by Zahid Al Amin, February 25, 2009
A total of 33 journalists were assaulted or harassed in a total of 18 incidents across the country from January to March 2008. During the period nine newsmen received death threat in five different incidents while another one was given threat of physical assault while discharging his professional duties. Four journalists were physically assaulted in three incidents. Five cases were filed against 13 journalists while four were arrested in three cases. Police also harassed two journalists in another incident.
January:
Sixteen journalists were harassed in six different incidents in January. On January 2, the High Court stayed the rule of extortion of the case filed against Jahangir Alam Akash, Rajshahi Bureau Chief of the Daily Sangbad under Emergency Act. The court also asked the government why the appeal of including the case under Emergency Act will not illegal. It is noted that Jahangir Alam Akash was arrested on 24 October 2007 by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Rajshahi.
On January 11, unidentified miscreants attacked Sohel Sani, a Special Correspondent of The Bangla Bazaar Potrika and Executive Member of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). A group of armed terrorists suddenly attacked him with lethal weapons while he was returning home from works at city's Basabo area.
On January 11, Abdus Salam, a fertilizer trader of Natore has filed a defamation case of Tk 30 millions against five journalists. He filed the case with the Chief Judicial Court of Natore while the reporters published report against the selling of substandard fertilizer.
On January 11, District Administration of Narayanganj has cancelled declaration of seven newspapers. The newspapers are Dainik Sobar Kantha, Bartaman Jele, Dainik Ihokal, Weekly Jeeban Chitra, Weekly Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Shochitra Jana Jibon, Tamasha (Monthly), Lekha Chitra on ground that the newspapers were not being published regularly for a long time.
On January 15, a team of Joint Forces arrested two journalists of Bandorban on charge of extortion. The arrested journalists are Sadek Hossian Chowdhury of Suprovat Bangladesh H M Samrat of Channel One. Two other journalists were Kobir Hossain Siddiki, Bandarban correspondent of Channel-i and daily Sangbad and Alauffin Shahriar of RTV and daily Amader Shomoy who remained absconding. A false case was filed while the journalists published reports and pictures of gambling and nude dance. On January 15, discussants at a meeting said that the trial of the eminent journalist Manik Saha, who was murdered, could not be completed due to the negligence and reluctance of the BNP-Jamaat government and administration.
On January 21, Shawpan Mirza, Sirajganj District Correspondent of Ekushey Television and Moktar Hossain of The Daily Destiny received death threat through mobile phone. On January 25, the military-backed caretaker government asked the private television channels to avoid telecasting all kinds of live talk shows. The officials, however, said they did not impose any ban on the broadcasting live shows. Earlier, on January 10, Ekushey Television authorities received a fax message from the administration directing to cancel its schedule live programs - Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat. The fax message did not carry any phone number or signature of the sender. On January 28, a defamation case was filed against the Editor Moinul Ahsan Saber, publisher Mahfuj Anam, Chief Reporter Badrul Anam Nabil and reporter Masud Kamal of the Weekly 2000.
February:
Ten journalists were harassed/repressed in five incidents in March. On February 01, The Ekhushey Television (ETV), a private television channel resumed broadcasting its popular program Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat. The authorities concerned had imposed ban on these program on January 25. The government gave permission to resume broadcast with some terms and condition.
On February 2, a convicted terrorist attack the journalists in court premises of C'Nawabganj. According to eyewitnesses, after the court verdict of life sentence, an active member of Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) Tufan attack Zahid Hasan, a correspondent of private television channel Bangla Vishion despite huge police presence. On February 7, a court granted bail to Jahangir Alam Akash, General Secretary of Rajshahi Journalist Union and Rajshahi correspondent of daily Sangbad for three months. A bench comprising justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and justice Md. Ashraful Islam granted the bail when he submitted the bail prayer to the court. On February 8, the court approved the bail of Sayed Borhan Kabir. One Belal Hossain filed a case with Dhaka Metropolitan Court on charge of bank check forgery of taka two lakhs on November 28, 2007. Following the hearing of the case, the court sentenced Borhan Kabir for one-year imprisonment and also fined taka three lakhs. Police arrested him on February 8, as a convicted person.
On February 8, police arrested journalist Sayed Borhan Kabir on charge of a check forgery case and sent him to jail. One Belal Hossain filed a forgery case of Taka two lakh with Dhaka Metropolitan Court on November 28, 2007. After the trial, the court sentenced Borhan Kabir to one-year imprisonment and also fined Taka three lakh. On February 13, a case was filed against AM Kamal Hossain, Correspondent of The Daily Amar Desh and former President of Kapashia, Gazipur. One Morshed Molla, Union Parishad member of Karihata UP filed the case on charge of extortion with Kapasia police station. Kamal Hosssian said that Morshed Mollah filed the false case while he wrote a report against his corruption. On February 13, Khulna Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal acquitted all the seven accused including the chief of the outlawed Janajuddha Party Abdur Rashid alias Dada Tapan in the journalist Humayun Kabir Balu murder case of Khulna police station. On February 16, Miscreants threatened Shwadhan Bikash Chakma, Baghai Chhari correspondent of the Daily Prothom Alo for life. On 25 February, A court ordered the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) authorities to conduct further investigation into the case filed in connection with attacking journalist Zahid Al Amin. The court also ordered the CMP authorities to complete the investigation by an Inspector of Detective Branch within March 27. On February 26, the caretaker administration formed the seventh Wage Board with retired High Court judge Habibur Rahman Khan as chairman for journalists and press employees. On February 26, Police Super of Tangail District assaulted Jahangir Hossain and Sohel Mohshin Shipon while they were taking snaps of torturing on a track driver in the toen. The Police Super Abdul Mannan himself also took away the camera of the journalists and threatened to though them into lock up. On February 28, A journalist of a weekly Shhersha Kagoj, who faces contempt of court charge along with his entire office staff including its Editor and also peon was directed to disclose the sources of the news headlined "A Judge too whitened black money" carried by the periodical.
March:
Ten journalists were harassed and assaulted in five different incidents in March. Six journalists received death threat in three incidents while one was arrested in another case. A case was filed against another journalist during the month. Police harassed two newsmen in another incident. On March 2, miscreants threatened to kill Abu Jafar Shabu, Gaibanda Correspondent of Daily Janakantha, Shahabul Shahin Tota of Prothom Alo, Syed Nurul Alam Jahangir of Daliy Karotoya and Hedayetul Islam Babu of Shishu Prokash for publishing report of corruption. Mosaddek-Sadekul group, allegedly a terrorist gang of Sadar upazila of Gaibanda gave the threat when the journalists published a news item on land grabbing of a female farmer of village Bhapara of the district. On 02 March, former chairman of Technical Education Board M Idris Ali apologized to journalists for assaulting two reporters and confining them to the board office at Agargaon in Dhaka on May 14, 2007. 'I am so sorry for assaulting two journalists — Mostaq Ahmed of Janakantha and Siddiqur Rahman Khan of New Age. I offer an apology,' Idris Ali said in the presence of some senior journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity where he went to offer an apology. Idirs Ali reportedly invited Mostaq to his office on May 14 to discuss a report on corruption published on the day against him. When Mostaq and Siddik went there, a group of miscreants attacked them. The government on May 16, 2007 removed Idris Ali on charge of assaulting the reporters. He also requested the journalists to withdraw the case filed against him. On 4 March, the chief adviser has approved Right to Information Ordinance, 2008. Once the Act is in force, all organizations registered under the law of the land will be bound to provide citizens with information on matters of public interest. Under the Act, the aggrieved individuals can first appeal with heads of the organizations and, if not satisfied, can go to the proposed information commission that will be based in the capital for not getting information or for being supplied with incorrect information. Anyone found guilty of refusing to provide information or of giving misinformation can be awarded imprisonment up to three months and fined Tk 25,000. On March 5, police arrested Abdul Awal Rubel, Chandpur correspondent of RTV and the daily Amader Shomoy on charge of extortion. Investigation Officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Monir said that Rubel and Manowar Kanon, district correspondent of the daily Manab Jameen demanded Taka 50 thousand to Jafar Iqbal Munna, a construction contractor of Chandpur. Police arrested the newsman Rubel when the construction contractor Munna informed the nearby police station in this regard. Another case was also filed against Manab Jameen reporter Manowar Kanon in same incident. On March 12, Mohammad Gias Uddin, President of Goura Nodi Press Club and local Correspondent of daily Samakal was given death threat for publishing a report on corruption. Sarkar Alam, a meter reader of Titas Gas Limited has given the threat to journalist Gias Uddin while he published a report on corruption in daily Samakal. In the report, the alleged that Sakar Alam's name was mentioned as the mastermind of demolishing an ancient building which was used by the freedom fighters during liberation war in 1971. On 16 March, 2008, the Government has announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008. The Ministry of Information of the People's Republic of Bangladesh invited applications for installation of Community Radio from the interested organizations. The handout said the communality radio installation, broadcast and operation policy 2008 was posted on the information ministry web site (www.moi.gov.bd) for the people interested in community radio licence. The submission of application is open until 15th April 2008.
On March 18, the Additional Chief Judicial Megistrate of Chandpur Md. Shelim Mian approved bail petition of Abdul Awal Rubel, Chandpur correspondent of RTV and the daily Amader Shomoy who was arrested on charge of extortion on March 5. The court also granted bail of another accused Manowar Kanon, district correspondent of the daily Manab Jameen while he surrendered before the court in the same case. On 20 March, a Dhaka court discharged former Prothom Alo cartoonist Arifur Rahman in connection with a case filed against him for a cartoon "hurting religious sentiments" published in the daily's satirical magazine "Aalpin" on September 17 last year. On September 20, OC Jane Alam filed the case against Arif with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
On 24 March, EZM Asaduzzaman Tipu, local correspondent of The Daily Star, after being informed of widespread cheating in the homeopathic examination, went to the examination venue at Kalibari intersection. The on-duty magistrates Rashidul Mannaf Kabir and Ashraf Hossen instantly ordered police to arrest him. Meanwhile police also arrested ATN Bangla reporter Ratan Sarker in the same indecent. After a few hours, police released the newsmen while all the journalists staged sit-in in front of DC office. On March 27, a court of Barishal has given bail to Md. Gias Uddin, Gouranadi Correspondent of daily Samakal and Abdul Matin, Editor of daily Dakkhinanchal. They were accused of a defamation case of Taka 70 lakh filed by a sacked schoolteacher Sardar Alauddin. On March 29, miscreants threatened to kill Mahbubur Rahman, Satkhira Correspondent of daily Sangbad. ABM Mostakim, a listed terrorist of Satkhira police threatened the newsman to kill following a report of his arrest by the joint force.
Death Threat/Threat:
On January 21, Shawpan Mirza, Sirajganj District Correspondent of Ekushey Television and Moktar Hossain of The Daily Destiny received death threat through mobile phone. The journalists informed that a controversial leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Sirajganj district gave the threat saying that the journalist informed the law enforcers about his illegal business.
On February 11, unidentified miscreants threatened Enamul Hoque, Rajapur Correspondent of Dainik Noya Diganta to kill from cell phone. The journalist said that miscreants have threatened him for making report on corruption. A General Diary (GD) was lodged with the concerned police station in this connection on February 14.
On February 16, Miscreants threatened Shwadhan Bikash Chakma, Baghai Chhari correspondent of the Daily Prothom Alo for life. Some miscreants led by Nanta Talukdaer, Assistant Teacher of Shialday Govt Private School asked the journalist, why he write against their irregularities in the newspaper. The warned the nesman to stop writing agaisnt them, otherwise he will be killed.
On March 2, miscreants threatened to kill Abu Jafar Shabu, Gaibanda Correspondent of Daily Janakantha, Shahabul Shahin Tota of Prothom Alo, Syed Nurul Alam Jahangir of Daliy Karotoya and Hedayetul Islam Babu of Shishu Prokash for publishing report of corruption. Local sources said that Mosaddek-Sadekul group, an identified terrorist group of Sadar upazila of Gaibanda gave the threat while the journalists published a news on land grabbing of a female farmer of village Bhapara of the district. A General Diary (GD) was recorded with the concerned police station in connection with the incident.
On March 12, Mohammad Gias Uddin, President of Goura Nodi Press Club and local Correspondent of the daily Samakal was given death threat for publishing a report on corruption. Sources said that Sarkar Alam, a meter reader of Titas Gas limited has given life threat to the journalist from the cell phone number - 01716398857. It is learnt that a corruption report was published in the daily Samakal where the alleged criminal Sakar Alam's name was mentioned as the mastermind of demolishing the building which was used by the freedom fighter during liberation war in 1971.
On March 29, miscreants threatened Mahbubur Rahman, Satkhira Correspondent of daily Sangbad. ABM Mostakim, a listed terrorist of law enforcing organizations threatened the newsman to kill following a report of his arrest by the joint force.
Attack/Physical Assault:
On January 11, unidentified miscreants attacked Sohel Sani, a Special Correspondent of The Bangla Bazaar Potrika and Executive Member of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU. According to the sources, a group of armed terrorists suddenly attacked him with lethal weapons while he was returning home from works at city's Basabo area. Locals rescued him in a critical condition and admitted to the Pongu Hospital. The cause behind the attack Sani could not be known till the time of filing this report.
On February 2, a convicted terrorist attack the journalists in the court premises of C'Nawabganj. According to the eyewitness, after the court verdict for life, an active member of Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) Tufan attack Zahid Hasan, a correspondent of private television channel Bangla Vishion in spite of the police security. The angry JMB man also destroyed the camera of Tufan. Later, the on duty police picked up the terrorist form the scene.
On February 26, Police Super of Tangail District assaulted Jahangir Hossain and Sohel Mohshin Shipon while they were taking snaps of torturing on a track driver in the toen. The Police Super Abdul Mannan himself also took away the camera of the journalists and threatened to though them into lock up.
Case/Arrest:
On January 11, Abdus Salam, a fertilizer trader of Natore filed a defamation case of 30 millions of Taka against five journalists. He filed the case to the Chief Judicial Court of Natore while the reporters published report against the selling of substandard fertilizer. The accused are Rejaul Karim Reza (Jai Jai Din), GM Iqbal Hasan (Janakantha), Ronen Roy (Vorer Kagoj), Aminul Hoque (Jana Desh) and Abdul Mannaf (Jana Desh).
On January 15, a team of Joint Force has arrested two journalists of Bandorban on charge of extortion. The arrested are identified as Sadek Hossian Chowdhury of Suprovat Bangladesh H M Samrat of Channel One. One Mong Chanu Marma filed the case accusing four local journalists of Bandorban as they demanded Taka 10 thousand as extortion to him. The two other journalists were Kobir Hossain Siddiki, Bandarban correspondent of Channel-i and daily Sangbad and Alauffin Shahriar of RTV and daily Amader Shomoy. Presently they are absconding. The false case was filed while the journalists published reports and pictures of gambling and nude dance.
On January 28, a defamation case was filed against the Editor Moinul Ahsan Saber, publisher Mahfuz Anam, Chief Reporter Badrul Anam Nabil and reporter Masud Kamal of the weekly 2000. Asharf Siddiqui, Chairman of Jaitya Party central committee on behalf of former president Hossain Mohammad Ershad. According to the case statement, an autobiography of Bidisha, former wife of Ershad was published in the weekly 2000 where the plaintiff found definable information that leads to file the case. However, the court dismissed the case saying that the victim Ershad didn't file the case.
On February 8, police arrested journalist Sayed Borhan Kabir on charge of a check forgery case and sent him to jail. One Belal Hossain filed a forgery case of Taka two lakh with Dhaka Metropolitan Court on November 28, 2007. After the trial, the court sentenced Borhan Kabir to one-year imprisonment and also fined Taka three lakh.
On February 13, a case was filed against AM Kamal Hossain, Correspondent of The Daily Amar Desh and former President of Kapashia, Gazipur. One Morshed Molla, Union Parishad member of Karihata UP filed the case on charge of extortion with Kapasia police station. Kamal Hosssian said that Morshed Mollah filed the false case while he published a report against his corruption.
On March 5, police arrested Abdul Awal Rubel, Chandpur correspondent of RTV and the Daily Amader Shomoy on charge of extortion. Investigation Officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Monir said that Rubel and Manowar Kanon, district correspondent of the daily Manab Jameen demanded Taka 50 thousand to Jafar Iqbal Munna, a construction contractor of Chandpur. Police arrested the newsman Rubel when the construction contractor Munna inform the nearby police station in this regard. Another case was also filed against Manab Jameen reporter Manowar Kanon in same incident.
Harassment:
On 24 March, Journalists of different electronic and print media staged a sit-in in front of the office of Nilphamari deputy commissioner (DC) protesting alleged harassment by officials during professional work. The officials arrested local correspondents of The Daily Star and ATN Bangla when they went to the examination venue of Nilphamari Homeopathy Medical College to carry out professional duties. Being informed of widespread cheating in the homeopathic examination, EZM Asaduzzaman Tipu, local correspondent of The Daily Star, went to the examination venue at Kalibari intersection will his camera at 11:00am. On-duty magistrates Rashidul Mannaf Kabir and Ashraf Hossen instantly ordered police to arrest him. He was detained in a room of the homeopathic college and police took his camera and mobile set. As ATN Bangla reporter Ratan Sarker went to enquire into the matter, the magistrates ordered police to arrest him too. Magistrate Ashraf Hossen uttered abusing words at the two newsmen and ordered police to take them to police station. Other journalists rushed to the spot and wanted to know from the magistrates the reason of their arrest but the magistrates ignored them. Later police released the journalists at about 11:30am. Local journalists staged sit-in on the DC office premises. They withdrew the sit-in when Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Tajul Islam on behalf of the deputy commissioner assured the journalists of taking departmental procedure.
Follow up:
On January 2, the High Court ordered to stay the rule of extortion case filed against Jahangir Alam Akash, Bureau Chief of Rajshahi, The Daily Sangbad under Emergency Act. The court also asked the government why the appeal of inclusion of the case under Emergency Act will not be declared illegal. It is noted that Jahangir Alam Akash was arrested on 24 October 2007 by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Rajshahi. He produced a television report that was broadcasted on 3 May 2007 alleging that RAB agents had shot a man at his home in front of his family although he posed no threat. Jahangir Alam Akash was charged with extortion, a charge widely believed to be false and politically motivated. The journalist was released on bail in November 2007 after over a month in detention. He has publicly stated that he has been tortured in detention by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) agents. Akash stated publicly that he was tortured by RAB agents, including with electric shocks, beating on the sole of his foot with a stick, and being hanged from the ceiling with his hands tied. Following his release in late November 2007, the Home Ministry, allegedly at the instigation of the Rajshahi RAB agents, instructed the police to apply to the case the provisions of the Emergency Powers Rules, 2007 (EPR), usually applied to detainees whom the authorities want to prevent from being released on bail allegedly on security grounds.
On January 15, discussants at the reminiscence meeting said that the trial of the eminent journalists of Manik Saha, who was murdered, was not completed due to the negligence and reluctance of the BNP-Jamaat government and administration. In the meeting, held at the Moni Singh- Farhad Memorial Trust to mark the fourth death anniversary of New Age correspondent Manik Saha, the speakers urged the interim government to take necessary steps to bring the killers to book immediately. They also had the BNP-Jamaat government responsible for patronising the killers instead of ensuring punishment to them, which increased the journalists' professional risk. The government failed to investigate the murder as many government officials were linked to those responsible for the murder, said Khusi Kobir of Nijera Kari. He proposed the formation of a civil investigation committee to probe the murder and expedite trial.
On February 01, The Ekhushey Television (ETV), a private television channel has resumed the broadcasting of its popular program Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat from. The authority concerned of the ruling government had imposed ban on these program on January 25. The government has given the permission with some terms and condition.
On February 7, a court granted bail Jahangir Alam Akash, General Secretary of Rajshahi Journalist Union and Rajshahi correspondent of daily Sangbad for three months. A bench of justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and justice Md. Ashraful Islam granted the bail while he submitted prayer to the court.
On February 8, Court approved the bail of Journalist Sayed Borhan Kabir. One Belal Hossain filed a case with Dhaka Metropolitan Court on charge of bank check forgery of Taka two lakh in November 28, 2007. Following the case, the court sent Borhan Kabir for one-year imprisonment and also fined Taka three lakh. Police arrested him on February 8, as a convicted person.
On February 13, Khulna Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal acquitted all the seven accused including the chief of the outlawed Janajuddha Party Abdur Rashid alias Dada Tapan in the journalist Humayun Kabir Balu murder case of Khulna police station. Humayun Kabir was the owner cum editor of a local daily "Janmobhumi" and the incumbent president of Khulna Press Club at the time of his murder. The victim was bombed to death by the assailants on June 27 in 2004 in broad daylight at the entrance of his newspaper office-cum residence on Islampur road in the city.
On 25 February, A court ordered the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) authorities to conduct further investigation into the case filed in connection with attacking journalist Zahid Al Amin. The court also ordered the CMP authorities to complete the investigation by an Inspector of Detective Branch within March 27. A group of unruly intern doctors and employees of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) beat Zahid Al Amin, the then staff reporter of the daily Nayadiganta, Chittagong Bureau and now an Assistant Editor of Dhaka based English weekly -- The Our Time, and Research Reporter of The Daily Amader Shomoy, when he went there to discharge professional duties on July 21, 2005. "I'm still getting threat from the attackers to withdraw the case", told Zahid saying that he is not yet safe from the culprits. They had repeatedly been threatening me over cell phone to kill, Zahid told to the newsmen.
On 02 March, Former Technical Education Board chairman M Idris Ali apologized to journalists for assaulting two reporters and confining them to the board office at Agargaon in Dhaka on May 14, 2007. 'I am so sorry for assaulting two journalists — Mostaq Ahmed of Janakantha and Siddiqur Rahman Khan of New Age. I offer an apology,' Idris Ali said in the presence of some senior journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity where he went to offer an apology. Idirs Ali reportedly invited Mostaq to his office on May 14 to discuss a report on corruption published on the day against him. Idris also requested the Janakantha news editor to send Mostaq to him. Mostaq along with Siddiqur Rahman Khan, a senior staff correspondent of New Age, went to meet Idris in his office at about 1:30pm on that day. At one point, a group of people led by Shajahan, Mamun, Barek, and Asadul attacked Mostaq and Siddiq for publishing the report. They snatched the identity cards and mobiles of the reporters. Mostaq then lodged an attempt-to-murder case against Idris and Mohammad Shajahan, then secretary of the board, Mamun-Or-Rashid, private secretary to the chairman, Barek, an employee of the board, and Asadul, an Ansars member on duty at the office. The government on May 16, 2007 removed Idris Ali on charge of assaulting the reporters. He requested the journalists to withdraw the case filed against him.
On March 18, The Additional Chief Judicial Megistrate of Chandpur Md. Shelim Mian has approved bail of Abdul Awal Rubel, Chandpur correspondent of Rtv and the daily Amader Shomoy who was arrested on charge of extortion on March 5.
On 20 March, A Dhaka court discharged former Prothom Alo cartoonist Arifur Rahman in connection with a case filed against him for a cartoon "hurting religious sentiments" published in the daily's satire magazine "Aalpin" on September 17 last year. Metropolitan Magistrate Mosammat Ismat Ara passed the order, as the complainant of the case Jane Alam Khan, the then officer-in-charge (OC) of Tejgaon police, did not appear before the court on several consecutive dates. The court had earlier summoned the complainant to appear before the court repeatedly, but he failed to comply with the court order. On September 20 last year, OC Jane Alam filed the case against Arif with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court for committing the offences. Before filing the case, Arif was arrested under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on September 18 and later he was shown arrested in the regular case. He was also given detention order under the special Powers Act 1974 that had earlier made illegal by the High Court (HC) following a writ petition challenging the legality of the detention order by the government. Following that day's order, there remains no bar to his release from the jail.
On 25 March, a Chandpur court approved bail of Manowar Kanon, Chandpur town correspondent of the daily Manabzameen while he surrendered to court. The journalist was accused of an extortion case of Taka 50 thousand. Jafar Iqbal Munna, a construction contractor of Chandpur has filed the case saying that the Kanon and his colleague Rubel demanded the money as extortion.
On March 27, a court of Barishal has granted bail to Md. Gias Uddin, Gouranadi Correspondent of daily Samakal and Abdul Matin, Editor of daily Dakkhinanchal. They were accused of a defamation case of Taka 70 lakh filed by a sacked schoolteacher Sardar Alauddin. After the investigation, police submitted the report to court on August 2007. The Additional Chief Judicial Megistrate of Barishal Khademul Islam has approved the bail as the police ingestion did not find them guilty.
Ban and license cancellation:
On January 11, District Administration of Narayanganj has cancelled declaration of seven newspapers. The newspapers are Dainik Sobar Kantha, Bartaman Jele, Dainik Ihokal, Weekly Jeeban Chitra, Weekly Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Shochitra Jana Jibon, Tamasha (Monthly), Lekha Chitra. The newspapers had not been published regularly for long.
On January 25, the military-backed caretaker government asked the private television channels to avoid tele-casting all kinds of live talk shows. The officials, however, said they did not impose any ban on the tele-casting live shows. Earlier, on January 10, Ekushey Television authorities received a fax message, without mentioning the name and signature of the sender, from the administration to cancel its schedule live popular telecasting live programs - Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat. Some other private channels also received similar instructions. Following the directions, Ekushey Television authorities cancelled broadcusting of its live talk show Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat.Authorities imposed a ban on telecast of any sorts of talk show during the August violence last year. A few days later, TV channels got permission to telecast talk shows on nine-point condition. But the channels started to broadcast live talk shows frequently thought the government suggested avoiding live talk shows. Meanwhile, Channe-i stopped audience question portion of its talk show Nirbachito Khobor.
Court verdict/Acquisition:
On February 28, a journalist of a weekly Shhersha Kagoj, who faces contempt of court charge along with his entire office staff including its Editor and also peon was directed to disclose the sources of the news headlined "A Judge too whitened black money" carried by the periodical. The High Court division bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shahidul Islam passed the order when the suo moto rule matter came up for order.
Journalist's Fundamental Right:
On February 26, the caretaker administration on Tuesday formed the seventh Wage Board with retired High Court judge Habibur Rahman Khan as chairman for journalists and press employees. The seventh Wage Board will review its predecessor's awards and announce the revised award following discussions with related parties. The board will submit its recommendations to the caretaker government in two months from now.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
How far we are from Digital Bangladesh
By Zahid Al Amin, June 3, 2009
After the agricultural and industrial revolution, the new millennium has been celebrating another revolution which entirely different kind is taking place across the globe. It is nothing but Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The wave of the revaluation has also touched the developing countries like Bangladesh with massive changes.
The Awami League led ruling government had pledged to turn the country as a Digital Bangladesh during there election campaign in last year. ICT is the main tool of the government to fulfill their commitment of changing the old days and bringing new in that place. They have lots of opportunities to do in this field.
At the heart of the startling development in some of the developing countries there lies ICT. Countries having access to and control over information will dominate the world economically and politically. While the huge march of the ICT revolution is going ahead in many countries, will Bangladesh remain merely a spectator?
"I feel very optimistic about Bangladesh getting to the frontline of IT revolution", said the Nobel laureate Peace Professor Muhammad Yunus.
While, Hua Du, who was the Country Director, Bangladesh Resident Mission of ADB told this correspondent in a recent interview that there is clearly a bright future for applying ICT in Bangladesh, to improve the delivery of Government services to the people, improve the efficiency in functioning of Government agencies, and reduce cost of doing business, in order to further accelerate economic growth and poverty reduction.
"ADB hopes to play a role in assisting Bangladesh to take full advantage of the opportunities available through the effective use of information and communication technology", she added.
But the experts on ICT sectors believe that problems in Bangladesh surrounding ICT are manifold including very low telephone density, high charge of internet service providers, access of insignificant number of people to internet, the present low speed and efficiency of the communication system in the country, low pace of computerization in various offices and sectors, absence of cyber laws and so on.
In the backdrop of all these, a big event has taken place couple of years ago. Bangladesh finally connected to the information super highway as fiber optic backbone within the country and the fiber optic submarine cable connection is going to be complete.
Bangladesh will be amidst a digital communication system many thousand times more efficient, speedy and powerful. But the question has been arisen that the nation as well as the government are getting ready for this big arrival?
It is noted that the ICT sector a large work force with different levels and various expertise is growing. Computer literacy is imparted, computer applications are taught, training given, diploma, bachelor's and master's degrees awarded.
However, the training centers, schools, colleges, computer institutes, private universities and public universities are all contributing in different ways. The related departments are IT, ICT, Computer Applications, Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Telecommunication Engineering.
The ICT experts believed that necessary steps for quality control of computer education of all kinds should be taken. The need and supply of the ICT work force of different level is to be assessed very soon.
Renowned ICT personality Mostafa Jabbar said that, we cannot reap the benefits of ICT if it is confined in selected households in one or two big cities and if we fail to take it to the doorsteps of general people throughout the country.
"It is possible to open a huge number of cyber centers in the small towns and villages in the country. The cyber centers can be a place where people will get opportunity to send and receive e-mail and can have telephonic talk over the internet. These are the places where people will have access to internet for information on agriculture and business, health service and can have education, entertainment and so on through internet", he added.
He also said that all post offices can work as cyber centers, in addition to their normal present duties. These cyber centers can be economically profitable for the entrepreneurs.
ICT can generate an experienced IT workforce which cannot only earn money within the country but fetch huge amount of money from abroad. Although the ultimate hope of IT revolution depends on private enterprise, it is the introduction of e-governance that can trigger the IT revolution in the country as it covers all sectors and the whole country.
Muhib Ahmed Emon, a promising IT expert suggested that as part of e-Governance, the Prime Minister's office may be connected with all the advisers through internet. The ministers and directorates can have connection with their departments throughout the country. Establishment ministry can have connection with DC offices which in turn can have connection with TNO offices. Through intranet Home Ministry can be connected with BDR, Coast Guard and Ansar Head Quarters and SP offices which in turn can be connected with all thanas. Thanas can have information of all recorded crimes and investigation reports.
"Electronic databases may be used to store details of crimes committed, list of criminals along with their biometric signatures in the form of photographs and fingerprints. However, the reliable biometric devices and related software are already available in the market", he added.
Progress of different projects in distant places can be monitored from the capital city and divisional headquarters. Tender advertisement and tender bidding for government purchases can be done using the internet. Status of various projects of public interest could be displayed through a web site.
All information about different stages, starting from the initial conception of a project, to approval of the project, floating of tender documents and ending up with the awarding of the contract to the bidder could be made available to the general public for the sake of transparency. Advertisement for various posts in the government sector may be put up on the websites of the ministry concerned and candidates may apply through internet.
Country's ICT experts believed that the Government should immediately take steps to create a Central Data Bank (CDB) for the entire population. Electronic ID cards should be made for each individual. The ID card can be used for voting, opening a bank account, having a license or passport, giving tax or income tax, for obtaining job and so on. After the implementation of expected ICT infrastructure, consumers can be paid various utility bills like power supply, water supply, gas supply and telecommunications through internet. They can also interact with these utility agencies regarding inaccurate bills or other complaints.
However, Bangladesh has great potentialities for earning crores of dollars in foreign currency by providing ICT-enabled services to the foreign buyers. Availability of large number of computer-trained young people with English base on the one hand and cheap wage of the trained manpower on the other puts Bangladesh in an advantageous position. Political will of the government manifested in the declaration of ICT as a 'Thrust Sector' and its desire to turn Bangladesh into an ICT driven country will definitely help. The prospective ICT enabled services are call centres, medical transcription, data entry, back office processing, insurance claim processing, salary processing, engineering design, translation, animation and many things more.
There has been an explosion of information, creation of transparency and a tremendous opportunity for acquiring knowledge and doing research in all disciplines through Internet. People have access to libraries, books and journals through internet.
Telemedicine or e-health care has a great future in Bangladesh. Patients in the remote places can consult the doctors over the internet. Using telemedicine, doctors and other caregivers can consult with specialists thousands of miles away, provide diagnosis and treatment, continually upgrade their education and skills; and share medical records and X-rays. Telemedicine or e-health care can be of great help for the health of the rural people. A village can be linked to the health services available inside and outside the country.
Country's rural economy and health care can be substantially improved with the application of ICT. Farmers can have continued specific advice regarding fertilizers, choice of crops and timing of sowing for their individual plots.
Taking the advantage of nationwide infrastructure in telecommunication, IT enabled services could be set up in rural areas. Businesses will take the advantage of low cost of office space and lower wages. Standard of living in rural areas will grow. Educated rural youths will get employment. This will help lower the rate of migration to big cities.
The electronic commerce which is familiar as e-commerce covers many forms of trade of goods and services, all of which rely on the internet to market, identify, select, pay for and deliver these goods and services.
It is noted that the past government approved the National ICT policy in October 2002 with the aim of building an ICT-driven nation comprising a knowledge-based society. A project "Support to ICT Task Force" primarily for introducing e-governance is also being implemented.
It is much felt that there should be a Centre for E-governance Initiative which will oversee the total ICT implementation in the country thus coordinating all ICT activities.
The experts believed that to help the ICT sector flourish in the country, there is a great need for an effective legal framework. Suitable legal reforms can create an ICT friendly legal environment which will help this sector grow by attracting investment.
In order to let the ICT sector take off, ruling government need to take initiative for a comprehensive cyber law without any further delay. Bangladesh is passing through a juncture where the present government has the opportunity to take the nation successfully into the digital world and can thus play a historic role at the dawn of this new millennium
After the agricultural and industrial revolution, the new millennium has been celebrating another revolution which entirely different kind is taking place across the globe. It is nothing but Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The wave of the revaluation has also touched the developing countries like Bangladesh with massive changes.
The Awami League led ruling government had pledged to turn the country as a Digital Bangladesh during there election campaign in last year. ICT is the main tool of the government to fulfill their commitment of changing the old days and bringing new in that place. They have lots of opportunities to do in this field.
At the heart of the startling development in some of the developing countries there lies ICT. Countries having access to and control over information will dominate the world economically and politically. While the huge march of the ICT revolution is going ahead in many countries, will Bangladesh remain merely a spectator?
"I feel very optimistic about Bangladesh getting to the frontline of IT revolution", said the Nobel laureate Peace Professor Muhammad Yunus.
While, Hua Du, who was the Country Director, Bangladesh Resident Mission of ADB told this correspondent in a recent interview that there is clearly a bright future for applying ICT in Bangladesh, to improve the delivery of Government services to the people, improve the efficiency in functioning of Government agencies, and reduce cost of doing business, in order to further accelerate economic growth and poverty reduction.
"ADB hopes to play a role in assisting Bangladesh to take full advantage of the opportunities available through the effective use of information and communication technology", she added.
But the experts on ICT sectors believe that problems in Bangladesh surrounding ICT are manifold including very low telephone density, high charge of internet service providers, access of insignificant number of people to internet, the present low speed and efficiency of the communication system in the country, low pace of computerization in various offices and sectors, absence of cyber laws and so on.
In the backdrop of all these, a big event has taken place couple of years ago. Bangladesh finally connected to the information super highway as fiber optic backbone within the country and the fiber optic submarine cable connection is going to be complete.
Bangladesh will be amidst a digital communication system many thousand times more efficient, speedy and powerful. But the question has been arisen that the nation as well as the government are getting ready for this big arrival?
It is noted that the ICT sector a large work force with different levels and various expertise is growing. Computer literacy is imparted, computer applications are taught, training given, diploma, bachelor's and master's degrees awarded.
However, the training centers, schools, colleges, computer institutes, private universities and public universities are all contributing in different ways. The related departments are IT, ICT, Computer Applications, Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Telecommunication Engineering.
The ICT experts believed that necessary steps for quality control of computer education of all kinds should be taken. The need and supply of the ICT work force of different level is to be assessed very soon.
Renowned ICT personality Mostafa Jabbar said that, we cannot reap the benefits of ICT if it is confined in selected households in one or two big cities and if we fail to take it to the doorsteps of general people throughout the country.
"It is possible to open a huge number of cyber centers in the small towns and villages in the country. The cyber centers can be a place where people will get opportunity to send and receive e-mail and can have telephonic talk over the internet. These are the places where people will have access to internet for information on agriculture and business, health service and can have education, entertainment and so on through internet", he added.
He also said that all post offices can work as cyber centers, in addition to their normal present duties. These cyber centers can be economically profitable for the entrepreneurs.
ICT can generate an experienced IT workforce which cannot only earn money within the country but fetch huge amount of money from abroad. Although the ultimate hope of IT revolution depends on private enterprise, it is the introduction of e-governance that can trigger the IT revolution in the country as it covers all sectors and the whole country.
Muhib Ahmed Emon, a promising IT expert suggested that as part of e-Governance, the Prime Minister's office may be connected with all the advisers through internet. The ministers and directorates can have connection with their departments throughout the country. Establishment ministry can have connection with DC offices which in turn can have connection with TNO offices. Through intranet Home Ministry can be connected with BDR, Coast Guard and Ansar Head Quarters and SP offices which in turn can be connected with all thanas. Thanas can have information of all recorded crimes and investigation reports.
"Electronic databases may be used to store details of crimes committed, list of criminals along with their biometric signatures in the form of photographs and fingerprints. However, the reliable biometric devices and related software are already available in the market", he added.
Progress of different projects in distant places can be monitored from the capital city and divisional headquarters. Tender advertisement and tender bidding for government purchases can be done using the internet. Status of various projects of public interest could be displayed through a web site.
All information about different stages, starting from the initial conception of a project, to approval of the project, floating of tender documents and ending up with the awarding of the contract to the bidder could be made available to the general public for the sake of transparency. Advertisement for various posts in the government sector may be put up on the websites of the ministry concerned and candidates may apply through internet.
Country's ICT experts believed that the Government should immediately take steps to create a Central Data Bank (CDB) for the entire population. Electronic ID cards should be made for each individual. The ID card can be used for voting, opening a bank account, having a license or passport, giving tax or income tax, for obtaining job and so on. After the implementation of expected ICT infrastructure, consumers can be paid various utility bills like power supply, water supply, gas supply and telecommunications through internet. They can also interact with these utility agencies regarding inaccurate bills or other complaints.
However, Bangladesh has great potentialities for earning crores of dollars in foreign currency by providing ICT-enabled services to the foreign buyers. Availability of large number of computer-trained young people with English base on the one hand and cheap wage of the trained manpower on the other puts Bangladesh in an advantageous position. Political will of the government manifested in the declaration of ICT as a 'Thrust Sector' and its desire to turn Bangladesh into an ICT driven country will definitely help. The prospective ICT enabled services are call centres, medical transcription, data entry, back office processing, insurance claim processing, salary processing, engineering design, translation, animation and many things more.
There has been an explosion of information, creation of transparency and a tremendous opportunity for acquiring knowledge and doing research in all disciplines through Internet. People have access to libraries, books and journals through internet.
Telemedicine or e-health care has a great future in Bangladesh. Patients in the remote places can consult the doctors over the internet. Using telemedicine, doctors and other caregivers can consult with specialists thousands of miles away, provide diagnosis and treatment, continually upgrade their education and skills; and share medical records and X-rays. Telemedicine or e-health care can be of great help for the health of the rural people. A village can be linked to the health services available inside and outside the country.
Country's rural economy and health care can be substantially improved with the application of ICT. Farmers can have continued specific advice regarding fertilizers, choice of crops and timing of sowing for their individual plots.
Taking the advantage of nationwide infrastructure in telecommunication, IT enabled services could be set up in rural areas. Businesses will take the advantage of low cost of office space and lower wages. Standard of living in rural areas will grow. Educated rural youths will get employment. This will help lower the rate of migration to big cities.
The electronic commerce which is familiar as e-commerce covers many forms of trade of goods and services, all of which rely on the internet to market, identify, select, pay for and deliver these goods and services.
It is noted that the past government approved the National ICT policy in October 2002 with the aim of building an ICT-driven nation comprising a knowledge-based society. A project "Support to ICT Task Force" primarily for introducing e-governance is also being implemented.
It is much felt that there should be a Centre for E-governance Initiative which will oversee the total ICT implementation in the country thus coordinating all ICT activities.
The experts believed that to help the ICT sector flourish in the country, there is a great need for an effective legal framework. Suitable legal reforms can create an ICT friendly legal environment which will help this sector grow by attracting investment.
In order to let the ICT sector take off, ruling government need to take initiative for a comprehensive cyber law without any further delay. Bangladesh is passing through a juncture where the present government has the opportunity to take the nation successfully into the digital world and can thus play a historic role at the dawn of this new millennium
The way Dr. Yunus befools the world
by Zahid Al Amin January 24, 2009
Dr. Muhammed Yunus and his Nobel prize winning Grameen Bank continues to project Jobra village and Sufia Begum as example of their excellent success stories to the international audience. Through such campaign, Dr. Muhammed Yunus has attained tremendous attention of the international community. He is by now known in the entire world as the 'pioneer' of micro credit, for which he got Nobel Peace prize few years back. Dr. Yunus enjoys high esteemed in the international arena and maintains close connections with a number of global leaders. In brief, Dr. Yunus is truly a very high profile individual.
For months, extensive investigation into the so-called success models of Grameen Bank and Dr. Yunus were initiated by Bangladesh's most influential newspaper Weekly Blitz. On the basis of such investigation, series of stories of virtual fraud by this high profile man was unearthed.
Sufia Khatun is the first borrower of loan from Dr. Yunus's Grameen Bank. Her name has already crossed international boundaries of many countries, as Grameen Bank proudly pronounces her name as one of the brilliant success stories of their micro-credit loans. But, many are yet to know the real stories. The stories of deception by Dr. Yunus and his Grameen Bank! They even do not know, how Sufia Begum passed her last days of life and how the members of her family are living in extreme poverty in present days.
Almost one decade back, Sufia Begum died due to extreme poverty and lack of any minimum medical treatment. When documentary films were being made on this woman, she was living as a beggar. People of Jobra village are still remaining as witness of such extreme sorrows of Sufia Begum. Though Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank claimed to have helped Sufia Begum in erecting her own building, in reality, she used to live in a almost broken hut, where her family members are living till now.
Sufia Begum's daughter Halima [48] and Noor Nahar [45] still lives on begging. Seeing this correspondent both the sisters said that they were left absolutely pauper and have to beg for survival. But on investigation, it was found that, Sufia Begum died in 1998 due to extreme poverty and local people had to collect donations for her funeral and burial. One of her grand daughters died few years back due to poverty.
The house, which is shown by Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank as Sufia's is actually owned by one Jabel Hussain who lives in Dubai [United Arab Emirates]. Jabel Hussain has instructed his relatives in Bangladesh to sue Dr. Yunus and Grameen bank if his house is ever shown as Sufia's in future.
Jabel Hussain said, "Dr. Yunus is a fraud. How he managed to get the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize? This prize should be immediately withdrawn from this monster".
Dr. Muhammed Yunus gave TK. 20 [US$ 0.30] to Sufia Begum Years back as loan with the condition of returning in time with interest. Sufia Begum returned that money and got second loan of Tk. 500 from Yunus. She was so excited that spread the news in the entire village. This was the beginning of Grammen Bank concept. But, most of the borrowers, who took money from Dr. Yunus, gradually turned poor to poorest as they were compelled to pay regular interests. In Jobra village alone, a large number of villagers have already been turned into pauper by Dr. Yunus and his Grameen Bank.
Uday Kumar Barua, a resident of Jobra village told Shaptahik 2000 that, even a single person in the Jobra village was not benefited by Dr. Yunus. Most of the borrowers turned completely pauper and they even had to sell their homes for paying the loan interest and left the village. Many of them even ended up as baggers.
Even after having Hillary Clinton in one of the Grameen bank's project at Rishi Palli at Moshihati, shrewd Yunus initiated a project named 'Hillary Adarsha' [Hillary Model] and started distributing loans to the locals. Although Hillary Clinton was given assurance of providing soft-term loan to the poor villagers, in reality, they [the villagers] were to pay 30-40 per cent interest.
Commenting on Sufia Begum's family, a neighbor named Muhammed Rokunazzaman told this correspondent that this family is the poorest in the village.
Dr. Yunus continues to keep the virtual ownership of Grameen Bank and all other enterprises established under this umbrella in his own hand. He recently forced Mr. Dipal Chandra Barua, who climbed into the position of Deputy Managing Director of Grameen Bank through his hard work since its inception. Following his forced removal, Dipal Barua told local press that, Dr. Yunus does not want anyone to ride into the top position of the bank, as he loves to maintain this organization as a mere one-man-show.
Dr. Muhammed Yunus and his Nobel prize winning Grameen Bank continues to project Jobra village and Sufia Begum as example of their excellent success stories to the international audience. Through such campaign, Dr. Muhammed Yunus has attained tremendous attention of the international community. He is by now known in the entire world as the 'pioneer' of micro credit, for which he got Nobel Peace prize few years back. Dr. Yunus enjoys high esteemed in the international arena and maintains close connections with a number of global leaders. In brief, Dr. Yunus is truly a very high profile individual.
For months, extensive investigation into the so-called success models of Grameen Bank and Dr. Yunus were initiated by Bangladesh's most influential newspaper Weekly Blitz. On the basis of such investigation, series of stories of virtual fraud by this high profile man was unearthed.
Sufia Khatun is the first borrower of loan from Dr. Yunus's Grameen Bank. Her name has already crossed international boundaries of many countries, as Grameen Bank proudly pronounces her name as one of the brilliant success stories of their micro-credit loans. But, many are yet to know the real stories. The stories of deception by Dr. Yunus and his Grameen Bank! They even do not know, how Sufia Begum passed her last days of life and how the members of her family are living in extreme poverty in present days.
Almost one decade back, Sufia Begum died due to extreme poverty and lack of any minimum medical treatment. When documentary films were being made on this woman, she was living as a beggar. People of Jobra village are still remaining as witness of such extreme sorrows of Sufia Begum. Though Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank claimed to have helped Sufia Begum in erecting her own building, in reality, she used to live in a almost broken hut, where her family members are living till now.
Sufia Begum's daughter Halima [48] and Noor Nahar [45] still lives on begging. Seeing this correspondent both the sisters said that they were left absolutely pauper and have to beg for survival. But on investigation, it was found that, Sufia Begum died in 1998 due to extreme poverty and local people had to collect donations for her funeral and burial. One of her grand daughters died few years back due to poverty.
The house, which is shown by Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank as Sufia's is actually owned by one Jabel Hussain who lives in Dubai [United Arab Emirates]. Jabel Hussain has instructed his relatives in Bangladesh to sue Dr. Yunus and Grameen bank if his house is ever shown as Sufia's in future.
Jabel Hussain said, "Dr. Yunus is a fraud. How he managed to get the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize? This prize should be immediately withdrawn from this monster".
Dr. Muhammed Yunus gave TK. 20 [US$ 0.30] to Sufia Begum Years back as loan with the condition of returning in time with interest. Sufia Begum returned that money and got second loan of Tk. 500 from Yunus. She was so excited that spread the news in the entire village. This was the beginning of Grammen Bank concept. But, most of the borrowers, who took money from Dr. Yunus, gradually turned poor to poorest as they were compelled to pay regular interests. In Jobra village alone, a large number of villagers have already been turned into pauper by Dr. Yunus and his Grameen Bank.
Uday Kumar Barua, a resident of Jobra village told Shaptahik 2000 that, even a single person in the Jobra village was not benefited by Dr. Yunus. Most of the borrowers turned completely pauper and they even had to sell their homes for paying the loan interest and left the village. Many of them even ended up as baggers.
Even after having Hillary Clinton in one of the Grameen bank's project at Rishi Palli at Moshihati, shrewd Yunus initiated a project named 'Hillary Adarsha' [Hillary Model] and started distributing loans to the locals. Although Hillary Clinton was given assurance of providing soft-term loan to the poor villagers, in reality, they [the villagers] were to pay 30-40 per cent interest.
Commenting on Sufia Begum's family, a neighbor named Muhammed Rokunazzaman told this correspondent that this family is the poorest in the village.
Dr. Yunus continues to keep the virtual ownership of Grameen Bank and all other enterprises established under this umbrella in his own hand. He recently forced Mr. Dipal Chandra Barua, who climbed into the position of Deputy Managing Director of Grameen Bank through his hard work since its inception. Following his forced removal, Dipal Barua told local press that, Dr. Yunus does not want anyone to ride into the top position of the bank, as he loves to maintain this organization as a mere one-man-show.
Manmade disasters engulf Bangladesh
by Zahid Al Amin June 13, 2011
Just in 10 days, Bangladesh has witness human tragedy at Dhaka's Begunbari, Nimtali and Shanti Nagar incidentally all are heavily dense populated location in the capital. Experts are seen two different reasons behind such human catastrophe while many are arraign Dhaka's town planning system and defectors construction method behind such tragedy. It is even predicted that such devastation may continue in Bangladesh in short or longer pause. The 400 hundred years old city – Dhaka is now face to face of real challenge of its existence from all sorts of natural and man-made disasters like earthquake, fire incidents etc.
Nimtali tragedy:
The ever most disastrous fire incidents in Bangladesh that has been taken 117 lives of 54 families in the eight buildings of Nimtali located in the old part of the capital, which also more than 150 were injured so far. Mixing residential and industrial establish in the same locality is the prime reason behind the Nimtali's incident. According to the information, hundreds of industrial establishment both legal and illegal are operating within old part of Dhaka leaving severe threat to citizens safety.
Begunbari and Shanti Nagar incidents:
Regarding Begunbari and Shanti Nagar incidents are possible result of growing usage of substandard cement, popularly known as pozolonic cement (Mostly mix with fly ash). None of the city in the world, pozolonic cement can be used for high rise constructions, while in Bangladesh such cements are even used in heavy infrastructures such as Jamuna Bridge etc. Engineering experts have been repeatedly warning the government about possible disaster due to usage of substandard cements in heavy constructions but a few are continuing to produce and market such cements by managing various officials in the department concerned.
According to the detail area plan of Rajdhani Unyanyon Kartipakkha (RAJUK), at best 250 people can live in each acre of land in a dense populated city like Dhaka. But in an average 500 people are living in the old part of the capital in every acre of land. Renowned urban planner Nazrul Islam told the journalists that population of Dhaka city will be reach at 25 million but the city is yet to be prepared to accommodate such a big number of inhabitants. It is learnt that there are 150 million people are living in 530 square kilometer are which is under RAJUK boundary. Which is one-fifteenth of the total population of the country.
There are 10 thousand illegal and unplanned residential buildings existing in Dhaka, a source of RAJUk informed. On the other hand, mushroom growth of real estate companies in recent years is another cause of headache of the city dwellers. Most of the real estate companies are reported violating laws while constructing high rise buildings as well as commercial buildings in the city.
The source further said that, a large number of commercial high rise buildings in Dhaka city's Purana Paltan, Kakrail and Naya Paltan area are not having any fire fighting tools inside the buildings. Many of the building owners have even rented out the under-ground parking area to various industrial establishments.
Skylark Point is one such building located at 24/A Bijoy Nagar [near Deaf and Dumb School]. The entire car parking lot of this building has already been leased out to an industrial enterprise, which is using the under-ground parking area for storing various types of flammable commodities, including high-flammable chemicals. Though the owners of this building were repeatedly warned by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha, owners did not pay minimum heed to it. Moreover, the dozens of vehicles owned by the owners and tenants of this building are parked on the street causing regular traffic congestion. Members of law enforcing agencies, including traffic police are regularly compensated by the owners of this building for refraining from taking any action against the illegally parked vehicles around this building.
Risk for earthquake:
Experts have attributed the tilting or collapse of several buildings in the capital during the last several days either to impact of the recent Andaman earthquake or faulty design and construction. An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale occurred in the Indian Andaman Islands at midnight of June 1, 2010.
The four buildings which either collapsed or tilted in the capital during the three days are - Concord Grand building at Shantinagar, a five-storey building at Purba Nakhalpara and one seven-storey and another five-storey buildings at Begunbari.
To drive his point home, Prof Mehedi Hasan Ansary of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said on September 19, 1985, a major earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred on the Pacific coast, about 350 km from the Mexico city. As a result, a 25 square km area of Mexico City was damaged killing 10,000 people and injuring 50,000 others. Similarly, the Andaman earthquake might be the reason for the recent tilting of several buildings in the capital, he maintained. He pointed out that 30 per cent soil in many areas of the capital city Dhaka is not suitable for construction of high-rise buildings. Construction of buildings should be considered on the basis of soil capacity, he said adding, "We should be very careful about it". "If an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale hits Dhaka city it would result in the death of at least 1,31,000 people due to fragile and faulty structure of the residential buildings and commercial centres. Besides, some 72,316 houses out of total 326,825 would be destroyed completely, " Prof Ansary said.
It is noted that Bangladesh is prone to earthquake as it is located along the border of Eurasian and Indo-Australian plates where earthquake occurs at regular intervals and its size is comparatively uniform.
According to experts, as Bangladesh is located in the earthquake-prone zone and the neighbouring countries are being hit frequently by powerful earthquake, there is a possibility that Bangladesh might also experience a devastating earthquake at some point any time resulting severe human catastrophe.
Just in 10 days, Bangladesh has witness human tragedy at Dhaka's Begunbari, Nimtali and Shanti Nagar incidentally all are heavily dense populated location in the capital. Experts are seen two different reasons behind such human catastrophe while many are arraign Dhaka's town planning system and defectors construction method behind such tragedy. It is even predicted that such devastation may continue in Bangladesh in short or longer pause. The 400 hundred years old city – Dhaka is now face to face of real challenge of its existence from all sorts of natural and man-made disasters like earthquake, fire incidents etc.
Nimtali tragedy:
The ever most disastrous fire incidents in Bangladesh that has been taken 117 lives of 54 families in the eight buildings of Nimtali located in the old part of the capital, which also more than 150 were injured so far. Mixing residential and industrial establish in the same locality is the prime reason behind the Nimtali's incident. According to the information, hundreds of industrial establishment both legal and illegal are operating within old part of Dhaka leaving severe threat to citizens safety.
Begunbari and Shanti Nagar incidents:
Regarding Begunbari and Shanti Nagar incidents are possible result of growing usage of substandard cement, popularly known as pozolonic cement (Mostly mix with fly ash). None of the city in the world, pozolonic cement can be used for high rise constructions, while in Bangladesh such cements are even used in heavy infrastructures such as Jamuna Bridge etc. Engineering experts have been repeatedly warning the government about possible disaster due to usage of substandard cements in heavy constructions but a few are continuing to produce and market such cements by managing various officials in the department concerned.
According to the detail area plan of Rajdhani Unyanyon Kartipakkha (RAJUK), at best 250 people can live in each acre of land in a dense populated city like Dhaka. But in an average 500 people are living in the old part of the capital in every acre of land. Renowned urban planner Nazrul Islam told the journalists that population of Dhaka city will be reach at 25 million but the city is yet to be prepared to accommodate such a big number of inhabitants. It is learnt that there are 150 million people are living in 530 square kilometer are which is under RAJUK boundary. Which is one-fifteenth of the total population of the country.
There are 10 thousand illegal and unplanned residential buildings existing in Dhaka, a source of RAJUk informed. On the other hand, mushroom growth of real estate companies in recent years is another cause of headache of the city dwellers. Most of the real estate companies are reported violating laws while constructing high rise buildings as well as commercial buildings in the city.
The source further said that, a large number of commercial high rise buildings in Dhaka city's Purana Paltan, Kakrail and Naya Paltan area are not having any fire fighting tools inside the buildings. Many of the building owners have even rented out the under-ground parking area to various industrial establishments.
Skylark Point is one such building located at 24/A Bijoy Nagar [near Deaf and Dumb School]. The entire car parking lot of this building has already been leased out to an industrial enterprise, which is using the under-ground parking area for storing various types of flammable commodities, including high-flammable chemicals. Though the owners of this building were repeatedly warned by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha, owners did not pay minimum heed to it. Moreover, the dozens of vehicles owned by the owners and tenants of this building are parked on the street causing regular traffic congestion. Members of law enforcing agencies, including traffic police are regularly compensated by the owners of this building for refraining from taking any action against the illegally parked vehicles around this building.
Risk for earthquake:
Experts have attributed the tilting or collapse of several buildings in the capital during the last several days either to impact of the recent Andaman earthquake or faulty design and construction. An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale occurred in the Indian Andaman Islands at midnight of June 1, 2010.
The four buildings which either collapsed or tilted in the capital during the three days are - Concord Grand building at Shantinagar, a five-storey building at Purba Nakhalpara and one seven-storey and another five-storey buildings at Begunbari.
To drive his point home, Prof Mehedi Hasan Ansary of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said on September 19, 1985, a major earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred on the Pacific coast, about 350 km from the Mexico city. As a result, a 25 square km area of Mexico City was damaged killing 10,000 people and injuring 50,000 others. Similarly, the Andaman earthquake might be the reason for the recent tilting of several buildings in the capital, he maintained. He pointed out that 30 per cent soil in many areas of the capital city Dhaka is not suitable for construction of high-rise buildings. Construction of buildings should be considered on the basis of soil capacity, he said adding, "We should be very careful about it". "If an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale hits Dhaka city it would result in the death of at least 1,31,000 people due to fragile and faulty structure of the residential buildings and commercial centres. Besides, some 72,316 houses out of total 326,825 would be destroyed completely, " Prof Ansary said.
It is noted that Bangladesh is prone to earthquake as it is located along the border of Eurasian and Indo-Australian plates where earthquake occurs at regular intervals and its size is comparatively uniform.
According to experts, as Bangladesh is located in the earthquake-prone zone and the neighbouring countries are being hit frequently by powerful earthquake, there is a possibility that Bangladesh might also experience a devastating earthquake at some point any time resulting severe human catastrophe.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
For Hosne Ara: A Bangladeshi Housewife
by Zahid Al Amin
Created November 2010, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Please note: this story contains extremely graphic content and is not appropriate for children. Viewers may wish to prepare for the fact that strong feelings might arise in response to watching the piece.
Journalist Zahid traces a path from inspiration to disillusionment in this brutal tale about twin horrors: the senseless death by acid burning of a Bangladeshi housewife, and his own torture and subsequent exclusion from the countrys media community.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Akram H. Cowdhury pleads for compensation-Remove reservation on Article 14 to ensure tortured victims rights
Sunday July 02 2006 11:12:14 AM BDT
By Zahid Al Amin
When repression and tortures by the law enforcers marked an extreme rise in the country, the United Nations (UN) is going to observe the International Day to voice against the victims of torture and inhuman activities.
Talking to "The Bangladesh Observer", Akram Hossain Chowdhury, country's leading human rights activist, referred to the recent deadly incidence at Kansat and the barbaric attack on journalists in Chittagong. "The incident at Kansat was unimaginable in the present days. But these types of human rights violation have became the regular phenomena," he pointed out.
Chowdhury said that it could be easily understood how the law enforcers dared to swoop on the journalists at Chittagong Divisional stadium.
Akram Hossain Chowdhury, who is also the Executive Member of International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), pointed out different incidences of tortures and harassment by Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and other law enforcers and said that there were no political commitments to stop such inhuman activities.
Akram Hossain Chowdhury is the first Bangladeshi, who achieved LML degree on human rights law. He is also the Founder of Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRTC).
He claimed that their research cell found a real picture of tortures by the law enforcing men like beating in custody.
Referring to the treatment and interrogation by the law enforcers in the developed countries, he said that they used modern equipment like detecting machine and pushing injection to delve out the truths of incidents.
According to him, the law enforcing agencies of the country have lack of knowledge on human rights. They must need to be trained on human rights violation and motivation.
The incidents of torture are gradually increasing when the vested quarter of these agencies got shelter of the ruling parties after their criminal activities. He said that government never paid any heed to the sheer violation of human rights.
According to BIHR, approximately 1000 cases are under investigation against the policemen. Of them, about 100 cases are dealt by the BIHR.
It is a matter of strength that the police administration itself investigates the cases filed against them. So, it is very tough to prove the policemen as guilty by themselves.
To ensure proper investigation of the cases against police personnel, lawyers pool could be formed in this connection, Chowdhury added. Apart from this, truth commission or human rights commission also could be formed in this connection that exist in the developed countries.
He thinks, many times, police usually encouraged such criminal activities for economic benefits crisis in addition to political influence and their psychological problems.
Akram Hossain quoted two sensational verdicts of Rokeya Begum versus Shafiqur Rahman and Sayed Ahmed versus state by the High Court in this connection.
Chowdhury said that reservation on the article-14 must be removed unless the victims would never be safe from the police personnel. The government kept the reservation on the act only for avoiding the compensation for the victims.
According to the constitution, all sorts of repression are prohibited. But the ruling as well as the previous governments followed the constitution very often", he said. Chowdhury suggested forming a Parliamentary Committee to execute the convention. It would also help to reform some acts of the convention, he added.
He quoted the Nepalese parliament that approved Torture Act against the torture. Following the approval, the victims are getting compensation and medication from the government.
It seems to him that some people wearing the police uniform are violating human rights. It is also threat to the democracy and development.
If the tortured victims could stand on a platform unanimously, it would be easy to stop the repression by the police personnel, he added.
He said that UN, European Union, Amnesty International, OMCT, HRC, Danish government and many other countries have raised their voice to make the day a success. Bangladesh, has been observing the day since 1998. But the government is not aware enough about the significance of the day.
Observation of the day would be success if the government withdraws the reservation on the article-14 of the convention, said Akram Hossain.
The day will be observed this year highlighting the slogan-Safety against all kinds of torture.
He informed the press that a total of 132 organizations, including 75 Non Government Organizations (NGO), 17 Adapt Chapter, 24 Task Force against Torture (TFT) and 13 victims associations will observe the day with elaborate programmes through out the country
By Zahid Al Amin
Talking to "The Bangladesh Observer", Akram Hossain Chowdhury, country's leading human rights activist, referred to the recent deadly incidence at Kansat and the barbaric attack on journalists in Chittagong. "The incident at Kansat was unimaginable in the present days. But these types of human rights violation have became the regular phenomena," he pointed out.
Chowdhury said that it could be easily understood how the law enforcers dared to swoop on the journalists at Chittagong Divisional stadium.
Akram Hossain Chowdhury, who is also the Executive Member of International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), pointed out different incidences of tortures and harassment by Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and other law enforcers and said that there were no political commitments to stop such inhuman activities.
Akram Hossain Chowdhury is the first Bangladeshi, who achieved LML degree on human rights law. He is also the Founder of Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRTC).
He claimed that their research cell found a real picture of tortures by the law enforcing men like beating in custody.
Referring to the treatment and interrogation by the law enforcers in the developed countries, he said that they used modern equipment like detecting machine and pushing injection to delve out the truths of incidents.
According to him, the law enforcing agencies of the country have lack of knowledge on human rights. They must need to be trained on human rights violation and motivation.
The incidents of torture are gradually increasing when the vested quarter of these agencies got shelter of the ruling parties after their criminal activities. He said that government never paid any heed to the sheer violation of human rights.
According to BIHR, approximately 1000 cases are under investigation against the policemen. Of them, about 100 cases are dealt by the BIHR.
It is a matter of strength that the police administration itself investigates the cases filed against them. So, it is very tough to prove the policemen as guilty by themselves.
To ensure proper investigation of the cases against police personnel, lawyers pool could be formed in this connection, Chowdhury added. Apart from this, truth commission or human rights commission also could be formed in this connection that exist in the developed countries.
He thinks, many times, police usually encouraged such criminal activities for economic benefits crisis in addition to political influence and their psychological problems.
Akram Hossain quoted two sensational verdicts of Rokeya Begum versus Shafiqur Rahman and Sayed Ahmed versus state by the High Court in this connection.
Chowdhury said that reservation on the article-14 must be removed unless the victims would never be safe from the police personnel. The government kept the reservation on the act only for avoiding the compensation for the victims.
According to the constitution, all sorts of repression are prohibited. But the ruling as well as the previous governments followed the constitution very often", he said. Chowdhury suggested forming a Parliamentary Committee to execute the convention. It would also help to reform some acts of the convention, he added.
He quoted the Nepalese parliament that approved Torture Act against the torture. Following the approval, the victims are getting compensation and medication from the government.
It seems to him that some people wearing the police uniform are violating human rights. It is also threat to the democracy and development.
If the tortured victims could stand on a platform unanimously, it would be easy to stop the repression by the police personnel, he added.
He said that UN, European Union, Amnesty International, OMCT, HRC, Danish government and many other countries have raised their voice to make the day a success. Bangladesh, has been observing the day since 1998. But the government is not aware enough about the significance of the day.
Observation of the day would be success if the government withdraws the reservation on the article-14 of the convention, said Akram Hossain.
The day will be observed this year highlighting the slogan-Safety against all kinds of torture.
He informed the press that a total of 132 organizations, including 75 Non Government Organizations (NGO), 17 Adapt Chapter, 24 Task Force against Torture (TFT) and 13 victims associations will observe the day with elaborate programmes through out the country
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