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Sunday, August 31, 2008

[chottala.com] Role of BTRC - beyond the bones

Role of BTRC - beyond the bones
There is a immense potential to reap from the telecom revolution and other things that goes with this. Here are some ideas that for BTRC to consider.

Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission is probably one of the most significant example of what a government agency could do when it really starts delivering what they exist. Before the currently reconstituted commission, the previous ones were dens of thieves and incompetent thugs whose main job was to siphon money out of government exchecker and more importantly, not making the relevant policies so that the thieves in the private sector can continue their stealing.

But there is no reason for complacency for the current BTRC. What has been achieved so far are the ones what anyone could tell in terms of what needed to be done. As a policy making body, its important that you make sure that the bones of the structure are well developed and placed in good coordination of the rest of the elements of the system. Defining the national telecom architecture and giving out the licenses to the relevant parties are just those bones. A lot more things need to be done. Today we would put forward two ideas that should be given due diligence. Off course, these are the result of half-done thinking process that needs to be refined and validated. However, intuitively, these seemed important enough to put forward the ideas.

1. Which types of international call should be encouraged?

We all know that the international calls can be either outbound or inbound. Based on the policy and pricing structure, the balance between these two types of calls can be influenced - i.e. BTRC could dictate the market forces through proper policies so that there is more outbound call-minutes than inbound call-minutes or vice versa. While it is possible to influence this, BTRC has to first know what it wants. The answer of this does not depend on BTRC only - it has to be decided by all the stakeholders - starting from Bangladesh Bank, the government, private sector businesses, etc. Or the consultative process might indicate that there is no need for policy influence in which case BTRC will try to make the policies color-blind as far as preference to international call-types are concerned. Let us conclude this point by mentioning what seems intuitive to us. A case could be made that Bangladesh's economy, society and private sector will be benefited if BTRC makes preferential treatment through policy instruments so that the balance favours the outbound call-minutes. However, intuition is not enough. You have to make a detailed study and analysis before an informed decision can be made in this regard.

2. How to use the increasing revenue of BTRC? Do not give it directly to the government exchecker, use it in ways that multiplies the government revenues.

This is certainly a good thing that we are talking about how to spend the money that you earn. Isn't it nice to know that at least one government agency is having well-thought out debate about how best to spend the money? Don't be too elated. What seems to be a very positive news could turn out to be the mother of all problems down the road. If it does not become a problem, at least, there is a chance that you are not using it in most productive way.

Our suggestion would be not to give the earned revenue directly to the government exchecker. If you just give Tk 100 to the exchecker, that is just Tk 100 for the government. However, BTRC can spend this Tk 100 in ways that will eventually add to the Tk 1000 or more to the national GDP. How?

Let us try to explain in short. If BTRC can find out ways to send the money back to the economy that faciliate the growth of the service sectors that is associated with ICT sector, then the money will come back to the national GPD ten fold. What are the ways to do that? You have to employ experts and innovative thinkers to suggest you the exact projects in collaboration with the consultation to the private sector - however, here are some early thoughts.

2A.
Get all the stakeholders and implement a emergency help line service and other information services that requires different other government agencies (Police, Fire Service and Civil Defense Department, Social Service Ministry, Traffic Police, etc) to setup call center type facilities to respond to consumers in need and to supply information that consumers need (E911 type service). Spend your money - give it to the agencies so that they can get going.

2B.
To facilitate the growth of a service sector locally - provide tax substitution facility for the companies. Say for example, if a bank currently do not offer telephone or internet banking or if they do not have call center, you could devise a plan in collaboration with NBR that you will give some of the taxes of these companies if they spend money on locally offered services. This general policy should be examined very carefully to make sure that its not misused. If properly used, this could boost the local call centers which in turn increase the revenue of BTRC again (as BTRC have a revenue sharing deal with these call centers).

2C. BTRC could give incentive to professional training and language learning centers that are dedicated to supply manpower to the local call centers. Specifically, BTRC could encourage different language training centers (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Swedish, Dutch, German, French as well as English learning centers and language labs) so that private entepreneurs could start exploring call center businesses from a bigger set of markets. Specifically, these language center could benefit from a large amount of migrant workers that we have and who periodically returns to their home country after completing their contract. Say for example, if a migrant worker returns from a 2-year stint of menial job from some country in middle east, this person has probably learned spoken Arabic. If they have a certain level of basic education and young, this group of youth can be easily trained to serve in Arabic language call centers. Some enterpreneur has to set up to train these type of people as well as fresh students out of schools and colleges. Another set of enterpreneurs has to explore geting some call center business from the gulf states. If this model works, this could be virtuous economic cycle of labour upgradation from which our economy will be diversified and benefited. Not only Arabic, we have lot of similar migrant workers in other countries where other languages are spoken.

Once a person works in a call center for several years that is focused on a certain country, they becomes knowlegeble about that particular country. Say for example, somebody learns Korean language and works for a call center that is targeted in Korean businesses. After serveral years of service in Korean call center, this person could get a part-time MBA and become an business executive for private sector companies that does business in Korea.

These are all nice thoughts and some of them (if not all) are certainly implementable. However, people in position has to plan for these so that they can happen in reality. For that to happen, a facilitating environment should be created. Proper people should be appointed so that they can advice the commission with proper analysis.

If you thought some of the ideas are worth of your reading time, please forward it to others. If you have an ear to the columnists in regular traditional media, please forward it to them. If you have an ear to the journalists and news editors of the electronic media, discuss it with them. Hope they would look at the suggestions and give due diligence.
 
Thanks for your time,
Innovation Line
 
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Note: This is a freelance column, published mainly in different internet based forums. This column is open for contribution by the members of new generation, sometimes referred to as Gen 71. If you identify yourself as someone from that age-group and want to contribute to this column, please feel free to contact. Thanks to the group moderator for publishing the article as Creative Commons contents.
 
Dear readers, also, if you thought the article was important enough so it should come under attention of the head of the government please forward the message to them. Email address for the Chief Advisor: feeedback@pmo.gov.bd_ or at http://www.cao.gov.bd/feedback/comments.php . The more of you forward it to them, the less will be the need to go back to street agitation. Use ICT to practice democracy. It is already proven that this government responds to the feedback.

Send it to BTRC at btrc@btrc.gov.bd_


Also send to your favourtie TV channel:

Channel i: http://www.channel-i-tv.com/contact.html
ATN Bangla: mtplive@atnbangla.tv_
NTV: info@ntvbd.com_
RTV: info@rtvbd.tv_

BTV: info@btv.gov.bd_

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Re: [chottala.com] Fw: How many earths are there in the Universe? Happy Ramadan

 
 
Assalamualaikum
 
I'm perplexed.
 
When did anywhere in the Quran Allah azzawajalla says 'seven earths' ?
 
Can Mr Syed Mirza care to give me the verse ? I don't remember ever seeing this verse in the Quran.
 
With regards to 'sky', Mr Mirza should know that in the Quran, as far as I am aware, the word always used is 'samawat '  or its equivalents. Let Mr Mirza be known that the word 'samawat' and its equivalents do not mean sky as we understand it in English.
 
The word 'samawat' ( and its equivalent ) just means anything which is on top. For example, the roof of my bedroom is ' samawat' . If I'm riding in the bus, the roof of the bus is 'samawat'.
 
And I beg to differ with his claim that Quranic sciences do not gel with modern sciences. I am surprised, extremely, that he would make such a claim.
 
For example, the Quran says " The earth and the heavens were one unit of creation before We rent them asunder, and We created everything from water".  These two verses agree with current scientific thinking.
 
Another verse speaks of how Allah has created the universe and "We are expanding it" - this is consistent with what scientists now know about the universe and expansion.
 
In yet another verse, an exploding star is called 'warda' or rose and what do scientists call an exploding star - yes, the Rose Nebula because it looks like a rose.
 
Aren't Mr Mirza aware of these facts ?
 
 
Faris Abdat
 
 
 
 
Abu Hurairah and Ka'b Bin Malik (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant; the wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he continues to be subject to affliction. And the parable of a hypocrite is that of a firm cedar tree; it does not shake, until it is uprooted all at once." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) 
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 1:47 AM
Subject: [chottala.com] Fw: How many earths are there in the Universe? Happy Ramadan

Very nicely said--Thanks Shamim Chowdhury!! 
Let me wish you and all around the universe a Happy Ramadan and beginning of a joyous season -- May this season bring Peace, Prospertiy, and Friendship to all!!
                                                                                              Sultan Chowdhury
                                                                                              Maryland

--- On Thu, 8/28/08, Shamim Chowdhury <veirsmill@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Shamim Chowdhury <veirsmill@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [khabor.com] How many earths are there in the Universe?
To: khabor@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2008, 6:14 PM

Mr. Syed Mirza, I sometime wonders what you trying to attain with what you write! What conclusion you trying to draw by writing all these which I couldn't understand and probably most of the netters don't as well. I believe by doing what you doing will not be able to wrap up the thing but will go into winding up for infinite.

 

I have no problem with what you write; it is you who wants to write and writing, all I am saying is I am seeing no purpose other then hatred toward religion and Islam in particular for unseen and un deplorable reason beyond my imagination.

I do not buy what you write and simply consider it as an act of a hate monger similar to when I reject Khatma Nabouat or that sort of fanatic calls for Ahmedia as none Muslim or close to Kafir. Fanatics of all side are the root cause of all problems.

Same as you I also think that many things which now days are sold labeled with religion or Islam in particular is not what Islam is meant for and we must strive to eradicate what is not right but what you doing will bear no fruit but will destroy the quilt we are trying to build, a bond of colors, creed, ethnicity, social status and religion and so on.

Mr. Syed Mirza, from your regular commentary I can tell without any thinking you do not find any religion in this earth suitable for you. I believe people without a bit of wisdom will come to the same dot and will share my views. Trust me, I have no problem with ones belief and I have no quarrel with you about what you believe in. I am simply stating my uncomplicated views about what I think.

Before I go any further I like to confirm to you and all who reading this write-up that I am not claiming to be a person of wisdom. I am a very simple man with very little astuteness who believed in God and religion like billions of other inhabitants of this planet earth who believed in the same. You may call me stupid, unintelligent or thick head for believing in something that I can not prove right. But Mr. Mirza there are so many things in our life we put our trust on without any query, difficulty or proof, aren't we? I call my father with sincere affection without asking for proof of his father ship; will you call yourself a bonehead for doing that without having a scientific proof in your hand ? Will you wait until a genealogist confirms and links you to his gene to call him father?

Mr. Mirza, my judgment on religion may sound hollow without any base on science but this is what I am and this is what you are. The difference between you and me is I am in peace with what I know but you are apparently fighting with what you know,

Let us strive for the best from the ground we stand on today for the most glorious tomorrow for justice for equality, for fairness and for friendliness for all of mankind and other inhabitants surrounding us. Let's not judge anyone or anyone's belief from just our own narrow prospective but struggle to fit ourselves with others who are dissimilar to me. Not put up with a desire for them to change only, let us try to change ourselves so that we can feat with each others.

Dear Mr. Syed Mirza, I am not soliciting for an angry reply from you but giving my hand for brother ship. There are many reasons where we stand together think of those not just the one where we differ.

Sincerely yours

Shamim Chowdhury

Rockville, Maryland, USA

============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ==
--- In khabor@yahoogroups. com, "Syed Mirza" <mirza.syed@. ..> wrote:
>
> Yes, everything said in Koran fits only Islamic science, but these islamic
> budoo sciences do not fit conventional science that this civilized world
> know about. One has to be fanatic mullah to swallow these idiotic science in
> Koran. Allah of course saw seven earths and seven skies by His mighty
> Islamic eyes, even though, there is no such thing called sky. Sky is nothing
> but a hollow space only which is seen as roof which Allah called canopy over
> the fixed flat earth. And Islamic Allah saw seven of them by His might eyes.
> Problem is Allah could not understand how day and night happens on earth! He
> thought, day and night happens because of rotating Sun and Moon over the
> fixed flat earth. Huh!
>
> SKM
>
>
>
>
>
> On 8/26/08, msa40@... msa40@... wrote:
> >
> > Kindly publish this short write up. Thanks.
> >
> > Mohammad Asghar
> >
> > In the Quran, Allah has said:
> >
> > 65:12: [Allah is He Who created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar
> > number. Through the midst of them (all) descends His Command: that ye may
> > know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends, all
> > things in (His) Knowledge.]
> >
> > According to this verse, there are seven earths, as there are seven heavens
> > or skies and all of them are inhabited. Maulana Mududi confirms this, while
> > commenting on the verse.
> >
> > The questions are: are there seven earths, and inhabited by men and other
> > living flora and fauna? Does science support this claim of the Quran?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------ --------- ---------
> > It's only a deal if it's where *you* want to go. Find your travel deal *
> > here* <http://information. travel.aol. com/deals? ncid=aoltrv00050 000000047>.
> >
> >
> >
>



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[chottala.com] A Nationalist Agenda for Bangladesh - By MBI Munshi Bar-at-Law

A Nationalist Agenda for Bangladesh

 

By MBI Munshi Bar-at-Law

 

 

The installation of the Caretaker Government after the proclamation of emergency on January 11, 2007 by military fiat provides an excellent opportunity for the conscientious citizen to thoroughly reappraise and also reassess our political ideals and national objectives prior to the return of democracy. While the political parties have been striving to reestablish their credibility and relevance to a disillusioned and apathetic public the issue of what ideological principles the nation should rest upon has been largely set aside although this is the most important question of all for the nation to tackle. This article is intended to provide an intellectual framework upon which nationalist debate may take place and covers the political arena occupied by the BNP, Jatiya Party and Jamaat-i-Islami and to some extent the now defunct Freedom Party and other smaller nationalist entities such as Gen. Fazlur Rahman's newly established nationalist formation.

 

What is common to all these parties (except that of Gen. Fazlur Rahman which has only begun operations in Bangladesh) is that they have all failed miserably to uphold the nationalist ideal. The obvious reason for this failure is that there is no single accepted document or formal expression of the terms of the nationalist agenda for the 21st century (although there exists many outdated opinions on the subject) and the majority of the general public has largely relied on intuition to determine a party's nationalist credentials in the modern era. There are several important books on the subject of Bangladeshi nationalism but they tend to over intellectualize the concepts and the basic principles put forward appear contradictory after closer examination. More often than not they involve matters that are subsidiary or ancillary to the main tenets of the ideology. This vagueness and ambiguity has allowed scope for the corrupt, opportunistic and mediocre to thwart and misuse the ideals of nationalism in favour of self-interest and greed. The main cause or reason behind this lack of ideological commitment is the absence of an objective standard or criterion for determining the legitimacy of decisions or actions approved by the party hierarchy when set against the requirements of nationalist ideology. A major consequence of this is that there exists an absolute minimum in ideological content and understanding within the party and an over reliance on charismatic leadership for guidance, however, misguided or irrational it might actually turn out to be for the country as a whole. It is due to this ideological failure that the Freedom Party and Jatiya party both fractured and then collapsed in quick succession during the early 1990's and is also the cause of the BNP's dramatic downfall after the 1/11 takeover by a military-civilian conglomerate.

 

The terms of the nationalist ideal according to this author may be explained through the use of the following four broad tenets or core elements of Bangladeshi nationalism–

 

1.   Honouring the nation's independence and sovereignty achieved through immense struggle, blood and sacrifice in the 1971 Liberation War.

 

2.   Non-interference in the Islamic values and beliefs of the people as enshrined in the constitution [Art. 8 (1A) – Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah shall be the basis of all actions]. The emergence of Bangladesh is a direct consequence of the Two Nation Theory and the Lahore Resolution and the war of 1971 was not intended to negate either of these ideas. Bangladesh remains a majority Muslim nation and the nationalist creed requires the respecting of Islamic values with particular emphasis on the virtue of toleration which is a peculiar characteristic of the people of this region who generally abhor all forms of fanaticism It is for this reason that compared to the secularist approach the non-interference method can accommodate Muslims, non-Muslims and even people of no faith since none will be interfered with provided that all practice toleration towards each other and adopt the policy of mutual respect [i.e. Art. 2A – The state religion of the Republic is Islam, but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in the Republic] (see below).      

 

3.   Adherence to the inclusiveness of Bangladeshi nationalism which is based on territorial exclusivity rather than on ethnic exclusivity. In other words, a Bangladesh national should be appropriately described as Bangladeshi [i.e. Art. 6 (2) – The citizens of Bangladesh shall be known as Bangladeshi] rather than a Bengali which tends towards territorial inclusiveness with West Bengal which is a part of India and where the Bengali identity is subservient to the superior and universal Indian one. A Bangladeshi can never accept his identity to be subsumed into a larger Indian one which is an entirely separate nation as per the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 into three separate territorial parts and two political entities (India and Pakistan). This separate consciousness of Bengali Muslims began during the 1905-1911 partition of Bengal which was vehemently opposed by the upper-class Hindu landlords whose power and influence over their Muslim tenants dwindled during this period but Hindu dominance again reasserted itself once the partition was rescinded seven years later and the Muslims were returned to their former slavish existence. 

 

4.   Aggressive promotion and advancement of the national interest and an uncompromising attitude to national security.         

 

While all the parties claiming to uphold the nationalist agenda have been more or less consistent in protecting Islamic values this has often been done opportunistically or exploitatively. All that this condition requires is non-interference as opposed to the 'excessive' or overt promotion of Islamic values which tends to have a negative effect (a major reason why Islamic parties do badly in elections) on public sentiment which is still very much influenced by the secularist/Indian propaganda about the 1971 war which illogically views Islam as responsible for the atrocities committed by the Pakistan army. Bangladeshis are by nature and temperament moderate in outlook and sentiment and are equally tolerant in matters personal and so a too rigid approach on religion normally gets a negative or unfavorable response. Non-interference in Islamic values is the least onerous of the conditions in the nationalist agenda since it is a negative requirement requiring virtually no action to implement. This is not the same as the secularist agenda favoured by the AL and other leftist parties since they have promoted interference in the Islamic values of the people with the objective of eroding religion from society and rendering the state totally neutral in matters of faith and have even gone so far as to undermining Islam through propaganda and ill-motivated government policies - this is the complete opposite of non-interference and is widely resented by the general public.

 

The third condition has usually been a problem for the anti-nationalists such as the Awami League party as the notion of Bengali nationhood became untenable when West Bengal showed no signs of seceding from India after 1971 and even more importantly - from a nationalist perspective - after the CHT insurgency when the tribal groups refused to adopt Bengali customs even after the vocal and uncompromising demand of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that they do so. This issue was resolved when President Ziaur Rahman amended the constitution and designated all citizens of Bangladesh as Bangladeshis emphasizing the territorial rather than the ethnic aspect of our nationhood.

 

It is, however, in the area of national interest and security that sharply differentiates the nationalists from the other ideological inclinations. In the past, too much emphasis has been placed on the dichotomies raised by faith vs. secularism or Bengali vs. Bangladeshi but these are only indications of attitude and the real test is whether a party is prepared to assert the national interest and aggressively ensure the security of the nation and state. If the answer is in the positive in both cases then by necessity the party in power is advancing the majority faith and Bangladeshi nationalism as well. All the nationalist parties (BNP, Jatiya and Freedom) were established on the twin pillars of national interest and security. The events of 1975 (both 15th August and 7th November) were attempts to reassert the national interest against encroachments and interference from India (this statement is not intended as approval or disapproval of either of these events but simply of their occurrence as a factual and important part of our history.  The question, however, needs to be posed whether the nationalist agenda could have reasserted itself so forcefully without these violent incidents having taken place. Similarly the ruthless suppression of communist revolutionary forces after Gen. Ziaur Rahman ascension to power could be described as a dire necessity since Indian infiltration into Bangladesh had been so extensive and pervasive that a lesser response may have been easily defeated) and Ershad is claimed to have wanted to establish another army division to thwart any possible invasion by Bangladesh's big neighbour.  It is the AL and other leftist parties that have continually compromised on the national interest and security in order to serve their real masters in New Delhi. 

 

The national interest and security involve by implication the most complex political, social, economic and military questions. It is for the country's political leadership to determine which economic or political system best serves the national interest or which social policies should be implemented to advance overall national well-being. There is no easy answer to these questions but what is needed is a set of practical policies that can produce a dynamic and fast growing economy that will sustain an educated and healthy workforce and in turn finance the internal and external security needs of the country. Sectional interests must not be allowed under any circumstances to become an obstacle or hindrance to national development and economic prosperity.

 

Gen. Ziaur Rahman, Gen. H.M. Ershad and Col. Syed Farook Rahman when they formed their political parties had these objectives in mind but gradually overtime the ideological elements of their party program became diluted and the pursuit of money became more important. While Gen. Ziaur Rahman and Col. Syed Farook Rahman were personally incorruptible their followers and the subsequent generations of leaders were far less inclined to follow this lead and became addicted to the pursuit of wealth and indirectly compromised on the fourth tenet of nationalism – national interest and security. It was with this new generation (especially in the case of the BNP) which saw the sidelining of committed nationalists and the promotion of the most disreputable and corrupted elements of the party and this is the surest sign of internal decay and clearly indicates the disintegration of the party as a united political force.  

 

In conclusion one should evaluate where Bangladeshi nationalism stands today and especially in the light of the 1/11 change over. It is grievously unfortunate that even without the anti-nationalist parties (i.e. AL, JSD, Workers Party etc) at the helm of power Bangladesh has drifted very far away from all the four core principles of Bangladeshi nationalism. The most obvious failure of the caretaker administration in securing our national objectives appears to be the appeasement of India and the adoption of their foreign policy as our own. This assimilationist agenda has adversely affected our national interest and security and must be reversed if Bangladesh is to remain an independent nation. It is in the area of national security that Bangladesh must concentrate and policy-makers should not be fearful of offending India (which will naturally be the target of any security policy) since India has no qualms about offending Bangladesh which it often describes as a sponsor of terrorism and a threat to its security. The countering of Indian propaganda will also necessarily take a high priority in Bangladesh's security policy but New Delhi's canards against its neighbour has unfortunately been embraced by anti-nationalist parties such as the AL, JSD and Workers Party who have described the country as a hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism and an exporter of terrorism.

 

Bangladesh has yet to devise a security strategy even after almost 37 years of independence which is quite astonishing and at the same time completely unacceptable. One of the principal tasks of a government is to ensure the security of the nation from external threats and this can be best achieved if those responsible for the defense of the nation have a detailed security policy to guide them. National security in this broader sense refers to the requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of economic, military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy. This may be accomplished on several different levels and should include the following –

  • using diplomacy to rally allies and isolate threats
  • maintaining effective armed forces
  • implementing civil defense and emergency preparedness measures
  • ensuring the resilience and redundancy of critical infrastructure
  • using intelligence services to detect and defeat or avoid threats and espionage, and to protect classified information
  • using counterintelligence services or secret police to protect the nation from internal threats

To implement these features effectively in Bangladesh would require a National Security Strategy to be devised. The first step would be to set up a National Security Council which will bring together in one place all the relevant agencies, bodies and experts on this vital issue. This would include the President, Chief Executive, Chiefs of the army, navy and air force, intelligence heads, other security officials belonging to law enforcement, diplomats and experts from various fields who will be called in as the need arises or be allotted to an advisory board attached to the NSC. The NSC would be assigned the responsibility for coordinating policy on national security issues and advising the chief executive on matters related to national security. At regular yearly intervals the NSC would prepare a National Security Strategy document that will guide all elements of our defence, security and intelligence apparatus and also influence the manner and conduct of our foreign policy. The advantages to such an approach would be consistency and comprehensiveness in our national security outlook. While I have tended to concentrate on the defence aspects of security the NSS would give equal priority to strengthening economic security, expansion of trade and investment, and promoting economic development. The NSS would provide guidelines and proposals on economic security, energy security, transport security and terrorism finance. This would involve the business community as stakeholders in the nation's security with direct input in policy formulation. 

 

Probably the only reason that a National Security Strategy and NSC have yet to be established in Bangladesh is the apprehension of the adverse reaction it might generate in New Delhi. A truly nationalist party would disregard such considerations and put the nation's interest and security first. India has never compromised on its national security requirements which usually targets Bangladesh so there should not be any hesitation on this side of the border in doing the same in regard to our own defense needs. Critics may argue that this would undermine democracy and put too much power in the hands of the military. This ignores the fact that political parties have continuously undermined the national interest requiring occasional interventions by the army. To prevent such occurrences this paper argues for the institutionalization of the nationalist agenda so that each arm of the state apparatus and machinery works to fulfill that objective. It would, however, only work effectively under a democratic system as the people will be the final arbiters in determining if any particular government is actually living up to the nationalist ideal. An extended military role in state affairs should not be considered since the present army is not the same as the army of Gen. Ziaur Rahman, Col. Syed Farook Rahman and even Gen. H.M. Ershad which actually fought a war and understood the meaning of the words national interest and security (this statement will probably seem unpalatable to many because of certain actions taken by these individuals but those unfortunate but necessary incidents of our history constitute the basis of Bangladeshi nationalism and also its defence. There is some dispute whether the Jail Killing incident of November 3, 1975 falls into this category since many suspect that this was orchestrated by RAW to prevent a strong leadership emerging around Tajuddin Ahmed. The acquittal of 12 accused in the case by the High Court lends credence to this view). The present army although describing itself as modern and democratic is actually more a peacekeeping force having the mentality of compromisers. The army's approach to the national crisis since 1/11 has been superficial and wholly unprofessional (What is the objective and plan for this intervention and where is the exit strategy?). Rather than seeking the advice of committed nationalists and experts they have resorted to taking assistance from various individuals of dubious backgrounds and qualifications. A democratic political party representing the nationalist ideal would serve the nation better provided the top leadership remains incorruptible and appoints statesman to the helm of government affairs rather than amateurs and opportunists.  

 

MBI Munshi

 

September 1, 2008

 

Dhaka

 

Facebook ID - Mohammad Munshi




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[chottala.com] Why do foreign powers shore up dictatorships?

Why do foreign powers shore up dictatorships?

Mahmud ur Rahman Choudhury
http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm
 
Last Monday we have seen the nature of Military dictatorships with reference to Pakistan and Bangladesh. This Monday we will explore one of the key bases of power of military dictators and see why and how foreign powers shore up dictatorships, again with examples of Pakistan and Bangladesh. In a number of previous commentaries, I have covered in details why, how and to what extent foreign powers have been involved with and had infact infiltrated into our law-enforcement agencies, our intelligence services and our military forces. So I will not cover these aspects here.
Two sorts of Weak States come in for some form or other of interventions by Strong States: (1) Weak States with natural resources which Strong Sates need and covet and (2) Weak States so geographically located as to serve the purpose of stepping-stone to other resource-rich areas or to states which pose a direct physical threat to Strong States. There is a range of intervention options starting from diplomatic and economic pressures, to attempts at "regime change" and finally to outright military conquests and occupation. We are concerned here about aspects of "regime change". The question however is: Why would Strong States support dictatorships as opposed to democratic regimes in Weak States?
Democracy in Weak States has a number of problems: they are divisive and so they lack control; they are corrupt and so costs of investments in exploitation of resources are high; they are unstable and so decisions change abruptly in a short time with changes of governments and ultimately they are answerable to their electorates who may not favor giving away resources to foreigners. Dictators, on the other hand, do not suffer from these disadvantages: they are decisive; they have absolute control; corruption is restricted to a small coterie of elites and finally they are not answerable to anyone. It stands to reason therefore, that the preferred form of governance in Weak States is dictatorship or at least the most authoritarian of democracies - from the point of view of Strong States. It also stands to reason that Weak States are allowed and even persuaded to remain weak, so that exploitation of economic resources can continue unhindered and advantages
continue to accrue to Strong States.
The strongest of the Strong States, the USA had been and still is shoring up dictatorial regimes of various sorts and grades throughout South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and in its endeavors, the USA is supported by other strong states of Europe and Japan who all benefit from the resources exploited from weak states in these diverse parts of the world. When such dictatorial regimes turn "rogue", that is they refuse to serve the interests of USA, they are subjected to outright conquests and occupation such as Iraq and Afghanistan; in other cases they are subjected to unending diplomatic and economic pressures to "comply" such as Iran and North Korea. The USA is a global player; other regional or "wannabe" global players pursue the same policy such as Chinese support to military dictatorship in Myanmar and its occupation of Tibet and Indian support to the Nepalese monarchy and dictatorial regime changes in Bangladesh.
Having stated general principles, let's get down to the brass-tacks of concrete examples of Pakistan and Bangladesh. When the Russians invaded Afghanistan, the USA found an opportunity to sort out Russia and in Pakistan the USA found a stepping-stone to get to Afghanistan. A regime change was initiated to throw out Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto and bring in General Zia ul Haq. With Pakistani help everything was done to get rid of the Russians including financing, training and arming the Taliban; Osama bin Laden was a part of that effort. When General Zia ul Haq got too patriotic, nationalistic and religious for US tastes, he was replaced with another regime change purportedly democratic but equally authoritarian in mind-set. When the Afghan Taliban turned "rogue" and took on the USA in direct attacks, another regime change was initiated with General Pervez Musharraf in chair which permitted conquest and occupation of Afghanistan by US and EU military forces. The
Indians were happy with this latest regime change because it kept a nuclear armed Pakistan engaged with the never-ending business of fighting "global terrorism" and because it weakened Pakistan by aggravating internal divisiveness. When internal divisiveness led to such instabilities that Pakistan was on the verge of disintegrating as a State, a "democratic regime" change was again initiated - it remains to be seen where this leads to but probably it will lead to complete control of Pakistani nuclear weapons by the US, making India very happy indeed for removing a deadly threat to itself. This was an example of initiating and supporting dictatorial regime changes in "Weak States so geographically located as to serve the purpose of stepping-stone to states which pose a direct physical threat to Strong States".
The case of Bangladesh is slightly different although results are the same. Bangladesh is an example of "Weak States with natural resources which Strong Sates need and covet". Resources which Bangladesh has consists of some natural gas, some coal, cheap manpower, sea ports and a location which could help in linking up two distant but trouble torn regions of India. So Bangladesh is directly important to India which wants transit through Bangladesh to its south-eastern provinces, port facilities for its south-eastern provinces and gas to fuel its industrial development in West Bengal and Assam. Indirectly, Bangladesh is important to USA and European states who see in Bangladesh a "sweat-shop" producing and exporting cheap goods and services which are too costly to produce in developed industrial economies. Additionally, Bangladesh is seen as a potential purchaser of technology based goods and services which advanced economies produce such as cars,
aircrafts, computers, telecommunication equipments, weapons and of course surveys and exploitation of gas and coal. So India, USA and EU states have some stake or other in politics and governments of Bangladesh.
Like in Pakistan "regime changes" have been brought about in Bangladesh, some of them involving great violence and bloodshed, the net results of which were military intervention in politics and the hoisting of dictatorships on the people of the Country. However, to elucidate my major contention, I am going to explore this latest regime change in the form of Emergency.
Before the Emergency, that is, around November 2007, US and British diplomats were so visibly busy talking to our politicians, our civil society, our academicia and our media that it was difficult to imagine who had more at stake in the upcoming elections - these foreign diplomats, or our people, politicians and our Caretaker Government. By December 2007, these foreign diplomats were openly rooting for a suspension of the elections. In fact to make matters smooth for some sort of military involvement, a FAX purportedly from the UNDP was procured through devious channels with even more devious authenticity stating that all UN peace-keeping missions for Bangladesh Armed Forces would be stopped if elections were not suspended forthwith. This FAX was used to convince Army Generals to agree to some sort of military intervention in politics and the same FAX was again used to "persuade" the President to sign on the declaration of Emergency.
After the Emergency was declared the Chief of Staff of the Army went to the media with a long list of dos and donts which included reforms in politics, anti-corruption, changes in leadership, good governance etc raising hopes in the people that now perhaps things were going to change for the better.
Also foreign diplomats took it upon themselves to propagate the virtues of the Emergency Government until such time that things started going sour. The US Ambassador Butenis was posted out to a 3rd grade post in Iraq and the British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhry was posted out to be hidden away within the labyrinthine folds of British bureaucracy. The new US Ambassador, a few weeks after landing in Dhaka and while talking to a gathering of Bangladeshi-Americans declared that he was "the new sheriff in town", indicating a change in policy. US, UK, the EU, India and even Pakistan were now all for withdrawal of the Emergency and holding of "free, fair and credible elections" in Bangladesh.
India meantime, went a step further and invited the Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army to visit India which he did to a rousing state reception, normally reserved for visiting Heads of States. Before the visit, Indian media was awash with expectations of better India-Bangladesh relations; transit facilities through Bangladesh, port facilities, export of gas were all mooted in the Indian media. As to what was actually discussed and whether these issues came up for discussion at all, still remains a mystery. The Chief of Staff returned from the visit with a present of 4 horses which need a million takas monthly to house and to feed. There is an ancient Indian adage which goes: "if you want to destroy your enemy, present him with a sacred white elephant which needs so much money to maintain that your enemy will go bankrupt". Were the Indians sending us a subtle message through the present of these 4 pedigree horses to the effect that they would hoist on
us a government which would destroy us, if we don't fall in line with them?
By now people of Bangladesh are well aware of how the Emergency has led us to the dumps and how grievously we are all suffering for it. With nothing having changed for the better, the Emergency is on its way out and the new agenda is "election". Therefore lessons # 1, 2, 3, 4… ad infinitum is to make efforts to be masters of our own fates and to not rely on foreigners to sort out our own problems. We can only do this if we have not just elections, but democracy, the more of it the better, however much pain and suffering we may have to bear for it and however flawed that democracy is. Democracy is the only way in which we can empower our people to master their own fates.
I have run out of column space and have to end here but next Monday I am going to explore, for the benefit of our readers, how our own politics are destroying our hopes for democracy.


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[chottala.com] Fw: How many earths are there in the Universe? Happy Ramadan

Very nicely said--Thanks Shamim Chowdhury!! 
Let me wish you and all around the universe a Happy Ramadan and beginning of a joyous season -- May this season bring Peace, Prospertiy, and Friendship to all!!
                                                                                              Sultan Chowdhury
                                                                                              Maryland

--- On Thu, 8/28/08, Shamim Chowdhury <veirsmill@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Shamim Chowdhury <veirsmill@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [khabor.com] How many earths are there in the Universe?
To: khabor@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2008, 6:14 PM

Mr. Syed Mirza, I sometime wonders what you trying to attain with what you write! What conclusion you trying to draw by writing all these which I couldn't understand and probably most of the netters don't as well. I believe by doing what you doing will not be able to wrap up the thing but will go into winding up for infinite.

 

I have no problem with what you write; it is you who wants to write and writing, all I am saying is I am seeing no purpose other then hatred toward religion and Islam in particular for unseen and un deplorable reason beyond my imagination.

 

I do not buy what you write and simply consider it as an act of a hate monger similar to when I reject Khatma Nabouat or that sort of fanatic calls for Ahmedia as none Muslim or close to Kafir. Fanatics of all side are the root cause of all problems.

 

Same as you I also think that many things which now days are sold labeled with religion or Islam in particular is not what Islam is meant for and we must strive to eradicate what is not right but what you doing will bear no fruit but will destroy the quilt we are trying to build, a bond of colors, creed, ethnicity, social status and religion and so on.

 

Mr. Syed Mirza, from your regular commentary I can tell without any thinking you do not find any religion in this earth suitable for you. I believe people without a bit of wisdom will come to the same dot and will share my views. Trust me, I have no problem with ones belief and I have no quarrel with you about what you believe in. I am simply stating my uncomplicated views about what I think.

 

Before I go any further I like to confirm to you and all who reading this write-up that I am not claiming to be a person of wisdom. I am a very simple man with very little astuteness who believed in God and religion like billions of other inhabitants of this planet earth who believed in the same. You may call me stupid, unintelligent or thick head for believing in something that I can not prove right. But Mr. Mirza there are so many things in our life we put our trust on without any query, difficulty or proof, aren't we? I call my father with sincere affection without asking for proof of his father ship; will you call yourself a bonehead for doing that without having a scientific proof in your hand ? Will you wait until a genealogist confirms and links you to his gene to call him father?

 

Mr. Mirza, my judgment on religion may sound hollow without any base on science but this is what I am and this is what you are. The difference between you and me is I am in peace with what I know but you are apparently fighting with what you know,

 

Let us strive for the best from the ground we stand on today for the most glorious tomorrow for justice for equality, for fairness and for friendliness for all of mankind and other inhabitants surrounding us. Let's not judge anyone or anyone's belief from just our own narrow prospective but struggle to fit ourselves with others who are dissimilar to me. Not put up with a desire for them to change only, let us try to change ourselves so that we can feat with each others.

 

Dear Mr. Syed Mirza, I am not soliciting for an angry reply from you but giving my hand for brother ship. There are many reasons where we stand together think of those not just the one where we differ.

 

Sincerely yours

Shamim Chowdhury

Rockville, Maryland, USA

============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ==
--- In khabor@yahoogroups. com, "Syed Mirza" <mirza.syed@. ..> wrote:
>
> Yes, everything said in Koran fits only Islamic science, but these islamic
> budoo sciences do not fit conventional science that this civilized world
> know about. One has to be fanatic mullah to swallow these idiotic science in
> Koran. Allah of course saw seven earths and seven skies by His mighty
> Islamic eyes, even though, there is no such thing called sky. Sky is nothing
> but a hollow space only which is seen as roof which Allah called canopy over
> the fixed flat earth. And Islamic Allah saw seven of them by His might eyes.
> Problem is Allah could not understand how day and night happens on earth! He
> thought, day and night happens because of rotating Sun and Moon over the
> fixed flat earth. Huh!
>
> SKM
>
>
>
>
>
> On 8/26/08, msa40@... msa40@... wrote:
> >
> > Kindly publish this short write up. Thanks.
> >
> > Mohammad Asghar
> >
> > In the Quran, Allah has said:
> >
> > 65:12: [Allah is He Who created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar
> > number. Through the midst of them (all) descends His Command: that ye may
> > know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends, all
> > things in (His) Knowledge.]
> >
> > According to this verse, there are seven earths, as there are seven heavens
> > or skies and all of them are inhabited. Maulana Mududi confirms this, while
> > commenting on the verse.
> >
> > The questions are: are there seven earths, and inhabited by men and other
> > living flora and fauna? Does science support this claim of the Quran?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------ --------- ---------
> > It's only a deal if it's where *you* want to go. Find your travel deal *
> > here* <http://information. travel.aol. com/deals? ncid=aoltrv00050 000000047>.
> >
> >
> >
>

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[chottala.com] Human Rights Watch urges Afghanistan to free Dr Aafia’s son

" Under Afghan and international law, Ahmed Siddiqui is too young to be treated as a criminal suspect. "
Joanne Mariner, terrorism and counterterrorism program director at Human Rights Watch
 
Human Rights Watch urges Afghanistan to free Dr Aafia's son
* Rights group says 11-year-old Ahmed Siddiqui in NDS custody

WASHINGTON: Global rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday urged Afghan officials to free the son of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is currently awaiting trial in the United States on charges of trying to kill US officials.

"The Afghan government should immediately relinquish 11-year-old Ahmed Siddiqui to the custody of his family," said the HRW in a statement. The boy, reportedly one of Dr Aafia's sons, was with the 36-year-old scientist when she was arrested in the central Afghan town of Ghazni on July 17. Afghan police said they believed Dr Aafia was planning a suicide attack.

Dr Aafia, whose name is on a 2004 US list of suspects with links to Al Qaeda, was flown to the US where she is currently in custody, accused of attempting to murder US officials sent to question her after her arrest by the Afghan police.

NDS: According to the HRW, Ahmed Siddiqui, a US citizen, was "briefly held by Afghanistan's Interior Ministry and then transferred to the custody of the Afghan National Security Directorate (NDS), the country's intelligence agency" after he was detained with his mother. "His current whereabouts are unknown. The NDS is notorious for its brutal treatment of detainees," said the HRW.

Under Afghan and international law, an 11-year-old boy is "too young to be considered criminally responsible for his mother's alleged acts", said the HRW, and called for the boy to be released to a child welfare agency or to relatives in Pakistan as soon as possible.

Last week, Pakistani lawmakers passed a resolution demanding Dr Aafia's repatriation and news of the whereabouts of her three children, who went missing with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-trained scientist when she disappeared from Karachi in 2003. Her arrest was the first time in five years that she had been seen publicly and her family and lawyers allege she had been held captive since disappearing - possibly in a secret US or allied prison. US officials have denied the charge. afp
 
 
Afghanistan: Free Aafia Siddiqui's 11-Year-Old Son
Child Is Too Young to Be Treated as Criminal Suspect
The Afghan government should immediately relinquish 11-year-old Ahmed Siddiqui to the custody of his family, Human Rights Watch said today. Siddiqui, a US citizen, is believed to be the son of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman held on US federal charges in New York.
August 27, 2008    Press Release
Printer friendly version
HUMAN RIGHTS
 
 
... hand the child over to Dr. Aafia's family very soon," Spanta told ... based Human Rights Watch this week urged the Afghan government to free the child, ...
 
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[chottala.com] Capitalist Development Chocked in Bangladesh

 
The army will not stage a coup, the political crisis should be resolved by political means.
— Gen Anupong Paochinda, the commander-in- chief of the Royal Thai Army
 
Capitalist Development Chocked in Bangladesh
Abid Bahar
After the independence in 1971, despite several ups and downs in Bangladesh, the country has been making baby steps in both democratic development and economic prosperity.This became evident to me when lately,I was listening to a friend Sheikh Ali( not the real name) just returned from Bangladesh. He was talking about his uncle who was once a TV program director in Northern Bengal, lived in rented apartments all his life but in his retirement began house building business and now he owns 5 beautiful buildings and keeps 3 cars. The uncle explained to his nephew, that he borrowed money from his friends and built his first building and then sold the condo apartments and made money, paid the debt and reinvested in new projects. His uncle is under investigation by the military backed Caretaker Government. I asked him why, my friend said his uncle's enemies suspect that he earned the money illegally. I said to my friend, in the capitalist system, if
you have the right investment, you become rich as if like the popular saying, over night a finger turns into a banana tree. That is how even in the West, within the first generation, many Bangladeshis are now already millionaires. I said, this is capitalism. In Bangladesh, Bangladeshi business leaders are learning the capitalist tricks. Having said this, I must also say that business in a capitalist system is not free of corruption. That is why there is the department of anti-corruption to catch violators. But in a country like Bangladesh it seems, the danger is when the military Generals find no other ways to take over power, they use the jingle of anti-corruption and say they are purifying the nation. But Moin U's military intervention through pro-Indian Motiur of Prothom Alo's invitation in  politics seems to help only "de-intellectualization" and the chooking of the capitalist development in Bangladesh. Why, it seems the Moin U who
first bluffed Khalida to pretend as a BNP supporter become the chief of the nation and then bluffed the nation to go to India to receive the illegal Indian horses, is bluffing the people of the nation.

 It is true, "it takes time for democracy to take roots in any country. Democracy was not allowed to take root in Pakistan by the over ambitious generals. It is not soldiers job to run a country. They are not trained for the job and they do not have the frame of mind of administering a country.. It is best for the military to stay in the barraks where they belong and do their job and let politicians do their job. Military is not the guardian of the nation, they are paid to protect the country from foreign aggression... We have a saying in Bengali  that means " Beasts are beautiful in the forest and child in mothers lap"

Surprisingly, in Bangladesh, the military and its foreign backed unelected government arrested about 30 thousand people and all most all the top to bottom civilian leaders of the country. Some of them died or were paralysed before verdicts were reached. Some were released and others despite extreme sicknes violating the basic human rights were detained in jail. Some of the civilian leaders were arrested on even charges of the possession of alchohol. The price of essential commodities went up and the unelected government appears to be controlled by foreign governments.  Noe every indication shows that the CG is not fighting corruption; it is politically motivated and chocking the nation to deprive its path to capitalist development.
 
In Bangladesh, Moin U who himself was known as his corrupt brother's keeper, in his present judge, jury and the everything process, his team would first torture the alledged leader or businessman then would send them to court with evidence. It is reported that even after one is released by the court, then the person is sent back to the cantonment and tortured again to find out how he made his money.
 
Well, the Army's logic is when he began business he had no money, howcome now he made lots of money. But the point is, it is capitalism stupid!  In Bangladesh to some fools, to some old style Stalinist free-thinkers like Moti, Mahfuz or Gaffur Chowdhury, or to the corrupt brother's keeper like General Moin U, it is to purifying the nation to its road to pro-Indian secular, pro-liberation, pro-prothom alo- Daily Star politics. In this endeavour, the CG "suspended many fundamental rights, including freedom of press, freedom of association, and the right to bail." Human rights groups "report criticized harshly giving priorities against serious abuses, including custodial deaths, arbitrary arrest and detention, and harassment of journalists by the security forces although there was a significant drop of extra-judicial killings." The CG is Pakistanizing Bangladesh by destroying the democratic institutions. But the junta should be taught the lesson of
how democracy and capitalism works. Capitalism is about how a finger can turn into a banana tree. That is how the owner of the Daily Star and Prothom ALo became rich from nothing. It is clear that, the anti-capitalist and anti-business move by the military to capture power stunned business is simply chocking the nation. Moin U is simply obeying the Caretaker government's foreign backers who have been telling all along that Bangladesh is the world's #1 corrupt country that even surpassed the crook Chad business people, Pakistan and even Afghanistan, or Zimbawbe etc. In Bangladesh case however, it is not necessarily because Bangladeshis are corrupt but because Bangladeshi's pro-Indian Susil Samajis cry wolf more than the others that is recorded by the foreign press.
 
The problem with anti- Bangladesh forces is that Bangladeshis are becoming smarter to know how capitalism works and know how to make lots of money from slow but steady growth of capital. Amnesty International calls the army-backed government as the judge, jury and execttioner, and anti-corruption drive is simply to discredit civilian leadership, the foreign backer's motive however is simply to stop continuty, growth and change in Bangladesh.  By chocking business, harassing business leaders, discuraging diversity and ultimately cuting it short, the military government's Pakistan style denial of the growth and development of Capitalism in Bangladesh is chocking the nation to its road to a failed state.

 Foreign powers like America always preferred to deal with the army. India and America's choice therefore was Moin U. Gen Anupong Paochinda, the commander-in- chief of the Royal Thai Army recently said, "The army will not stage a coup, the political crisis should be resolved by political means." Moin U is not helping the nation. Moin U is helping not development but helping the foreign interest of arresting capitalist development in Bangladesh. Question remains, in the continued pro-Indian drive by Moin U's military, are the Bangladeshis going to miss the boat: Bngladeshi's dream of a developed nation in the Ganges Delta? The independent -minded freedom fighter Major Jalil once said, "Orokkhito Sadhinotai Poradhinota."


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