Himu's Window

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/20/d7072001149.htm     60 get 84-yr in jail in Natore arms loot case A Natore court yesterday sentenced 60 people to 84 years imprisonment in two cases--Gurudaspur Police Station looting and murder of a cop during the incident--in Natore district in 1987. Additional Sessions Judge Jebunnesa pronounced the judgment in a packed courtroom. The judge also fined the convicts Tk 20,000 each in the cases, in default they are to suffer another two years in jail. Of the convicts, 46 were present in the court, six died during trial of the cases and the rest have been absconding. Those present in the dock during delivering of the judgment are Ansar Ali Jasim, Saiful Tota, Aziz, Yunus, Abu Sayeed, Abed, Hatem, Motalib, Shahjahan, Abdul, Lutfar, Jhantu, Majid, Jonika, Rois, Akram, Omar, Laddu, Yunus, Aktar, Manik, Idris, Ismail, Bankes, Salam, Mannan, Reaz, Khoda Bux, Rashid, Mukul, Salam, Golam Rabbani, Jalal, Mojibor Rahman, Altaf, Kader, Am

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9525315   Lock up your leading ladies Jul 19th 2007 From The Economist print edition http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9525315   A curious democratic roadmap IN MOST countries, ambitious generals and unelected governments have a poor track record of delivering democracy. But this is still the promise to Bangladesh made by the generals who assumed emergency powers in January and the pliable administration they installed. This week the election commission published a roadmap to parliamentary elections to be held before the end of 2008. But the government was silent on when the state of emergency will be lifted. The next day the government reminded people of one reason why their constitutional rights remain suspended. It stepped up its purge of corrupt politicians, officials and businessmen, more than 150 of whom have been arrested since the beginning of the year. The police arre

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/17/d7071701022.htm       Commentary This is no way to strengthen democracy Just as "command economy" failed, so will "command politics"   Mahfuz Anam The only reason that the caretaker government has survived six months in power, and the chief advisor acknowledges it every time an occasion arises, is because the general public think of it to be an instrument to strengthen democracy. But now if this very instrument of 'strengthening democracy' becomes a symbol of mindless and arbitrary use of power, then how will the public distinguish it from such previous abusers of power and continue to lend it support? As a newspaper which supported the reform process of this government, we raise the above question in all seriousness. For we think by arresting Sheikh Hasina on charges that can easily be tried without her internment, the government has put at risk all its achievements of the last six months. To us She

  Prominent litterateur Hasan Azizul Haque yesterday termed the AL chief Sheikh Hasina's arrest as misfortune of the nation and said that establishment of democracy would be deferred at the move.   Besides, 131 RU teachers in a joint statement expressed their anxiety and demanded Hasina's release.   "There is no fortune for the nation in her arrest. It will create doubt (Bibhranti) among people", Prof Hasan, also a retired Philosophy professor of Rajshahi University (RU) said talking to a group of newsmen.   "There might be positive or negative impact (in the arrest), she (Hasina) should be judged by an elected government...the more the election is deferred in this way, the nation will be discouraged and democratisation will be delayed", he said.   The joint statement signatories include professors -- Abdus Sobhan, Mohammad Nurullah, Ananda Kumar Saha, Mahbubur Rahman, Fayekuzzaman, Moloy Bhoumik, Sujit Sarker, Dr Mizan Uddin, Moz