How far we are now from an otherwise impossible meeting between the two ladies in the picture? I do not know. But I can guess, for sure, this meeting will be held outside Bangladesh.
And once this meeting happens, and the phoenix rises from the ashes, will our ten Dhaka club elites and 3 more powerful unknowns have the luxury to keep searching people’s liquor cabinet?
In the Middle of Nowhere 
April 18, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Dear Madams
Take the money and run.
April 18, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Rumi Bhai, I don think such a meeting will be able to bring anything good for the country.
April 18, 2007 at 9:46 pm
The generals give themselves a promtion.
http://www.amadershomoy.com/news.php?id=154791&sys=3
April 18, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Where the next meeting would take place?
Is it in USA? Saudi? or UK?
I want to host that meeting and serve cha and samusa to the chamchas of AWL and BNP surely there aren’t any less in any country of the world where ever they are, I am sure I be rich by selling those freshments because the audience would be huge and Bangladeshi by blood love AWL and BNP and chai and Samusa for sure, no matter the quality of it good or bad doesn’t matter to them because they are not used to taste better things.
Thanks
Kawser Jamal
Feel sorry for my country and its people.Hope some day our mind and ideas start to think little different.
Oh, no shame I could be a chawala or samusa ala but my capital to business would be hard earned money.
April 18, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Rumi Bhai,
One rumour doing the rounds goes like this: Hasina agreed to leave in March with the undertaking from the regime that Khaleda would leave soon, but when this didn’t happen Hasina started challenging the regime; meanwhile, Khaleda agreed to leave after the Arafat Rahman blackmail, but now she doesn’t want to leave anymore because she thinks Hasina can return. Read more here:
http://www.amadershomoy.com/news.php?id=154784&sys=3
I don’t have any idea how true this is. But the title of the article ‘Dui netri’r paltapalti obosthan ekhono factor’ speaks for itself.
April 18, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Rumi Bhai, by saying “once this meeting happens, and the phoenix rises from the ashes” it seems as though you are saying with certainty the following:
a) that the two queens will meet for certain.
b) that whatever brilliant strategy their generate will allow for their parties and their politics to return to Bangladesh.
Separating this from the larger discussion of democracy in Bangladesh, what the CTG is doing to them is not legal, but I’d shed few tears if they never came back. Would a return from these two women be in the best interests of the country? Their politics soured whatever victories we had in toppling Ershad, brought our economy to its knees, and took our country to the brink of collapse not three months ago.
April 18, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Exactly Amer. The fact that we, the big critics of Hasina, Khaleda are talking about the unfairness of the situation, shows how ill fated this move by the CTG is. They are making a martyr of them as Udayan mentioned. Sooner or later they both will make a victorious return and everything they did in their past will be forgotten. If they had been in the country, they would have soon become irrelevant. But it is for sure that the latest episode actually makes sure that the political career of both of them are actually elongated by this.
April 18, 2007 at 11:24 pm
To ALL Whom It May Concern
These two ladies were supported by at least 40 % of the population each. If ( except us, the west living bangladesh politics hating fine ladies and gentlemen) 20% are still loyal to each and follows them passionately, these two lady can be a formidable force.
Please try to avoid YOU from the calculation. YOU do not represent Bangladesh. It does not matter what YOU think. It matters what rural Bangladesh think. Other than these TWO who will the rural people of Bangladesh hold their passion for?
In one week of persecution of two leaders, by angering AL and BNP supporters, the CTG has lost 50% of its popular support. Price hike, eviction of businesses etc had made this worse.
It will be an interesting thing to watch how long an unelected and unpopular government can survive.
And those two ladies will definitely meet once they will know that is the only way they can return to their celebrity status in Bangladesh. It may be years though.
April 18, 2007 at 11:33 pm
If Khaleda and Hasina meet it would prove that they only care about their own well being and not the people of Bangladesh. They would not see each other’s face when they needed to.
The two ladies are responsible for the siutation the country finds itself in. The emergency rule came about due to their failure in finding a common ground for holding a free and fair election.
I for one beleive that the military took over power very reluctantly as the country was heading towards absolute disaster and most Bangladeshis were yearning for a military takeover.
Before we pass judgement on the military and the intermin government, let us not forget how it came about.
April 18, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Sentimental and misdirected hope i feel.
Move on, Cholo Bangladesh.
April 18, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Yes, we’ve had 3 months of CTG and the experience has been so appalling that we want the two Ladies back. Come back Madams, all is forgiven. So sorry about the disruption to your brilliant careers as joint leaders of the Nation.
What were we *thinking*? The last 15 years have been so heavenly for Bangladesh. We love you. Trully. Madly. Deeply.
April 19, 2007 at 2:19 am
Not improbable that they would meet at all.
Look at Nawaz Sharif and Benazir.
Hitler and Stalin …
April 19, 2007 at 2:42 am
Who cares they meet or not? not important at all. They should get out, make way for new beginning… since that is what everyone wants.
April 19, 2007 at 2:44 am
I am not optimistic about their meeting. I think it will take long time. Sheikh Hasina always supported army takeover.
When Sheikh Hasina became the president of Awami League, Gen. Ershad took power on March 24, 1982. At that time Sheikh Hasina gave her reaction by saying “I am not unhappy.”
To give legitimacy of Gen. Ershad’s government, she participated in Election of 1986. Everybody knew what she said day before joining the election. She said those people will call ‘Jatiya Baimaan’, if they joined in election.
In 1988, she joined with Khaleda for anti Ershad movement.
This time, after declare state of emergency, Sheikh Hasina joined the oath taking function at Bangabhaban of this Government on January 12, 2007. Hasina agreed to leave in March with the undertaking from the present government that Khaleda would leave soon. At that time she was happy and gave unconditional support of the activities of present government. I read in newspaper at that time, BNP requested her not leave the country and offered for a dialogue.
I will not surprise if Sheikh Hasina join in election like 1986 to give the legitimacy of this government.
There was a speculation that she decided to withdraw the nomination papers on January 2, 2007 with an understanding with the same group of people to create an environment for ‘state of emergency’. Can anybody explain why she withdraw the nomination papers after submitting those a few days back on December 26, 2006?
April 19, 2007 at 3:08 am
Rumi Bhai , If your possibility could take
place on Last December we need not to see
these days. Now It is very painful to tolerate
the combination of Moinul and Matin. we people
gave chance to this type of elements to speak
on behalf of us.
Moinul openly says It is army backed Govt
and Matin openly admits what he spoke yesterday has no Value.
I just want to know what is the roll of Dr Yunus? will he be courageous enough to speak
for freedom of Press and Human Right.
This is a golden opportunity for him
April 19, 2007 at 5:08 am
Hasina, Khaleda and the other kleptocrats will never be able to make a comeback if black money cannot play a role in the next polls, as envisaged by the present govt.
General Musharraf and Benazir are coming closer, because Musharraf could not take steps against the kleptocrats of Pakistan, and facilatate the way of honest people displacing the corrupt from power.
April 19, 2007 at 5:33 am
Let Bangladesh now move on to the more IMPORTANT PROBLEMS of hunger poverty health and education, which inflicts the nation more urgently.
Let history NOT blur the urgency of peoples needs and that of democracy itself.
April 19, 2007 at 5:34 am
Help 131. I am worried about you. one day your
beloved Moinul-Matin Pair and their Boss may ask to get you out
from your home
April 19, 2007 at 5:42 am
At the end of the day, I think CTG will not be able to send Khaled to exile. Hasina’s arrival might be delayed, but unless they are successful in sending KZ to exile Hasina will more than likely return to Bangladesh. Drawing comparison to Pakistan is a mistake. Neither Nawaz nor Benazir played any role in establishing democracy in their country. On the other hand KZ and SK played vital role in ensuring the start of the democratic process(atleast free and fair election) by ousting the military gov’t in 90.
April 19, 2007 at 7:00 am
Instead of sending the ‘battling begums’ to exile, the govt. should try them for presiding over the unabashed looting that led Bangladesh to becoming the world champion in corruption five times a row. Why should they be treated differently?
April 19, 2007 at 7:26 am
Amen. The self-serving logic behind it all. Staggering really. “Ekhon desh theke khedae ber korey disey, tai cholen apa, ek shathe boshey kisu ekta solution bair kori. Eto churi korlam duijon miley, desh’er manush’er eto oshanti dilam, ekhon shetae badha porbe je. Amader mora bap ar mora shami’r talluk, kon Fakhru beta dokhol korbe?? Hotei parey na!!!”
What stopped them from playing at shokhi when the country really needed them to? Any time between 1996 and 2006 would have been great. It would have been especially fabulous if they could have met sometime in October or November or December of last year. But I guess they had more important priorities, eh? Like tearing each other apart. Or driving the country to a standstill. For the THIRD cycle in a row. And still you can find people who are working themselves into a froth singing paeans to them. Eder theke nirlojjo, behaya, selfish politician ar ki hotey parey?
April 19, 2007 at 8:22 am
A BNP adherent Thursday filed an appeal with the High Court to challenge what he said was the house arrest of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The appeal also urged the High Court to order the government not to send Khaleda abroad without her compliance. Babul Chowdhury, who identified himself as member of the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal executive committee, filed the appeal, which the court was set to hear later in the day. Babul alleged that Khaleda was not allowed to receive visitors, and her telephone connections were cut off. “Although Khaleda Zia doesn’t have any criminal case against her, she is being harassed,” he alleged.
April 19, 2007 at 8:51 am
“And once this meeting happens, and the phoenix rises from the ashes, will our ten Dhaka club elites and 3 more powerful unknowns have the luxury to keep searching people’s liquor cabinet?”
Nah, above comment should be like this….
And once this meeting happens, and those PRINCE stand behind the QUEEN, will our 140 millions people and few more powerful WELL KNOWN GOONS have the luxury to keep DREAMING on people’s DEMOCRACY?
April 19, 2007 at 9:49 am
Again the magic number 40% showed up!!
If that the case, in coming ‘free & fair’ election ( say ) without those QUEENS, only 10% to 20% in MAX vote will be cast I guess?! Would not it be a total failure of current CTG in that case? and the election itself?? So why one queen feel so desperate to send herself back now ( if not her dead body as she said ), and NOW at any cost? While other queen seem to lost all her ‘pheromone’ to attract those goons she was surrounded those days? Isn’t their magic number 40% from rural or whatever is guaranteed for ever? How come beloved QUEENS are losing their sleep at night?
If the CTG has lost 50% ( don’t know where this figure coming from ) of it’s support in a week, it will become ZERO in no time! So why so much of fear of an “unelected and unpopular government”? Shouldn’t they just smell their coffee and dream of their kingdom, and enjoy their priceless holidays?
April 19, 2007 at 10:35 am
From:
So where do they think the new leaders will come from?
Dhaka’s generals can’t cook up real politicians
One imperfect former prime minister is being dispatched to Saudi Arabia. The military regime in Bangladesh has announced that it will graciously bear the entire cost of air travel of Begum Khaleda Zia and her accompanying family members. Her elder son, Tarique, will not be on that plane. He’s being held back in Dhaka as a hostage (officially, he’s facing corruption charges).
Another imperfect former prime minister is being coerced to stay out of Bangladesh. In view of Shiekh Hasina’s rabble rousing past, the military regime “has taken some cautionary steps regarding her return”. Airlines and airports have been told not to allow her into the country. She still says she will return, but is taking her time. It is quite possible that she will extend her trip abroad for some more time.
The regime’s attempts to drive the leaders of two popular political parties is the most obvious manifestation of its general crackdown on politicians. That most of them are corrupt is not in question—regardless of some farcical attempts to ‘find’ evidence against them. The Bangladeshi people might even ignore the army’s own corruption and lack of accountability if it only means that the political space will be cleaned up for good. For Bangladeshis, being a generally youthful lot, might have forgotten how the army’s previous attempts to clean up politics fell flat.
What the Bangladeshi people need to ask themselves is how the generals can restore democracy if their current actions lead to a political vacuum. Politicians, leave alone popular leaders, don’t grow on trees. Hollowing out the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party is not going to produce the next generation of political leaders that Bangladesh will need. Even the ‘Musharraf model’, one that Dhaka’s generals are so fond of, suggests that it is impossible to construct a government without one of those corrupt, imperfect exiled leaders.
There are two possibilities: that the generals know this to be true, in which case all this business of ‘minus-one’ and ‘minus-two’ formulas is merely a facade to capture and stay in power for a long time. Since this requires a degree of foreign acquiescence, Dhaka’s generals will be inclined to listen to Western or Indian concerns to the extent that they are not pressed on domestic affairs. If on the other hands the generals think that they can construct a outcome of their choice by cleaning up the political slates, they are sadly mistaken. For Bangladeshis tired of the daily crises caused by the bitter rivalry between the two begums, it might be hard to imagine anything could be worse. Yet, attempting to govern a country like Bangladesh with the military’s creations and fragments of the old political parties with radical Islamists on the fringe might be just that. It won’t be any better for the rest of the world.
END//
http://acorn.nationalinterest.in/2007/04/19/so-where-do-they-think-the-new-leaders-will-come-from/
April 19, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I don’t agree with Acorn’s analysis. There isn’t a word Acorn makes that isn’t viewed through an India-only lens. For Acorn, India is the ‘prithvi’, and everything else is academic.
So when s/he complains about the generals of Bangladesh, s/he it’s based on the India-Pakistan experience and precedents. But there’s nothing to suggest that our BD generals will follow the Pak-model of Generals Zia and Musharraf.
Furthermore, to suggest that removing the family members of the Hasina-Khaleda clans from the face of Bangladeshi politics will result in a political vacuum because of a dearth of viable political figures is simply laughable. Just shows how much Acorn knows about the democratic polity of Bangladesh.
April 19, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Hasina and Khaleda didn’t just organically grow out of the ashes and creat the culture that we all hate so much. There was a whole network from top down which sustained them and egged them on. That network goes beyond the elites of a few thousand, and stretches quite far into the country.
If H+K really don’t come back, and if there really is a new power structure that looks stable (ie min 3-4 year horizon), there will be enough of the Mannan Bhuiyans and Abdul Jalils scrambling for a piece of the new action, just as the Mizan Chowdhurys and Moudud Ahmeds did before. Banishing Khaleda and Hasina in itself will not suddenly rid the country’s political system of all evils – just as removing Mujib, Zia and Ershad didn’t do it in the past either.
I think it’s exceptionally short-sighted to endorse this as the solution to all the problems
April 19, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I think it’s exceptionally short-sighted to endorse this as the solution to all the problems
I don’t endorse this as the solution to all the problems.
I endorse it as the solution to ONE problem:
The existence of the dysfunctional. parasitic dynasties at the top of the political pile.
April 19, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Re: #28
It’s upto the people of Bangladesh to decide whether they want the rule of dynasty in politics or not. We don’t want a bunch of army generals to make the decision for us. If history is any lesson, they don’t have the best insight to make any political decision.
April 19, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Lopa aren’t we the people too?
who are the so called people?
You talking like a mere Politicians here,
My people ? bring them ask them and show them?
Enough with People, BNP says 150 million are with them, AWL says 150 million people are with them, JP and Jammat and LDP on all their political slogans say the same thing (JONOGON)
amader shatey achey?
So who are these (JONOGON) and now you all literate people saying the same thing?
I don’t have Problem with AWL and BNP but yes I do have problem with dynastic politics and humping of dynastic blood to the high post of the party.
We are the people and I am one of the people, who think and edoresed we are done with Dynasty of MUJIB and Zia. It’s 21ist century and any body is smarter than anybody regardless of age, race or political blood. There are thousand of young educated, passionate and dedicated young blood to take over the responsibility of AWL and BNP than their own blood related people.
Thanks
Kawser Jamal
www,changeBangladesh.com
No to Dynastic political legacy, no more.
Stop, Stop and Stop.
April 19, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Lopa’s comment…
An exceptionally good comment.
I like that most.
April 19, 2007 at 6:07 pm
By the end of 2006, the BNP had turned Bangladesh into a totalitarian state. The democratic fun and games prior to the build of the election were mere formalities to go through the pretence that we had proper checks and balances with the Election Commission. The Judiciary had been converted into a BNP-only club.
All that was left was turn on the lights, and let the country go to the polls. And what would have happened? A democratically elected BNP government would have returned to power. And it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to guess that that would be the case until Kind Tareq took the throne in 2012 – for the next few decades or more.
Sounds spookily like Saddam’s elections in 2003:
Naam Naam Naam
Saddam Saddam Saddam
Of course, for us it would be
Ha Ha Ha
Tareq Tareq Tareq
What a beautiful democratic institution that would be!
The question is – what provision would the people of BD in 2012 to “decide whether they want the rule of dynasty in politics or not”?
April 19, 2007 at 6:10 pm
When the rule of dynasty was being used by their cronies to suck the people’s living daylight out of their pockets, in the name of “democracy”, then the people were pleading “who will bell the cat?”.
Now when the army generals are walking the rule of dynasty out by their necks (belling the cat), should the people complain “We don’t want a bunch of army generals to make the decision for us”??
The problem was that the people only had a choice between TWO dynasties – the REAL democracy was not there.
Now is an opportunity for (we the) people to really DEFINE the type of democracy we deserve – the type of system that is a REAL democracy (not dynasty despotic oligarchy).
A real democracy where politicians are accountable, the law is the same for all, and the people have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – without cronies and dynasties making the decisions for them, and living like monarchs.
April 19, 2007 at 7:01 pm
KGazi,
You, your friends, your relatives, close associates may not like dynasty rule, but,how can you be so sure that majority people do not like that either. You cannot speak for 14 crore people. You can only speak for yourself.
Besides, how can you be so sure that Army rule will be better than dynasty rule? Are they elected officials? NO.
Why don’t you try to DEFINE the type of democracy you think we deserve? Do you think anyone will give a damn about what you have to say? In army rule, you lose your freedom of speech. We already have. See the restrictions implied on media. You just do what you’re told to do.
Real democracy doesn’t come so easily. It takes a long time. USA wasn’t what it is now 35 years after its independence. However long time it may take, still it’s a better option. What we have today in Bangladesh is plain and simple autocracy.
April 19, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Lopa 34#
“What we have today in Bangladesh is plain and simple autocracy”
You mean the last 96 days of the goverment or the last 36 years of the rule we had autocracy?
Either way we are getting better. We need to watch, act and protest on this Interim govornment work, till now things are fine.
Not a single honest person has been harrassed or jailed. Who ever are in jail, there isa saying there aren’t any fire without smoke and vice versa.
Give me the name of one honest, educated family members brother and sisters are being harrased who are not politically involved? even the one who are politically involved only the corrupt onece are harrassed not any one else.
Freedom is a right to practice truth, and if our journalism no that than they can but most of all the papers are bought and sold over a black jack and money. Theren’t any ethics in jounalism in Bangladesh. starting from top to bottom.
Actually every one just love hasina and khaledah and can’t think beyond them, thats the problem of my poor country and its people.
thanks
Kawser Jamal
http://www.changeBangladesh.com
April 19, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Lopa,
I have posted many times here why BD “democracy” has never been real, let me try again :
Dysfunctional democracy = 2 Parties + 1 election
Dysfunctional Football = 2 teams + kickoff
What’s missing? How to change from dysfynctonal to REAL?
Answer:
Need effective rules, constitution, referee, policemen, linesmen, anti-corruption, governance, penalty, impeachment, term limits, investigation, probe, transparency, accountability, separate branches of govt, independant judiciary, all equal under the law.
BD never had any of these – democracy was NOT REAL.
Just election alone does not give you democracy.
Need to fulfill the items above to get REAL democracy.
April 19, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Those who are despising dynastic character of political parties either don’t know what democracy means or don’t want democracy at all.
In election you want vote, if your ancestors had good reputation in electorates, that is a positive thing in your candidacy and help you to win. It is true in our everyday decision making – when we buy something we want the brand name product over any unknown one.
It is part of human decision making, and a well known weakness of democracy and any collective decision making process. With maturity of democratic process this weakness is minimized, but you never get rid of it.
April 19, 2007 at 10:23 pm
iqo #37,
In the medieval ages people used to choose between 2 queens to rule them – it was known as a MONARCHY.
There were no provisions that I listed in #36.
In BD we had a monarchy past 15 years, in the guise of democracy!
April 19, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Khaldea and Hasina should stay away from politics until the next election as both of them failed to fulfill people’s asipirations during their rule.
No truly democratic party in the world has had the same leader for more than a decade.
If either of them had any self respect or cared about the people of Bangladesh they would voluntarily resign as party leaders and allow some new faces to lead the parties.
April 19, 2007 at 11:13 pm
KGazi,
How do you develop those institution you talked about? With autocracy? Military?
Real democracy doesn’t start with those. We need to develop those. With the maturity and time we can develop them not by killing what we had!
April 19, 2007 at 11:48 pm
A free and fair election is the precondition of democracy. Hasina and Khalida won’t be there forever. They are already old. New leaders are bound to evolve within those two parties. Moreover, Bangladeshi people have always been politically conscious. They will throw anyone they don’t like in the dustbin. We have seen how unpopular Tareq Rahman had become, everybody knew about his massive corruption. It was very likely that even the BNP supporters would not want to see him as the party leader and that would have been the natural death of dynasty rule within BNP.
My main point is, let the people choose what they want. Let them elect their leaders. We want a people’s republic, not martial law administrators. Let’s work for democracy within the political parties. Even Khaleda Hasina will change in the process. Army intervention only takes the process several years backwards.
April 20, 2007 at 12:34 am
Lopa, I completely agree with you. At the end of the day, anything is better than the army taking over.
Is there even one example of successful military rule? Pakistan? Burma? China?
The core of what makes me human is the possibility to voice an opinion, to argue, to disagree – and this can only be done when one does not have to fear being killed or tortured for one’s opinions.
‘Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely’ said some wise soul.. I see my job as a citizen to fight against anybody who wants to grab absolute power because I want to keep my right to be able to answer back if needs be and not be shot for it.
April 20, 2007 at 1:15 am
iqo #40, How you “develop” ANY national policy is thru parliament. But in BD, the 2 dynasties betrayed the people – how? – they Boycotted parliament, and so NO development of those conditions were done.
Those rules and conditions should be there BEFORE the game begins. USA had impeachment in their rule-book in 1757, before elections. They were not developed.
Most of these pre-conditions are not parliamentary development issues anyway – they are basic LAW&Order issues that every democracy must have, basic cut and dry requirements – no “development” is needed separation of branches of govt, they MUST be there before elections, for a REAL democracy.
Cannot start a football match and then “develop” the rules – rules must be there before game starts. So we can call this army/CTG a time of intermission – break time – let the rules be ESTABLISHED before we have elections again.
Lopa #41, election is not the ONLY pre-condition for democracy, its an important, but only a SMALL part of the equation. You cannot have democracy by election alone – need the other pre-conditions too. Cannot make a building with cement alone – need other items too.
Imagine if Hasina had won 1/11 elections, with no other changes, what will be scenario?
Khaleda will boycott parliament, hartal from day 1, no development of democracy, black money controlled by Tareq, coup and takeover by Tarek, then rule despot leadership and siphon nation like Marcos and Suharto for 30 years.
Where would democracy be then – and what would people choose?
It would be a perfect Monarchy, and our democracy would be worse than today.
Instead, let the BAD GERMS of monarchy be flushed out like Lee Kuan Yew did, and the CTG are planning to do. After MUCH needed reforms, army WILL move out, and in less than 3 years you will see REAL democracy in Bangladesh.
April 20, 2007 at 1:29 am
Lopa,
The democratic process evolves only if it does not try to kill itself. The ploitical cult of Bangladesh went to a state where it had become self destructing and not self growing. Army intervention was necessary at the eve of a possible civil war. This bad culture, that is to blame for undemocratic democracy in Bangladesh, is something our prime leaders to be blamed for. And unfortunately they were never ready to take the responsibility. I think for a limited time they were given an opportunity to admit where they were wrong and start making changes in their individual and party behavior. And they did quite the opposite.
It’s their ill fate- and perhaps not such a bad thing for the country that now they would be kicked out. I wished things would have come from inside- but sorry- didn’t happen.
April 20, 2007 at 2:10 am
We all [the whole nation] have been suffering from personality disorder, just little short of schizophrenia/Boddhau Pagol. If we browse all of the blogs, we will see all the bloggers including me are talking like Sheik Hasina. At one moment we say something and don’t think about what I have said right now. On the next moment, tell something that contradicts our previous comment. Perhaps, this PIG[paramilitary] came to the scene with the promise of all-cure. I’m very cynical of their capability; rather they’re setting more stronger triggers to make the nation complete craze.
Hasina was so excited after SOE and was very commendable to their all reform steps and anti-corruption drive. And just before she left Bangladesh for America she at the air-port said she would ratify all the activities of current government. She promised unqualified ratification.
Now government barred her entry into the country. All airline carriers were instructed not to give her boarding-pass for Dhaka airport.
Now what is she thinking! If she is a
woman of words she should ratify or approve their step to keep her away as exiled. She should stay away from the country as they want her to do as the government is doing superb-jobs!
She is indeed, always infamous about
foul crazy comments.
Lopa, you said some people may not like dynasty politics but how someone can
be sure that majority of people is against the dynasty rule or politics. you in the same blog commented TZ became so unpopopular when people came to know his huge corruptions. But, may I ask how lopa, could you be so sure TZ became so unpopular without any attempt to gauze his popularity with some valid instrument/means like free-fair election? Perhaps we all are losing our sanity.
Dhanmandi Sid, you commented at last term of BNP government judiciary became an BNP-Club. As a nation we love to exaggerate, make mountain out of mole-hill or making taal out of teel/sesame seeds. This is the florid symptoms of borderline personility, pre-schizophrenic personality disorder. What SID said is not the full truth. During the last 2-3 years of BNP government there were some land-mark law-suits’ verdicts went againt BNP government. One verdict/
Naz Cinema Hall vs government, declared all the miliatary coups and the past military governments including Zia’ one were illegal. While BNP-alliance government was allegedly promoter of Islamists, at their time anti-fatwa verdict came. And also in all the law-suits about voter-list updating government lost and decision came in favor of opposition alliance. So how come, the judiciary was a
BNP-club.
DS also commented BNP-alliance government was total totalitarian government. It’s another lie or sexifying. DS compared Khaleda’s election with Saddam’s election. It’s too crazy comparison. I, think Dhanmandi Sid is an individual of much younger generation. He perhaps, didn’t have the experience of real totalitarian government of BAKSAL in 1975.
Thanks.
April 20, 2007 at 4:11 am
Bitter Boy at least I like the comments of yours that you are not hypocrite. Even In the bad face of time you try to defend your trust and feelings though me and other do have lots
difference of opinion.
Now Nagirik I am sorry to say that people like
you have the complete opportunist mentality.
Just let me ask you some thing what is the definition of Civil War?
I am illiterate about Civil war. kindly make me educated. You can’t compare with the
movement against autocrat a Civil war.
Here People fought for the right of Vote.
1/11 was just the result of some Ignorant young so called politicians like Tarek Zia.
I would rather blame Jamat , sq Chowdhury
and elements like L Babar , syed Isknadar, Bhulu, Mialan etc.
Even Tarek does have the people like Bitter Boy besides him ,he might not face some problem.
In some days back you same Nagorik was crying for Yunus now You are doing it for
Army.
And Prof Yunus survived to get rid of so
called opportunists .Now he can make the plan to lunch the party and can take bold step to stand beside the people.
He has a great opportunity to establish himself as a national leader.
AT least he can speak about freedom of speech.
Sorry to say Nagorik before bringing the clean up in system, we people should go to
school and need to learn basic of democracy .
Other wise this day is not so far that you will not express your opinion against the politician in Blogs.
April 20, 2007 at 7:12 am
whom we will trust about British Airways Report-
Prothom alo?
http://www.prothom-alo.org/index.news.details.php?nid=NTc5MA==&PHPSESSID=6c0c13fae7d458c0de62ad7c3b16b8a1
or Ananda bazar-
http://www.anandabazar.com/20bdesh3.htm
British Airways refused Bangladesh GVT appeal.
so Raid has been made on Toafel, Razzak Home?
Our Famous Moinul- Matin Pair already declared we have no basic right which
means they admit there is Martial Law.
April 20, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Bitterboy in #45 wrote:
“Lopa, you said some people may not like dynasty politics but how someone can
be sure that majority of people is against the dynasty rule or politics. you in the same blog commented TZ became so unpopopular when people came to know his huge corruptions. But, may I ask how lopa, could you be so sure TZ became so unpopular without any attempt to gauze his popularity with some valid instrument/means like free-fair election? Perhaps we all are losing our sanity.”
Looks like you did not get my point. I wrote about TZ’s unpopularity as a hypothetical scenario for ending dynasty rule. Final decision would have been people’s, of course, thru a free and fair election. I wrote, “It was very likely that even the BNP supporters would not want to see him as the party leader and that would have been the natural death of dynasty rule within BNP.” If BNP supporters, on the other hand, did want him as their leader, then those supporters deserved a corrupt leader and TZ should have stayed. My main point is the ultimate decision whether they want dynasty rule or not is upto the the people of Bangladesh, not some general Muin or advisor Mainul. In the process of practicing such democracy, new leadership evolves, old leaders take lessons and the country moves forward.
It is true that situation could get worse and very chaotic if there was an election in January. So army came in. What they should do now is give power to CTG to work towards the goal of having a fair election as soon as possible and move back to the barrack. Right now there is no sign of it.
April 20, 2007 at 3:22 pm
KGazi,
You are missing the point. The example you gave is theory. Practice is different. Here is how it works. Under US constitution, “every person is equal”. But was it implemented from day one? No, women got their voting right at the early part of last century, Blacks got it in 60’s.
Policy needs to be implemented and it takes time for practical reasons. Democracy grows with practice, it develops with time. You cannot find any example where all the conditions are met and then democracy started. Because its not something you just install. You build it from scratch. You cannot impose it as well. That’s why election is important, it let the process running. Election is not the end, but it is the engine which is the only prerequisite.
As I requested Dhanmondi Sid in different blog to read about the first 15 years of successful democracies, I would ask you to do the same. All of them goes through the evolution and development. None of them were perfect from the beginning. And if notice, 15 years is not enough for our maturity as a human being, it is definitely not long enough for a nation to build a mature democracy.
The problem of military intervention is that there is no accountability or people have no option. How many times you had a real opportunity during the Ershad period to remove him peacefully? We removed these two Begums when we did not like their activities. Isn’t that a big step forward? We could not make them accountable at the level we wanted, but that should not be the reason to go backward.
I have every respect for our “Oshikhkito Jonogon”. They are the smartest electorate you can get. If you think they are going to approve everything these two parties were doing, you just dishonor them. History says that they always took the right decision given the chance to decide. You might remember how powerful Muslim League was once. They vanished because they could not adjust or accommodate with the aspirations of these electorates. People will ensure the same fate for the two parties if they cannot go with the aspiration of the nation.
Most recent example: what was the main issue during the 2001 election? It was security, not corruption. How come security got back seat to corruption? Because BNP has to address this issue and they succeeded to a level compared to previous govt. This time it was corruption and Electricity. Do you think if election was held on time, the winners (whoever it is) could ignore these issues in their tenure? Noway, because they have to face the nation in due time and get their verdict.
In conclusion, democracy is not a panacea to all our problems. It is time consuming and messy. But it is the ‘proven’ best option we have. It takes time to build something, any short-cut always jeopardize what we are rooting for.
April 20, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Iqo,
I did get your point that 15 years not enough to develop democracy, but I totally disagreed. But that idea is like many faslse-ideas in BD which catch-on and circulate. There were many misconcepted ideas on corruption too – and people believed them , and passed them on.
The idea that just because USA took 250 years to develop democracy, and so we should too, does NOT hold anymore today, coz USA started in the 18th Century when Human Rights, equality, racism, technology and democracy were undiscussed and unpractised concepts.
Democracy today is a proven, documented, tested and simplified concept. We neither need to re-invent it, nor have the luxury to wait decades to “develop it”. Its not a messy and slow process any more.
For RECENT examples of excellent democracies that took less than 10 years to establish, see Singapore, Hong Kong and China. They all have room to improve, but none were as disatrous as BD 1991-2006.
The KEY, let me repeat, the KEY to have true and real democracy is to set up what I listed in #36 – the pre-conditions for democracy, HKong, Spore and China have set these conditions up, before running elections.
But panacea for elections alone, without those conditions will only give you a MONARCHY – (which we had in Bangladesh), and not a democracy.
We all want democracy, but an obsession with elections without ground rules will not achieve it.
April 20, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Sajeeb Wazed’s blog:
“The CG is determined to keep my mother out of the country. From a human rights standpoint, this is a clear violation. She is a citizen of Bangladesh and has every right to return to her country. And let us not forget, she is the daughter of the Father of the Nation. Above all else, she has every right to return to Bangladesh.”
Dear Young Global Leader:
It is quite unfortunate that your mother has been barred from re-entering the country.As a citizen of Bangladesh, she has citizen’s rights…as do we all.
I agree with you on the fact that she should be allowed to return to Bangladesh and face the charges brought against her and tried under due process and the rule of law- but how can you say that she has a right as the daughter of the father of the nation to enter Bangladesh?!! Are you insinuating that your mother is a rank above your ordinary bangladeshi citizen? Will you inherit that right as well? How is she any different from every other citizen?
The fact of the matter is…she isn’t…and neither are you. Your family has become so comfortable lapping up the luxuries of the ‘premier’ lifestyle that you think your mother is immune from being charged with criminality and corruption? Even our beloved Bangabondhu should not be considered to be above that! Or any other politician or VIP citizen fo that matter.
Your mother has hardly contributed in a positive way during her term as our country’s premier…and much can be the same about her as the opposition party leader. ‘Disruptive politics’ seems to be the name of her game. Hartal was frowned upon by your mother, but something she embraced wholeheartedly when she was in the opposition. Ershad was a sworn enemy when she was in power, but was her trump card to win this election.
It has become self evident over time that KZ, tareq’s beloved mother, and SH, your beloved mother, are two sides of the same coin..both give hope to our people and exploit our dreams and aspirations in return.
As far as the military backed interim government ‘sticks to its guns’ (no pun intended) and actually do commit to establishing a corruption free administration, a solid infra structure, a level playing field for business, reinstates financial mechanisms to allow the national economy to flourish, and holds an election within the promised deadline, why would millions of ordinary citizens (like me) have anything to complain about?
Im sorry about the unforceeable twist this tale has for a budding leader like you who probably thought his future was carved out in stone for him- the coronation of another power hungry prince. Im sorry that you think that it is fine for you to curtail our freedom of speech (not approving our opinions on your blog) and, at the same time, attempting to champion your mother’s human rights. A bit hypocritical, dont you think?
Anyway, there are other nuetral blogs available to publish all of our sentiments and opinions.
April 20, 2007 at 11:55 pm
I agree with the fact that given the opportunity the people of Bangladesh will give their verdict as to whether they want Hasina or Khaleda to come back to power.
This is the key issue that we faced during the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh. Neithir AL nor BNP would allow the people of Bangladesh to participate in a free and fair election. Both have been keen to manipulate key institutions to tilt the voting results in their favour.
We therefore need a completely unpartisan body to conduct the next election and I do beleive in 18 months time we will have such a functioning institution.
April 21, 2007 at 1:30 am
Post # 51
Nayan thanks for posting your comment. Amzing experience. I tried to post my comments there as well. While positive comments gets posted, anything negative is deleted.
And how dearly we preach us to be a champion of freedom of speech. From this aspect, I congratulate Drishtipat that it hardly deletes any comment.
I had my little favour for Sajib who is a boy of that day. But when I felt that the aparent disagreement / opposing views are not posted I gave up hope. Hypocracy is a simple word that hardly explains some one like Sajib.
Thanks again. Sorry admin could not stop voicing my true experience in Sajib’s blog which is a one sided AL blog. Keep your approach up. Neutrality is good to see.
LTT
April 21, 2007 at 2:30 am
Having gone through all the comments and being very late to enter the discussion, I just wanted to recap what truly led us to the present situation:
1. BNP was in power. Good / bad – a mix.
2. It was time for election.
3. BNP tried to manipulate the election through legal means. I say legal but unethical. Example: extension of age for judge retirement. Legally government has power to do that. Ethically, implicitly, it was ill-intended.
4. AL never accepted that. It opted illegal means (in the sense that mara-mari and vanga-vangi does not truly falls under law, forcing their decision onto me etc)
5. Came Oct 28. Some video posting are there in this blog for us to see what happened. Irrespctive of political affiliation, fact of the matter, few people were brutally killed either by this side or that side (depending on who you support) In a land of justice, these people who got killed deserves justice as much as Bangabondhu does.
6. Continuous Hartal / oborodh / Vanga Vangi / Mara mari by the opposition. Hartal no more – it is spontaneous, it is imposed. We fear and so we don’t drive car, we don’t open shop. Becasue if we do, the pickters will destroy us. We are afraid to have our democratic right. In the name of democracy, a decision is imposed on us. In true democracy, one has the right to call hartal but not to impose.
7. Country at stand still: BNP will not move an inch. AL will not leave an inch.
8. Biggest bank-ruptcy: Ershad becomes King Maker. BNP coerced this man to get him into their fold. He reluctantly agreed. Many intelletuals cried foul. This man, consequently, kept getting verdict in his favour. What corruption is this! Are we to accept this just to keep CTG backed by army out of power!
9. AL termed Ershad Chor. And what not. We heard chor – chor jote.
10. Next day, Ershad went into AL fold. So called chor became a shadhu. Did you like it any body!
10. Mohiuddin being mayor shuts down port at will. Is that due process or is that democracy! Holding country ransom to his will!
11. Country on the verge of civil war. Threat comes from Jalil, if I remember correctly.
12. Army did not take power yet.
13. Hasina asks army not to support govt. ( I already posted – it was dangrous call, as far as I am concerned it is not army’s job to decide if govt is legal or illegal.)
14. UN / US / UK / EU indirectly asks army not to support election.
Question: At this stage what would be army’s role! Keeps eyes closed and allow more people to die! Un believable. Poor Bangladesh.
15. Some post quoted a paper: BNP moves to change CAS. Why! Because he was not ready to be a BNP puppt. Is it a job of army to be a puppet of a ill-intended BNP! Was that a due process! Was that right, if true!
16. Whole country (anti-BNP) shouted Yesuddin must step down from Chief Adviser role.
17. Fact: Yesuddin was adament not to get down. Was there anyway we could succeed to make him agree to relinquish his power! Face it – no. Yesuddin was not listening to us. We were undone.
Question: what was the option then under so-called democracy! Allow i to linger and let killing continue! Amazing.
18. Imagine army listening and siding Yesuddin like a loyal soldier. Then 100s of blog would have said Army is supporting BNP. Am I wrong!
19. So, rumour has it, army helped remove Yesuddin. Didn’t it do the same thing the anti-BNP asked!
20. So new CTG takes over. Every body hailed. Every body said Army acted righteously. Patriotic force.
21. CTG launches anti corruption drive. Did we hail it! yes yes yes – we did. So long mostly BNP was only getting caught.
22. Stories unveiled – huge corruption. Are we ready to accept that under the so called democracy! We are sane at least, I hope.
23. Hasina takes one step further. Owns CTG. Says that CTG is our brainchild. We must support it.
24. When ACC was going after all but TZ, we shouted why not Big chor yet!
25. Hasina asked: Big chor (read TZ) must be caught). Seemed like all wanted that. Now TZ gets caught. We hail army. Not many talked about due process. No opposition yet. Hasina: Even we would not have been able to catch this god-fathers.
26. Hasina becomes elated. Comment: We will ratify all acts of CTG if we go to power. Did not she tell that!
So long Army was good. CTG seemed to be good.
Now comes the shove.
27. CTG goes after AL. No rumbling starts.
28. The more AL started getting caught the more the sound of rumbling.
29. Army becomes the vilain. No more we need them.
30. Logic from Hasina: If I were corrupt, I would not have been left untouched by BNP in last 5 years.
31. Put the same logic: 1996 after:: No BNP got caught or brought to task. Does that mean Khaleda and BNP did not commit any corruption. Yes they did. They did and they did.
32. A simple man sues against Tareq. No probelm. We villify Tareq. We justiy to move how big a chor he was.
33. Another man sues Hasina. Now it is a problem…Questions comes up: can it happen, can it happen!
34. Now that CTG is after true corruption, we see a change that only explains why as a nation we failed to ensure good governance. This is the change: No more anti BNP or tareq. Lets start talking about their right. BNP and AL starts coming together to fight CTG and army.
I didn’t want to put any logic. Because to an ardent supporter logic does not work, unfortunately. Talgach ta amar hotei hobe. From that aspect Bitter boy post # 45 was good. But I assume it is more than personality disorder and as such can not be treated with normal medication.
I see here fear of an army take over. Given our past experience it is justified. But what I think is this: So long, most of the things were done right. I hope Army only keeps backing government which is their damn job and so long they are doing that fine. They should listen to the govt. Present CTG to me seemed to one of the most qualified gp so far their charismtic resume is concerned. Neither Hasina nor Khaleda had the honour of having such distinguished credibility under them.
I shall wait to raise my voice against CTG the day it does worse than BNP or AL. They are yet not there. I will wait to join my hands to fight army take over the day they take over. I shall refrain to fight and stand against army based on what happend in past and based on my fear if it takes over and based on all cooked up rumours like counter coup!
All I see is an assumption. Did any one from CTG omplained against army! On the contrary I hear Dr. Fakruddin praising their role in his speech. Who should I believe! Rumors with no factual evidence or Dr. fakruddin!
I choose to believe the later.
All I see is that todays army and yesterdays are quite different. I am sure, those who are serving army are from the same society that we belong and not from Pakistan. They ought to know: running the country is not their job. Ensuring security and listening to a civil government is their duty. Let them do that duty well and good.
Thanks.
LTT
April 21, 2007 at 4:11 am
First I thought I would ignore Tanoy’s personal attack on my being hypocrite, because he’s known to be a perty biased kid. But then thought, may be I should explain so he can learn.
A dictionary meaning of the term “civil war” is:
“A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight against each other for the control of political power.”
And thats exactly that were going to happen in Bangladesh if the Jan 22 election was to take place, wasn’t it? Wasn’t October 28 event was just a glimpse of what could happen in Jan 22?
Who were to be blamed for that situation? Was it Prof Yunus? Fakhruddin Ahmad? Moin U Ahmed? General Masud? Barrister Moinul?
NO! Unfortunately it was primarily an ego contest between these two leaders- Jononetri Sheikh Hasina and Deshonetri Khaleda Zia. The then CTG made several attempts to make them sit together and get to a peace deal for the sake of people. But they did not listen. They did not care!
Some may argue that what option would AL and others had other than going for a movement if they knew it was gonna be a sham election. Well- the only flaw with that logic is how in the world had they decided to go to the election first and then stepped back at Ershad’s inelligibility to go to election?
This only proved that our political culture have been completely rotten and needed some sort of rectifying process. And the leaders again, instead of making changes, only blamed each other for the situation and this SH even started to claim victory and all on asudden decided there was no need for ID cards any longer!
The summary: these two netri are “incompetent”. So we need to get rid of them and try new leadership. The paries wanted them so they could avoid splitting- but I guess the national interest is even gretaer. The change should come from inside the parties- but there was no real sign that they were gonna do it.
Of course things were not being done by law- and they were unethical. But what option did they have left?
Clearly things are being carried by the “hatute budhdhi” army- and the CTG is acting like toys. But this army- coming to power is a result of the failure of our incompetent leaderships. So lets just hope and pray that they stop at this and don’t go for taking the power directly.
And if they do so, we will simply go backward another 5/10 years.
Tanoy- when Prof Yunus was in limelight, it was blind supporters like you who alarmingly lashed him like anything quoting Hasina’s “ghushkhor” etc. It’s kinda funny to see you labelling him “to be a good leader” now. But hey- better late than never. I hope now you know why the wise Dr. Yunus said-“it would be better for the politicians to go to the election”!?
April 21, 2007 at 11:37 am
Nagorik ,
what ever you think about me is ok.
But Regarding Yunus My side has never been changed and about you my opinion is not changed at all and by the way this not personal attack.
Basically a Leader can be build in crisis moment and country is passing this period of
time.and This is the right time for Yunus
stand for the Civil right and Freedom of press.Sorry to say that
I think I am even better well wisher than you for the Yunus.
Here people like Fiyaz (Fz), Asif , Naeem, KJ all of them have watched the Yunus as the
roll model for the betterment of politics.
But some people wanted to watch Yunus as
Anti Al Platform. Because BNP was no more
so go for Yunus and Thanks God Yunus survived.
Now I think he can make his home wrk and cme to the filed.
I really don’t like to see some opportunists
made bad use of his name.
April 21, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Well Ltt you have a great quality to write your comments But your write up is good.
But Conclusion is incomplete.
well My point is that
Does Dr Fakruddin have enough power to
speak against even Moinul-Matin? Army is too far.
This is an un elected Govt and who gave this right to bar someone to come to his/her
own country?
Are they bigger than Judiciary?
April 21, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Dear Tanoy:
Thanks for your question. By the by, I did put a question to you under CHT thread but never got back a reply. 🙂 have a look there. Thanks.
A note on Dr. Yunus. Like you I believe that he should join. Hasina posed a question: “If Dr Yunus thinks that all the politicians are chor then why is he joining it!” as if Yunus now wants to become a chor. No no no ….Answer is pretty simple. But no one told it. That most of the politicians are corrupt is the very reason that good people like Yunus should join at the earliest.
As for conclusion: read again:
I stated the facts as thatleads to an automatic conclusion. Anyway I am re – quoting me again:
“…..I see here fear of an army take over. Given our past experience it is justified. But what I think is this: So long, most of the things were done right. I hope Army only keeps backing government which is their damn job and so long they are doing that – fine. They should listen to the govt. ….
I shall wait to raise my voice against CTG the day it does worse than BNP or AL. They are yet not there. I will wait to join my hands to fight army take over the day they take over. I shall refrain to fight and stand against army based on what happened in past and based on my fear if it takes over and based on all cooked up rumours like counter coup!
All I see is an assumption. Did any one from CTG complained against army! On the contrary I hear Dr. Fakruddin praising their role in his speech. Who should I believe! Rumors with no factual evidence or Dr. Fakruddin!
I choose to believe the later.
….todays army and yesterdays are quite different. I am sure, those who are serving army are from the same society that we belong and not from Pakistan. They ought to know: running the country is not their damn job. Ensuring security and listening to a civil government is their duty. Let them do that duty well and good. ”
Now about your question:
“Does Dr Fakruddin have enough power to speak against even Moinul-Matin? Army is too far.”
Well here are the facts: All strangest but right things that should have done earlier (going after corruption) was never done. Only Dr. Fakruddin led govt had the guts to go after these people. This is visible fact. Why are we assuming that he is powerless! Dr. Fakruddin did not complain. If “deeds not words” prove who you are, Dr. Fakruddin’s govt had accomplished a lot that none before could do. I am positive you will agree.
How do we truly know that Motin – Moinul is not really speaking what Dr. Fakruddin is instructing them to speak! In fact in a good government that should be the norm. We are assuming that the later are beyond control without any visible fact, because now we don’t like their words. Why can’t we assume the reverse, in the same logical way, that the later two may be exactly speaking Dr. Fakruddins mind! An assumption: May be Dr. Fakruddin is deliberately keeping himself above controversy and getting the job done smartly.
The visible fact: Motin – Moin is appointed by Dr. Fakruddin. Work under him. Legally reporting to him. Who is factually and visibly powerful!
“This is an un elected Govt and who gave this right to bar someone to come to his/her
own country?”
True – an un-eleected govt. But did they come on their own! Lets look at the mirror! Didn’t Hasina hailed this govt! Didn’t Khaleda tried to cook up an election that suits BNP! Did we truly had a democratic govt before! As for right, the moment they assumed the power, the govt who ever is in power has the legal right to take any measure for the good of country. Look at other countries. Look at US where most of us are located. 9/11 and thereafter, govt took whatever it felt was good for US. Who complained and who cared!
Disclaimer: Don’t misconstrue my stand on exile. My stand is this: I don’t support sending Hasina / Khaleda being sent on exile. I believe they should be tried in the court of law for their misdeeds, if any. There is a lot, seemingly.
As for public support that this govt enjoys:
1. Fact: First look at this blog and definitely you will see a good % is supporting CTG. A very good % is after the strategy that Khaleda / Hasina should be sent off the political map, that they should retire. They had their chance, proved incompetent, partisan. Enough. If this blog is taken as a sample for statistics, we can find out how many % of us are behind CTG. These blog participants are citizen. This sampling may not be perfect but will give an idea. So it is wrong to say that CTG does not have backing. Take me as for an example. I support this CTG. Along with me in my known circle including my family links at least 3 to 4 hundred people support the CTG. Keep in mind we are part of citizen that votes.
2. 2nd: let me quote from Samachra that was quoted in another thread, possibly under foreign press. Disclaimer: I don’t consider foreign view in the best of our interest. It reads: “…By all accounts, currently the caretaker regime, and the armed forces backing it, enjoy tremendous public goodwill. Ordinary people are happy at the eclipse of the two constantly quarrelling Begums. A semblance of accountability in the administration has returned after a long time. The old and discredited political structures created by the two Begums are being pulled down bit by bit.
3. Economist view is same: The CTG does command public support. Our daily nationals say the same: It enjoys public support. May be because of frustration with political support. But the fact remains, it talks about support. Yet, conveniently, we assume that there is no support for this govt.
4. My personal experience: I talked back home. People seemed to be inclined to give this govt a chance. I talk to people who come back after visiting Bangladesh lately. They are high with appreciation. Bribery seems to be waning. Police seems to be behaving, and so and so forth.
5. Still we profess based on assumption: CTG has lost support. Why! My understanding: 1. We hate military take over absolutely, so much so that, we ignore to discuss lot of good works done by them in the past decade. Not to forget, 1996, the apparent coup was halted by them. Had just all Generals been together, martial law was a by gone conclusion. But the Generals didn’t take over. Some one talked degradingly, that past CAS’s qualification. Time has changed, my friend. The last two / three chief are not only military qualified, but has more than couple of civil degrees under their belt from both home and abroad. What we fail to see is that this is a better army, this army is from our friends and families. Hope they know what their job is, since we know what our job is.
“Are they bigger than judiciary!” You may hate me for telling this. Yes in a way govt is bigger and in a way not. Govt creates law, Appoints judges, can change any law that court has to observe if that govt represents support of mass people. If 300 MP elects a new law, the court will have to implement it. And why not! Because court works apparently independently. They work as a check and balance. They work as a conscious. They should place a tab on govt so that it does not go berserk power monger crazy organization.
Govt has told to wait for 18 months. I am willing to give them that time to arrange a good election and purge politics of corrupt people. Because the earlier govt failed to act democratically.
Must have bored you to death. Thanks have a wonderful day.
LTT
April 21, 2007 at 3:07 pm
KGazi,
#50
If you are saying that we should follow their economic model, that I can agree. But those are your model of democracy, then I just wasted my time. We are talking about totally different things – I guess. Anyway, I enjoyed the conversation with you!
April 21, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Let’s Talk Truth,
Thanks for explaining your point of view so clearly.I find myself in full agreement with your thoughts.
I think the problem that we are facing today is based on the misconception that in our part of the world democracy means accountability and transparency. The fact is nothing could be farther from the truth. None of our elected leaders – starting from Ershad (didn’t he win a election) and continuing with Khaleda and Hasina have shown any inclination to curb corruption. Ershad and Khaleda have in fact been deeply mired in corruption themselves. BNP during their last government managed to corrupt the civil service, the educational establishment,tinkered with the election commission and supreme court.
In brief, there need not be any illusions as to what we actually had under the guise of democracy. It was dictatorship pure and simple.
Let us give this CTG an opportunity to give us a new model for democracy that will incorporate internationally accepted democratic principles. We will have an honest set of candidates, who will be elected to serve the people based on their manifesto and future plans. This CTG deserves our patience.
As for Khaleda’s and Hasina’s forced exile, I think that has been a tactical mistake. They should be tried and punished if found guilty. Sending KZ out and spending tax-payers’ money to fund this venture is ill-advised.
April 21, 2007 at 7:31 pm
iqo #59,
this is a public discussion between you, me and all the readers, and I am thoroughly enjoying it too.
Given that
1. the past SH-KZ model was a total failure, with endemic hartal, boycott, oborodh and corruption
2. that we dont have 250 years to nurse a model
3. that S’pore, HKong and China are most recent shining democracy examples installed within under 10 years
4. that good economy is a result of good governance
5. that our hungry 150m people dont have time to experiment with models
then, WHICH model did you have in your mind that would not waste our time?
April 22, 2007 at 8:59 am
KGazi bhai
Model of Honesty.
Do the right thing.
Be a Man
These are the model we need in Bangladesh.
April 22, 2007 at 7:44 pm
People of Bangladesh will be in peace without our diabolic leaders Hasina and Khaleda. If some one love to be a sycophant of AL and BNP I’ll rather urge them to come out from this vicious political cycle.
July 8, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Perhaps, time to revive this old thread. If the following news is true then wishes of Rumi bahi prediction and wishes of many may be coming true. If this Khaleda-Hasina joint venture get successful then only marking legacy this “interim entity” will leave be – bringing two arch rivals together and shaving off poisonous bitterness from traditional political scene. I just hope this jt venture is not only used for overcoming extinction threat these leaders. If this exercise teaches them any lesson (specially Hasina) then it can go long way for welfare of the people.
[…That the two arch-rivals talked to each other breaking the silence for around 19 years is a major political development in the changed circumstances, sources said.
A highly-placed source told The Bangladesh Today that Begum Zia told Hasina, “let us forget the past. Now we will have to go forward unitedly to face the ongoing crackdown on politics.” Sheikh Hasina replied positively and talked about the possibility of talking to the media jointly….] From – TheBangladeshToday
Ice-melting tele-talk between Khaleda and Hasina
http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm