The Talented Dr. Richard Benkin
Mash | 
March 12, 2007, 12:02 am | 
[Hat tip to Shafiur via his comment and another hat tip to Salam Dhaka and Shuchinta]
It turns out that Dr. Richard Benkin, the "reporter" who is the source of stories about Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury and Mr. Choudhury's supporter, is registered as a foreign lobbyist. However, if I asked you to guess which government he represented, you would probably be way off the mark.
On September 6, 2005 Dr. Richard Benkin registered as a foreign agent with the United States Department of Justice, under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), for the Government of Bangladesh. [Click here to see the registration document.] Given the kind of articles Dr. Benkin writes about Bangladesh, this revelation is rather shocking.
Dr. Benkin was hired to prepare and disseminate informational materials via radio or TV broadcasts, magazines or newspaper articles, letters or telegrams, press releases and the internet. He was hired to disseminate this information to public officials, civic groups or associations, legislators, newspapers and editors. According to the document filed with the US government, Dr. Benkin had already received $5000 from the Government of Bangladesh as payment for his services. He was to receive $5000 per month based on an oral agreement between Dr. Benkin and the Government of Bangladesh. According to the filing:
The Registrant agreed to provide Public Relations services to the Foreign Principal at a cost of $5000.00 per month, to be paid to the Registrant at the beginning of each month for services that month. There is no formal duration, but it is expected to last at least twelve months.
A month after Dr. Benkin filed his paperwork, the respected lobbying firms Ketchum Washington and The Washington Group also registered as foreign agents for the Government of Bangladesh to do public relations. [Click here to see Ketchum's registration and click here to see The Washington Group's registration.]
There is one significant difference between Dr. Benkin's lobbying and those of Ketchum and The Washington Group. While Ketchum and The Washington Group indicated in their filing that they would deal with the Bangladeshi Embassy in Washington via the ambassador, Shamsher M. Chowdhury, the filing by Dr. Benkin indicated that he would deal with Lutfuzzaman Babar, State Minister for Home Affairs in Bangladesh. The difference is significant.
As an aside, the reader will note that in the first email Rabbi Sue Levy sent me regarding Mr. Choudhury, she accused the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington of trying to discredit Mr. Choudhury.
It does seem unusual that Dr. Benkin would ink his deal with a Bangladeshi state minister involved with domestic law and order, rather than with the official representative of Bangladesh, that is the ambassador and the Embassy. Why the Bangladesh Embassy was sidestepped in a foreign lobbying effort is certainly food for thought. Further Mr. Babar is featured and cited in a large number of Dr. Benkin's "reports" about Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - yet, Dr. Benkin never mentions that he is a paid consultant working for Mr. Babar. Mr. Babar was also featured in a glowing article dated June 15, 2006 entitled "Babar & His Magic Stick" in the Asian Tribune, Dr. Benkin's mouthpiece of choice. The article was written by a certain Christopher Giddings whose prose is decidedly Bangladeshi in tone, rather than one of a native english speaker.
Those familiar with Bangladesh will note that Mr. Babar is a young politician who gained a reputation for ruthlessness by creating the Rapid Action Battalian (RAB) in March 2004, a paramilitary force responsible for countless extra-judicial killings in Bangladesh. Those unfamiliar with RAB under Mr. Babar can get a sense of their modus operandi by reading the publication "Judge, Jury and Executioner" by Human Rights Watch.
The current interim government in Bangladesh is likely tightening the noose on Mr. Babar, now the former state minister, on alleged corruption charges. So far, anti-corruption forces have raided his home, and have arrested his personal secretary and his cousin on corruption charges.
I can see why Mr. Babar might want a personal PR man to defend his brand of human rights abuses - a lot of people have famously died in the "crossfire" as RAB hunted extremists and common criminals alike. However, Mr. Babar might have been running his own little fiefdom without official government sanction. It makes little sense that at the same time the Government of Bangladesh, through legitimate diplomatic channels, was enlisting the likes of Ketchum and The Washington Group, that a state minister in Bangladesh would hire a foreign lobbyist on his own. It also seems odd that he is repeatedly cited by Dr. Benkin in his "reports" that masquerade as news stories without mentioning that Dr. Benkin is on Mr. Babar's payroll. I am sure the anti-corruption authorities in Bangladesh will have a few questions.
There is a lot of reporting to be done here. I leave it to the reader and fellow Bangladeshi bloggers to fill in the blanks to paint the complete picture. Something smells, and it smells bad.
BONUS for Bangladeshi readers: Here is a glowing article about Tareque Rahman by the aforementioned Christopher Giddings in the Asian Tribune. For non-Bangladeshis, Tareque Rahman, the son of the previous prime minister, is known in Bangladesh as "Mr. Ten Percent" and he has just been arrested for massive corruption.
[FARA documents via Shuchinta]
© 2007 Mashuqur Rahman | Category: Bangladesh, Foreign Policy, Politics | 20 comments | 9,829 views | Subscribe to the comments of this post
http://www.docstrangelove.com/2007/03/12/the-talented-dr-richard-benkin/
20 comments to The Talented Dr. Richard Benkin
khabor : Message: BNP's Jewish Connection !!!!!!!!
M.B.Munshi May have found a new sponsor ... - 2 posts - Dec 30, 2008
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Aah, the plot thickens. Great work, Mash. I knew your blog wasn't a fraud. I wonder what the opposing view's response will be to this little nugget of information. :-"
Great digging! Bring the rats out of their holes.
I have wondered why Babar hasn't been on the list of hundred corrup individuals (many of them former ministers and MPs) that are being detained. Rumor had it, he used to have his own trained army of goons that attacked prominent poiticians during rallies in the last five years.
What a bizzare world.
Good question - why is Babar not on the first 100 list?
Richard Benkin lobbying for him?
Robbie, I think the conversation in the other thread has hit rock bottom
Zafa, Salam Dhaka, I think the charges against Shoiab are starting to get some meat on the bones. Dr. Benkin has been rather busy for his client. I wonder how many folks in Bangladesh actually know about the connection between Benkin and Babar from the filings in the US.
Another thing to track down is this "Christopher Giddings" of the Asian Tribune. My money is that it is a pseudonym for some Bangladeshi writer. I have an obvious guess but it needs to be run down first. The two pieces he wrote praising Babar and Tareque are quite hilarious - the most sycophantic Bengali would have to work hard to heap such praise.
Like I said, there is definitely some there there.
Great digging, Mash–investigative journalism at its best. This deal just keeps getting more interesting.
Why are you trying to discredit Dr. Benkin? He, I believe is very sincere, and has helped Mr. Choudhury. Mr. Choudhury tries to fight propaganda and is an honest man.
Sharon, I think his record speaks for itself.
Benkin should repent for his role during BNP-Jamaat raj.
Sharon is very much wrong. Shoaib is the most dishonest person I ever came across. Less than two years ago, he was in New York hotel where a number of high profile businessmen and lobbyists were giving him awards. Shoaib, the crook was sitting side by side with the Nobel Laureate Eli Wiesel. In his speech, Shoaib made up a story of a fourteen year Jewish girl in Chittagong being raped. He knew it was a big lie, but he wanted to dramatize bringing persecution of Jews in Bangladesh. He was challenged by a Bengali guy and could not give any good answer for his lie. Read the following essay:
http://deshivoice.blogspot.com/2009/04/karma-chameleon-salah-uddin-shoaib.html
I saw Mr Choudhury speak at Rutgers during his most recent US tour. Mr. Choudhury was invited by various Jewish student groups at the school. I knew that something was strange when only Rutgers and Yale invited him to speak. An outspoken Muslim friend of Israel! Jailed and beaten for his beliefs! This should have been so interesting that Jewish student groups would be climbing over to invite him to speak. As a former Hillel event leader I thought about contacting my alma matter and telling them that they had to bring him - thank god I didn't.
At the talk, I naively remarked to the girl next to me that he seemed to be in remarkable physical health for someone who had been severely beaten so many times. I detected no limps or scars. I generally am an obsessive googler of any person or talk that I am going to meet, as I believe that it is always beneficial to have context, but in this case I had been too busy in the days before the talk. While sitting there I started research him and Benkin through my phone's web browser, which is when I came across this blog. As an American Jew who made great sacrifices to move to Israel and serve in the IDF, there are few people who can claim to be bigger supporters of Israel than I. As such I was deeply embarrassed when I started putting the pieces together and realized what a sham this was. Mr. Choudhury's "talk" was nothing more than a diatribe against the Arab and Muslim worlds, in such simplistic and exaggerated terms as to be insulting to anyone with a hint of intelligence, let alone an esteemed university. I am a relatively right-wing Israeli voter - I voted for Ariel Sharon over Ehud Barak (although more recently chose Tzipi Livni over Bibi Netanyahu) and am doubtful about the viability of the two-state solution - but this was so low that I felt dirty and complicit just listening to it. When his "speech" ended after only 10-15 minutes I got up and left before the questions and the love-fest began.
It's been a month and I am still embarrassed to have fallen for this ruse.
I should also add that this story is so bizarre that I feel even Kafka could not have made it up.
Between me and my husband we've owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I've settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
I agree that this person is a total liar, cheat and phony. He steals money from people. I am a USA journalist and I want to expose him. Research of BD documents would help. Please write to me at msgrnbrg@aol.com if you want to help with this.
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grave immoral act by an ASP highway bogora & CO RAB-1
3/1/2011 8:30pm
SP Mir Ashraf Ali of Bogora Highway impersonated himself as The SP of Bogora for the sake of showdown brought his vehicle for an imperial entrance into the neighborhood of Ulon west rampura riding a conspicuous vehicle, Mitsubishi Pajero Dhaka Metro Gho 116776 getting into 212's building at Ulon Road, West Rampura Dhaka and feasting onto the 3rd. flr. to boost up Monir & spouse Bilu- a crime committing couple being an influential member of a crime committing syndicate led by self-proclaimed Matabars specializing in land/house grabbing, lake filling, forgery, harboring creating criminals, running drugs, bribery blackmailing, prostitution, vandalizing, extortion, loan-sharking, encouraging building code violation, oppressing, attacking and ruining a renowned family… joined by Lt. Col. Rashidul Alom CO, RAB-1 he too bringing an extensive vehicles of RAB Dhaka Metro 02-3303, DM Ga 174645 etc in full gear making the area look like a block raid . Later they threatened my family to leave our very own residence or else we will be picked up and/or deface to the extent of being unrecognizable further he will make sure our whereabouts are untraceable.
Sub: A reproach against an Army Lt. Col. and some of colleagues who have been selling out the power of their uniforms providing multifarious assistance to a diehard syndicate responsible for committing abominable crimes that made our lives virtually unlivable.
Lt Col. Rashidul Alom, Dir. RAB-1, accompanied by SP Bogora Highway Mir Ashraf Ali has been insulating his relatives (brother-in-law: Monir of 212 Ulon rd. west rampura ) and a crime committing syndicate involved multifarious crimes led by 3bros (self-proclaimed Matabars Sheeru, Shaulldin, & Momean. They have satanically persecuted us for 7dissipated long years by keeping us from earning a living, stopping our source of income, garbling our land records, keeping us under watch round the clock, bringing mobs on hire to scare abuse us ruining our social status calling us insane (PAGOL) to take away our credibility, not allowing and allowed other to mix with us, throwing full-sized bricks onto our tin-shed roof like hailstorm, poisoning 6 of our pet dogs (Canines), 3cats (Felines), distorting the autopsy reports, bugging our phones and many more….to various departments we went to for assistance to no succor obviously Lt. Col. Rashid hampered its operation deactivating. Even phoning up to have the transgressors released from police custody.
Prior to the happenings Lt. Col. Rashedul Alom came most frequently to Monir's building with RAB-1 sticker posted on an extensive vehicle loaded with uniformed men in full gear moving around our house with walkie-talkies in hand and getting inside 212' feasting on the 3rd flr. Just for the sake of showdown.. Threatening us over phone to keep our mouths shut or else, sent over RAB-1 personnel to scare us out etc. I distinctly remember marauding/myriad of times doubtful activities in momentum when Lt. Col. Rashid came veiling RAB-1 in font as a cover up to bring in/out luggage/briefcases inside 212 or putting within the cars of a black Nissan marked RAB-1 Dhaka Metro Gho 02-3303, Dhaka Metro Go 17-8548, Dhaka Metro Kho 122075 and Dhaka Metro GA 174645 . What's inside the carriers certainly no smelly undergarments? Times of Rashid's visitation invigoration swept fashioning the street urchins taking their shirts off and dangling, dancing dauntingly with ear shattering music played on deck in the street while the syndicate members came out marching to the band.
14/12/2010. 11:15am Observably Rashid is harboring presently a criminally attitudinized male specimen that happens to be a relative Babon son of Monir & Bilu a crime committing couple. For days he was unseen till suspiciously until today brought him out of 212 and shoved inside Rashid's car D M GA 174645 . Question is who authorized him for frequent misappropriation of government vehicle for his personal gain? A neutral investigation will reveal an exclusive array of Rashid's & his buddy's role play as insulators of crime and an ally of injustice.
Note: Due to the reprisals from the syndicate everyone turned into statues not risking to crack, but feigning testifiers are abundant keeping reserved surveillance round the clock.
Maj Gen. Abul Kalam Azad.
DG. Drug Admin
Note: This write-up is initiated with reference to my telephonic discussion with
you on various occasions Bearing in mind a Global Crisis…..
Dear Sir:
By way of a ready reference, I brought to your direct attention, two dispensary shops in Ulon Rampura neighborhood whose activities from the Drug Administration's multifarious point of view, were highly questionable as such having emphasized on an in-depth investigation, perceivably, based on your order a few strangers were observed to have been keeping the shops under surveillance for a few days that resulted in the closure of the dispensaries and sending the owners underground locking up their shops!
To be more specific, Rabiul the owner of Alif Medical Hall, 19 Ulon was no where to be seen and just opposite to that Nazrul, owner of Kajal Medical Hall of #212 opened his shop intermittently… turned into an apparent "scrupulously mosque going person…..!"
I distinctly remember having mentioned to you that a man in uniform and badges was insulating the crime mongers in Ulon area, for reasons I am not interested in… well, cutting through the pasturing, the hyperbole and giving it out straight, in this particular instance of the dispensaries – your business was to address to and demonstrating that "you knew your job… !" As far as I am concerned, to run a dispensary a drug license happens to be the prerequisite followed by many stringent rules and regulations…. and that any violation and/or abuse is virtually zero tolerant.
My sources confirmed that a black vehicle Dhaka Metro Go 231583 carrying in a man-in-uniform Lt. Col. Rashid personally presented himself to the neighborhood followed by having Robiul at once split open the shutters of his shop while a sigh of relief was murmured in kajol's dispensary (an "addakhana" will better explain it) "now, there is no problem as the car (carrying in the savior) has finally arrived on the spot?"
I had taken the liberty of informing you once again of recent occurrences based upon your refraining from taking any action although you admitted having received written reports from your staff about the gravity of the situation and that you haven't had the time to go through them! However, you added up that as you were in the Secretariat in a meeting, and that, as soon as you returned back to office, you will be reviewing them and would call me back for a clear update. Which, for unfathomable reasons didn't proceed expectantly.
When one of my associates contacted you, I regret to say, your answer sounded like one that of an egoistic one that sounded "I don't take orders from you."
Bottom line
"I don't much care about what you think of yourself , what's important to me is what you really are - A PUBLIC SERVANT Just like everyone else that performs efficiently… further, Your uniform and badges may be elucidated / considered ornamental elsewhere but not in such an important organization like "Drug Administration". It is not my intention here to deliver lecture about "how you discharge your duties" except to say that your job needs an uncompromising person who knows his working periphery; There is no scope of discrimination when it comes to exterminating any and all culpability" , you by no means, are posted over there to promote any uncalled for favoritism let alone institutionalize any sort of nepotism at the cost of the post and position you are holding on, after all your paycheck calls for earning it by performing well!
Meanwhile, the aforementioned dispensaries are very much back in business and will keep on doing so unless someone comes forward to challenging them. Will it be too much to ask it from you? As in your own words, know the scope of your work and also know your job thoroughly? I'm in, for "seeing is believing!"
Ps. Robiul has shifted his dispensary over to 26 ulon bazaar.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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