In a court of law in Bangladesh, Mr. Tareq Rahman, a political leader, begged the judge not to send him back to interrogation cell anymore. He described, under oath, how he was hanged from the ceiling and beaten mercilessly for days and nights.
Nobody cared, not a single soul spared a blink of an eye for that desperate appeal. Despite Tareq’s appeal, nobody talked about the torture. Even if some few novices dared refer to Tareq’s injuries, they were snubbed as lies. Days went by. The Tareq Rahman we used to see walk to the courts, can’t walk anymore. He even can not sit now. Last time he was seen in public, he was lying on a stretcher bed. Government assigned doctors are speaking, in TV camera that two bone of Tareq Rahman’s vertebral column are fractured. And still our conscientious world is busy enjoying the freak show of Tareq beating, the fun is not over yet, they are still not ready to complain at the torture (Or even call it a torture) Tareq Rahman endured under custody.
One of the suspected co-conspirators of 1/11 military takeover, the Daily Star published a shameful editorial today. In this editorial, meant to protest treatment on Tareq under custody, most of the space was used in playing the broken record to remind the readers how bad Tareq is. And the editors painstakingly chose words not to term Tareq a political prisoner, rather a prisoner for corruption. And not a single time, not for just one time, the word ‘torture’ has been mentioned in this mockery of the editorial. And look at daily Star’s sister newspaper, vernacular Prothom Alo. It published a first page report today. This report tries to downplay the torture allegations by stating that Tareq had back pain since 2005. It quotes a test (MRI) of 2005 that showed pinch nerve. What a corrupted journalism! How these editors are deceiving the people of Bangladesh for their petty interest! A huge proportion of adult has back pain or a pinch nerve. But Tareq’s test in 2005 did not show a fracture. A healthy young adult can not have a compression fracture of two thoracic vertebras without cancer or trauma. I do not know what this newspaper editor want to establish by printing this malicious news item it its first page. Does he want to say that torture did not happen? Or he is helping the government cover up a crime?
While we enjoy every moment, every aspect of extremely delicious Tareq beating, we fail to notice a black cloud looming at the horizon.
Good or bad, Tareq was no doubt an extremely powerful civil politician. Activists of one of the largest political parties of Bangladesh are behind him. Moreover, both of his parents were political leaders and democratically elected rulers of this country. Yet this man is picked up from his ex PM mother’s home, kept in undisclosed custody for unlimited days, hanged from the ceiling and is beaten mercilessly and is made crippled.
The power that has the audacity of perpetrating this crime, the power that enjoys the impunity of doing simply anything without accountability is a portion of Bangladesh armed forces. This is the same military (Not that it is a homogenous entity and all have the same mindset) which dared to raid the home of the founder of the nation, kill him and then chase and kill each and every single member of his family.
We may enjoy and clap at the torture on Tareq today. But let me warn those you who are so happy at the torture on Tareq. Today they may be crippling Tareq, but there is no guarantee they will not come after you tomorrow. A stretcher bound Tareq is a clear message for the country. Please try to listen to exactly what they are saying. They are saying that if they can do this to Tareq, they can do anything to anybody in Bangladesh at anytime. In this country we have two classes, one is the uncivilized corrupt, cluttered civilian class and the others are the blue blooded rulers and emancipators.
June 24, 2008 at 2:39 am
Why has the conscience of the ‘Lot of a nation’ has gone SO LOW, could be found in the following article–
http://www.dailynayadiganta.com/fullnews.asp?News_ID=88860&sec=6.
Disseminating outright lies to create THE PREMISE for pre-emptive man hunt and not providing any accountibility for such crime is the implication of LEO STRAUSS’s philosophy to the full extent. Whoever knew him and his diciples( Neo-cons like Paul Wolfowitz, Feith and William Cristol etc) in University of Chicago rightly commented that the world under them would be in unpresedented chaos. As Saddam’s two sons death weren’t mourned, Tariq’s cry for having broken spinal cord went into vein of the insensitive elites of Daily and Prothom lies as well. The commonalities between Neo-cons and Prothom/Daily liars are intellectual-dishonesty. And they can continue their crimes only if they are backed by guns. Thus buying military generals like Mush, Mua etc.
June 24, 2008 at 4:53 am
Rumi bhai,
” They are saying that if they can do this to Tareq, they can do anything to anybody in Bangladesh at anytime.”
Could they be ANY CLEARER? If mere words were not enough (ref: MUA’s statement to the TIME ‘If they want to make trouble- let them), he demonstrated by ‘direct action’ that this regime will not hold back or be reticent in respecting the rights of anybody!
And yet, the DS/PA editors want us to believe that this regime and their ‘bhodrolok shomaj’ is protecting us- please don’t bash the civil society, we are, afterall, the ones holding the ‘govt’ accountable!
June 24, 2008 at 7:08 am
President of Bangladesh has been admitted to Hospital. He may loose his ability to continue presidency. It could be an oppurtunity for Iazuddin exit. So who is going to ‘sign’ the document?
June 24, 2008 at 8:46 am
It is always nice to hear kind words about Tareq from Rumi. In general, Hasina learnt from her tragic family history and became a smarter mother than Khaleda Zia, who did not learn from her own tragedy. This is very clear if you compare Shajib Wajed Joy and his sister Putul with both Tareq Rahman and Arafat Rahman. Both Joy and Putul (as well as Rehana’s children) are western educated well raised children with university degrees and profession. You see just the opposite in case of Khaleda Zia’s sons. Political tragedies taught Hasina and Rehana about the high stakes of survival in raising their children at home with enemies all around who killed their entire family, including their 5 years old brother Sheikh Russell and Sheikh Moni’s pregnant wife, and they very correctly took the decision to survive first with their children and then to come to Bangladesh to take care of politics. Had they not survived the tragedy of August 15th 1975, AL would have never come to power. Hasina and Rehana are also correct to understand that the people of Bangladesh who lacked the gratitude towards their father was not going to be reliable enough for her to raise her family. We can see the fruits of Hasina and Rehana’s good judgment in Shajeeb Wajed Joy and Putul.
On the other hand, when Zia was assasinated, the Sattar government and the BNP legislature very generously endowed them with 2 houses, one in Cantonment (Zia’s CMLA home) and the other one in Gulshan. The government of Bangladesh took full financial responsibility of their education. What did they do? They were spoilt during the Ershad’s decade of the 1980s. They did not complete their studies, they went from school to school and finally Tareq’s was induced in schooner business by some devious and notorious BNP opportunists who thought that they could exploit these young orphan minds to get their way from Khaleda Zia in the future. These people, along with Tareq’s notorious friend Giasuddin Mamun and uncle Syed Iskander started Dandy dyeing, schooners Koko-1, Koko-2 etc. Their illiterate mother who was dragged out of her widowed retreat to salvage a dyinng BNP in Ershad’s 80s, could pay no attention to her sons and could not guide them in any way. These boys were misguided and later that misguidance took them to establish Hawa Bhaban and to the culture of corruption of those who wanted to use the family of Ziaur Rahman to implement their personal and political vested interests.
Immediately after Khaleda was dragged out of her home to run BNP, a group of mid-level leaders under the leadership of Dr. Khandaker Musharraf, Motin Chaudhury, Barrister Rafikul Islam Miah, Begum Jahanara, Khandaker Delwar and others demanded that Khaleda replace all old BNP hands of Ziaur Rahman except those who came from the retired Armed Forces. These Zia ministers included prominent old timers like Habibullah Khan (Zia’s information minister), Jamaluddin Ahmed (Zia’s Industry minister), Fasiuddin Mahtab (Zia’s Planning Minister), Professor Shamsul Haque (Zia’s Foreign Minister), Captain Nurul Haque (Zia’s Shipping Minister). The writer of this post is also a son of one of those Zia ministers, who was the founding treasurer. What happened after that? Well, everyone knows the history of BNP after that. BNP was reinvented with a new team of Khaleda, who recruited those mid-level leaders like Mirza Abbas (who was a simple Ward Commissioner under Abul hasnat in Zia’s time), Dr. Musharraf, Motin Chowdhury etc. This decline was followed by Tareq’s own team of Babar, mamun, Milon, Tuku, etc… and rest of the story is known to all.
While as a BNP insider I do appreciate Rumi Ahmed’s positive gesture towards BNP but I do not truly believe that BNP is a political party. It is at best a misguided political platform that did not survive the way Ziaur Rahman founded and ran it. In order for BNP to be a political party in the service of the people of Bangladesh, it will have to truly reform itself in the spirit of Ziaur Rahman and not run in the way her unfortunate widow ran this party. I mean no disrespect to Begum Khaleda Zia but I do believe that she did not know how to lead a political party in an educated way. I hope all this changes and I also hope that both AL and BNP come out of the current emergency as responsible political parties accountable to the people of Bangladesh for their actions. We also hope that these actions are always positive and are in the very best interest of the people of Bangladesh.
August 15, 2009 at 9:12 pm
You could have been little political when you tried to get the Mayor Nomination.
June 24, 2008 at 11:12 am
I am very sorry that Tareq Rahman was tortured. it must be condemned in the most forceful way. The corrupt must be held accountable but the process must be fair and transparent. Whether Tareq or his mother provided the same courtesies and rights to others during their time in power has no bearing on whether he desrves the same rights. This may be idealistic and may appear simple-minded but we have no choice. Our problem has always been the lack of committment to to having a fair process regardless of whoever has been in power. We are too quick to grasp on kangaroo courts & violence including assasination to justify the ends.
June 24, 2008 at 11:31 am
#4
“
western educated well raised children with university degrees and profession
“
‘It is very clear’ and exactly why Bangladeshis loves Tareq Rahman if compared to Joy. That is exactly why all PHD and ‘high literate’ persons are puzzled and feel humiliated to Tareq when it comes to public confidence. No Bangladeshis (except chamchas & dogs) are thrilled about WESTERN educated brain those running circus in Bangladesh now. We have seen how a western educated BOY behaved of a simple gesture of well whish from a Bangladeshi educated boy. We have seen how a western educated boy handled a Gujrati girl in London in the name of love. We have seen the drunken driving and subsequent arrest of western educated boy.
#
Tareq and Coco is just like any other average Bangladeshi person, believing Bangladesh, living in Bangladesh, marrying Bangladeshi women and will die as a Bangladeshi in their beloved Bangladesh. It is a fact that bringing up of Putul and Joy and their mindset will never match with an average Bangladeshi. They lack every single creditability to continue the legacy of their grandfather even if they wanted to. Mindset, family bearing and religious conviction of Zia family have a natural depth. Hasina choose her options, but for Begum Khaleda Zia, there never was a moral option ever to think otherwise of settling in a foreign nation. She let her son grew up JUST LIKE any other average Bangladeshi student. Some are academically good in school and some are not. She was not concerned about the FOREIGN DEGREE.
#
“
I mean no disrespect to Begum Khaleda Zia but I do believe that she did not know how to lead a political party in an educated way
“
You do and your writing is full of it, just being pretentious.
#
————————————————————————————————————
You have no clue (and all lies) of what ZIA would think about his wife and son. When you speak in the name of Zia you are actually lying. Begum Khaleda Zia is the closest companion of her husband. If any one would know what Zia wanted, it would be her wife and later his sons. In fact, via her guidance BNP survived from extinction in 80s and remains one of the most formidable enemies in voting politics against historical AW or for that matter any other political or social entity in Bangladesh. It appeared that Bangladesh went through a period of choice of next generation leaders. Hasina and BNP_haters tried very hard to bring Joy in the lime light. Whatever the reason, it was not working out well for Joy. Constant verbal abuse, liars, news media none was succeeding to bring down the popular BNP youth leader among its HUGE young supporter. Finding no other way they let Hyenas to get TZ for few days from jail. Abused and beat him cowardly.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
A Bangladeshis, who compare and brings down ANY BANGLADFESHI with another FOREIGN EDUCTAED foreigners or Bangladeshi, are the lowest kind in human society. They are the utmost demoralized being to young Bangladeshis. We must target these individual and bring them to lime light as an example what never become if any one ever goes to foreign nation for education or whatever. Good news is except few most expatriate carry Bangladesh in their heart.
June 24, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Would you please answer me the following questions that arose in my mind reading your article?
1. why do you regard 1/11 as a conspiracy?
2. If 1/11 is a conspiracy, then who were to blame for military takeover on 1/11?
I have noticed that just like The Daily Star’s that editorial where Tarique had been portrayed as a corrupt person, your article gives the impression that Tarique was a great leader who is being tortured now. Both are biased.
I found the last sentence of your article immensely impressive – “In this country we have two classes, one is the uncivilized corrupt, cluttered civilian class and the others are the blue blooded rulers and emancipators.” I would like to add, Tarique belongs to the former category, army does to the latter category. At present One is hurting other. In normal circumstances, crooked political leaders play with us, the commoners. Now they are being played with by the army. It’s time of us, the commoners LIVING IN Bangladesh, to enjoy the show!
However, I don’t care whoever a person in custody is, be he/she a key political figure, a crooked to the core person, or a poor farmer, I’m dead against any kind of torture. The militare-backed or military-controlled, whatever you like to say, caretaker government could have dealt with him in a better way. There must be a better way!
June 24, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Irad Chow
What western qualification do you carry to set up criteria of western superiority over Bangladeshi.
June 24, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Would you please answer me the following questions that arose in my mind reading your article?
1. why do you regard 1/11 as a conspiracy?
2. If 1/11 is a conspiracy, then who were to blame for military takeover on 1/11?
I have noticed that just like The Daily Star’s that editorial where Tarique had been portrayed as a corrupt person, your article gives the impression that Tarique was a great leader who is being tortured now. Both are biased.
I found the last sentence of your article immensely impressive – “In this country we have two classes, one is the uncivilized corrupt, cluttered civilian class and the others are the blue blooded rulers and emancipators.” I would like to add, Tarique belongs to the former category, army does to the latter category. At present One is hurting other. In normal circumstances, crooked political leaders play with us, the commoners. Now they are being played with by the army. It’s time of us, the commoners LIVING IN Bangladesh, to enjoy the show!
However, I don’t care whoever a person in custody is, be he/she a key political figure, a crooked to the core person, or a poor farmer, I’m dead against any kind of torture. The militare-backed or military-controlled, whatever you like to say, caretaker government could have dealt with him in a better way. There must be a better way!
June 24, 2008 at 4:46 pm
@4
“I mean no disrespect to Begum Khaleda Zia but I do believe that she did not know how to lead a political party in an educated way.”
I laughed out loud reading this line
Although I don’t know what you truly meant by the educated way, I know education has little to do with current politics in Bangladesh. You have arms (people wouldn’t mind if you collect those illegally 
) , a legion of leaders of terrorists, black money and you win! For most of the cases, the formula wonderfully works!
If education played a bare minimum role in politics and running a country, Khaleda Zia was not eligible for being at the healm of BNP/country in any way. When she had to answer questions from foreign journalists in conferences abroad, she used to make her people request journalists not to ask her any question beyond the ones listed in a paper handout distributed to them prior to the session began. Yet when asked, she used to have a hard time tryting to figure out which paper contained answer of which question until her assistant came to rescue her. I think there must have a minimum level of educational qualification for being a PM. He/she must be a graduate.
June 24, 2008 at 4:48 pm
@4
“I mean no disrespect to Begum Khaleda Zia but I do believe that she did not know how to lead a political party in an educated way.”
I laughed out loud reading this line
Although I don’t know what you truly meant by the educated way, I know education has little to do with current politics in Bangladesh. You have arms (people wouldn’t mind if you collect those illegally 
) , a legion of leaders of terrorists, black money and you win! For most of the cases, the formula wonderfully works!
If education played a bare minimum role in politics and running a country, Khaleda Zia was not eligible for being at the healm of BNP/country in any way. When she had to answer questions from foreign journalists in conferences abroad, she used to make her people request journalists not to ask her any question beyond the ones listed in a paper handout distributed to them prior to the session began. Yet when asked, she used to have a hard time tryting to figure out which paper contained answer of which question until her assistant came to rescue to her. I think there must have a minimum level of educational qualification for being a PM. He/she must be a graduate.
June 24, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Ferdous, Which part of my article says Tareq Rahman is a great leader?
June 24, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I don’t see how being interviewed by foreign press and being able to respond to foreign journalists in english has to do with being a political leader or prime minister of a country! Why does it matter? If that’s the eligibility for being a leader, then a lot of great leaders around the world would not qualify! Examples: Mao of China, Japan’s emperor, Cuba’s Castro, even king of Bhutan. I don’t think any non-english speaking country’s leader is in any way obligated to be well versed in English as a qualification of being a leader. President Putin of Russia speaks good English. But time and again he resorts to his native language and gives speeches in Russian. Does that make him a bad leader for Russia?
This whole discussion was about torturing a person while in custody. I think Rumi’s point was that every individual, no matter how much we hate him, is eligible for due process and that’s the “civil” way! The civil way also dictates that every individual is innocent until proven guilty in a “court of law”. I’m not sure how many, if any, of the courts in Bangladesh under the current regime and under the “independent” judiciary qualifies as “courts of law”. But that’s a whole another discussion. Why not the current regime and it’s “civil” backers really find out if these allegations of torture are true or not? After all, they’re from the “superior race” of “foreign educated”, “civil” Bangladeshis!
I find it interesting that Mr. Chowdhury bring ups the issue of Khaleda Zia’s education in a discussion thread about torture of Tareque Rahman. But that’s not completely unexpected from him though! In a different thread, he also claimed that the country’s leadership should be left to the likes of him: descendents of imperial blood! (http://rumiahmed.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/waiting-for-khaledas-hasina-moment/#comments, “….This is another reason why the zamindars and the noblemen are to be trusted in public life with responsibilities of a public office more so than the progressive and upstart Kamruls of our society who always have a higher propensity to committing crime and stealing food, without wasting their common sense or allowing it to be influenced by positive social learning and good social values.”)
June 24, 2008 at 9:02 pm
#8
“
I think 1/11 revolution has degenerated into a farce and fiasco! On the eve of 1/11, what we expected is now shattered by both the foolishness of CTG and shrewdness of crooked politicians
“
In previous topic admission was done by #8 of 1/11 being a farce and fiasco. In this thread it was back tracked as ‘why 1/11 regards as conspiracy’.
####################
In previous topic followings are the post of #8
“
I think we common people don’t want Khaleda to show off love for her sons in this regard. Rather we want Tareq, the worst dacoit in Bangladesh ever, himself face the nation and admit his guilt and how he amassed illegally money.
“
“
but I feel good to know that “jemon kukur temon mugur” treatment is being given to the crooked politicians. Because I have been living in Bangladesh and I suffered.
“
Now #8 is not feeling good any more about ‘kukur & mugur’ as posts follows.
“
However, I don’t care whoever a person in custody is, be he/she a key political figure, a crooked to the core person, or a poor farmer, I’m dead against any kind of torture.
“
######
Example continues from a debased frustrated Moin employer. Concerned about some ‘mugur’ from ‘commoners’.
June 24, 2008 at 9:20 pm
#10: Rumi, we know that you like Tarek Rahman for generational reasons and for similarities of profile and deshi type preferences. That is fine. There is nothing wrong in it or you need not feel shy about it. You can still support the AL and have young-turk like generational bhalobasha for Tarek Rahman that Sajeeb Wajed Joy was not able to fulfill as he does not share your preferences due to his Bharatiya and Western upbringing. However, we will be really happy if you switch to our BNP camp in the long run and manifest your bhalobasha for Tarek in our party.
#11: Sensible, Thank you for your sensibility. I believe Tarek rahman created the conditions for his torture and is suffering the consequences of his actions. I know Tarek Rahman personally since my childhood. My father was the founding treasurer of his father’s political party in 1979. Tark studies in my school (St. Joseph’s school in Dhaka) and was later kicked out to Residential Model along with Giasuddin Mamoon when he failed to perform well. Therefore this discussion about the conditions that led to trak Rahman’s torture is in no way off-track or irrelevant as you suggest.
Now coming back to your allegation about my statement and observations about the Kamruls of our society and their unease with the imperial blood or their passion to marry-out our bhadrolok’s daughters through the backdoor.
There are ruling classes in every political system whether it is feudalism or democracy or autocracies of every kind. You have to choose your system as a citizen and the choices that people of Bangladesh made or tolerated gave rise to leaders like Mujib, Zia, Ershad, Hasina, Khaleda, Tarek, Babar, Tuku, Falu, etc.
Please do not mind me saying this but I truly believe that it will be an insult to suggest that Mujib, Zia, Khaleda, Hasina, Tarek, Koko, Babor, Tuku, and Falu ran our country better than the Zamindars and nobleman of the Mughals. If you are allergic to the Muslims like Abed Khan and Kabir Chowdhury, then you might want to consider Hindu zamindars like Rabindranath Thakurs who had a marvellous time in his boat on river Padma but opposed the establishment of the Dhaka university in 1912 that was co-founder my my Great-grandfather, Khan Bahadur Chowdhury Kazimuddin Ahmed Siddiky, the Zamindar of Baliadi, along with Nawab Sir Salimullah and Lord Curzon. Please kindly read the following link carefully:
http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/S_0371.htm
Begum Rokeya Sakhawat’s mother was a daughter of Baliadi and she was the cousin of Kazimuddin Siddiky. It was here in Baliadi that Begum Rokeya wrote her famous book, “A feminist Utopia”.
Both Kazemuddin Siddiky and Begum Rokeya, I believe were better than Tarek, Babur, Falu and the upstart Kamruls of our history. I also believe that they were more cosntructive than Abed Khan’s beloved Hindu Zamindars like Robindranath Thakur who came to enjoy his estate in East Bengal to write poetry and also to oppose the founding of Dhaka University that my Great Grandfather Khan Bahadur Kazimuddin Siddiky founded so that these poor Kamruls and Falus could get a decent higher education. It is rather ironic that Rumi Ahmed’s beloved Awami League members has plenty of Tagore fanatics that would prefer a combination of Hindu imperialism of the Kolkata bhadraloks along with their low stock preferences for Falu, Babar, Tarek and kamrul types. It is rerally sad that their political preferences are misguided and the wounds of class conflict and class consciousness against the Bengali-Muslim and Mughal Chartered zamindars and nobemen are so deep that they prefer the Hindu Zamindars or the Army types like GMUA from the same low stock.
August 15, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Again you could have been little political when you tried to get the Mayor nomination.If I were a son of a BNP leader a former State Mininster, I would start from bottom to organaize the party.Didn’t you try the same way to grab the power like Tariq.. using family name.Then it is nothing wrong to run for Mayor office.But you could have been little political.
June 24, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Mr CIAS,
I did not understand any single sentence of your comment directed towards me.
Please limit your discussion to the point in question, “torture” in this specific post. And don’t use this blog for projecting hollow dynastic pride, use your own sites for those stuff.
June 25, 2008 at 12:30 am
Mr. Rumi,
You said,”Good or bad, Tareq was no doubt an extremely powerful civil politician. Activists of one of the largest political parties of Bangladesh are behind him. Moreover, both of his parents were political leaders and democratically elected rulers of this country. Yet this man is picked up from his ex PM mother’s home, kept in undisclosed custody for unlimited days, hanged from the ceiling and is beaten mercilessly and is made crippled.”
Not a single time you mentioned how he played a key role in the carnival of corruption in Bangladesh through the last BNP regime for which we topped the list of corrupt states in the world throughout the tenure. That gives an impression that you otherwise i.e. you regard Tarique a great leader.
I asked you 2 questions and hope you will answer.
June 25, 2008 at 12:59 am
Ferdous
Your comments do not deserve my time. Sorry for being so rude. You are a youngster and I appreciate your enthusiasm and energy. I welcome you to participate in my blog and encourage you to think, read and write more. But sorry again, our wavelengths do not match and I simply do not have the time to re-explain/translate all my words for your understanding.
I hope I did not hurt your feelings.
Rumi
June 25, 2008 at 5:54 am
Thanks Mr. Rumi for your reply.
As an author you may think whatever you like regarding who deserves your precious time. That’s up to you. As a youngster I never expect to have the same ‘wavelength’ as you do. Because you are older than me. Thank you for at least explaining why you’re reluctant to answer my 2 questions.
However, I have been, of course, hurt
because these 2 questions are now poking me now and then. You could have helped me in getting rid of it.
Ferdous
June 25, 2008 at 6:00 am
Mr Rumi,
Whenever I write my blog address in the website field for making comment, I’m having problem. The comment doesn’t appear. Please look into the matter in the settings.
June 25, 2008 at 6:45 am
Ferdous,
The the main thrust of the post is on the issue of ‘torture of state prisoners during SOE’.
This post is not about whether Tarique was a bad guy or good guy. Or whether 1/11 was a conspiracy. the latter is a rather complex and long string of facts, rumors and documented history.
Bringing the issue of Tareque’s corruption into a discussion, the sole premise of which lies on the widely accepted notion that guilty or not, bad or not, every person deserves to be tried by due process and that no one deserves ‘custodial torture’, was tangential.
Notice the reference to the Daily Star editorial. We are all aware of all those cases that have been brought up against Tareque and even the ones that could’ve been brought but weren’t. We can’t deny that Hawa Bhaban did not exist or that Tareque was the driving force behind the omnipotence of certain very rogue elements during the BNP regime. But the very fact that we’re at one hand accusing this man of defying all the laws of the land and then inflicting inhuman and unconstitutional torture on him against the same laws of the same land is just proof of shameless hypocrisy. Whether Tareque was a bad man or not, in a civilized country with the rule of law and a functional constituition (which does give ALL of us certain rights)should not have any bearing on how he is treated in custody. Yes,I admit, he was perhaps among the most corrupt of our generation, but does that mean that we treat him with the same degree of moral corruption we’ve accused him of? How are the ones torturing him in custody any better than tareque then?
More importantly, as Rumi bhai has noted and I agree, the Govt is actually sending out the message that if they can do this to the most powerful man of the BNP regime, during whose haydays no one (not even the Daily Star) could really point a finger at him (with substantive evidence)nor touch him, then the rest of us are nothing but mere flies. Read the General’s interview to the Time. There is no pretense over the fact that the hardliners have taken over and they really don’t care about the ‘law’ anymore than Tareque did. They don’t ‘promise’ us democracy anytime in the immediate future.
As for the issue of conspiracy..boy oh boy..you have a lot of reading to catch up on
Fariha
June 25, 2008 at 7:45 am
#15
“
that was co-founder my my Great-grandfather, Khan Bahadur Chowdhury Kazimuddin Ahmed Siddiky, the Zamindar of Baliadi, along with Nawab Sir Salimullah and Lord Curzon.
“
How topic relates to your great great great grandfather. It appears that new BNP generation was successful in kicking out these great great great great grand sons.
June 25, 2008 at 8:14 am
#15
“
I know Tarek Rahman personally since my childhood. My father was the founding treasurer of his father’s political party in 1979. Tark studies in my school (St. Joseph’s school in Dhaka) and was later kicked out to Residential Model along with Giasuddin Mamoon when he failed to perform well.
“
Your feeling is understood knowing that a great great great grandson of a great great great….great Zamindar, who was better academically, now being not recognized by NONE comparing to an academically poor kid of a Non WESTERN education. Your post #15 clarified quest I had from post #4.
#
BNP supporters are willing to give a fare shot between you and Tareq. In next vote, please bring your superior academic certificates and Court verdicts of Tareq’s criminal cases. Also include your dynastic information against Zia family. Please include a note on how poorly Khaleda Zia did as a mother in bringing up Tareq. Let public decide who they want. If you win, your dynasty & superior feeling is back on track.
June 25, 2008 at 8:32 am
#21
How long have you been employed by Moin and gang? Why Moin and gang so interested in Tareq’s back bone? Could it be your guru moin lacks one? So you think your DGFI buddies are ‘brave’ in knocking at night to an unarmed man. Is that the new rule, no votes, right to the street with bloody fight? Are you sure you can handle it?
June 25, 2008 at 8:41 am
Thanks Fariha
June 25, 2008 at 11:10 am
Looks like some edition was done on postings. My response at post #24 was not directed to present post #21. Similarly my post of #14 about #8, now points to #7.
June 25, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Rumi bhai, the echoes of Aug 1975 are unmistakable. Back then, the message was ‘we have killed Bangabandhu and his family, that’s how powerful we are, don’t you dare raise your voice against us’. It’s a similar message today.
Ignoring the detours about Tareq’s crimes, Khaleda’s parental techniques, and 1/11 conspiracy etc, let me pose two questions.
The first one, directly relevant to the post, is: how are we going to demilitarise after the emergency is lifted?
The most immediate point is what we are going to do with DGFI? As far as I can tell, only a hanful of bloggers (Tacit for example) have directly raised this question. Perhaps the mainstream media cannot discuss this because they have seen what happened to Tasneem. I understand their limitation. But this means we, the bloggers, have a moral responsibility to raise this issue more vocally.
More broadly, we need to tackle the militarisation process – the National Security Council, deputation of army personnel into civilian administration – head on.
It seems to me that much of the focus is on Moeen the individual – will he become the president, will he join AL, will he float a king’s party etc. Is this sensible? If Moeen joins AL and becomes a Mujib shena – and that’s all that happens – then all the BNP supporters and anti-ALers will have a very good political weapon against AL, and Moeen will just be like Ershad, who had dinner with Tareq and then joined Hasina in a stage the next day. Big deal.
Much more important is what happens to the army in the new set up. NSC is a very dangerous idea that no one – barring a few DP-allied bloggers – is seriously protesting. Colonels running government agencies is a very alarming trend. Again, no one is talking about it. Captains deciding who gets to run local clubs is a recipe for disaster that we are silent about.
What are we going to do about these things?
The second question is related to Fariha’s mention of Moeen’s Time magazine article. There was a lot of talk about the army reshuffles and the departure of Masud was about the moderates taking control. I have always been sceptical of Moeen’s moderates credentials. This quote from the Time article -
“If they want to make trouble,” says Moeen, “let them” – sounds pretty hardline to me.
June 25, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Re # 4, I understand your point about BNP being refashioned under Begum Khaleda Zia. Under Ziaur Rahman, BNP was a collection of individuals, much like the current caretaker government. Under Begum Zia, it became a political party that sustained a nine-year hiatus out of power, was the main engine for the anti-Ershad movement, governed Bangladesh for ten years, and sustained fifteen years of constant battle with Awami League to retain its own political space. I don’t think that’s a bad list of accomplishments. And this transformation took place by the dint of sacrifice of thousands of medium-level leaders like Mirza Abbas, who used to sell off his own land in the 80′s to finance BNP activities.
The sheer inhumanity of this military government’s supporters astound me. Actually, it used to astound me twelve months ago; I have become jaded since. I can not envision inflicting the pain of seeing you own son beaten and tortured in front of you; I would not inflict it on any individual.
June 25, 2008 at 9:47 pm
#27
During the reshuffles, I believe it was you, who had asked, ‘Why do we give Moeen the benefit of the doubt?’.
I have never watched gen Moeen deal with the media, but I had been there at a press conference where Gen Masud was answering questions. He was very careful about how he phrases his answers,’We are hopuful’ ‘We hope to’ ‘We are doing our best’–he sounded like a PRO.
The exact opposite tone is demonstrated in Gen Moeen’s recent interview to the Time. The quotes–’ if they want to make trouble let them’ ‘we’re trying to make sure our leaders don’t cut their own feet’ ‘ you can judge the people of a nation by the leaders they elect’,–notice how he is the voice of authority. He doesn’t offer any explanations, he doesn’t beat around the bush and he most definitely makes no excuses for the role his team had played in 1/11. If this isn’t being a hardliner, I don’t no what is! He doesn’t even say the requisite, ‘we are hopeful, elections will take place soon/in due time’.
But regarding you first question to Rumi bhai, I have another question.
Given our strategic location, with India looming over us, Myanmar’s drug cartels trying to use us as a passageway, etc etc… can we protect our security interests without a DGFI?
June 25, 2008 at 10:52 pm
DGFI was formed by President Ziaur Rahman with one goal in mind, prevent military coups. DGFI organogram puts it under presidents control ( The only Generals who report to and get posted by the president instead of the army chief. DGFI’s routine was to collect intelligence from within Military e.g. tape record telephone conversations of army top brass and give a daily briefing to the president). Zia in fact went to Chittagong with tips from DGFI about possible trouble from Monjur. Similarly nasim’s 96 coup attempt was efefctively thwarted by DGFI led by current advisor gen Motin. 1/11 could happen because of a combination of events including 1. Country was under CTG and control over DGFI was lax/unclear. 2. Iajuddin, unlike Biswas, was spineless.
In this context DGFI may stay as long as the 3 month lapse in political control of DGFI cease to exist. For that reason we need to rethink the CTG system.
At this time when military is in power ( What was supposed to be prevented by DGFI) DGFI’s role has been diverted to become the secret state police of communist era. i.e. to control the civilian life.
Fariha, I do not think overseas intelligence was in DGFI’s job desription. NSI probably do the kind of job you mentioned.
Additionally we also have Bangladesh counter intelligence led by Col Rahat Khan and its star agents MR9, Sohel and Sohana.
June 25, 2008 at 11:16 pm
#30
But Rumi bhai, DGFI had/has some civil recruits (people recruited directly from outside of the army ranks)and some members of this mysterious body do tend to keep an eye on what goes on across the borders.
Some of them, have also been posted in our diplomatic missions abroad.
What purpose do they serve, traditionally? Do they ensure that a coup is not incited by external forces?
Is it possible that the role of the DGFI has evolved over time, while their ability to actually, effectively gather intelligence has de-volved?
DGFI has now become a Gestapo. But, hypothetically, if Emergency is lifted, will we stop needing them to control over-ambitious generals in the future? Or has that line been taken out of their job descritption altogether?
June 26, 2008 at 12:19 am
Also forgot to mention another aspect of DGFI. Over the last two governments, DGFI has been used by civilian governments for their high profile intelligence and dirty works which they could not trust on the police to do. And this usage has spread the scope DGFI all over the civilian life in BD and DGFI has turned itself into somethink like a s elf sustaining coputer virus.
And a post 12/08 DGFI’s role must be thoroughly revised focusig on its originally intended role. But I suspect DGFI will continue to be used by successive governments exactly as the 1974 special power act or RAB will also continue to be used.
June 26, 2008 at 1:47 am
If someone reads the 32 comments so far posted can easily understand the shift of Focus from ‘torture’ to ‘corruption’ to ‘education’ to ‘dynasty’ to ‘dgfi’ and hope (no!) that it will ultimately end up in ‘entertainment’. I guess the main inspiration of this thread is lost in the myriad of innovative ideas.
June 26, 2008 at 2:09 am
Rumi bhai, I thought MR9 was too busy saving the world from Kabir Chowdhury.
Both Maj Gen Moinul Hossain Chowdhury and Prof Talukder Maniruzzaman write in their books that Zia created DGFI to keep the tab on rival officers in the army. If the use of DGFI for domestic political purposes under the last 2 governments, then who did the previous governments use? Who did the first Khaleda government use to rig Magura by election? But Ershad most certainly played political games, as probably did to a much lesser extent Zia. When Zia brought B Chowdhury into politics, how was that done? Did he just go up to the good doctor and ask him to join politics? And when Ershad tried to break BNP, and find 500 upazilla chairmen etc, who did he use to get his candidates? If they were not using DGFI, then what agency was used?
My point in asking these is not to start a debate about Zia vs Ershad vs Khaleda vs Hasina. My point is that before governments started using DGFI like the Gestapo, there were other government agencies that were used in politics. After the emergency ends, regardless of the outcome of the election, we are not going to become a model democracy or human rights utopia. Whoever forms the next government, or the one after, will want to use some state agency to do some political dirty tricks. But if Zia-Ershad-Khaleda could have done without a full blown Gestapo like agency, then perhaps the next government or the one after can be persuaded to avoid DGFI in the way this government is using?
June 26, 2008 at 2:15 am
Fariha, I have no idea what he is like in person, but as far as his TV interviews etc go, I get the following impression from Moeen:
1. He is very confident. There is no hesitation in the tone or body language.
2. He gives the air of intellectuality. He is not a gun-totting cowboy like Musharraf. No, he is all about academic ideas etc.
He has cultivated this ‘I’m the moderate’ image very well. Yes, the mainstream media, willingly or otherwise, has helped him. But no amount of media makeover could turn Ershad into a believable poet-laureate (which was the persona he tried to create).
June 26, 2008 at 3:06 am
Torturing Tareq Zia in custody is condemnable. I always believe that he is the real culprit behind the corruptions of BNP govt. But instead of trying him for the crimes and corruption, you cannot torture him to the extent of breaking spinal bones.
Exemplary punishment should be given to those who had mercilessly beaten Tareq Zia. Also exemplary punishment should be given to Tareq by state law if he is proven guilty. At the same time, proper treatment must be provided and proper investigation must continue.
June 26, 2008 at 4:07 am
[This I received via email from an Ex-DGFI]
“DGFI was initially DFI (Directorate of Forces Intelligence), established immediately after independence (1972) taking over the same office, equipments and transports of Pakistan ISI. The first Director of DFI was Air Commodore Islam who later came back as Director-General as well as promoted as Air Vice Marshal. He was the head of ISI, East Pakistan in 1971 and fled to India during the liberation war. Similarly the chief of IB in East Pakistan became, at one time, head of NSI (Mr. Safdar).
Both DGFI and ISI composed of officers and staff from three services and from civil. That is why these are known as Inter Service organisations. There are similar organisations in other countries like USA and European countries. In UK, MIs (MI5 -Counter Intelligence and MI 6 also known as Secret Intelligence Service) are actually shorter version of Military Intelligence. The Terms of Reference of DGFI is borrowed, like most of our civil organisations, from ISI, essentially to do strategic intelligence. Therefore, by definition, it is different from army intelligence (DMI), naval intelligence (DNI) and air intelligence (DAI), as well as NSI (which was known as IB in Pakistan days, legally entrusted to do external intelligence only like RAW of India or CIA of USA).
An intelligence agency does what its masters ask it to do. During 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, ISI had failed to locate the position of a particular Indian Armoured Brigade. During a meeting, in presence of the President (Ayub Khan), the ISI chief, responding to a sarcastic comment of Bhutto (General, we are not talking of finding a needle in the hay stack), General Akbar (DG, ISI) said ISI was busy with President’s election works.
Please also do not forget the deliberate misinformation created by the intelligence agencies to pave the way for an attack on Iraq and making Colin Powell eat his own words later. Intelligence agencies (DGFI, NSI, DMI,DNI, DAI and others like SSF, Army Security Unit, Field Security Unit have a job to watch and prevent subversive activities in their respective perimeters.
No one is recruited TO STOP A COUP.
Civilians are the hard disc and specialists. Officers and staff from uniform services come for a tenure of three or four years. It is common almost in all other countries having similar organisations.”
June 26, 2008 at 6:37 am
Nozomi #33, point taken, yes indeed it did. But I am happy it did not turn into a tareq bashing post and the discussion is limited to DGFI, the agency which, other than police, is suspected to do most of the tortures in Bnagladesh.
Jyoti, [ A point different from torture or the thurst of this post].
Previous governments functioned without RAB, I don’t think the future governments will like to be. Idon’t know other instances, as for Ziaur Rahman, I get a sense that he was a micro manager who liked to do all the stuff by himself.
June 26, 2008 at 6:51 am
Whew!
Glad someone talked about this. I’ve been conflicted. I was tempted myself to go as Mr. Robin did up there and talk about the irony of the situation: that Mr. Tareque Rahman is being tortured and his torturer’s are trying to discredit these allegations by crying out politics.
But in the end, the truth is that there are allegations of torture once again. Should the people who spoke loudly abt HR abuses during the last regime (not just limited to torture) be silent now? I think not.
So, thank you Rumi bhai.
Btw, you did not link the DS/PA articles. I don’t know which ones you had in mind. Perhaps it was the one from the particularly over-sensitive op-ed page editor who claimed that Tareque was a “flight risk” whereas Mrs. Hasina was not.
Apparently DS editors think that VIPs leave prison like Clint Eastwood from Alcatraz!
June 26, 2008 at 9:33 am
Moin knows well that ‘corruption and 28th Ocotber’ are hollow logic to justify 1/11, and public had already rejected these. Brass command of Bangladesh Army has not been challenged of their career objective (fighting enemy). They are in indulgence of not working hard for food and livelihood like rest of Bangladeshis do. They have been receiving salutes for years and years. Constant ‘yes sir no sir’, and as they are treated like semi god by their subordinates, a hollow impractical ego of superior complexity reaches to dangerous level. Not all, but some starts to see‘vision’. Volatile disaster looms like putting a match in gasoline. Many right conditions was lined up (or planned) in early stage of CTG. Boom!!! Moin had a brain fart. Now it stinks.
June 26, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Mr. Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiky,
It is good to know that you are a son of a BNP leader. I am sorry to know that your father was not given due respect in BNP according to you. I did not know that a standing committee member is not a respectful person in BNP.
I also found out that you were not given nomination to contest in parliament election although you were highly educated.
No wonder, you will have some angry words against an uneducated Khleda Zia, who unfortunately became prime minister three times thanks to huge number of uneducated ppl living in Bangladesh. This is very reason uneducated ppl in Bangladesh should not have the right to vote or become an elected representative.
“Immediately after Khaleda was dragged out of her home to run BNP, a group of mid-level leaders under the leadership of Dr. Khandaker Musharraf, Motin Chaudhury, Barrister Rafikul Islam Miah, Begum Jahanara, Khandaker Delwar and others demanded that Khaleda replace all old BNP hands of Ziaur Rahman except those who came from the retired Armed Forces. These Zia ministers included prominent old timers like Habibullah Khan (Zia’s information minister), Jamaluddin Ahmed (Zia’s Industry minister), Fasiuddin Mahtab (Zia’s Planning Minister), Professor Shamsul Haque (Zia’s Foreign Minister), Captain Nurul Haque (Zia’s Shipping Minister). The writer of this post is also a son of one of those Zia ministers, who was the founding treasurer. What happened after that? Well, everyone knows the history of BNP after that. BNP was reinvented with a new team of Khaleda, who recruited those mid-level leaders like Mirza Abbas (who was a simple Ward Commissioner under Abul hasnat in Zia’s time), Dr. Musharraf, Motin Chowdhury etc. This decline was followed by Tareq’s own team of Babar, mamun, Milon, Tuku, etc… and rest of the story is known to all.”
A very pathetic story indeed.
More pathetic is the fact that your father (I do sincerely respect him for his support for Khaleda Zia in her trying times) Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui was arrested for corruption on March 26, 1982 by Ershad regime along with dozens of ministers and hundreds and thousands of government officials and BNP supporters.
source: New Bangladesh Regime arrests 200
by Collin Campbell
March 27, 1982
The new york times
This is the problem of some so called BNP supporters. Na paoar bedona boroi kothin. One other case just like you is Nazim Farhan Choudhury. He was trying to make bangladesh rich by 2020 when his mother was made advisor. Funny enough, he has made himself an ad critique right after his mother lost her job as an advisor. His father was a parliamednt member too.
http://nazimfarhan.blogspot.com/
hahaha….
Firiye Ano Bangladesh for Chowdhury’s.
June 26, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Mr Ferdous, The answer to your questions
“1. why do you regard 1/11 as a conspiracy?
2. If 1/11 is a conspiracy, then who were to blame for military takeover on 1/11? ”
for Mr. Rumi has already been answered by none other than a very educated(!) person Dogtor Kamal hossain.
Please read the following newpaper articles,
1/11 Tatkhanik shristy noy onek diner chintar foshol
http://amadershomoy.com/online/news.php?id=27724&sys=3
http://www.daily-dinkal.com/details.php?nid=20555&pubdate=2008-06-23
June 26, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Hasina did not go into details but dogtor kamal could not resist.
June 27, 2008 at 3:14 am
abar zigay (42),
Thanks a lot for you could manage time for caring about my questions
I don’t think Amader Somoy is that kind of newspaper we can go by. I see it being sold at Tk 2 only in inter-city buses of Dhaka. This kind of newspaper can conjure up fabricated story for cheap popularity. Only the statements of Dr. Kamal Hossain seemed to me downright dubious. Other statements and references were taken out of context and mere plain speculation.
Daily Dinkal, despite being a newspaper of BNP, can be more credible. According to the referred article, the bottom line is that Dr. Kamal Hossain was the mastermind of 1/11 and Hasina was convinced to follow him.
Even if I take all these facts for granted, I believe that the last BNP government’s heinous attempt to stage a rigged election on January 22, 2007, placing all chosen people at all level of administration played the key role for necessitating 1/11. If BNP could care about AL’s due demand for creating a conducive atmosphere for election, the ‘conspirators’ could never get a chance to materialize their plan.
June 27, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Dhaka Shohor this is the link to the DS editorial.
June 29, 2008 at 1:02 am
FZ #36
“I always ‘believe’ that he (TR) is the real culprit behind the corruptions of BNP govt.”
Oh yeah! like George W. Bush had always believed about the WMD, like CNN, FOX, BBC had to believe and we also believed! Like T Blair believed..
So we “believe”! Which has been ingrained in our mind systematically, repeatedly and we have no other choice but to ‘believe’.
God save us.
June 29, 2008 at 4:24 am
["A stretcher bound Tareq is a clear message for the country."]
That’s a message from Washington and London through the generals from BD army and sushils, to the people of Bangladesh.
If the message is read on this broader context many unanswered question would come clear on whom, what and why. In recent lecture, now a days US “viceroy” in Bangladesh talked about 3D strategy – democracy, development and denial space fro terrorism. “3D” strategy presented is more for public consumption BUT one of the REAL policies is removing any obstacle to neo imperialism. Tareq is viewed one such major obstacle. Many don’t think Tareq could become a good future leader. But somehow in Washington reading was different. Sizing of Tareq took place (off course along with DS and PA propaganda spread) when he visited US and its officials even without realizing what exactly coming in future. Wouldn’t such invincible person who ran parallel govt in Bangladesh (as Daily star and Prothom alo propagated and propagating even today) could find out what evil plan hatched against him?
In REAL analysis it was Mahfuz Anam, Motiur Rahman, Latifur Rahman, Kamal Hossain, CPD, TIB and other sushil partners ran a parallel govt of conspiracy and planned to take over Bangladesh with the gun power of top generals. Democracy in “3D” is just another hoax just like so called “WMD”. In case we dont realize yet another REAL “D” is “Deception”.
June 30, 2008 at 9:07 am
#41: Thanks for the New York Times reference. Anyone who knows the history of corruption in Bangladesh will not equate Ershad with Zia. Thanks for making that clear in your post.
Also, I am a candidate for the Mayor of Dhaka. Nazem Farhan Chowdhury is not. We are also not equally qualified. I have a PhD in Economics and I believe he is a graduate. So, it is not fair for either of us to be compared to one another.
Finally, according to post # 16, the owner of this blog claims that this post is about torture. I believe him. Unfortunately post# 33 disproves the good intentions of the owner of the blog in post # 16. FYI, the owner of this blog has a tendency to erase posts that he does not agree with. So much for the protection of unmastered bias. Huh..
June 30, 2008 at 9:17 am
Mr Siddiky
If your comments contains personal attacks, unsubstantiated allegations and diatribes, it will be erased. Make no mistake about it.
And most importantly, I am urging both Abar Zigay and Mr siddiqi to refrain from making comments about a person who is not involved in the post or thread. If you have issue with Nazim farhan Chowdhury, please do so in his blog. Farhan, I know, will allow comments criticizing him. He has done so many times in the past.
June 30, 2008 at 9:32 am
Dear Rumi,
Nazem Farhan Chowdhury came to my attention through UV two years back. I don’t know him, neither does he know me, speaking personally. A quick check in the small world of Bangladesh revealed that he is a very distant relative and I obviously know his family as he surely does mine.
He came to my attention once again in post# 41 and I simply responded to inacurate information in that post that I am sure you will kindly allow as a responsible owner of this blog. I am not responsible for the postings of poster # 41.
Best Wishes,
Your future Mayor
(Please tell your folks to vote for me if they are from Dhaka.)
July 24, 2008 at 12:28 am
Thank you Rumi!
Feel free to ramble on to my blog site if you have any issues with my ad critiques or my belief that Bangladesh should be a middle income nation by 2020 (I actually believe we can reach that goal comfortably by 2015) Though I moderate the blog these days, it is for rude language mostly. Ideas are free flow…
Mr. Siddiky: Thank you for clarifying that we are not comparable.
Mr. Zigay:
1. I’ve been in advertising for last 14 years
2. I’ve been a Bangladeshi for last 37 years
3. I love both of these identities of myself
4. I want both these love of mine to prosper
5. Lastly I am a firm believer in the fact that one of the strongest legs that progress and prosperity stands on is private business. Through advertising we ensure a more robust business environment and through a vibrant business we ensure prosperity. Q.E.D!
July 24, 2008 at 12:44 am
In reference to post #41
Please do not assume just because a person’s father belonged to a party (and that too 15 years ago) that the son is automatically a supporter of that party.
I do feel sorry for the politics of BNP. As do I for AL. Both these party have failed to address the real concerns of the citizens of our great nation. Most of us here respect the two leaders that the parties say they represent. Many of us have sympathised with both their policies and have agonized with their mistakes. We have at the same time seen the opportunities that our nation had only a few months ago be squandered. Today I believe there are many like me who do not know where we stand in our political affiliation. As democrats we believe that a return to elected government at the earliest is the right step. But then we see the same bunch of criminals being put forward as candidates to the local body polls (no reference to Mr. Irad Siddiky’s candidature – I do not know about his politics) we are mortified. We are, it seems to me, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea! A freak show indeed!
I would have so loved to see Generation Bangladesh take charge and move forward politically. But it seems that is not to be. Na paoar bedona shotti boroi kothin.
July 24, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Response to # 52–
Could you please elaborate in what context BNP GOVT has failed worse than the current IMF/BHARATI/SHUSHIL/MUA run GOB?
And why are we in the devil and deep blue sea, especially when the PHD holder Bhodroloks are playing Harvard, MIT tricks to make us puritan?
July 26, 2008 at 1:05 am
Response to #53
Hey listen, we can go on for ages talking about who is to be blamed for the situation we are in today. Was it BNP or the AL or the current “Shushil Samaj” government? End of the day Bangladesh has not reached the potentials it can. And all conversations I see is around the blame game. No one speaks about how we can make things better. We haven’t see the new generation of leaders come up. We haven’t see fresh perspectives. And we haven’t seen the change that is needed to take us there.
Let’s talk about what next in our path to prosperity rather than what happened before. Before everyone jumps on me, History is important. Otherwise we are left to repeat it. But we have done history to death. It is time we talk about the future. Mr. Ahmedur R, what are you doing to make this world better. How can I help you?
July 26, 2008 at 1:59 am
Dear Mr. Chowdhury,
Thanks for being sensible in # 54. Unfortunately it was you though, who drew the first blood and I was just brought to my consciense to inquire.
But anyway, as brother and comopatriot I’ll extend my hand to shake and chest to hugg, when offer like in # 54 extends at me. Now you have to understand one thing, when both feet and hands are broken, one can’t even walk with stracher. So, breaking BNP’s base through conspiracy worse than that if someone throws( Not reffering you) Messianic verses at conscious mind, it wouldn’t heal victim’s wound, should it? For this reason, let’s help naive Khaleda, Tarique and 80,000 innocents to get out of cages ASAP, thanks.
March 13, 2009 at 9:06 pm
A video of an interesting “news briefing” is floating around on the webspace. Does anyone know this clown? The fallout for the father is sad – poor man.
December 22, 2010 at 5:05 pm
[...] before that there was the Freak Show of Torture. on the son the a former President, decorated General of our war of Independence and whose mother is [...]