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'BLACKMAILING': A DANGERROUS TREND IN POLITICS
An unstable government likely after polls
M. Shahidul Islam
Bangladesh is famous for drama, disaster and danger. As the clock ticks toward the countdown hours of emergency's end and the people prepare to vote to elect a new government, a whole new dangerous ingredient- blackmailing- has been added to that diverse mix.
The shameless pre-election theatrics of one particular political party - JP (Ershad) - has been spinning the foretaste of what may follow after the election when intense jockeying to form the next government kicks off...[ FULL STORY ]
GEOPOLITICAL CRISIS IN SOUTH ASIA
External meddling in poll, politics likely?
Sadeq Khan
On December 15, a proclamation revoking the state of emergency and an ordinance repealing the Emergency Powers Ordinance and the Emergency Powers Rules, 2007 were issued. Investigations, trials and appeals pending under EPR 2007 would however continue as if the Rules have not been repealed, but their disposal would take place under normal laws of the land. The National Co-ordination Committee on Corruption and Serious Crimes has also been dissolved, except for its administrative backlog which shall be wrapped up by January 1, 2009...[ FULL STORY ]
Plaintiff wants to withdraw case against Tariq Rahman
Faruque Ahmed
In the case filed by Amin Ahmed Bhuiyan against Tariq Rahman -- for which Tariq was made a scapegoat for a volley of cases only to subject him to severe persecution and brutal treatment by a section of law enforcement personnel and speedy trial courts -- has made a confessional statement last week.
The plaintiff contractor Amin Ahmed Bhuiyan told the press that he did not lodge the case initially and Tariq Rahman, the elder son of the late president Ziaur Rahman and BNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was arrested even before "Bhuiyan was forced to lodge the case" of the alleged payment of Taka one crore as bribe. Bhuiyan broke into tears and said that police forced him to lodge the case only to give the arrest a legal cover. He said he was a victim of the power game for which Tariq Rahman was a bigger victim to become physically crippled by cruel torture in police remand...[ FULL STORY ]
What BNP, AL are promising to the nation
Special Correspondent
The BNP and Awami League (AL), the two major political parties, have issued their manifestos on December 12 and 13 respectively, promising various things to the nation.
The AL chief declared that her party formed a vision for the country's development by the year 2021, which is titled Vision-2021 in the manifesto and is aimed at the young generation of voters who got registered for the first time this year. In the year 2021 country will be 50 years old.
The BNP and AL election manifestos are basically programmes of action which broadly tells us that they are going to contain inflation and keep prices of commodities low, vitalise industries and agriculture, ensure basic right to food, shelter, clothing, education and health...[ FULL STORY ]
ELECTION CAMPAIGNS GOING ON
Khaleda for protecting country's sovereignty, Hasina cautions people against war criminals
Abdur Rahman Khan
Ahead of the general elections scheduled for December 29, Bangladesh politics has returned to a vibrant tone with the withdrawal of emergency rules.
High enthusiasm and the traditional mood are, however, missing this time due to imposition of restrictions on campaign activities under the new election code of conduct.
Meanwhile the parties participating in the elections under the present caretaker government have launched their campaign activities in full swing...[ FULL STORY ]
EVENTFUL WEEK IN AMERICA
Shoe throwing by Iraqi reporter at Bush generates global interest
Special Correspondent
The past week was packed with a raft of pulsating news both here in the US and elsewhere. Top on the list of course is governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich, who has put on sale the senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama.
The US constitution vests authority on governors to nominate a person to a vacant Senate seat from the concerned state. He publicly stated that he would give the Senate seat to the highest bidder Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John F Kennedy, who surprised Democrats by endorsing Barack Obama in the party nomination battle...[ FULL STORY ]
THE BOTTOM LINE
Taher Quddus
My childhood friend from far away came to see me on the eve of my departure for United States of America.
"Why have you decided to leave the country now? So many new things are sketched in the calendar for the very near future. Lifting of emergency after two years, holding 9th parliament election followed by Upazilla election, use of voter ID card, transparent ballot boxes, introduction of a system of no votes. These are all new. In the past we have seen many elections. Some were without voters some were without ballot boxes, some without presiding officer, even group of musclemen taking ballot boxes away from some voting centres. But this time none of those things are going to happen. So this election shall be a memorable event. I suggest you should not miss this," he said...[ FULL STORY ]
GLIMPSES OF THE GREAT
Edwin Hubble
K. Z. Islam
During the past 100 years, astronomers have discovered quasars, pulsars, black holes and planets orbiting distant suns. But all these pale next to the discoveries Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) made in a few remarkable years in the 1920s. At the time, most of his colleagues believed the Milky Way galaxy, a swirling collection of stars a few hundred thousand light-years across, made up the entire cosmos. But peering deep into space from the chilly summit of Mount Wilson, in Southern California, Hubble realized that the Milky Way is just one of millions of galaxies that dot an incomparably larger setting...[ FULL STORY ]
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