VOLUME - 4, ISSUE -13, DHAKA, Bangladesh Time: 9:08:39 AM (Mon)
Blitz Online update 23 March 2009 on BDR Massacre
EXCERPTS
Rulers turning Bangladesh into a land of panic
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
... There are several indications and even certain degree of evidences that a number of front-ranking politicians, mostly belonging to the ruling party were directly or indirectly involved behind the BDR Carnage. The government is under tremendous pressure from such powerful perpetrators in silently killing the investigation thus bringing out a ‘cooked-up imaginary story’ to the nation and the global community regarding the carnage. As part of such efforts and pressures, important figures in the government are continuing to give senseless statements regarding the bloody massacre. .....
... Dhaka’s front-ranking weekly newspaper, Holiday, raised several questions related to the BDR carnage of February 25-26. It said, “Why did the government not let the army follow its basic military manual and move in soon after the mutiny broke out?
“Who is the beneficiary of this decision? Why did the government allow more than 24 hours to let the rebels flee with arms and ammunitions and the properties they looted from the army officer's quarters? These are tough questions, and they will continue to beg answers for God knows how many light years. But the immediate job of the coordinator is to see that the investigators don't spend too much time on it.
“The fourth and the fifth aim of the coordination is perhaps most interesting. The fourth is to see if the entire incident could be exploited to catch some political rivals with charges of their involvement in the carnage.”
.... Meanwhile, panic generated by the ruling party and its allies in the government has put the very image of Bangladesh into deep crisis. International investments will not only decline for such panic spreading strategy, but many of the investors may even withdraw from this country. There will be severe adverse affect on country’s manpower export sector. Moreover, such propaganda will paint Bangladesh as a country under acute threat crisis from the militants. Do the members in the ruling party at least think about such negative impacts? Or, they are ready to turn Bangladesh into a land, where foreign forces will need to come for ‘combating militancy’? And, the ruling party is in this dangerous game, just for the sake of salvaging their own partymen, who plotted, conspired and collaborated the killers in February. Shame on such unpatriotic people!...
.... Sheikh Hasina’s government, instead of ensuring peace and prosperity for the people, has very successfully turned the country into a land of panic.
Everywhere is a kind of insecurity and panic. The country is under the blanket of unknown risk of terror attack. Extra security measures are already taken within the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister’s office and residence as well as National Parliament House, in fear of Islamist militant attack. Such tension and panic is increasing with the statements of the members of the government as well as some intellectuals and officials.
Newly appointed commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police invited Principals of all the English medium and missionary educational institutions in the Capital to alert them about possible terror attack. Subsequently, members of law enforcement agencies are deployed in most of the educational institutions, thus creating a kind of panic in the minds of the students and guardians.
“This is a terrible situation, where we have to send children to educational institutions under extreme risk”, said a concerned guardian.
Bangladeshis are already passing through very difficult time. Terrific load-shedding, water crisis, economic crisis, increase in various forms of crimes including theft, robbery, hijacking, extortion etc are making lives very complicated. ....
Although people are pushed into increased sufferings, ruling government is continuing its own-styled propaganda to convince the local and international community that, there was hands of Islamist militants behind the February 25-26 Massacre inside Bangladesh Rifles [BDR] headquarters in Dhaka, which killed more than 70 army officers.
... Home Minister, Sahara Khatun categorically told reporters on March 20, 2009 that country’s law and order situation was in the worst ever form.
Faruk Khan is the chief coordinator of the three investigation committees formed to find out facts behind the brutal massacre inside BDR headquarters. It may be mentioned here that, Bangladesh Army, government and Criminal Investigation Department [CID] are conducting separate investigations into the matter. Although Faruk Khan categorically blamed the Islamist militants and saw foreign connection behind the bloody massacre, none of the investigation committees ever endorsed such statement. Even CID, an investigation agency under Ministry of Home Affairs, categorically said that, they were yet to trace any militant connection to this massacre.
Investigators have so far arrested several mutineer BDR soldiers including a city leader of the ruling party for their involvement behind the massacre. Although nothing related to the interrogation of the arrested Awami League leader is reported to the press, some newspapers in Bangladesh are continuing to publish scoop on the investigation quoting ‘anonymous’ sources within intelligence agencies.
There is also serious confusion about the modus of trial of the killers of February 25-26 massacre ....
Agencies quoted the minister, "We have decided to try the mutineers under court martial, as the BDR is commanded and managed by the army regulations," Shafique Ahmed, minister for Law, Justice and parliamentary affairs.
Rejecting the news in local and international media, quoting his own statement, Minister Shafiq Ahmed on March 20, 2009 said, government has not taken any decision on the modus of trial into the BDR Massacre.
He said such decision can only be taken on receipt of the investigation report. Meanwhile, chief coordinator of the investigation teams as well as Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said, investigation into the BDR Massacre issue will take much longer time.
Retired Lt. Col. Faruk Khan is continuing to give his assumptive statements on the possible figures behind the BDR Carnage. Experts opine that the probe committees are still halfway through their investigations into the February carnage. And any individual with minimum element of sanity will agree that the findings must be shrouded in confidentiality until they are finished.
Khan even told reporters that, Islamist militants have penetrated inside Bangladeshi law enforcing and disciplined forces. He repeated his assertion a week later and, to make it juicier from his party's standpoint, said proofs of some civilians with links to JMB had also been found. Most political analysts perceive it as an oblique caveat, an attempt to fudge an honest and truthful investigation, and, if one may, to let the real culprits off the hook. Even his colleagues in the government, as well as the chief investigator, have publicly distanced themselves from Col Faruk's views. Both the LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed have said it would be premature to point finger at anyone until the probes are complete. Chief Investigator Abdul Quahhar Akhond said nothing could be assumed on who was or were behind the carnage until the last piece of evidence was examined. In an enquiry like this, implications and ramifications may emerge at the last moment.
There is also question to the need to have any coordinator at all and that too in the person of a highly partisan politician like Faruk Khan. As many as five independent agencies conducted investigation into Mumbai massacre on 27 November 2008. But there was no coordinator, not to speak at all of a political coordinator.
Three agencies worked separately to get to the bottom of the World Trade Center attack issue in New York on 11 September, 2001. But there was no coordinator, not to speak of a political coordinator. Neither was any politician involved in any of those investigations. The tasks were left entirely to the specialists. Why then do you need a coordinator unless the intention is to prejudice the investigation?
Dhaka’s front-ranking weekly newspaper, Holiday, raised several questions related to the BDR carnage of February 25-26. It said, “Why did the government not let the army follow its basic military manual and move in soon after the mutiny broke out?
“Who is the beneficiary of this decision? Why did the government allow more than 24 hours to let the rebels flee with arms and ammunitions and the properties they looted from the army officer's quarters? These are tough questions, and they will continue to beg answers for God knows how many light years. But the immediate job of the coordinator is to see that the investigators don't spend too much time on it.
“The fourth and the fifth aim of the coordination is perhaps most interesting. The fourth is to see if the entire incident could be exploited to catch some political rivals with charges of their involvement in the carnage.”
Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI team, which arrived in Bangladesh to investigate the February Massacre case, said the carnage at BDR headquarters last month was a conspiracy.
The FBI agents made the observation after comparing the BDR incident with mutinies staged by military and paramilitary forces in other countries, said officials of Criminal Investigation Department [CID] after a meeting with the team.
There are several indications and even certain degree of evidences that a number of front-ranking politicians, mostly belonging to the ruling party were directly or indirectly involved behind the BDR Carnage. The government is under tremendous pressure from such powerful perpetrators in silently killing the investigation thus bringing out a ‘cooked-up imaginary story’ to the nation and the global community regarding the carnage. As part of such efforts and pressures, important figures in the government are continuing to give senseless statements regarding the bloody massacre.
Meanwhile, panic generated by the ruling party and its allies in the government has put the very image of Bangladesh into deep crisis. International investments will not only decline for such panic spreading strategy, but many of the investors may even withdraw from this country. There will be severe adverse affect on country’s manpower export sector. Moreover, such propaganda will paint Bangladesh as a country under acute threat crisis from the militants. Do the members in the ruling party at least think about such negative impacts? Or, they are ready to turn Bangladesh into a land, where foreign forces will need to come for ‘combating militancy’? And, the ruling party is in this dangerous game, just for the sake of salvaging their own partymen, who plotted, conspired and collaborated the killers in February. Shame on such unpatriotic people!
Militancy link
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
...Commerce Minister, retired Lieutenant Colonel Faruk Khan told reporters that militants penetrated into country’s border security forces, who were liable for February Massacre that took place at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Riffles [BDR] killing large number of army officers, rape and physical abuse of several people. The minister claimed, Islamist militancy group JMB had hands behind the entire conspiracy centering February Massacre. But, Law Minister, Barrister Shafiq Ahmed rejected the comments of the Commerce Minister saying, “It will not be proper to accuse anybody until a full investigation report is available. On conclusion of the investigation, the names of persons involved will be made public.” ....
Retired Lt. Col. Faruk Khan on Monday reaffirmed his previous comment of militant connection with the February Massacre inside BDR headquarters, who once again claimed that militants have penetrated inside law enforcing and other disciplined forces in the country. .....
It is believed that, recent statements of Bangladeshi ministers on militant penetration in law enforcing agencies as well as disciplined forces may greatly hamper participation of Bangladeshi army and police in the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces [UNPKF]. . .....
Meanwhile, according to an information some vested interest groups are already active cashing the statements of the Bangladeshi minister in creating problems for Bangladeshi Forces in the United Nations Peace Keeping Force.
UN asked to return Bangladeshi forces
Blitz Exclusive
United Nations [UN] has been asked to send back members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and police from the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces [UNPKF].
According to information, one Susan Ramgopalan sent letters to the Secretary General and other officials of United Nations on March 15, 2009 titled ‘Islamist inside UN Peace Keeping Force’, where she referring to the recent statement by Bangladeshi Commerce Minister, Lt. Col. [Retired] Faruk Khan, requested the UN Secretary General to send back all the participating members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police in the UNPKF for possible militancy connections.
In the letter, Susan Ramgopalan said, “It has come to my attention that one of the front ranking leaders in Bangladesh’s ruling party, Awami League, member of the Cabinet and Member of Parliament, Lt. Col. Faruk Khan recently told reporters that Islamist militants like Jamiatul Mujuhidin (JMB) has penetrated into country’s border security forces.
”It is noteworthy that officers of border security forces are deputed from country’s armed forces. Under such authoritative statement from a senior member of the Bangladesh government, it is greatly assumed that there are unknown number of Islamist militants even within the other disciplined forces, including army and police.
”United Nations had been welcoming members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police for quite some time. But, after the latest statement from the government side, the question of security of continuing services of such elements with militancy ties would not only jeopardize the safety and security of the countries of their activities, but it may even give the militancy linked members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police in staging various forms of sabotaging activities in the foreign countries.
”Under such situation, further recruitment of Bangladeshi forces both from army and police should be stopped while an immediate scrutiny should begin to identify the militancy linked members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police inside United Nations Peace Keeping Forces and be immediately expelled from such sensitive task.”
It is also learnt that, anti-Bangladesh quarters are actively trying to press forward the issue of militant connection of Bangladesh Armed Forces, Police and other disciplined forces, with the motive of tarnishing the image of the country. They [vested quarters] get specific prove in favor of their allegation, as the Commerce Minister in Bangladesh has repeatedly told this matter to the media as well as some other ministers are also echoing the same information.
“This is a dangerous trend, which will project Bangladesh as a Taliban state to the international community”, said a counter-terrorism experts commenting on the statement of the commerce minister and other members of the present government.
Blitz Online update 23 March 2009 on BDR Massacre
EXCERPTS
Rulers turning Bangladesh into a land of panic
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
... There are several indications and even certain degree of evidences that a number of front-ranking politicians, mostly belonging to the ruling party were directly or indirectly involved behind the BDR Carnage. The government is under tremendous pressure from such powerful perpetrators in silently killing the investigation thus bringing out a ‘cooked-up imaginary story’ to the nation and the global community regarding the carnage. As part of such efforts and pressures, important figures in the government are continuing to give senseless statements regarding the bloody massacre. .....
... Dhaka’s front-ranking weekly newspaper, Holiday, raised several questions related to the BDR carnage of February 25-26. It said, “Why did the government not let the army follow its basic military manual and move in soon after the mutiny broke out?
“Who is the beneficiary of this decision? Why did the government allow more than 24 hours to let the rebels flee with arms and ammunitions and the properties they looted from the army officer's quarters? These are tough questions, and they will continue to beg answers for God knows how many light years. But the immediate job of the coordinator is to see that the investigators don't spend too much time on it.
“The fourth and the fifth aim of the coordination is perhaps most interesting. The fourth is to see if the entire incident could be exploited to catch some political rivals with charges of their involvement in the carnage.”
.... Meanwhile, panic generated by the ruling party and its allies in the government has put the very image of Bangladesh into deep crisis. International investments will not only decline for such panic spreading strategy, but many of the investors may even withdraw from this country. There will be severe adverse affect on country’s manpower export sector. Moreover, such propaganda will paint Bangladesh as a country under acute threat crisis from the militants. Do the members in the ruling party at least think about such negative impacts? Or, they are ready to turn Bangladesh into a land, where foreign forces will need to come for ‘combating militancy’? And, the ruling party is in this dangerous game, just for the sake of salvaging their own partymen, who plotted, conspired and collaborated the killers in February. Shame on such unpatriotic people!...
.... Sheikh Hasina’s government, instead of ensuring peace and prosperity for the people, has very successfully turned the country into a land of panic.
Everywhere is a kind of insecurity and panic. The country is under the blanket of unknown risk of terror attack. Extra security measures are already taken within the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister’s office and residence as well as National Parliament House, in fear of Islamist militant attack. Such tension and panic is increasing with the statements of the members of the government as well as some intellectuals and officials.
Newly appointed commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police invited Principals of all the English medium and missionary educational institutions in the Capital to alert them about possible terror attack. Subsequently, members of law enforcement agencies are deployed in most of the educational institutions, thus creating a kind of panic in the minds of the students and guardians.
“This is a terrible situation, where we have to send children to educational institutions under extreme risk”, said a concerned guardian.
Bangladeshis are already passing through very difficult time. Terrific load-shedding, water crisis, economic crisis, increase in various forms of crimes including theft, robbery, hijacking, extortion etc are making lives very complicated. ....
Although people are pushed into increased sufferings, ruling government is continuing its own-styled propaganda to convince the local and international community that, there was hands of Islamist militants behind the February 25-26 Massacre inside Bangladesh Rifles [BDR] headquarters in Dhaka, which killed more than 70 army officers.
... Home Minister, Sahara Khatun categorically told reporters on March 20, 2009 that country’s law and order situation was in the worst ever form.
Faruk Khan is the chief coordinator of the three investigation committees formed to find out facts behind the brutal massacre inside BDR headquarters. It may be mentioned here that, Bangladesh Army, government and Criminal Investigation Department [CID] are conducting separate investigations into the matter. Although Faruk Khan categorically blamed the Islamist militants and saw foreign connection behind the bloody massacre, none of the investigation committees ever endorsed such statement. Even CID, an investigation agency under Ministry of Home Affairs, categorically said that, they were yet to trace any militant connection to this massacre.
Investigators have so far arrested several mutineer BDR soldiers including a city leader of the ruling party for their involvement behind the massacre. Although nothing related to the interrogation of the arrested Awami League leader is reported to the press, some newspapers in Bangladesh are continuing to publish scoop on the investigation quoting ‘anonymous’ sources within intelligence agencies.
There is also serious confusion about the modus of trial of the killers of February 25-26 massacre ....
Agencies quoted the minister, "We have decided to try the mutineers under court martial, as the BDR is commanded and managed by the army regulations," Shafique Ahmed, minister for Law, Justice and parliamentary affairs.
Rejecting the news in local and international media, quoting his own statement, Minister Shafiq Ahmed on March 20, 2009 said, government has not taken any decision on the modus of trial into the BDR Massacre.
He said such decision can only be taken on receipt of the investigation report. Meanwhile, chief coordinator of the investigation teams as well as Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said, investigation into the BDR Massacre issue will take much longer time.
Retired Lt. Col. Faruk Khan is continuing to give his assumptive statements on the possible figures behind the BDR Carnage. Experts opine that the probe committees are still halfway through their investigations into the February carnage. And any individual with minimum element of sanity will agree that the findings must be shrouded in confidentiality until they are finished.
Khan even told reporters that, Islamist militants have penetrated inside Bangladeshi law enforcing and disciplined forces. He repeated his assertion a week later and, to make it juicier from his party's standpoint, said proofs of some civilians with links to JMB had also been found. Most political analysts perceive it as an oblique caveat, an attempt to fudge an honest and truthful investigation, and, if one may, to let the real culprits off the hook. Even his colleagues in the government, as well as the chief investigator, have publicly distanced themselves from Col Faruk's views. Both the LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam and Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed have said it would be premature to point finger at anyone until the probes are complete. Chief Investigator Abdul Quahhar Akhond said nothing could be assumed on who was or were behind the carnage until the last piece of evidence was examined. In an enquiry like this, implications and ramifications may emerge at the last moment.
There is also question to the need to have any coordinator at all and that too in the person of a highly partisan politician like Faruk Khan. As many as five independent agencies conducted investigation into Mumbai massacre on 27 November 2008. But there was no coordinator, not to speak at all of a political coordinator.
Three agencies worked separately to get to the bottom of the World Trade Center attack issue in New York on 11 September, 2001. But there was no coordinator, not to speak of a political coordinator. Neither was any politician involved in any of those investigations. The tasks were left entirely to the specialists. Why then do you need a coordinator unless the intention is to prejudice the investigation?
Dhaka’s front-ranking weekly newspaper, Holiday, raised several questions related to the BDR carnage of February 25-26. It said, “Why did the government not let the army follow its basic military manual and move in soon after the mutiny broke out?
“Who is the beneficiary of this decision? Why did the government allow more than 24 hours to let the rebels flee with arms and ammunitions and the properties they looted from the army officer's quarters? These are tough questions, and they will continue to beg answers for God knows how many light years. But the immediate job of the coordinator is to see that the investigators don't spend too much time on it.
“The fourth and the fifth aim of the coordination is perhaps most interesting. The fourth is to see if the entire incident could be exploited to catch some political rivals with charges of their involvement in the carnage.”
Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI team, which arrived in Bangladesh to investigate the February Massacre case, said the carnage at BDR headquarters last month was a conspiracy.
The FBI agents made the observation after comparing the BDR incident with mutinies staged by military and paramilitary forces in other countries, said officials of Criminal Investigation Department [CID] after a meeting with the team.
There are several indications and even certain degree of evidences that a number of front-ranking politicians, mostly belonging to the ruling party were directly or indirectly involved behind the BDR Carnage. The government is under tremendous pressure from such powerful perpetrators in silently killing the investigation thus bringing out a ‘cooked-up imaginary story’ to the nation and the global community regarding the carnage. As part of such efforts and pressures, important figures in the government are continuing to give senseless statements regarding the bloody massacre.
Meanwhile, panic generated by the ruling party and its allies in the government has put the very image of Bangladesh into deep crisis. International investments will not only decline for such panic spreading strategy, but many of the investors may even withdraw from this country. There will be severe adverse affect on country’s manpower export sector. Moreover, such propaganda will paint Bangladesh as a country under acute threat crisis from the militants. Do the members in the ruling party at least think about such negative impacts? Or, they are ready to turn Bangladesh into a land, where foreign forces will need to come for ‘combating militancy’? And, the ruling party is in this dangerous game, just for the sake of salvaging their own partymen, who plotted, conspired and collaborated the killers in February. Shame on such unpatriotic people!
Militancy link
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
...Commerce Minister, retired Lieutenant Colonel Faruk Khan told reporters that militants penetrated into country’s border security forces, who were liable for February Massacre that took place at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Riffles [BDR] killing large number of army officers, rape and physical abuse of several people. The minister claimed, Islamist militancy group JMB had hands behind the entire conspiracy centering February Massacre. But, Law Minister, Barrister Shafiq Ahmed rejected the comments of the Commerce Minister saying, “It will not be proper to accuse anybody until a full investigation report is available. On conclusion of the investigation, the names of persons involved will be made public.” ....
Retired Lt. Col. Faruk Khan on Monday reaffirmed his previous comment of militant connection with the February Massacre inside BDR headquarters, who once again claimed that militants have penetrated inside law enforcing and other disciplined forces in the country. .....
It is believed that, recent statements of Bangladeshi ministers on militant penetration in law enforcing agencies as well as disciplined forces may greatly hamper participation of Bangladeshi army and police in the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces [UNPKF]. . .....
Meanwhile, according to an information some vested interest groups are already active cashing the statements of the Bangladeshi minister in creating problems for Bangladeshi Forces in the United Nations Peace Keeping Force.
UN asked to return Bangladeshi forces
Blitz Exclusive
United Nations [UN] has been asked to send back members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and police from the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces [UNPKF].
According to information, one Susan Ramgopalan sent letters to the Secretary General and other officials of United Nations on March 15, 2009 titled ‘Islamist inside UN Peace Keeping Force’, where she referring to the recent statement by Bangladeshi Commerce Minister, Lt. Col. [Retired] Faruk Khan, requested the UN Secretary General to send back all the participating members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police in the UNPKF for possible militancy connections.
In the letter, Susan Ramgopalan said, “It has come to my attention that one of the front ranking leaders in Bangladesh’s ruling party, Awami League, member of the Cabinet and Member of Parliament, Lt. Col. Faruk Khan recently told reporters that Islamist militants like Jamiatul Mujuhidin (JMB) has penetrated into country’s border security forces.
”It is noteworthy that officers of border security forces are deputed from country’s armed forces. Under such authoritative statement from a senior member of the Bangladesh government, it is greatly assumed that there are unknown number of Islamist militants even within the other disciplined forces, including army and police.
”United Nations had been welcoming members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police for quite some time. But, after the latest statement from the government side, the question of security of continuing services of such elements with militancy ties would not only jeopardize the safety and security of the countries of their activities, but it may even give the militancy linked members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police in staging various forms of sabotaging activities in the foreign countries.
”Under such situation, further recruitment of Bangladeshi forces both from army and police should be stopped while an immediate scrutiny should begin to identify the militancy linked members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Police inside United Nations Peace Keeping Forces and be immediately expelled from such sensitive task.”
It is also learnt that, anti-Bangladesh quarters are actively trying to press forward the issue of militant connection of Bangladesh Armed Forces, Police and other disciplined forces, with the motive of tarnishing the image of the country. They [vested quarters] get specific prove in favor of their allegation, as the Commerce Minister in Bangladesh has repeatedly told this matter to the media as well as some other ministers are also echoing the same information.
“This is a dangerous trend, which will project Bangladesh as a Taliban state to the international community”, said a counter-terrorism experts commenting on the statement of the commerce minister and other members of the present government.
