Himu's Window

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/opinion/15sun2.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin   Editorial Bangladesh in the Generals' Grip Published: April 15, 2007 Promoting democracy, especially in Islamic countries, is supposed to be a major goal of President Bush's foreign policy. But his administration has raised little protest as Bangladesh — until January the world's fifth most populous democracy — has been transformed into its second most populous military dictatorship. Washington is being dangerously shortsighted. Democracy can be messy, and in Bangladesh it was extraordinarily so. But military rule offers no answers to the grievances that fuel Islamic radicalism, as can be seen from nearby Pakistan (the world's most populous military dictatorship). By stifling authentically popular mainstream parties and their leaders, military regimes often magnify the political influence of religious extremists. This year's democratic eclipse in Banglade

BANGLADESH: TERRORISM Bang, Whimper Bangladesh's war on terror begins in earnest with the execution of six top militants Julfikar Ali Manik B angladesh's military-backed interim government may have moved swiftly to execute six top Islamic militants, including Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) supremo Abdur Rahman and his deputy Bangla Bhai, yet the country reels under threats of retaliatory terrorist attacks from an estimated 20,000 JMB followers. Security has been tightened countrywide even as authorities continue to arrest Islamic militants either belonging to the JMB or other groups, most of them with links to the Afghan war. The government has vowed to bring to justice those who backed such elements. Already a number of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders, including ministers and lawmakers, face charges of patronising militants. "We have tentatively identified the JMB's patrons," said Nur Mohamad, the Bangladesh police chief, adding, "W

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/04/13/d7041301085.htm   Bomb like the one used in killing of Jhalakathi judges recovered Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) is on top of the law enforcers' list of suspected killers of Jhalakathi district court Public Prosecutor Hyder Hossain although investigators did not find any clue to the murder as of last evening. Meanwhile, the joint forces yesterday recovered a powerful live bomb--identical to the one used for killing the two Jhalakathi judges on November 14, 2005--around half a kilometre off the scene of Hyder's murder. "Hyder Hossain's conducting of the Jhalakathi judges killing case against the militant kingpins might have triggered the murder," said Lt Col Shamim in the district. "Possibility of any third party's involvement has also been taken into consideration and the investigation is being conducted carefully," he added. Unknown assailants on Wednesday night shot dead Hyder wh

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/04/12/d7041201044.htm   Unknown assailants last night shot dead the public prosecutor (PP) of Jhalakathi District Judge's Court and chief counsel of the case filed against Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants for killing two Jhalakathi judges. The gunmen shot in the head of PP Advocate Hyder Hossain at 8:30pm soon after he came out of a mosque in the district town after Esha prayers. The attackers could not be identified as of 10:00pm yesterday. Hyder had recently said at different meetings that some people identifying themselves as JMB members were threatening him over telephone following the execution of the six top JMB militants. Police had been apprehending JMB retaliation since all legal bars were removed for the execution of the six JMB leaders, including its chief Abdur Rahman and his second-in-command Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai. The six militants were executed at different jails on March 29. Devotees

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/search/future+2050/SIG=13f364ed2/*http%3A//www.bangladesh-web.com/news/view.php?hidDate=2007-04-13&hidType=TOP&hidRecord=0000000000000000157273   Friday April 13 2007 12:05:33 PM BDT If the increasing temperature and extreme weather patterns continue to persist, production of rice may fall by 10 per cent and wheat by one third in Bangladesh by the year 2050, reports BSS. By that time total population of Bangladesh, one of the most seven populous countries in the world, is projected to increase by 130 million, posing a grave environmental, social and human disaster to the country. The caution was raised in the 'Climate Change 2007 Report' of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a research organization established by WMO and UNEP to assess scientific and technical information on climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. The report said food and wa

An elderly share-cropper was killed while quarreling over his due share of irrigation water in Tanore upazila.   Israfil, 50 of Sakopara in Tanore succumbed to his injuries at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital yesterday.   Sakopara deep tube-well operator of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority and his associates beat him up on Sunday morning.   The police said, Israfil was pressurising the deep operator for his water over last two weeks.   As he was continuously deprived, Israfil became impatient and locked in quarrel with the deep operator on Sunday.   At s stage, he was beaten up mercilessly, said the police.   Legal action in this connection was underway till filing of this report.     Smuggler Held in Godagari Police seized a pistol and 200 gram heroin while arresting an arms and drug peddler from Godagari upazila yesterday.   Shis Muhammad Shishu, 20 of Kodalkati Char was among a few top smugglers of the upazila, said the police.   Pol

Police arrested four militants of Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) and two cadres of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) from Bagmara upazila yesterday.   The detained militants are identified as Said Ali, 45, Joyen, 28 of Roynagar, Khoyer Ali, 36 of Kodapara and Akram, 40 of Sripur villages.   The police said, the militants were active in JMB operations led by Bangla Bhai in 2004 and accused in several torture cases.   The arrested outlaws are Mamun, 23 of Taherpur Basia and Khwaza Moyen, 28 of Maria villages. They are listed members of banned PBCP, said the police.   Different police teams led by Mirza Golam Sarwar, officer-in-charge of Bagmara police station caught them from their respective localities.   With the arrests, total 23 JMB militants and 51 outlaws were held in recent crackdown since mid January, said the police.   Meanwhile, police is continuing haunt against militants and outlaws simultaneously.