Army Statement Regarding Amar Desh, BNP and Terrorist Hizbut Tahrir

Army Headquarters press briefing on ill attempts to create disorder in the army -January 19, 2012.

1. Journalists and others of different print and electronic media who have come to this press briefing at the invitation of Bangladesh Army and the army officials present- Assalamu Alaikum.

I, Brigadier General Muhammad Mashud Razzaq, director of Personnel Services Directorate, and Lt Col Muhammad Sazzad Siddique, acting judge advocate general of the army, welcome you to today's press briefing.

2. In today's press briefing I will first read out our statement. After I conclude you may ask questions, if you have any. I hope you have got copies of my statement. To allow all to speak, an official/journalist will place one question and mention his name and the media he represents.

3. Bangladesh Army, which was born through a glorious and bloody struggle for liberation, has earned its reputation by working sincerely at home and abroad and standing by the people of all strata.

At a time when the army was working hard to reach a higher level of quality through procuring military hardware and ensuring well-disciplined training in a well-organized manner under a democratic system of governance to arrive at Forces Goal 2030, it finds itself going through another challenging chapter in the aftermath of a legacy left behind by history. We seek the help of democratic and patriotic people through you in facing this temporary challenge.

4. Recently at the instigation of some non-resident Bangladeshis some retired and serving army officers with fanatical religious views and capitalizing on others' fanaticism led a failed attempt through their ill motivated activities to thwart the democratic system of Bangladesh by creating disorder in the army. The attempt has been foiled with the sincere attempts of the members of Bangladesh Army.

5. With the motive of creating disorder in the army a retired Lt Colonel on December 13, 2011 instigated a serving Major to join him in executing his malicious plan. The Major instantly passed on the matter through his chain of command and the retired officer was arrested under articles 2 (1) (D) (i) and 73 of the Army Act.

Another accomplice of the retired officer Major Syed Ziaul Haq on December 22, 2011 met with a serving officer and instigated him to engage in activities subversive of the state and democracy. The serving officer informed the proper authority of the matter, as a result of which the leave and transfer order of Major Zia, who had recently completed his long term training, was cancelled. He was informed over telephone on December 23, 2011 and ordered to immediately join Army headquarters Log Area in Dhaka. Major Zia, who was on leave, remained fugitive and has been trying to continue “subversive” activities against the army.
Besides, on the basis of confirmed information, another serving officer of major rank was arrested on December 31, 2011 under the above mentioned articles of Army Act for instigating other in-service officers into refraining from being loyal to the government.

6. Against the backdrop of a leaking of partial information about the conspiracy to create disorder in the army and the arrest of some individuals, fugitive Major Zia sent an e-mail to his acquaintances describing an imaginative and incredibly cooked up story of his so-called arrest and torture. Later, one Abu Sayeed uploaded the e-mail in a blog, “Soldier's Forum”, on the social network Facebook.

Later, the said officer sent out two e-mails containing imaginary and highly controversial contents styled “Mid-level Officers of Bangladesh Army are Bringing Down Changes Soon” through the internet.

On January 3, 2012, the daily Amar Desh, as part of yellow journalism and with an ill motive to spread confusion about Bangladesh Army, published the internet message of fugitive Major Zia.

In a similar vein, the banned fanatic organization Hizbut Tahrir on January 8, 2012 circulated provocative leaflets based on fugitive Major Zia's internet message throughout the country.

The following day (January 9) a major political party of the country, in tandem with the cooked up, confusing propaganda, alleged that “incidents of disappearance” had been taking place in the army, a stance which gave rise to an unwarranted, provocative debate among all conscious citizens, including those in the army.

Bangladesh Army takes this opportunity to thank all responsible print and electronic media which demonstrated their sense of professionalism and responsibility by not publishing the confusing information in the greater interest of the country.

7. On the basis of elaborate information provided by the two retired officers taken under arrest and other serving officers, specific information about the involvement of some serving officers of the army in the conspiracy to overthrow the democratic system of government through using the army has been unearthed.
Some undisciplined and derailed army officers were actively involved in executing the vile conspiracy of fugitive Major Zia by misusing mobile phones and the internet. A court of enquiry was constituted on December 28, 2011 to unearth elaborate information about the plot and its proceedings are on-going.

8. To execute the anti-state conspiracy by using the army fugitive Major Zia on January 9 and 10, 2012 sent copies of two imaginary operation orders to different serving officers through e-mail.

Besides on January 10, 2012 fugitive Major Zia, contacting some like-minded officers working in different formations or studying in different institutions over mobile phone, wanted to know about preparations for the so-called military coup as per their plan and motivated them to execute the plot.

On the same night, fugitive Major Zia contacted expatriate Bangladeshi (now probably in Hong Kong) Ishraq Hossain (father: M Raquib, Deen Manzil, village; Balubhara, union: Barshail, thana and district: Naogaon) several times. During conversation they discussed the progress of the coup and the process of implementing it. Fugitive Major Zia asked him to publish news in the media at home and abroad about the army coup in Bangladesh. Ishraq directed fugitive Major Zia to phone him at around 2 am on January 11 if the coup was completed by then so that he could reach Bangladesh by air in the shortest time. It is assumed that Mr Ishraq gave this instruction with the aim of taking advantage of conditions in a post-coup situation.

9. At a time when Bangladesh Army has been trying to organize itself as a force rich in quality through various reform activities under a political government established through democratic means, various evil forces have been making ill attempts to ride piggyback on the army a patriotic state force- to destroy democracy. As in the near and distant past they have used the sentiments of fanaticism, propaganda and rumours. Some individuals have been hyperactive in observing religious rituals, and, dissociated from family bonds, jobs and business, have joined these conspirators.

Newspapers with vested interests, banned religious militant organizations and platforms of such political parties have been used for conducting their propaganda.

In the past different evil forces banked on Bangladesh Army which grew out of victory in the Liberation War to create disorder and gain political advantage. Sometimes they succeeded and on some occasions they failed. Even so, as an organization Bangladesh Army has been carrying the burden of the disrepute such forces have earned in the past.

The professionally efficient and well disciplined members of Bangladesh Army would like to say, “We do not want to bear this liability on the shoulders of our organization.”

10. It seems that the total episode is an ill attempt by some retired and serving army officers at the instigation of Bangladeshi citizens at home and abroad capitalizing on the sentiments of the fanatics. These individuals by taking all opportunities and advantages in the army and the country have been getting involved with vested interest groups and have been trying to tarnish the enviable success, development and unity of Bangladesh Army.

Some retired and serving officers involved in the conspiracy have already admitted to their involvement unhesitatingly. After enquiry stern legal action will be taken against the guilty persons.

Such vile attempts must be resisted firmly in order to uphold the hard-earned image of the army and to smoothen the path to progress.

Every army member is ever ready to make sacrifices to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the motherland.

Nobody wants that any local or foreign vested interest group will realise their ill motive by banking on the sacrifices of the members of the army.

Fugitive Major Zia needs to surrender to the army immediately in order to enjoy legal protection and justice. All are requested to inform the proper authorities if they come by any information about the present whereabouts and activities of fugitive Major Zia.

Thank you all.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=219148

Khaleda Zia in tuned with Terrorist Hizb-ut Tahrir

সরকার সেনা কর্মকর্তাদের ‘গুম’ করছে বলে অভিযোগ করেছেন বিএনপি চেয়ারপার্সন খালেদা জিয়া।

সোমবার বিকেলে চট্টগ্রামে পলোগ্রাউন্ড মাঠে জনসভায় বক্তব্যে খালেদা একই সঙ্গে বিরোধী দলের নেতা-কর্মীদের হত্যার অভিযোগও আনেন সরকারের বিরুদ্ধে।

তিনি বলেন, “সরকার কেবল দমননীতিই নয়, গুম ও গুপ্ত হত্যার মাধমের বিরোধী দলের নেতা-কর্মীদের হত্যা করছে।

“কেবল তা-ই নয়, সেনাবাহিনীর কর্মকর্তাদেরও গুম করা হচ্ছে,” যোগ করেন বিএনপিপ্রধান।

সকালে নিষিদ্ধ ঘোষিত জঙ্গি সংগঠন হিযবুত তাহরীর নগরীর কয়েকটি সংবাদপত্র কার্যালয়ে খামে ভরে প্রায় একই বক্তব্য সম্বলিত প্রচারপত্র বিলি করে। ওই প্রচারপত্রে শেখ হাসিনার সরকারকে উৎখাতে সেনাবাহিনীকে এগিয়ে আসার আহ্বান জানানো হয়।

Source: http://www.bdnews24.com/bangla/details.php?cid=3&id=182385&hb=1

Chittagong, Jan 9 (bdnews24.com) — BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has alleged that the government is 'abducting' army personnel, apart from opposition activists, as a part of its policy of oppression.

"The government is eliminating opposition's leaders and activists not only through oppression but also through abductions and secret killings. Not only this, even army personnel are being abducted," she told a rally at the port city's Polo Ground at the close of her two-day Chittagong road march.

Although her remarks came at the rally in the afternoon, banned Islamist militant outfit Hizb-ut Tahrir Bangladesh had in the morning sent leaflets in sealed envelopes to several local daily newspaper offices reading the same allegation attributed to Khaleda.

The leaflets also asked the army to come forward to oust the ruling Awami League-led government.

Source:  http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=215653&cid=3

Daily Star Reply to BNP's Rejoinder to 21 Aug Grenade Attack

Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW Monday, September 19, 2011 11:39 AM GMT+06:00 BNP blasts Star report on Aug 21 Rejoinder rhetorical: The Daily Star BNP has sent a rejoinder under the signature of its Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, regarding our report headlined "Aug 21 attack on Hasina, AL Rally: It was Hawa Bhaban Plot" published on October 27. We publish full text of the rejoinder below: 1. Our attention has been drawn to the above report which has blatantly attempted to disgrace and defame Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leaders. We strongly condemn this maliciously concocted libellous report. 2. It is clear to us that the purpose of this propaganda is to (a) hurt deeply the reputation, status and popularity of BNP and its leaders, (b) put BNP's political rivals into an advantageous position and (c) create a situation where by involving BNP leaders in false accusations they can be made victims of state torture machine. 3. It was beyond our imagination that a national daily newspaper could publish such a serious allegation against a well established political party and its leaders on the basis of investigations by one or two persons which were not carefully considered and without mention of any reliable sources. Daily Star has dumped all convention of proper journalism. It has astounded us. 4. This report by Daily Star is nothing but a far-fetched and fanciful story. Its style is objectionable, information unbelievable, and source unknown. The words chosen have expressed hatred against BNP and contempt against its leaders. We have noticed that this report's chosen words and languages are similar to those used by our political rivals. 5. We are rejecting this malicious propaganda and heinous fiction. We are condemning this practice of yellow journalism. 6. In this connection we would like to mention that, a certain section of the media including Daily Star, had been campaigning against BNP and its leaders for a prolonged period. This hate campaign was based on false stories and unreliable evidence. This careful but ill conceived propaganda led a state of emergency rule in Bangladesh which took away people's basic democratic and fundamental human rights. This road to conspiracy and its stopping point, an emergency rule by an unelected government, did irreparable damage to politics and economy of our country. 7. We watched then, Daily Star welcoming the emergency rule and taking credit for it. 8. We are now watching that, after the lifting of the emergency rule and the installation of a political government, Daily Star is trying to create misunderstanding and mistrust between the two major political parties. It is publishing baseless and fictional reports. We have valid reasons to doubt its patriotism. 9. The events of 21 August 2004, when some unknown assailants attacked a public rally by Awami League by throwing grenades, are tragic and condemnable. But, unfortunately, to this date, the plotters of this barbarous attack have not been identified beyond reasonable doubt. 10. After the promulgation of the emergency rule an ongoing investigation was diverted. After the formation of Awami League government, in the guise of a new investigation, actions are being taken to harass the political opponents. To fulfil that aim, controversial and politically loyal civil servants are being posted. 11. Under this circumstance, a fictional report by Daily Star, where without disclosing names and addresses of sources, citing some so-called investigators, to involve BNP and its leaders, is nothing but an attempt to divert the real investigation and to disillusion the public. 12. The chairperson of BNP had a political office in a rented house called Hawa Bhaban in Banani, Dhaka By trying to portray that office as "an alternative power house of the 4-party alliance government," Daily Star has published hateful and untrue information. In fact, political and party meetings and discussions, research and analytical works were conducted in that office. 13. BNP's political opponents and a section of media loyal to them, propagated many untrue stories about this office. During the emergency rule, capitalising on this propaganda, so many investigations were launched. So many people were detained, jailed and tortured to extract false evidence and confessions. But, not a single allegation could be proven. 14. Now Daily Star has taken a new road to propagate the old conspiracy. This report is actually an old and poisonous wine in a new but fragile bottle. 15. At one time, a section of Indian press, by quoting an Indian intelligence agency, spread a story of imaginary connection between an Indian fugitive criminal and BNP's promising young leader Tarek Rahman. During the emergency rule, a section of Bangladeshi retold the same false story. Vehement protests were made repeatedly against this malicious propaganda. Even after that, Daily Star has thrown up the same old story it was forced to swallow by the Indian intelligence agents. 16. Daily Star has also involved Tarek Rahman's name with some other criminal investigations and with person alleged to be militants. 17. We want to state unequivocally that these motivated propaganda are totally baseless and absolutely fictional. The chairperson's office in Banani was never used for any conspiratorial meeting, nor any meeting was ever attended by anyone connected with militants. 18. We would also like to state that, in this so-called investigative report, an attempt has been made to implicate Madam Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of BNP, by dragging her name. This is highly audacious, grossly objectionable and shamelessly obscene. Daily Star has fallen into a black hole. 19. BNP does not believe in conspiratorial and subversive politics. By pointing fingers towards BNP leaders and by making serious allegations against them without any shred of evidence, Daily Star has ignored journalistic ethics and by doing so has committed an unpardonable libellous act. 20. We hope that, Daily Star will publish our statement in full and giving it the same space and importance as their story and express its unreserved apology. Otherwise, we shall be forced to take appropriate legal action. Thank you Yours Faithfully Advocate Khandaker Delwar Hossain Secretary GeneralBangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) (The paragraphs were numbered consecutively by The Daily Star) A paragraph-by-paragraph response to the BNP rejoinder is given below. 1. We thank BNP for its rejoinder. 2. The purpose of our report is not what has been suggested here. On the contrary, by pointing out some disturbing facts and presence of criminal elements within its ranks, we think we are providing BNP an opportunity to purge the organisation of conspiratorial elements and thereby restore the prestige and credibility it once enjoyed as a party elected to office twice (thrice if we take the controversial February 15 election in 1996) since restoration of democracy in 1991. 3. As to sourcing, our story is based on those whose authenticity we have verified independently. It is the product of a long investigation starting from the bloodbath itself. As we watched with horror the repeated attempts made to divert the investigation, especially by the then state minister for home and some key investigating agencies, we decided to follow the story on our own. Our report is the fruit of years of investigation. 4. As for the expressions and words used, they were chosen to depict the tragedy the story deals with--an attempt to assassinate a top political leader, former prime minister and the then leader of the opposition in parliament. 5. We respect BNP's right to reject our story. At the same time, we think the readers have a right to know where our story is untrue, weak or distorted. We have mentioned by name that Lutfozzaman Babar, Harris Chowdhury and Abdus Salam Pintu were the principal actors in the plot to assassinate Sheikh Hasina. The rejoinder does not refute any of these. It is rather silent on the three, two of whom held important ministerial positions and the other was the political secretary to the then prime minister. It only protests the mention of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. The former's name came up more to prove her innocence rather than guilt. As for the latter, the facts speak for themselves. 6. The rejoinder accuses us of carrying out prolonged anti-BNP propaganda and a "hate campaign based on false stories and unreliable evidence". It is nothing more than a sweeping claim, the bankruptcy of which is exposed by the fact that not a single story is cited nor any specific instance mentioned where our report was found to be false, misleading and lacking evidence. Suffice it to say that ours is an independent voice fully committed to the highest ethical and professional standards of journalism. It is for this trust and confidence that the public has made us by far the highest circulation English daily in the country. We have never indulged in propaganda against or for anybody and will never do so in the future. 7. It is said that this paper took credit for bringing about the state of emergency. We invite BNP to cite any editorial, report or statement by this newspaper or its editor where we made such a claim. This statement is false. On the contrary, it is a whole range of activities by BNP and the four-party alliance government that led to a groundswell of suspicion over fairness of the January 2007 elections (later cancelled), which led to public unrest and subsequent political violence. These actions include two-year extension of retirement age of the Supreme Court judges, unconstitutional appointment of a sitting judge as CEC, fiasco over voter list, SC's overturning of CEC's decision regarding voter list, expansion of the EC by appointing two partisan persons, especially appointment of the sitting EC secretary, and later addition of another two. What proved to be the final straw breaking the proverbial camel's back was the assumption of the post of chief adviser by the president himself, widely believed to be at the behest of the BNP leadership, especially the then prime minister Khaleda Zia. This was followed by President Iajuddin Ahmed's refusal to allow the then council of advisers to function properly, leading to the resignation of its four important members. These and other events led to a dangerous division within the electorate, one side wanting the election to be held and the other vowing to resist it at any cost. It was in these circumstances that Iajuddin stepped down as the chief adviser and declared the state of emergency. 8. The rejoinder says, “The Daily Star is trying to create misunderstanding and mistrust between the two major political parties" by such reporting. What can be more laughable than this? This paper along with others has made relentless efforts to bring about some semblance of understanding between the two parties ever since restoration of democracy. Record will show how often The Daily Star has written against politics of confrontation and in favour of some sort of understanding between BNP and AL. 9, 10 and 11. Here the rejoinder claims that the investigation was diverted during the state of emergency. The fact is while Khaleda Zia as prime minister promised proper investigation, her party started holding AL responsible for the grenade attack within days into the blasts. On September 2, 2004, the then prime minister said the attack on AL rally was a "conspiracy to mar her government's image". Anybody familiar with our political parlance can understand who she was holding responsible for the so-called conspiracy. On September 13, 2004, lawmakers of BNP at its parliamentary party meeting directly blamed AL for the August 21 carnage, terming it "a pre-planned game". On September 15, 2004, BNP MP Shamsuzzoha Khan said in parliament that AL itself exploded bombs at its rally as part of a conspiracy against the government. On the same day, foreign minister Morshed Khan in parliament said, "We know who sheds crocodile tears meeting foreign envoys and who takes money for treatment from where." BNP MPs asked the government to take action against AL. On September 2 that year law minister Moudud Ahmed said certain quarters had initiated a massive anti-Bangladesh campaign immediately after 2001 election trying to portray it as a terrorist country. "I think the August 21 incident is part of that campaign," he added. On June 13, 2005, BNP lawmakers alleged in parliament that "extremist elements in AL" were involved in the August 21 grenade attack, and that Sheikh Hasina was giving false statements to divert public attention. Fazlur Rahman Patal, the then state minister for youth and sports, said, “The cat has come out of the bag during interrogation, and facts reveal their [AL men] involvement in the grenade attack." Kalimuddin Ahmed, another BNP MP, made similar statement amid loud desk-thumping by his party colleagues including the then Leader of the House Khaleda Zia. Perhaps the most glaring example of attempts to divert the investigation was the Joj Miah episode. A hapless person, Joj was forced into admitting involvement in the blasts and was later found to have been paid by an investigation agency. So much for the caretaker administration diverting the BNP government's "proper" investigation into the August 21 attack. 12 and 13. As to whether Hawa Bhaban was or was not “an alternative powerhouse of the four-party alliance government" and what went on there we leave it to our readers to judge. Suffice it to point out that the above description of Hawa Bhaban was used most commonly during the tenure of the alliance government and was never objected to then. 14. It can be "old wine" to BNP, since it had access (naturally, as it was the government of the day) to privileged information. But to The Daily Star and its readers, it was new information. We never published any story (since we did not have facts in hand at any previous stage) stating that Hawa Bhaban was directly involved in the August 21 plot. 15. The Daily Star's reference to Tarique Rahman and an "Indian fugitive criminal" is taken from local media and not from any foreign news source. 16. Tarique Rahman's links with Bangla Bhai, the notorious killer who was hanged during the caretaker rule, was stated by IG Police Nur Mohammed in an interview with this paper in June 2007. Nur Mohammed said Tarique had been supporting Bangla Bhai's militant activities. It may be mentioned here that at the initial stage the BNP government had denied the existence of Bangla Bhai and termed him a creation of the media. 17. We respect BNP's right to deny. 18. Any serious reader of our report will see that there was no attempt on our part to implicate the BNP chairperson. We only said that investigators have not found any evidence if Khaleda Zia knew about the August 21 plot. 19. We believe that BNP as a party "does not believe in conspiratorial and subversive politics." It is for that belief we try through our report to bring out the activities of some leaders who have through their activities brought this mighty party into disrepute. BNP should use the facts in our report to cleanse its ranks of these criminal elements. BNP will have to accept responsibility for the activities of many of its leaders including that of the former state minister for home, especially when he was neither removed nor ever reprimanded for mishandling the August 21 investigation. Blaming the media will not help it extricate itself from the depths of a self-inflicted malaise. 20. We are publishing the rejoinder in full and with due importance because it is our policy to do so. As for legal action, we welcome any attempt to uphold the law. In fact, it is the law and the respect for it that has been most grossly and deliberately violated in the attempted murder and its subsequent investigation.

Source:  http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=112196

Daily Star Reply to BNP's 2nd Rejoinder to 21 Aug Grenade Attack

Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW Monday, September 19, 2011 11:27 AM GMT+06:00 BNP writes letter after rejoinder Our reply BNP sent a rejoinder regarding our report headlined "Aug 21 Attack on Hasina, AL Rally: It was Hawa Bhaban Plot" published on October 27. The Daily Star published the rejoinder along with a reply on November 1. In response to our reply, BNP Secretary General Khondkar Delwar Hossain sent another letter to the editor. We publish full text of the letter and our response below: FULL TEXT OF BNP'S LETTER (Paragraphs numbered by us) 1. We would like to thank you for printing our rejoinder in your issue of 1st November 2009 in full. However, your response has disappointed us. 2. At the outset, you have described the rejoinder as "rhetorical". This is a judgement that should have best been left to the reader to make. Your effort is aimed at misleading the reader, and that's not in keeping with the high morals of journalism that you claim to espouse. In any case, we were reacting to a rhetorical report in the first place. 3. As regards the content of your response, you have, unfortunately, once again reverted back to fictitious and ill-motivated reporting with the sole aim of tarnishing BNP's image in the mind of your readers. 4. For example, you claim to know for certain that Lutfozzaman Babar, Haris Chowdhury and Abdus Salam Pintu "were the principal actors in the plot to assassinate Sheikh Hasina". You have however breached journalistic ethics and professionalism by failing to provide any specific proof to back your definitive comment, specially, when the whole matter is still under investigation and is sub-judice. Importantly, in doing so, you have maliciously tried to influence the outcome of the whole investigative and the legal process. The country's relevant law stipulates that the accused is presumed to be innocent till his guilt is proven beyond all reasonable doubts. Let the court of law decide the matter. In the meantime, we urge you not take up the role of judge, jury, prosecutor and the punisher upon yourself. 5. You also claim to have "verified independently" the authenticity of your source and yet you deliberately shy away from providing any further details about your source. This is not a demonstration of serious journalism. You have in fact blown to smithereens the credibility of your source, if at all there be any. 6. You reach the lowest level of basic decency when you mention Mr Tarique Rahman as being guilty when you state "facts speak for themselves". What facts are you talking about? It is fictionalism at its worst, as much as it is libellous. On the contrary, every condemnable attempt is being made by the authorities through inhumanely torturing people under police detention, in clear violation of all civilized human behavior, to force them to give false statements implicating others, including Mr Rahman. 7. This is a vile, orchestrated and motivated attempt on your part to poison people's mind about Mr Tarique Rahman, a man who himself had been subjected to Nazi style mental and physical torture while in police custody during the military backed interim administration. 8. Ethically, the least you should do now is offer an unconditional apology to Mr Tarique Rahman. 9. Investigative journalism is all about bringing well proven facts to light. One has to have the professional ability and the personal integrity to do so. Anything less would make the whole effort an exercise in immorality, as is the case here. As a corollary, we ask you to relieve us from the culture of disinformation and misleading journalism. After all, disinformation may have speed, but truth has endurance. 10. It is indeed laughable that you deny your editor's support for the imposition of the state of emergency on 11th January 2007, and the installation of the unelected and undemocratic administration of Fakhruddin two days later. 11. You will be well advised to take a look at television footage of the scenes immediately following the oath taking ceremony of Fakhruddin and his group of Advisers in Bangabhaban on 13th January 2007. The editor is seen blatantly expressing support for what happened two day earlier when he tells television channels "I support this and I will support it even more............" I do not see any ambiguity here. 12. On 28th January, within a few days of this, at a meeting of senior media representatives with the then Information Adviser, he is reported to have publicly taken credit for bringing this administration to office through his writings. There are credible witnesses who can testify to this. But more importantly, major newspapers of the country carried this in their edition of 29th January. 13. Interestingly, the Daily Star internet edition of 29th January, 2007 has gone missing from its archives. In the language of criminal investigation, this will be called destroying incriminating evidence. 14. The role of your newspaper during those dark days of emergency is known to all. Devoid of any integrity, you had a sustained policy of printing the so called confessions of political leaders, businessmen and others extracted under extreme duress. As is now clear, these "confessions" have all disappeared into the realm of concoctions of the architect of the dark plot. Are you now not equally culpable as abettors to this heinous plot? It is time for you to come out of your selective amnesia. 15. Freedom of the press entails responsibility; it is not a license to kill. 16. What is alarming is that you have not taken any lesson from your past habit of trying to influence events at the dictate of those who have total disregard for democratic values and principles. Your unholy alliance with those forces still appears to be alive. How else can you explain your being privy to "privileged document"? Just in case you have chosen to forget, may we refer to your own news item of 10th June, 2007 captioned 'Hasina should quit politics' where then Awami League Joint Secretary General and now a Presidium member Obaidul Kader is reported to have "confessed" to the Task Force Intelligence during remand of how the present Prime Minister had received money as graft from different businessmen. 17. The Daily Star editor's despise for mass based political parties in Bangladesh in fact has a pattern. Indeed, at a very recent diplomatic social event he described the BNP and the Awami league as the "biggest enemies" of democracy. 18. By doing so he was implicitly making an attempt to resurrect the abortive, and highly criticized, "minus two" formula of Fakhruddin and his military controlled undemocratic administration, and that too to a foreign audience. 19. While making such a damaging and self defeating judgment, he clearly chose to ignore the fact that both these political parties, and their top leadership, enjoy broad support among the masses, as subsequent events have proven. He also forgets that they have been elected, and re-elected, to office with popular mandate. It was no surprise therefore that his remark was met with such stony silence by others present on that occasion. 20. Obviously, your lofty claims to upholding democratic values and the rule of law are all illusive and deceitful. 21. Finally, we strongly feel that it would only be fair that you print this response in full and give it the space you have given your response. The reader must have access to all facts; it is his right to do so, as much as it is your obligation and responsibility to ensure that he does. (Khondkar Delwar Hossain) Secretary General Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP OUR RESPONSE (Paragraph numbers refer to paragraphs of Mr Delwar's letter) 1. We are sorry that our response disappointed you. However, it would have been in the fitness of things if you, along with your "disappointment", also mentioned that we made your rejoinder our second lead story on the front page, which no other paper ever did in the history of Bangladeshi journalism. 2. You said we should have left it to our readers to judge whether your rejoinder was "rhetorical" or not. Fair enough. You termed our report "concocted", "libellous", "malicious propaganda", "far-fetched", "fanciful", "heinous fiction", etc. Shouldn't you have left it to the readers to judge as well? 3. You describe our reply as reverting back to "fictitious and ill-motivated reporting with the sole purpose of tarnishing BNP's image". Just as in the original rejoinder, so also now, you fail to point out where our reply is a "fiction". It is never our purpose to tarnish anybody's image. Their own actions do so, we only report them. 4. You say "the matter is still under investigation and is sub-judice". You contradict yourself. If something is under investigation, it cannot be sub-judice. As a lawyer you, of all people, must know it. We reiterate here that our report was based on authentic and reliable sources, extensive interviews with police officials who investigated the case during the BNP government (but were prevented from pursuing the case properly), caretaker tenure and are investigating now, and interviews with militants who were in the know of the August 21 grenade attack, and other relevant documents. It is a great success of any reporter to unearth such documents and inform the public. All reports on Abu Ghraib prison abuse in Iraq were based on secret military and government documents that journalists secretly procured and made public, to cite only a recent example. Isn't the world better off because of that revelation? We take pride in such journalistic achievements. Our revelation will also help Bangladesh, and assist in making BNP a far better party if it is used to clean up the corrupt and criminal elements that have entered it. 5. About revealing sources of news, it is a sacred duty of journalists, editors and newspapers to protect their sources. Many reporters, editors and publishers all over the world have accepted threats, intimidation and even jail terms for refusing to reveal the sources of their stories. The case of Pulitzer Award winner Judith Miller of The New York Times may be cited who braved imprisonment for not revealing her sources on CIA leaked reports on weapons of mass destruction. The famous "Deep Throat", the most crucial source of Watergate investigation of The Washington Post newspaper in the early seventies, which caused the fall of President Nixon, was never made public. 6. We really don't understand your anger and abusive language for our use of the phrase "Facts speak for themselves" in reference to Tarique Rahman. What is so "low" and "indecent" about this expression? Don't facts speak for themselves? 7-8. We would be happy to apologise to Mr Tarique Rahman if you could tell us what we did wrong. We have quoted the IGP, Mr Nur Mohammad, in an interview given to this paper in June 2007, where he said that Mr Tarique Rahman has been supporting Bangla Bhai's militant activities. 9. Thank you for telling us about the dangers of disinformation. However, may we humbly ask what sort of information was it for the BNP and many of its leaders to say, over a period of several months, in public meetings and rallies, and also in parliament (where MPs are under oath) that the August 21 grenade attack was the work of Awami League itself, notwithstanding the fact that 22 of its activists died, and it almost killed Sheikh Hasina herself? What was "Joj Miah" story if not disinformation of the crudest type to misdirect the investigation? You are so very right when you say, "Disinformation may have speed but truth has endurance." That is why the "information" that your party and some of its leaders tried to propagate about the August 21 incident did not endure. 10-20. These eleven paragraphs of the letter do not refer to our report under discussion. They only vilify the editor and restate the same allegations regarding our role during the state of emergency. In our last reply, we had asked you to cite a single editorial, report, commentary, op-ed article etc that substantiates your contention. Regrettably your letter again makes the same "rhetorical" claims without any citation. Here are some facts for your consideration. During emergency we wrote a total of 124 editorials on issues related to democracy, elections, freedom of political parties, civic rights and other aspects affected by the caretaker government's work. We give some details below. We wrote 13 editorials on caretaker government, 25 on politics/politicians, 22 on the EC, 10 on corruption, 7 on elections, 4 on voters' list, 7 on ACC, 12 on judiciary, 5 on political parties, 4 on reforms, 2 on bureaucracy, 3 on emergency and 4 on media freedom. In all the above editorials, we consistently argued in defence of democracy and the need to return to democracy soonest. We strongly insisted that without lifting of emergency, free and unfettered politics was not possible. We spoke for reforms of political parties but said such reforms must come from inside and not be imposed from outside. About the role of the army, we repeatedly urged it to stay away from politics, refrain from the temptation to take power, and go back to the barracks after holding a free and fair election. We kept on hammering on the caretaker government and the EC to hold elections on time and not to postpone it under any circumstances. We took clear position against sending any politicians into exile, especially the AL and BNP chiefs, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. We wrote editorials on both occasions of arrest of these two leaders and warned against it, and demanded that all legal and democratic rights must be assured to them. We also warned that interning these leaders would jeopardise elections and restoration of democracy. Throughout the period our efforts were concentrated in the holding of a free and fair election. We also insisted that the elections must include all parties. We also wrote extensively on electoral reforms, and for electing honest and competent candidates. We invite you or any of your nominees to go through our editorials (we have them well organised in our library) and remove, once and for all, your misplaced impressions. 11. Here you quote an incomplete sentence of the editor totally out of context. You do not mention which TV channel broadcast it and at what time and in which programme (news, talk show, etc). Unless you specify, it is not possible for us to respond, especially when the basis of your claim is an incomplete sentence. 12. You claim that The Daily Star's editor "is reported to have publicly taken credit for bringing this administration to office through his writings". You also claim that it was widely reported in the issue of January 29, 2007 of all major newspapers. We have looked through the Ittefaq, Amar Desh, Naya Diganta, Jugantor, Samakal, New Age, Independent and UNB/BSS copies, and of course Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Nowhere is The Daily Star editor reported to have said what you claim. We urge you to name the major paper(s) that substantiate your contention. If you fail, it will amount to your admitting that you falsely tried to denigrate this paper's editor. 13. Just because you or your staff had a problem locating the edition of January 29, 2007 in our website archives, you concluded that we were "destroying incriminating evidence". Even if the Internet edition went "missing", many libraries, archives, research institutions, and even many readers, not to mention other newspaper offices and, perhaps your own office, would have copies of that issue. For your information, we have two archives on the Internet, not one, for the benefit our readers. This is done for the unforeseen eventuality when a reader may have difficulty in entering any one of them. As for the print edition, even today you can buy an old copy from our office. 14, 15 and 16. In these paragraphs, you raise the question of whether or not we should have published confessional statements of people taken into custody during emergency. We felt that they were of public interest and that we had an obligation to share them with our readers. We were not alone to do so. Most other newspapers did the same. In our reports, we stated clearly that they came from the investigators and not our independent source. This is an international practice. In the recent story of killing in Fort Hood, USA, all the information is coming from investigators. The story of London bombing published and broadcast by global media came from investigators. As for our "privileged document" it is to the credit of every reporter to dig out confidential sources and make them public. It in no way indicates collusion, as you imply. As journalists we all proudly remember how The New York Times secretly procured the "Pentagon papers" and published them, greatly embarrassing the US government and dealing a devastating blow to public confidence on the outcome of the Vietnam War. 17, 18 and 19. Here you take as "true" an unsubstantiated, unverified, and untrue personal comment of another person present at, what you yourself call, a "social gathering". Decency, courtesy, fairness and ordinary social norms demanded that the person verify what he assumed the editor to have said, and take permission (since the event was a private social gathering) before narrating it to someone who was not there, and allowing him (in this case, yourself) to quote in a formal letter of his party's secretary general. He obviously heard the editor wrong and as such misreported on the event. The editor said Awami League and BNP are the "biggest beneficiaries" (not enemies as you misguidedly quote) of democracy. The sense in which this comment was made is that these are the two parties that alternately got elected to power. Without verifying what has been said, and also using it totally out of context, you write two paragraphs whose substance does not make sense as the premise on which you base them is wrong. It is unwise to take formal positions on gossip and hearsay as it may lead you to taking positions on false statements, as it has happened in this case. 20. We respect your right to hold any opinion about us you wish. Our only plea would be that if those views were based on facts, then everybody would be well served. The beauty of a newspaper is that all its work is in the written form. We can neither hide from what we say, nor can anybody attribute to us what we haven't said. Reports, articles, features and everything else can also be taken to judge the overall performance of a paper, but for policy it must be judged by its editorials. Under no circumstances can comments of its editor (which, in this case, is an incomplete sentence), taken in fragments of TV clips and also taken totally out of context, can form the basis of judgment on a newspaper. We have invited you before, and do so again, to cite published materials in this paper to substantiate the accusations that you make about us. We stand before the public in the written form, which is the oldest and most durable form of communication, to be judged. We have deliberately responded to your letter in as detailed a form as possible. This we did as a mark of respect to you and your party and also to show how seriously we take your comments and how sincerely we have tried to respond to every point raised. We did so not to win any argument but to genuinely try and remove any misunderstanding that you may have about our report. Source:  http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=113753

Tarek Zia Helped Release of Terrorist Bangla Bhai's Associates

‘বাংলা ভাইয়ের সহযোগীর মুক্তির ব্যবস্থা করেন তারেক রহমান’

প্রথম আলো ডেস্ক | তারিখ: ১৮-০৯-২০১১

উগ্রপন্থী দল জেএমবি নেতা সিদ্দিকুল ইসলাম ওরফে বাংলা ভাইয়ের সহযোগী খামারু আটক হওয়ার পর তাঁর মুক্তির ব্যবস্থা করেছিলেন সাবেক প্রধানমন্ত্রী খালেদা জিয়ার বড় ছেলে তারেক রহমান। তাঁর হস্তক্ষেপে খামারুকে ছেড়ে দিতে বাধ্য হন স্বরাষ্ট্র প্রতিমন্ত্রী লুৎ ফুজ্জামান বাবর। উইকিলিকসের ফাঁস করা বার্তা অনুযায়ী, ঢাকার মার্কিন দূতাবাসের তখনকার চার্জ দ্য অ্যাফেয়ার্স জুডিথ চামাসকে একথা জানান প্রধানমন্ত্রীর মুখ্য সচিব কামাল সিদ্দিকী।
দূতাবাসের তারবার্তায় বলা হয়, ২০০৫ সালের ১৪ ডিসেম্বর চার্জ দ্য অ্যাফেয়ার্স জুডিথ চামাসের সঙ্গে সাক্ষাৎ হয় মুখ্য সচিব কামাল সিদ্দিকীর। পরদিন ১৫ ডিসেম্বর ওয়াশিংটনে গোপন তারবার্তাটি পাঠান চামাস।
তারবার্তার তথ্য অনুযায়ী, কামাল সিদ্দিকী মার্কিন কূটনীতিককে জানান, জেএমবি নেতা খামারুকে গ্রেপ্তার করে র‌্যাব। কিন্তু প্রধানমন্ত্রীর ছেলে তারেক রহমানের হস্তক্ষেপে তাঁকে ছেড়ে দিতে বাধ্য হয়েছেন বলে অভিযোগ করেছেন স্বরাষ্ট্র প্রতিমন্ত্রী বাবর। ভূমি প্রতিমন্ত্রী রুহুল কুদ্দুস তালুকদার দুলুর পরামর্শে তারেক রহমান এ কাজ করেছেন বলে জানান প্রধানমন্ত্রীর মুখ্য সচিব।
কামাল সিদ্দিকী মার্কিন দূতাবাসকে বলেন, জেএমবির বিষয়ে সরকার ভুল পদক্ষেপ নিয়েছে। সরকার জেএমবির সম্ভাব্য হুমকির বিষয়টি অনুধাবন করতে পারছে না। বিএনপির কিছু প্রভাবশালী নেতা জেএমবির বড় বড় সন্ত্রাসীকে নিরাপত্তা দিচ্ছেন।
কামাল সিদ্দিকী বলেন, জেএমবির পক্ষে যাঁরা কাজ করছেন তাঁদের বেশির ভাগ একসময় জামায়াতে ইসলামীর সদস্য ছিলেন। জামায়াত বিএনপির সঙ্গে যোগ দেওয়ার পর তাঁরা দল ছেড়ে দেন। প্রধানমন্ত্রীর মুখ্য সচিব আরও বলেন, ‘এ নিয়ে কোনো সন্দেহ নেই যে কিছু বিদেশিও জেএমবিকে সহযোগিতা করছে।’
মার্কিন দূতাবাসের চার্জ দ্য অ্যাফেয়ার্স কামাল সিদ্দিকীকে বলেন, জেএমবির সঙ্গে ভারত কিংবা আওয়ামী লীগের যোগসাজশের ঢালাও অভিযোগ তোলায় সন্ত্রাসবাদ দমনে বাংলাদেশ সরকারের বিশ্বাসযোগ্যতা ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হচ্ছে। এ ক্ষেত্রে বাস্তবসম্মত পদক্ষেপ দিয়েই কেবল সরকারের অবস্থান মূল্যায়ন করা হবে। যেমন জেএমবির বড় নেতাদের গ্রেপ্তারে সরকারের সক্ষমতা, ভবিষ্যৎ হামলা প্রতিরোধ এবং জেএমবির সঙ্গে সংশ্লিষ্টতার জন্য ক্ষমতাসীন দলের নেতাদের জবাবদিহিতা নিশ্চিত করা ইত্যাদি বিবেচনা করা হবে। জঙ্গিবাদবিরোধী প্রচেষ্টায় যুক্তরাষ্ট্র বাংলাদেশ সরকারকে সহযোগিতা করতে চায় বলে জানান মার্কিন কূটনীতিক। তবে তিনি বলেন, জেএমবির বিষয়টি তদন্তে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র কারিগরি সহযোগিতার যে প্রস্তাব দিয়েছে তা গ্রহণে বাংলাদেশ সরকার অনাগ্রহ দেখিয়েছে।
মার্কিন কর্মকর্তাকে কামাল সিদ্দিকী আরও জানান, জামায়াতের সঙ্গে জোটের কারণে বিএনপির মধ্যে ক্ষোভ বাড়ছে। দলের কমপক্ষে ৫০ জন সাংসদ জামায়াতের সঙ্গে জোটে থাকতে চান না। বিষয়টি তিনি প্রধানমন্ত্রী খালেদা জিয়াকে জানিয়েছেন বলে উল্লেখ করেন কামাল সিদ্দিকী।
২১ ডিসেম্বর পাঠানো আরেকটি তারবার্তায় বলা হয়েছে, কামাল সিদ্দিকীর সঙ্গে ওই সাক্ষাতের পাঁচ দিন পর ১৯ ডিসেম্বর স্বরাষ্ট্র প্রতিমন্ত্রী বাবরের সঙ্গে তাঁর কার্যালয়ে সাক্ষাৎ করেন মার্কিন চার্জ দ্য অ্যাফেয়ার্স ও দূতাবাসের আরেক কর্মকর্তা। এ সময় বাবর দাবি করেন, খামারুর মুক্তির বিষয়ে তিনি কিছুই জানেন না। তিনি তখন সিঙ্গাপুরে ছিলেন। বাবর বলেন, তিনি পরে জানতে পারেন একজন তরুণ কর্মকর্তা জেলার সব থানায় খোঁজ নিয়ে খামারুর বিরুদ্ধে কোনো অভিযোগ না পেয়ে তাঁকে ছেড়ে দেন।
বাবর বলেন, একজন উচ্চপদস্থ কর্মকর্তা কুয়েতভিত্তিক এনজিও রিভাইভাল অব ইসলামিক হেরিটেজ সোসাইটির বন্ধ করে দেওয়া ব্যাংক হিসাব চালুর অনুমোদন দেওয়ায় তিনি খুব ক্ষুব্ধ হয়েছিলেন। উগ্রপন্থী আহলে হাদিস মসজিদে সহায়তা দেওয়ার কারণে ২০০৪ সালে বন্ধ করে দেওয়া হয়েছিল হিসাবটি।
তারবার্তার ভাষ্যমতে, বাবর আরও বলেন জেএমবির সঙ্গে কোনো সরকারি কর্মকর্তা জড়িত থাকলে ছাড় পাবেন না। তবে তিনি স্বীকার করেন, রাজশাহী এলাকায় স্থানীয় সন্ত্রাস দমনে কাজ করার সময় বাংলা ভাইকে সরকারের কয়েকজন মন্ত্রী সহযোগিতা করেছিলেন।
প্রথম আলোর পক্ষ থেকে এ ব্যাপারে কামাল সিদ্দিকীর বক্তব্য জানার চেষ্টা করা হয়। কিন্তু তিনি দেশের বাইরে থাকায় তা সম্ভব হয়নি।

Source: http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-09-18/news/186608

FBI to testify against Tarek Zia, son of Khaleda Zia

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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

FBI to testify against Tarique

US official to give statement in money-laundering case in court today

Court Correspondent

An FBI special agent will today testify in a money-laundering case against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and his business associate Giasuddin Al Mamun.

The agent, Debra Laprevotte, had earlier helped the Anti-Corruption Commission investigate the money-laundering charges against Tarique, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and Mamun.

This is the first time an FBI agent is appearing as a witness before a Bangladeshi court.

In her statement, Laprevotte will detail how the US Federal Bureau of Investigation tracked the duo's involvement in laundering money to Singapore.

Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain of Special Judge's Court-3 yesterday granted permission for the FBI official to testify at the trial today. The order came in response to an application submitted by Anisul Huq, chief counsel for the ACC.

Earlier in the day, Mamun's lawyer completed the cross-examination of the complainant, Mohammad Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, an ACC assistant director, filed the case with Cantonment Police Station in October 2009, accusing Tarique and Mamun of laundering Tk 20.41 crore to Singapore between 2003 and 2007. The trial began on September 11 this year.

In his application, ACC chief counsel Anisul Haq told the court that the commission, during its anti-graft drive in 2007, had sought the FBI's help to recover the money siphoned out of the country.

The assistance was sought under the United Nations Conventions against Corruption for asset recovery.

In response, the FBI assigned Debra Laprevotte to aid the ACC in money-laundering probe against Tarique and Mamun.

Anisul argued that her testimony in the case was of vital importance. Besides, he added, she was now in Dhaka.

The defence opposed the court's decision saying the prosecution's application was unlawful.

Khondaker Mahbub Hossain appeared for Mamun. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam was also present at the hearing.

Mamun, now behind bars, was produced before the court during the hearing. He was arrested in March 2007.

Tarique, who was detained on March 7, 2007, and allowed to go abroad for treatment in July the following year, is currently in London.

Of the 15 cases against him, this is the first to go to trial in his absence.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=210336

BNP Arranged Safe Passage for the 21 Aug Terrorists

Plot hatched in Hawa Bhaban meetings

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Friday, April 8, 2011

Plot hatched in Hawa Bhaban meetings

Mufti Hannan confesses afresh about Aug 21 grenade attacks

Staff Correspondent

 

Mufti Hannan in a confessional statement disclosed the involvement of Hawa Bhaban and some former BNP ministers and intelligence officials in the August 21, 2004, grenade attack on an Awami League rally.
Harkat-ul Jihad (Huji) leader Mufti Mohammad Abdul Hannan made the fresh confessional statement before a Dhaka court yesterday about the attack that left Ivy Rahman, wife of President Zillur Rahman, dead along with 23 others and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wounded. At least 300 others were also injured.
On October 27, 2009, The Daily Star published an investigative report on the attack. The report disclosed the chilling conspiracy that was hatched in Hawa Bhaban.
Hannan, prime accused in the case, on November 1, 2007, made a confessional statement but Criminal Investigation Department moved for a new confessional statement following revaluations of more information through investigation.
First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan recorded yesterday's statement for over five hours from 4:00pm.
Sources in the CID said in the first confessional statement Hannan admitted carrying out the attack but in the new statement he said the attack was planned in meetings held at the Hawa Bhaban.
Hawa Bhaban was widely regarded as the alternative powerhouse of the then BNP-led coalition government.
Hannan said the meetings were held in presence of some then BNP ministers and businessmen close to BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami top brass.
However, the CID sources declined to disclose names of the people Hannan mentioned.
Hannan said fugitive Maulana Tajuddin, brother of detained former BNP deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, had coordinated the attackers and the people of different agencies who aided them.
In the first confessional statement, Hannan said they had smuggled in the grenades from Afghanistan, where Hannan had joined the Mujahideens to fight against the Soviets in the 1980s.
Now he says that the grenades came from Pakistan via Chittagong.
In the first statement, Hannan said they planned the attack in a Badda house in the capital a few days ahead. He had said around 12 militants carried out the attack.
He had said they wanted to kill Sheikh Hasina because she had slapped a ban on religious edict when she was in power, the sources added.
CID Special Superintendent Abdul Kahar Akand, investigation officer of the case, declined to make any comment on the new statement of Hannan.
So far, 12 accused have given confessional statements admitting their involvement in the attack. They are Mufti Hannan, his brother Mohibullah alias Mafizur Rahman alias Ovi, Sharif Shahidul Islam alias Bipul, Maulana Abu Sayeed alias Abu Zafar, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Arif Hossain, Rafiqul Islam Sabuj and Jahangir Alam, Islamic Democratic Party leader Sheikh Abdus Salam, Pakistan based LeT leader Abdul Majid alias Yusuf Butt, LeT leader Abdul Malek alias Golam Mohammad and Abdur Rouf.
The eight absconding accused are Pintu's brothers Maulana Tajuddin and Maulana Liton, Anisul Mursalin and his brother Mahibul Muttakin, Iqbal, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Howlader, Jahangir Alam Badar and Khalilur Rahman.
On June 11, 2008, the CID submitted a charge sheet accusing 22 people, including top Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and BNP leader and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu.
But the court asked police for further investigation into the attack to find out the sources of the grenades used in the attack, the suppliers of the grenades and also to unfold the mystery behind defusing the unexploded grenades soon after recovery.
During the rule of BNP-led coalition government, the then investigators allegedly staged a drama to mislead the investigation and protect the real culprits.

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© thedailystar.net, 1991-2008. All Rights Reserved

Source:  http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=180935

Protecting corrupt son Khaleda's biggest political failure

 

Tarique Rahman

Star Online Report

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Front Page

Kamaluddin Siddiqui, principal secretary to the then prime minister Khaleda Zia, told the then US ambassador to Bangladesh Harry K Thomas in early 2005 that Khaleda's biggest political failure was giving protection to her corrupt son, Tarique Rahman.

"He (Siddiqui) described PM Zia's indulgence and protection of her "corrupt" son as her biggest political failure," said a cable leaked on August 30 by whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

During a 40-minute meeting with the principal secretary on March 13, 2005, the then US ambassador advised Siddiqui that Tarique Rahman's request via confidants for meetings with senior US government officials in Washington could not be accommodated for protocol and other reasons. Siddiqui wholeheartedly agreed, adding, "Dynastic politics are not good for a nascent democracy."

In the same meeting, Siddiqui remarked that US pressure, along with the coinciding World Bank meeting in Washington on Bangladesh, had finally convinced Khaleda Zia that for the sake of Bangladesh's international reputation she had to brush aside the protection of Rajshahi area BNP MPs and arrest the JMJB "gangsters."

He added, "That's the problem with this BNP government… It only acts under pressure, so it doesn't get the credit it deserves for doing what it should have done months ago."

Siddiqui told Harry K Thomas that continued US pressure on the Bangladesh government was essential to bring to justice the killers of Awami League leader and ex-finance minister SAMS Kibria.

The ambassador reiterated the importance of bringing Kibria's killers to justice, and noted press speculation that an insider of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was linked to the local BNP leaders charged with the crime. Siddiqui asked rhetorically if the US envoy wanted him to name the individual who everybody knows, he said, comes from Sylhet and is a "problem." Siddiqui was referring to the then prime minister's political secretary Harris Chowdhury.

During that meeting with the US ambassador, the principal secretary also indicated that then civil aviation minister of state Mir Nasirudin wanted a bribe to decide whether state-run airlines Biman should buy Boeing or Airbus.

Siddiqui explained that he had declined to meet with a Boeing official originally scheduled to come to Dhaka next week (March 2005) because there was no need for Boeing "to preach to the converted." He stated that he supports Biman's purchase of Boeing aircraft and that he would energetically press after tomorrow's (March 14, 2005) cabinet meeting the reluctant civil aviation minister of state on the political and commercial benefits of buying Boeing. He indicated that one factor for the delayed.

Khaleda Zia failed by saving corrupt son Tarek Zia

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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Wikileaks Disclosure

Khaleda failed by saving 'corrupt' son

Her top aide confided to ex-US envoy

Staff Correspondent

 

Kamaluddin Siddiqui, principal secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, in early 2005 told Harry K Thomas, the then US ambassador to Bangladesh, that Khaleda's biggest political failure was to protect her corrupt son Tarique Rahman.

"He [Siddiqui] described PM Zia's indulgence and protection of her corrupt son as her biggest political failure," said a cable that WikiLeaks, an anti-secrecy organisation, leaked on August 30.

During a 40-minute meeting with Siddiqui on March 13, 2005, the US ambassador told Siddiqui that Tarique's request via confidants for having meetings with senior US government officials in Washington could not be accommodated for protocol and other reasons.

Siddiqui wholeheartedly agreed and said, "Dynastic politics are not good for a nascent democracy."

Tarique Rahman has been accused in 15 cases -- eight for extortion, three for graft, two for links with the August 21 grenade attack, one for money laundering and another for tax evasion.

Tarique held sway on Hawa Bhaban, political office of the then premier Khaleda Zia, which was widely considered as an alternative power centre during the tenure of the previous BNP-led coalition government.

In the meeting with the US envoy, Siddiqui said US pressure and the World Bank meeting on Bangladesh in Washington had finally convinced Khaleda to stop protecting BNP lawmakers in Rajshahi region and arrest the "gangsters" of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh for the sake of Bangladesh's global image.

JMB, a banned Islamist outfit founded in 1998, and its leaders Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai gained nationwide notoriety for terrorist activities between 2001 and 2005.

However, the then government had been in denial in initial years of JMB's operation and said "Bangla Bhai is a creation of the media." Later, the kingpins of the banned outfit were captured and executed in 2007.

Siddiqui said, "That's the problem with this BNP government… It only acts under pressure, so it doesn't get the credit it deserves for doing what it should have done months ago."

The trial of the murder of SAMS Kibria, former finance minister and Awami League leader, figured prominently in the meeting held barely a month and a half after the killing of Kibria in a grenade attack in Habiganj on January 27, 2005.

Siddiqui even referred to the then prime minister's political secretary Harris Chowdhury when the ambassador enquired about the media speculation that an insider of the Prime Minister's Office had links to the local BNP leaders charged with the grenade attack.

Referring to Harris, he asked whether the US envoy wanted him to name the person, who is from Sylhet and “is a problem.”

Siddiqui told Thomas that sustained US pressure on Bangladesh government was essential to bring Kibria's killers to justice.

The principal secretary also indicated that Mir Nasiruddin, the then state minister for civil aviation, wanted a bribe to decide on whether state-run airline Biman should buy Boeing or Airbus.

Siddiqui said he had declined to meet a Boeing official, who was to visit Dhaka the next week (March 2005), as there was no need for Boeing "to preach to the converted."

The principal secretary said he supported Biman's purchase of Boeing aircraft, and would press the reluctant state minister underscoring the political and commercial benefits of choosing Boeing.

He indicated that the state minister's desire for a bribe was one of the factors behind the delay in deciding on the issue.

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© thedailystar.net, 1991-2008. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=201331

The way US viewed Khaleda Zia and Her Cronies

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Tuesday, September 6, 2011           

The way US viewed Khaleda, her close ones

Staff Correspondent

Loyalty, closeness and family relations meant more to Khaleda Zia than titles or institutional positions in influencing the decision makings process during her second term in power, according to a cable leaked by WikiLeaks.

Seventeen individuals were identified as having the highest influence and control on Khaleda, also the chairperson of BNP, which is now the main opposition. Many of these insiders had close relationship with Tarique Rahman.

“For Zia, loyalty is a two-way street,” said a cable sent by the US embassy in Dhaka to Washington on May 11, 2005. The cable was disclosed by WikiLeaks on August 30 this year.

The cable divided the 17 individuals in three catagories inner, middle and outer circles.

It said it was good news that the US government has productive relationships with 12 of the 17 insiders and is trying to strengthen the relationships with Mosaddek Ali Falu, Syed Iskander, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mir Nasiruddin and Matiur Rahman Nizami. All of them, except for perhaps Jamaat-e-Islami leader Nizami, could be described as fundamentally hostile to the US. Very few of the 17 have the ability or interest to pressure Zia's basic outlook on politics or governance.

WHAT THE CABLE SAID

Tarique Rahman: Son of Khaleda Zia. He reportedly sold up to one-third of the 60 cabinet slots in the 2001 elections. Critics say he is ruthless, exceptionally corrupt, inexperienced in politics or business, poorly educated and unworldly. But admirers consider him as dynamic, smart and a new generation of the forward looking leaders. His then title of BNP's senior joint secretary masks, inefficiently, his unrivalled authority, save for his mother, in the party. He operates a "shadow government" from his "Hawa Bhaban" think tank, particularly on clearing government appointments and contracts.

Haris Chowdhury: Khaleda's political secretary. He was termed as rough demeanour who was reputed for his violent actions against the opposition account for his thuggish reputation.

Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury: Khaleda's adviser for parliamentary and energy adviser is an all-purpose player and accused of committing war crimes in 1971, rapist, arms smuggler and killer. His influence is reflected by is ability to survive his defeat in the election for the post of OIC secretary general, his vulgar attack on Sheikh Hasina afterwards and speculation on his involvement with the Chittagong arms haul shipment.

Syed Iskander: Khaleda Zia's brother exerts great influence on military procurement contracts and on senior military appointments. He has good links with the military and tied by business to Tarique Rahman.

Lutfozzaman Babar: Known as smuggler, ally of Tarique Rahman, and a pro-Jamaat leader, the former state minister for home grew influential as his ministry became more active in the run-up to the 2008 general elections.

Kamaluddin Siddiqui: Influence of Kamaluddin stemmed from his role as Khaleda's gatekeeper and bureaucratic ability to get things done. The principal secretary to the then prime minister viewed Tarique as uncouth and dangerous.

Saifur Rahman: The former finance minister had influence on economic, development and some political issues. He was respected for his competence and experience. But he seemed to do nothing to control his son, a BNP lawmaker who was the most corrupt after Tarique.

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain: The former health minister was loyal to Khaleda, but corrupt and involved with coal mining deals with the Chinese. In 2002, he held up a USAID-financed condoms shipment for months looking for a payoff.

Reaz Rahman: Under the middle circle group, Khaleda Zia's foreign policy adviser was at the top. An old-time BNP stalwart, he was close to Tarique and Babar and was articulate and direct.

Mosaddek Ali Falu: The PM's former private secretary was her intimate companion. He won in the controversial "festival of fraud" Dhaka-10 by-election in July 2004.

Brig Mohammed Haider: The former director general of National Security Intelligence (NSI) became a key player in Tarique's orbit soon after his appointment in January. He was deputed to deal with important ambassadors, for example, the "Tuesday Group's" proposed conference in November.

Mir Nasiruddin: The then state minister for civil aviation enjoyed Khaleda Zia's favour partly because as a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia he drew on his contacts to ensure Khaleda Zia is well treated when she goes to Mecca. Kamal Siddiqui said Nasiruddin was holding up the sale to Bangladesh of Boeing 777 jets because he wanted bribes.

Matiur Rahman Nizami: The former industries minister had access and stature as BNP's key coalition partner, but he did not exert major influence on policy. One of his sons in Manchester reportedly channelled local contributions via the NGO Muslim Aid to Bangladeshi madrasas.

Moudud Ahmed: The former law minister was the first in the outer circle. The politically opportunistic lawyer was counted on to promote the government line from defending extrajudicial killings.

Mannan Bhuiyan: The former minister and BNP secretary general was marginalised by Tarique's ascendancy and viewed with suspicion by the Prime Minister's Office since BNP dissident MPs mooted his name as a leader alternative to Khaleda.

Morshed Khan: The then foreign minister owes his position largely to his business wealth and generosity to BNP coffers.

Lt Gen Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury: The former chief of army staff had no sign of political ambition or independence. Awami League claims he is pro-Islamist but he comes across as just unobtrusively pious.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=201354

Tarek Zia okayed Huji terrorist plot

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Monday, August 22, 2011

21 August

Tarique okayed Huji plot

Aug 21 supplementary charge sheet reveals how grisly grenade attack was carried out with the help of admin, DGFI, NSI, police and then ruling alliance leaders

 

Julfikar Ali Manik with Chaitanya Chandra Halder
 

Huji leaders met Tarique Rahman a few days before the August 21 grenade attack in 2004 and got the go-ahead to stage the blasts.

Lutfozzaman Babar, then state minister for home, Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to then prime minister Khaleda Zia, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, then NSI director general Brig Gen Abdur Rahim and DGFI director Brig Gen Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury were present at that meeting, held at Hawa Bhaban in the capital's Banani.

The attack was the outcome of collaboration between Huji, influential leaders of BNP and Jamaat, and some officials of the home ministry, police, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

This is what investigators have found in further probe and described in the supplementary charge sheet in the August 21 murder case. The Daily Star has lately obtained a copy of the charge sheet submitted in July.

The August 21 blasts at an Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue killed 24 leaders and workers including Ivy Rahman, wife of now President Zillur Rahman, and injured 300 others including Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister.

According to the charges, leaders of banned militant group Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) had two meetings with Tarique, elder son of Khaleda and the then senior joint secretary general of BNP.
Both were held at Hawa Bhaban, widely considered the alternative centre of power during the last BNP-Jamaat coalition rule.

At the first meeting, in early 2004, Huji leaders sought support in executing their plans to assassinate Sheikh Hasina and other top AL leaders. BNP lawmaker Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad had helped arrange the meeting.

Tarique assured the Huji men of all-out support.

At the second meeting, which took place in mid-August, he reiterated his assurance to Huji boss Mufti Hannan and his associates.

For the second meeting, Huji leaders Mufti Hannan, Moulana Abu Taher, Moulana Sheikh Farid and Moulana Tajuddin went to Hawa Bhaban on a microbus of Al Markazul Islam, a non-government organisation.

Moulana Abdur Rashid of Al Markazul was with them, but he was left waiting on the ground floor when they went upstairs to meet Tarique.

On August 18, three days before the attack, the Huji leaders met Babar at the residence of former BNP deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu.

Owner of Hanif transport Mohammad Hanif and BNP ward commissioner Ariful Islam Arif were present at the meeting.

Babar and Pintu assured the militant leaders that Hanif and Arif would help them in every way and that “they would receive all administrative assistance.”

The Arges grenades used in the attack were smuggled in from Pakistan. Tajuddin, Salam Pintu's brother, had supplied the grenades, which were taken to Mufti Hannan's Badda office from Pintu's Dhanmondi residence on August 20.

The first charge sheet in the August 21 case was placed in 2008 against 22 people including Salam Pintu and 21 Huji leaders and workers.

The supplementary charge sheet was submitted on July 3, accusing 30 more people including Tarique, Babar, Harris and Mojaheed.

It says some police officials deliberately did not take necessary security measures so that the perpetrators had no difficulty staging the blasts and fleeing the scene.

The then Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Ashraful Huda, who later went on to become the Inspector General of Police, went abroad on the day of the attack without ordering adequate security arrangements for the AL rally.

On his return, he did not take any punitive steps against the law enforcers who were negligent in their duties on the rally venue.

The then IGP Shahudul Haque purposely did not update himself with the security measures taken on the rally venue.

He did not even visit the scene after the attack, though it was only around 500 yards from his office. He also did not issue any directives to identify or arrest the perpetrators
.
Tajuddin, supplier of the grenades, left the country for Pakistan on instructions from Babar. Khaleda Zia was aware of this, continues the charge sheet.

Tajuddin was given a fake passport with the name “Badal”.

Saiful Islam Duke, Khaleda's nephew and also private secretary, Duke's brother-in-law and DGFI official Lt Col Saiful Islam Joarder, and another top DGFI official Major Gen (rtd) ATM Amin had helped him flee the country on October 10, 2006.

Source: http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=199652

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© thedailystar.net, 1991-2008. All Rights Reserved

Huji leaders visited Hawa Bhaban several times

 

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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Huji leaders visited Hawa Bhaban several times

Top official of Islamic NGO Rashid tells court about Aug 21 grenade attack

Kailash Sarkar

Top official of Al Markajul Islami, Mufti Abdur Rashid, who was picked up and later released by CID confessed before a Dhaka court on Monday that the Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) leaders visited Hawa Bhaban several times using their ambulances and the Islamic NGO funded the Huji activities.

The CID men picked up Vice-chairman of the NGO Rashid on Sunday in August 21 grenade attack case.
However, Al-Markajul Islam at a press conference at its Babor Road office in Mohammadpur in the city yesterday evening claimed that the CID personnel forcibly picked up their Rashid from their office and forced him to sign on papers for statement.

But CID special SP Abdul Kahar Akand, also investigation officer of the case, denied the allegation and said, "Rashid is not an accused [in the grenade attack case]. He gave his statement positively as a witness.”
Mufti Rashid also gave statement before the CID officials on Monday regarding the grenade attack on a rally of Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue in 2004 that left 24 people dead and 300 others injured.
According to the sources, Rashid in the statement said before the attack, he accompanied Huji leaders Abdus Salam, Mufti Hannan, Abu Taher, Sheikh Farid and Sabbir when they went to Hawa Bhaban at Banani by the ambulances of Al Markajul Islami for holding meetings.

"The NGO funded often the Huji leaders for carrying out their activities. The masterminds of the attack also had a series of planning meetings at the NGO's office in the capital and the perpetrators fled the scene in one of its ambulances."

Replying to a query at Al Markajul Islami office yesterday evening, Rashid told The Daily Star, "I was not allowed to see the copies of statement, but the CID official read out the speech to me."

Asked, Rashid said he could not understand why did the Huji leaders mentioned his name to the CID and why did the CID personnel picked up him.

Hailing from Gopalganj district, Rashid said he stayed at Karachi New Town Madrasa in Pakistan from 1985 to 1997, he did not know Huji chief Mufti Hannan, who also stayed there for a long time, as well as he did not know any of the Huji leaders earlier.

Meanwhile, at the press conference, Al Markajul Islami Acting Chairman Mufti Sayeed Nur also said that they are not aware of the reason behind picking up Rashid.

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© thedailystar.net, 1991-2008. All Rights Reserved

Why BNP Desperately Needs a Criminal Like Babar