Hotline (HRs) Bangladesh

Posted by admin on August 18th, 2009 in News Letter 2009

  

Hotline Newsletter

(Bi-monthly Newsletter)

161st  Issue                                                                                        June-July, 2009

Editorial 

‘Crossfire’ Legal or Illegal?

Awami League has come to power with more than three-forth seats in the parliament and having promised to eradicate corruption, improve human rights and stop extra-judicial killing. The gap between the AL’s professional election manifesto and practice has been widening since it came to power early this year. The people’s generous verdict in the last election has indeed given the party enough rope to hang itself and put their full confidence that could be used for the greater benefit of the voters, the source of all power of the People’s Republic. The Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina and her party had new slogans to bring a change in the days. So much so that it has started considering the same people a bunch of cretins who can be taken for granted for all time. No wonder that, in a show of chutzpa, it has reneged from its earlier stands with regard to some of the fundamental things, including the people’s rights to rule of law.

After taking responsibility the government had also to take many big challenges especially the activities which were unconstitutional and in some way not acceptable at all, the actions and policy taken by the army-backed caretaker government rule during last two full years. All of the activities of the caretaker were not for the greater interests of the nation nor people. More so some of the activities that were taken by the BNP-Jamaat government during 2001 and 2006 that grossly violated human rights of the citizens but nobody could protest such acts. Among all other challenges Awami League had to take the challenges to bring down the prices of the daily commodities, eradicate corruption from every corner of the society, face the Islamic terrors and extremists, stop social crimes especially towards the women and poor adivasis, etc.

The Prime Minister had put the women in the forefront in the administration in order to prove women’s skill in the administration and bring gender equality by diminishing discriminations in administration. Although some of the key ministers were very new in the position, they have tried at least clean-handed and not greedy or ambitious for grabbing or/and abusing power. But before the grand alliance could start their work in full fledge, some quarters of some political parties began to create chaotic environment in some sectors.

Some of the most challenging situation created after the AL-led grand alliance took up power was the illegal occupation and conflicts in the education institutions such as Universities where the AL student wings began their internal conflicts. This situation put the government into embarrassing position. By this time the government could bring down the skyscraping process of daily commodities under the control of ordinary people, reduce the number of crossfire deaths, etc. But no improvement of the electricity and power could be controlled, number of rape, killing in the opens and land grabbing of the minorities especially of the indigenous peoples have tremendously increased by the party people. Law and order situation deteriorated and people have been derived of their legal rights and protection from the police. The BDR mutiny was the worst hit on the news appointed government even before 100 days were over.

Pilkhana BDR mutiny was very skillfully tackled by the PM and home minister. It was the first report of any government investigation on the incident BDR mutiny occurred on 25-26 February and the enquiry reports raised more questions than they answered the real roots of the incident. Extra-judicial killings, particularly of two innocent polytechnic students, in the capital has visibly created fresh consternation in the public psyche.

We are still harking back the dark and most criticized years of the BNP-Jamaat regime when, in early 2003 the Operation Clean Heart (by which 54 persons were killed from “Heart Attack” in 87 days) and then in 2004, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were raised and in its wake extra-judicial killings came into practice in the country which still continue. All those who killed by ‘heart attack’ were given general and constitutional amnesty by the then BNP-Jamaat government. But the RAB killings effected through what came to be feared subsequently as ‘crossfire, encounter, and death in custody’ since then.

It may be recalled that the AL went whole hog in opposing those immoral practices. Its opposition to extra-judicial killing, and promise not only to right the wring but also to bring to book its perpetrators, found expression in the party’s election manifesto.

After having made an unabashed somersault some stalwarts of the government have made callous and desultory comments on such brutal killings and human rights violations, mincing words on it and resorting to sophistry, even though their shout defence of a starkly indefensible issue is ironical. The whole moods suggest that the “culture” of crossfire pseudonym for extra-judicial killings now in vogue will take sometimes to be done away with and, in the meantime, the citizenry will have to stomach it.

Some of the law-makers are strongly against it. The strongest observation came from none other than the foreign minister, who categorically said last February before the Human Rights Commission at the UN that “the government would show zero tolerance to extra-judicial killings ad torture and death in custody.”

Amid contradictory views in the government itself, this brutalities continue across the country a trend over which civil society and rights groups at home and abroad are gravely worried, because the right to be put through the  

legal procedure is something fundamental and is also recognised in the constitution. Even the worst of the criminals have the rights to defend as a person before the law instead of being arbitrarily killed by the law enforcing agencies.

This act is bound to ultimately lose the trust of the people on the state authorities, which can be boomeranged by the after effects. What if the publics also take the law in their own hands? Indeed, we are treading a dangerous course by flouting the country’s law and denying it to the people.

Apparently it looks like that the AL, without a grain of compunction following what all that BNP-Jamaat did during their five year tenor - campus hooliganism, grabbing of tenders and lands, tool collections from big businessmen and occupy the lucrative contracts by force. Why should they stop extra-judicial killings if it suits them and their vested interests? It is beyond understanding who benefits out of such brutalities.

The present grand alliance government led by AL should not forget people are the source of all power and people only brought them back to power forgiving them their past. Whatever the government does, they should feel that ultimately they are accountable to the people and it the people who can force them to step down or keep them in power based on their activities either for or against the greater benefit of the people. Any hostile blitz from the media community can be thwarted by the great name of Bangabandhu. People are more conscious now than before and they want to be far away from the horror of crossfire.

The people also want the country to be left untouched by the ignomity of being a failed state which they experienced during 2001 and 2006. If a pack of promises remains unfulfilled during their 5-year period, if they do not give up such unwanted brutalities and bring back discipline and law and order, safety for the people it will be hard for AL to keep the rope in their hands till the end. 

It is good news that on July 23 three members of RABwere arrested on a charge of extorting Tk 10.86 lakh from a businessman, were sent to jail on July 24. The arrested are ASP Shoeib Ahmed, Sepoy Sagor Chandra and Sepoy Shahidul Alam of Rab-3. On July 22, the trio allegedly stopped a bus of ‘Rahabar Paribahan’ in Kamalapur and picked up a passenger, Tajul Islam, the marketing manager of Fair Advertising, an advertisement firm and snatched away the money. They allegedly threatened to kill him in ‘crossfire.’ Tajul filed a case with Motijheel Police Station in this connection and identified the trio at a TI parade of Rab-3 (DS. 25.7.09). In the meantime also 11 RAB members were charged for killing the two Polytechnic students and had been sent to jail after arrest.

We hope the government, in order to bring back the good name of the country contrary to the “Failed State”, they have to be more cautious and put their efforts to have “zero tolerance to extra-judicial killings” establish a safe, corruption-free country where the brutal police, RAB or any other law enforcers will be the friends of people and not horror or threat to them.  ##

Liana supervised Ctg ammo

Detained former NSI deputy director (DD) Maj (retd) Liakat supervised the offloading of the consignment of 10 truckloads of illegal arms and ammos after boarding at Hotel Golden Inn in Chittagong using a fake name two days before the arms haul. The hotel’s register showed that Abul Hossain from Lalbagh in Dhaka boarded Rm No-512 March 30, 2004. Sources said sergeants Alauddin and Helal Uddin, who helped seize the consignment, identified Liakat as the man who boarded the hotel, introducing himself as Abul Hossain. He identified himself as a NSI official before the police at Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd (CUFL) jetty.

Liakat was given the responsibility to supervise the offloading, as former NSI Director (Security). Wing Commander (retd) Sahab Uddin was suspected of being a double agent. Following his statement the investigators arrested ex-NSI chiefs Maj Gen (Retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury and Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim and ex-DD Maj (retd) Liakat Hossain. DS 04.06.09

Liakat refused to give a statement to a Ctg magistrate on June 8, though he had earlier disclosed to interrogators vital information regarding the arms and ammo seizures in Chittagong and Bogra.DS 08.06.09

Probe into student deaths

The government is conducting departmental probe into the killings of the two students of Tejgaon Polytechnic Institute by RAB members, State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj said on July 8. “If a case is filed in connection with the killings, actions will be taken against the people responsible through proper investigation,” Taj told reporters. The students of the institute termed the incident ‘planned killings by law enforcers’ and demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits after a fair probe.

Replying to a query, Sohel Taj categorically said there is neither any instance of ‘crossfire’ nor violation of human rights in the country. The state minister said special measurers have been taken to prevent criminal activities. [What is the need of a probe if the hundreds of verified crossfire are denied in advance?]

Acid thrown on elderly man

Criminals on July 28 night threw acid on Abdul Alim, 55, at Debidwar upazila through the window at around 3 a.m. when he was sleeping. His face and other parts of body got severe burn injuries. He was rushed to Comilla Medical College and Hospital. A case has been filed against Billal Hossain, 23, and Delwar Hossain, 28, of Yusufpur village. Police said the attack was a sequel to long standing land dispute. DS 29.7.09

2001 post-election violence enquiry

The government hopes to form an enquiry commission to investigate the 2001 post-election violence and take actions against the persons responsible, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said on June 23. He said the HC has recently, in a judgment, directed the government to constitute a commission to investigate the post 2001 election violence within two months and asked to submit its report to the court within six months. “We will form the commission as per the direction of the HC after getting the copy of the judgment,” he said.

He further said his office has directed an official to collect the exact number of cases, filed for committing post-election violence, sent to the Appellate Division and the High Court Division, as confusion had been created over the number of cases sent to the HC. “The official will submit a report on the pending cases to the ministry within two days,” he added. DS 24.6.09

AARC calls for ending torture

On June 23 the Asian Human Rights Commission of Hong Kong called on the parliament to prove their commitment to end custodial torture and the culture of impunity. It called for a Draft Bill to give victims easy access to make complaints and protect them from threats and intimidation. Their statement claimed: “The law-enforcement agencies and the security forces care little for the ordinary people of Bangladesh.” DS 24.6.09

150 money agents in country?

The DB suspect that more than 150 highly-paid agents are working in the country for international mafia don Daud Ibrahim and that his second-in-command “Chhota” Shakil is dealing with their payments. The Star had an exclusive interview of Shakil’s close aide, detained Abdur Rauf Daud Merchant, in the custody of DB of police. During the interview he said he managed a Bangladeshi passport with fake documents for Tk 50,000 through a broker. Daud said Chhota Shakil, now staying in Dubai, sent him to Bangladesh and that he sends money to all his Bangladeshi agents through a money exchange firm.

Earlier on May 27, DB officials arrested Shakil’s close aides, Indian nationals Daud Merchant and Zahid Sheikh, along with Kamal from Brahmanbaria. The DB is interrogating them. DS 08.06.09

Former speaker cited

A parliamentary body investigating irregularities during the tenure of former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar asked the House on June 5 to strip Sircar of his MP status and recover around Tk 2.50 crore he, his deputy and the then chief whip took illegally as medical bills, additional fuel allowances and other facilities. The all-party probe body submitted its report on June 5, the first of its kind in the history of the country’s parliament, and recommended taking legal actions against Sircar, the ex-deputy speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui and the ex-chief whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain. The report says the three undermined the dignity of the House, indulged in widespread corruption and misuse of power. The probe body has charged them with contempt of parliament for not appearing before the parliamentary committee despite being invited and asked the House to initiate contempt proceedings against them. P.Alo. 6.6.09

Operation Clean Heart to be opened

The govt as part of its stance against extrajudicial killings is likely to examine whether the controversial Joint Drive Indemnity Act, 2003 that indemnified all concerned for their acts during the Operation Clean Heart should be scrapped. The rights activists and eminent jurists who were strong critics of the law still believe it should be repealed to ensure fundamental rights of the people as enshrined in the constitution. The Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed told the govt would examine the indemnity law if any person aggrieved by the joint operation wishes to get remedy or justice which has been prohibited by the law.

The BNP-Jamaat-led 4-party allience govt endemnified all persons for all acts during the OCH countrywide joint drive against crime which began on Oct. 16, 2002 through an order and ended on Jan. 9, 2003. Around 24,023 army men and 339 navy personnel along with paramilitary BDR, police and Ansar joined the operation aiming to quell countrywide violence crimes. As many as 54 people died in custody and hundreds sustained injuries following torture during the drive, triggering criticism for violation of human rights. The then government, however, confirmed only 12 deaths and said all other victims had died from ‘heart attack’ in hospital after being handed over to police.

During the drive the joint forces arrested 11,245 people including some 2,482 listed criminals. It also resulted in recovery of 2,028 firearms and 29,754 rounds of ammos. DS. 8.6.09  

UP chuarman fires on crowd

Haji Monir Hossain, chairman of Sultanganj union parishad (UP) sprayed bullets on a crowd at Ashrafabad in Kamrangirchar on the outskirts of Dhaka on June 9, leaving one youth, Md Hasan, 18, dead on the spot and another bullet-injured. In reprisal, agitated people attacked t and set fire on the car of the chairman.

The demonstration also torched an umbrella factory owned by a brother of the chairman at Nurbagh. Monir is also the president of Kamrangir-char Thana BNP and a sidekick of detained former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu. The victim was the son of Siddique of Nesarabad and an employee of Talukdar Timber shop at Lohar Bridge in the area.

56 tribal families evicted

Hired goons of a BNP adherent evicted at least 74 families, including 56  Indigenous families, from their land in a series of attacks at Khatirpur in Porsha upazila of Naogaon to grab their land. Allegedly backed by local police, they made the series of attacks between June 11 and 13 to evict the families. They beat up members of indigenous families, ransacked and torched their houses and finally looted their household items, bullock carts and human haulers.

According to the victims, around 200 armed goons of Nur Hossain Master, of Chhaor, attacked the families. The indigenous families retaliated with bows and arrows but they were no match against the gang’s firearms, clubs,  

machetes and spears. “Police were called in but they stood as spectators,” said Sabin Munda, a member of the National Adivasi Forum visiting the spot. At least 30 tribal people were injured in the attacks. By June 19 the arsonists and armed attackers were still moving scot-free in the area although accused in a case, alleged the eviction victims. P. Alo, 13.6-09

Withdrawal of AL cases

The government has decided to recommend withdrawal of 62 “politically motivated” cases filed against Awami League leaders, including 12 against PM Sheikh Hasina. State Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Quamrul Islam on June 11 said as of June 10 they received 824 applications for withdrawal of cases filed during the tenures of the BNP-led four-party alliance government and the last caretaker government. “We have reviewed 113 of those cases and found 62 fit for withdrawal,” he said.

Of the 62 cases to be withdrawn, 13 are against AL lawmaker Kamal Ahmed Majumder, nine against AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed, four each against former chief whip Abul Hasanat Abdullah and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, two against AL Presidium member Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, one each against State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan, AL lawmakers Engineer Mosharraf Hossain and Mokbul Hossain. Quamrul said 36 of these cases are filed under the penal code and 26 under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. DS 11.06.09

The Star commented June 12: “By labeling these cases as politically motivated and thereby moving to exonerate the individuals involved in them demonstrates a disturbing lack of transparency. While we do not presume that everyone against whom cases were filed is guilty, we cannot also suggest that none of these individuals are innocent of the charges filed against them. Making matters even more disturbing is the fact that a good number of these individuals have already been convicted of offences ranging from corruption to tax evasion. Besides, there are yet cases that are on-going and about which one cannot make any judgement at this stage.”

Public-private initiatives

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on July 11, for the first time, proposed an allocation of Tk 2,500 crore for the public-private partnership initiative to implement different projects in infrastructure, health and education sectors. The government also presented a position paper to the Parliament on “New Investment Attempts in Public Private Partnership Initiative.”

The finance minister in his budget speech said, “We are going to take special initiatives to involve the private sector under Public Private Partnership (PPP) to meet the probable investment gap in infrastructure development and maintenance alongside the government’s investment.”Out of the total Tk 2,500 crore allocation, Tk 2,100 crore is for ensuring government partnership in equity and loan assistance from the government to different projects.

Business leaders, the following day hailed the government’s concept of the public-private partnership initiative in the budget to implement different projects in important sectors.

First PPP initiative

Work on an elevated expressway in the capital - the first project under the public-private partnership (PPP) initiative begins soon to improve its communication network and ease traffic jam. The cabinet committee on economic affairs on June 17 directed the communications ministry to start implementation of the project. Estimated cost of the project is $1.23 billion or Tk 8,000 crore.

According to the Dhaka Transport Plan of the communications ministry, there will be three expressway routes in the city - from Old Airport to Jatrabari via Tejgaon, Moghbazar and Malibagh, one from Sonargaon Hotel to Gulistan via Kataban and New Market and the other from New Airport to Kuril. DS 18.06.09

Long march by Indigenous people

Over two hundred members of the indigenous community began a two-day long march across 55 k.m. from Porsha upazila to naogaon town on July 26 to protest attacks on indigenous families carrying bows and arrows . The march was organised under the banner of Jatyo Adivasi Parishad (JAP) after a gang led by Nur Hussain Master of Soraigachhi attacked the houses of some 74 families including 54 indigenous families at Katirpur on June 12. Since the attack, some 300 members of the affected families have been left without homes, and the local administration has not come forward to help them, the protestors alleged. At Naogaon the protestors will submit a memorandum to the local admin. DS 27-7-09

Amnesty offered ‘under compulsion’

The provision for whitening undisclosed money in exchange for 10 percent tax was incorporated in the proposed budget “under compulsion” despite the government’s moral stand against it, said PM’s Economic Affairs Adviser Masihur Rahman on June 14. The provision will hopefully create scope for many investments in productive and industrial sectors and generate jobs, which are needed in this time of global economic recession, Masihur said, explaining the compelling circumstances.

By allowing whitening of black money in the budget for the FY2009-10, the government is trying to stimulate domestic economy instead of exports, he said, adding that this will also bring hidden money to the mainstream economy. DS 15.6.09

Oli blamed for route chaos

A whimsical decision by former communications minister Col (retd) Oli Ahmed in choosing the entry\exit points for the proposed Asian Highway (AH) that would go through Bangladesh, has been delaying the country’s inclusion in the network, said experts. The former minister chose a mountainous route, instead of a short and more vi 

able one for all, without offering any explanation. His decision neither reflected the interest of Bangladesh nor did it help the interest of any other member-country of the network, rather the decision seems just a result of the erstwhile govern-ment’s bias against India, the experts added. But Mr. Ahmed emphatically denied the allegation to The Daily Star over the phone on June 14, calling the accusers ‘liars’. DS 15.06.09

The Bangladesh government being in a dilemma for years over route selection and its lack of understanding of the Asian Highway Network (AHN) has delayed its inclusion in the superhighway, said M Rahmatullah, former director (transport) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).

EC moves to strip SQ Chy of MP status

The Election Commission (EC) will ask Parliament Secretariat on June 17 to scrap the membership of BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chow-dhury for suppressing educational information while seeking candidacy for the December 29 national election. “Salauddin Quader Chowdhury cannot continue as a member of parliament since it is proved that he provided false [educational] information in his affidavit [thus violating electoral laws],” Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said on June 16.

The EC told the reporters he will send a letter to the Parliament Secretariat today, asking to inform the speaker about the matter, and “the speaker will make decision on it.” This stance of the EC will also affect the membership of Jatiya Party lawmaker Ruhul Amin Hawlader. Membership of two other lawmakers is also at risk, as a Supreme Court verdict declared mayors of city corporations and municipalities disqualified from being elected lawmakers, officials of EC Secretariat said.

Salauddin said he had stated in his affidavit that he had no educational qualifications. Now it is up to the EC to prove what is wrong with that. [He attended Notre Dame College and passed HSC for one thing.]

The speaker can do nothing to scrap or retain BNP lawmaker Salauddin’s membership, Suranjit Sengupta, chief of a parliamentary body, said on June 18. According to the constitution, the decision rests with the EC, and the speaker may only render his opinion, he observed.

10 RAB accused of death

A relative of an ‘encounter’ victim has filed a murder case against 10 personnel of the RAB. Jasim Uddin, brother-in-law of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute student Md. Ali Zinnah who along with fellow student Mohsin Sheikh was killed allegedly in a shootout with a team of Rab-2 on the city’s Manik Mia Avenue on May 27, filed the case against 11 persons with a Dhaka court June 15. The other accused is the victim’s room-mate, Sajib. Metropolitan Magistrate AKM Emdadul Haque recorded the statement of the complainant, took the charges into cognisance and asked the officer-in-charge of Tejgaon PS to investigate the case and submit a report by Aug. 20. Zinnah was a sixth-semester student of mechanical engineering and Mohsin a final semester student of electrical engineering at Institute.

The news of their deaths brought an angry reaction from the students and teachers of the institute. They demand ed a neutral investigation into the incident they described as pre-planned murders by the law enforcers. Tejgaon police said they found no cases or even a general diary filed against Zinnah and Mohsin. DS 17.6.09

Raped girl denied justice burned self

A young girl Mariam, 16, took her own life after she fell victim to the lustful savagery of her paternal uncle.She did it as she realised that her society would never value her dignity and punish the perpetrator. Mariam, daughter of Abdul Hanif and Amena Khatun, from Chatmohor of Pabna, died on June 17 after she fought for life for seven days at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of the DMCH.

Mariam told at the hospital on June 15, just two days before her death that her maternal uncle Afzal Hussain tried to rape her on her way home on June 10. “I tried to resist him but as he was unyielding I threatened to put him to shame in public; then he dragged me into a nearby sugarcane field and tried to strangle me with my scarf,” Mariam, a student of class IX at Dolong Mahila Dakhil Madrassa, said in a choked voice.  Locals rescued her when she cried out loudly. After the incident Mariam demanded Afzal’s punishment and requested her family members to file a case saying before her death, “I want justice before my death; I know I might die soon; at least I demand the arrest of the criminal before my death.” Her sister-in-law Rehana Begum said, “All family members tried to persuade her not to lodge a case as it would malign our family prestige and status.”

On the day of the incident she went into the room, locked the door, poured kerosene on her body and burned herself to death. Mariam’s brother, Anwar, filed a case against Afzal under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act June 10, soon after her suicide attempt. DS 18.6.09

Drive to clean up Turag

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWT) on June 5, the third day of the on-going eviction drive, dismantled parts of two major and at least 30 makeshift sturctures erected on the river Turag.  BIWTA tore down the illegally Kamarpara Bridge in Masim-pur mouja and Hossain Dyeing at Pagar mouja of Tongi.

On-duty senior Executive Magistrate Abul Bashar Md. Ameer Uddin said, “We were inspired by campaign against river-gobblers and polluters.” “The entire eviction drive slowed down, as BIWTA could not use its large tugboat in pulling down heavy constructions,” he said. Atul Sarkar, assistant commissioner (Land) of Gazipur, said the heavy tugboat of BIWTA did not come in handy, as it could not pass through the narrow passage under the railway bridge over the Turag. Sarkar said they would seek approval for two or three days time extension to wrap up the drive in Tongi. BIWTA also fixed around 20 demarcation pillars at Pagar and elsewhere where illegal structures were brought down to the ground.

The eviction team also demolished encroached parts of the Merchants Ltd dyeing factory built with heavy RCC pillars at Pagar and knocked down a number of small structures in Tongi Bridge on June 5. DS 6.6.09

BNP got most land plots

As many as 115 lawmakers during the BNP-led four-party rule were allotted plots in the city’s Banani, Uttara and Purbachal areas, according to a list placed in parliament on June 8. Of the recipients, 95 belonged to BNP, nine to Jamaat-e-Islami, five to Jatiya Party and six to the then main opposition Awami League (AL). Ruling AL lawmakers July 8 alleged that a good number of the allotters had concealed that they already had land in Dhaka.

The list includes a number of former ministers from BNP. Khulna City Corporation’s ex-mayor Sheikh Tayebur Rahman, ex-state ministers Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin and Barkatullah Bulu, and the then prime minister’s adviser Prof Jahanara Begum got plots in the MP category, though they were not members of the eighth parliament. DS 9.06.09

Gulshan-Banani lakes being gobbled

Since the political government took over, a vested quarter gobbled up a large portion of the Gulshan-Banani and Gulshan-Baridhara lakes in the capital in the last six months in connivance with Rajuk officials, sources said. The grabbers include a sitting High Court (HC) judge, real estate developers, retired government officials, a former UN official, relatives of an army officer and a ward commissioner. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), the custodian of the city’s water bodies, has been playing the role of a silent spectator, despite ministerial instructions to stop encroachment.

As many as 20 powerful land grabbers are filling up the Gulshan-Baridhara lake on the Shahjahadpur Jheelpar end, just next to the south of Mariam Tower-1, in violation of the wetland conservation act. Grabbers are also active at Karail T&T colony point of the Gulshan-Banani Lake. A grabber at the end of the Gulshan Road no-23/C has constructed a six-storey building on the lake, without any approval from Rajuk. Land filling has also been going on at the end of the Ice-cream Factory Road at south Badda in broad daylight for the last couple of months. Public Works Minister Abdul Mannan Khan said, “I have repeatedly instructed Rajuk to stop it. I will look into the matter right now.” Interestingly, most of the people claiming ownership have deeds made before de-requisition. They have also mutation records and tax receipts. The Appellate Division of the SC in a judgment in 2003 directed Rajuk to demarcate the Gulshan-Baridhara Lake and acquire lands on its fringes for the sake of the lake’s conservation. The HC division in an order in 2006 prohibited earth filling in the lake.DS 28.6.09

Explain why crossfire is not illegal

The High Court (HC) issued a rule upon the government to explain within four weeks why extra-judicial killings in ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounters’ with law enforcement agencies should not be declared illegal. The court also asked the government to explain why departmental and punitive actions should not be taken against those responsible for such killings, while in custody or elsewhere. A HC bench of Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui issued the rule upon a writ petition filed as a public interest litigation (PIL) jointly by three human rights organisations - Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Karmojibi Nari (KN). DS 30. 6.09

Huge RMG loss by workers

Garment workers burned down six factories, two warehouses and several vehicles of Ha-Meem Group at Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital June 29. They also vandalised 50 other factories and over 20 vehicles. Over 20,000 demonstrators stormed the Ha-Meem Group complex at Narasinghapur at around 10a.m. and set fire to the factories inside after pouring petrol, said witnesses. Vehicular movement on Ashulia-Bypile and Nabinagar-Tangail roads halted with the demonstrators putting up barricades. Traffic remained suspended and educational institutions, offices and businesses closed for over eight hours.

Earlier, the stone-throwing rioters damaged factories and shops on either side of the Ashulia-Bypile road and smashed up vehicles. The apparel group came under attack as its workers did not join the protest over the death of two workers in clashes with Ansars and police on June 29-30. It all began on June 29 with workers demonstrating for a pay hike.

The arson attack on Ha-Meem Group complex in Ashulia on June 29 will mean job loss for around half of 4,000 workers at its sweater factories. The previous three days clashes between demonstrators and the law enforcers, leaving two workers dead and scores injured and production suspended. Over 2,000 additional policemen had been deployed since then.

The Ha-Meem Group management say they will have to shed jobs from their sweater factories due to a shortage of machines, accommodation problems and dwindling supply of raw materials. Brig Gen (retd) Md Ali Mandal, director (admin) of the apparel giant, said, “We are trying to resume production in two adjacent buildings with the salvaged machines and raw materials. There, we may employ around 2,000 workers.” DS 1.7.09
 

Big ammo haul in Bogra

Police and BDR men seized 26,500 bullets and 48 kg explosives in joint raids on four BNP workers’ houses in Kahalu upazila in Bogra July 1. Law enforcers said the seizure in Jogarpara and Sardarpara areas of the upazila is linked to Friday night’s recovery of bullets and explosives from an abandoned truck and an Awami League (AL) leader’s house. The places of the latest recovery are close to a brick-kiln of one Yasin Ali where the truck was being unloaded Friday night. With these raids, 88,600 bullets and 168 kg explosives have been recovered in Bogra.

In connection with the Bogra ammunition haul, the BDR arrested two Indians and recovered two firearms and a wireless set from them at the Satchhari Forest Range in Chunaru-ghat upazila, Habiganj.

Victims of fatwa lashed

Piara Begum, a widow of 40, and Mamun Miah, 25, fell victim to fatwa (religious edict) and were whipped before hundreds of people at Khaiyar under Debidwar upazila of Comilla night for their alleged involvement in anti-social activity. Police arrested six people, including a local religious leader who issued the illegal fatwa. The condition of the victims was stated to be critical.

Piara Begum filed a case with the Debidwar PS under the women and children repression and prevention act, accusing eight persons including the arrested six and 10 to 12 unidentified people. At the arbitration Piara was whipped 202 times and Mamun 101 times. They were also fined Tk 30,000 each. Piara, mother of five children, fell unconscious soon after the lashings and was taken to the Upazila Health Complex. The on-duty doctor ANM Bashir Ahmed said her condition was critical and she needed better treatment. DS 28.6.09

Head of renamed JMB arrested

On July 2 Special Branch (SB) of Police in Gazipur arrested Abdur Rahim alias Shahadat, the chief organiser of “Islam and Muslim,” a new offshoot of banned Islamist militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangla-desh (JMB). During a raid on June 30 night, the SB along with local police also arrested Sajedur Rahman alias Hanif, a regional commander of the new organisation. According to the SB, Islam and Muslim had a plan to dominate an area comprised of several upazilas of Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi and Naogaon.

SB officials said Shahadat was made the chief of Bagmara after Bangla Bhai made the upazila an organisa-tional district. He actively took part in the Bangla Bhai-led vigilante operations in Rajshahi region under the banner of JMJB in 2004. The 3 other arrestees were also close aides to Bangla Bhai. But due to his organisational capability, Shahadat was made the JMB commander of the greater Rajshahi region.

Police earlier arrested four other members of the JMB offshoot in Shibganj, Bholahat and Gomastapur upazilas of Chapainawabganj and seized four single-shot guns from each of them, bullets, books on jihad and bullet-making materials.

Shut tanneries by February-HC

The HC ordered tanneries -one of the worst polluters in the heart of  Dhaka - to install effluent treatment plants (ETP) by next February. A central ETP to be set up at a Leather Estate in Savar by government, according to a Memorandum of Intention signed in 2003, has been so long delayed that costs have doubled and the relocation of the tanneries has also been delayed. Government is now asking the tanneries to share the cost of the ETP, while the 1,915 tannery owners of Hazari-bagh are asking compensation of Tk 250 crore from government for relocation of the tanneries. The industry ministry on June 23 said that at least 18 months would be needed for the job. DS 05.07.09

Wrong-headed, worthless-HC

The High Court (HC) July 2 termed former communications minister Nazmul Huda and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman ‘wrong-headed’ and ‘worthless’ for making ‘derogatory’ remarks on the June 21 HC judgment on proclamation of the country’s independence. During hearing of the petition against Huda and Kamaruz-zaman, the HC bench of justices ABM Khairul Haque and M Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed observed that they had made the comments without being informed about the HC judgement. “No self-conscious person can make such remarks,” the court said.

They said the judgment on proclamation of the country’s independence was not of the High Court; rather it was a personal verdict of the judges concerned. ‘The judges observed the verdict as if they are political leaders and the judgment was a political one,’ the two said.

CHT tribals claim oppression

A conference held July 3 claimed that following the abduction and killing of Alkajya and Mojibur on May 6 this year, over 20 adivasi people were detained by the army. It said the detainees were intimidated, tortured and even given electric shocks and their belongings were looted. Their statement mentioned five incidents of detention, a number of which resulted in the eviction of adivasi people from their land. In a 4-point demand the adivasi victims placed, they called for an end to repression on adivasi people, encroachment on their land, “intimidation of adivasi people in the name of army patrols in the area,” and wanted an impartial investigation into the abduction and killing of Alkajya and Mojibar.

 ”We were forced to move to Sajek in the face of repression. But we cannot live there in peace either. Fear of repression and eviction still haunts us every moment,” said Ajit Chakma of Gongaram Dhor in Sajek during the press conference at a Dhaka Reporters Unity Club. Adivasi people migrated to Sajek from places like Dighinala and Baghaichhari before 1982 and, now, following repression and eviction, they are leaving for Mizoram in India, the statement said. DS 3.07.09

WFP biscuits poisonous?

Some 428 students of eight primary schools in Laxmichhari upazila of Khagrachari hill district fell sick after taking biscuits distributed under the WFP school feeding programme on June 1. World Food Programme (WFP) has claimed the high-energy biscuits that caused toxicity havoc after consumption by the school students in Khagrachhari district recently, were completely safe. “There are no pathogenic bacteria detected in the biscuits,” said the UN food organisation in a statement citing a laboratory test report, received on June 30. It said, “High energy biscuits manufactured for the organisation in Bangladesh are completely safe for consumption, according to preliminary laboratory tests carried out by the Institute of Food Science and Technology of BCSIR. “WFP’s experts at  

its Rome headquarters have therefore concluded that there is nothing to suggest that the fortified biscuits could have been harmful for the school children. DS 06.07.09
 

Terrorist link put on remand

Indian national Mufti Obaidullah, one of the most wanted by the Indian law enforcement and intelligence agencies, has been placed on a 7-day remand for interrogation on July 18. Earlier, the DB police showed Mufti Obaidullah as arrested on Feb. 10. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque said the arrestee alias Mufti Obaidullah is staying in the country since 1995.

Quoting Mufti Obaidullah, DB police said the Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist group Laskar-e-Taiyeba has been active in Bangladesh for the last 14 years. Local leaders of the group have links to the network of absconding Indian mafia don, Daud Ibrahim, and also to leaders of other Islamist militant groups like Harkat-ul Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh (HuJi), the sources added. He was arrested from the capital while preparing for a jihad by organi-sing Bangladeshi mujahids with directives from Ameer Reza, a leader of Laskar-e-Taiyeba, an Indian national now staying in Pakistan,” the DMP commissioner said. DS 19.7.09

Another Lashkar militant caught

Indian national Moulana Mansur Ali (60), an operative of Lashkar-e-Taiyeba, was arrested in the city’s Dakkhin Khan area on July 20. The DB police arrested hm from Madrasa-tur Rahman at Saodagarbari, following information obtained from recently captured Mufti Obaidullah.

DB Deputy Commissioner Monirul Islam said Mansur was also a key organiser of Asif Reza Commando Force (ARCF), which had claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack on the American Centre in Kolkata on Jan. 22, 2002. He entered Bangladesh in 1995. Under the alias Habibullah, he worked as teacher in different Islamic madrasas. An Afghan war veteran, Mansur was above Obaidullah in the hierarchy of Lashkar. He was a  student when he joined the Afghan campaign against Russia.

Detained Moulana Md Mansur Ali is on two lists prepared by the intelligence agencies of India and the US for his involvement in militancy. DB police suspect detained Mufti Obaidullah’s possible links to the grenades supplied by Moulana Tajuddin for Aug. 21 attacks at an AL rally. The DB officials also suspect Obaidullah knew about the Ramna Batamul blast and Udichi blast in Jessore.

BNP boycotts parliament

The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its political partner, the Jamaat-e-Islami, threaten to put democracy at risk. The BNP had pledged in its election manifesto that if voted to power it would go for laws that would put an end to the pervasive culture of boycott of parliament by political parties. Though BNP did not get back to power, there is no good reason for it to abandon the parliament in which it castigated the opposition in its own days in power. The BNP could have proposed legislation to ban the boycott culture. That way it could convince people that it believes in change in the political mindset. Its continued insistence for more front row seats for its lawmakers, despite the fact that the speaker has already allocated it seats beyond what its present numerical position in the parliament entitles it to, has put a damper on the proceedings of parliament. Its a bad signal to its local constituents and to the international community. It has tried to turn aside criticism by raising a second irrelevant issue, the attempt of the AL to oust Khaleda Zia from her cantonment home. To boycott parliament and then to suggest that it is becoming a one-party show is a flimsy pretext that does the opposition little good. It got no less than 38 per cent of the popular vote at the last elections, which certainly imposes on it a grave responsibility to speak for its supporters. DS 21.7.09 [The two lame excuses cannot be sufficient ground for BNP to boycott the parliament and carry the voices of their voters there.]

Ban on Rid pharmaceutical

The Drug Administration (DA) on July 22 ordered the Rid Pharmaceutical Company of Brahmanbaria BSCIC area to suspend manufacture and marketing of their products including vitamin and paracetamol suspension. Following a controversy over the deaths of 24 children after taking drugs of the company, representatives of the DA on July 21 visited the company and took samples for testing. “The company is also ordered to withdraw its products from the market and to publish an announcement in three daily newspapers immediately in this regard,” said Director of the DA Md Ismail Hossain.

The same day the Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque said the Rid Pharmaceutical Company added poisonous chemicals to a paracetamol suspension meant for the use of tannery and rubber industries.

Jamaat revised constitution

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) submitted its ‘reformed’ constitution to the Election Commission (EC) on July 21 claiming that it already has 20-25 percent women representations in all its committees. But in fact its two top most policymaking bodies - the 51-member central working committee and 15-member central executive committee - do not have a single woman member. According to a special note in the constitution, the two top forums of the party are supposed to have at least 10 and 4 women respectively. In the special note of the ‘reformed’ constitution ratified by Majlish-e-Shura, the party’s highest policy making forum, promises to have 33 percent women’s representation in all its committees by 2020, in line with the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

Contacted on July 22 Senior Asstt Sec. General Md Kamaruzzaman claimed that there is women’s representation in the central working committee. But he did not specify the number of women in the committee. He also did not clear whether there is women’s representation in the central executive committee. When his attention was drawn to the glaring absence of women on the list of central working committee members available on the party’s official website, he said the list is not updated. But, Tasneem Alam, publicity affairs sec of Jamaat, and another  

party official told the list on the website is up to date. Tasneem, however, claimed that there are 57 women representatives in the party’s 263-member Majlish-e-Shura.

Submitting the ‘reformed’ constitution to the EC, Jamaat’s Sec Gen Ali Ahsan Md Mojaheed July 22 claimed that their constitution now meets the RPO requirements for registration. Kamaruzzaman said the party has a separate division for women which in fact is neither considered a front organisation nor an affiliated one, rather a separate division within the party for only women without any man in it. The provision of a separate women’s division however contradicts with a provision of RPO, which says, a political party will be considered disqualified for registration, if its constitution has any provision of discrimination on grounds of sex, religion, and race. There is also no scope for women to be elected as the chief of Jamaat.

Jamaat’s ‘reformed’ constitution has a new provision of inclusion of non-Muslims in the party. But it puts the onus of protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty, through taking an oath, only on non-Muslim members, while Muslim members are exempted from taking that oath. “I shall actively play a role in defending the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh,” reads a section of the oath scheduled for non-Muslim members. In addition, a non-Muslim Jamaat member must work for establishing the ‘rule of Islam’ in the country as a member of the party. Asked whether any non-Muslim can be the chief of Jamaat, he said party members will decide that. DS 23.7,09

Three RAB arrested

Three members of the RAB, who were arrested July 23 on a charge of extorting Tk 10.86 lakh from a businessman, were sent to jail on July 24. The arrested are ASP Shoeib Ahmed, Sepoy Sagor Chandra and Sepoy Shahidul Alam of Rab-3. On July 22, the trio allegedly stopped a bus of ‘Rahbar Paribahan’ in Kamalapur around 8:00p.m. and picked up a passenger of the bus, Tajul Islam, the marketing manager of Fair Advertising, an advertisement firm. The Rab personnel then took him to ‘Duyel Chattar’ of the Dhaka University by a Rab vehicle and snatched Tk 10.86 lakh from him, police said. They allegedly threatened to kill him in ‘crossfire.’ Tajul filed a case with Motijheel Police Station in this connection and identified the trio at a TI parade of Rab-3. DS. 25.7.09

2 sisters acid-burned

Two sisters were acid-burned in the early hours of July 25 in a sequel to their parents’ refusal to a marriage proposal about one-and-a-half years ago. Abdullah Akash, a pickup truck helper of Bogra, threw acid on Mahmuda Akhter Shimu, 16, and her sister Masuma Akhter Shantona, 25, in Kishorganj upazila, Nilphamari. Both the sisters suffered severe burns on their faces and other parts of the body. They were first committed to Rangpur Medical College Hospital and later moved to DMCH as their condition deteriorated. Project Director of DMCH Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit Samantalal Sen said Shimu received eight percent burns on her face, head, throat and hands. Her eyes were also critically injured and need to be operated immediately.

Shimu, a student of a Kawmi madrasa in Rangpur, had no say about the issue of the marriage proposal. “The proposal was dealt at family level and my parents were not interested to marry me off to that family. So I did not bother about the issue. If I knew this vengeful man was waiting for more than a year, I would not have come home on this summer vacation,” the teenage girl sobbed. The OC of Kishorganj Police Station said they are yet to track the culprit. He said a team has been engaged to pick up Akash. DS 22.07.09

JS body for legal action against Matin

A parliamentary sub-committee on July 26 said it will recommend legal actions against former shipping adviser Maj gen (retd) MA Matin, as it has ‘clear evidence of corruption’ against him. The sub-committee formed to investigate alleged corruption by MA Matin during the immediate past caretaker emergency regime, also changed its earlier position for summoning the former adviser in front of it. The sub-committee thinks there is no necessity to hear the former adviser, as officials of the ministry concerned, and the chairman of the Chittagong Port gave clear evidence of his wrongdoings.

“We will recommend to the main committee that stern legal actions be taken against the former adviser,” said the probe body chief. DS 27.7.09

Housewife tortured in medieval style

Taslima Akhter, 20, a housewife, tortured in medieval style July 28 by her husband, managed to escape from the house at East Goalia village in Ramu upazila and narrated her agonishing ordeals to the authorities.

For the last 12 days, Taslima had been chained up by her neck, waist and legs to a tree outside her house during daytime and to a pole inside the house at night. Taslima escaped on July 28 morning and she appeared to the Cox’s Bazar Court building with the help of neighbors and narrated the incident of her torture to Advocate Faridul Alam who earlier settled a feud betweenTaslima and Abu Syed.

Adv. Faridul took her to police superintendent who ordered the OC of Ramu PS to arrest Abu Syed and file a case under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. Taslima has been taken under the shelter of Muktir Nari, an NGO. Police and witnesses said, Taslima was married to Syed on June 14, 2007. After the marriage Taslima came to know that earlier Abu Syed married twice and after the first wife died he brought the second wife to live with Taslima few days ago when Taslima protested the early marriages. Adv. Faridul took initiative and settled the feud. But Abu Syed could not tolerate it. Since then Syed and his second wife Goltaz tortured her and kept her in chain. DS. 29.7.09

No govt steps to prevent child prostitution

An estimated 19,000 children aged below 18-yrs are engaged in commercial sex and forced to live in inhuman conditions. Though child prostitution is considered one of the worst forms of child labor as per ILO convention, the govt. has no mechanism to prevent it.

The child sex-workers, who ended up in brothels because of grinding poverty or after falling victim of trafficking and dowry, are deprived of basic rights. Moreover, they face constant threats and harassment by local goons, brothel leaders, known as Sardarni and policemen.

According to a study conducted by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in 2008, some 45% of sex-workers are suffering from sexually transmitted diseases. One fifth of the children are addicted to heroin, ganja, phensidyl and alcohol.

“This is not a life. We have no dignity, no money and no love. And there is no way to get out of this trap. I drink alcohol just to forget the agonishing ordeal I go through everyday,” said Porag (fake name), who ended into prostitution when only 15-years-old. The child sex workers are more vulnerable to pelvic inflammatory diseases and also sexually transmitted infection, said Prof. Sayeba Akhter of Bangabandhu S.M. Medical University.

According to a pilot survey title ‘Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children’, child sex workers in the registered brothels in metropolitan cities, district and upazila headquarters account for 83% of sex workers.

The national survey on 1418 child sex workers are revealed that nine percent of them are transsexuals and 8% are boys. Some 27% of them reported that they were arrested by the police several times and 56% of them fell victim to repression.

The govt of Bangladesh has ratified the ILO Convention in 2001 that calls for elimination of the worst forms of child labor. According to the CRC, child prostitution is a punishable crime and it is considered as sexual abuse. DS 29.7.09

2 outlawed likked in ‘shootout’

Two underground operatives of Purba Bangla Communist Party (PBCP-Red) were killed in a ‘gunfight’ with law enforcers in Atrai upazila, Naogaon early on July 28. The dead were identified as Abdus Salam alias Tapu, 40, Naogaon regional cleif of the outlawed party, and Jahangir alias Jalal, 38, its military affairs commander for greater Rajshahi region. A Rab personnel and a police were hospitalised after they sustained injuries during the gunfight at Sadupur village at about 1:30 am, said a Rab press release.

Both Tapu and Jalal were accused in more than five cases of Chowbaria in Naogaon and Taherpur of Baghmara.

PM declares war on Graft

The Prime Minister declared June 23 to the World Bank Country Director on his farewell call that her government would not tolerate any type of corruption because it is bound by its election pledge to establish good governance in the society. The Anti-Corruption Commission is to be strengthened. The new Chairman of the ACC said on June 24 that as it had proved during the two-year caretaker government it will give equal punishment to all corrupt people.  [Readers may recall that the PM made the same strong statement early in her rule]. DS. 25-6-09

5 thugs beaten to death in Chittagong

A mob of people beat five criminals to death in Dharunour of Satkania Upazila early on June 24. Their gang fired to cover their escape, injuring three community guards and four local persons. The latter challenged the group of 10-12 men who were carrying two chopped-up cows around 3 a.m. The group fired and ran but five caught by the mob, who beat them to death. The DC said that robberies had increased greatly in the area recently. DS 25.06.09

Navy launches ambitious plan

The Bangladesh Navy announced on June 23 an ambitious 10-year plan to upgrade its carriers by adding 3 new frigates, 4 new submarines, 3 large patrol aircraft, 12 helicopters, 12 boat patrol craft, two hydrographic units, two landing craft, a salvage vessel, four missile boats and other equipment, at a cost of Tk 6,500 crores. The Navy recently sent their plan to the Armed Forces Division. The Navy also proposed increased personnel, setting up naval bases and training institutes. DS 24.06.09

AL General Secretary resigns

Awami League Gen. Sec. Abdul Jalil stepped down July 20 from his party post, three days before the AL national council meets. He came up with this decision after being frustrated over the party high command “not letting him do his duties” ahead of the upcoming national council of the party scheduled for July 24. Insiders said the party chief is still annoyed with Jalil for the comments he made while in custody during the last caretaker government rule, even saying Sheikh Hasina runs the party in an “autocratic” manner. The AL-MPs elected from Naogaon constituencies were present at the press briefing. On behalf of the legislators, Israfil Alam said they agree with Abdul Jalil.

Party insiders said the AL Joint General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam is coordinating preparations for the national council, although the party constitution does not allow him to do so. As per the party constitution Jalil was supposed to carry out the responsibility.

Just-resigned Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil joined the party’s national council meeting on July 24, responding to a call of party President Sheikh Hasina. DS 21.7.09

45 BDR men sent to jail

Khagrachari District and Session Judge Mohammad Mokhtar Ahmed rejected bail prayers of 45 BDR jawan on July 28 and sent them to jail. The BDR members from 29-Khagrachari BDR Battalion were produced to the court seeking bail.

Shut tanneries by February-HC

The High Court ordered tanneries - one of the worst polluters in the heart of Dhaka - to install effluent treatment plants (EFP) by next February. A central ETP to be set up at a Leather Estate in Savar by government, according to a Memorandum of Intention signed in 2003, has been to long delay that costs have doubled and the relocation of the tanneries has also been delayed. Government is now asking the tanneries to share the cost of the CETP, while the 1,915 tannery owners of Hazaribagh are asking compensation of Tk 250 crore from govt. for relocation of the tanneries.  The industry ministry on June 23 said that at least 18 months would be needed for the job.

Published by Rosaline Costa, Hotline (HRs) Bangladsh

Box-5, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Phone:+9352149, E-mail:costa_rosie@yahoo.com, Web: www.hotlinebd.org

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