Unlike his mates, Harry Potter could say Voldemort as Voldemort, who was “He-who-can-not-be-named” for the rest of the wizards.
We also probably need some Harry Potters in our society to start taking the names of the “You-know-who”.
The “you-know-who” AKA the patriotic defence forces are enthralling us with daily amazing activities.
Just that day, they “By Mistake” picked up the editor of one of the largest national daily Mr Atiqullah Khan Mashud of Janakantha and later released him. Arresting a leading national newspaper editor is definitely a high profile undertaking. I can’t believe this sort of high profile arrest can happen without prior HQ permission and by mistake.
Today, the Hummer H2 parked in front of temporary NTV office caught the eye of some junior army officers belonging to RAB. As the protector of all morality of the country, like the infamous Saudi Virtue police, the officers seized the car and summoned the owner, a businessman, Mr. Enayetur Rahman of NTV. When the papers presented by Mr. Enayetur Rahman showed that he bought that car from an ex MP who imported that car under government approved tax exemption law, Mr. Rahman was arrested. At the same time the ex member of parliament who originally imported the car, Mr. Harun ur Rashid, was also arrested. (Now someone’s car is catching our saviors eyes, probably tomorrow someone’s beautiful wife/girl friend may catch some officers eyes!. You can’t be so certain after all these “you-know-who” were found doing to under age girls in Sudan! Or is that why Aditi Sen and Mamun are missing?)
MP’s tax exemption law is a shameful law. And per newspaper reports, almost all MPs took advantage of this law to import car and sell it to others. Although wrong, this was a common practice among MPs, and was permitted by the authorities of last 15 years or more. Now suddenly two leading figures of the society are locked up indefinitely without any right of self defence because one hummer caught the eye of some ” Pike -Borkondaz’.
Neither I like Mr. Moudud Ahmed nor do I have any sympathy for Mr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir. We already have discussed about Mr. Alamgir earlier in the site. Look at Mr. Moudud. If he evaded tax (Who did not do that in Bangladesh?) ask him for clarification or file a law suit. But if you freeze his bank account rather than monitoring it, how he and dozen of family that depend financially on ‘Moudud Associates’ will survive?
People are being burnt alive here and there. There is a serious lack of a building code and compliance. Nobody cares about that. But looks like all our law enforcement agencies are die hard in rescuing all the deer, peacocks and other pets from people’s houses. Who you are giving these rescued animals to? The forest department and Dhaka zoo. These very people are known to poison zoo animal to death with mere intention to sell the hides and bones! Is Chitra Harin an endangered animal? Then why can’t I pet it? And for Gods sake wasn’t it customary since independence to gift a “Chitra Harin” to foreign dignitaries? Which head of state or army chief did not do that since independence? So go ahead and file case against all of them now!
Unfortunately two RAB officers were murdered. See what they did in response, caught one of the “Killers” in 24 hours and killed him!!!!! Didn’t this CTG in principle held extrajudicial killing? Where is the chain of command?
And at the same time we see ridiculous cases are being filed against the politicians arrested for massive corruption! If the law enforcement can be so proactive and efficient in apprehending the RAB killers, where is that zeal in making the cases against the corrupt politicians? And what about corrupt bureaucrats, corrupt Generals?
In medieval India, there was an insane ruler, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. Since then the word Tughlaqi has become synonymous with being wacky.
Now we have a government, we don’t know how it came. We do not know who really calls the shots. We don’t know its real intentions. We do not know its priorities (except deer rescues).
I have a feeling Mr. Tughlaq would have been ashamed if we call this rule as Tughlaqi rule.
March 7, 2007 at 10:24 am
Well I Thank Rumi bhai again to bring this issue in lime light. To me Barrister Moudud
is a cancer of Bangladesh Politics. I made my standing clear on my all Posting. But I don’t support to freeze the Bank account with out proper trial or any thing and also I don’t Support at all to freeze the family member’s
Bank Account In any Case. but what I am noticing common people started to get victim.
Now I am noticing Every good or Bad activities of GOVT is supported by blindly.
Now a days I have got chance to speak lots of my Friends, Relatives and all. Every one is confused what is going on.
Over all activities of Yunus are making the things more confused.
Judiciary is separated from the administration today. A Credible man is leading Anti Corruption. Then why don’t we start the result of real time Implementation.
What’s the importance of Court and Justice then. If we start to do every thing by ourselves. We passionate about 21st century of Bangladesh and some Dream Merchant.
But We know how we are ignoring the violation of human rights, Demand f basic needs.
We are seating in Abroad Enjoying the Flashy, Luxury life of First world.
But Have we ever thought How a retired Clerk of an office re construct his house which has been destroyed by administration. We may
give example of Corruption but there are still some honest people. They might need to spend all of the savings of their life to re build.
After 7:30 If all Malls and Markets are getting closed have we ever thought how those Business Men will sustain with out peak hour business.
These are the two examples. Some Blogers might tell we have to sacrifice etc etc.
But How long we will be going to such paranoid because of our own whims and wrong decision?
March 7, 2007 at 11:27 am
I was talking to my father over phone today. While we, the expatriates, seem to be overly enthusiastic with the CG, the mindset of people living in BD looks a bit different. According to my father, the govt’s attitude towards business is the most unfriendly, and the BD economy is going to collapse if the over zealousness continues. The price of the essentials is skymounting, the markets getting shut off early, businessmen are afraid of opening LC and to store goods in the fear of repercussion for hoarding. The stock prices boomed initially, but now it is declining. The govt has not arrested Tareq Zia yet, but it is demolishing hawkers’ establishment, bazaars in villages, general people’s home. (See today’s Prothom Alo for an article about these incidents.). My father said, it is the business ppl who took a lot of risks and as a result, the economy progressed. But now they are being tageted without any proof or for petty reasons, which is crippling the economy.
I really want the govt to succeed, but so far, I feel there is a serious lack of coordination in the govt. The advisers of this govt don’t have the personality that Mr. Akbar Ali Khan or Hasan Mashud Chow had. They don’t have the voice of Sultana Kamal. Most of them are maintaining low profile, and it is not clear whether they have the power or not. It is great to have Hasan Mashud as the chief of ACC, but we want him to truly catch ‘rui katla’ and systemetically follow the rules. On the other hand, the advisers should concentrate on day to day life of the commoners. Harassment of common people and general businessmen must stop.
March 7, 2007 at 12:06 pm
FZ, how do you know that everyone writng here is expatriates? Since when business men are known for sacrifices in Bangladesh? Let me guess, your father is a businessman and he is badly affected by the recent operations?
March 7, 2007 at 12:25 pm
No, my father is not a businessman, he works for one of the leading companies of BD (against which there is no allegation of corruption).
It is not about my father, or my personal well being. The over zealousness of the drives is affecting the common people more than the businessmen. The businessmen can endure a month of bad business, but if the price hike continues, and the indiscriminate bosti-bazaar-hawker ucched goes on, it will affect them badly. If the govt loses public support, that will be very bad for the future of BD, becoz the political cleansing will hamper. That’s why they need to be careful not to create enrage among the commoners.
March 7, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Rumi Bhai, according to bdnews24 Atikulla Khan Masud (Janakantha editor) got arrested today. First Rab captures him, then says sorry and free him, then a couple of day later, the army captures him. This type of incident reflects the lack of coordination of the law enforcers.
March 7, 2007 at 12:56 pm
With due respect to Rumi bhai, I don’t agree with you on this posting.
There is a saying goes like this
“Every dog has his day” the corrupt had theirs and now the law will have it’s own.
First of all why the hell anybody would drive a hummer in Bangladesh? now you or the people here would say that people can wish anything if they have money yes I would answer yes if they have a honest earning they should.
The example that you gave about people’s girl friend and wifes we have seen that in last 36 years starting from Dalim’s wife and many mores. I won’t say that this government is doing anything like that. We have seen with our own eyers how MP and Ministor’s son came and had the attitude we can get any girls we want doesn’t matter the girl like them or not.How they threaten the present boy friend to cut off any relation with the girl they liked. I have seen those days in dhaka city.
About Moudud, I would distribute sweets the day he will be jailed in for even a single day.
thanks
Kawser Jamal
http://www.changeBangladesh.com
I agree with you on most all of your posting but not in this one. We can agree to disagree to agree on things we belief in.
Audity got over rated in this DP blog. If she would have been an ugly fat women I don’t think that it would get so many response. Her nice pics brought more response from the bloggers than what she deserve. I respect women a lot but they shoud also respect themselves first.Dhaka city is a small city, where and which aparment in DOHS and Baridhara those late night personal essence party use to happen are not hiddend from people eyes or mine and who used to be there as a princess and prince are also not hidded from our eyes.Don’t fake us with people’s innocence who we have seen it all how innocent they were when they were in power.
Mamun and Audity are not any doha tolsi patah in this case no one is. I don’t care about personal life of any body, but when the personal life is carried out of the four wall for business adavantage and deal making it doesn’t hold a personal life.They both used each other for their personal gains over the state of the nation and the innocent,touchy,beautiful face of Audity has been used by Mamun with a free will of Audity in many time to make lot of deals in Bangladesh.
I am not scared of any body because I fight with crocodile even if I live in water, if the crocodile comes to bite me I will bite it back.
March 7, 2007 at 12:57 pm
It is very disappointing.Can any one Kindly confirm more about this issue? I think we gradually Move to Dark days again?
March 7, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Kawsar it seems you are quite enthusiastic.
Poor Moudud.Boss I respect your Josh and every
thing but I think please step your foot on the ground. Other wise if this change Bangladesh dream turns to the night mare you will be hurt.seems you are a very honest man. But I think Just mix up little patience. one system can’t be changed in over night. In here Rumi Bhai wants to show the real picture
of the Bangladesh and It is the actual picture. If you bite crocodile you can’t even do single harm to it.so why do u waste ur time behind that?
but there are lots of way to fight with Crocodiles. Rumi bhai, Zafa Apa, Tanoy da and Fz are speaking
about the most practical picture.Just don’t only listen to heart . You have to mix your intelligence also.
March 7, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Rajiv bhai,
I agree with you. Just onething even sometime a small ant(piphra) if it can get to the nose of the Elephant it can make the elephant cry and raddle to look for life.
Thanks. I will remember your valuable advice.
Kawse Jamal
http://www.changeBangladesh.com
March 7, 2007 at 9:10 pm
The crackdown that is going on right now against bigwigs, is a FAR larger project than we see in the newspapers. We are only reading the surface of the events, the actual reality of the arrests and evidence is far DEEPER than we are seeing. Rumi’s comments and our image (from overseas) are based more on NEWS and our viewpoints of details, like “chitra horin” etc.
First, the intelligence may be much different from what we know – TASKFORCE may have other evidence on a person’s corruption, than the papers, or us (maybe even their family).
Secondly, in massive project like this, there will be imperfections in actual action, even with perfect intelligence on a person.
Imagine this being a WAR SITUATION (almost like Iraq) where normal govt and admin are not in existence, people are trying to escape, banks are worried, families are split, tension is high.
We hope that the objectives of this crackdown are maintained, and mistakes are minimized, a longterm solution to corruption is establised, and the guilty are properly contained.
March 7, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Gazi Are Iraq and Bangladesh Situation Same?
why do they show duel policy for Atiullah Khan Masud? why does Barrister Moinul Hussain get
highest advertisement for His New Nation? Why
does Matin lead another shadow anti corruption
while DUDOK has credible people? Can u give answer of those questions?
March 7, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Rajiv, the people who are managing this drive deserve our utmost applause, trying to do 35 years’ cleanup in 1 month.
And all that with the pressure of an early handover to a democratic govt.
Even capturing just ONE corrupt minister would have been a success-story for me, and to have all these and more is outstanding. Rightnow, I have no answers, but just congratulations.
March 7, 2007 at 11:45 pm
I do not share your characterization of a Tuglug-i-government, though there are some actions of the government/jt. forces that I also find perplexing.
My earnest hope is that the latest action against corruption is not merely a headline-grabbing crowd-pleasing action as common for military rules trying to create popular consituency.
I like to know for instance if the latest arrests were ordered at the behest of the anti-corruption commission based on strong enough evidence, or is it merely the free-wheeling autonomous action of the joint forces–catch them first, will ask questions later.
I don’t understand for instance how Janakantha editor can one day be “mistakenly” arrested by RAB, and then arrested for real the next day. I also don’t understand how the joint forces are still engaging in slum clearance, apparently sometimes without the advisers knowing about it. I am also concerned about a broadening of the SPA by Barrister Mainul Hossain will invite its misuse. SPA is a black law and should have no place in our constitution. I also see in the present situation no checks and balances against individuals in the joint forces. What recourse does one have if some one is harassed without rhyme or reason; perhaps due to enmity with some one influential in the military. I know that the CA has asked that the innocent not suffer; I am afraid this is not good enough. Without institutional protection, abuse is bound to occur. It is unrealistic to assume that joint forces does not have its own share of vindictive and ill-motivated people.
I like to see the truly corrupt people behind bars. I hope this government did their homework right and did indeed catch people against whom there is obvious evidence of massive wrong-doing and corruption, not merely of the type where some one dodged their car-tax.
However, the perception on the ground seems otherwise in some quarters. Fear among traders and businessmen about random harassment by joint forces seem to be wide-spread and is apparently contributing to spiralling prices. For instance, if your stock is too large, you open yourself to the possibility of being accused of hoarding by some joint-force personnel with little chance to defend yourself. The advisers are trying to remove this fear by saying that good honest traders will not be harassed. But the problem is that there is no clearly defined standards of evidence in some of these alleged crimes, and those accused unjustly have little recourse.
Over-vigilance seems to have boomeranged with many traders staying away from the market. This cannot be good for the government as their support will evaporate when people start groaning under inflation.
March 8, 2007 at 1:43 am
Very well Said Saleh Tanveer. Basically
My standing is same as you. Check and Balance theory can’t be applicable here. KGazi you are right also we should Congratulate them But still I can’t be optimistic You know why Because of This Check and Balance theory. I never can stand on the logic to arrest some innocent. To search Sheikh selim or Sheikh Helal you need to Go Sudha Shadhan is bit funny.
Just giving a Example lots of People accuse
Prof Yunus to his process to recover the money from Poor Villagers. Masuda Bhatti Has
given the live proof on Amadeder shomoy and This link is still In DP.Pluse Foyez Ahmed also told In Tritio Matra. Can CTG will be
brave enough to investigate against Yunus?
If as a Citizen of country I ask where is the source of Yunus’s Money will they do?
April 10, 2007 at 1:24 am
[…] accusation, language, villain (Or the accuser), the context are all the same. Only difference, the “You know who’s” wanted to keep is the price tag for Sheikh Hasina and Tareq Rahman. SH is apparently 3 times more […]