A fugitive killer of Bangladesh's founding leader Sheikh Mujib is to be deported after Canada rejected his plea for asylum, amid stepped up efforts by the Awami League government to bring to justice the absconders in the assassination, the law minister has said.
Shafique Ahmed said yesterday that Canada has ordered the deportation of ex-Major Noor Chowdhury, rejecting his asylum prayers. "Canada has rejected the prayer of condemned convict Noor Chowdhury seeking asylumin that country," Ahmed said.
The development comes days after Bangladesh's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence on 12 of the killers ofRahman after final appeal hearing. The Interpol has already issued "red alert" to nab the fugitives linked to the assassination of Sheikh Mujib who are believed to be living abroad.
Former military officer Chowdhury, according to the murder trial proceedings, shot Sheikh Mujib dead along with ex-Maj Bazlul Huda. Ahmed, however, said Chowdhury still had an option to stay back, seeking a court intervention.
Chowdhury would be third wanted convict in the case to be deported. In 1998 Huda was returned home from Thai jail after Dhaka and Bangkok signed an extradition treaty, while the US deported another convict of the case ex-Lt Col. AKM Mohiuddin in 2007.
Sheikh Mujib, popularly called Bangabandhu, who led Bangladesh to independence in 1971, was gunned down at his home in a posh Dhanmandi area, along with his wife and three sons in a coup on August 15, 1975.
Earlier, home minister Sahara Khatun said the government has started the process to bring back the absconding killers. The apex court upheld the death sentence awarded to the 12 killers by a lower court in 1998.
The six fugitives are sacked Lt Col Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haq Dalim, Noor Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury, Captain Mazed and Risaldar Moslem Uddin. As per reports, six of the 12 convicted killers of Sheikh Mujib were holed up in Libya, US, Canada, Pakistan and Kenya, while one died in Zimbabwe. According to sources, Rashid, one of the key plotters of the massacre, has settled Libya, where he has been involved in construction business. He often visits Pakistan and Singapore, the report said.
Dalim lives in Pakistan, and frequently travels to Libya and Kenyan capital Nairobi where he has businesses, it said. The report, based on intelligence sources, said Nur Chowdhury and Rashed Chowdhury are in Canada and the US.
Rashed is trying to secure asylum in the US. The home minister said the absconding killers were on the move from one country to another to avoid being extradited.
Hasina-led Awami League initiated moves to sign extradition treaties with different countries to bring back the condemned convicts in 1996.
The five, who will face the gallows, are sacked army officers Lt Col Syed Faruq Rahman, Sultan Shariar Rashid Khan, Mohiuddin Ahmed, AKM Mohiuddin and Huda. Source: Reuters
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Monday, November 30, 2009
First API Citizenship Day Initiative in Maryland
(Rockville, Maryland) On November 14, 2009, for the first time, a coalition of six Asian Pacific Islander organizations held a Citizenship Day event with panelists from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services- Baltimore Office; Maryland Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs; Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center; and South Asian Americans Leading Together. The panelists explained the naturalization requirements and processes from initial submission of applications through citizenship interviews in many different Asian languages including Hind/Urdu; Korean; Mandarin Chinese; and Vietnamese. After the panel discussion, community members were given the opportunity to meet with immigration pro bono attorneys individually to inquire about specific questions with the help of interpreters.
Speaking on behalf of the County Executive Ike Leggett, Chairman of the Maryland Council for New Americans, Lily Qi, Community Liaison of the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnership, welcomed over 60 attendees and shared her personal story of going through the immigration process: "I came to this country as an adult and I understand the everyday challenges of being an immigrant including language and cultural barriers. I became a U.S. citizen 10 years ago to fully enjoy the rights and privileges of being an American. I wish at the time I had this kind of program to help me understand the process and make it easier to become a citizen. I encourage you to take full advantage of the resources and information presented today."
According to 2006 estimates from the Department of Homeland Security, about 35,000 eligible legal permanent residents of Asian descent live in the state of Maryland, with the largest concentrations in Montgomery County (15,760), Prince Georges County (4,799), and Baltimore County (4,240). Within the Asian community, there are specific barriers - cultural and systemic - that often hinder people from applying for citizenship. These barriers include the lack of available naturalization information in Asian languages, inadequate communication between government agencies and Asian immigrant communities, and the high cost of applications and large backlog of citizenship applications. "When a legal permanent resident becomes a citizen, they gain the right to vote, apply for federal jobs, travel with a U.S. passport, attain priority when sponsoring family from abroad, and become eligible for public benefits, among others," said Nadia Firozvi, one of the panelists. She added, "Citizenship Day is a great opportunity for community members to learn about the process and have their questions answered on the spot."
The Citizenship Day event was part of a larger initiative called the Maryland Asian Americans Connected Project, which seeks to generate community awareness of available resources related to the naturalization process including translated materials and pro bono attorneys. The project was made possible through a grant awarded by the Maryland Council for New Americans, in partnership with the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives and the Department of Human Resources. The coalition includes the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC); Boat People SOS-Maryland (BPSOS); Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC); Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington (KCSC); Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association, Inc. (MVMA); and South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT). Source: Press Release issued by APALRC Continue reading the rest...
Deepa Iyer of SAALT at the White House Dinner
Deepa Iyer, SAALT executive director, attended the first state dinner at the White House on November 24th in the honor of visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Kaur. Ms. Iyer, a South Asian Communty Advocate, shared her personal thoughts with news-bangla.
“Being invited to the White House state dinner was a tremendous honor, one that I will always cherish. I was fortunate to have my father, a physician in Louisville, Kentucky, with me at the event. We enjoyed every moment of the event, from the pre-reception in the East Wing where we met Attorney General Eric Holder and director Steven Spielberg to the receiving line where we spoke briefly with the President, the First Lady, the Prime Minister and Mrs. Kaur, to the dinner and entertainment.”
As a Community Advocate, she added:
“Both the President and the Prime Minister remarked upon the contributions and presence of the growing South Asian American community here in the United States as acknowledgment of the ties that bind India and the United States. For those of us who are community advocates and activists, it was important to be part of the event. Among the corporate leaders, entertainers and elected officials in the audience were also people like Bhairavi Desai (New York Taxi Workers Alliance), Maneesha Kelkar (Manavi), Seema Agnani (Chhaya CDC) and Annetta Seecharran (South Asian Youth Action) who advocate on behalf of South Asian communities each day. Having a seat at the table – for an event like this and more important, for purposes of affecting policy change – is extremely meaningful. It demonstrates that the Indian American community is blazing trails in many sectors and arenas, and that community-based organizations are important partners.”
“As we think about what the US-India relationship looks like in the future, it is important that conversations move beyond the nuclear deal to also include issues such as violations of human rights, responses to the War on Terror and the treatment of minorities – issues that affect people both in the United States and in India.” Continue reading the rest...
Friday, November 27, 2009
Eid Mubarrak
On behalf of news-bangla, a Bangla on-line daily published from the Washington DC metro, we wish you a wonderful and blessed Eid. Let this blissful Eid bring endless joy and happiness for you and your family. On the occasion of Eid-ul Ajha, let's sacrifice ourselves for the greater goodness of humanity. Eid Mubarrak.
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Eid Greetings from President Obama
Pilgrims from over 160 countries, including nearly 20,000 Americans, have gathered in Saudi Arabia for the annual performance of the Hajj. They have assembled in Mina and will travel to Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mecca to offer the rites of pilgrimage. On Friday, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha. The President issued the following statement today marking the beginning of Hajj and the upcoming Eid holiday:
Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to all those performing Hajj this year, and to Muslims in America and around the world who are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. The rituals of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world's major religions.
During Hajj, the world's largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life – including thousands of American Muslims – will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat. The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God.
This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj. Cooperating on combating H1N1 is one of the ways we are implementing my administration's commitment to partnership in areas of mutual interest.
On behalf of the American people, we would like to extend our greetings during this Hajj season – Eid Mubarak.
Continue reading the rest...Saturday, November 21, 2009
Can an Execution Help Heal Bangladesh?
The home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, sits down a tree-lined street in an affluent corner of the capital, Dhaka. Tourists and locals file into the compound daily to view its insides and his personal belongings — a dressing gown, old books, his favorite pipe. But they also come to see signs of his death. On Aug. 15, 1975, soldiers rushed into the house at dawn, shooting indiscriminately, killing Mujib — as he is known — and 19 others. Traces of the blood that splattered the staircase where he fell are preserved beneath panes of glass, as are bullet holes on the opposite wall. But while Bangladeshis have gathered here often over the years to mourn Mujib's passing, it has taken more than 30 years for some of his assassins to finally face justice.
On Thursday, with the backing of the government led by Mujib's daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh Supreme Court rejected the appeal of five former army officers convicted of killing him and participating in a coup that toppled his rule 34 years ago. They had been sentenced to death in 1996, but a change in government led to the case being stymied in court. Now, the five are to be hanged. (Seven others who were convicted in absentia in 1996 remain fugitives overseas, although one is thought to be dead.) Thousands cheered the verdict outside the court, while some lawmakers broke down in tears of triumph. "The judgment ... is a new milestone for the nation," hailed an editorial in the Daily Star, a leading Dhaka-based English-language daily. (See pictures of Bangladesh.)
To outsiders, this celebration of a justice long deferred may seem a bit too rapturous. But it cuts at the heart of the political traumas that have plagued Bangladesh since its bloody independence from Pakistan in 1971. Mujib had been President of the new country for just four years before a coup hatched by disgruntled military officers, some of whom harbored Islamist or pro-Pakistani sentiments, led to his assassination and the installation of a military government. Since then, Bangladesh has endured a succession of army-run regimes, as well as a period of dysfunctional democratic rule marred by corruption and partisan bickering. "What you're dealing with is a very fractured, highly politicized society," says Ali Riaz, chair of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University.
The case against Mujib's suspected killers only moved forward when his daughter Hasina rose to power in 1996 as head of the secular, center-left Awami League party he had founded. Hasina's government lifted the legal ordinance put into place by Mujib's usurpers that protected the coup's conspirators. But in 2001, Hasina was ousted in an election by her bitter rival, Khaleda Zia, the widow of Ziaur Rahman, a general who ruled Bangladesh not long after Mujib's death and who was also killed by a group of rebellious army officers. The case fell into legal limbo, and the feuding between the two women and their political parties grew so rancorous over the years that the military once again stepped in, throwing both Hasina and Zia temporarily into jail. (Read: "Keeping Dhaka's Ghosts Alive.")
This time, though, the generals relented and democratic elections were held in late 2008. Hasina took office again with a massive mandate, giving many Bangladeshis hope that the country could finally put its destructive, divisive politics behind it. Years of political upheaval, analysts say, have damaged the rule of law in Bangladesh and created a culture of impunity for both powerful politicians as well as for a military that has often acted as a law unto itself. The Supreme Court verdict was a sign, says the Daily Star editorial, "that the wheels of justice have finally rolled."
Still, much more needs to be done in a country beset by corruption and wracked by poverty. While Hasina's government now intends to pursue the other fugitive army officers convicted of killing Mujib — they are rumored to be in countries like Libya and Zimbabwe — it has also gone about shielding some of its own leaders from charges of graft, an ominous return to past practices. More worryingly, it has done little to rein in the military, which was accused earlier this year by Human Rights Watch of participating in extrajudicial killings, torture and disappearances. (See pictures of political high tension in Zimbabwe.)
Some suggest that true stability will never exist in Bangladesh as long as an incident even older than Mujib's assassination remains buried. When Bangladesh — then East Pakistan — split from West Pakistan in 1971, the Pakistani army embarked on a killing campaign, leaving as many as 3 million people dead. Many Bangladeshis who abetted and served alongside the West Pakistani army remained in key positions of power in the years following Mujib's death. Now, there's a growing call for the government to launch an inquiry into those suspected of war crimes and eventually set up tribunals. It's unclear whether Hasina's government will risk reopening the country's many old wounds by ordering a fresh investigation into the killings. "Still, to make progress, you have to address the past," says Riaz. "They have to do it for the sake of Bangladesh." Source: By Ishaan Tharoor, Time Continue reading the rest...
On Thursday, with the backing of the government led by Mujib's daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh Supreme Court rejected the appeal of five former army officers convicted of killing him and participating in a coup that toppled his rule 34 years ago. They had been sentenced to death in 1996, but a change in government led to the case being stymied in court. Now, the five are to be hanged. (Seven others who were convicted in absentia in 1996 remain fugitives overseas, although one is thought to be dead.) Thousands cheered the verdict outside the court, while some lawmakers broke down in tears of triumph. "The judgment ... is a new milestone for the nation," hailed an editorial in the Daily Star, a leading Dhaka-based English-language daily. (See pictures of Bangladesh.)
To outsiders, this celebration of a justice long deferred may seem a bit too rapturous. But it cuts at the heart of the political traumas that have plagued Bangladesh since its bloody independence from Pakistan in 1971. Mujib had been President of the new country for just four years before a coup hatched by disgruntled military officers, some of whom harbored Islamist or pro-Pakistani sentiments, led to his assassination and the installation of a military government. Since then, Bangladesh has endured a succession of army-run regimes, as well as a period of dysfunctional democratic rule marred by corruption and partisan bickering. "What you're dealing with is a very fractured, highly politicized society," says Ali Riaz, chair of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University.
The case against Mujib's suspected killers only moved forward when his daughter Hasina rose to power in 1996 as head of the secular, center-left Awami League party he had founded. Hasina's government lifted the legal ordinance put into place by Mujib's usurpers that protected the coup's conspirators. But in 2001, Hasina was ousted in an election by her bitter rival, Khaleda Zia, the widow of Ziaur Rahman, a general who ruled Bangladesh not long after Mujib's death and who was also killed by a group of rebellious army officers. The case fell into legal limbo, and the feuding between the two women and their political parties grew so rancorous over the years that the military once again stepped in, throwing both Hasina and Zia temporarily into jail. (Read: "Keeping Dhaka's Ghosts Alive.")
This time, though, the generals relented and democratic elections were held in late 2008. Hasina took office again with a massive mandate, giving many Bangladeshis hope that the country could finally put its destructive, divisive politics behind it. Years of political upheaval, analysts say, have damaged the rule of law in Bangladesh and created a culture of impunity for both powerful politicians as well as for a military that has often acted as a law unto itself. The Supreme Court verdict was a sign, says the Daily Star editorial, "that the wheels of justice have finally rolled."
Still, much more needs to be done in a country beset by corruption and wracked by poverty. While Hasina's government now intends to pursue the other fugitive army officers convicted of killing Mujib — they are rumored to be in countries like Libya and Zimbabwe — it has also gone about shielding some of its own leaders from charges of graft, an ominous return to past practices. More worryingly, it has done little to rein in the military, which was accused earlier this year by Human Rights Watch of participating in extrajudicial killings, torture and disappearances. (See pictures of political high tension in Zimbabwe.)
Some suggest that true stability will never exist in Bangladesh as long as an incident even older than Mujib's assassination remains buried. When Bangladesh — then East Pakistan — split from West Pakistan in 1971, the Pakistani army embarked on a killing campaign, leaving as many as 3 million people dead. Many Bangladeshis who abetted and served alongside the West Pakistani army remained in key positions of power in the years following Mujib's death. Now, there's a growing call for the government to launch an inquiry into those suspected of war crimes and eventually set up tribunals. It's unclear whether Hasina's government will risk reopening the country's many old wounds by ordering a fresh investigation into the killings. "Still, to make progress, you have to address the past," says Riaz. "They have to do it for the sake of Bangladesh." Source: By Ishaan Tharoor, Time Continue reading the rest...
Embassy’s Stall draws crowd at UDC
Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC celebrated International Education Week (IEW) today (Thursday, 19 November, 2009). As a part of Embassy’s “Education Outreach” programme and also to showcase Bangladesh’s culture and heritage, Bangladesh Embassy put up a stall at the Embassy Meet and Greet Special Event held at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), Washington DC. The event was also participated by few other Embassies from Europe, Asia and Latin America.The Bangladesh Embassy stall drew the largest number of visitors who included University students, faculty members, representatives from various socio-cultural organizations & journalists. Publicity materials, touristic brochures, handicrafts, exportables including jamdani saree were on display at the stall which was the largest pavilion at the festival. The Embassy availed the opportunity to display Bangladesh’s rich culture and tradition, its history as well as recent impressive achievements in various sectors specially in respect of women empowerment, poverty alleviation and Bangladesh’s contribution to UN peacekeeping missions. The spouses of the Embassy officers who managed the stall also briefed the inquisitive visitors.
Visitors were served with traditional Bangladeshi snacks. They highly appreciated the taste and flavor of Bangladeshi food and of Mission’s hospitality.H.E. Mr. Akramul Qader, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA and his wife Mrs. Rifat Sultana Akram were present alongwith the Embassy officers and their spouses.
The participation of the Embassy, first of its kind at the UDC, was a part of its continued effort to project Bangladesh as a vibrant, developing & democratic country before the wider audience in the USA. Source: Preess Release by the Bangladesh Embassy. Continue reading the rest...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A Patriotic Song
Bangladeshi Singer Shahnaz Rahmatullah sings this wonderful patriotic song. Continue reading the rest...
Bangladesh focuses on fugitive killers
Bangladesh will make fresh diplomatic efforts soon to have six of the 12 condemned killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mijubur Rahman extradited or deported back home, to bring them to justice. As part of the efforts, Dhaka will soon write to governments of all countries seeking their help in bringing the absconding killers back.
The fresh move is being made as the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the High Court verdict confirming death sentences of 12 retired or dismissed army men in Bangabandhu assassination case. "Earlier we had sent such letters and now, after the apex court's verdict, we'll again send letters to all countries asking for their help in bringing back the absconding killers," Home Minister Sahara Khatun told The Daily Star yesterday.
Contacted, she said they will take all measures to bring them (killers) back, and they are hopeful of success in doing this. Asked whether they have spotted where the killers are absconding, the home minister said they frequently move from one country to another, and that is the only problem in locating them.
The home minister had earlier made a global appeal to help track down the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu. The appeal was made at the 78th annual general meeting of Interpol in Singapore last month.
Meanwhile, six of the 12 convicted killers of Bangabandhu have been holed up in Libya, US, Canada, Pakistan and Kenya, one died in Zimbabwe, and five are behind bars at home. Sources in the administration and intelligence agencies said some of the condemned killers on the run travel to different countries for business purposes.
The six hiding abroad are Lt Col (dismissed) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haque Dalim, Lt Col (retd) Nur Chowdhury, Lt Col (retd) AM Rashed Chowdhury, Capt Abdul Mazed and Risalder Moslehuddin Khan.
Sources say Rashid, one of the key plotters of the massacre of Bangabandhu and most of his family members, has settled in Benghazi of Libya, where he has construction business. He often visits Pakistan and Singapore. Dalim lives in Pakistan, and frequently travels to Libya and Kenyan capital Nairobi where he has businesses.
According to intelligence sources, Nur Chowdhury and Rashed Chowdhury are in Canada and the US. But other sources said Nur is living in Libya, and seeking asylum in Canada. And Rashed is trying for asylum in the US. Abdul Mazed is hiding in Benghazi, while Moslehuddin might be in the Libyan city, or somewhere in Bangladesh. Another convict, Lt Col Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe on June 2, 2001.
Awami League, after coming to power in 1996 initiated moves to sign extradition treaties with different countries to bring back the condemned convicts. The five on the death row-- now in jail -- are Lt Col Syed Farooq Rahman, Lt Col Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Lt Col Mohiuddin Ahmed, Maj Mohiuddin Ahmed and Maj Bazlul Huda.
Of them, Lt Col Mohiuddin was deported to Bangladesh from Los Angeles on June 17, 2007, after a US court rejected his appeal for residency. Huda was extradited from Bangkok on the day the trial court pronounced its verdict in the case in 1998. Source: Daily Star
Continue reading the rest...
The fresh move is being made as the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the High Court verdict confirming death sentences of 12 retired or dismissed army men in Bangabandhu assassination case. "Earlier we had sent such letters and now, after the apex court's verdict, we'll again send letters to all countries asking for their help in bringing back the absconding killers," Home Minister Sahara Khatun told The Daily Star yesterday.
Contacted, she said they will take all measures to bring them (killers) back, and they are hopeful of success in doing this. Asked whether they have spotted where the killers are absconding, the home minister said they frequently move from one country to another, and that is the only problem in locating them.
The home minister had earlier made a global appeal to help track down the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu. The appeal was made at the 78th annual general meeting of Interpol in Singapore last month.
Meanwhile, six of the 12 convicted killers of Bangabandhu have been holed up in Libya, US, Canada, Pakistan and Kenya, one died in Zimbabwe, and five are behind bars at home. Sources in the administration and intelligence agencies said some of the condemned killers on the run travel to different countries for business purposes.
The six hiding abroad are Lt Col (dismissed) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haque Dalim, Lt Col (retd) Nur Chowdhury, Lt Col (retd) AM Rashed Chowdhury, Capt Abdul Mazed and Risalder Moslehuddin Khan.
Sources say Rashid, one of the key plotters of the massacre of Bangabandhu and most of his family members, has settled in Benghazi of Libya, where he has construction business. He often visits Pakistan and Singapore. Dalim lives in Pakistan, and frequently travels to Libya and Kenyan capital Nairobi where he has businesses.
According to intelligence sources, Nur Chowdhury and Rashed Chowdhury are in Canada and the US. But other sources said Nur is living in Libya, and seeking asylum in Canada. And Rashed is trying for asylum in the US. Abdul Mazed is hiding in Benghazi, while Moslehuddin might be in the Libyan city, or somewhere in Bangladesh. Another convict, Lt Col Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe on June 2, 2001.
Awami League, after coming to power in 1996 initiated moves to sign extradition treaties with different countries to bring back the condemned convicts. The five on the death row-- now in jail -- are Lt Col Syed Farooq Rahman, Lt Col Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Lt Col Mohiuddin Ahmed, Maj Mohiuddin Ahmed and Maj Bazlul Huda.
Of them, Lt Col Mohiuddin was deported to Bangladesh from Los Angeles on June 17, 2007, after a US court rejected his appeal for residency. Huda was extradited from Bangkok on the day the trial court pronounced its verdict in the case in 1998. Source: Daily Star
Bangladesh Embassy to extend more mobile Consular Services
Bangladesh Embassy is going to arrange more mobile Consular Services in the USA. Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Mr. Akramul Qader made this announcement when he met Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in Chicago on 15th November 2009.
Ambassader Qader also discussed issues related to welfare of NRBs and sought their opinion and suggestions to help embassy providing prompt and better services to the community. Ambassador Qader also visited mobile consular center of Bangladesh Embassy in Chicago and thanked local NRBs for their excellent support to Bangladesh Embassy.
Ambassador Qader also assured NRBs in Chicago that from now onwards mobile consular service of Bangladesh Embassy will be extended at least once in year in Chicago.
Earlier in the day, on arrival in Chicago, Ambassador Qader paid a visit to "Sheikh Mujib Way"-a road dedicated to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Devon Avenue in Chicago. Ambassador also visited probable places for erecting a sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the city and discussed about it with the officials of Chicago Mayor Office and local Bangladeshi expatriates there.
Leading members of expatriate community including Mr. Monir Chowdhury, Mr. Nafis Ahmed, Mr. Makbul Ali, Mr. Nurul Alam, Mr. Mahbub Chowdhury and others worked for organizing the said discussion meeting in Chicago.
Ambassader Qader also discussed issues related to welfare of NRBs and sought their opinion and suggestions to help embassy providing prompt and better services to the community. Ambassador Qader also visited mobile consular center of Bangladesh Embassy in Chicago and thanked local NRBs for their excellent support to Bangladesh Embassy.
Ambassador Qader also assured NRBs in Chicago that from now onwards mobile consular service of Bangladesh Embassy will be extended at least once in year in Chicago.
Earlier in the day, on arrival in Chicago, Ambassador Qader paid a visit to "Sheikh Mujib Way"-a road dedicated to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Devon Avenue in Chicago. Ambassador also visited probable places for erecting a sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the city and discussed about it with the officials of Chicago Mayor Office and local Bangladeshi expatriates there.
Leading members of expatriate community including Mr. Monir Chowdhury, Mr. Nafis Ahmed, Mr. Makbul Ali, Mr. Nurul Alam, Mr. Mahbub Chowdhury and others worked for organizing the said discussion meeting in Chicago.
USBAC Urges Duty Free Market Access for Bangladesh
The U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council (USBAC) today spoke at a Capitol Hill briefing co-hosted by the Trade, Aid and Security Coalition and Oxfam America. Speakers at the event included Congressman Jim McDermott, Ms. Shamarukh Mohiuddin, Executive Director of the U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council, His Excellency, Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Ms. Stephanie Burgos, Senior Policy Advisor at Oxfam America. The chairman of the Trade, Aid and Security Coalition, Mr. Claude Fontheim moderated the event.
The briefing was attended by House and Senate staff, a number of development NGOs such as Women Thrive Worldwide and Vital Voices, the Food and Agricultural Organization, business representatives including American Eagle Outfitters, Wal Mart, the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, American Apparel and Footwear Association and others.
Mr. Claude Fontheim who presided over the event said: "Congressman Jim McDermott has done more than anybody to use trade policy to alleviate poverty." In his remarks, Congressman McDermott said: "Market access has an undeniable effect on poverty in any country. Whether you look in Bangladesh, Madagascar or Namibia, the garment factories are filled with women. Our hope is that in the next bill, we will direct our energies to figure out how to help the poorest countries get up on their feet."
Ms. Shamarukh Mohiuddin, Executive Director of the US Bangladesh Advisory Council, an NGO working on US policies towards Bangladesh thanked Congressman McDermott for his leadership in promoting development in the poorest countries. She spoke about the immediate need for U.S. trade policy to provide better access for Bangladesh's textile and apparel exports, citing several looming economic challenges in Bangladesh. She pointed out that Bangladesh currently faces $570 million in tariffs on just $3.7 billion in exports while developed countries such as France face only $378 million on a much larger amount of exports.
Ms. Mohiuddin drew attention to the recent drop in orders for textiles and apparel from Bangladesh and pointed to other dire economic challenges the country is currently facing: including higher food prices, 2 million children affected by acute malnutrition, a rise in the sea level threatening to displace 20 million Bangladeshis (per the IPCC) and a sharp drop in remittances from migrant workers. She stressed that as an LDC and the third largest majority Muslim country with a liberal democracy, Bangladesh deserves much better trade and economic benefits than it currently receives from the United States.
With regard to the objections from Africa groups about duty free market access for Bangladesh, she said: "Only 5 African countries benefit from apparel exports to the US. Of these 5 countries, 3 are not Least Developed Countries, while Bangladesh and Cambodia are LDCs. The only country with a lower per capita income than the Asian LDCs is Madagascar. Even Lesotho has a higher per capita income. If the US's goal is to address poverty through trade preference programs, it hardly makes sense to exclude poor countries such as Cambodia and Bangladesh."
With regard to the larger amount of exports from Cambodia and Bangladesh than from AGOA countries, which has been a point of contention, she said: "Of course our figures are higher; Bangladesh and Cambodia together have an apparel and textile workforce which is 16 times larger than that of sub Saharan Africa. We have to look at the return to each worker from apparel exports for a fair comparison with Africa."
His Excellency Minister Cham Prasidh of Cambodia underscored the importance of duty free quota free access in sustaining his country's economic development. He spoke about Cambodia's success in using the ILO program to improve labor standards and competitiveness. However, he said "We are experiencing stiffer competition from Chinese and Vietnamese products and are seeing a drop both in exports and GDP growth." He pointed out that a number of Cambodian factories had closed their doors recently and that about 52,000 people had lost their jobs. He said: "We face more tariffs than all of Sub Saharan Africa; about $407 million dollars while Africa faces $14 million dollars, while we are just as poor as other African countries."
Ms. Stephanie Burgos from Oxfam America stressed the need for providing 100 percent duty free quota free access for the LDCs, and for a clear, simple and predictable trade preferences program which would stimulate investment and economic development in these countries. She said that for every dollar that the US provides in aid to Cambodia and Bangladesh, it collects $7 in tariffs. She said that the US "must make its trade and aid policies much more coherent." She also said that special attention must be paid to trade capacity building in all LDCs and in making sure that countries are able to utlilize the benefits awarded to them by US trade preference programs. She also pointed out that Bangladesh has made investments in improving its labor standards and talked about the need for providing countries with incentives to improve labor standards through market access, as the US has done in Cambodia.
The event comes at the heels of a major hearing at the House Ways and Means Committee examining US trade preference programs. Congressman McDermott plans to introduce new legislation in the coming days granting more liberal market access for the UN designated LDCs and African countries.
Source: Press Release issued by USBAC on October 18, 2009
Continue reading the rest...
The briefing was attended by House and Senate staff, a number of development NGOs such as Women Thrive Worldwide and Vital Voices, the Food and Agricultural Organization, business representatives including American Eagle Outfitters, Wal Mart, the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, American Apparel and Footwear Association and others.
Mr. Claude Fontheim who presided over the event said: "Congressman Jim McDermott has done more than anybody to use trade policy to alleviate poverty." In his remarks, Congressman McDermott said: "Market access has an undeniable effect on poverty in any country. Whether you look in Bangladesh, Madagascar or Namibia, the garment factories are filled with women. Our hope is that in the next bill, we will direct our energies to figure out how to help the poorest countries get up on their feet."
Ms. Shamarukh Mohiuddin, Executive Director of the US Bangladesh Advisory Council, an NGO working on US policies towards Bangladesh thanked Congressman McDermott for his leadership in promoting development in the poorest countries. She spoke about the immediate need for U.S. trade policy to provide better access for Bangladesh's textile and apparel exports, citing several looming economic challenges in Bangladesh. She pointed out that Bangladesh currently faces $570 million in tariffs on just $3.7 billion in exports while developed countries such as France face only $378 million on a much larger amount of exports.
Ms. Mohiuddin drew attention to the recent drop in orders for textiles and apparel from Bangladesh and pointed to other dire economic challenges the country is currently facing: including higher food prices, 2 million children affected by acute malnutrition, a rise in the sea level threatening to displace 20 million Bangladeshis (per the IPCC) and a sharp drop in remittances from migrant workers. She stressed that as an LDC and the third largest majority Muslim country with a liberal democracy, Bangladesh deserves much better trade and economic benefits than it currently receives from the United States.
With regard to the objections from Africa groups about duty free market access for Bangladesh, she said: "Only 5 African countries benefit from apparel exports to the US. Of these 5 countries, 3 are not Least Developed Countries, while Bangladesh and Cambodia are LDCs. The only country with a lower per capita income than the Asian LDCs is Madagascar. Even Lesotho has a higher per capita income. If the US's goal is to address poverty through trade preference programs, it hardly makes sense to exclude poor countries such as Cambodia and Bangladesh."
With regard to the larger amount of exports from Cambodia and Bangladesh than from AGOA countries, which has been a point of contention, she said: "Of course our figures are higher; Bangladesh and Cambodia together have an apparel and textile workforce which is 16 times larger than that of sub Saharan Africa. We have to look at the return to each worker from apparel exports for a fair comparison with Africa."
His Excellency Minister Cham Prasidh of Cambodia underscored the importance of duty free quota free access in sustaining his country's economic development. He spoke about Cambodia's success in using the ILO program to improve labor standards and competitiveness. However, he said "We are experiencing stiffer competition from Chinese and Vietnamese products and are seeing a drop both in exports and GDP growth." He pointed out that a number of Cambodian factories had closed their doors recently and that about 52,000 people had lost their jobs. He said: "We face more tariffs than all of Sub Saharan Africa; about $407 million dollars while Africa faces $14 million dollars, while we are just as poor as other African countries."
Ms. Stephanie Burgos from Oxfam America stressed the need for providing 100 percent duty free quota free access for the LDCs, and for a clear, simple and predictable trade preferences program which would stimulate investment and economic development in these countries. She said that for every dollar that the US provides in aid to Cambodia and Bangladesh, it collects $7 in tariffs. She said that the US "must make its trade and aid policies much more coherent." She also said that special attention must be paid to trade capacity building in all LDCs and in making sure that countries are able to utlilize the benefits awarded to them by US trade preference programs. She also pointed out that Bangladesh has made investments in improving its labor standards and talked about the need for providing countries with incentives to improve labor standards through market access, as the US has done in Cambodia.
The event comes at the heels of a major hearing at the House Ways and Means Committee examining US trade preference programs. Congressman McDermott plans to introduce new legislation in the coming days granting more liberal market access for the UN designated LDCs and African countries.
Source: Press Release issued by USBAC on October 18, 2009
The Supreme Court upheld Verdict in Dhaka
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a High Court verdict that handed down the death sentence to 12 former army officers in the Bangabandhu murder case, sealing the gruelling and long-disrupted proceedings of 21 years. People from broad social spectrum hailed it as a landmark verdict, delivering justice more than three decades after the killing of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Aug 15 1975. A five-strong bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Justice Mohammed Tafazzal Islam, rejected the appeals of the five jailed convicts to have their sentences commuted.The five convicts are Syed Faruk Rahman, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan. They can, however, seek to have the verdict reviewed by the Appellate Division.
The long-awaited judgment has cleared the way for hanging of all 12 former army officers convicted of the 1975 assassination, seven of whom are fugitives.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the slain leader, expressed satisfaction at the final judgment on her father's killers.She also asked for people to remain calm as Awami League supporters spilled onto the streets in celebration.
Hasina asked all to offer prayers in gratitude, deputy press secretary Nakibuddin Ahmed told reporters. The prime minister had cut short a visit to Italy to return home just hours before the verdict Thursday. She was at her official residence Jamuna when it was delivered.
Sister Sheikh Rehana, in an exclusive reaction to bdnews24.com, said it was important that the verdict had been upheld by the Supreme Court.
She said: "I pray for the peace of the departed souls of those killed that day. I hope the shame of the incident will be erased from our history through this final verdict.
"The trial has finally ended after 34 years. Justice has been established," Rehana told bdnews24.com by phone from abroad.
Sheikh Mujib and most of his family, including wife and three sons, were murdered on Aug 15 1975. His daughters Hasina and Rehana survived as they were away in England.
'Epoch-making'
Attorney general Mahbubey Alam called Thursday's judgment "epoch-making".
"It'll be remembered as one of the greatest trials in the history of mankind," he said in a post-verdict press conference.
A defence counsel, barrister Abdullah Al Mamun, has said a review petition will be filed on the rejection of the appeals.
The condemned men were not present in the courtroom when the Justice Mohammed Tafazzal Islam gave the historic judgement at 11:47am. Justice Islam, in his six-minute delivery, upheld the verdict of the third High Court judge made in 2001. Source: bdnews24 Continue reading the rest...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Climate Change Issues for Indigeneous People in Chittagong
Ina speaks about climate change issues from an indigenous people's perspective with a particular focus on the Jumma peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Courtsy: vanishing rites Continue reading the rest...
Bangladesh shows progress in corruption perception index
Bangladesh is one of the highest achievers in corruption perception index (CPI) as it ranked 139th out of 180 countries, improving from its last year's position at 147th.Transparency International, Bangladesh revealed the information Tuesday at the launching ceremony of Corruption Perception Index 2009 prepared by Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) and released worldwide.
"It is a quantum leap as the country advanced by 0.3 percentage point in one year from 2.1 point to 2.4 point in 0-10 scale," said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TI,B.
New Zealand ranked first followed by Denmark, Singapore and Sweden whereas Somalia is the most corrupt country with Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Iraq being the bottom four countries.
The index ranks countries in terms of degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians.
Former chairman of TI,B Mozaffer Ahmed said the country started with 0.3 points and it reached to 2.4 points, which is a good achievement. The country was placed at the bottom of the list for the fifth successive years from 2001 to 2005.
The TI analysed 2008 and 2009 data on corruption in public and political sectors and the data were collected from seven global organisations including World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Economic Intelligence Unit.
The perception of the people was positive as in 2008 the government initiated drive against corruption and institutional reforms, said M Hafiz Uddin Khan, chairman of TI,B.
"In 2009, the election commitment of Awami League government against corruption, continuation of institutional reforms, formation of parliamentary standing committees and information commission has kept the perception positive," he explained. Professor Mozaffer said the main challenges for the government are to keep the perception positive in the coming years.
"The amendment in public procurement act, the presidential pardon of sentences against Shahadab Akbar, son of deputy leader of parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, inactive information commission and non-transparency in public sector will have negative impact in next year's index," he cautioned.
Mr Iftekharuzzaman said corruption is a global problem and fiscal stimulus packages and major public investment carry corruption risks.
"Corruption continues to thrive where there is secrecy and conflict-prone areas as many unstable countries, plagued by long-term conflicts are at the bottom of the CPI," he said.
In Bangladesh, sustainable improvement will depend on strengthening different institutions including parliament, Anti-Corruption Commission, Election Commission, Information Commission, judiciary, law enforcement agencies, public sector and Human Rights Commission, he added.
The corruption report said donors and investors must be helped and help themselves for building and strengthening institutions.
"The G20 must keep its commitments to fighting corruption a part of the solutions to sustainable economic growth and must bring civil society views into the process," the report said.
The best performers in 2009 are Bangladesh, Belarus, Guetamala, Lithunia, Moldova, Montenegor, Poland, Syria and Tonga and the worst performers are Bahrain, Greece, Iran, Malaysia, Malta and Slovakia.
In South Asia, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are ahead of Bangladesh and Dhaka and Islamabad are placed in the same position.
However, scores of Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives were downgraded and India remained constant for the year.
The report said that 80 countries out of 180 scored 3 or less, which means corruption is rampant in those countries. The situation worsened globally in 2009 as the number of countries scored below 3 were 72 last year.Source: Financial Express Continue reading the rest...
"It is a quantum leap as the country advanced by 0.3 percentage point in one year from 2.1 point to 2.4 point in 0-10 scale," said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TI,B.
New Zealand ranked first followed by Denmark, Singapore and Sweden whereas Somalia is the most corrupt country with Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Iraq being the bottom four countries.
The index ranks countries in terms of degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians.
Former chairman of TI,B Mozaffer Ahmed said the country started with 0.3 points and it reached to 2.4 points, which is a good achievement. The country was placed at the bottom of the list for the fifth successive years from 2001 to 2005.
The TI analysed 2008 and 2009 data on corruption in public and political sectors and the data were collected from seven global organisations including World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Economic Intelligence Unit.
The perception of the people was positive as in 2008 the government initiated drive against corruption and institutional reforms, said M Hafiz Uddin Khan, chairman of TI,B.
"In 2009, the election commitment of Awami League government against corruption, continuation of institutional reforms, formation of parliamentary standing committees and information commission has kept the perception positive," he explained. Professor Mozaffer said the main challenges for the government are to keep the perception positive in the coming years.
"The amendment in public procurement act, the presidential pardon of sentences against Shahadab Akbar, son of deputy leader of parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, inactive information commission and non-transparency in public sector will have negative impact in next year's index," he cautioned.
Mr Iftekharuzzaman said corruption is a global problem and fiscal stimulus packages and major public investment carry corruption risks.
"Corruption continues to thrive where there is secrecy and conflict-prone areas as many unstable countries, plagued by long-term conflicts are at the bottom of the CPI," he said.
In Bangladesh, sustainable improvement will depend on strengthening different institutions including parliament, Anti-Corruption Commission, Election Commission, Information Commission, judiciary, law enforcement agencies, public sector and Human Rights Commission, he added.
The corruption report said donors and investors must be helped and help themselves for building and strengthening institutions.
"The G20 must keep its commitments to fighting corruption a part of the solutions to sustainable economic growth and must bring civil society views into the process," the report said.
The best performers in 2009 are Bangladesh, Belarus, Guetamala, Lithunia, Moldova, Montenegor, Poland, Syria and Tonga and the worst performers are Bahrain, Greece, Iran, Malaysia, Malta and Slovakia.
In South Asia, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are ahead of Bangladesh and Dhaka and Islamabad are placed in the same position.
However, scores of Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives were downgraded and India remained constant for the year.
The report said that 80 countries out of 180 scored 3 or less, which means corruption is rampant in those countries. The situation worsened globally in 2009 as the number of countries scored below 3 were 72 last year.Source: Financial Express Continue reading the rest...
Security tight in Bangladesh ahead of Mujib verdict
Bangladeshi authorities have stepped up security in the capital ahead of a court verdict expected this week over the murder of the country's founding president more than three decades ago. The convicted killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was gunned down in his home with 20 members of his household in 1975, are appealing the case, which has been in limbo for more than seven years since an appeal was first lodged.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned of possible unrest following the court ruling and the case was heard amid tight security. Deputy home minister Shamsul Haq Tuku said law-enforcement agencies had been ordered to stay on "the highest alert" and security had been tightened in "sensitive places" to prevent any acts of sabotage ahead of the verdict.
Dhaka police chief Shahidul Haq told AFP extra security has been deployed in diplomatic zones, courts, key government buildings and said some individuals were getting extra protection.
"We are on alert," he said.
The Supreme Court has said it will announce on Thursday whether, following a 30-day hearing, the appeals by the five killers convicted in 2001 have been successful.
Sheikh Mujib, who led the country to independence in 1971 after a bloody war against Pakistan, was the head of the government when army officers stormed his house and brutally massacred him along with his wife and three sons.
Sheikh Mujib's two daughters, Sheikh Rehana and her older sister, current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, were spared as they were out of the country.
The government has said it believes at least one of two bombs to go off in the city in the past month were linked to the trial.
A member of parliament who is also legal counsel for the state in the trial was targeted but not injured in an attack on October 21.That blast wounded at least 15 people, some seriously, while four people suffered minor injuries in a smaller bombing on November 2 in a commercial district in Dhaka. Source: AFP Continue reading the rest...
Separated twins had good night apart
The separated Bangladeshi twins have spent their first night in separate cots at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital. The girls, Krishna and Trishna, are in a serious but stable condition, after more than 30 hours in theatre to separate their heads. They are sedated and on ventilators in intensive care.
The head of surgery at the hospital, Mr Leo Donnan said the girls had a good night.
"The girls this morning have done very well. It was nice to see them lying stablely in their cots. And very strange to see them separate obviously," he said.
"But there's lots to come with them, how they adjust to their separation over the next few days."
In the long-term, one of the key areas of concern is their emotional well being.
He says they are ensuring that they are kept in an environment where they have people around them that they know very well.
"That's not just from the Children's First Foundation, that's also our medical and nursing staff and trying to keep them in a very familiar environment on how they were positioned and how they related to each other," he said.
The chief executive of the Children First Foundation, Margaret Smith, says it is extraordinary to see them apart.
"They appear to be much longer than what we've always imagined them, because they've always sort of been in a v-shape." "To see them in these two cots where they almost fill two cots is just really amazing." Source: ABC News Continue reading the rest...
Webinar on Profiling and the South Asian Community: November 19th
Racial and religious profiling is a pervasive problem that affects many communities across the country, including South Asians. Since September 11th, South Asian community members have been negatively impacted by various profiling policies and practices, including by airport security officers, immigration authorities, and various law enforcement agencies.
Want to learn more about the impact of profiling on South Asians and how community members can get involved in efforts to end profiling? Join SAALT's webinar on November 19th on profiling and the South Asian community. Hear from community advocates and experts in the field.
What: Webinar on the "Impact of Profiling on the South Asian Community." Speakers will include:
- Veena Dubal, Staff Attorney at the Asian Law Caucus
- Neha Singh, Western Region Director at The Sikh Coalition
- Pabitra Benjamin, Field Director at the Rights Working Group
- Priya Murthy, Policy Director at SAALT
Why:
- Learn about recent trends in racial and religious profiling affecting South Asians
- Hear about potential impact of policy proposals
- Discuss racial and religious profiling issues arising in your community
When: Thursday, November 19th at 1 pm EST/12 pm CST/10 am PST (1.5 hours)
How: Click here to register for the webinar. After registering you will receive a confirmation email with a link and call-in information and access code. Before the webinar, click the link and call in to the number from your confirmation email. When prompted, enter the access code.
You can also sign a petition developed by the Rights Working Group to the Department of Justice to improve its guidance on racial profiling, which currently allows for profiling based on religion and national origin; includes "national security" loopholes that have impacted by South Asians in this country; and does not consistently apply to state and local law enforcement.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
John Hopkins students to visit Bangladesh
Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC hosted a reception at Bangabandhu auditorium of the Embassy to welcome a group of students from the SAIS( The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies) of the Johns Hopkins University, USA today. This was organized as a part of embassy’s education outreach programme.Speaking on the occasion, Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Mr. Akramul Qader highlighted various aspects on Bangladesh-US relations. Ambassador Qader shared with the students Bangladesh’s success stories like women empowerment, poverty alleviation, and its role in peace-keeping missions with the UN.
The Bangladesh Ambassador shared with the visiting students how Bangladesh, a Muslim majority country, maintained its vibrant cultural heritage and thereby helped its people to retain their secular outlook over decades. He noted that the trend was vividly manifested in the recent general elections in Bangladesh held in December,2008. The Ambassador felt that Bangladesh and US could gainfully cooperate on a number of issues like alleviation of poverty, fighting extremism, addressing the challenges of climate change etc. The young participants took deep interests in learning from the Bangladesh Ambassador as to how Bangladesh is working in Afghanistan to build their primary education sector or Bangladesh Forces contributing for world peace. The Ambassador specially drew attention about the challenges that Bangladesh is facing like climate change and unfair tariff burden imposed on its garments items exported to the US market.
Dr. Walter Anderson, Associate Director, South Asia Studies of the SAIS accompanied fifteen students who will be visiting Bangladesh in January 2010. The Students wishes to gain increased insight and perspectives about energy needs and resources in Bangladesh as a part of their graduate studies program.
After the session, the visitors were also shown a video presentation on challenges on climate change in Bangladesh. All the guests were served with traditional Bangladeshi snacks.
(Source: Press Release issued by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on November 13, 2009)
Continue reading the rest...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
USA started investigation on Ashrafuzzaman Khan
USA started investigation on the intelllectual killer Ashrafuzzaman Khan
The US government started an investigation on the Al-Badr Commander Ashrafuzzaman Khan, a war criminal of Bangladesh, the mastermind of intellectual killing of 1971. The United States Department of Justice received information of Khan's violation of US immigration law. The Criminal Division of of the U.S. Dept. of Justice said, when Ashrafuzzaman Khan applied for US visa, he concealed the fact that he was connected with Al-Badr force. Morevover he did not disclose the same fact when he applied for US citizenship and also during the time he became a US citizen. The U.S. government has requested the government of Bangladesh to provide all the relevant evidence. The Bangladesh government was asked to cooperate in verifying all the allegations against Khan.
This request was mentioned in a recent letter to the Bangladesh Home Ministry. The Chief of Office of Special Investigation of the US Department of Justice Mr. Eli Rosenbaum sent the letter to Bangladesh State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku in last September. In response, the Bangladesh government is collecting the necessary documents.
In his letter to the Bangladesh Home Ministry Mr. Eli Rosenbaum wrote, Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Khan, a US citizen was born in Faridpur on 28th February, 1948. He was involved in crime against humanity in 1971, during Bangladesh liberation war. Ashrafuzzaman Khan was a member of the central committee of the Islamic Chhatra Sangha. He was also a key member of the Al-Badr force, where he played the role of chief execetioner. In the year 1971, this organization was directly responsible for murders, lootings, abductions and was involved in other crimes against humanity. The letter said, during the Bangladesh liberation war, Ashrafuzzaman Khan the members of his force killed Munir Chowdhury, Abul Khair, Ghyasuddin Ahmed, Rashidul Hasan, Dr. Faizul Mahi, Dr. Mohammad Murtaza and other Dhaka University teachers in Mirpur. The Al-Badr force murdered journalist A.N.M. Golam Mosafa, the editor of the newspaper Purbadesh. Because of his heinous activities of 1971, a case was filed against him on 24th September 1997 in the Ramna Thana (No. 115/1997). The letter also said, the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee (WCFFC) is collecting more information regarding the alleged killer.
The letter said, "Genocide 1971; an account of the killers and collaborators" and South Asia Tribunal (No. -23, December 30 2002) mentioned that during the end of 1971, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's personal diary found in his residence contained the names of more than twenty Dhaka University teachers and staff. Also, the diary contained the names of a few other intellectuals who were either killed or who went missing in 1971. "Genocide 1971" mentioned Jamaat-i-Islami was involved in such killings and abductions. Moreover, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's driver Mofizuddin testified that Ashrafuzzaman Khan was the main killer of the seven university professors in 1971.
The letter said, the US Department of Justice requested the Bangladesh Home Ministry to provide all the documents and relevant information so the allegations against Ashrafuzzaman can be verified and the full investigation can be continued. The US Department of Justice wanted to acquire the diary of Ashrafuzzaman Khan, which he left at his residence at 35 Nakhalpara during the time he was fleeing Bangladesh. The Justice Department also wanted to receive the eyewitness account when Prubadesh editor was being abducted and the relevant original documents, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's driver Mofizuddin, cross examination or the copy of his statement, the eywitness account, the list of the 597 war criminals published by WCFFC on the 3rd April 2008, the case record and relevant information during the time case was filed against Ashrafuzzaman Khan in Ramna Thana on 24th September 1997.
The US government wanted all the documents and the eywitness account and the copies to be submitted to the regional legal official at US Embassy in Dhaka.
On November 10, 2009, Sangbad correspondent approached the spokesman of the US Embassay Harvey Sarnobitz [sic] asking his comments about this development. Mr. Sarnobitz replied, " The US government, in the past had been cooperating with Bangladesh politically and socially. This initiative is a continuation of such process". (Source: Daily Sangbad)
Continue reading the rest...
The US government started an investigation on the Al-Badr Commander Ashrafuzzaman Khan, a war criminal of Bangladesh, the mastermind of intellectual killing of 1971. The United States Department of Justice received information of Khan's violation of US immigration law. The Criminal Division of of the U.S. Dept. of Justice said, when Ashrafuzzaman Khan applied for US visa, he concealed the fact that he was connected with Al-Badr force. Morevover he did not disclose the same fact when he applied for US citizenship and also during the time he became a US citizen. The U.S. government has requested the government of Bangladesh to provide all the relevant evidence. The Bangladesh government was asked to cooperate in verifying all the allegations against Khan.
This request was mentioned in a recent letter to the Bangladesh Home Ministry. The Chief of Office of Special Investigation of the US Department of Justice Mr. Eli Rosenbaum sent the letter to Bangladesh State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku in last September. In response, the Bangladesh government is collecting the necessary documents.
In his letter to the Bangladesh Home Ministry Mr. Eli Rosenbaum wrote, Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Khan, a US citizen was born in Faridpur on 28th February, 1948. He was involved in crime against humanity in 1971, during Bangladesh liberation war. Ashrafuzzaman Khan was a member of the central committee of the Islamic Chhatra Sangha. He was also a key member of the Al-Badr force, where he played the role of chief execetioner. In the year 1971, this organization was directly responsible for murders, lootings, abductions and was involved in other crimes against humanity. The letter said, during the Bangladesh liberation war, Ashrafuzzaman Khan the members of his force killed Munir Chowdhury, Abul Khair, Ghyasuddin Ahmed, Rashidul Hasan, Dr. Faizul Mahi, Dr. Mohammad Murtaza and other Dhaka University teachers in Mirpur. The Al-Badr force murdered journalist A.N.M. Golam Mosafa, the editor of the newspaper Purbadesh. Because of his heinous activities of 1971, a case was filed against him on 24th September 1997 in the Ramna Thana (No. 115/1997). The letter also said, the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee (WCFFC) is collecting more information regarding the alleged killer.The letter said, "Genocide 1971; an account of the killers and collaborators" and South Asia Tribunal (No. -23, December 30 2002) mentioned that during the end of 1971, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's personal diary found in his residence contained the names of more than twenty Dhaka University teachers and staff. Also, the diary contained the names of a few other intellectuals who were either killed or who went missing in 1971. "Genocide 1971" mentioned Jamaat-i-Islami was involved in such killings and abductions. Moreover, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's driver Mofizuddin testified that Ashrafuzzaman Khan was the main killer of the seven university professors in 1971.
The letter said, the US Department of Justice requested the Bangladesh Home Ministry to provide all the documents and relevant information so the allegations against Ashrafuzzaman can be verified and the full investigation can be continued. The US Department of Justice wanted to acquire the diary of Ashrafuzzaman Khan, which he left at his residence at 35 Nakhalpara during the time he was fleeing Bangladesh. The Justice Department also wanted to receive the eyewitness account when Prubadesh editor was being abducted and the relevant original documents, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's driver Mofizuddin, cross examination or the copy of his statement, the eywitness account, the list of the 597 war criminals published by WCFFC on the 3rd April 2008, the case record and relevant information during the time case was filed against Ashrafuzzaman Khan in Ramna Thana on 24th September 1997.
The US government wanted all the documents and the eywitness account and the copies to be submitted to the regional legal official at US Embassy in Dhaka.
On November 10, 2009, Sangbad correspondent approached the spokesman of the US Embassay Harvey Sarnobitz [sic] asking his comments about this development. Mr. Sarnobitz replied, " The US government, in the past had been cooperating with Bangladesh politically and socially. This initiative is a continuation of such process". (Source: Daily Sangbad)
Continue reading the rest...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Bangladesh’s impressive gain in 2010 MCC scorecard
Bangladesh’s impressive gain in 2010 MCC scorecard
Bangladesh made considerable progress in terms of MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) scorecards released today in the USA. Bangladesh met MCC requirements in eight of seventeen indicators weighted by the MCC. This is a net gain of two additional indicators over a year. The US Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) today released country-by-country indicator data measuring the policy performance of 86 developing countries that are candidate for grant assistance from MCC in fiscal year 2010.
As per 2010 MCC scorecards, Bangladesh gained impressively in the broader category of governance and economic freedom. According to the report, Bangladesh has moved upward in political rights from 33% in 2009 to 60% in 2010, an impressive progress by 27%. Matching the progress in civil liberties Bangladesh made a dramatic progress from 46% in 2009 to 53% in 2010. In rule of law in 2009 Bangladesh received 57% in contrast to 60% in 2010. In ‘Investing in People’ category Bangladesh’s Immunization Rates jumped from 70% in 2009 to 75% in 2010. In Natural Resource Management sub-category under the same category of Investing in People, Bangladesh obtained 41% in 2010 against 33% in 2009. Under the Economic Freedom category, Bangladesh made good progress in sub-category Trade Policy as she attained 8 per cent this year compared to last year achievement of 4 per cent. However, Bangladesh’s achievement in the category of “investing in people” needs further boost for better outcome in the future.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a US government corporation designed to work to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth. Bangladesh could make itself an MCC eligible country if it could maintain upward movement of the criteria covered by the MCC report. From this year’s report it appears that Bangladesh made considerable progress in a host of areas which is reflective of the return to democracy through a free, fair and credible election in December last year and also the steps taken by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC remained closely associated in disseminating information on Bangladesh’s achievements in various areas ranging from politics to economics to investing in people.
Source: Press Release issued by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC on November 10, 2009. Continue reading the rest...
Bangladesh made considerable progress in terms of MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) scorecards released today in the USA. Bangladesh met MCC requirements in eight of seventeen indicators weighted by the MCC. This is a net gain of two additional indicators over a year. The US Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) today released country-by-country indicator data measuring the policy performance of 86 developing countries that are candidate for grant assistance from MCC in fiscal year 2010.
As per 2010 MCC scorecards, Bangladesh gained impressively in the broader category of governance and economic freedom. According to the report, Bangladesh has moved upward in political rights from 33% in 2009 to 60% in 2010, an impressive progress by 27%. Matching the progress in civil liberties Bangladesh made a dramatic progress from 46% in 2009 to 53% in 2010. In rule of law in 2009 Bangladesh received 57% in contrast to 60% in 2010. In ‘Investing in People’ category Bangladesh’s Immunization Rates jumped from 70% in 2009 to 75% in 2010. In Natural Resource Management sub-category under the same category of Investing in People, Bangladesh obtained 41% in 2010 against 33% in 2009. Under the Economic Freedom category, Bangladesh made good progress in sub-category Trade Policy as she attained 8 per cent this year compared to last year achievement of 4 per cent. However, Bangladesh’s achievement in the category of “investing in people” needs further boost for better outcome in the future.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a US government corporation designed to work to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth. Bangladesh could make itself an MCC eligible country if it could maintain upward movement of the criteria covered by the MCC report. From this year’s report it appears that Bangladesh made considerable progress in a host of areas which is reflective of the return to democracy through a free, fair and credible election in December last year and also the steps taken by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC remained closely associated in disseminating information on Bangladesh’s achievements in various areas ranging from politics to economics to investing in people.
Source: Press Release issued by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC on November 10, 2009. Continue reading the rest...
Thursday, November 5, 2009
US help for Bangladesh to continue
US President Barack Obama assured continued assistance for Bangladesh's development works particularly in the field of education, health services and disaster management. The assurance came when Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Akramul Qader presented his credentials on Wednesday to the US president at the Oval office of the White House, according to a message received from Washington.
Speaking on the occasion, the US president said: "Bangladesh-US relations exemplify the vision of a partnership in protecting our people from terrorist threat and from those who might wish to destabilize democracy."
Obama welcomed, once again, the free, fair, and transparent elections in December 2008 in Bangladesh and assured to help Bangladesh "to extend its democratic roots."
The envoy reiterated Bangladesh's request for granting duty- free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi garment products to the US market.
Ambassador Qader, while conveying greetings from the president and the prime minister of Bangladesh to Obama, underlined the commitment to individual liberty and the cherished values of democracy, rule of law, respect for diversity and pluralism, shared by Bangladesh and the US.
He reiterated the desire of Bangladesh government to further strengthen the multi-faceted bilateral relations between the two countries that have witnessed a remarkable transformation since the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.
Qader also highlighted Bangladesh's vulnerability to challenges of climate change.
Recalling his recent meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New York during the UN's General Assembly, Obama described her as a pragmatic, wise leader. Obama also recalled Hasina's invitation and assured that he was looking forward to visit Bangladesh.
The US president warmly welcomed the ambassador to the Washington DC and said Bangladesh, by virtue of her firm belief in democracy, remains a natural partner of the US. He highlighted the broad range of strategic interests and fundamental democratic values shared by the two countries.
Referring to his Cairo speech, Obama reiterated his desire to see a Muslim majority Bangladesh where economy is "robust," educational opportunities are in "abundance" and international investments are in "plenty."
Earlier, Qader was greeted with a guard of honour from a smart contingent of US Marines on arrival at the entrance of White House.
Speaking on the occasion, the US president said: "Bangladesh-US relations exemplify the vision of a partnership in protecting our people from terrorist threat and from those who might wish to destabilize democracy."
Obama welcomed, once again, the free, fair, and transparent elections in December 2008 in Bangladesh and assured to help Bangladesh "to extend its democratic roots."
The envoy reiterated Bangladesh's request for granting duty- free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi garment products to the US market.
Ambassador Qader, while conveying greetings from the president and the prime minister of Bangladesh to Obama, underlined the commitment to individual liberty and the cherished values of democracy, rule of law, respect for diversity and pluralism, shared by Bangladesh and the US.
He reiterated the desire of Bangladesh government to further strengthen the multi-faceted bilateral relations between the two countries that have witnessed a remarkable transformation since the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.
Qader also highlighted Bangladesh's vulnerability to challenges of climate change.
Recalling his recent meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New York during the UN's General Assembly, Obama described her as a pragmatic, wise leader. Obama also recalled Hasina's invitation and assured that he was looking forward to visit Bangladesh.
The US president warmly welcomed the ambassador to the Washington DC and said Bangladesh, by virtue of her firm belief in democracy, remains a natural partner of the US. He highlighted the broad range of strategic interests and fundamental democratic values shared by the two countries.
Referring to his Cairo speech, Obama reiterated his desire to see a Muslim majority Bangladesh where economy is "robust," educational opportunities are in "abundance" and international investments are in "plenty."
Earlier, Qader was greeted with a guard of honour from a smart contingent of US Marines on arrival at the entrance of White House.
Source: Daily Star, November 5, 2009 Continue reading the rest...
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