|
Books on Bangladesh
|
Update No: 019 - (25/07/07)
SHEIKH HASINA JAILED
The military-led joint forces arrested former Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina after a case of extortion was filed against her by businessman
Azam J. Chowdhury, managing director of private Eastcoast Trading Limited on
June 13. Chowdhury allegedly claims that Hasina and a former minister were
guilty of extortion to the amount of Taka 3 crore during her stay in power
(1996-2001). On the other hand, Hasina had been fairly vocal about public rights
and was vehemently critical of the military's recent activities. Hasina believes
that the military's role has been nothing short of a conspiracy to derail the
democratic functioning of the nation. Hasina has denied all allegations and
claimed her innocence in the case. According to a lawyer appearing for Hasina in
the court, she believed that all this was government maneuver to prevent her
from contesting the general elections expected to be held between October and
December 2008. Those who support Hasina believe that she is being attacked by
vested interests who want to alienate her from the party. Some reports in
various newspapers in Bnagladesh suggest that the military appears to be
marginalizing the country's main political parties which could result in serious
damage to the democratic fabric of Bangladesh. One such method adopted by the
military has been that of encouraging internal dissension. For instance, a group
of senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by its
secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, has already unveiled a reform plan that
will exclude party Chief Begum Khaleda Zia, who has served two terms as prime
minister, from positions of power. Therefore critics are claiming that in the
garb of reforming political parties, the military is intent on excluding these
top women leaders from politics.
THE MEDIA REACTS
Sheikh Hasina's arrest has generated severe criticism from the media of the
country's military-backed government stating that this could lead to widespread
agitation within the country. The arrest invited strong condemnation from
various newspapers. The Daily Star, Bangladesh's top English-language daily,
termed Hasina's detention a "wrong and unacceptable decision." It
further quoted "politics enters a heightened state of tension and
confrontation with the arrest... the government must now explain, to the
satisfaction of the public, why the Awami League chief needed to be
detained." Another daily newspaper, the New Age, said "the assertions
of certain advisers to the military-driven interim government... had given rise
to the apprehension that the incumbents were still intent on arbitrarily forcing
the two top political leaders (Khaleda and Hasina) out of politics. The arrest
of Hasina... has proved that the apprehension was neither far-fetched nor
misplaced. Regrettably, the interim government does not seem to have much regard
for public perception or apprehension."
CHANGES WITHIN ARMY'S TOP BRASS
Just as the country has been engaged with Sheikh Hasina's arrest and many
have pointed fingers at the military for forcing change and subverting
democracy, it is interesting to see a reshuffle take place within the military's
top brass. The Bangladesh Army witnessed a reshuffle with the installation of a
new Chief of General Staff (CGS) and transfer of several other senior officers.
Major General, Sina Ibne Zamaly, was made the new CGS to replace Major General
Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan who would now head the prestigious Staff College as its
commandant, military sources are saying. The commandant of the college Major
General Abdul Mubeen has been transferred to southeastern Chittagong to command
the 24th Infantry Division. Director General of Bangladesh Institute of
International and Strategic Studies Major General Md Sharif Uddin has been sent
into retirement, newspaper reports said. The Army was called out to assist the
government after the proclamation of state of emergency on January 11 when the
country also witnessed the reconstitution of the interim government with
installation of the new interim cabinet of Chief Adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, amid
heightened political tension and protracted conflicts between rival parties
(source: Hindu)
BANGLADESH-SRI LANKA
In what appears to be a sign of growing friendship, Bangladesh presented Sri
Lanka on Wednesday with a few strands of hair that belonged to Lord Buddha, the
founder of the Buddhist religion. Ajit Ranjan Barua, chairman of the Bangladesh
Buddhist Association, said a Tibetan monk brought the hair to Chittagong in
1930. The relic, called Kesho Dhatu, was preserved in a glass box at the
monastery, about 135 miles southeast of the capital, Dhaka. The barely visible
strands of hair can be viewed by devotees only once a year, during a festival
commemorating Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. In the past, parts of the
relic have been given to Buddhist monasteries in Japan, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
A pagoda-shaped metal urn containing the hair was given to a Sri Lankan
delegation by custodians of an ancient Buddhist monastery. Foreign Affairs
adviser Iftekhar A. Chowdhury said that it was a true honor to present this
relic, which is believed to improve bilateral relations and strengthen
inter-cultural bonds between Muslims and Buddhists. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister
Rohitha Bogollagama accepted the sacred relic with gratitude stating that the
relic will be kept at a monastery in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, for Buddhist
pilgrims to pay homage. In return for the relic, Sri Lanka presented a stone
slab imprinted with Buddha's footprint and a statue to Chittagong Buddhist
Monastery.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
BANGLADESH UNVEILS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Based on a Government of India's Press Information Bureau Report, the Indian
Minister of State for Commerce Shri Jairam Ramesh is visiting Dhaka on July 22,
and will be present at the inauguration of the India-Bangladesh Chamber of
Commerce & Industry by Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, President of Bangladesh. This
Chamber is being launched by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce
& Industry and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
to provide a high-level platform for forging economic partnerships between the
two countries. During the visit, Shri Jairam Ramesh is expected to meet with
influential members of the business community and think-tanks. Issues pertaining
to trade and investment relations between the two countries will be high on the
agenda but besides that, the trade balance issue is also likely to figure in the
discussions. India's exports to Bangladesh during Apr 2006-Feb 2007, were $ 1.5
billion and imports from Bangladesh were $ 205 million. Bangladesh has expressed
concern at this deficit and has also been pointing out what it feels are unfair
non-tariff barriers to its exports to India. Shri Ramesh is also expected to
take up proposals submitted by India for improving connectivity and access.
BANGLADESH TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR
Bangladesh's mobile subscriber base has risen over 7 percent to 27.72
million at the end of June, according to statistics released by the Bangladesh
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Bangladesh's mobile phone tele-density
has also increased to 19.83 percent. Grameen phone, which is Bangladesh's
leading mobile phone company, showed the number of subscribers up at 13.97
million from 13.24 million in May. Telecom Malaysia's Aktel posted subscribers
down at 5.05 million from 5.55 million in May. Orascom-owned Sheba Telecom's
subscriber numbers rose to 6.04 million from 5.53 million in May. SingTel's
joint venture CDMA operator Pacific Bangladesh Telecom (PBTL) saw its
subscribers rise to 1.30 million from 1.27 million in May, and state-owned
TeleTalk subscribers numbers rose to 0.89 million from 0.87 million.
« Top
|
