Wed 22 Aug 2007
- Protests spread all across the country
- Curphew imposed from 8 PM
- All educational institutes closed sine die.
- mobile network shutdown from 6-9pm. Clampdown feared
BBC reports:
The BBC’s Qadir Kallol in Dhaka says slum dwellers, shop keepers, rickshaw pullers and businessmen joined stone-throwing students in violent and bloody demonstrations. They confronted police who baton charged them and fired tear gas. Our correspondent says the protests appear to be growing more violent across the country, and are turning into a popular movement demanding the immediate restoration of democracy.
More updates from the ground at bangla website Sachalayatan and Somewherein
Please use this thread for regular news updates and use other threads for analysis.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:34 am
This thread is only for updating with news. Please share news updates here and the other thread for analysis.
Picked up these two comments from e-bangladesh.org
strawberry // Aug 22, 2007 at 10:53 am
CSB hightlight:
The female newsreader made a fool of Moinul.
He was on live news with her. He said all the students from the dorms asked to leave their rooms. She asked is it practical to ask them to leave now when it’s almost 5pm and a curfew’s being declared from 8pm? How will all the students from very far able to go home? He just went silent and cut off the lines. Then a claps heard in CSB news studio!
CTG is plotting to arrest students tonight. Since most of them will not be able to leave their dorms, police may attack them later at night. They are planning to switch off power of DU area from 8pm.
9 strawberry // Aug 22, 2007 at 11:27 am
Students are chanting that they will NOT leave the halls. Teachers said if any student wants to leave, they could as it’s government’s order. However it is NOT their decision, so they won’t force them out. Their syndicate body will decide later this evening of what should they do. There’s no end to the clashes yet.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:38 am
BDNews24 is reporting that DU is resisting government order to close.
—–
Dhaka, Aug 22 (bdnews24.com) – The government Wednesday ordered all universities across the country and colleges in divisional towns to shut indefinitely.
Students have been asked to vacate dormitories by 8:00pm Wednesday.
But Dhaka University acting vice chanecellor AFM Yusuf Haider said the DU did not take any decision for dormitory vacation.
“Any decision asking students to leave dormitories has to be made by the university administration,” he said.
Meantime, students took to the streets proetsting the order for a curfew and hall vacation.
Secretary of DU Teachers Association Anwar Hossain said the government cannot make such a decision. “Dhaka University is an autonomous body,” he said.
All decisions must be made by the DU syndicate, he asserted.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:44 am
৬টা থেকে সাড়ে ৮টা পর্যন্ত মোবাইল নেটওয়ার্ক বন্ধ থাকবে।
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:53 am
Rezwan |
Mobile networks have been shut down from 6PM to 9PM. Wide scale raids by security forces feared.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:00 pm
ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ভারপ্রাপ্ত ভিসি রিফিউজ করছেন ভ্যাকান্ট এর আদেশ। তিনি বলেছেন এইটা সরকার চাপাইয়া দিতে পারে না। সুত্র বিডি নিউজ
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:33 pm
News from a reliable source:
Although initial student movement was spontaneous, conventional wisdown now says that the ousted Falu/Saqa/Moudud group are now pouring millions of taka into the campuses, to fan the flames. You do not have to be a conspiracy theorist to believe this. Of course they are, their only hope is to create chaos and get out of jail. And since most of their wealth was never found, of couse it is floating in the market. Add to that the genuine discontent, and you have a volatile mix. Every political party has incentive to push this situation to the maximum.
Moeen U Ahmed weakened because he is seen as being “too gentle” which is why things got out of control. Junior officers angry with top brass, because they felt that army showed sign of major weakness by retreating from DU after only one day of protest.
If command structure breaks down inside the Army, and junior officers rebel against the seniors, we are in big trouble.
Next 48 hours may be crucial. If situation calms down, we may have dodged the bullet. If not, we have seen before the script that will follow.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Thanks for that valuable update, Pothik. Ki ar bolbo, ekta caption dei.
I’ll be back, and all my buddies too
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Fakhruddin will address the nation “sometime after 9 pm”
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Zubair,
‘Thanks to the current CTG’s total ineptitude, double standards and blatant callousness towards the public !’
It is more the CTG’s failure than Tarek’s victory. The big loser is the country as a whole.
Farhad
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Salah Uddin Shoaib Chowdhury’s Weekly Blitz reports:
television channels owned by corrupt BNP and Awami League men have started well-organized provocative campaign to give instigations to students and public in making the situation worst. The alleged television channels are continuing to broadcast news and commentaries with the motive of involving mass people in the agitation in order to make it much complicated. It is learnt from dependable sources that owners of these TV channels sent special message from prison to give maximum provocations to the incident in order to put the government into difficult situation. It may be mentioned here that, there are eight private television channels in Bangladesh out of ten, which are owned by front ranking leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] and Awami League.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Mobile network shutdown caught lot of people by surprise. Lot of people trying to reach family to make return-home, suddenly getting no network. Watching someone get frustrated with her phone, I realized how much the whole country has become completely dependent on mobile phones in last 10 years. Our whole way of life depends on this tool now, and without it people are suddenly in paralysis.
Two weeks ago Grameenphone was getting lot of flack because when Rangs Bhavan went “down”, one of their network switches was in there and for 3 days Dhaka was plagued with network outage. But you always get a few bar. This is different. No bars, nothing. No error message.
I wonder if they went to the mobile phone network HQ and stationed troops there. What does it mean? The fact that it is only from 6-9 is a bit confusing though. Why not 6-10? 6-11?
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:12 pm
something is definitely brewing. TV stations are about to be captured, as a next move
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:14 pm
BTV, we love you!
After 36 years as independent nation, BTV still has not lost its ability to amaze. Stuck in a time machine, BTV just does not care.
While the whole country is on edge, wondering what will happen next? Martial Law? Military Coup? Islamist Coup? Return of Tareque? Return of Saqa/Moudud/Falu?
Just in this moment, BTV presents us its stock of patriotic songs, one after the other, in the most garish sets, worst makeup, fakest looking trees and village backdrop. Even a beautiful singer like Shakila Jafar looks like a troll on BTV.
And look now, it’s Shompa Reza (or Rini Reza, I always mix up).
Shurokar: Gaji Mazharul Alam
Kajal Kalo Kesh
Amar Bangladesh
And just as she sings the second line, a fly lands on her. Yes, ladies and gents, a fly lands on her, and they keep shooting. Singer being a pro, just waves the fly away, she knows there will be no second take.
Now back to watching footage of burning cars on Channel i.
Let’s see what happens after 9 pm.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
disorganising forces will heavily reliant on mobiles, so its logical for the state to shut them down, standard practice in any country undergoing mayhem.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Never change, Eyshob_Dinratri, never change.
Your LSD-laced trips into BTV psychedelia while Bangladesh burns is as unreal as the situation on the streets of Dhaka. And somehow , strangely, more realistic.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:48 pm
All matters happened due to internal conflicts of Army. A faction of Army those who r interested to regain of Khaleda and her all corrupts fellows have initiated the Riot with the help of different intelligence group like DGFI. All patriot citizen should aware of the conspiracy and also protest of any unconstitutional and undemocratic desiccion of anybody like government, Army etc. No University should encourage to vacate the hall.All generall people should help the students if the utility services disconnected by the authority. sstudents should be supplied food and candles by the generall people. For that people should fight againat the undemocratic forces.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
ATN:
HSC results won’t be published tomorrow.
Fakhruddin speech to be televised tonight.
Mandatory order to leave campus has been lifted.
Work ID cards ( public/private) can be used as curfew pass.
Channel-I
Showing live football match of Bangladesh-Cambodia.0-0 till now.(caption below reading Aktel network temporarily out of service.)
And BTV…oh BTV..what can I say.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
bdnews24 story as of 8 PM.
Curfew traps hundreds of thousands
Hundreds of thousands of people walked home as the news of the curfew spread amid a flare of emergency-time violence that swept much across of the country. The order derailed public transports. Buses stayed off the roads.
Only rickshaws and some autorickshaws plied on, but they were too inadequate for thousands of passengers waiting by the side of the road to reach home before the curfew starts at 8pm Wednesday.
The government ordered all universities and colleges in divisional towns to shut indefinitely and asked students to leave dormitories by 8pm Wednesday, according to a notice. “The curfew will continue until further notice,” the government said in a statement.
The sudden order caught thousands of students off-guard. Many of them moved out of the dormitories and many stayed back as they had nowhere to go.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Follow the Latest Up Date By Strawberry and Angel Morn-
strawberry // Aug 22, 2007 at 1:27 pm
ALL CELL PHONES SHUT! No one can make a single call. BTTB lines not working in most areas. My internet was down as well but I fought with the provider to give me the service back. It may go down ANYTIME.
Media aren’t allowed to broadcast/publish anymore of the DU related news. They already started censoring. I believe there’s going to be something serious happening in DU area. Could anyone staying close-by report in?
I tried calling international numbers but they wouldnt go either.
12 angelmorn // Aug 22, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Mobile Operators have been told to keep the services shut till 8:30 Pm [ guess that would be extended … ]
On the other hand, Adviser Mainul has briefed reporters from various channels. In simple words he’s asked them to censor their programmes and news to keep the government in positive light. He says “we have the power to impose censorship but we do not want to”.
This guy is CRAZY !
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/08/21/learning-things-the-hard-way/#comments
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
the information I have received is that Moeen has offered the Chief Justice of our Supreme Court, Ruhul Amin, the Presidency if he rules according to Moeen’s wishes on Sheikh Hasina’s case.
from:http://digg.com/world_news/A_Note_from_the_Editor_of_E_Bangladesh
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Curfew just started. Went up on the roof to survey the scene. Streets are empty, the orange streetlights casting a surreal glow.
Almost empty. A forlorn richsha puller heads for the refuge of the mosque. A pushcart with a little boy sitting on top, waiting for his father to finish taking a leak. On the pavement, the flood refugee family that has been living outside our house for a week, still there. Then a microbus rushes by, racing the clock.
I come back down and flip channels. No new updates. Hotel Rwanda is playing on AXN. That should last me until Fakhruddin’s broadcast. Nothing like watching Hollywood recreation of African genocide to remind yourself “hey, it could be worse.”
Tonight, even that racist essentialism is small comfort.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I am not sure if this is appropriate to post links here but given the situation: http://www.bangladeshonline.de has live streaming of ChannelI, ATN, NTV( a lot of bufferring though)
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:28 pm
sachal update
bdnews24.com website has been shut down!
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:31 pm
BBC reports:
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Bhai….
Itihaser pata to ghure fire bare bare ase….
82 jokhon eshechhe… ta to 90 e giyei thambe…
Amra amago gari gular subidhar laigga oi rastar paser badam wala re uthaiya disi… karon badam-wala na khaiya morleo amago garir AC bondho koron jaibo na…
Amra dol-ce-vota te icecream khai rastar pase badam o khai na, badam wala na thakleo amago kisu jay ase na….
Toy ogo jakhon pete khaon nai…. ora to amago gari gulai bhangbo naki?
Tusher agun joltei silo sara dese…. khali ektu ghi dhaloner baki asilo….
jaukga… eibar hoito abaro chhai chapa deoa jabe… kintu agun ki asole nibhbe?
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:42 pm
***Tobe Tai Hok*****
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
BD news is not acessed. Any Idea? For Huge traffic or some thing else. I don’t think at least we NRB should see it beause BD govthas no controll on hosting side
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Can’t access bdnews24.
Getting stories from UNB
DU syndicate decides to execute government order for vacating halls
Girl students who can’t leave dorms by 8pm can stay and leave at suitable time later
US Embassy monitoring situation of Bangladesh closely
UK urges restrain from all sides
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:54 pm
BDNEWS24 is OK, It is due to huge traffic, else nothing.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Just heard a gossip that mobile connection is meant for arresting KZ who will be blamed for orchestrating this chaos. Don’t be dismissive of any thing right now.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:11 pm
#29
I think this is the high time to get rid of Moeen-group (including Fakhruddin and the boneless chicken-Iajuddin).
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Eyshob_Dinratri, I nearly fell out of my chair laughing at Post 13. A much-needed dose of laughter too as I was reading from the bottom upwards and was full of dismay at reading Posts 19, 20 and 24 (which was spot-on).
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Just announced. Fakhruddin will address nation at 9:30.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Anyone has any guess on (keeping with the tradition) which tagore line will be quoted by Fakhruddin?
Definitely not “Nai Nai Bhoi, hobei hobei joy”
More likely ones ” Ha re re re amay chere dere dere” or “klanti amar khoma koro probhu”
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:29 pm
BTV is bringing out the big guns for the soundtrack for nation-waiting-for-Chief-Advisors-speech-to-nation.
Sabina Yasmin, lying in bed dying in SIngapore because Bangali jathi, shorkar, byabshayi, kalo taka, shubakankhi, no one seems to have the gumption to raise the money needed for her cancer treatment.
But here she is on screen. Lively, alive and immortal.
Singing Shadhinotha song based on words by Shamsur Rahman
As the nation waits…
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:33 pm
In the meantime, DP server is overloaded…with the news being censored you all are doing great job providing the updates to the rest of the chintito bangladeshis. Also try BBC Bangla as usual.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Hi, Whats the latest on the mobile network please?
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:34 pm
What’s the latest news in DU campus?
Is the protest continuing or military took over everything?
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Porboter Mushik Prashob–
After seeing CA’s speech, devoid of substance.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:37 pm
That was the flattest and the most uninspiring speech ever!
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Fakhruddin’s speech was short, quick, and didn’t make any new announcement. Basically an appeal for calm, saying the curfew and other security measures are temporary.
For a moment, seeing his face, I was really scared that he was going to say “Ami shenabahini’r haath e dayitthyo thule dhorchi”. What kind of mindstate am I in, that a speech that says nothing new, reassures me?
Followed by Sabina Yasmeen, again.
Ekti Bangladesh
Thumi jagroto jonota
Shara bishmer bishmoy
Thumi amar Ohonkar
Ekti Bangladesh
Thumi jagroto jonota
Shara bishmer bishmoy
Thumi amar Ohonkar
…goodnight everyone.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I have Just heard Fakruddin’s speech .This is very routine one. But He was not very much confident. One Significant thing is that he told those steps as temporary while this Moron Mainul was threatening Media.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
An official at the company’s largest mobile operator, GrameenPhone, said authorities had ordered all mobile networks temporarily shutdown. The official asked not to be identified for fear or upsetting the military-backed interim government.
- The Associated PressPublished:news
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:54 pm
u can heard Fakruddin’s speech
. just log in
http://www.bangladeshrocks.com/login.php?accesscheck=%2Fatn.php
user name: bangladeshrocks
password: bangladesh
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
This speech clearly makes NO one happy. Not the “law and order” faction nor the digruntled rioters. If this was aimed at pleasing the silent groups - the ones who didn’t riot and the ones who really don’t want more draconian laws - then wasn’t that a futile exercise: preaching to the converted?
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Pls Listen the audio bulletin by Tasneem Khalil with the latest updates on anti-military riots in Bangladesh.To be updated every two hours.
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/08/22/bangladesh-riot-audio-coverage/
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:20 pm
i quite liked its simplicity and balance. identified that there was a political opportunist element. He is cute that Dr F, despite being an ex Wbanker.
This govt is of net benefit to the country, some farsighted decisions are being made in nearly every ministry. Pulling out the troops from the campus must have taken some balls.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I wonder what the “for hire” mob were upto during the current “sudent” riot. Does anyone think they were sitting at home or hideouts and watching the burning and destruction of property on TV? I think not.
The for hire mob was very much active during the current lawlessness. What started out as a simple altercations has resulted in the shutdown of the country and curfew being imposed. This will definately impact the post flood relief effort.
The initial agitation by the students achieved it’s objective but the movement has now been hijacked by Black Money hoarders and politicians, whose only chance of escaping long prison terms is to create anarchy and forcing the CTG to quit.
The righteous pundits also fanned the flame of lawlessness by condoning the violence perpetuated on the first day of protests. The pundits’ unreserved support for the violent protests encouraged the students and subsequently the political goons to take advantage of the situation and take us back to pre 1/11 times. The difference being this time around all the bad elements of BNP/AL/Jamaat/Black Money hoarders will be on the same side.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:26 pm
One thing is cleared media Censorship is huge. I fail to understand what’s the point to hide actual incident?
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Here is a UNB story on CA Speech.
Curfew a temporary measure, says Chief Advisor Fakhruddin in national address
Dhaka, Aug 22 (UNB) – Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed tonight said curfew and shutdown of universities and colleges are temporary measures against violence, assuring that the curfew would be withdrawn immediately after improvement of the situation.
“Showing utmost patience in the evolving situation, the government has taken measures, including the imposition of curfew, to protect public life and property as well as stop illegal activities,” he said in an address to the nation over state-owned radio and television.
The Chief Advisor said the government hoped the people irrespective of class and profession would extend all cooperation to the administration in maintaining peace and discipline in society and the trend of democratic and economic progress.
On Monday’s Dhaka University incident, the head of caretaker government said police and students locked into clashes over an unwanted incident that continued until Tuesday.
Under the circumstances, Dr Fakhruddin said, the government Tuesday expressed deep regret and hastened to take steps in accordance with demand of the students of Dhaka University.
The measures included withdrawal of army camp from the campus, formation of a Judicial Inquiry Commission to probe into the incidents and taking action against the persons responsible for the incidents.
He said the army has also taken measures to punish the accused army person at the earliest through “inquiry court”.
As a sequel to the measures, the Chief Advisor noted, the army camp was withdrawn completely from the campus on Wednesday and, at the same time, the government initiated a process of constituting a Judicial Inquiry Commission led by a retired Justice of the High Court.
“But, it’s unfortunate that some evil forces and opportunist unruly people created anarchy in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, capitalising on the university incidents,” he said, adding that they resorted to destroying public and private property.
Dr Fakhruddin further said the evil force defied government request for maintaining peace and discipline, refraining from unruly activities, destroying property and disturbing public life. “Nevertheless, they attacked indiscriminately vehicles and passengers,” he said.
He said the present caretaker government took over seven months ago with the objective of attaining democratic and economic emancipation and establishing good governance. Since then, “we’ve been working dedicatedly for welfare of the nation.”
The Chief Adviser urged all to work unitedly to take the country towards peace and prosperity.
END//
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:34 pm
BBC report linked in comment 23 has been updated.
It quotes Barrister Mainul Hosein as saying: “We request channels to stop televising footage of violence until further notice because this might instigate further violence.”
I nominate this man for the post of joker of the century. Who here has ever witnessed someone watch political violence on their television and then gone out to break a few cars? If only addressing the root causes of violence were so easy! Our pre-television ancestors must have lived in very peaceful times.
The BBC still says that student protests brought down the Zia government. I really don’t know the details surrounding Zia’s death, so I’d request someone else to educate me/correct the BBC.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Thank you, boishakhi, for laying it out so clearly in #48. Those who jumped for joy on Day 1 didn’t realize what they were cheerleading for and what it would lead to.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:41 pm
#52:
I think BBC is referring to Khaleda Zia’s govt; during her “very-brief” second term.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Bhaire…boishakhi
Of coure many groups may try to take advantage of this spontaneous outrage of people from all corners of the country….
But the fact is possibly that the outrage was spontaneous….for hire mob er for hire andolon eto taratari chhoray na….
Amgo to bhai pokete poisar obhab nai… dail er kg 100 taka hoilei ki ar 1000 taka hoilei ki?
Jar pokete poisa nai… pete khaon nai… tar petei agun jole…
eta shei chai chapa agun….
jeta majhe majhei jole uthe….jemon ta jolechilo Kansat e… Savar e….
Tobe abaro hoite chapa deya jabe…. Danda diye… jemon ta bar bar deya hoyechhe….
ar kotodin?
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:49 pm
It’s been nerving, trying to get through to loved ones and not being able to connect yet, playing out possible scenarios in the head
1. Army watches all the occurring and wait for clam to prevail before taking any actions
a) This may lead things to get worse and then there is no option than a full army takeover (hopefully temporary)
b) Calm returns and army with CTG finds the culprits responsible and act swiftly and heavy handedly against those responsible – I PRAY ITS THIS ONE
2. Army Returns to the barrack
a) Protest breaks out and first BNP / AWL faction fights against police / law authorities
and the final phase of it leads to a power struggle and eventually a Civil war breaks out
In the meantime;
- DUTA declares victory and demands SH and crews’s release
- BNP declares victory and demands TZ and crew’s release
b) The so-called democracy proponent begs the Army to come back and restore calm
c)Another Army regime and this time for a long time
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:51 pm
well said Asif y. Basically My opinion is that this Bar at law will be turend to be
one of the most un popular personality in the history of Bangladesh
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:52 pm
AsifY @ #51
Zia’s death following student protest is an absolute travesty of truth. Zia has been subjected to systematic propanganda assauilt before and after his death. The camapign still goes on.
There was absolutely no student unrest against Zia around his death. Zia was in chittagong to mediate the feud between two fractions of Chitagong BNP ( Unfortunately both fraction leaders joined JP after Zia’s death).
In fact starting from 80, till early 90s, Zia’s student wing JCD was extremely popular and the overwhelming force at all educational institutes. At some point they controlled student’s unions of >90% of educational institutes in Bangladesh.
BBC unfortunately have been part of the Zia misinformation camapign since beginning.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Zubaer and Boishakhi,
If the time ever comes that this CTG itself turns into a bane for the people (and I hope that that doesn’t happen), I really hope people are going to be less gloating about you two and what you stood for today.
People who “cheerled” (your word not mine, but I don’t want to quibble over this too) this on the first day did so because a severe breach of dignity/respect had come out in the open. It was always boiling under the surface until some stupid NCO (or plain clothes “army” officer) decided to make it explicit. People like me “cheerled” the fact that someone had stood up to men with guns and said, “Hey, you guys ought to be more responsible about how you wield your power!”
The violence on the first day was muddled: as much - if not more - by the police as by the students. Even then, not a single commenter here showed any anarchic glee at any sort of property destruction. NOT A SINGLE ONE!
Now that things have gotten out of hand, no one is supporting it anymore. If you get some sort of satisfaction out of saying “I told you this would have happened”, then all I have to say is: welcome to a long line of naysayers who have gone before you. In 1971, people who thought Partition was a mistake got the same satisfaction. In 1975, people who thought Bangladesh was a mistake got the same satisfaction. In 1981, people who thought Zia killed Mujib got that satisfaction. In 2007, people who thought “democracy” was a buzzword got that satisfaction. And when the time comes, I too will say to you two, “Hey look, the CTG was such a BIG mistake and you two were cheerleaders for it when it was doing GOOD work”. But unlike you two, I will get ZERO satisfaction out of that.
Movements degenerate and regenerate. Get with it.
- A supporter of unarmed people who stood up to people with guns trying to push them about. And proud of it.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Zub, Boishakhi,
No one concerned about Bangladesh’s future can be happy to see to this development. No one was on Day 1 either. Some people were vindicated on what they were saying for months..that’s it. Its for people who gave unconditional blank checks to power base who are more responsible than any thing. The civil society had a duty to point out the flaws in the CTG and point out the dangers of absolute power. They didn’t because some people and you know who labeled any criticism of CTG as being “anti-CTG”. People are unable to make the nuances that constructive criticism only helps the people/party who are being criticized. A government whose only mandate to power is people’s support can not afford to:
1. Take anti-people measures
2. Lose moral authority by being manipulative and creating a Kings party and
3. Indulge in bending the laws in the name of anti-corruption.
There is a saying in Bangla “bhat deoner murod nai, kil deoner goshai” — that is exactly what has been happening. Top all of this with bad policy and you have a perfect storm in order.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Anyone knows how long the cell phones will remain shut down?
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:05 pm
7 am tomorrow, Navin
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:07 pm
# 54, couldn’t agree more with you Asif S, anybody with a minimum knowledge of economics could see the policy blunders this CTG have made so far, the economic cycle of the economy is in shambles while these armatures are busy giving lectures and doing photo-ups (all are neck up in suits while the poor die in starvation), it was just a matter of time, that’s all.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Thanks Asif, where did you hear that?
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Does anyone have any idea why network is down? What are they trying to achieve??? Another “kalratri”?? Ver scary, indeed.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:16 pm
bdnews24 said army has arrestsed 10 journalists of bdnews24.com, CSB, Samokal, and Baishakhi.
Photographers of New Age is badly beaten by army while two reporters of bdnews24 have been assaulted.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:18 pm
You all should read this piece by Shameran written the day before yesterday
http://www.newagebd.com/2007/aug/21/edit.html
Crumbling Facade by Shameran Abed (scroll down in the page)
Choice quotes:
All of this has happened, of course, as these things always do, with the tacit complicity, if not the active encouragement, of civil society and the media. Instead of holding this government to account and demanding for an exit strategy from the outset, the do-gooders in our civil society — a more politically naïve bunch would be difficult to find — gave this military-driven government not only an open-ended invitation to rule but also carte blanche to do whatever it pleases. Instead of engaging critically with this government to ensure that the focus remains on the holding of credible general elections and return to democratic governance, the members of our ‘intelligentsia’, most of whom have lost the ability to think, have spent their time propping up this government and applauding its efforts to create a political vacuum that only this government itself can fill. This is how General Musharraf has remained in power in Pakistan for the last eight years. Is it at all surprising, therefore, that things have come to such a pass in our country?
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Asif S
Are you sure? Have they said they’ll open the lines at 7?
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Sorry, I can’t recall where I read it but I did read it somewhere that it is shut off till 7 am.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:30 pm
To number #54 and #62
I totally disagree with you. I am not sure what kind of qualifications you have but I would like to hear your explanations of the CTG’s economic policy blunders. I believe CTG has taken some very good steps. Getting rid of the black money holders out of power possibly impacting some of the market prices of necessary goods but you can hardly blame CTG for it. It is also understandable that during flooding price of goods are suppose to go up. And it is not easy to control the market of a whole country. Even in United States, Government can’t do anything about rising food prices because the whole thing is controlled by market forces of supply and demand.
I also saw one comment about the electricity situation. Commenter was saying how can it be so hard to set up a few power plants in 7 months. The level of ignorance in that comment is astonishing. For 5 years during Zia Government the electricity production steadily went down. Since CTG came to power they actually increased the production by doing proper maintenance. But they are yet to set up a new power plant becasue it takes multiple years to set up a power plant. Since the previous 15 years were full of corruption and no proper planning was done how can you blame this 7 month old government for the power situation. It is very easy to be romantic about such a situation say that CTG is bad for this country because they were not elected but if you look at the facts it is hard to deny their achievement. I think everybody who cares about Bangladesh know that.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Zubaer and Boishakhi and anyone else,
If comment #65 turns out to be right, and journalists are being arrested for simply reporting the news and not giving into uncalled for censorship, I should by all rights start blaming you two for cheerleading.
I will refrain because of the absolute UNCONSTRUCTIVENESS of the entire exercise of finger-pointing. I hope you do too.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Mobile-networks to be shut off till 7 AM was reported here:
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/08/22/bangladesh-riot-audio-coverage
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Great Job!!! Moeen & Co doing great job!!!!!
Please read this:
Shutdown of mobile phone network caused problems to subscribers
UNB,Dhaka
More than two crore mobile phone subscribers found communication breakdown Wednesday evening as the government asked the operators to shutdown their network.
Information available from Grameenphone Grahok Kotha said the government has asked the mobile phone operators to shutdown their network until further notice.
The mobile phone network of different operators was found inoperative just after newsbreak of curfew imposed from 8pm and closer of all universities and the colleges in divisional headquarters.
The mobile phone breakdown caused inconvenience to the subscribers who wanted to inquire about the welfare of relatives, especially the university students who have been directed to vacate the residential halls by 8pm.
Some of the students of Dhaka University, who were leaving the halls told UNB that breakdown of mobile networks has posed a serious problem for them. They could not contact relatives in the city to seek accommodation and inform the parents outside Dhaka.
“How shall I inform the parents outside Dhaka who are certainly worried about my whereabouts,” said a student of AF Rahman Hall of Dhaka University.
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:01 pm
RE #58,59
If I am not mistaken, you two have always been proponents of due process. Yet it appears that you have already convicted all of CTG for the recent student riot and have laid the blame squarely on the Army/CTG. No need for any independent investigation or inquiry, CTG has done so many bad things so they must be guilty. I am surprised you haven’t blamed the CTG for conspiring with God to cause the recent floods.
On the other hand you seem to be adamant that characters like Hasina, Tarique Zia, Falu are accorded due process (which they should be). The army men who were involved in the altercation that unfolded into full scale riot, also deserve due process and if found guilty must be dealt with.
I never questioned students right to express their grievences but I beleive they should do so in a peaceful manner. I fault the “cheerleaders” for giving unreserved support to the violent rioting, there were no (or muted) mention of keeping the demonstrations peaceful and within the bounds of law.
I don’t support every action of the CTG, many of it’s action has gone againts my interest, my family has been served notice to vacate an office located on “illegal” floors of a Dhaka highrise, which we plan to fight through the judiciary and not joining the violent rioters.
Some have also opined that they “understand” why the student rioted, burned cars, vandalized shops. I am not surprised, as there will always be people who readily justify 9/11 and suicide bombings.
CTG is in no way perfect, they have made mistakes and will continue to do so but we shuld point out their mistakes using a peaceful platform, condoning anarchy is not in the best interest of the Country. CTG has said time and again that free and fair elections will be held by the end of 2008 and I suggest we hold our fire till then. This does not mean we stop being vigilent and when necessary express our dissent peacefully.
Both AL and BNP are experts in organizing violent riots and street agitations. So does it mean if BNP is able to shutdown the country tomorrow and demand Tarique and Falu’s release the CTG should oblige?
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Quote from a friend:
“I received news this morning that the wall of IBA at DU was broken and windows shattered because students doing the ‘andolon’ thought classes were being held inside while they were rioting outside. They made teachers leave the building at 5 minutes’ notice and believe it or not, the teachers left without informing the students remaining inside the building.”
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:27 pm
One example of how CTG is doing good things can come from my family. I can classify my family as upper middle class. We own a large building which we rent to tenants. I also support the family by sending money sometimes. Tenant’s electricity bill used to be collected by my family but never paid to the government on time. We used to delay it by paying bribes to govt officials reduce the payment amount. Since CTG came to power we don’t do that anymore. Same thing goes for almost everybody I know in Dhaka. Should I blame the government? Hell no! My family was doing a wrong thing and I believe this inconvenience is justified because it is good for the country and sets a good precedent.
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:28 pm
“CTG is in no way perfect, they have made mistakes and will continue to do so but we shuld point out their mistakes using a peaceful platform, condoning anarchy is not in the best interest of the Country”
Paraphrasing: Students are in no way perfect, they have made mistakes and will continue to do so but we should point out their mistakes using a peaceful platform, firing tear gases is not in the best interest of the country.
“I never questioned students right to express their grievences but I beleive they should do so in a peaceful manner. I fault the “cheerleaders” for giving unreserved support to the violent rioting, there were no (or muted) mention of keeping the demonstrations peaceful and within the bounds of law”
Paraphrasing: I never questioned the CTG’s right to step in at a critical time but I believe that they should have continued to govern with increased citizen participation and with increasing authoritarianism. I fault its “cheerleaders”/apologists for giving unreserved support to arbitrary uses of its power, there were no (or shouted down) mentions of due process and keeping within the bounds of the law during Emergency time.
As you can see, we seem to be two sides of the same coin!:) I’m with the students on this one… I like siding with the little people.
re: your due process argument, are you trying to equate Asif bhai and me into the highest authority in the land? If our opinions carried as much weight as that of the judiciary, then your argument would stick. We have no power to “condemn” the CTG. We have every right as Bangladeshi citizens to criticise it and disagree with it. I believe I was doing the latter.
I agree with you that they should have undertaken this peacefully and worked through the legal institutions. Exactly how sympathetic are these institutions to young people (moreover) with little to no money? Take it from me, NOT AT ALL! I wish you all the best in your legal endeavours. You have my respect for choosing the peaceful path.
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Journalists have been arrested on their way back home and were put to jail even after showing their IDs. Earlier on TV it was informed that journalists will not be harassed if they can show their press pass.
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Well done Channel I . Bangla Movie is displayed instead of Tritio Matra.
Boisakhi Or Mannan(73#)
On which basis You Put Hasina in same braket of Tarek and Falu.
Basially It was the Main motive of so called
anti corruption drive . Come with proper proof not with so alled Azom and Nur ali Case.
Mannnan , I am also agreed with you. Now tell me why was this officer not arrested?
Because Guy like you don’t have minimum idea
what due process is! Or you want to leave him
beause He is “DESH PREMIK SHENA BAHINI”
We don’t trust any verbal commitment of people like Mainul and Few of you people becomes spokesman of Some dishonest individual force.
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:53 pm
BDnews is reporting on its front page that 13 journos have been freed.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Educational institutes are closed sine die.
In 1980s we used to call it Ershad vacation? What this vacation will be called in histyory? Fakhruddin vacation? Moeen vacation?
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
UPDATED Audio bulletin: 2 by Tasneem Khalil with the latest updates on anti-military riots in Bangladesh:
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/08/22/bangladesh-riot-audio-coverage
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:24 pm
#Blindedpilot 69: As far as I know a brand new combined cycle gas turbine power station takes 4-6 months to install and commission, and smaller emergency ones can be setup in less than 2 months. There are used ones available for very cheap for as little as $100/KW. These are typically 50-300 MW in size. I can provide many links, but you can do your own research, unless you are an expert in the area. Please note that I am a well wisher of the people of Bangladesh like many NRB’s, and I support the CTG effort in trying to improve Bangladesh, but I reserve the right to criticize them where I feel they are failing, and I do it not to malign them, but to let them know that they should get their act together, failure is not an option.
I am reposting the following from another thread which seems to have been abandoned:
I see that enemy’s of people are trying to color mindless mob violence as people’s revolt and trying to distance the political party’s involvement, that would be a big embarassment for them. Clandestine planning and execution would be very hard to uncover, but there is no need for that kind of accusation. 30 years of cadre training and recruitment from educational institutions that hopelessly politicized both students and teachers is enough for these people to know that their masters are in trouble along with their planned future and they have got to fight for the return of the staus quo. Whoever is supporting these people are definitely part of this group trying to legitimize their actions. Well we know your kind and what you have been doing all along, but we kept silent and watched your actions for decades.
The misguided actions of CTG such as removal or hawkers, bosti, not bringing price of food under control and not improving electricity situation, everything that affects daily life of people, only contributed to this situation.
What CTG needs to do is take firm actions, arrest all known perpetrators that participated in property damage and give them exemplary punishments. Where are our champion of human rights now to fight for the victims of these mindless and meaningless violence. At the same time, they need to wake up and really concentrate on things that affect people’s daily lives. Firmness, swiftness, efficiency and competence is needed at this hour. The silent majority waits to see you succeed and bring normalcy back. The hungry people need to go to work to earn their next meal. They are not so fortunate like our revolutionary and fiery university students.
Finally mixing of politics and students has to stop, we are not being ruled by the British or West Pakistanis anymore, using students to build up a cadre bahini (army) must be stopped once and for all. Politics should be banned in all educational institutions and any person breaking this law should be promptly expelled.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Army’s are not involved in any sort of vandalism neither acting as wild animal as our so called university students are doing. Animals are much better than these uncivilized university students and their teachers. These DU university teachers and students forced the IBA faculties as well as students to leave the building while they were doing their class and the very same people talk about democracy and due process!!! Alas Alas.
Students and teachers are not supposed to involve in politics no matter what happens with the politicians. They are not meant to go to university to take the lesson on vandalism, chandabaz and to become a crook politicians. Despite knowing the fact most of our university students and teachers are so much obsessed and involve with politics instead of carrying out their noble duty since they know doing dirty politics is the only way to become famous and rich in our country.
What really amazed me how on earth these kinds of unethical activities could be justifiable to some so called educated person?
SDG# Tasnim khalil lost his credibility so is his report.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:35 pm
New Age still hasn’t updated their webpage to their new edition. Anyone knows what’s going on there? Any other newspaper websites having the same issues?
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:34 am
Here in the U.S. some of us have believed that the Caretaker Government is working in good faith toward democratic elections and that this process will take time. If it is true I would think they are worth supporting. They also seem to be arresting some of the most corrupt people and bringing them to trial. So, this is what we hear. Please tell me if there is some necessary reason to push them to finish their work sooner. Do you think the demonstrators are being paid? Is the government trying to create a provocation so they can justify cracking down on students. I respect the voices of moderation that are expressed here. You are staying sane and calm under the most difficult circumstances.
I was a university student when we demonstrated and protested until we succeeded in getting the U.S. out of Vietnam. If the government is afraid of the real power that students have to make their world a better place, I hope you will also understand how strong you are. You are the future leaders of your country.
Ma-a-salaam.
August 23rd, 2007 at 1:21 am
To amader sob Sikkhit Dr. sahebder sorkar… sobar age sob Shikkha protishtan i bondo korlo…
oisob Public University aste aste bondho kore deyai bhalo….Jottoshob chashabhushar polapain oikhane pore ar khali gandogol pare….
koidin age Edn advisor na DU te kono ek seminar e giya koilo….DU te jam besi… ason sonkha komiye deya dorkar….”Kewality” education dorkar…
mentality ta oikhanei ase… ekhon seita dat bair korlo ar ki…
public university bondho korle amago ki…
amago polapain to pore America Canada noi Australia…
Ar naile rastar pare Private university te…
chashabhushar dol… gerame giya chashabhushai thak….
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:06 am
RE # 80 - Mr. Khalil’s e-bangladesh audio (propaganda IMO)bulletin
One of his news item:
“All Internet traffic routed through BTTB. ”
What a joke. Since the provisioning of the submarine cable all major ISPs route internet traffic through BTTB routers by default. Mr. Khalil should refrain from reporting propaganda on topics which are beyond his grasp.
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:24 am
Mobile connection restored.
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:33 am
Good Morning Blognam..
(as Robin Williams would have said)
Woke up this morning to an eerie quiet. Sometime at night, the electricity had gone (eta na hole tho obak-i hotham), I was drenched in my bed. I woke up wondering if I had been showered while sleeping.
Up on the roof. A rickha going by. Etho boro shahosh. Anyway, ajkal tho chad-e asha hoi na. Dekhar tho kichu nai, charidike 8-story housing complex. Now in 24 hours, have been on the roof more times than I have all year.
Made a few calls. Curfew still on. Somehow I had thought it would be night only, but I guess not. Call a few people to cancel meetings. They laugh, they shrug “Ota tho apni call korar age dhore niyechi.”
Driver calls from Mirpur, bhoye bhoye asks “Bhaiyya ashthe hobe naki?” Now my turn to laugh, what kind of pashondo machine does he think I am. “Na na, pagol naki. Bashae thaken. Dorkar hole rickshae jabo.”
Switch on TV
Boishakhi: Moula chara keu nai/Keno koro kanna kati/Kolema shahadat poro ucchoshore/Mabud jeno
Star Movies: Hotel Rwanda again (ki arombho korlo, kono subliminal signal naki)
National Geographic: blood-dripping lion
CSB: Interesting, The lead news is the same tea related item they broadcast last night. But how could this be the lead news?
Boishakhi: Reporting on Fakhruddin’s speech.
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:06 am
Lot of bloggers are, in the heat of the moment, using very unrestrained language.
Understandable as passions are high.
But remember this, when the dust settles, the powers that be will be scouring the net for “foreign agents” that fomented the violence. A classic skapegoating exercise. And in this exercise, they will find the DP blogs (no doubt they are already monitoring them closely). Please consider whether your careless words, from which you received a temporary catharrsis (and I completely understand the pent-up desire for catharrsis) would end up endangering the DP blog. DP blog has many projects ahead of it.
You may say, “It’s the last days of Ershad, and you are asking Noor Hossein to wash that paint off his chest and go home.”
But…
It is not the last days of Ershad, and we are not Noor Hossein. A sponaneous movement with no leaders has now been appropriated by a resurgent BNP/AL, and there is no way on earth that the objective conditions exist for this government to fall and there be a smooth transition to democracy. Rather what will happen is that the right-wing elements inside this government, and in the army, will now gain more strength from this incident. At least for the time being. The velvet glove may now be gone, now we may have the iron fist (let us see). Fair enough, let the chips fall where they may, and some would say better that things be nakedly clear. But don’t make DP a target. This blog has a lot more potential, we don’t want that potential to be killed.
We are not CNN for NRBs, we just accidentally fall into that role because there is no viable alternative. But let that role (worthy as it is) and the unfiltered blog discussion that results, not endanger DP’s larger long-term mission.
Remember that Proshikha was targeted by BNP becase of its “partisan” role. Now we can debate the merits/bogusness of that charge, but a giant NGO which was doing a lot of good (in spite of corruption), is now dead. Something to think about.
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:07 am
This is from internet sources and unverified.
In Dhaka university, all of the residential dormitories have been vacated. Our correspondents report that large army convoys are now patrolling the campus.
Army members withdrawn earlier from the camp inside Dhaka University campus have returned.
Unconfirmed reports from the campus say the army and police are now on with a house to house raid inside the campus with a list of student leaders and teachers to be detained.
A large number of university teachers have left their university residences for safe locations outside the campus.
Earlier, unidentified men detained 2 left-wing student leaders near Dhaka University mosque. Their current whereabouts are yet to be confirmed.
One of our correspondents from Savar reports that truck loads of military personnel and SUVs came out of the Savar Cantonment early in the evening and proceeded towards Dhaka city and Gazipur.
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:08 am
From internet sources e-bangladesh
In Dhaka university, all of the residential dormitories have been vacated. Our correspondents report that large army convoys are now patrolling the campus. Army members withdrawn earlier from the camp inside Dhaka University campus have returned.
Unconfirmed reports from the campus say the army and police are now on with a house to house raid inside the campus with a list of student leaders and teachers to be detained. A large number of university teachers have left their university residences for safe locations outside the campus.
Earlier, unidentified men detained 2 left-wing student leaders near Dhaka University mosque. Their current whereabouts are yet to be confirmed.
One of our correspondents from Savar reports that truck loads of military personnel and SUVs came out of the Savar Cantonment early in the evening and proceeded towards Dhaka city and Gazipur.
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:28 am
Despite all its faults, CTG is our only hope for now. After all this mess, I sincerely hope that attention is turned toward our politicised university environment. It needs to be fixed, some teachers are needed to be kicked out of the university.
Its time to break down partisan university teachers’ association syndicate. It is imperative in order to increase the education quality in public universities.
I cannot believe that teachers supporting such student violence and wonder why they complain when these students turn on the teachers for postponing the exams.
Why our best and brightest institution is the cause for such chaos and mayhem?
Why our university students are so eager to jump on Jalao Porao andolon bandwagon and can be so easily manipulated?
…please don’t start with bhasha andolon, shoirachari birodhi andolon… bla..bla..
it is imperative that we fix our public universities. Other countries are doing it. During the lal masjid crisis in Islamabad ,out of curiosity, I googled on PK universities (knowing that they have similar Army->corrupt democracy->army history) and was quite surprise to find out about different programs underway for development including their quite active foreign faculty hiring program for different universities . You can check it out…
http://www.hec.gov.pk/new/HRD/Faculty_Hiring/Foreign%20Faculty%20Hiring%20Program/eligibilitycriteria.htm
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:31 am
When someone vandalizes your car and torch fire, how on earth can that serve your democratic right! Before blaiming the army, so called student leaders and teachers who instigated such heinous crime of destroying public properties should look into the mirror! Being student or even a bright student does not give anyone right to destroy national properties. I still have the vivid memories of my fellow BUET students vandalizing the hallrooms and university properties to force the authority to delay the term final!! I think you would not find a second example of this in modern times in anyother country and our supposedly brightest students were involved in it. We should be more concerned about these destructiv behaviour of some so called students because they will oneday become big guns in politics and continue their heinous acts in a much bigger level.
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:58 am
blogs like drishtipat are a great source of information in times of crisis, as we have seen the last one year. under the emergency rules, we assume that they are monitored and stand at risk. http://www.somewhereinblog.net has had a great inflow of articles the last few days, yesterday afternoon/evening, posts popped in nearly every minute. while monitored and watched by the blog team, the policy is to allow all kinds of opinions and political analysis, as long as language and pictures are not a direct attack on the government. may the sensor axe not hit us. bttb submarine cable is down, so channels for information are reduced. no reference here to postings on http://www.somewhereinblog.net? you are missing a great source in bangla if so.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:03 am
How you can tell the difference between old employees, and just joined.
Old employees call you at 8:45 am to say, “Bhaiyya thahole ar office e ashlam na, dekchen tho curfew.”
Just joined employee (first job after graduation) calls at 9:15 am and says in othi-bhodro language, “Bhaiyya, ami Jhigatolae atke gechi. EKhane kauke jethe dicche na. Ami company ID dekhalam, ora bollo kauke jethe dicche na. Bhaiyya ami onno dik diye ashar cheshta korchi, onek shomoi lagbe, 10 ta bajthe pare…”
To which I replied: Pagol naki, apnake ke ber hothe boleche, bashae thaken. Curfew uthle eshen office’e.
Meanwhile Citycell running ZOOM internet-by-mobile ads on TV. Masud Rana surfing the internet on top of a train, truck, boat. At the finale, his chat buddy Stella from Dublin shows up in Dhaka (ey maal ta re koi pailo? must be Goethe-r kono intern). Masud and Stella walk off into the sunset holding hands. Hey, is this the first inter-racial love scene in a Bangla TV ad?
The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades….
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:34 am
Mannan/Baisakhi #87
I am not sure how much knowledge do you have the Cable system and V-Sat.
Listen Cautiously Submarine Cable is International Loop. Inside country it is Called Long Haule network for any internal connectivity. Fact is that Bangladesh is connected in one international Loop SE-WE-ME 4
which has capacity constrain.So Maximum ISPS of Bangladesh is using V-Sat still now for Back up and fill up the demand of Band width.
Govt instructed that all data and voices should be going Via BTTB Long hale network only. So Tasneem is not speaking funny stuff.
It is you who are speaking without technical knowledge.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:35 am
I usually do not like to write on politics in open forum. But I think it is a different time. Everyone should come to senses:
1. The group involved in the assault of stuidents in football field needs to be punished. No one has the right to beat others (including criminals).
2. I do not think the vehicles and buses are reponsible for anything. Do not burn them. Stop these type of violence.
3. Trying to apply force to control situation will backfire. Legal and procedural actiaons will be more helpful.
4. The government should ask for help from Civil society, teachers, general people to calm the protesters. Dr Zafar Iqbal or Dr Unus can play a better role than 1 regiment of Army.
5. Beating up the journalists for “breaking” curfew is barbaric. Whoever responsible for the assault of Journalists need to be punished.
6. Government needs to come up with a better flood rehabilitation plan. Government should pay the dues to all employee of the closed jute mills. Preferably by end of next week.
7. We should be careful of what we say. For bloggers, few students are terrorists, that deos not give us the right to call the students Criminals. Two of the most popular leaders of our country were killed by army. I cannot say all army personnel are killers. For advsiers, the change in 1/11 was supported by people. I think people still support them. But they need to prove it to people they are pro people.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:45 am
nice artice from Khaleej Times
“Bangladesh in turmoil”
23 August 2007
THE curfew following student-police clashes in Dhaka is not likely to subdue the discontent brewing in Bangladesh’s university community, if precedent is anything to go by. The military backed government ought to do its homework well before clamping down too hard, considering previous military governments of Ziaur Rahman and Muhammad Ershad were ultimately toppled by student initiated protests that quickly snowballed over the capital.
It is unfortunate that typical of adhoc dispensations, Dhaka’s emergency government is handling its first serious emergency with the stick. Invariably, use of force enrages the already beleagured public and isolated incidents swell into a collective vent for frustration, more often than not taking the shape of pro-democracy agitations. Already, the student unrest has attracted volunteers from across the societal spectrum, including slum dwellers, merchants and ordinary shopkeepers, all of whom have a thing or two to say about the government not living up to its takeover promises.
Since the interim government took control at the start of the year, promising to hold elections by the end of the next and ridding the country of corruption in the meantime, it drew the usual cheers of appreciation that similar endeavours in the Third World are known to attract initially. But failure to deliver on the promise has irritated the already fed-up public, for which high-level politics continues to be a process of hollow commitments shrouded in fancy rhetoric.
Now, as the logjam worsens, so does the economy, and hence the woes of the working class. Police action has shut down universities and the curfew will halt much of daily life, paralysing an already unenviable economy. For the government and agitators alike, the realisation that in pressing for their aspirations by way of public disturbance they are going down a self-defeating path, seems elusive till now.
It is clear that politics from above is not the answer to Bangladesh’s ills, like much of the developing world. No doubt democracy needs to be returned and people’s word held supreme. But for that a more amicable path needs to be adopted.
Needless confrontation, as implied, rarely comes without compound adverse effects with a long term bearing on the political, social and economic structures. The violence should stop so normalcy can be restored before it is too late.
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:03 am
We are an software company that has been working diligently on creating an outsourcing market to Bangladesh. We had client deliverables yesterday and today. Our employees could not come to work, our isps were shut down so the client could not see the completed work. I did not know what to say to them. “Force Majeur?” is the death knell for outsourcers…a client will just go somewhere else. We lost two mega deals today… that directly affected many young professionals in dhaka and a lot of incoming revenue for the country. This happened to one firm. I wonder how many more are affected. But the saddest part about this to me is not the revenue being lost, or the job not being done, but that I feel like I have lost faith in my country. I do not trust it anymore and worst of all I am growing tired of caring, tired of trying, tired of crying for it. Someone return my Golden Bengal to me.
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:17 am
Farhad Mazhar, front page lead op-ed in NAYA DIGANTA
“Not destruction & anarchy, make legitimate demands your objective”
[excerpts]
…In stage 1, we saw students in a spontaneous, non-partisan and legitimate protest, movement and struggle. Because of the suppression and oppression from the state, the movement has already gone through a qualitative change. Especially after protest and anger spread to other educational institutions, and Dhaka’s hawkers and a portion of working class population joined the students. From a political point of view, this joining is very significant. We support the democratic flow of joining with common people.
But in stage 2, we see that because this spontaneous movement had no central leadership, Dhaka University Teachers Association has tried to place themselves as the leaders of the movement. Those who have waged the politics of division and partisanship in Bangladesh so far. That politics is not only undemocratic, it is one of the main reasons for Bangladesh’s current state…
In stage 3, we have seen a certain power or group create massive and indiscriminate destruction and anarchy trying to push events in a certain direction. We know that this group has been busy trying to prove that Bangladesh is an anarchic “failed state”. They want to prove that Bangladesh is unable to govern itself, and bring it under the rule of United Nations peacekeeping force. Through random destruction and anarchy, they are gathering international evidence for their case. At the same time, they are using their own mass media to publish photos of army officers being kicked in the back, and burning army vehicles—all to prove that the tension between the people and the army has reached a breaking point. To prove that things are a point that only an external force that rule this country…
Stage 4 is the reaction stage. Meaning what steps will the government in power take to handle this dangerous situation, and what will be the reaction to those steps. In this situation, the urge to declare martial law will be very strong. But if we consider the overall situation, that would be like pouring ghee on the flames. The army has to extremely alert and careful.
We should not get into a frenzy because of any provocation. We have to correctly recognize, praise and encourage the students’ democratic impulse, in order to direct current political situation in a positive direction…The people have given support to the spontaneous movement because the government as failed to provide for basis needs. But it is still not clear if the spontaneous movement will be directed in a positive and constructive manner…
http://www.dailynayadiganta.com
[Side Note about Media: Naya Diganta I would position as soft pro-Islamist, so far sympathetic to some elements of CTG, while trying to criticize others. In a nutshell, they seem to support elements of the Army/CTG they see as Nationalist and anti-Indian, and critique the forces they see as pro-World Bank, pro-IMF, pro-US. ALthough all these positions may change day to day. For example when Jalil's testimony was leaked, they were printing every revelation. Then 2 days later they used Mazhar's column to bash those same leaks and distance themselves. So even within ND are competing factions.
Mazhar is their star columnist. He has a weekly column, but sometimes publishes twice a week. It's a mixed bagm hard to pin down, pani besh ghola. But I find it more relevant to read this paper, because I believe Naya Diganta and Mazhar have some segment of the Army's ear right now-- it is a paper they may consider "bhalo lok, shahajjo korthei shomalochona korche". It's important to read them to understand some of the currents.
Daily Star/Prothom Alo is cautiously supportive of CTG's technocrat segment (PA more than DS), but critical of excesses (as in last 2 days, the photos Mazha refers to came out in DS), but columnists like Mazhar have very painted DS/PA into the pro-US, pro-porashokti, pro-Fakhruddin camp. Since tensions between Fakhruddin & elements of the Army (the iron fist segment) are bound to exist, Mazhar's columns can enflame those tensions (whether that is his intention or not).
When I read bloggers writing things like "Fakhruddin, Moeen, Mainul, Army" in the same line as if it is a homogeneous bloc, I worry about this naivette. There are many factions and many competing power blocs. In enthusiasm you may jumble them all together into one group as "the state"/"the army"/"the other side", but you only help those who would muddy the water further.
We have seen what has happened to Bangladesh when all factions were painted as one united "goshti". The events of 1976/77 caught everyone by surprise. Arre era na shobai India r dalal, pro-Peking, Army r shobai bhai bhai, etc. Era abar poroshpor ke marche keno.
We need to get beyond simplistic slogans and breathless hour by hour reporting. The situation in Bangladesh is far too dangerous and on the edge (and I do not refer to last 3 days) to indulge in cyber-sloganeering. We need a exit strategy for the whole nation, and that will not be quick. The specter of becoming a "failed state" in the midst of chaos is too real. We must guard against that possibility.]
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:34 am
Per Khaleej Times #99, “the discontent brewing in Bangladesh’s university community”:
What is the “discontent brewing in the univ community” ALL ABOUT? Is it because:
a) their favorite cadre “politician” are in jail?
b) their hartal and dhormoghot days are over?
c) their bomabaji is being monitored (by army)?
d) teachers have to attend classes finally?
e) their tenderbaji is restricted?
f) they are so bored of classes, they need some fun?
g) teachers cannot make any more kickbacks from equipment purchases?
h) CTG wants to eliminate student terrorism?
i) mastaan and cadre days are over?
j) DU has continued non-stop for 6 months?
k) “fake students” are being questioned?
l) too many “fake” students in DU
m) there hasnt been a strike in the campus for 6 months?
n) teachers are tired of being party-less!
o) (all of the above) plus ….. ?
What is it really thats bothering the academic students of DU ?!! Will students of DU, and bloggers please ADD ANY MORE reasons for DISCONTENT here?
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:01 am
I have some……….
1) Students do not like moeen-masud because both of them are blackmailing the whole army.
2) Students are angry at all army personeel because army men do not have backbones to stand upto moeen-masud.
3) Students are angry because recruitments have gone down to zero and all their newly graduate brothers do not get job adverts any more.
4) Students are angry bcos their parents, brothers, relatives have lost their income sources because of eviction of hat-bazars (most students residing in halls come from up-country areas)
5) Students are angry because they can not buy cheaper goods from the hawkers anymore. (Cost of living has gone up)
6) Students are angry bcos they have lost their earnings from private tuitions bcos their student’s parents can not afford to pay them any more because of high prices of commodities.
Students are young and they thought that each army men is moeen or masud!!!!
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:14 am
Rickshaw pullers are being beaten by the police.
Medicine shops are open but movement of medicine delivery vehicles suspended.