Fri 5 Oct 2007
you cannot gather and shout on the streets, you are not allowed to protest anything (ofcourse, other than a cartoon ), if you are a journalist then not given the chances to write or tell the news you so want to tell, you are not fool enough to sms ppl any msg you want to spread really fast, you know there are some people who had been arrested by the security forces with their computer hard drive, emails they have exchanged and all so you became really cautious even while chatting online with your NRB friends about not making any jokes ,which can hurt the ego of our deshpremik shenabahinee or the army backed govt. But you may have been thinking you still can go on doing all the blogging you want to do using the pseudo name. In this world you are free, free, free…
but suddenly last week daily nayadiganta published an article how they know the real names of the people covering themselves under the pseudo names. So a big brother is actually watching!!!still you thought, you are never very vocal even among friends so there is no chance that anyone will keep an eye on you
so here comes the treatment for each and everyone of you. Now BTRC orders ISPs to reveal admin password, user data , usage pattern, IP address and so many other things (i even don’t know we need so many things to use the net) of each and every individual to track, monitor and record their activities. They are not willing to give any reasons after all it’s the country they own and they rule so who can question if they decide to read even your personal emails for the sake of ensuring ’security’
But can they do it? No. as far as you can remember, the constitution is not yet suspended or scrapped in bangladesh. And that is supposed to be the supreme law of the country.According to Article 43 every citizen shall have the right to be secured in his home against entry, search and seizure, and to the privacy of his correspondence and other means of communication.
according to the BTRC act 2001 the function and duties of that commission included specifically the three below among few others
1.to encourage research and development activities in telecommunication, and innovative activities and investment in providing telecommunication services;
2.to protect the social and economic interests of the consumers, to respond to their needs, and to control and abolish the existing and probable oppressive or discriminatory conduct or activities of the telecommunication service providers;
3. to ensure protection of the privacy of telecommunication;
Ofcourse, this act was not left unscathed just as our constitution and many other laws. in 2006 an amendment was brought which gives sweeping power to the authority to monitor. But there may be doubts on the constitutionality of the entire 2006 amendment.and does even that amendment allow the authority to monitor each and every net users of the country without any specific allegation or some kind of reason to doubt the person who is being monitored??Ofcourse not
But no no no…you are not allowed to say all these. may be that will find them reasons to track you down, so you have already stopped being loud and clear about your views in real life now it’s time to stop doing it in the virtual life as well. You cannot do bloggorbloggor anymore, you are not allowed to do much bokorbokor (speaking your heart out) even among your friends as you know ‘deyalero kaan ache’ (even the walls are watching you, hearing you ). we don’t need hearts anymore, only ears will do.hearts always mislead but ears can help to find out those misled lot.the only problem is these very useful ears cannot breath. ufff, if we could only get rid of our hearts !!!!!
October 5th, 2007 at 5:36 am
Rajkoomari, this is such an apt piece - have been following the conversation between Jyoti and Sid in the Fakhruddin post. Sid, do take note.. between India and China, I choose India - at least there I am allowed to shout out.
Editors are really scared about printing anything that might be remotely critical and activists and artists paranoid about speaking on phones, writing or painting what they want.
Feels strange to be in a place where everything seems so ‘normal’, and yet, where people with critical bends of mind are terrorised by the shadow and ultimately the hand dealing out dire reprisals were they to speak out.
Rajkoomari, aren’t you afraid of bloggorbloggoring like this?
October 5th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Bonbibi, the difference between India and China is lot more than just being able to bokor bokor (or bloggor bloggor). And Rajkoomaree, all the bokorbokor/bloggorbloggor have values more mundane than mere rights. Independent India - or any country with a free press - have never had a famine. Mao’s policy mistakes killed tens of millions of people.
October 5th, 2007 at 6:58 am
“Editors are really scared about printing anything that might be remotely critical and activists”
Our leading media (news) personalities have made a peace deal with the system. They had every opportunity to defy all fear and speak for the truth. They just needed to show their courage. As Ambrose Redmoon said “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear”.
It takes a lot to speak up for what you believe in. Our leading media personalities are not ready to make that sacrifice.
October 5th, 2007 at 7:14 am
If freedom of expression is so much under threat in today’s Bangladesh, how come Farhad Mazhar is savaging the military dictatorship, led by ‘Dictator General’ Moeen, every week in the Naya Diganta, without any reported/known threat to him for his anti-govt. harangues???
October 5th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Ahbab, come up with some better logic. You have taken this path before only to be proven wrong. If you are any touch with reality, you would not try to deny this. I suggest you talk to the media people in Bangladesh — even your friends at Naya diganta and amadershomoy to verify if there is press freedom in bangladesh today. I suggest others not to indulge Ahbab in this false debate and focus on the more pressing issue of internet monitoring that has been raised by Rajkoomari. More details here.
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/10/03/crackdown-on-internet-users-in-bangladesh/
October 5th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
This is no propaganda. The ISP association has admitted this. This was featured in BBC last night.
You can listen to the BBC report via Rezwan here
http://www.sachalayatan.com/rezwan/9222
October 5th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
It is terrifying to know some one will come and hunt you for having a conversation with friends. It is attach on privacy. This phenomenon may be new for BD. Other countries are doing it for a long time. Many companies are monitoring employees’ personal activities. Bangladesh is fallowing the footstep of big brothers. How knows, may be this advise came from them. I hope, ISP will take steps to safe guard users, something like the US library system who deletes all user activities at the end of the day.
It is beyond argument that all rights are suspended under emergency in BD. Having said that people still could say stuff, until, it affects someone’s fundamental rights, for say, religious belief. Writers often try to push the limit a notch. Forhad Mazhar probably is trying that. Let’s see how far he can go. We know what happened to Mahamudul Hasan.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
You want to vent your spleen online without being tracked? It’s hard work… just because you think you are anonymous doesn’t mean you aren’t being monitored. If you want to get through to the internet audience uncensored, you need two things: 1) encryption and 2) friends who live in other countries.
While in college, I set up and maintained a cluster of servers that allowed Chinese dissidents bypass the Great firewall. I am willing to do the same for Bangladesh, and post tutorials online about how to do this.
Anyone else think this is a good idea?
October 5th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Here is a question, should there suddenly now an autocrat that comes out of the shadow and decides to rule Bangladesh with iron hand like Burma, is there any room for dissent any more?
We have no right to protest
We have no right to write things that they do approve.
There is no TV program that goes without their monitoring
There is nothing we can do which is beyond their monitoring.
Worse case, the entire national id card scheme is in the army’s database.
This means every one in the country is within their reach and they are monitoring everything and on top of that they can prosecute anyone anytime under emergency rules without a valid warrant or a case.
Now how odd is that for a government that is popular and that is here to conduct an election on a caretaker basis? Have our sushils left their thinking cap somewhere ? There is not a single word in the print media or a single word of protest from any HR groups!!
Amra ki ei Bangladesh cheyechilam?
October 5th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
There is no wrong to control the ISP as in developed country governments can track down any ISP user if anyone try to do any crime through the internet. Recently UK governments passed a new law that from now onwards phone calls are no longer private.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html in_article_id=68143&in_page_id=34
So I do not see any wrong doing or conspiracy to control the Bangladeshi ISP. If we can not trust the CTG then we should not trust our journalists either since they are politically motivated.
Reading the Rajkumarees article all I want to say that the article is just an old song with a new voice. There is nothing new in this article except monotonous criticism about the CTG. It seems Rajkumaree has written this article on behalf of Tasneem Khalil or T.K himself is writing here under pseudo name. It is just an assumption I might be wrong.
October 5th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
The link is given below again:
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=68143&in_page_id=34
October 6th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Asif S,
Freedom of media/expression is a relative thing. You cannot quantify it, you can only perceive it.
Is the media in the ‘developed’ countries free? If so, how much free it is?? Could the US media report the reaction of Bobby Fischer following the event of 9/11??? Is the ‘free’ world free from state interference in the web/blogosphere???
You have asked me to verify the media freedom in Bangladesh from my friends, at Naya Diganta and Amader Shomoy, who did not bother to report the ‘Silent revolution in Bangladesh’, published in the Washington Post, one of the icons of ‘free’ media. Do I need to know about the press freedom in the country from those, who cannot think about any media freedom under a military regime, and do not find any difference between the present military dictatorship in Bangladesh and the likes of previous military regime of Ershad, or the military junta of Burma and so on? Is it possible for any program, like ‘Bangladesh Shanglap’, to be telecast on national TV channels, or political commentaries, like those of Farhad Mazhar or Zafar Iqbal, to be published in leading dailies in a place where media freedom is as throttled as you are saying?? Will you still ask me to ‘come up with some better logic’ to dissuade me from being ‘proven wrong’, as far as the state of media freedom in Bangladesh is concerned???
October 6th, 2007 at 9:50 am
@Bdwatchers: Its not about controlling the ISP and not narrow as you think that the issue is confined to some names you dislike. Its about provide security to government’s chosen specific quarters or forces putting the rights of the general people in jeopardy. This is violation of section 43 of Bangladesh constitution which has not been suspended under the emergency act.
Listen to International Law expert & law professor of Brussels University Ahmed Ziauddin & ex-adviser and human rights activist Barrister Sultana Kamal’s pieces on the issue.
Ziauddin says the issue is alarming because:
- BTRC is not clearly saying what they will do with this information (ID, password, internet usage pattern of each and every internet user).
- BTRC is not doing it for targeted group of people or for the ones under suspicion so we remain totally in the dark.
Barrister Sultana Kamal says:
“The problems with these wiretapped information are that there are no ways to judge whether these information are true and authentic, what are their bases etc. If any action is taken on the basis of personal judgments of the authorities the chances of flaws in that decision are greater.”
October 6th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Tasneem Khalil does not write for UV blog since publicly disagreeing with UV’s moderation policy in February this year.
http://www.drishtipat.org/blog/2007/02/07/say-no-to-dynastic-politics/#comment-79583
October 6th, 2007 at 10:14 am
#10
So Called BD watcher
” Reading the Rajkumarees article all I want to say that the article is just an old song with a new voice. There is nothing new in this article except monotonous criticism about the CTG. It seems Rajkumaree has written this article on behalf of Tasneem Khalil or T.K himself is writing here under pseudo name. It is just an assumption I might be wrong.”
Ans; Amazing assumption of yours . I used to read your baseless comments before. Every Blog or news channel respect the privacy of Blog. But I can Say Raj Kumari and Tasneem are not same person. But similarity is that both of the speak the right thing.
Aziz 12#
I think you love to comment whimsically and some times You go out of logic. If one or two BBC Songlap is become the symbol of freedom of press, I am sorry to say you don’t know the definition of freedom of press. I clearly remember while you were advocating for Martial Law giving instance of the death of framers in Hydrabad.
So some times You guys create real entertainment in whole shows.
October 6th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
bd watcher #10:
So I do not see any wrong doing or conspiracy to control the Bangladeshi ISP. If we can not trust the CTG then we should not trust our journalists either since they are politically motivated.
Perhaps you should tell us why people should trust a regime if the regime is taking measures to snoop into and use surveilance on people’s privacy. Try and prescribe the curtailment of press freedom in the Western country you live in and see how quickly you get a well-deserved slap for your advice.
Sometimes I despair about the future of democracy in Bangladesh, when Bangladeshis who themselves benefit from living in foreign democracies feel they can prescribe what should and should not be the democratic rights of their own countrymen. To these people, I say shame on you and your craven hypocrisy.
October 6th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Hi Democracy/Hello Democracy,
Everyone refers about you. Everyone (specially NRBs) brings democracy in all discussion.
If anyone wants to settle outside(Rajkumari,Selim Samad,TK) – Say No democracy in Bangladesh.
Corrupted politicians are poured inside the jail-No democracy.
Closer of Illegal ISPs/VOIPs-No democracy
Rise of Price- No democracy
Pichhi Hannan killed in crossfire- No democracy
HT brought out procession in front of Baitul Mokarrom- No democracy
Supreme Court held the decision of High court- No democracy
Hundreds of vehicles, shops are destroyed in the name of student politics-Yet, No democracy.
Can anyone say actually what the democracy is.
DJ
October 6th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Very Well said Sid on 16# . This type of hypocrisy in our nature. In overseas we are enjoying all sorts of democratic tools but some of us don’t even bother our people back home have some opinion. We want to establish opinion by dint of force and refer it as people’s voice. But You see funny thing people’s Voice is bared Via SOE and we are claiming we have freedom of press. Funny!
October 6th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
9/11 was the excuse to snoop n the USA. Al and BNP corruption is now the excuse in bangladesh. the soviets won the cold war!
yaba dabadu
October 6th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
17# Dhumrojal
If anyone wants to settle outside(Rajkumari,Selim Samad,TK) – Say No democracy in Bangladesh.
Ans: Yes It is no democrecy. I have made u correct. Salim Samad or Tasneem Khalil did lots of true thing even against adverse circumstances. whole world know what happend to them. My hats off to them for their courageous work. It is the biggest proof of no democrecy that they need to live abroad
with all of their hard work. while some Generals are flexing muscles inside country and This is the democracy made In Barrister Mainul.
Corrupted politicians are poured inside the jail-No democracy.
Ans: Really ! Are Nizami. Mujaheed, Amini
Politicians. Oh sorry sorry they are sole agent of Islam In Bangladesh. so they are not in Jail
Closer of Illegal ISPs/VOIPs-No democracy
Rise of Price- No democracy
Ans: Isps are Illegal? Then how could BTRC issue VOIP License dhumrojal?
Can You explain me little how Can U define Isp Illegal?
what is your idea about VOIP? Is it Drag or Technology. or does Bangladesh Govt wants to
track internet because Email is eating all revenue of GPO—lol?
why is Not Telecom market opened? How long It will take? 1 year 2 year or 20 years?
Oh I forget It is same process as Independence of Judiciary.
Pichhi Hannan killed in crossfire- No democracy
Ans: Is there any impotence of Judiciary in Bangladesh? Then ask My favorite star silver star stalone to come with a Gun and kill each and every Pichchi Hannan. There is no need of any due process nothing else. Bring Back Bangladesh in 18th century.
HT brought out procession in front of Baitul Mokarrom- No democracy
Ans: I am agreed with you but where is SOE then? Or democracy is reinstalled in Bangladesh for HT
Supreme Court held the decision of High court- No democracy
Ans: Please explain. I fail to understand.
Hundreds of vehicles, shops are destroyed in the name of student politics-Yet, No democracy.
Ans: Thousand of students have been beaten Black and Blue on open market. Their arms and knees are broken. Teachers have been arrested. Is it normal in Democracy?
Can anyone say actually what the democracy is
Ans: Now You find yourself what democrecy is
Good Night! My friend
October 6th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Welcome Dhumrojal to the position of #1 right-wing nutjob on DP. Many have come before you and many will no doubt follow. Your last comment on the PA cartoon was so ridiculous that I regretted replying to you (ask the admins, I asked them to delete it). Now you’ve come back with possibly the most ridiculous cluster of accusations possible.
Two things about the last comment I want to get clear:
1) NRBs bringing democracy in everywhere - Are you trying to say that people inside Bangladesh don’t care about democracy? Or that NRBs are NOT Bangladeshis? What does the B stand for in NRB anyway? Can’t wait to hear this one!
2)”"If anyone wants to settle outside(Rajkumari,Selim Samad,TK) – Say No democracy in Bangladesh.” - I don’t know about Rajkoomaree, but it is well established that neither TK or SS WANTED to settle outside, but were FORCED to leave their country. You might want to take up that issue with those who forced them to leave. So stop implying that people bring up the cry of democracy because they “want to settle outside”. Clear, or do you need further explanation?
October 6th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Little correction on #2o
Then how could BTRC issue VOIP License dhumrojal?
It should be ISP license? Please replace ISP to VOIP if possible. Then No need to publish this comment
October 7th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
BREAKING NEWS : BTRC has fined Grameen Phone Tk. 168.40 crore for GP’s involvement in illegal call termination business/VoIP. There was a general perception that mobile operators, particularly GP is untouchable…media depends on them and government is too shy in dealing with them. It has been proven wrong. The biggest corporate powerhouse has been brought to task. The news has just been released in the media. Thanks to BTRC for standing up boldly.
October 7th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Internet is a much more DYNAMIC medium of communication than phone, fax, papers or TV - and has a significant risk of criminal and terrorist abuse.
Bangladesh has also had their share of terrorism and violence recently, and it is critical that authorities have access to certain info so that crime and corruption related to TRAFFICKING, smuggling, money-laundering, and illegal trade are INTERCEPTED on time.
So, just like tolerating the shoe-search at airports, we will learn to BLOGGORBLOGGOR under a surveillanced internet. Thats just the nature of the advanced communications system.
But that doesnt mean BD govt is necessarily violating more rights than others. Most (democratic) western nations are surveilling internet id’s profusely - much more than BD will be capable of in many years to come.
Report below:
[[The survey, conducted with the United States-based Electronic Privacy Information Center, used 13 criteria, including constitutional protections, visual surveillance and phone-tapping. Germany and Canada received the best marks for civil liberties safeguards.
Privacy concerns in Britain have been highlighted by developments such as the planned introduction of national identity cards and growth in the use of security cameras.
With an estimated 4.2 million such cameras now spread across the country, the average Briton is captured on film about 300 times a day.
Mr. Thomas said that while some forms of surveillance could help combat crime and terrorism, others risked undermining trust and fostering a climate of suspicion. He expressed concern about commercial and government intrusion.
“Every time we use a mobile phone, use our credit cards, go online to search on the Internet, go electronic shopping, drive our cars, more and more information is being collected,” he told the BBC. “Humans must dictate our future, not machines.”
A report for a London conference at which Mr. Thomas was the host predicted that surveillance would be increased even more in the next 10 years.]]
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/world/europe/03britain.html?ex=1320210000&en=56fe39ed7c232555&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
October 8th, 2007 at 5:46 am
Observer (#23),
If Grameen Phone can be punished, I find no reason for any offender of law to rest assured of getting scot-free breaking law in Bangladesh any longer.
October 8th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Thanx Mr Observer#23 for your information that I was actually meaning for. Taka 128 Crore is I guess a huge thing which the country was deprived of. This is just an open up. Did you find any of those Bloggers welcoming this move?
Mr AsifY, Please do not hit bellow the belt. No personal attack saying #1 right-wing nut job on DP.
Yes you have the auth to delete any comment but you must also consider what the other people are thinking as they have also right to say. Everyone may not speak in your language. I will also be Off(like others),if I find the DP speaks only one language and still claims pro-democracy.
Mr J2I,
Mujahidi/amini/Nizami are those politicians yet to proved to have corruption case. Why dont you give a try.
ISP is not illegal, but VOIP through ISP is yet to be allowed. I am Non-tech person to distinguish both.
DJ
October 8th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Mr. Dhumrojal,
Personal attacks in response to personal attacks is fair wouldn’t you say? I’ll give you that TK and SS are borderline public figures, but what about your comment about the author of this post? Why question her PERSONAL motives for settling abroad/asking for democracy?
Before further misunderstanding, let me make something clear: I asked the admins to delete MY comment in reply to yours on the cartoon thread. I repeat: I asked the admins to delete MY comment, not yours. I did NOT ask them to delete your comment.
I asked them this because I was convinced that it is futile to talk with someone who simply states “facts” without evidence or logic. You haven’t replied to my two points in comment #21.
Which simply confirms my earlier suspicion that a conversation with you is useless.
Trust me, no one wants UV to become a forum of like-minded people. But it would be nice if anti-democracy advocates came up with some meaningful arguments instead of personal villification, gossip, rumours and misinformation.
October 8th, 2007 at 10:28 am
# Dhumrojal-
“Mujahidi/amini/Nizami are those politicians yet to proved to have corruption case.”
Ans: Oh really. Then you are supporter of due process, judicial system. Then what about those arrest without warrant?
What about the arrest of University teachers
without due process?
so what do u think Murder, Rape and war crime is not Corruption?
If a sitting Minister Nizami told Bangla Bhai is the creation of media as Liar, what will you say about it.
Just dig the Bank account and source of Asset of Shibir leader of the Cities and Towns of Bangladesh?
Al and BNP leaders can be arrested with out warrant. But Nizami and Amini are become good boy even historical proof is chasing them.
I am at least ashamed of such type of hypocrisy of Govt. By the way to Understand VOIP and ISP you don’t need to be CTO and System admin.
October 8th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Thanks Observer (#23), finally the most corrupt organization is brought to pay just a little amount of the money they laundered abroad.
Hats of to BTRC.
October 8th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Mr AsifY
I am sorry possibly to generate an unhealthy debate.
I was just expressing my frustration to learn about the democracy. Since 1990, we thought we got democracy. At the end of 15 years, what we have achieved? We just supported BNP/AL to rule us. What I have got ? My food is not ensured nor my shelter, Med support, education.I can not walk securely after sunset. I don’t know my child will be back from the school or not. We have just witnessed how our national leaders got riched day by day. How the leaders sold our country to the multinational companies. We have seen how people are beaten to death in the name procession and hundreds of properties are destroyed. Did we seek this democracy?
Due to the political leaders failures, We are awarded with peculiar type of Govt , one piece in the world. They are certainly taking some steps which are not democratically supportive. But shouldn’t we give them sometime to prove their worth. They can not do everything, but can do something. If even this CTG fails, what is next?
The reason for questioning the NRBs(I admit, I should not make a flat comment) for bringing democracy to every discussion resulted from my comment in EBD(deleted by TK) on”how the crackdown against illegal VOIPs has become Crackdown on internet users in Bangladesh”.If you go through the comments, no one (other than #23 here) came out with the fact. There my frustration is.
I salute our teacher Mr Shahrier Kabir, Jafor Iqbal,Farhad Mazhar despite huge FORCE, still residing in Bangladesh. We need those dare voices/brave soldiers to shape the Govt’s action. Not the fleeing soldiers from the battle field.
I am sorry that I don’t match you(Logic and language).
Thanx to DP (UV) for his attn to this poor
DJ
October 8th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
There are two parts of the BTRC-GP decision. One is the fine they are paying. It’s quite a big amount. To an average person like me, an unimaginable amount of money.
However, I wonder why GP is getting away without getting any punishment or sanction. I mean, CSB was shut down for having forged documents. As far as I know, they did not deprive the treasury of Bangladesh from any revenue. Given this, and given that this government likes to sue people for for keeping beer in their house; given that this government likes to sue wives for their husband’s income tax documents, and children for their father’s income tax documents, this genorosity to Grameen Phone is a bit off-character.
But then, GP is famed for having some very persuasive people in its ranks. For a long time, they “persuaded” the print media of BD not to publish any documents about GP’s exorbitant call-prices. When Teletalk was being set up, they “persuaded” the same print media to keep up a non-stop barrage of negative publicity against it. No doubt, they have also “persuaded” some of our advisors to be more business-friendly.
October 8th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Mr. DJ
Ami kokhonoi boli nai amar language match kortey hobey (”language match” kora abar ki?). Shudhu jukti-shongoto kotha bollei khushi thaakbo.
Yes NRBs bring up democracy in a lot of places. My point was that NRBs keno, Bangladeshis inside Bangladesh would like to see democracy as well. These include members of the current government, including the CA and other advisors.
Besides, is it wrong for NRBs to express what they want for the country they care so much for?
Your complaints about e-bd are best taken up there. But yes, that article might be making over-reaching comments. I will point you to Shadakalo’s blog where he has said pretty much what you are saying: http://shadakalo.blogspot.com/2007/10/great-ear-of-bangladesh.html
Given the climate of censorship and harassment of the press since January 11th, it is easy for people to panic given these raids and the letter. The best response would be for the government to stop censoring the press and allowing criticism of its actions. That will ensure that people do not panic when they read about VoIP raids. However, as long as this climate exists, even the best of government actions will be misunderstood.
I hear and agree to a large extent with your complaints about the last 16 years. That was not the democracy we wanted to see. Let me quickly point out that when criticised the government during that time, the same cry of “NRB ra abar ki jaaney??” and “aantorjaatik bhaabmurti noshto hoye jachey” were raised. So in some cases, little has changed and THAT really hurts. I too had hopes on January 11th.
People on UV have been debating this issue of “democracy vs. whatever” over and over this year. I re-direct you to the thread “An evening with Dr. Fakhruddin” for the latest incarnation of the debate.
October 8th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
#30 DJ
”how the crackdown against illegal VOIPs has become Crackdown on internet users in Bangladesh
Ans: I think this is your imaginations -
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/10/06/bbc-bengali-internet-restrictions-in-bangladesh/
Please listen the interview of Russel TAmmed
and letter of BTRC Publish in E-BD.
So If there is proper document behind there
for this logic no emotional statement is coming here. So what is your logic behind
your this statement?
October 8th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I remember there was a thread in Drishtipat last January which elaborately describes about VOIP. I urge people to reread that if they had not already seen it.
VOIP reduces cost of telecommunication drastically. It is now used all over the world in means of calling cards or other means like Gtalk. Most Bangladeshi diaspora uses this form of communications and also their relatives in Bd.
In Germany we use a 5 digit number which has to be dialed before the Bangladeshi number and voila- teh bill is aggregated in our monthly bill). A VOIP call from Germany to Bangladesh was about 4 cent before Jan 2007 now its about 8 cents but my cell phone operator charges 1.51 Euro for a minute (even for a few seconds).
Now we should look at why the BTTB declared Jihad on the VOIP operators in Bangladesh. BTTB revenues were down and it did not take any measure to earn revenue from thousands of operators springing in every corner of major cities in Bangladesh. Even BTTB could embrace this technology and utilize its underutilized capacity.
Its very easy to setup a VOIP call terminating operation, you don’t need to be a big solution provider. Basically you just need a fast internet connection, some mobile telephone lines (did you notice in the caller ID of your phone that the calls to Bangladesh from abroad are channeled through a local mobile number?).Yes accomplishes are very much the mobile phone operators and the ISPs. I think by paying the money Grameen Phone has reached some sort of settlement as they may emerge as the contender of the VOIP license. Its a matter of commerce.
But why this crusade against the alleged illegal VOIP operators. How illegal are they? The evolved as the Bangladesh backbone of the international VOIP market which is legal in most of the countries in the world (even in neighboring India)and they do it by paying tax to the govt. In Bangladesh the operators are small time entrepreneurs (most of them some young techie who could find a small investor) emerged not to do anything illegal but to earn some money.
But without considering the rehabilitation for these smalltime entrepreneurs BTTB decided to declare them illegal and used Jihad against them confiscating their capital, the machinery and harassing them with RAB.
BTTB’s revenue rose significantly since then, that means Bangladeshis were calling more with normal Telephone channels of BTTB. If the scenario would remain this way it could be an arguable point as DJ is mentioning.
But the reality is the Government is soon opening VOIP to 4 operators. One is BTTB and there is a huge fight for 3 others (possible contender Sena Kallyan Sangshtha and huge speed money is flowing in the air) The truth is BTTB will lose revenue again to these four operators. Instead of creating a legal market full of a thousand smalltime operators BTRC has chosen to confine it to 4 oligopolies who will dominate market. And for their market domination the drive against small time VOIP operators are required.
And then probably came this sinister plan of profiling each and every user, so that these four empires are not leaked off their business. And probably some authorities saw this as a opportunity to gag the internet users at a later time.
The problem is BTRC is not clearly telling why they require each and every internet users data instead of high profile bandwidth users/VOIP operators data (bloggers don’t take much bandwidth).
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Act promises rights and privacy of the users(http://www.btrc.gov.bd/telecomact.htm) in line with the section 43 of Bangladesh constitution which is not suspended by the emergency act. In its 2006 amendment power has been given to the security forces to wiretap/demand information on specific charges.
But with this letter BTRC is crossing the line in demanding information from every user (without some specific suspects). The ISP association’s general Secretary has told BBC that it is matter of establishing control and security and threats of emails.
So there is much to worry because there are conflicting news within BTRC and the letter itself. Nobody is really sure what they are upto, how and by whom these information would be used? So it is every citizens right to be concerned if their rights are being violated for some sinister reasons. Are we getting proper communications from the authorities to dispel the climate of fear?
October 8th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Got a question on Grameen Phone:
1.Is Dr. Yunus a part of the management of Grameen Phone?
2. Could Dr. Yunus be implicated with the VOIP related illegal acivities of Grameen Phone?
October 9th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
As far as I know Dr. Yunus has nothing to do with the Grameen phone as he mentioned in an interview with BBC radio in 2003. GTC(grameen Telecom) and GP is separate entity. Please find more information about GTC in the links given below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grameen_Telecom
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Yunus
October 9th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
“no more bloggorbloggor” by Rajkoomaree is a write up of today’s hard demand.
Whether it has substance of truth or not it could generate limited unhealthy debate amongst bloggers, no matter Rajkoomaree could be acquitted for that or not.
Rajkoomaree has pointed the facts less the part - reality.
I appreciate Rajkoomaree for a brilliant write up.
Finally, CTG administrators are not fool or less knowledgeable including repeatedly blamed its organ “military” which what has contributed for the nation (as duty of payment) is multipliable in many equations and aspects.
ALO
October 9th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
GP and Gb are separate entity but prof Yunus
is one of important share holders in the GP. Grameen Brand name has also value too.
Major share holder of GP is one of the most respected names in Telecom Industry Telenore.
So Yunus can’t avoid responsibility. During the period of receiving Nobel price, he spoke to media about his difference of opinion about share holding with Telenore.
MRA Kindly don’t jump on the conclusion like that.
http://www.grameen-info.org/grameen/gtelecom/
have a look
Grameen Telecom holds 35% share of GrameenPhone Ltd.
just follow -
Grameen Telecom is own by prof Yunus and Major share holder is Telenore.
October 9th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
[...] have become outraged by this. Rajkoomaree writes in Unheard Voices: Drishtipat Blog: Now BTRC orders ISPs to reveal admin password, user data , [...]
October 9th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
#13Rezwan and #16Sid
you people are using the constituency, democracy, human rights just a pretext to cover up the humongous crimes committed by your party members while they bluntly raped them during their political eras. Too much talk about constituency, human rights, democracy only reminds me a proverb in Bengali ‘Oti Vokti Chorer Lokhkhon’.
October 10th, 2007 at 12:28 am
We most people in this world are self-centered, selfish and crooked. Every body seeks to take the advantage of their positions and policies favoring them. For the default defects in humans every one, whatever positions we hold, try to manipulate the best policies and take to the level of abuse.
We the elites, abuse the term Independence and specially the freedom of speech and freedom of press. Media tool can be far dangerous than nukes. You have a nuke and you have a evil-brain: which one is worse you possess. Of course, it’s your evil brain what can lead you to fight and use your nuke to cuase genocide but not the other way round.
Independent media and your blog-tool can be abused to create negative nihilstic propaganda leading to colossal catastrophe to humanity as it happened before the Iraq war. So, there should be clear-cut demarkation of unabusing rights of independence and freedom of speech. There should be some sort of muzzles, inner and outer control of media or rational restrains on publicity perks of citizens.
Thanks.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:56 am
40#
So called Bd watcher-
“#13Rezwan and #16Sid
you people are using the constituency, democracy, human rights just a pretext to cover up the humongous crimes committed by your party members while they bluntly raped them during their political eras. Too much talk about constituency, human rights, democracy only reminds me a proverb in Bengali ‘Oti Vokti Chorer Lokhkhon’.”
Ans: You know why I am using so called before your name because you are champion
to give wrong information always.
Kindly explain what do you mean by
“committed by your party members ”
do you have explanation of your such blanket comment on Rezwan and Sid.
Dear Admin please kindly shed some light on
those personal baseless attack to bloggers.
October 10th, 2007 at 7:58 am
@bd watcher,
I have all my writings in the public domain since 2003. Just show one proof that I belong to any party or ever made any political statement favoring one party except analysis. This just shows the depth of your judgment.
And talking about human writes and democracy in this blog is a crime you feel? I hope other readers are not comfortable with these types of arguments.
When logic retarded people fail to answer they carry on personal attacks.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:32 am
Rezwan bhai,
Don’t worry, readers like myself are not buying this sort of argument!:)
October 10th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Bitterboy and bdwatcher, if you are not comfortable with talks on human rights, constitution and due process and freedom of speech, I suggest you find some other place to vent. If you do not have any analysis or logical argument to put forth, please don’t just take the space to write any thing that comes to mind. Thank you
October 10th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I am not really sure how badly Sid’s and Rezwan’s ‘party’ members committed humongous crimes, anyway, shame on them!! But, I am sure I am seeing some worshippers of demonic, brutal forces in this thread. To them, only trait of good governance is choking everyone else – because “Government is always right like my Dad was”.
I am dwindling between blaming and sympathizing. “Abused are more likely to abuse others” – is somewhat a proven theory in criminal psychology. Again, we are an unfortunate nation with so many burning problems and so little resource; a call for all out attack on the childhood abuse, asking for too much? So many kids are deprived of any sort of freedom of speech and rights in our households that we always have a potential pool of freedom haters in every generation. I think I am watching few full-blown freedom haters here who did not successfully recover from their abusive childhood.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Mr. Asif,
Please, try to understand first what is freedom, independence or liberty.
Don’t try to abuse these heavy-weighted words and confuse people. Freedom doesn’t allow us frankenstine behaviors disregarding others’ views and sentiments. Freedom should not hurt any body [except someone pathologically sensitive/hypersensitive] physically, financially, socially and psycholigically.
Freedom means the rights to behave rationally with an intent to self-benefisance and/ or the benefisance of the society without affecting others in delimited field of freedom.
Whatever, you advise others practice yourself and that’s the sign of sanity.
Thanks.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Bitterboy,
I repeat. This organization and its blog authors will never condone abuse of human rights and curtailment of free speech by the state. If you or the likes of bdwatcher come and say here that talk of human rights is cheap and phony, then you are within your rights to hold that opinion. But again I humbly suggest you pick a far right blog to view those opinion where you will find a far more sympathetic audience.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Thanks Asif Bhai(s) for your standing!
October 10th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
As a 55 year old who has seen and still remember clearly the happenings and its consequences around just to be a bangladeshi I am stupified just to even believe what’s going on!should have died in 1971 along with so many. At least could have been spared this shame of reliving with the shadow of yahhia khans!Read 1984 in the late 60’s.Talked about it to students in 1984…..george Orwell probably would want to be alive today to live with us!How many more lives do we in Bangladesh will have to live till nature devours us!
October 11th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Asif,
It’s very very sad if you claim, after years on the course and being one of popular blog-spots, it’s the leftist blog. I’m by every cell of my brain, blood and body is a humanist. I love to follow the middle path. I’m neither an extreme rightist nor leftist. BTW, to be humanist you don’t need to be leftist or have antipathy to religion.
While you suggest for me another rightists’ forum where I will have sympathetic audience are not erring yourself. Is not logically expected that one will try to get across one’s views with the people who don’t share that. Why should I waste my time to chat with the people who hold the same views I do!
I love exchage of idea and that’s why I visit your forum. But how come being an astute administrator you could show your intolerance to other’s view. Allah admonishes those who advise others to do good deeds but stay heedless by themselves, saying: Atamurunannese bil-berre waa tansaona ansfuaakum, Waa antum tatlunal kitaaba, afalaa taquellun meaning– You tell others to do good deeds and you yourselves forget whereas you are educated, don’t have wisdom?”
Thanks.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Bitter boy,
Classic expression. Why ‘Bitter’ than? Just curiosity.
ALO
October 11th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Bitterboy,
Not being far right is not equal to being left. I never said this was a leftist blog. I am not showing any intolerance towards anything. But inflamatory words and your version of “truth” without any analysis or references will always be viewed only as childish attempts to grab attention. Just take a look around different blogs and you will see how your words have become a bit of a joke among people who follow the blogs. This didn’t have to be this way.
October 11th, 2007 at 9:36 am
#38 Journey to infinitive
you do not need to always use the blasphemous language if you do not like the others opinion. Holding company’s share does not mean someone has to be blamed for the company’s wrong doing unless the person is a director, chairman, CEO or a decision maker of that company. If Dr. Yunus hold any above mentioned position in Grameen Phone Ltd. then he will be responsible for the VOIP scandal otherwise not.
October 11th, 2007 at 10:22 am
MRA #54
I think You do have very less knowledge about Crop Culture. Just remember one thing
every Board Member, Major share holder is equally responsible for all assets , liberality and accusation.
36% share holder is always in the Board and with out concern of Board None can approve
any decision.
For your kind Information If you are going to be CEO , It is not necessary you have share holding in the company. CEO can’t do any thing without approval of the board.
So Your such logic is not accepted.
One thing I am making clear I am neither pro nor anti yunus.
Basically I am not going to blame GP for this issue. Because according to me BTRC looks like a stupid in here by charging GP like that. They never followed any due process.
First of all They can charge only
GP If they used any sorts of IP platform.
Here Gp is selling E1 lines or Sims to the people. They have never done any IP platform to terminate their traffic from switch.
. This is my personal opinion.
Neither me nor you are the right person here to comment on Gp or Yunus in particular issue
IF BTRC felt that GP is involved in Gray
call routing, they can take GP to the Court.
and If Court gave any order against them It could be fair only.
But Instead of maintaining due process If any Govt of the country takes a statement of
the MD like that It’s bit funny. In My 5 years of Experience I have seen such thing
very first time of the life.
IF MD of GP says tomorrow this statement came by dint of force where will be the credibility of BTRC then? They have to go
to court then. In that case Due process is not followed.
This type of act is not only Hooligan but also Moronic.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Journey2Infinitive
BTRC is not a stupid atleast now, where the Chairman is an ultra supper champion who is not the person to sit idle on the situation mentioned. He is in all regards a super qualified person.
GP can not be blamed - you have rented the circuits and seeing the volume of revenue WHICH does not seem normal as per the status of the customer and still you will not be suspicious about your customer - is unthinkable. You have rented the house and how the customer is using the house is your responsibility to look at.
Bangla Link is also fined - a new propaganda is expected must.
ALO
October 11th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Asif S/ Alo
Criticizing far right, as you said, doesn’t mean leftist, maybe true. With the same token, critisizing far leftists, fanatically secularists or biased humanists doesn’t mean I on the far rightist group. Everything in this world is relative and depends on how you look at. I’m, again, not rightist or leftist, rather a moribund moderate. When even I drive on the highway I’m scared to take the extreme right or left lane with the thinking I might be struck off the road altogether or hit by the shoulder.
I take the name bitterboy as I love to tell the truth and ears of most people in our society are not used to hear the truth and they find my stuff bitter. And I a mature man but yet I
love to stay in the boyish forum like DP with the intent that it will make me feel young and active.
Thanks.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:57 am
Alo 56#
It is completely irrelevant what you speaking about the qualification of BTRC chairman in here. An institution is not developed by the academic qualification only . Solo efficiency can’t be the one and only parameter. If a regulatory board itself starts to deny the due process ,it is certainly the shame for the certain department.It is automatically reflected how
efficient this department is. I hope you should be more logical instead of unnecessary emotional.
October 12th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Journey to…: Let me tell you about BTRC and the Operators who are paying heavy fines. Four out of 6 mobile operators are charged with their involvement in illegal call termination business. GP and Banglalink have agreed to pay and already made partial payment.
After 1/11, when RAB and BTRC jointly conducted raids at various VoIP opertors places, they had seized huge evidences, documents etc. About GP, it was proven beyond any doubt that GP was fully involved in this. BTRC filed a case aganist GP. But you must know that there is something called ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) - a leggally promoted ‘out-of-the-court’ settlement issue. GP decided to come to a negotiation with BTRC for an ADR. They have offered to pay a compensation of Tk. 168.50 crore in exchange of releasing them from any litigation. BTRC accepted it.
But why BTRC accepted that ? Because : (1) BTRC calculated (from the seized documents)the number of minutes that were terminated by direct assistance of GP. BTRC multiplied the minutes with prevailing call termination rate (US$0.04)and reached to the figure of 168.40 crore. That means, Governemnt owned BTTB could have earned these minutes if GP did not arrange to terminate elsewhere. So when GP volunteered in compensating government on the same lost revenue, BTRC just agreed. (2) Legal cases are very time consuming. Besides, ADR is highly recommended by every government in every country. It was crucial for BTRC to set an example.
Nothing else. Hope it clarifies.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
“It was crucial for BTRC to set an example” - that is leadership in any organization.
Thanks Observer.
ALO
October 13th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Observer Thanks for your explanations but still
According to Telecom Rules the cost and price can’t be definer like that
1) what do you mean by VOIP? over the IP you transferring Data . It can be voice even.
Now did Mobile operator established connectivity via IP?
. If you speak about E1 and Sim connection, BTTB was the champion to do such thing long time back Via Their Telephone lines and Teletalk. Now did BTRC fined Govt operator BTTB for that? My question we have heard one sided comments. My point is that why did n’t BTRC go to the court? Now If GP or AKTEL tell there is no agreement for call termination between them and end User . It is completely the responsibility of the USERS do they have any answer? In that Case they should follow up Due process on open court and transparency will be more there.
and Has GP already paid the fine? I did not see in news paper GP has already paid this amount.BTRC even did not tell they have not received.
2) “BTRC multiplied the minutes with prevailing call termination rate (US$0.04)and reached to the figure of 168.40 crore”
Ans: Observer I don’t know If you are from BTTB or BTRC not. Do you know In Telecom there is one thing called Tier costing which is applicable for 1st tier. IF BTTB loose so called revenue they can’t say one number like that . The figure which you are telling can never cover Up tier costing . It seems BTRC and BTTB is dealing on gray market.
Actually BTRC could not show any professionalism in whole episode. It seems now a days BTRC is watching only the interest of BTTB nothing else . To me BTTB is nothing but a white elephant.
October 13th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
The fact that BTRC is fining the multinationals for their misdeeds, whatever the amount, is itself ground-breaking, if not revolutionary. No body could imagine like this happening ever 1/11.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:42 am
Has Gp already paid Aziz?
October 14th, 2007 at 10:38 am
GP has already paid, as per BTRC, the first of the three installments, to be paid as fine altogether. Could anybody imagine anything like this happening before 1/11???
October 14th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Can you provide the Link that GP has already paid ad this installment arrangement? BTW some good things have been happened post 1/11 is true but some Funny, Moronic stuffs also happened which is unthinkable for a Civilized nation.
October 15th, 2007 at 7:09 am
[...] sasany ny teny hoe netizens ihany koa.) amin’izany filazana izany.Nitroatra ny mpiblaogy. Nanoratra ao amin’ny Unheard Voices(feo tsy re): Drishtipat Blog I Rajkomaree: Now BTRC orders ISPs to [...]
October 18th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
#55 Journey to infinitive
Hmm I can imagine who got the pretty less knowledge about the company law. Hope you did not forget about the Enron case if you claim yourself as pundit of corporate world! Here is the link of the management team of the Grameen phone Ltd.
http://www.grameenphone.com/index.php?id=65
(Please note that I prefer not to be a self declared pundit of corporate world despite working for a top Wall Street company)
It is better to stick with the issue what you were arguing for. So following due process issue is irrelevant with the message no 35, 36 38 and 54.
October 18th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
MRA 67#
Thanks for your so heard effort to do such heard work. But Again It does not make any sense why you are providing the organogram
structure in here. share holding and directorship details come from Memorandum of
Article not organogram structure. Organogram reflects Key player of the management. They are decision maker of the day to day operation level. But Extreme decision can be come from the Board.
(I prefer not to be a self declared pundit of corporate world despite working for a top Wall Street company)
Ans: Great. But I don’t understand how you are going to make so much basic mistake.
October 18th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
AA:
BTTB’s Teletalk numbers are also used for VOIP call termination.
I will start to imagine if I see that BTTB is also fined.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Infinitive Dada
Wise men says never argue with an idiot as they will drag you down to their level and beat you up with their experience. Hence I am off on this issue and taking the wise men’s word.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
[...] eine Datenbank der Internetbenutzer einrichten. Das hat die Blogger verärgert. Rajkoomaree schreibt in Unheard Voices: Drishtipat Blog: Nun befiehlt BTRC den Internetdienstanbietern das [...]
October 19th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Thanks MRA to remind me this quote. I will try to follow it up .:)