General's and CTG Administrators: Listen to the people

U.S Senator, Barak Obama, made history last Tuesday by claiming the first African American presidential nomination from a major political party in USA. He fought against power-house Hillary Clinton’s campaign for long five months to win the nomination in 54 primaries and caucuses. Hillary had everything on her side, money, name recognition, influential support, everything to win a nomination, except for one, majority of peoples support. On the hand, comparing to Mrs. Clinton, Obama started his campaign with basically nothing. But he believed in people and people believed in him by voting for him in primary elections and electing him as the first African American presidential candidate from a major party in a white predominant country like USA.

What can our power-hungry general’s learn from it? If anything, people’s power is the absolute power. Our CTG and army allies stopped listening to the people and frustration and agitation is growing in Bangladesh against the current regime. The roar of a fair election is humming every city and township of Bangladesh and before they (CTG) know it, humming will turn into outburst and Generals and CTG will not have any place to hide.

So CTG and Generals please learn from history and listen to the people. Your only goal right now is to administrate a free and fair election without any self-interest by Dec 08. If you love Bangladesh and want to do some good for this country, finish your duty, retire and come back to politics through its democratic process. You will be welcomed then, but not now as you are staying in power with your guns and boots.

Bangladesh! Democracy a dream or Dictatorship a reality?

Lets just admit it, dictatorship will be the way to govern Bangladesh very soon. Several situations in Bangladesh making me belief that Gen Moeen will become the military ruler of Bangladesh, I hope I am wrong. Lets analyze just two of them:

Price of every day goods

I must admit that the state of world economy is contributing to the price hike in every day commodities in Bangladesh. But what measures is military backed CTG government taking to solve this problem? Or our General does not want to solve this problem! If price problem is not solved soon, people will get agitated eventually and riots will erupt. And this will give our General opportunity to take over power formally as a president of Bangladesh. All he (General Moeen) has to say that, corrupt political parties are behind all these atrocities and Bangladesh needs military to govern to restore “law and order”. And our international masters will buy into that as they did for General Musharaf in Pakistan. Once things settle down, our General and his people will loot the country for next five to ten years, just like General Ershad. History will repeat itself.


Threat of Islamic fundamentalist



When General Ershad took over power in early 80’s, his political allies were Islamic parties in Bangladesh. Same as General Musharaf's (president of Pakistan) most closed allies were the Islamic fundamental parties. I think; Gen Moeen is also using Islamic fundamental parties to clear his path to the throne of Bangladesh. Staging fake atrocities in front of national mosque in Dhaka, he might be painting a picture for the international community (i.e. USA) that Islamic fundamentalist are imminent threat to the countries security as terrorist and at the same time convince India that he is doing everything to suppress any Islamic terrorist activities aimed towards India.

So in the near future I will not be surprised if we see more and more staged violent clash between Islamic faith based political parties and the law enforcement authorities of Bangladesh. Once the imminent threat of "terrorism" in Bangladesh is painted for the international community, Gen Moeen will just slip into power one night at 2:00 am claming, he took over to restore “law and order" in Bangladesh and save the world from terrorism.


If these two strategies are successfully being implemented by Gen Moeen, there are no way AL or BNP or any body else can stop him to take over power. But I would like to believe our Army Chief, Gen Moeen U will help organize a free and fair democratic election with all parties involvement by the end of 2008 as promised by him and then go into retirement as a honorable soldier of Bangladesh Army next year when his tenture is over as an Army chief.

Will he keep his promise to the nation? If he does, he will be a hero for our nation in days to come. Or he will be just like another military power hungry dictator! If he becomes a dictator, then his fate will be worse than Gen Ershad. We just have to wait and see. The ball is now in Gen Moeen’s court and let’s see if he scores for the country or for himself.

7th March, 1971 a historical moment for Bangladesh

General Moeen U lobbying in India against Hasina and Khaleda

According to http://www.dnaindia.com article:

"The general is here to get the Indian political establishment to advise Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League and Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party not to take part in the national elections scheduled for later this year."

It is a good thing when two neighboring countries military chiefs visits and discusses national security but it gets controversial when an army Chief visits a certain nation to lobby against two ex-prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheik Hasina and Khaleda Zia. As an unelected government official, it is unconstitutional for an Army chief to visit foreign nations and discuss internal politics. He doesn't have people's mandate to host such a dialog.

This is a just recent example of how Bangladesh government is running under the shadow of military dictator. We must have election in Bangladesh as soon as possible and give people back their basic human rights. And General Moeen must stop interfering in the national politics while serving as a Chief of Army Staff. Otherwise Bangladesh Army will get controversial because of one man’s wish to be a King illegally.

Update 2/27/2008

This article by Bhaskar Roy interestingly encourages General Moeen U's activities and actually calls him the "leader of his country". Article ends with,

"There is a lot to be done in the Indo-Bangladesh relations. It is for Dhaka to grab the opportunity. Gen. Moeen U. Ahmed should return from India as an encouraged leader of his country."

I don't recall General Moeen U being elected in any election to be called "leader of his country". He is a military personal and a government servant. I am ok calling him "Leader of Bangladesh Army" for his current position, but not "Leader of the country". India, as being the largest democracy in the world, should not encourage military dictatorship in the region for its own shake. What’s your thought on this?

"How the Bangladesh Military Abuses Its Power under the State of Emergency"

Generals are ruining the image of Bangladesh Army. Time for a democratic goverment, time is here for a free-and-fair election in Bangladesh.

Recent Human Rights report on Bangladesh Army.

"This report presents the testimony of Tasneem Khalil, recounting his torture at the hands of Bangladesh’s military intelligence agency, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). To our knowledge, this is the most detailed public account of a case of torture in Bangladesh available anywhere. It demonstrates the nature of ongoing state-sponsored violence in Bangladesh, including the torture of critics of the current government."

Read full report here.

Welcome 2008, Happy New Year

I wish everyone a prosperous, joyful and a Happy New Year. May this year bring peace in this world. May this year bring democracy back to Bangladesh and around the world. May this year be the year of prospect for all of us.

Happy New Years to everyone, from www.bangladeshpolitics.org. Thank you for your continuing support and creating awareness around the world about Bangladesh and human rights.

Benazir Bhutto - Killed

I highly condemn the assassination of the former prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto. How barbaric people could be! Dictator Gen Musharaf should be held accountable for this tragic death. I want to warn Gen Moeen U that if something happens to Bangladeshi ex prime minister Sheik Hasina or Khaleda Zia, there will be very serious consequences.

More on Bhutto assasination:

Benazir Bhutto assassinated at political rally in Pakistan - Times online
Bhutto: "She has been Martyred" - Times
Former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto killed in suicide attack - Daily star
Pakistan Bomb Blast: Kills ex-PM Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi - Pakistan Times

Cyclone Sidr killed 3000 and counting. Please Donate.

"Bangladesh dated with an incubus as cyclone Sidr ripped through the southwestern coast late Thursday with wailing wind and tidal surges, killing over 641people and demolishing houses, crops and trees alike along its trail of devastation extending over thousands of square kilometer area..." read full story at The Daily Star.

"We have no food, we are trying to survive with eating whatever is edible that we can lay our hands on" - Survivor

I urge everyone to extend their kind hand to help the improverish cyclone affected people of Bangladesh. Lets help those are affected by donating what ever you can. At this time of crisis, they need money more than anything. You can donate by clicking "Donate" button below. I appreciate your participation in this cause. 100% of your donation will go to the people who are affected.

IN THE NEWS

Update 11/19/2007 - Red Crescent fears toll may top 10,000 - The Daily Star

Update 11/21/2007 - Bangladesh Cyclone Victims Face New Threats of Disease, Starvation

Bangladesh, A fallen democracy!

I went to Dhaka recently for a family emergency, some of you might already know about it. I want to thank you on be half of my family for condolences. So I had a chance to observe the situation in Dhaka first hand. Two weeks while I was there, newspapers headlines are mostly about, Yaba, so-called reform, Jammat, and reform again. So what is actually happening in Bangladesh? When are we going to go back to the democratic process? Let’s see if we can analyze the situation.

Jan 11th, 2007 came the heroes, The Military government with a civilian mask. People were jubilant, because they were tired of political bickering between two major parties. People had hope, they had hoped that law and order will be restored, economy will be prosperous, people of Bangladesh will live ever after! Just like a perfect ending to a tragic movie.

So where is the hope now after 11 months of military rule! Law and order hasn't improved, economy is about to collapse, prices are sky rocketing, corruption still persists, and people of Bangladesh are not living happily ever after. The point is, it takes time to build a country, to build a nation. 11 months is nothing to make a significant progress. A solid foundation of democracy builds a country, a nation. No dictator, no king, no communist ever developed a prosperous nation and sustained it for a period of time with use of force. A free-market-economy with a solid foundation of democratic process did make a vass empty land to a most powerful country in the world in 270 years, America.

Military keeps interrupting our process of developing democracy. And every time they come in, they are being welcomed by the people, and they come in when the time is volatile. People welcome them, because they want miracle. There is no magic solution to our problems. Only a thoughtful democratic foundation will solve our problems, but it will take time. May be with right vision, 50 years from now, we can claim, we are living happily ever after. There is no quick fix to the problem of our Nation.

Developing high rise buildings in the cities is not a true sign of progress; it is just a mirage. True sign of progress is where citizens are getting educated in all areas of the country, their basic human rights are being respected, their basic needs are being met and every citizen beliefs that "I can do it too." A BMW in the streets of Dhaka is not sign of progress of Bangladesh; it is a sign of corruption and sign of massive economical gap between the rich the poor.

This military interruption of democracy is in the way of progress. With information I have gathered in last couple of months about the big shots in the current Bangladesh Government proves that, they are no GOD, they are no HERO. They have the same intentions as corrupt politicians in the jail. They are more like rivals to each other. I strongly urge the current non-democratic Goverment of Bangladesh to ensure a free and fair election as soon as possible and give the power back to the hands of the citizens. A free and fair election will bring Bangladesh into path to a stable democracy. It will be possible only if our current leaders believe in Democracy! The question is, will democracy return to Bangladesh! If so, when?

Bangladesh, Burma and Pakistan – Military and politics

All three south Asian countries are directly or indirectly are being ruled by military dictatorship. In south asia, people are poor. People are starving. They don’t care who rules them, they want food and shelter, and if possible health care perhaps. You have seen in the media, how ruthless leader of Burma, General Than Shwe brutally suppressed the peoples movement for democracy led by the Buddhist monks. Result is, according to foreign diplomats, more than 200 killed. China said, it is Burma’s internal matter. When 200 people die because of planned military brutality, it is not an internal matter anymore. It’s gross violation of human rights.

In Pakistan, General Parvez Musharraf, is no better. Popularized by USA for “war on terror”, he is in a very critical stage of his political carrier. All military dictators take advantage of the volatile political situation and come to power as a hero. But later, reality sets in and hero becomes afraid of losing power and starts massive corruption in fear of losing power. Pakistani key political leaders are in exile. So in all these, where are the voice of people? I never hear what people of Pakistan wants in the media.

Now let’s discuss Bangladesh. Army took over power in Jan 11th, 2007, taking advantage of the volatile political situation. I would blame our politicians for current situation. (That’s a different story which I will not discuss here). Army is controlling civil administration. Junior army officers are being appointed in many government sectors. Army is trying to control the economy (rather they are destroying it), trying to control the law and order (polices job).

Now if you think about it, what is the purpose of an Army? If I understand it right, it is national defense. In all three countries, Army is not working on national defense; they are very involved in internal political affair. For the sake of argument let’s ask, are they doing a good job? I will leave this up to your judgment.

Does a poor country like Bangladesh, Burma, and Pakistan really need a lavish military presence! Who is paying for them? Japan is a very rich country, their military power is laughable. But their economy is being admired by the world.

Now as for Bangladesh, how long are we going to continue financing a lavish military with high interest foreign aid and poor tax payers money? What is our return on investment on military!