Thu 23 Aug 2007
Perhaps taking cue from some of our bloggers the average students are getting beaten black and blue. Listen to bbcnews here. In the meantime, DHaka’s internet is down mostly and private tv is censored. This is definitely not the way to go.
More on the internet mystery from shadakalo
Shafiur’s Snaps
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
To listen to Voice of America (Last Update):
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-08-23-voa11.cfm
By the way does anyone have any update on what the politcal leaders (those not in jail) are eyeing this?
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:12 pm
BBC news clearly depicts the current situation. Morever, There is a news (rumour) of beating Daily star officials.
I believe situation may turn beyond control. Carfew may increase the prices, although people love to stay in peace.
I belive student who are beaten may not forget this.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Frankly the CTG/ARMY has handled the sitatuion well once things got out of hand.
Right away the army apologized.
Right away they moved out of DU.
–Even then, when the protest continued they implemented curfew, which probably was the best option to “cool things down” in a day or two and things will be normal back again.
Current sitiation today after the curfew seems to have quiet down things a lot and by all indication the unrest is in the last stages.
However there were a few missteps (information censorship etc) along the way which can be undertsood given the fact that the current gov’t is not a veteran of facing or comprehending such turmoil previously.
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Those in the UK.
There will be coverage on More4 News Sky Channel 138. 8:00 pm.
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Dhaka University Teachers Association (Duta) General Secretary Dr Anwar Hossain and Dr Harun-or-Rashid, dean of Social Science Department have been held from their Fuller Road residence at around 12:20am, family sources claimed.
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Subzero_Hibernations // Aug 23, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Just now news is that DU teacher associations
Secretory Anoar Hussain has been arrested.
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/08/23/for-bangladesh/#comment-71
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
revolt for an already settled “tuccho “issue? I bet the students and teachers who were just looking for some excuse to take revenge on a government decision to stop the dirty teacher politics and student lejurbritti made no mistake of making “tal” out of this “til”. But, I think they will realize that they have in fact made a wrong choice…now student and teacher politics (lejurbritti) would be the first thing to be banned.
http://www.amadershomoy.com/news.php?id=194615&sys=3
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:35 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebangladesh
Here you will find most of our captured photo.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:13 am
Now that it seems that the situation has been contained and some semblance of order has been restored, I wonder whether there might not be a silver lining … CTG (as most other things) is made up of disparate elements. The events of the last three days might serve as a check on the designs of the less progressive elements within CTG and help to strengthen the hand of the progressive elements. I agree with Tanim (comment no. 3) that handling of the recent crisis, overall, cannot be faulted too much and generally speaking, sanity prevailed. The article from amadershomoy.com (link given in comment no. 7. by Observer)is worth a read. Very interesting, indeed. I hope our Chatro Samaj is able to show maturity and restraint now.
Perhaps, we need to give all parties - students, members of the army actually present when the fray started, ordinary street people who joined in to vent their discontent, disillusionment and frustration - a platform (tv programme?)to express their points of view. This would not only help to defuse matters, but would also throw up important learning points for the CTG.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Bangla podcast by Rezwan. A review of latest updates from Bangladesh. Also, a report from BBC Bangla on military repression.
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/08/23/bangla-pod-bangladesh-curfew
August 24th, 2007 at 12:50 am
7 observer: Thanks for posting the link. Beneficiary of any incident are the clearest links to finding motives and active or behind the scene players.
The world used to be awash with liquidity, but a lot of this has gone into subprime loans in the US in the last 4-5 years, so available cash for investments has gone down. But currently the subprime sector has become a dangerous area for fund managers and everyone is looking for safe haven.
The reason I mention the above is that the nature of any investment fund specially FDI is that it always goes to locations and sectors where the repatriation of profit and principal is secure. That is why despite so much friction with regimes about human rights issues, fund managers love China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and similar other countries. The regimes are secure and rock solid, investment return, profit and principal recovery, are also secure. Bangladesh, like many other developing countries, such as India, China, Vietnam, Pakistan and others, are in competition with each other to get this limited pool of FDI to create jobs, improve infrastructure, in short this is the life blood of development, as the era of Aid’s and grants are gone. Bangladeshi expatriates have also substantial capital, but due to instability and lack of a proper business conducive and business friendly environment, people are hesitant to make long term investments in manufacturing and other productive sectors. It is much easier and safer to invest in unproductive sectors such as buying apartments even though the return is very small, hence the boom in apartment sector in recent years.
The students need to consider all this when they become so reckless so easily and become manipulated by others. I can hardly blame the hungry tokai or hawkers, as they may be illiterate and are not aware, but students could do better, as they watch news and TV and are aware about what is going on in todays world from internet news.
A situation such as this, shows to the world the weakness, instability and lack of order in our country. It also shows how fragile our state is and how easily by a small incident order becomes a casualty of anarchy. This lack of stability frightens new FDI investors, or any other foreign businessmen who are interested to place orders in local businesses as our frustrated Software Entrepreneur has pointed out, he just lost two major buyers. This is not unique, countless other garment and knitwear exporters I am sure have the same story to tell. As readers may know, I have personally experienced the port blockade by Mohiuddin and his goons in 1996 and its devastating effect on the export sector.
We cannot blame foreign agents and saboteurs. If we need to survive in this world and improve the lot of our impoverished masses, then we need to be careful ourselves about our own actions. Because in todays world it is a competition of many hungry peoples of the world, the hungry in Africa, China, India, Bangladesh and elsewhere are all competing, how to attract FDI and how to get out of poverty and become part of the productive and contributing part of the human race.
August 24th, 2007 at 1:40 am
From E-Bangladesh
- Garment workers on the move in various parts of the city.
- Army trucks - few of them
- RAB - hunting in packs of 3 and 4 (jeeps).
- BDNEWS24 hints that there might be a 3 hour break today.
August 24th, 2007 at 2:13 am
How many of you here have checked out
E-Bangladesh in the above post, if you have not, please check it out and share with us your opinion about it. I hope this is not off topic, as they are showing up quite a bit here trying to promote their site.
August 24th, 2007 at 2:46 am
Just what is the legal basis of this curfew? Is it referred in the Constitution? Or in Criminal Procedure Code? Or in Police Regulations of Bengal? General Clauses Act? If not, then where is it avaiable? Is it true it is avaiable only in Bangladesh Army Act? Is CTG working under Army Act? Needs serious thinking about this.
August 24th, 2007 at 6:03 am
Bengalis are proud people, it’s one of our assets. But the dark side of pride is the hubristic notion that we can stumble on for decades in this manner, and then when we finally get our house in order, the world will rush in to do business with us. No, the world won’t actually wait. Too many countries already have a head-start, and it will take superhuman, collective effort for us to get a place at the table. To get a share, any share, of global trade, business and investment.
http://thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=1255
Watching the world go by
Shaher Zaidi
August 24th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Excellent write Shaher, wish our politicians and their blind lovers ( in and out of BD ) see how we are losing big time in worlds competitive market ( other than just garments ).
Here in Japan, being an IT professional, for long I also have been watching how IT market of Japan ( offshore business, human resource ) is shifting country to country while we are nowhere in the picture yet.
August 24th, 2007 at 9:00 am
And Khilji #11, that was a nice read, please keep up writing.
August 24th, 2007 at 10:07 am
We have received complaints from e-bangladesh about unsubstantiated comments against it here. Not only this is offtopic, we believe any comments about their blog should be directed in that blog. We will not post any further messages regarding e-bangladesh blog here. Please post your opinion about that blog in e-bangladesh.org should you not approve their approach.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:03 am
EYE WITNESS account of the destruction of “Four Seasons” restaurant, Dhanmondi
This is an eye witness report of the violent activities that took place on Wednesday, August 22nd before the curfew started which involved the destruction of “Four Seasons” restaurant, situated at Dhanmondi Saat Masjid road opposite to Shankar Bus stand. The “four seasons” restaurant was opened recently and it’s a very neat place with a glass exterior. It is apparently not owned by anybody from the CTG. My parents live there, so they got to see the incident with their own eyes from the balcony of our rented apartment.
My parents rushed to the balcony when they heard the sound of glass breaking. They saw a group student and some picketers breaking the glass exterior of the restaurant. The waiter and authorities of the restaurant were trying frantically to stop them but they were outnumbered. Then, mob took the furniture of the restaurant out on the street and put it on fire. Then, a small patrol of police came and tried to disperse the crowd, but they were chased by the mob. Then, the local people and waiters from the restaurant joined with the police and chased the picketers away. We have no association with the restaurant but I noticed that my parents and sister was very sad that such nice place was destroyed without any reason.
This incident did not make it to the print or electronic media. Ask your relatives or friends living in that area to verify the incident. To me these incidents demonstrate the kind of public support these mob of students/hawkers/political goons have. The attack on square hospital is another incident that makes me really sad… why would somebody who is upset with price hike of essentials attack hospitals and public property. (As suggested by BBC report) I think the hawkers joined the students of Dhaka College in Nilkhet area because they were evicted couple of months ago without proper rehabilitation. I wish the government were not so hasty with those evictions of poor people.
BTW, I heard the name of the restaurant on the phone; I might not be 100% accurate with the name
August 24th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
FROM GP SOURCE
Just 15 minutes back all cell network is shut down again. what a funny stuff?
August 24th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
We the bengalis love to destroy public property …don’t we !!
August 24th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
#19…I don’t support the attacks…
But…
just observe carefully…
The attack was not on Mitali/Nirob hotel in Najimuddin Road…(Rastar parer hotel) It was on Four Seasons….
The attack was not on Dhaka medical….
It was on Square’s….
I agree it is inhuman to attack ANY hospital….
but just expressed my observation that there is a sharp border line….
August 24th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Square Hospital may have been attacked because of rosh against Tapan Chowdhury. He’s one of the three most visible advisors, after Mainul Hossein and Geetiara Chowdhury.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Hello,
i dont think CTG had done the right thing. 1. Army didn’t apologized.
2. in the morning of 21st AUG, at first police started beating.
3. its not rumor that 1 of the journalist of daily star was beaten by army. It was in the morning news of BBC.
4. rite now everywhere army targeted the general student. Their behave can’t be explain in words.
5. only in Dhaka 42,000 cases are filed…lol… 42,000!!! still they r saying tht it was not supported by general people. they accused that 42,000 are directly involved in dhaka. theres many more around the country who r directly involved. so theres millions who r supporting…
For more, check my blog…u’ll get some more info:
English:http://www.shawrav.blogspot.com/
Bangla:http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/jubokblog
These two are different. So check both.
Thnx
August 25th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
*2 courts sent 5 university teachers and one student leader into remand.
*Dhaka court allowed interrogators 4 days to quiz Dhaka University teachers Anwar Hossain and Harun-or-Rashid, even though it had been asked for 10. But Rajshahi court allowed 10-day remand for Saidur Rahman Khan, Abdus Sobhan and Moloy Kumar Bhowmik. Azizul Bari Helal, the president of the BNP’s student wing, will be interrogated for five days.
*Charges are making provocative statements and instigating unrest on the campus.
*Fakhruddin Ahmed assured DU authorities of “honourable treatment” to the detained teachers
*Awami League condemned the arrest and their subsequent remand.
August 25th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
I just read an interesting story on the daily Naya Diganto. This is the first time I am reading this newspaper. I don’t know if they are biased or not but this article is an interesting read….
http://www.dailynayadiganta.com/fullnews.asp?News_ID=39272&sec=1
August 26th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Blog of a DU student… Must read!!!
http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/debdarublog/28727290
August 27th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Gann_pago,
Dhonnobad blog linker jonno. Post # 27. Horrible. Ki ashchorjo…
Jokhon onek mara mari shuru hole oneke dekhlam onek kichu likhlo. Shudhu porlam …likhlam na. Amago likhay ki arr hobe. Ekon dekhi eto boro des birodhi acter poreo keu kichu likhche na. tai baddho hoye likhchi.
Ami o papere porlam - serious kotha. Dhaka Universityr Chattros blog porlam. British High commissioner bollo …. she naki convinced je taka chorano hoiche. tarporeo karo protibad dekhlam na. Ashchorjo. Drishtipat kichu bolben ki!
Amar kotha:
The ghotona ekdom choto chilo. Studentra ja chaiche tai hoiche. tarporeo jalao poral holo ken! Teacherder to shob shomoy situation thanada korar kotha. Tara keno ushkaiya dilo!
Keno tara michil korlo! Eto Bhangga bhangir dayitto ke nibe! Studentra to 100 / 200 takay mash khay - jara hostele thake. Subsidy te chole. DU te porte fees kom lage. Tara keno desher shompod dhongsho korlo! Bus vanglo!
Teacher ra jodi shotti involved thake - drishtanto mulok shashti deya uchit. Ei je ekhon University bondho, abaro session jam hobe. Ke daiyee ei jonno! valo studentder jibon theke je atogulo omullo minute chole jaba ke tar dayitto bohon korbe!
Ajke pepare porlam hasina calm hote bolche. Jodi hasina chup hote bole je kina gorom hote bolar kotha sheikhane teacher-ra keno bollo na!
dekhlam ekjon teacherer chele chithi diche. Take amar proshno: remanded toa aro hazar hazar manush jay. Tokhon keno chithi likhen na! Apnar baba keno michile gelo! Michile bannere keno likha holo je gormente podotag korte hobe!
Bhaijan …apnar baba bole apni tar jonno chinta korben - eta thik. Ami suppot kori. Kintu amara jante chai apnar baba ki studentder ke chup hote bolche naki tader dabir shathe ekattota poshon korche! Jobab diben ki!
Remande nile jor korbei. Shobjagatei kore. Chor ke jodi shundor vabe jiggesh kore : churi korcho! Chor ki shikar korbe! korbe na. Abar money korben na apnar babake chor bolchi. Tini shommanito kintu shomman rakhar kaj money hoy na korchen.
Apni bolchen apnar baba shorkarer bipokkhe jay nai. Shotti! taile michile keno! Teacher kaj to michil kora na.
Ektu bolben bhai.
Shobai ke bolchi:
Amake nao pochondo korte paren. Kintu ami amar olpo shamanno buddhi theke bolchi!
Amader jana dorkar - ke ei dhohgsho korlo? Ke taka dilo? techer keno chattroder ushkay dilo!
Shob sheshe ek kotha.
Shorkar ke bochi. Jodi dosh na kore - chaira diyen. Arr jodin dekhen shotti dosh korche - valovabe bichar koiren jate vobishote arr keu ei rokomer jalao pora-te shahosh na pay.
Shobar sheshe valo khobor diya shesh kori:
Nicher khobor poiren, Valo lagbo:
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=1697
“”Bangladesh now has one of the fastest rates of poverty reduction in South Asia,” said Xian Zhu, country director of the WB. ”
jalao porao korle kintu ….eirokomer khobor ibo na.
valo thaiken