Himu's Window

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/16/opinion/edbang.php   IHT Opinion   The generals of Bangladesh tighten their grip on power   Published: April 16, 2007   Promoting democracy, especially in Islamic countries, is supposed to be a major goal of President George W. 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. The democratic eclipse in Bangladesh this

http://www.indiaenews.com/america/20070416/47538.htm NYT flays Bush over Bangladesh developments From correspondents in Washington, United States, 02:31 PM IST The Bush administration has come under media attack for the first time for 'ignoring' the emergence of military rule in Bangladesh. Suggesting that the mass arrests of political activists in Bangladesh and the hounding of its two top politicians could lead to a creeping authoritarianism, the New York Times said military rules offers no answers to grievances that can fuel Islamic radicalism. Pakistan, it said, was a clear example of this. Commenting on the situation in Bangladesh, which is now virtually under army rule, the newspaper faults the Bush administration for raising 'little protest'. 'Washington is being dangerously short-sighted. 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

Police arrested Godagari municipal ward commissioner Salauddin Biswas from in front of municipal office on Saturday afternoon.   Salauddin was placed before a court yesterday with a petition for his detention.   The court sent him to jail and will hear on the petition today.   The police said, Salauddin was recently listed as the godfather of smugglers and terrorists following his activities during last several years.   He was arrested a few months back, but was released on bail following political pressures, said the sources.   "For his role, Godagari was a safe heaven for heroin smugglers", said a police official at Godagari police station.     Salauddin was accused in two cases of murdering human-hauler peddler Sohel Rana and misappropriating CI sheets of government relief fund.   He was also engaged in different anti-state activities and police assault, said the police informing that over 10 general diaries were lodged against Salauddin with

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