dewan Abdul Baset, Syed AB Mahmud Hussain (later Chief Justice), Moqbul Hussain, Tassadduq Ahmed Chowdhury (UK) et al spent days in this house … meetings after meetings were held beginning 1940 in organizing Muslim polity, referendum and Pakistan. It is an irony that, the Pakistan occupation army destroyed this house, a virtual symbol of Pakistan and Referendum. Alternatively, the struggle for sovereign Bangladesh started first in the Sylhet town again from the same house that achieved independence of Sylhet from the British Raj, 24 years ago. Freedom fighter, Al-Amin Chowdhury, Bir Bikram, once thus stated, ‘this house is our national pride as Mukti Juddo was launched from here’. He was very much saddened to see that it was transformed to a poly clinic at the time.

Soon we moved out of town and went to Fulbari, 10 miles from the town. We took shelter at the houses of two brothers, Mugoi Miah and Luboi Miah Chowdhury, close friends of my father and also relations of ours. Many families like us, for example, the Regional Manager of Pakistan State Bank (Sylhet) and his family took shelter in the same house. Nearly hundred people took shelter. Our hosts were great and they did their best to keep us comfortable and well fed. In fact, we enjoyed our stay and their hospitality. We used to spend our time either by playing carom-board or other indoor games or listening to the radio, Bangladesh Betar, BBC and Akash Bani. During the war, M.R. Akthar Makul’s “Choram Patro” was our most favorite radio program and it used to uplift our hopes and spirit. We met Dewan Farid Ghazi, the elected member (MNA) and Chief of Sylhet AL party when he visited us. He came to see my father. The Akash Bani, the Indian radio in its national news reported that my father, Abu Ahmed Abdul Hafiz, a very senior Muslim League leader, President of Sylhet District Bar Association and formerly Secretary General of the Sylhet Referendum Committee was killed by the Pakistan army when they attacked his house. Actually, our house was destroyed but my father escaped unhurt; but Abdul Hafiz, a colleague and a namesake of my father, was killed by the Pakistan army. Dewan Farid Ghazi reported that Dr. Shamsuddin Ahmed, Principal Sylhet Medical College and Civil Surgeon of Sylhet were shot dead by Pakistan army. We were very saddened at the news. Dr. Ahmed was a very fine man. His wife, Hosne Ara Chowdhury, Principal of Sylhet Women College, was very close to us. His two sons and daughters are now living in the U. S. His son Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed of Philadelphia and Mr. Tareq Ahmed of Connecticut are actively involved with the Bangladeshi community welfare.

At Fulbari, my sister helped deliver a baby to the wife of Dr. M. Samad Chowdhury, a Professor of Sylhet Medical College. He also took shelter like us. That baby must be a grown up person now!

April 20, 1971 : The Day of Humiliation
Around 9 O’clock in the morning, the Pakistan army launched a campaign against the Mukti juddah that were organized in Fulbari. It is known as the famous ‘Baitikorer Juddo’. It lasted for hours. When the war was over, the Pakistani army arrested us and took us away. However, they released the old ones including a local doctor who was nearly 80. They kept us and started asking me questions, one after another. They brought us to a school near Ronikhail. They ordered me to get undressed and checked my penis to ascertain whether I am a Muslim [as if, if you do not have circumscion then you are not a Muslim] and made sarcastic remarks. One young person being afraid fled away and he was shot. As I wanted to help, they beat me mercilessly. We were kept on the roadside [Fulbari-Badeshor-Karimgonj road] in a kneel-down position for the whole night. It was cold and at times drizzling. But we had to endure the tortures, as we were Bengalees by birth! It reminded me Poet Nazrul’s poem titled “Fariyad”…’a noyeh thobo bidan… sontan thobo koriche az thumar osamman, Bhogovan, Bhogovan’ [it must not be Your rule that we would only suffer…Your sons are dishonoring You, my Lord].

The following morning, a young officer, Major Rob ordered us to march with them. They kept us in the front line and asked us to show them Mukti, Awami League and Hindu houses. Since I never lived there, I argued. It did not help. Instead, they got mad and cut my wrist with a bayonet. Those marks of tortures are my pride of liberation movement and they vividly remind me of my duty to my motherland.

We led five columns of army, three on the main road, two off the road. If there were any habited locality, they would fire the big gun to get response. If there was no response, we proceed. We did this for the whole day in wretched condition, no shoes, no sandals, no food, and no water. As I objected, they beat me again and in the process, I believe, I lost consciousness. When I was on my senses, I found myself in front of Lt Col. Sarfaraz Malik, the commanding officer. He asked me a variety of questions. He commented that ‘You are an Awami Leaguer, a Mukti’. He said, he had my photograph among the demonstrators in Sylhet. I challenged him and explained to him that I was living in Rawalpindi during 1969 and 1970 and I just came to Sylhet only on March 24th. He asked many questions on my stay in Rawalpindi and by miracle, he found that I was close to his cousin who was a teacher at the Rawalpindi Women College . I knew the names of his nieces and nephews. Finally, he released me and said, he would visit my parents.

He dropped me at Fulbari and said, he would come back tomorrow. When the villagers saw army vehicles, they all were afraid. They ran for their lives. However, I returned alive and my mother started weeping. On the following day, photos of Jinnah, Liaquath, Ayub and General Yahya were hung up and Pakistani flags were hoisted atop each villa out of fear. All green colored lungis were torn apart to make flags. I cannot forget the debate between Luboi Miah (Luban Ahmed Chowdhury) and his son, Saniath Jamshed Ahmed Chowdhury. Saniath, a fresh graduate from the Dhaka University would like to keep his personal photos of 1969, some with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib; many of which were the hallmarks of Bangladesh history and 1969 mass movement. His father being afraid of the army wanted to destroy them all — Saniath was willing to upkeep history at the cost of his own life while his father wanted to save life at the cost of history. Now Saniath lives in London and I wonder, did he ever look back and reflect?

Soon at the insistence of Col. Malik, we had to move to our Dhupadigirpar house that was destroyed by them. Col. Malik and Brig. Rana arranged special flight for us to fly to Dhaka . The Pakistani occupation army realized an opening for a good public relations campaign and to nullify the Indian news (Akash Bani) media claim. They pressed my father to make a ‘radio broadcast’ that he refused. They flew my brother, Sujan A. Muiz along with others to check and state that my father was alive. General Tikka Khan sent ‘Peace Committee Member’ Mahmud Ali and General Rao Forman Ali to see our house and the passers-by were forcibly recruited to rebuild the house overnight. The house was rebuilt and army officers used to come by to loot all precious collections, for example, gold coins of Emperor Akbar, the coins of Tuglak, coins of many countries that my mother collected over the years, rare books and old copies of Quran, gold and silver collections, a part of which were rescued and later was donated to the Dhaka Museum. For the next nine months, no one could live in that house for fear of the occupation army.

My father was sent to Dhaka Medical College hospital for treatment as a mortar splinter caused infection on his right leg. We could not take care of it when we were on the run. His next-door patient was Poet Jasimuddin, the Polli Kabi. He dictated many poems to my younger sister, Shipa Hafiza that possibly have never been published yet!

One of my elder brothers, Shelly A. Mubdi, was working as the Sales Manager for the ICI Pharmaceuticals and he left Dhaka through Canadian embassy on 27th March and joined the Bangladesh liberation movement in London . Another one, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, who was working at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington DC left Pakistan government service on protest and became a lobbyist in Washington DC for the Bangladesh liberation movement. He was the senior most CSP officer who switched allegiance to Mujibnager government. I came back to Dhaka and was working with Professor Ghiasuddin Ahmed of the Dhaka University , a close family friend. We used to collect medicines and relief materials for the Mukti Bahini. My sister, Dr. Shahla Khatun used to get medicine samples and a number of my brother’s friends (Mubdi of ICI) were very cooperative and they used to supply us boxes of medicines. For example, Mr. M. R. Osmany of the Wyeth Laboratories, a cousin of Gen. M.A.G. Osmany was a good contributor. My sister’s Morris Minor car with customary ‘doctor’s emblem and ‘Red Cross’ sign was very helpful to transport medicines for the freedom fighters without any body’s suspicion. One day, Ghias Bhai and I got caught at the Mirpur Road near Dhanmondi Road No. 2. They inquired about the boxes of medicines. However, the doctor’s emblem and Red Cross signs saved us from disaster. I felt awful when I learned of the cruel death of Ghias Bhai, a man of great dignity and a towering personality. Al Badar/ Al-Shams Bahini murdered him on December 14, 1971 , along with many other intellectuals two days prior to independence. May Allah bless him. Surely the martyrs did not give their lives for nothing– they are indeed a blessed lot.

In Assam , we had to maintain low profile as the Assamees and the Indian Muslims did not like us there. In Karimgonj, neither the brothers of our neighbor, Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, were happy with us although they were MPs from the Congress-I (Indira Congress) party. They rebuked us for breaking Pakistan . However, we got help from Bengali speaking Indians especially relatives of Hindu friends of Bangladesh . Finding difficulty in Karimgonj, I came back to Dhaka to collect medicines and money for the refugees and the Mukti-Bahini. In passing, I must mention one thing. During the occupation period, one of my elder sisters, Fauzia Khatun died in Dhaka as no one was able to shift her to the medical emergency owing to the ‘curfew’. We could neither bury her at our family graveyard in Sylhet. A couple of weeks earlier, she flew from Rawalpindi to my parents rented new home in Dhaka near Pak Motors on Mymensingh Road and their downstairs’ tenant was Dr. S. D. Chowdhury, former Vice Chancellor and next door neighbor was advocate Ahmedur Rahman, son-in-law of former Chief Minister, Nurul Amin. At times, I stayed with my sister at the Subhanbagh Colony and under occupation, all our neighbors [both in Pak Motors and Subhanbagh colony], Mr. M. A. Samad (Agri.. Dept), Professor A. Hasheem (Dhaka College), Dr. Idris Lasker, Dr. Badiul Alam (Medical Professors) and their families, to name a few, became a close-knit family. No wonder people in distress become close friends! It is interesting that during 1971, one of my younger sisters, Nazia Khatun got married to Dr. A. H. Shibly, a teacher at the Rajshahi University . Many of our own relatives did not attend her wedding out of fear as her brothers were working for the Bangladesh cause. In addition, one of my maternal uncles, Syed Shah Jamal Chowdhury, a resident of SM Hall and a Final Year student at the Dhaka University never returned home since 25th March 1971 .

An Unique War Experience: Even Soldiers Hardly Get It
On November 19, 1971 my parents went back to Sylhet for the first time since April 4th and all of us joined them to observe the Eid-ul-Fitre. I was supposed to return to Dhaka on November 27th. However, all the flights were cancelled and on December 4, 1971 , we had to move our family away as occupation army set up a camp behind our house. When I was about to leave, the Pakistan army did not allow me to leave. I insisted on my leaving and therefore, they said, they would kill me. They added, they were at war with India . Till April 20, I was never been afraid of Pakistan army. But after that day and after I returned from India , the sight of Pakistani army used to create fear, shivering, and real tension.

However, I remained at home alone. At the evening, the Pakistani army started shooting at random at the Indian paratroopers and Mukti Bahini, they said. I looked around but could not see anything. By 8 O’ Clock, it was clear to me….I listened to the speech of the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who declared war. I was delighted and had been waiting for that hour. As the sounds of shooting intensified, I took shelter at a small trench in our backyard. The shooting continued throughout the night. You could hear different kinds of sounds…ketor ketor, tash tash, woo-woo, gurum gurum, gumm. It reminded me of Lord Tennyson’s poem, ‘cannons to right of them, cannons to left of them, cannons in front of them, volleyed and thundered”. Like Srikanto’s ‘Somudro Jatra”, I thought, if I die, let me enjoy the war and its ferocity and therefore, I started looking up. I could see flashes of lights and flashes of fire projectiles all around me. They were never-ending. What a great wonder that men’s creations developed weapons of self-destruction!! What a great mystery that it is human beings that created more problems, tensions and disasters for themselves!!

It might be near impossible for many professional soldiers to be ‘in-between the opposing forces’ but I had a rare chance. I was in-between the Pakistan army and the joint forces of India and Bangladesh . At late night, I could hear the Pakistan army retreating. Their big armored cars, jeeps and trucks had gone leaving behind tons of ammunitions and varieties of guns. So many weapons! The following morning, when I heard a Bengali voice, I got up from my trench.. I met an Indian Captain. He was originally from Faridpur. They were trying to jump start a car. They took it and he told me not to move around the ammunitions. Within half an hour, he came back along with an Indian Colonel and asked me to accompany them to the Army HQ. I did. I met General DQ, the Indian Army General. He told me not to allow anyone to touch the ammunitions. Soon Indian trucks came and loaded the leftovers; varieties of guns, rifles, recoilless guns, and tons of ammunitions, might be worth of millions of dollars. Our entire backyard where we used to play football was full of ammunitions and arms. They dug so many trenches all across the football field and destroyed our pineapple gardens, hundreds of them.

I went out by bike to see my family that took shelter at Masimpur, 8 miles from our home. On the way, I saw dead bodies near the Hasan Market, the State Bank premises and the Kane’s bridge. One dead body was hanging on the grill… he must have tried his best to flee away but failed. I did neither have time nor the courage to bury the dead ones. Still today those scenes haunt me in my pensive or in-pensive mood.

Conclusion: Should We Forget Muktijudder Chetona?
Bangladeshi governments and political leaders may have the luxury to ignore those dead ones and squabble over leadership, but how can I forget them? How can I forget Bilkis whose father was an additional SP of Comilla and was shot dead? How can I forget my relatives, my neighbors and my friends that were killed for no fault of their own? Our Hindu neighbor’s college going daughter was raped. How can I forget her pure face and affectionate behavior? On the Victory Day each year, while we rejoice, I feel pain as we could not honor the dead, nor the victims, nor the freedom fighters yet with due solemnity. I feel bad when I find the national leaders questioning the ‘Muktijudder Chetona”. What a travesty of justice, what a shameful act!! How can we make friendship with those that still refuse to accept their guilt and deny the existence of injustice and atrocities of 1971? How can we not ask them to solicit mercy and forgiveness for their crime against mankind? A crime is a crime. It cannot be ignored with the lapse of time. Lord Cromwell was tried from his dead and the Nazis of World War II are still being sought after. The Nazis and the KKK are barred from getting elected in democratic societies. We must not condone a criminal or his crime, nor should we give shelter to criminals. We can only forgive them provided they ask for forgiveness and mercy—there is no alternatives known to me. Those who believe in Islam know that even the Almighty Allah will not forgive those who have committed crimes against His creatures unless they forgive them first. Therefore, unless they solicit mercy and forgiveness and confess their guilt publicly, they must not be forgiven. If a group or a person forgive them for group or personal interest, then they share the same loathe and disdain of our dead. They cannot be our heroes nor can they be the torchbearers for our future generations.

Muktijudder Chetona is very simple and pure. It stands for justice and fair play in human relations. It abhors racism, intolerance, dehumanization discrimination and communalism that the occupation force represented. It seeks equity in society and equal opportunities for all. It upholds democratic values; after all the 1971 war was fought to ensure democracy and economic emancipation. Can we therefore forget Muktijudder Chetona?

We know that ‘past is past, future is uncertain, and present is a gift of God’. Since the ‘present’ is a gift of God, therefore, should we not use this gift to the best of our ability to enhance Muktijudder Chetona, more fellow feeling, more tolerance, better economic opportunities and justice for all?

* Dr. Abdul Momen, professor of Economics and Management in Boston currently working in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia , 1999.

The Pakistani occupation army had surrendered to the Bangladesh-India Joint Command in Dhaka on this day (December 16) in 1971, ending the nine-month long bloody Liberation War and giving birth to independent Bangladesh.

In the afternoon on December 16 in 1971, Chief of Pakistan Eastern Command Lt General AAK Niazi surrendered to the Commander of Joint Command Lt General Jagjit Singh Arora at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka city.

About 30 lakh people sacrificed their lives during the nine-month long war for the national freedom.

The nation will celebrate the anniversary of its glorious victory over Pakistani occupation forces in a befitting manner today. The Victory Day will be celebrated across the country and at Bangladesh missions abroad, while expatriate Bangladeshis would observe the day in their respective places of residence.

With the day dawning, the grateful nation will pay homage to the 30-lakh martyrs who sacrificed their lives to have a homeland in 1971.

Tributes will be paid to the Liberation War heroes by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar in the morning.

President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed will lead the nation by laying floral wreath at the memorial.

The day will be heralded by 31-gun salute at dawn. The day is a public holiday. National flag will be hoisted atop all government, semi-government and other important establishments.

The Government, major political parties, including the Awami League (AL) and BNP, and different socio-cultural organisations have chalked out programmes to mark the occasion.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed issued separate messages on this occasion, felicitating the nation and calling for united effort to attain the prime goal of the liberation war through building a happy, rich and self-reliant country.

In his message Dr Iajuddin Ahmed said, “The main goal of our liberation war was to build up a happy, prosperous and self-reliant country. Targeting the goal we have achieved a democratic system. Now it is time to make this democratic system more effective and stronger.”

He called for all to perform their responsibility unitedly to ensure transparency and accountability in building a healthy and good society. “This should be the promise of Victory Day,” he said.

Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said, “As a nation we are passing through a transitional period. We are at a tough war against poverty-hunger, repression-deprivation, corruption and misrule.”

He added: “We are facing tough challenges of holding a free, fair and credible election, establishing democracy on a strong footing, improving people’s lifestyle and their fate.”

The head of Caretaker Government, which was installed in office amid a grave political crisis, observed that the double-pronged floods this past fall and the devastation by the catastrophic cyclone Sidr made these challenges yet “tougher".

“I believe that a nation which has the glory of victory in the great liberation war would never concede defeat. We have to face all of these challenges with determination, being imbued with the spirit of independence,” he said.

He called upon all to work unitedly to build up a happy and prosperous nation.

The department of Mass Communication under the Ministry of Information has chalked out an elaborate programme in celebration of the Victory Day throughout the country tomorrow.

Under the programmes folk singers of the department will perform patriotic songs at different spots on the bank of river Buriganga on the department’s launches and at different points of the capital on mobile trucks.

Sixty-four district information offices and four hil upazila offices of the department will arrange the screening of documentary films on the theme of the day across the country.

Besides, the department will provide public-address system at the grand parade and rally to be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium and other government programmes to be organised to mark the day.

Members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces will join the nation in observing the great Victory Day in a befitting manner.

Special munajat will be offered at all mosques of Army, Navy and Air Force all over the country seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of the country and development of the armed forces.

The national flag will be hoisted stop services’ headquarters and Armed Forces installations.

Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force bands will perform at Crescent Lake (Sangsad Bhaban Area), Farmgate Park Area and Mirpur Stadium respectively from 2pm to 4pm. They will play different patriotic and popular tunes.

Special prayers will be offered at mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship, seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country. Improved diets will be served at hospitals, jails, orphanages and vagrant centres.

The state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and private television and radio channels will air special programmes while the national dailies will bring out special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.

Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy and Bangladesh Shishu Academy will organise separate cultural functions, film shows and painting competitions.

Bangladesh missions abroad will organise discussions and cultural functions on the occasion.

Security has been beefed up here at the National Mausoleum at Savar on this occasion.

About 3,000 security forces were deployed in and around the National Mausoleum yesterday.

Besides, Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad yesterday said the law enforcing agencies, including police and RAB would keep a strict vigil on violation of law and order during different programmes marking the Victory Day.

“Police, RAB and other law enforcers will keep close watch during the Victory Day programmes across the country,” he told journalists after attending a meeting at Razarbagh in the capital.

Amid a growing demand for punishment for war criminals the nation observed Martyred Intellectuals Day yesterday paying rich tribute to the illustrious citizens who had been brutally killed on the eve of victory in the Liberation War of 1971.

Thousands of people gathered at the Memorial for Martyred Intellectuals at Mirpur in the capital to pay their tributes to the intellectuals and professionals killed during the war of independence. Many wore black ribbons, while many people and a number of organisations also carried banners with slogans inscribed on them demanding immediate trial of the war criminals.

With defeat looming large, the Pakistani occupation forces aided by their local collaborators – Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams – abducted frontline intellectuals and professionals of the freedom fighting nation on December 14, 1971 and killed them, often after brutal torture, in an effort to cripple the emerging nation intellectually.

The killers dragged renowned academics, teachers, writers, doctors, engineers, journalists and other eminent personalities out of their homes blind-folded, taking them to the killing fields of Rayerbazar, Mirpur and other places in the capital, where they were brutally killed before being left there dumped to rot.

Many families of the martyred intellectuals still live in distress, like thousands of the freedom fighters’ families who are struggling for a meagre living in the country.

Many individuals and almost all political parties including Awami League (AL), the Communist Party of Bangladesh, the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) demanded trials of and punishment for war criminals.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, and Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Fakhruddin Ahmed, laid wreaths at the Memorial for Martyred Intellectuals in Mirpur yesterday morning. As a mark of respect to the martyred they stood in solemn silence for sometime there while bugles played the last post.

The speaker of the parliament, the deputy speaker, advisers to the caretaker government, secretaries to the ministries, freedom fighters, and high civil and military officials accompanied the president and the chief adviser.

Thousands of people including leaders of different political parties and members of social and cultural groups, as well as the family members of the martyred intellectuals also visited the memorials in Mirpur and Rayerbazar, and placed wreaths there with due respect.

They also hoisted black flags and kept the national flag at half-mast to commemorate the martyred.

Major political parties including BNP, AL, Jatiya Party, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, the Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BD, JSD, and organisations like Bangla Academy, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote and other socio-cultural entities organised various programmes marking the day.

AL demanded immediate setting up of a special tribunal for trial of the war criminals. The demand came from a discussion at its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital yesterday.

“If the present government does not try the war criminals, then we will try the war criminals after reinstating the Collaborators Act if voted to power,” said Acting AL President Zillur Rahman. The present government has been apathetic towards the demand for trials of the war criminals, he said asking if there is ‘any barrier in trying the war criminals’.

Sector Commanders Forum organised a human chain at Rayerbazar demanding immediate trial of the war criminals, where a rather large number of people joined.

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz and Pro-VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haider along with other teachers and students of the university placed wreaths at the memorial in Mirpur.

Muhammad Selim, deputy leader of CPM’s parliamentary party in Indian Congress also a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who has been in Bangladesh for the last few days, also placed wreaths at both memorials in Mirpur and Rayerbazar paying tributes to the martyred intellectuals.

Talking to reporters after placing a floral wreath at the Memorial for Martyred Intellectuals in Mirpur, AL Presidium Member Abdur Razzak said successive governments run or backed by the military facilitated the rehabilitation of war criminals in Bangladesh. He also demanded immediate trial of the war criminals.

BDB president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury said the state must take the initiative for trying the war criminals. No government until now took any initiative to try the war criminals, he said adding, previous governments rather made the war criminals ministers and gave them a chance to adorn their cars with the national flag.

Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, the Dhaka Union of Journalists, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad, Shaheed Shahidullah Kaiser Srity Sangshad, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Left Democratic Front, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Mukti Andollon, Bangladesh Jubo Moitri, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Sainik League, Samajtantrik Mohila Forum, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Bangladesh Mohila AL, Sromojibi Mukti Andolon, and NAP-Communist Party-Chhatra Union Guerrilla Bahini O Muktijoddha Punarmiloni Prostuti Committee also placed wreaths at both memorials.

Newspapers brought out special supplements highlighting the significance of the day while Bangladesh Radio, Bangladesh Television and different private television channels broadcasted special programmes.

The Daily Star
Bangladesh, Saturday, December 15, 2007

Staff Reporter

The nation will pay glowing tributes to the memories of those illustrious sons and daughters of the soil who made the supreme sacrifice at the fag end of the Liberation War in 1971.

Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani occupation army and their local collaborators-Al-Badr, Razakar and Al-Shams-abducted frontline Bangali intellectuals and professionals on December 14 in 1971 and killed them under a design to cripple the newborn nation intellectually.

The killers dragged renowned academics, teachers, litterateurs, doctors, engineers, journalists and other eminent personalities blindfolded out of their houses and killed them before dumping the bodies in Rayerbazar, Mirpur and other killing fields.

The martyred intellectuals include Prof Munir Chowdhury, Dr Alim Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GC Dev, JC Guha Thakurta, Prof Santosh Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu Taleb, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai), ANM Golam Mustafa, Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin.

Political parties, cultural and civil-society organisations will commemorate the tragedy that took place only two days before the surrender of the Pakistani Army on December 16 (1971) after the bloody war that took a heavy toll of lives of some three million Bangalis.

To mark the day, different political parties and socio-cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes, including seminars, discussions and wreath laying at Mirpur and Rayerbazar monuments in Dhaka.

The President and the Chief Advisor will place wreaths at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Mausoleum at 6:00am today. Leaders of other organisations will place wreath at the Mausoleum

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed issued separate messages yesterday on the eve of the Martyred Intellectuals Day.

In his message, President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed expressed his deep respect to the memory of the martyred intellectuals and prayed for their eternal peace.

Prof Iajuddin termed the intellectuals as the conscience of the nation and precious resource of the country and said, “The occupation forces had caused an irretrievable loss to the nation by slaying country’s illustrious educationists, physicians, journalists during the Liberation War.”

The President expressed his optimism that the great sacrifice of the intellectuals would inspire the people to build a patriotic and meritorious nation.

Major political parties, including the BNP, AL, Bikapla Dhara, CPB, Workers Party, JSD, different factions of Jatiya Party, and Gano Forum, Dhaka University, Jatiya Press Club and BFUJ, Bangla Academy, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote and other socio-cultural organisations have chalked out various programmes to observe the day.

Jamaat-e-Islami, which is blamed for the slaying of the intellectuals, has also organised a discussion meeting.

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz along with the teachers and students will place wreaths at the Mausoleum at Mirpur.

Newspapers will bring out special supplements highlighting the significance of the day while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and different private television channels air special programmes on this occasion.

The New Nation

The killers of intellectuals during the Liberation War can be prosecuted on the basis of evidence preserved by the government. It only needs to take a move to resume the long halted process of trial of the intellectuals’ murder cases.

Sufficient number of documents and records on the cases have been preserved since 1972 at the home ministry, Criminal Investigation Department, Ramna police station, district and sessions judges’ courts, chief metropolitan magistrates’ courts and deputy commissioners’ offices.

Over the years, eminent jurists said all this evidence has now become ancient documents according to the evidence act, and is more effective than any other evidence in trying a case. And the government won’t have to gather fresh evidence for trying the killers of intellectuals.

The Evidence Act, 1872, says documentary materials, which are more than 30 years old, are to be treated as ancient documents.

To resume the trial process, the jurists said, the government could enact a new law, or revive the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972, which was revoked on December 31, 1975, burying the process of trial of the killers.

“The government can revive the cases any time, if it wants. In the absence of parliament, the president can promulgate an ordinance to this effect,” Vice-Chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council Khandker Mahbub Hossain told The Daily Star yesterday.

He was chief prosecutor of the cases under the collaborators order.

Echoing his views, Ghulam Rabbani, former judge of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, said people who collaborated with the occupation Pakistan army should be punished. He pointed out that according to globally acclaimed jurist Lord Denning the main justification for punishment of a criminal is not that it is deterrent, but it is the emphatic denunciation of a crime by a community.

“Therefore, the collaborators order should be put into force again, and it will not affect the fundamental rights as stated in Article 35 of the Constitution?Secondly, Article 35 will not stand in the way of such revival of the order,” Rabbani said.

After the independence, the then government of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman promulgated the collaborators order and set up 73 special tribunals, including 11 in Dhaka to try Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams forces, defined as collaborators in the order.

The families of many martyred intellectuals filed a large number of cases under the order, and the government initiated a move to try the criminals.

Trials started in June 1972 at a special tribunal with the first case being that for killing Abul Kalam Azad, a professor at the Institute of Advanced Science and Technology Teaching. The charge sheet in the case was submitted on June 13.

Information gathered from the families of martyred intellectuals, lawyers of the cases and newspaper reports of those days say six cases were disposed of and five persons convicted.

But the August 1975 changeover stopped the trial process since the collaborators order was revoked on December 31 that year and almost all the convicted collaborators were released in the early days of the regime of General Ziaur Rahman.

“I presume that necessary documentary materials for convicting the collaborators including the killers of intellectuals are lying with the home ministry. Since the materials are more than 30 years old, according to the evidence act those are to be treated as ancient documents. No other evidence is required as those at the disposal of the ministry would be sufficient as exhibits in the case records, and conviction and sentence on the basis of that are very much possible,” Rabbani said referring to Section 90 of the Evidence Act, 1872.

Section 90 of the act says where any document, purporting or proved to be 30 years old, is produced from any custody which the court in the particular case considers proper, the court may presume that the signature and every other part of such document, which purports to be in the hand writing of any particular person, is in that person’s hand writing, and in the case of document executed or attested, that it was duly executed and attested by the persons by whom it purports to be executed and attested.

“Furthermore, there are sufficient admissions, as admissible under the evidence act, in the statements, news or photographs published at that time in the newspapers,” he said.

Besides, the home ministry regularly kept contact with the occupation army since the Pakistan government sent messages to it ,and the ministry also forwarded information about the activities of collaborators to the Pakistan government during the Liberation War. And it has evidence of those.

The government of Bangabandhu had formed a committee comprising the late Supreme Court lawyer Sirajul Haque and the late attorney general Aminul Huq to enquire into the genocide. The committee compiled evidence and submitted a report on about 1,500 cases to the home ministry in July 1972.

The report listed the war criminals in two categories – 195 members of Pakistani army and bureaucracy, who had been taken into custody in New Delhi and were subsequently handed over to Pakistan in 1974 following the Simla Agreement, and about 12,000 of their local collaborators, including members of Razakar, Al-Badr, Al-Shams and the peace committees.

HOW MANY INTELECTUALS WE LOST
When it became clear that the Pakistani forces headed for a defeat, they and their collaborators targeted the intelligentsia, dragging academics, journalists and professionals out of their homes, mostly on December 14, 1971, and killing them one after another.

In a statement on December 20, 1971, a spokesman of the Mujibnagar government said the Pakistani army and their henchmen had killed 360 intellectuals before they surrendered on December 16.

?Bangladesh?, a documentary publication of the government in 1972, said the Pakistani occupation forces and their collaborators had killed 637 primary and 270 secondary schoolteachers, and 59 college teachers during the war of independence.

Bangla Academy in its encyclopaedia of martyred intellectuals named ‘Shaheed Buddhijibi Koshgrantha’, put the number at 232. The encyclopaedia, reprinted in 1994, however said the list was neither complete nor comprehensive.

The encyclopaedia defined martyrs as people who had been either killed by the Pakistani army or their collaborators or had gone missing between March 25, 1971 and January 31, 1972. It also defined intellectuals as writers, scientists, artists, singers, teachers at any level, researchers, journalists, lawyers, physicians, engineers, architects, sculptors, government and non-government staff, persons involved with film and theatre, and social and cultural workers.

Immediately after the discovery of a mass grave of martyred intellectuals at Rayer Bazar in the capital, Buddhijibi Nidhan Tathyanusandhan Committee was formed on December 18, 1971, under the initiative of a group of leading civil society members for enquiry into the killings.

The late filmmaker and litterateur Zahir Raihan was made convener of the 17-member committee. The committee started recording depositions on December 20, 1971 and worked on the lists and other documents recovered during raids on the killers’ camps at Dhanmondi, Motijheel and elsewhere in Dhaka.

The lists, some short and others long, contained the names of 20,000 of the best brains of the nation, according to the members of the committee.

The Daily Star
Bangladesh, Friday, December 14, 2007

Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said people heave a sigh of relief following the courageous role of the armed forces in building a corruption- and terrorism-free Bangladesh.

He made the remark while addressing combined President Parade of army, navy and air force cadets at Bangladesh Military Academy Parade Ground at Bhatiari.

The CA hoped that the newly commissioned officers of the army, navy and air force would play their role in protecting the sovereignty and security of the state as well as provide services to the nation.

He urged them to uphold the image of Bangladesh as a liberal, democratic, promising and peaceful country in the present world.

Cadets of 57th BMA Long Course and 28th BMA Special Course from the army, cadets of midshipmen 2006A batch from the navy and cadets of 56th flight cadet course from the air force took part in the parade.

A total of 229 cadets, including 21 female, have been commissioned in the armed forces. Of them, 178 cadets, including 10 females from the army, 21 midshipmen, including four females, from the navy and 30 flight cadets, including seven females, from the air force joined the forces as commissioned officers.

The CA distributed awards to three all-round cadets from the three services.

Battalion senior under officer M Touhidur Rahman was awarded the coveted Sword-of-Honour as the best all-round cadet in the 57th BMA Long Course.

Midshipman Yasir Hasnat got the Sword-of-Honour award for his best performance in all subjects of the Naval Academy.

Flight cadet under officer Mohammad Tanbir Adib was given the Sword-of-Honour award for his best performance in all subjects of the Air Force Academy.

Earlier, a guard of honour was given to the CA by a contingent of cadets of the three services at the parade ground. He reviewed the parade in an open jeep.

The head of the caretaker government asked the newly commissioned officers to move ahead with determination keeping in mind that all members of the armed forces are sons of this soil and inseparable part of this country.

Recalling the two terrible floods and devastating cyclone Sidr in recent times, the CA said the armed forces played a leading role in rescue, relief and rehabilitation programmes and earned people’s love and confidence.

Moreover, he said, the role of the armed forces in maintaining democracy, protecting people’s rights and assisting the civil administration is praiseworthy.

He observed that the people are heaving a sigh of relief in the wake of the armed force’s courageous role in building a corruption and terrorism-free country. Besides, peace is prevailing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to their farsighted role.

Bangladesh has made its own prestigious position by winning Nobel Prize in world peace and different international and regional forums, he noted.

He said the members of the armed forces are acclaimed all over the world for their role in the international arena, in protecting peace and security, salvaging democracy and post-war reconstruction and other welfare activities.

The CA noted that the first-ever combined President Parade is an important milestone in the march forward of the history of the armed forces.

He said the importance of the armed forces of an independent and sovereign nation is immense. After the independence, the military academy was set up to build an ideal, efficient and professional armed force.

The CA observed that Bangladesh’s military academy remained as a unique symbol of making international amity and national prestige.

?Bangladesh Armed Forces are the sentinel of our independence and sovereignty and symbol of national unity,” he said, adding that the forces were born in a war of independence.

Earlier, Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, Naval Chief Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Air Force Chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman received the chief adviser on his arrival at the BMA Parade Ground.

Communications Adviser, top civil and military officials, diplomats and, parents and guardians of the newly commissioned officers, among others, were present at the function.

The Daily Star
Bangladesh, Friday, December 14, 2007

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The International CrimeAct of 1973 of Bangladesh is still active and Article 47, Section 3 of the Act allows trial of war criminals. Therefore, the military-backed government of Fakhruddin Ahmed that has started many essential reforms can try the war criminals and punish them provided it has the mindset and commitment.

It is highly misleading that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman government pardoned all the war criminals and he did nothing during his ‘war ravaged reconstruction period’. The facts show otherwise.

In fact, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman government started prosecuting the perpetrators of ‘crime against humanity’ or ‘war criminals’ immediately after independence and he also passed the Collaborators Act (1972) and the International Crime Act of 1973 that barred re-entry of any collaborators to Bangladesh.

Sheikh Mujib promulgated the Special Tribunal Order on January 24, 1972 (PO No 8 of 1972) after 14 days of his return from Pakistani jail to try those Pakistani collaborators, Razakars, Al-Badrs and other stooges of the Pakistani army. Under this order he arrested 37,000 collaborators amidst of strong opposition by left-leaning journalists like Enayetullah Khan [see his write-up titled ‘75 million Collaborators’, the Holiday, 1972]. Out of them, 26,000 had no grievious criminal charges filed against them; therefore they were pardoned and released in a general amnesty.

However, nearly 800 cases were completed and given jail sentences. Another 11,000 were in jail including Nizami and Abbas Ali Khan of the Jamat-e-Islam Party (JI), and their prosecution was at various stages of completion. In addition, those that were involved in ‘crime against humanity’ and against Bangladesh, were denied Bangladesh nationality and passports.

On November 4, 1972 all religion-based politics were abolished as per sections 12 and 38 of the Bangladesh Constitution of 1972.

Unfortunately, when General Ziaur Rahman, a freedom fighter emerged as a ’strong man’ in 1975, he abrogated the Collaborators Act and released all the prisoners including those that were sentenced, and those under prosecution. For political and personal reasons he allowed religion-based parties to operate and started reinstating and rehabilitating them. No wonder, those who were guilty of ‘crime against humanity’ and collaboration with enemy (Pakistan) state started returning from abroad especially
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and they were given Bangladesh citizenship and passport. The worst example if this was Golam Azam of the JI Party.

On those days I was working for the Bangladesh government and many individuals and their relatives that had no Bangladesh passport approached us for consideration. However, once General Zia took over, all of them were issued Bangladesh passport or ‘travel documents’ to return to Bangladesh.

It is sad that few vested quarters including Abdul Mannan Bhuiya, the ousted BNP Secretary General are misleading the public and the nation by stating that Sheikh Mujib pardoned them or shifting the responsibility by asking why they were not prosecuted before.

The fact is, Sheikh Mujib started the prosecution and he pardoned only those that did not have criminal cases against them. He did not pardon those (Razakers, Al-badr or Al-Shams) that had ‘criminal cases’ and those that committed ‘crime against humanity or war criminals’ such as rape, murder, and the like. Thousands of these criminals were in prison during his time awaiting trail, and many were absconding abroad including Golam Azam, the leader of the JI party where they were involved in anti-state activities
abroad. He did not get time to complete the prosecution because he was murdered with most of his family.

After the massacre of Sheikh Mujib and his family plus his close associates; Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed, Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam, Secretary General AHM Qamruzzaman and Home Minister Monsur Ali, the founders of independent and sovereign Bangladesh in 1975, one after another civil-military-technocratic or cantonment-based governments ruled the country. In 1996, when pro-people and pro-liberation government of Sheikh Hasina came to power after 21 years with marginal votes; it neither could reinstate the Collaborators Act nor could revive the original constitution of 1972. Secondly, it followed ‘judicial process and rule of law’ and therefore, it did not set up any ‘kangaroo court or special tribunal’ to prosecute the criminals. One can debate that as a weakness of the Hasina government or not.

Therefore, it failed to punish the war criminals and the culprits. But that does not justify that the criminals of ‘crime against humanity’ or war criminals should not face justice. It would be unfair if they are allowed to go free or untouched. Fortunately, now is an opportune moment to revive the clause that ‘no religion-based political party can register or contest in Bangladesh election’ and those found guilty of ‘crime against humanity’ to be fully prosecuted. Unless the criminals and murderers are fully prosecuted, you can neither establish ‘rule of law’ nor can stop political killing in Bangladesh.

Secondly, Islami activist S. A. Hannan, a retired bureaucrat following the JI party line of argument tried to mislead the public by stating that there was ‘no genocide’ in East Pakistan in 1971.

Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of an ethnic, religious or national group. While precise definition varies among genocide scholars, the legal definition of it is found in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG). Article 2 of the CPPCG defines genocide as:

Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and]
forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

In 1971 the Pakistan occupation army plus their collaborators like the Jamat-e-Islam, the Islami Chatra Sangho (currently renamed Islami Chatra Shibir) and their militant killing squads–the Al-Badr and the Al-Shams tried their utmost to apprehend and kill those that demand an ‘independent Bangladesh’. Since majority of Bengali speaking East Pakistanis (Sheikh Mujib got 167 out of 169 seats in East Pakistan) or ethnic group favored an independent Bangladesh, they waged a war with intent to destroy that ethnic
group. The Pak army systematically opened fire on unarmed masses of Bengali ethnic group on the midnight of March 25th, 1971 indiscriminately resulting which, as per various reports 19,000 to 25,000 Bengali ethnic people died on that dark night alone and over a period of 10 months, 3 million reportedly killed, 30 million were dislodged from their homes and 10 million had to take refuge in neighboring India due to cleansing operation, fear and repression. In global rankings, the 1971 Bangladesh genocide is second only
to that of Nazi genocide of Jews.

In order to cripple the whole ‘Bangali nationalism and nationhood’ the Pak army in collaboration with the Jamat-e-Islam and few other such parties and their affiliates systematically and calculatedly murder the Bengali intellectuals, writers, doctors, journalists, educators and their political leadership. In addition, in order to cleanse the society of Hindu population, the Pak army and its collaborators calculatedly killed and/or uprooted them. No wonder, over 10 million East Pakistanis (out of 75 million) mostly Hindu minority took shelter in the neighboring India. When army captured me on April 20, 1971, they tested me whether I could recite ‘kolema’ (the 1st pillar of Muslim faith) and then they checked whether I had my circumcision, a symbol of being Muslim in the subcontinent.

Anyone not able to recite the Kolema, or males without circumcisn were killed because they could not show proof of their religious identity. Such is a testimony of cleansing of a religious group, a clear evidence of genocide.

But Zia’s gutting of the relevant laws missed one. The International Crime Act of 1973 of Bangladesh is still active and Article 47, Section 3 of the Act allows trial of war criminals. Therefore, the military-backed government of Fakhruddin Ahmed that has started many essential reforms can try the war criminals and punish them provided it has the mindset and commitment.

E-mela.com
Dr. Abdul Momen
Bangladesh, Friday, December 14, 2007

[The author, Dr. Abdul Momen, is a former senior civil servant for various governments of Bangladesh and currently a professor of Economics in Boston. He can be reached abdul_momen@hotmail.com]

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed along with other VIPs pay respect to Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman at the National Parade Square yesterday before the burial of the war hero’s remains at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur. Photo: STAR Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman was finally laid to eternal rest in his homeland yesterday with the highest state honours, 36 years after he embraced martyrdom during a battle with Pakistan occupation forces.

Before the burial, the nation paid homage to the Liberation War hero as the coffin with his remains reached the National Parade Square in the capital in the morning.

His coffin was brought back to his beloved motherland from Tripura in India on Monday.

Later, Hamidur was reburied beside Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman at the reserved graveyard for eminent freedom fighters at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual’s Graveyard.

The 17-year-old freedom fighter attacked and destroyed two Pakistani military posts in a frontier area of Sylhet before falling in a hail of bullets on October 28, 1971.

His fellow freedom fighters buried him at Hatimarachara village of Tripura.

On behalf of the nation, President Iajuddin Ahmed, also the supreme commander of the armed forces, formally received Hamidur’s coffin and placed floral wreath over it after the motorcade carrying it from Comilla reached the National Parade Square amid 21 gun salutes at around 10:40am.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed placed floral wreaths on the coffin draped in the national flag as part of the state ceremony.

A munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for the departed soul. A brief life sketch of the war hero was read out before the prayers, recalling his life and valiant fight during the Liberation War in 1971.

Earlier, six army personnel carried the coffin on their shoulders from the vehicle and put it on a podium set at the National Parade Square. Military bugle played the last post as the president, the chief adviser and other dignitaries and people of various professions stood in solemn silence.

The speaker, advisers to the caretaker government, chiefs of the three services, family members of Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman and other Birshreshthas, political leaders, freedom fighters, senior civil and military officials, diplomats, distinguished personalities

and members of the armed forces were among others present to pay homage to the valiant freedom fighter.

On behalf of the family members of seven Birshreshthas, mother of Birshreshtha Abdur Rouf placed wreath on Hamidur’s coffin.

The speaker, the deputy speaker and political leaders, among others, also placed wreaths.

Hamidur’s three brothers and two sisters burst into tears during the ceremony.

“We are glad as my brother’s body has been brought back home. It would have been better if the body was brought back when our mother was alive,” Hamidur’s youngest sister Rizia Khatun told The Daily Star. Hamidur’s mother passed away in 2005.

Rizia said that though her brother made the supreme sacrifice for the country’s independence, no significant development has been made in his village home where the villagers face sufferings due to lack of roads and other facilities.

She requested the government to announce the college named after Hamidur a government college and take steps so that Hamidur’s relatives can obtain government jobs and financial help.

After the ceremony at the National Parade Square, Hamidur’s coffin started the last ride for the graveyard in a motorcade.

His remains were reburied with the highest state honours and proper military honours with another gun salute when the coffin was being lowered to the grave.

On Sunday, the remains of the war hero, exhumed from his first grave in Tripura, were handed over to a Bangladesh delegation. After an overnight halt in Comilla Cantonment, Hamidur’s coffin finally reached Dhaka yesterday morning.

A motorcade carrying the coffin started its journey from Comilla Cantonment at 6:05am.

Thousands of people lined the streets as the motorcade carrying the Birshreshtha’s coffin, draped in the national flag, passed by.

The liberation war affairs secretary and armed forces division officials received the coffin in Dhaka.

As the 33 Infantry Division soldiers carried the coffin into the city, thousands of people crowded the highway to pay their respects to the war hero.

Hamidur is the youngest of the seven war heroes posthumously conferred Bangladesh’s highest gallantry award for their role in the country’s Liberation War. He was born at Khorda Khalishpur in Moheshpur upazila of Jessore on February 2, 1953.

Communist Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Chhatra Union placed wreaths to the grave of Hamidur, says a press release.

The Daily Star
Bangladesh, Wednesday, December 12, 2007

The South Korean ambassador in Dhaka, Suk-Bum Park, on Sunday observed that recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in his country depends on how authorities of Dhaka do the preparatory work.

‘As we do not have any pre-determined quota for recruiting Bangladeshi nationals under the Employment Permit System, the number of workers we will take depends on how the BOESL deals with this,’ he said after the signing ceremony at the lone public recruiting agency’s office.

In March South Korea officially announced that it would recruit 10,000 overseas workers from four countries — Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Kyrgyzstan — in the 2007-2008 period under the Employment Permit System.

A deal styled ‘Service Commitment Agreement’ was signed between the two countries for recruitment of Bangladeshi workers under Korea’s EPS for foreigners.

Mahbubur Rahman, managing director of the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd, and Kim Yong Dal, president of the Human Resources Development under the Korean labour ministry, signed the agreement on behalf of their governments.

When he was asked when the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers would begin, the top Korean envoy said that it was too early to answer that question, but he hinted that the first batch of Bangladeshi workers would join their jobs in Korea by February.

Abdul Matin Chowdhury, expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment secretary who was also present at the signing ceremony, said that the names of aspirant Bangladeshi workers who had passed the Korean language test would be sent to the HRD in Korea. Then the list of Bangladeshi nationals will be submitted to the Korean employers.

‘The final selection depends on the Korean employers,’ said the secretary.

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh’s army-backed interim authority has asked all government employees to submit statements of their wealth by the end of this year as part of an anti-corruption campaign.

An official notification this week related to the policy said all state employees must to provide wealth statements at the time of appointment and every five years thereafter, to see if their known income matches their assets.

They will also have to clearly describe increases and decreases of all types of property in specified formats in the statements, the notification said.

“The government has taken the decision aiming to enhance its ongoing anti-corruption drive as well as ensure accountability and efficiency in the government service,” an official said.

According to a code of conduct for civil servants framed in 1979, government employees were already supposed to submit statements detailing their property and assets every five years. But the guidelines have been widely ignored.

The interim authority headed by former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed launched its anti-corruption drive after taking charge in January, and imposed an indefinite state of emergency that banned political activity and protests.

So far, more than 170 key political figures, including former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, and dozens of their ministers and family members, have been detained for alleged corruption and abuse of power.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Jerry Norton)

Bangladesh will get Japanese loan assistance of US$ 324 million, approximately Tk 21 billion, for implementing three projects.

To this effect, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Masayuki Inoue and Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), M Aminul Islam Bhuiyan will sign an Exchange of Notes at the ERD tomorrow (Tuesday), said a Japan Embassy release.

Under the agreement, the Government of Japan will provide the loan assistance to the Government of Bangladesh through Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for the implementation of the projects.

The projects are : New Haripur Power Plant (360 MW) Development Project (Part I), Dhaka-Chittagong Railway Development Project and Small Scale Water Resources Development Project. The conditions of the loan are the most generous. The interest rate is 0.01% per annum and the repayment period is 40 years inclusive of 10-year grace period for the three loans.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday filed three cases against five people including former foreign minister M Morshed Khan and his family members for income beyond known sources and concealing wealth information.

ACC Assistant Director Talebor Rahman filed two cases–one against M Morshed Khan, his wife Nasrin Khan, and the other against Morshed Khan’s son Foysal Morshed Khan and Foysal’s wife Shyama Shezan Khan with Gulshan Police Station.

In the case against Morshed Khan, the complainant said the former foreign minister has concealed from the commission information about property worth Tk 91.34 lakh.

The first information report (FIR) mentions that the defendant has accumulated property worth Tk 1.70 crore illegally.

His wife Nasrin Khan stands accused of aiding and abetting him in the illegal income.

In his declaration of assets, Morshed Khan showed his wealth to be worth Tk 2.34 crore.

In the case against Foysal Morshed Khan, the complainant said Foysal has kept back information about property worth Tk 6.94 crore.

According to the FIR, he has accumulated a Tk 7.10 crore wealth beyond his known sources of income.

Foysal’s wife was accused in the case for aiding her husband in amassing illegal wealth, said police sources.

In another case filed with Gulshan Police Station, ACC Assistant Director Sheikh Faiyaz Alam accused businessman Giridhari Lal Modi of holding back information about property worth Tk 75.6 lakh.

Bangladesh, Tuesday, December 11, 2007

In the face of a rising public demand, the government finally freed the four convicted teachers of Rajshahi University from Rajshahi Central Jail yesterday afternoon.

The government claimed that the release came following a petition of mercy to the president from the convicted teachers. But the freed teachers rejected the government claim saying they had not petitioned the president for mercy.

Moloy Kumar Bhoumik of the management department, and Dulal Chandra Biswas, Sayed Selim Reza Newton and Abdullah Al Mamun of the mass communications department came out of the jail around 3.45pm.

Maj Hafizur Rahman Mollah, deputy inspector general (DIG) of prisons in Rajshahi division, told The Daily Star that the teachers were released following a clemency for them from the president.

“We [the jail authorities] received the president’s faxed order through the home ministry at 3.08pm and the teachers were released at 3.40pm after necessary confirmation and formalities.”

“Powered by Article no 49 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the sentence of imprisonment and monitory fines of the four teachers were pardoned. If there is no other accusation against them, their immediate release is ordered,” the DIG prisons quoted the presidential order as saying.

Last Tuesday a Rajshahi court sentenced the teachers to two years rigorous imprisonment, and fined them Tk 1,000 each, in default of which each of them was to spend one more month of rigorous imprisonment, for violating the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) by bringing out a silent procession on the campus on August 21.

President’s Secretary M Serajul Islam told journalists that President Iajuddin Ahmed at 12:35pm approved the clemency petitions filed by the wives of the teachers.

In an instant reaction to the presidential mercy, Law Adviser Mainul Hosein told reporters that following the arrests and sentencing of the four teachers, by law they may not keep their teaching jobs.

The president however might make a special exception allowing them to retain their posts, the law adviser added.

Asked whether the freed teachers were innocent all along, Mainul said, “The court will decide that, not the president.”

“The appeals of the RU teachers for pardon were forwarded to the president’s office after taking care of the legal process involved,” Mainul said.

“The government doesn’t at all intend to detain university teachers. Since there were cases filed against them, the government had to clear them legally after their appeal to the government for absolving them of the charges,” the law adviser said.

As news of the presidential clemency reached Rajshahi in the morning, family members of the detained teachers, their relatives, and journalists started gathering at the jail gate from 10:00am.

But the jail authorities told the families that they had yet to receive any information regarding the mercy.

As the number of people at the jail gate was increasing, the authorities deployed extra forces including detective branch personnel in and around the jail compound.

By 12:00pm, hundreds of students and teachers from Rajshahi University were at the jail gate and around 2:00pm more students from the management and mass communications departments joined the crowd.

Hundreds of other students of the departments gathered in front of their departments boycotting their classes and examinations, and celebrated the freedom of their teachers, dancing to the beats of patriotic songs.

Kolpona Roy, the eldest sister of Moloy Kumar Bhoumik, was also waiting in the crowd at the jail gate since morning, who was frequently breaking down in emotional outbursts, while Mamun’s wife Udicha Islam was running back and forth from the jail gate to the waiting crowd as rumours were springing every few minutes that the jailed teachers were about to walk out that gate.

“What a fate my brother had!” exclaimed Moloy’s sister with tears rolling down her cheeks, “He returned home from the liberation war in 1971 and today he is being freed from a jail.”

“Moloy went to the war at the age of 14. As he was absent and we were not getting any news of him, we thought he might have been killed.”

“But on December 10 of 1971 he surprised us all by returning home, and soon he was hurrying to go back to the front again, but before he could do that we won the war.”

On December 10, 2007, Moloy again suddenly appeared through the jail gate with his three just freed colleagues around 3.45pm, with yet another pleasant homecoming.

The four freed teachers hugged their wives and other family members as they were welcomed by the waiting crowd.

Their colleagues and students received them at the jail gate with flowers, some of whom broke down in tears embracing the freed teachers.

Policemen on guard there were visibly baffled by the huge rush of well-wishers of the freed teachers as they walked out of the jail compound.

Police as well as the RU authority offered the freed teachers rides home on their vehicles. But the teachers declined, opting to go to the university campus with their students and colleagues on rickshaws.

The detective branch escorted the released teachers until they all got home.

The freed teachers went to the grave of Dr Mohammad Samsuzzoha, the first martyred academic in the country, and observed a minute of silence honouring his memories, after placing wreaths at the grave.

They also visited Sabash Bangladesh, a liberation war memorial, and showed respect to the martyrs of the liberation war by observing a minute of silence there.

Moloy Kumar Bhoumik and Dulal Chandra Biswas addressed the crowd there. They expressed their gratitude to all their colleagues, students, lawyers, and others who had demanded their release.

“We are happy that the government showed its goodwill and rational approach towards us…but some of our colleagues of Rajshahi and Dhaka universities are still suffering in jails, we hope, the government will show the same compassion towards them also", Bhoumik said coming out of the jail.

“Our release is of no value until our colleagues are also freed", he said.

Later at the grave of Shamsuzzoha, Bhoumik told journalists, “We heard the media is saying that we had sought presidential clemency.”

“I want to make it clear that we never sought any mercy from anyone. If anybody claims so, he should show the proof. If the claim comes from the government then it is an insult to the teaching community.”

“If the government claims that we sought mercy, they must prove it. We are ready to go to jail again if necessary. It is a matter of the teaching community’s prestige.”

Talking on the matter of presidential clemency, Sayed Selim Reza Newton also expressed his astonishment. Rejecting the government’s claim he said, “There was no question of mercy petitions. Neither we nor our wives submitted any petition to the government for mercy.”

“We are disappointed at the government’s claim. We suffered in jail long enough because we didn’t want to seek mercy. We could have been freed much earlier if we had sought mercy.”

Dulal Chandra Biswas thanked the president for his ‘voluntary initiative’. “We thank him for his voluntary move of ordering the mercy. It was possible only for the efforts of all the people including our colleagues and students.”

Abdullah Al Mamun also thanked the government and expressed his gratitude to all who demanded their release.

Meanwhile, UNB reported, RU Vice-chancellor Dr M Altaf Hossain said, “I am very much happy, as my four colleagues were set free from jail,” adding that they were released as per the law and not under any pressure or threat.

Proctor Dr Enamul Haque also expressed his happiness over the release of the four teachers and said peaceful atmosphere will now return to the campus.

He expressed his gratitude to the president for signing the mercy, exonerating four of their university teachers, convicted of breaking the emergency rules amid campus violence.

The Daily Star
Bangladesh, Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The remains of Bir Shreshtha Sepoy Hamidur Rahman, one of the seven independence war heroes given the highest gallantry award, are scheduled to be brought back home from Tripura in India today.

Hamidur, who was killed in a battleground in a village, Ambassa, in Dhalai of Tripura, near the Moulvibazar border of Bangladesh on October 28, 1971, had been buried there for more than 36 years.

Senior Indian leaders and officials in a ceremony, attended by thousands of people, handed over the coffin containing the remains to a Bangladesh delegation at Hatimarachara in Tripura, media reports said. The Indian troops gave the independence war hero a guard of honour.

After his martyrdom, about a hundred soldiers of the First Bengal regiment were either killed or injured trying to capture the Pakistani army base, said Sajjad Ali Zahir, a member of the Bangladesh delegation. He, along with Hamidur’s brother Fazlur Rahman, recently located the grave of the hero.

‘Hamidur’s body was brought to Hatimarachara, 40 kilometres inside India, by one Rehaman Mian and given a proper Muslim burial,’ he is quoted to have said.

Hamidur’s grave had fallen prey to development and was under a pond, an Indian satellite channel reported quoting Abdul Ali, a local resident of Ambasa.

‘My father knew Hamidur Rahman well when he crossed over for the war. From childhood I have been watching this grave here, I asked my father about it. He said that it is Hamidur Rahman’s grave. During my school days, I used to clean the grave,’ he said.

The seven-member Bangladesh delegation, led by a joint secretary of the liberation war affairs ministry, Humayun Kabir Khan, on Friday went to Agartala to receive the remains of Hamidur.

The president, Iajuddin Ahmed, also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is expected to receive the remains of Hamidur on behalf of the nation and place flowers on the coffin in the National Parade Square on Tuesday.

The delegation will bring Hamidur’s remains to Bangladesh through Bibirbazar in Comilla at about 3:00pm, the liberation war affairs secretary, AK Mahbubul Alam, told the newsmen in the Press Information Department conference room on Sunday.

The remains of the hero will be received with a guard of honour at Bibirbazar and remain in the Comilla cantonment.

A motorcade with the remains will start from the Comilla cantonment at around 6:00am to reach the National Parade Square by 10:00am. A 21-gun salute will herald the arrival of the remains in the Parade Square.

A guard of honour will be presented by the three services and the President’s Guard Regiment. A namaz-e-janaza for him will hero will be held at around 10:30am. The remains will then be taken in a ceremonial motorcade to the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard at Mirpur and kept for viewing by freedom fighters. The remains will be laid to rest in the graveyard with the highest state honours.

Hamidur was born in 1945 at Dumuria in Chapra of 24 Parganas in West Bengal. After the partition of India, his family migrated to East Bengal and settled at Khalishpur in Khulna.

He joined the East Bengal Regiment on February 2, 1971 and was posted to the EBR Centre in the Chittagong cantonment. He left the cantonment for his village home as the war began and joined the liberation force at Dhalai.

The death toll in Saturday night’s Rangs Bhaban cave-in on the city’s Bijoy Sarani rose to four yesterday while the fire service stopped rescue operation on safety grounds.

As of last night, at least a dozen people were feared trapped inside.

Fire Service and Civil Defence has so far rescued 12. Of them, one died at the city’s orthopaedic hospital yesterday and the rest were undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

Meanwhile, the government has formed a three-member committee headed by Rajuk’s Chief Engineer Shah Alam to probe the incident. The two other members are Rajuk’s deputy chief engineer and a teacher of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday afternoon, Debashis Bardhan, deputy director (instructor) of the fire service, said, “We’ve seen three bodies trapped in debris inside. But we could not recover those for fear of further collapse. Besides, labourers have told us that at least 11 to 12 of their co-workers are still missing.”

He said the authorities have asked them not to continue with the rescue operation since it is risky to do the job with the equipment they have.

Earlier in the day, a team of BUET’s civil engineering department carried out an inspection of the structure and said its condition is too dangerous for the rescuers to work there.

The probe committee members, experts from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), foreign affairs adviser and army officials too visited the site between 10:30am and 12:30pm.

Late at night Saturday, a portion of the 22-storey Rangs Bhaban collapsed. The building was under demolition after the Supreme Court in August ordered for the construction beyond the sixth floor to be knocked down.

Mahbubur Rahman, one of the labourers hired for the demolition work, told The Daily Star, “As a part of the roof came crashing down on us, the whole place became dark and dusty. Those of us who were awake could manage a way out of the rubble but those who were sleeping couldn’t come down.”

Fire service, police and Rapid Action Battalion men kept the collapse site cordoned off.

Firefighters said they have seen three bodies tangled up in wreckage on the fourth, fifth and seventh floors. But they were yet to locate others missing inside.

Debashis Bardhan said, “We plan to resume the rescue efforts after making sure the building is safe enough for that. We need to have a supporting structure of steel bars built around the building so that there is no more collapse.”

But neither Rajuk or the fire service has the equipment necessary to do it and they would have to hire it from the private companies, he added.

Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brigadier General Rafiqur Rahman told reporters that they were looking for some safer means to rescue the victims and clear the debris.

The Rangs Bhaban authorities at a press briefing yesterday blamed the collapse on negligence of the Rajuk authorities.

They alleged that Rajuk had appointed a ship-breaking firm for partial demolition of the multi-storey building.

Rajuk Executive Engineer Anwar Hossain, however, has denied the allegations.

Bangladesh, Monday, December 10, 2007

The remains of liberation war hero Sepoy Hamidur Rahman will be repatriated to his longed for dreamland Bangladesh, after 36 years of the country’s independence, from Indian state of Tripura through Bibir Bazar land port in Comilla at 3pm on Monday. A seven-member Bangladesh delegation left Dhaka for Tripura on Friday to bring back the remains of Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sipahi Hamidur Rahman, who was buried at Ambasa in the Indian state. Soon after entering Bangladesh, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 33 Infantry Division will receive the remains of the valiant war hero through a guard of honour at Bibir Bazar.

On a last ride, a vehicle of the military police will start towards capital Dhaka with the remains of Bir Shreshta Hamidur Rahman from Comilla Cantonment at 6am on Tuesday.

The remains will be taken to the Army Aviation Hangar at Dhaka Cantonment in a ceremonial motorcade from Jatrabari and kept there briefly. A 21-gun salute will herald the arrival of the remains at the National Parade Square at about 10am.

President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will receive the remains of Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman on behalf of the nation and place wreath on the coffin. A guard of honour will be presented by the three services, including PGR.

A namaj-e-janaza for the martyred liberation war hero will be held at around 10:30am.

Finally, the remains of Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman will be taken in a ceremonial motorcade to the Mirpur Graveyard kept reserved for distinguished freedom fighters. Later, his remains will be laid to eternal rest at the graveyard with the highest state honour. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will, among others, attend the state funeral.

Valiant liberation war hero Hamidur Rahman was buried at Ambasa in the Indian state of Tripura after he embraced martyrdom in a battle against the Pakistani occupation forces in a frontier area of Sylhet on October 28 in 1971.

Bangladesh, Sunday, December 9, 2007

Sabina Yasmin Noted singer Sabina Yasmin, who was suffering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is recovering well. “She is doing very well. We pray for a normal healthy life for her.”

Doctors of Singhealth, who were in the city in connection with MEDEXPO-2007 international medical exposition held at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel from December 6 to 8, were talking to newsmen at an informal function arranged by Galaxy Healthcare Services.

Immunotherapy started in Bangladesh while chemotheraphy was given in Singapore, they said adding, Singapore hospital had an advantage in CT Petscan, which hospitals here do not have.

“She took the treatment very well. She was good, gracious patient. It was a pleasure to look after her,” they said.

“Sabina brought greater awareness about Bangladeshi culture including music,” they added.
The Singapore doctors assured that they would try to extend every possible care to improve the health services sector.

Sabina Yasmin fell indisposed while performing at a concert in US, was treated by doctors in Bangladesh, before being flown to Singapore in July.

Thanking her wellwishers as the doctors of Singapore and Bangladesh, she said while sharing some of her feelings, she was very well taken care of by the doctors and nurses in the city state. Bangladeshis living in Singapore also looked after her.

The Daily Independent

Bangladesh, Sunday, December 9, 2007

The Aparajeyo Bangla where the movement is often frequented. Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) pledged to continue their movement until the release of the detained teachers and students.

They expressed this at a tripartite meeting with university authorities and DGFI members at the Senate building yesterday.

Sources said a three-member DGFI delegation requested the DUTA leaders to withdraw their scheduled programmes of wearing black badges and silent processions, which will be observed today and tomorrow respectively.

But the leaders of the organisation responded, as they will consider this if the government gives any specific proposal about the freeing of detained teachers and students.

DUTA took some decisions at an emergency meeting on Friday demanding the release of the detained teachers and students. Where they decided to observe further programmes if the detained teachers and students were not released by December 12.

The DGFI members are-Brigadier Gen ATM Amin, chief of Counter Terrorist Bureau, Col Abu Saleh and Col Almas Raisul Gani.

Acting President of DUTA Prof Tazmeri SA Islam, Acting General Secretary Faruque Ahmed, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, Prof Akhteruzzaman, Prof Syed Salehin Kadri, Prof Aminur Rashid and Prof Syed Manjurul Ahsan were present in the meeting.

Prof Tazmeri SA Islam said they would continue their programmes until the release of the detained teachers and students.

Prof Akhteruzzaman told the New Nation that they hoped the detained teachers and students would return to them soon.

The New Nation

The Bangladesh Bank has asked the commercial banks to sanction fresh credit for handloom industry particularly to flood-affected weavers in Pabna and Sirajganj, by relaxing the existing rules and regulations.

Under the move, the flood-hit weavers will be eligible for fresh credit through rescheduling their previous classified loans. The banks may relax the provisions of down-payment for rescheduling of loans, if necessary.

The central bank issued a circular Thursday in this connection and directed the managing directors of all scheduled banks to follow the instructions on disbursement of loans to weavers for post-flood rehabilitation.

“We have relaxed the existing conditions on rescheduling of classified loans in the handloom sector aiming to help the weavers in the post-flood situation,” a BB senior official told the FE Thursday.

He also said the banks may apply their prudence for rescheduling the classified loan portfolios in the handloom sector in line with the latest directives.

The central bank also asked the banks to set up credit monitoring and compliance cells at different levels to ensure monitoring of the overall handloom loan disbursement without any harassments.

About one million weavers, dyers, hand spinners, embroiderers and allied artisans have been using their creative skills into more than 0.30 million active looms to produce around 620 million meters of fabric annually, according to the Bangladesh Handloom Board statistics.

The handloom sector shares 63 per cent of the total fabric production in the country designed for home consumption, meeting 40 per cent of the local demand for fabrics.

Besides, it provides employment opportunities to a million rural people, 50 per cent of which are female, while another half a million people are indirectly engaged in the industry.

Financial Express

US Navy emergency relief operations in Bangladesh’s cyclone-battered coastal districts were formerly ended yesterday after two weeks of operation.

However, USAID would continue post-cyclone rehabilitation efforts.

USS Kearsarge and USS Tarawa, anchored off the coast of the Bay of Bengal, have conducted the “Operation Sea Angel II” emergency relief operation in two phases since November 23.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed formally announced the ending of the US military emergency relief operations in the country’s cyclone affected districts on board the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa in the Bay of Bengal.

US Charge d’ Affaires Geeta Pasi, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury and senior Bangladesh Army and US Marine officials, including Col Doug Stilwell, Commanding Officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and Captain David F. Bean, Executive Officer of USS Tarawa were present.

The Army Chief, in a valedictory speech on board the USS Tarawa in the Bay of Bengal yesterday said the military relief operation had come to an end and Tarawa would leave soon.

General Moeen said with the help of US navy the government had succeeded to send food and drinking water to the cyclone-affected people.

The Army Chief said, “Though the government said that 2.6 million VGF (vulnerable group feeding) cards will be issued in the affected areas, we will provide as many VGF cards as required among the cyclone affected people.”

“We’ll also repair the affected schools in the cyclone battered areas.”

US Charge d’ Affaires Geeta Pasi, who was present on board the USS Tarawa, said civilian aid agencies, including the USAID, would carry on relief efforts in the cyclone affected areas.

“We call the US Navy’s relief operation as the “Operation Sea Angel II as the local people have termed it as Ashar Alo (Light of Hope), and we want to give Ashar Alo to the people of Bangladesh,” she said.

The Marines, with their long-range CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from the USS Tarawa, made final sorties yesterday, dropping food, water and medicine. The overall operations involved a fleet of 20 helicopters. USS Tarawa took over from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge on November 3 in the Bay of Bengal.

During the relief operation by USS Tarawa, American sailors and marines, and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit delivered more than 113,000 kilograms of food and medicines and 54,000 liters (14,000 gallons) of drinking water. The US ships’ medical teams also treated 2,355 men, women and children suffering from bronchitis, skin problems, upper respiratory tract infections, ear infections and diarrhoea, the officials said.

The Tarawa also participated in relief operations in 1991 - dubbed Sea Angel I - when a powerful cyclone killed about 140,000 people in Chittagong region.

Earlier, Army Chief General Mooen U Ahmed visited the Central Relief Coordination Cell at Barisal Airport in the morning.

Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury accompanied the Army Chief.

The New Nation

A sedition case was filed yesterday against two top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangla-desh and a former secretary for their alleged audacious remarks against the country’s independence and liberation war.

Freedom-fighter Mohammad Fazlur Rahman of village South Ramerkanda under Keraniganj Police Station of the Dhaka district filed the case against Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, assistant secretary general Abdul Kader Molla and former secretary Shah Abdul Hannan in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court in Dhaka yesterday for their anti-independence and anti-liberation remarks.

Appearing before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Emran Hossain Chowdhury at about 12:30pm, freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman filed the sedition case.

The editors of the Daily Prothom Alo and the Daily Bhorer Kagoj and the news editor of the Daily Prothom Alo were made witnesses in the case.

Taking the case into cognizance, Metropolitan Magistrate Emran Hossain Chowdhury ordered the officer-in-charge of Tejgaon Police Station to investigate the complain against the accused.

The case accuses the three for making remarks against the emergence of an independent Bangladesh in 1971, and creating and ordering the Razakar, Al Badr and

Al Shams forces to kill pro-liberation civilians including intellectuals.

The plaintiff said the accused persons committed crimes of treason by killing about 30 lakh people, raping about two lakh women and other ill activities.

He said that 36 years after liberation, the accused had not yet recognised Bangladesh’s victory, flag, constitution or Independence Day.

The plaintiff Fazlur Rahman said, “I could not file a case in the past due to the various adverse political situations in the country.”

In his case, Fazlur Rahman alleged that after attending the electoral reform talks at the Election Commission on October 25 last Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed told the media that Jamaat did not work against the Liberation War in 1971 and

there were presently no war criminals in Bangladesh.

The remarks of Mojaheed left people across the country stunned.

“By his audacious remarks, Mojaheed undermined the country’s liberation war and the freedom fighters,” he said.

On the other hand, at a discussion on the life and work of late Baitul Mokarram Khatib Obaidul Huq at the National Press Club in the city Kader Molla made defamatory remarks against the country’s War of Liberation and freedom fighters claiming that some people had joined the liberation war to fight against the Pakistani army in 1971 to have beautiful women, some others for property and some to protect Indian interests,” while former Islami Bank chairman Shah Abdul Hannan, while speaking on a talk show, Ekushey Shomoy, on private satellite television channel Ekushey Television described the Liberation War of 1971 as a “civil war".

He denied that genocide took place in the country at that time and that war criminals exist here.

Hannan also expressed doubts that three million people died in the war and supported a Pakistani report according to which only 26,000 people or less died during the Liberation War.

Counsel of the plaintiff Advocate Abu Mohammad Abdur Razzaque said: “War crimes and murder cases can be filed any time.”

It may be recalled that several sedition cases have already been filed against Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and Kader Molla with different police stations of the country for their audacious remarks against the country’s War of Independence, supreme sacrifices of 30 lakh men, women and children, and rapes committed by the Pakisatni army and their local collaborators, known as ‘Razakars,’ Al Badrs, and Al Shams.

The New Nation

Bangladesh, Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The caretaker government yesterday cancelled the allotments of NAM apartments to 108 former members of the parliament (MP), who are either convicted or accused or under trial for corruption, or who have failed to submit their wealth statements.

The authority of allotting the apartments was also transferred from the parliament to the government until further notice, while the government fixed new rents for the apartments, which will be retroactively effective from March 1 of this year.

Upon payment of the new rents, eligible former MPs will need to re-apply to the housing department for allotments of the apartments, while the Parliament Secretariat will take steps for implementing the new rents.

Housing and Public Works Adviser Mainul Hosein approved the proposal yesterday, and told reporters afterward that the decision was taken in consultation with the speaker of the parliament in light of the changed circumstances.

He added that the former MPs who accept the government fixed rents may remain in their NAM flats, if they are neither accused, charged nor under trial for corruption.

Mainul also said government officials may also rent the apartments if they are prepared to pay the stipulated rents.

The 13 multistoried NAM flats were allotted to 324 MPs of the last parliament, which are fully furnished with air-conditioners, TVs, refrigerators, beds, wardrobes, mattresses, chairs, and tables. The facilities are afforded with the taxpayers’ money.

According to the new rates of rents fixed by the housing department, 1,800 sq ft apartments are now Tk 25,000 a month instead of the previous rent of Tk 800, and 1,260 sq ft apartments are now Tk 20,000 a month instead of Tk 400.

The new rents were fixed by a committee that had been formed in July. The committee, headed by Additional Secretary to the Parliament Secretariat ABM Nuruzzaman submitted a report on the apartments last week to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

Sources said, the committee also decided to take legal action against those MPs, who will refuse to pay the government stipulated rents. An additional order from the Parliament Secretariat will put the changes into effect.

The Daily Star

DHAKA (AFP) — Four Bangladeshi academics were sentenced to two years in jail each Tuesday for fuelling student unrest in August that prompted the country’s emergency government to impose a curfew, police said.

The professors from Rajshahi University in the west of the country were found guilty of breaking emergency laws banning protests and all gatherings, police inspector Mahbub Siddiqui said.

“They joined protests and marches defying the ban during the nationwide student unrest in August,” he said.

The protests left one dead and hundreds injured and shook the military-backed government, which has been in power since a political crisis in January.

The professors were jailed as dozens of students from Dhaka University held hands and covered their mouths with black badges to protest the detention of the teachers as well as some two dozen students, police and witnesses said.

The students stood silently on the university campus and dispersed after about half an hour, local police chief Shahidul Islam said.

The August 20-22 demonstrations began at Dhaka University after students were allegedly roughed up by army personnel.

The government defused the unrest by imposing a week-long curfew in major cities and blamed the country’s sidelined political parties.

Four leading academics from Dhaka University including two deans have also been detained as part of the crackdown after the unrest.

The government, which is led by former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed, came to power on January 12 and has promised to clean up Bangladesh’s corrupt politics before holding fresh elections in late 2008.

Medford, Massachusetts, December 03, 2007 (BanglaEvents) - Current Chairman of Massachusetts Democratic Party, John E. Walsh visited Bangladeshi community in West Medford Community Center on December 2, 2007. In that evening, he discussed about different issues including immigration backlog, education, health care and job training with the participants of that event. Rafiqul Islam, one of the organizers of this event expressed his interest to make, about 5000 Bangladeshi origin voters of Massachusetts, more involved with Democratic Party. Bangladeshi food was served as dinner at the end of the event which was arranged by another organizer of this event, Asif Babu and his wife Pervin Babu.

Reported by Mohammad Khan

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF today announced a donation of $450,000 for relief and recovery efforts for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh.

The cyclone hit Bangladesh on November 15 affecting about 8.5 million people in 30 districts. More than 3,000 deaths have been confirmed to date. Approximately half of the affected people are children and an estimated 600,000 of them are under five years of age.

The contribution – which will be evenly split between immediate relief and longer-term recovery interventions – will go towards meeting the immediate funding needs of UNICEF, currently estimated at almost $30-million.

George Harrison had a long association with Bangladesh and UNICEF. The landmark benefit concert held on August 1st 1971, which aside from George himself featured Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell and Billy Preston, was the first of it’s kind and is recognized as the inspiration behind more recent humanitarian fundraising ventures like ‘Band Aid’ and ‘Live Aid’.

“I am pleased that the commitment that George and Ravi Shankar made to the crisis in Bangladesh more than three decades ago is once again reaching out to assist the victims of Cyclone Sidr. Children are at their most vulnerable during natural disasters and it is incumbent upon all of us to act fast to save as many lives as possible,” said Olivia Harrison.

“With such a large number of children affected in Bangladesh, UNICEF is playing a key role in ensuring their survival in the coming weeks and months,” said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the US Fund for UNICEF. “This contribution keeps alive George Harrison’s longstanding tradition of goodwill towards Bangladesh, but shows that children need our assistance, regardless of the borders they are born between.”

In 2005, Mrs. Harrison launched the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF in her late husband’s name with an initial donation of $1 million. It specifically targets UNICEF programs in Bangladesh but also provides lifesaving assistance to children suffering from civil conflict, natural disasters and poverty elsewhere. The launch of the fund coincided with the release of a DVD and CD of ‘The Concert for Bangladesh’ which generates further income for the fund

With cold weather on the way, children and women in Bangladesh require urgent life-saving assistance such as medical supplies, food, clothing and shelter to be able to survive. Other critical priorities include ensuring access to a safe water supply and sanitation facilities to mitigate the threat of waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery, to which children are particularly susceptible.

UNICEF is working with the government, other UN agencies and partner NGOs to bring relief in the areas of water and sanitation, health, education and child protection. UNICEF has been on the ground in Bangladesh since 1952, with a staff of more than 220. Since the early 1970s, one of the world’s largest UNICEF-supported water supply programs has been operating in the country.

About UNICEF

For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world’s leading international children’s organization, working in over 150 countries to address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. While millions of children die every year of preventable causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the global experience, resources and reach to give children the best hope of survival. For more information about UNICEF, please visit http://www.unicefusa.org/. Or call 800 4UNICEF.

UNICEF

Muktijoddha Dibash, the Freedom Fighters’ Day, was observed yesterday in the city as elsewhere across the country with a call to forge greater unity of freedom fighters’ bodies and the forces loyal to independence movement and to raise their united voice to try the war criminals and collaborators of 1971 by constituting a special tribunal. This was the first day of December which is also observed as the month of Victory.

Leaders representing different bodies of freedom fighters demanded of the incumbent caretaker government (CG) proper state recognition of the freedom fighters and observance of the Muktijoddha Dibash at state level.

They also demanded proper recognition of the freedom fighters and their rehabilitation.
The programmes of the day included placing of wreaths at the graves of freedom fighters at Mirpur and story telling on the major events of the Liberation War in the morning, bringing out of a colourful procession from the city’s Muktangan towards Shikha Chirantan at Suhrawardy Udyan and assembly of freedom fighters at the Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon.

In the morning, leaders of the Muktijoddhader Dabi Bastabayan O Muktijoddha Dibash Utjapan Jatiya Committee, a combine of freedom fighters’ bodies, led by its convener Maj Gen (Retd) KM Shafiullah and joint conveners Rashed Khan Menon and Hasanul Huq Inu placed wreaths at the graves of freedom fighters at Mirpur.

Chanting various slogans of the turbulent days of the war of liberation including “Joi Bangla” and “Joi Bangabandhu", leaders of the National Committee brought out a colourful march from Muktangan towards Shikha Chirantan (eternal flame) at Suhrawardy Udyan where they placed wreaths in the afternoon paying homage to the martyred freedom fighters and for those who laid down their lives for the cause of the country’s independence.

Speaking at an assembly of freedom fighters at the auditorium of Jatiya Press Club also in the afternoon, the National Committee raised a six-point demand which included trial of the war criminals and collaborators of 1971 in a special tribunal and a ban on fanatic politics in the country as well as official announcement banning those parties, organisations and individuals who were involved in war crimes from taking part in any election and non-inclusion of their names in the voter list.

Addressing the assembly of freedom fighters, Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzak said as the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami had thrown a challenge to the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh by their derogatory remarks that the Liberation War of 1971 was a civil war, the incumbent caretaker government (CG) should try them in a special tribunal and their remarks would be enough for evidences against them.

Another member of AL presidium Tofail Ahmed said the whole country is now united on the demand for trial of the war criminals and collaborators and so the government should try them and accomplish another good task to build a national unity.

Referring to the trial of war criminals in different countries in the world, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon referred to the actions taken against former UN secretary general Kurt Waldheim and Noble laureate Günter Grass for their crimes against humanity in the World War-II so many years after the War.

He was of the opinion that the recent anti-independence remarks of the Jamaat leaders including its chief Moulana Motiur Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Md Muzahid would be enough evidences to try them and other war criminals and collaborators under the laws of the land and the international ordinance against war crimes.

Joint convener of the National Committee and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Huq Inu, who conducted the meeting, called upon the pro-independence forces to forge a greater unity to try the killers, war criminals and collaborators of 1971 to protect independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.

Presided over by the National Committee convener and former Army chief Maj Gen (Retd) KM Shafiullah, the meeting was also addressed by AL presidium member Syed Sajeda Chowdhury, its advisory council member Col (Retd) Shawkat Ali and law affairs secretary Advocate Sahara Khatun, JSD general secretary Syed Zafar Sajjad and freedom fighters Mamtaz Begum, Principal Abdul Ahad Chowdhury and Abir Ahad, among others.

Executive president of JSD Mainuddin Khan Badal read out the declaration of the meeting while Hasanul Huq Inu also introduced to the audience some members of martyred freedom fighters’ families.

Marking the day, the Workers Party organised a story telling session on the War of Liberation at its headquarters at Topkhana Road in the morning. Some national leaders and freedom fighters took part in the programme.

Departure of the US military personnel engaged in the cyclone relief operations will not indicate an end to US engagement in Bangladesh, but will only mark a shift from immediate relief to a longer-term cooperation to help the country with its recovery and reconstruction efforts.

It was emphasized by both US Charge d’ Affaires to Bangladesh Geeta Pasi and Brigadier General Ronald L Bailey while addressing a press briefing at the American Club in the city yesterday afternoon.

They said the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which will spearhead US efforts in this area, is currently preparing a medium- and long-term programme to assist the affected areas in recovering from the effects of the cyclone. This plan will be based on priorities identified by the Bangladesh government.

Geeta Pasi also announced the name for the US operation to assist Bangladesh cyclone victims as ‘Operation Sea Angel II.’

The name symbolises the continuity of US partnership with Bangladesh following the 1991 cyclone and the intention to work together as Bangladesh recovers and rebuilds from this recent tragedy, she said.

Brigadier General Bailey said a second US amphibious naval ship USS Tarawa would replace the USS Kearsarge soon to join the current cyclone relief operation. The Tarawa will be conducting a transition with the Kearsarge, after which the Kearsarge would depart.

Historically it takes two weeks to meet the emergency relief needs for distressed people, the American marine commander Brig General Bailey said.

“But this time around, we have not yet finalised the date” for completing the emergency relief operation in the cyclone-battered coastal areas, he told reporters.

USS Kearsarge entered Bangladesh territorial waters on November 22 and started full-scale ‘Operation Sea Angel II’ a week before catering immediate need of pure water for the victims. USS Kearsarge carry helicopters and hovercraft and is equipped with hospital facilities.

As of November 29, the Kearsarge has delivered over 12,000 gallons of water by helicopter to different hard-to-reach localities along the coast.

As the operation progressed, the warship engaged in airlifting food from Dhaka to Barisal and distributed those to remote villages from 22 identified sites in the coastal belt following a coordination meeting between Bangladesh and US armies.

Brig Gen Bailey, Commander of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Battalion (ME, said it would take three to four days from today to take over the charge by ‘Tarawa’ from ‘Kearsarge’ and carry forward the operation.

Having the same capability as Kearsarge, Tarawa had conducted ‘Operation Sea Angel’ in Chittagong after the devastating cyclone and tidal surge in 1991.

In reply to a question, Geeta Pasi said as a friend and long-term partner of Bangladesh, the United States is “ready to do whatever needed on short, medium and long-term basis".

She said USAID and DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) are conducting assessment on the ground and future plan would be worked out on their recommendations.

Geeta Pasi informed that the US has so far provided $19.5 million in cash and kind, including $15 million in food aid, which she termed “an important issue” for the country.

The US envoy said they are waiting to receive full briefing from the Chief Adviser in a couple of days on what to do next in the cyclone-hit districts.

Asked about some demonstrations by cyclone victims for relief, Brig

Gen Bailey said US marines in conjunction with the Bangladesh army, NGOs and others are trying to reach relief supplies to remote places.

“Our target is to reach food to as many people as we can on the basis of recommendations and available information,” he said.

Asked about differences between the 1991 cyclone and cyclone ‘Sidr’ in terms of conducting relief operations,

Bailey said this time around it is a complicated operation. It is very difficult to get to remote areas, it requires lot of lifts, coordination and information.

However, the US Brig General profusely praised the Bangladesh army’s basic works in setting up 96 helipads, office in Barisal and coordination in sending relief materials. “Many Bangladeshi army officers are in our ship and we have developed a very positive relations between us,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Geeta Pasi and Brigadier General Ronal Bailey held meetings with Food and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed and discussed the progress of the ongoing relief operations. They also discussed about the planning of the coming days.

It may be mentioned that ‘Operation Sea Angel II’ is the second US Navy relief operations since 1991 when Joint Task Force Sea Angel arrived in Bangladesh after ‘Cyclone Marian’ pounded on the country’s southeastern region, including Chittagong on April 29, 1991.

Cyclone Marian, a storm with top sustained winds of 160 mph (Category 5), coupled with 8-feet tidal surge devastated the coastline of the country, killing nearly 150,000 people and leaving over 5 million people homeless. Marian was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones on record.

At that time, a US Navy Amphibious Task Force (ATF) returning from the Persian Gulf war was diverted, on order of former US President George H.W. Bush, to the Bay of Bengal.

There is a rumour that a Bangladeshi citizen, on seeing the ATF approach from the sea in Chittagong, called them “Angels from the Sea.” Thus began Operation Sea Angel, one of the largest military relief operations ever undertaken.

Operation Sea Angel began on May 10 and involved over 7,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. The man leading the effort, Lt. General Henry Stackpole, declared, “We went to Kuwait in the name of liberty, and we’ve come to Bangladesh in the name of humanity.”

The operation continued till June 13, 1991.

At that time the newly elected government, overwhelmed by the massive scale of the devastation, requested urgent assistance from foreign countries. While relief goods had been stockpiled before the cyclone, most of Bangladesh’s lift capability and almost all of the infrastructure had been wiped out by the force of nature’s onslaught.

The US launched Operation Sea Angel, which was massive in scale and massively successful.

Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed Sunday donated Tk 50 lakh on behalf of the Army and Trust Bank Ltd to the Chief Adviser’ s Relief and Welfare Fund for the country’s cyclone victims.

The Army Chief handed over a cheque for the money to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at the CA’s office.

Of the Tk 50 lakh, Army donated Tk 20 lakh while Trust Bank Ltd Tk 30 lakh, according to an official of the CA’s office.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, Trust Bank Ltd managing director Iqbal U Ahmed, Adjutant General Maj Gen Matiur Rahman and Military Secretary to the Chief Adviser Brig Gen Amin Tarique, were among others, present on the occasion.

The Election Commission (EC) is likely to introduce transparent ballot boxes in the next parliamentary election responding to a demand of most political parties it sat in electoral reform dialogues with.

The EC however will take a formal decision on the matter this month since it will require seven to eight months to receive the boxes from abroad if it decides to introduce them, sources in the EC Secretariat said.

“We don’t want to give any scope to any losing party to denounce the election with the excuse of not having transparent ballot boxes in the polls. So, we are thinking of introducing transparent ballot boxes,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said yesterday during the commission’s electoral reform dialogue with Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BD.

“We will do it despite waste of 4 million US dollars since most of the political parties want transparent ballot boxes,” the CEC said referring to the approximate cost of purchasing the boxes.

The EC was against introduction of transparent ballot boxes due to complexities of using them, instead it was in favour of using the traditional steel ballot boxes made of steel, which the commission already have in its hands.

Referring to the round of electoral reform talks, the CEC said most of the political parties including Awami League, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, and Workers Party demanded introduction of transparent ballot boxes. And, BDB also suggested the same during its talk with the commission yesterday.

About polling agents, the CEC said the commission will study carefully how to change the existing culture of having a large number of polling agents in polling stations, in a bid to curb poll expenditure.

“We have to think of it deeply, how to keep the polling booths uncluttered and how to avoid the presence of a huge number of polling agents there. The polling agents work to check the authenticity of a voter. But this time the voter list will have photographs of voters, reducing considerably the possibility of fake votes being cast,” the CEC argued.

The BDB delegation led by its Secretary General Maj (retd) Abdul Mannan argued for reducing the number of polling agents for curbing poll expenditure. BDB leaders also said a large amount of money is spent only for hiring the polling agents.

The CEC lauded the BDB proposal and assured them of necessary steps addressing the issue.

The existing electoral laws say a contesting candidate or his/her election agent, may, before the commencement of the poll, appoint for each polling station not more than two polling agents if there is only one booth, and not more than five polling agents if there are more than one booths, and the contestant shall give notice thereof in writing to the presiding officer in advance.

During the electoral reform talk in the EC Secretariat’s conference room, BDB placed a set of proposals including one for allocating election symbols for individual candidates, cancelling the existing system of allocating one symbol for all nominated candidates of a political party. It also proposed allocation of Tk 5 per voter as election expenditure, and barring anti-liberation political parties and similar religious obscurantist forces from getting registration from the EC.

During the talk with BDB, the two other election commissioners, Muhammed Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, explained various electoral reform proposals drafted by the EC.