Shahbag Square-losing its apolitical character February 26, 2013
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, POLITICS.Tags: Projonma Chattar, Shahbag Square
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Shahbag movement of youth had started with the promise of a non-political platform to protest the judgment given to an accused in the war crime tribunal. In early days, no political figures were given the premise to express their opinion. Important political figures were refused and harassed on the spot.
Prime Minister express her support to the demand of young generation at Shahbag. The members of parliament expressed their unity with the Shahbag Square. (more…)
Shahbag Square -Enters into Tragedy and Controversy February 24, 2013
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, Blogging, POLITICS.Tags: Projanma Chattar, Rajib Haider, Shahbag Square
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One of 12 bloggers, who initiated the youth upsurge at Shahbag Square,Rajib Haider met a tragic death on the 15th February, 2013. He was killed by unknown assailants near his house. Jammat-Shibir was blamed by the online activists and the government ministers.
A grand nanaj-e janaja was held in the shahbag square to give farewell to one of their comrades.
But controversy arises with the publication of blog writings of Rajib Haider in some dailies. It is found that his writing contains full of hatred against religion and Islam, his language is unreadable and he showed minimum respect to the Prophet of Islam (sm).
An ordinary citizen
War Crime Tribunal and Game of Politics February 17, 2013
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, POLITICS.Tags: election pledge, International War Crime Tribunal, Shahbag
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International war crime tribunal now the main focus of attention of politics in Bangladesh. The present government after they came to the power in the end of 2008, open up the tribunal to fulfill their election pledge of trying the war crime criminals.The pledge in the manifesto was the most important agenda that motivated the young voters to put their faith on the party and to elect them to the power. (more…)
Shahbag Square turns into a sea of crowds February 12, 2013
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, Blogging.Tags: Projonma Chattar, Shahbag Square, Tahrir Square
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A small initiative of the bloggers on behalf of Online activists turns the Shahbag square into the sea of crowds.
The bloggers were spreading their intent and ideas on the web for long but they felt frustrated on the judgment of International War Crime Tribunal on Kader Mollah, who was accused on multiple accounts. (more…)
Shahbag Square – extended its demands February 11, 2013
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH.Tags: Projonma Chattar, Shahbag Square
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Shahbag movement of youths extended its demand from 1 point to 6 points that includes
1) Death penalty for all war criminals, including Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah, and revocation of the state’s power to grant them amnesty.
2) Amendment to the International Crimes Tribunal Act, allowing appeals against inadequate punishment and disposal of appeals from both the defence and the prosecution within three months of their filing.
3) The collaborators, who had been either convicted or under trial but set free from jail after political changeover following the coup on August 15, 1975, must be brought to book.
4) Ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami and like-minded religion-based political parties, anti-liberation forces and collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces.
5) All businesses, socio-cultural bodies and media outlets run by war criminals should be banned, the charter says, naming Islamic Bank, Ibne Sina, Focus and Retina coaching centres and media outlets Diganta TV, daily newspapers Naya Diganta, Amar Desh and Sangram and Sonar Bangla Blogs.
6) Trial of the political parties, forces, individuals and organisations that are trying to save war criminals and hatching a conspiracy to foil the on-going trial.
An ordinary citizen
International War Crime Tribunal Verdict Frustrates All February 8, 2013
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, JUDICIARY, POLITICS.Tags: International War Crime Tribunal, Kader Mollah, Shahbag Square
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International War Crime Tribunal pronounced its verdict of life sentence on Kader Mollah on 5th January 2013. It is the second case that the Tribunal gave the verdict.
In its first case on Bacchu Razakar it rendered capital punishment. Bacchu Razakar was absconded and probably left the country before he was arrested. But there was none to defend Bacchu Razakar and no political party reacted to the verdict. But in Kader Mollah’s case, Jamaat-e-Islami and Shibbir took a strong position to protest. They were staging violent protests on the streets and against the police. Even on the day of verdict, they declared dawn to dusk hartal. They threatened endless hartals if verdict goes against their will.
The verdict was declared at 12 noon on the day amid tight security at the tribunal and protest in the street. After the verdict, people from different stages expressed their frustration.
The Jamaat Shibir also rejected the verdict and increased their agitation on the streets. They clashed with police at different places of the country and resulted in death of atleast 5 people.
The presence of Bloggers at Shahbag is gathering momentum. Thousands of people of all ages are coming to the square to transform it into a sea of crowd. They are gathering to protest against the verdict. Their demand is the capital punishment for the offenders of war crimes.
An ordinary citizen
Rape, Protest and Frustrations January 17, 2013
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, Society.Tags: protest against rape, Rape
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A mass rape incident on a bus in Delhi shatters the country. The girl was raped and his boy friend was beaten and both of them were thrown out of the bus. The girl was treated in hospital at home and in Singapore. But she succumbed to death due to grave injury inflicted on her. The incident jolt the whole country. The women folks came down to streets in great number in Delhi and in other parts of the country.
When all people were absorbed with the news in Delhi, many rape incidents continue to occur in Bangladesh. So, many of them is similar or more critical than the Delhi accident.
But reaction in the streets in Bangladesh is minimal. Many of the offenders were arrested, but people do not feel confident about what punishment is waiting for them. Some of them would able to bypass the law, some may even not arrested.
An ordinary citizen
Skype, Judges, Trial & Controversies December 22, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, JUDICIARY.Tags: Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal, Skype
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Bangladesh is observing a series of events that was unexpected to the ordinary men as well as to the experts of legal practice.
That all started with the disclosure in the weekly ‘Economist’ of conversations of a judge of International war crime tribunal that is conducting the trial of war crimes against humanities that occurred in 1971 during the liberation war of Bangladesh.
Economist gathered the records of the conversation in the skype of 17 hours and also 230 E-mails between the judge,Chairman of Tribunal -1 and a lawyer based in Brussels. The lawyer is known to him, an expert on international law and a researcher on the crimes against humanity. The Economist also interviewed the judge and lawyer.
But the contents of the conversation raises questions as it exposes some controversial information such as government interference in the judicial process, pressure from the ministers to hasten the judgment, dictation from an outsider to frame the accusation and judgment etc. BD government accused Economist of hacking the skype conversation and filed case against 2 of the editors for contempt of court.
The Skype conversation is then published in a Bangladeshi daily ‘AmarDesh’ that created a stir in the political and legal circle. The judge, Chairman of the tribunal Muhammed Nizamul Huq resigned from his post. The government felt embarrassed and said the judge resigned on his personal ground. Government immediately replaced the judge and reformed the tribunal.
Case is filed against the daily to publish the personal conversation and interfering the judicial process. Fear was mount that the editor may be arrested.
The defense also took the opportunity and appeal to the tribunal to restart the trial from the beginning.
The political activists of Jamaat and Shibir whose leaders are mainly in the accused list have started street agitation over a month which is becoming more violent as the time passes on the demand to cancel the trial and release their leaders.
BNP, the main opposition party has recently extended its ‘moral support’ to the strike called by Jamaat on the plea that it is supporting the political right of the Jamaat as it is a registered political party to organize processions, meeting and hartal.
The Government and political wing AL is strongly against the BNP’s role and accusing it to obstruct the trial of war crimes by supporting Jamaat activities.
The trial falls into a state of confusion with the conflicting developments in the country. The law minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed and Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu have decided to clear all the questions regarding the trial.
The Government is determined to complete the trial in its present tenure.
An ordinary citizen
A Murder, Lies and Media December 16, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, Media, POLITICS.Tags: Bishwajit murder
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A youth of 24 years, Bishwajit, was murdered on the street of old Dhaka on 9th December 2012 by the gang of so called political activists on the day of ‘Aborodh’ or street blockade called by the opposition. He was just an innocent guy like thousand of others who was passing through the street at that time to attend his small business shop. But at that time, a procession of opposition lawyers was paraded the street and then a group of pro-government students armed with lethal weapons started to chase them, 2 cocktails burst near the procession. The activists ran towards the direction and chased Bishwajit to a dental clinic in the second floor of a nearby building. He was beaten by sticks and cut mercilessly by ‘chapati’ or butcher’s knife and when he came out of room and in the street with blood all over his body, he was chased by others with sticks and rods. He fell on the ground and was taken to the hospital by a rickshaw puller where he embraced the death.
The dead body was taken to the village home and was cremated the same night. The parents dare not to file any case against the miscreants
The TV channels showed the scene vividly on their screens and people thundered seeing the barbarity on the streets in broad day light in front law enforcing forces. There were lots of people near the scene but were helpless.The print media published the news in the front pages. People from all walks of life condemn the incident.
The Home Minister MKA said that the culprits do not belong to the student wing of the ruling party, either they are ousted from the party or only ex-worker of the organization. Police Administration in defense of their inaction said police were busy taking care of the injured lawyers. Home Minister declared that every culprit will be arrested and proper action will be taken.But police and HM was differing on the number of arrests. In the backdrop of mental anguish, the Prime Minister office declared that the culprits are in no way connected with student league, the student wing of AL, the party of the government.The communique also asserted that it is found that the murders are relatives of BNP Jamaat men. The assertion was criticized from different quarters and media and citizen groups demanded that it is essential to arrest the murderers whatever political linkage they have. The Home Minister also is accused of encouraging the murder by ordering the party student activists to actively prevent the opposition.
People are waiting to see what actions are taken by the government. The incident reflects the political unrest, conflict among parties, poor law and order situation in the country. The incident also exposes the human rights situation, partisan role of police and lies among politicians.
It is the media that play a professional role in the current event and exposes the situation in its true perspective.
We hope that everybody will learn the lessons from their mistakes and do justice to the people and to the country.
An ordinary citizen
Garments, Fire, Politics and Compensation December 7, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, INDUSTRY, POLITICS.Tags: Ashulia, fire, garments
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About 111 workers were burnt to death in a garment factory in Ashulia, 30 km from capital Dhaka , where most of the victims are young girls, many of whom are mothers of children. The news also spread like fire and telecasted in the media of home and abroad. The scene was unthinkable, unbearable to see and beyond description. The immediate reaction of the people was of awe and their hearts filled with sadness.
It was heard that the fire broke out from electric short circuit in the ground floor where piles of cotton were in stock . The fire alarms were ranged but it was at the same time announced that it was a false alarm. The gates were kept closed . The fire and fumes spread along the stairs and spread to the other floors. There was no way for the workers to escape from the disaster. Some of them managed to break the windows and jumped to the ground and to the adjacent roofs and many of them survived but many died and injured.
There was none found to take the responsibility. The owner was nowhere to find, no executive to respond to the need of the hour. The burnt bodies were lined up in the corridor of a school, relatives tried to identify their dear ones. About 55 were remain unrecognized. Their DNA samples were preserved and buried by numbers in a common ground for future identification. The injured were taken to different hospitals. But they found little support from the authority or government initially.
The government, the business leaders and citizen groups all felt concern for the situation. PM announced that it is an act of conspirators but citizen groups preferred to wait to the end of inquiry.
Business leaders discussed ways to limit the future damage and coordinate compensations for the workers but they found no fault on the part of the owner.For the survived workers it was hard to accept the fate of their co-workers. They engaged themselves in daily agitations in the industry area. Workers from other industries also joined them to show their sympathy.
At one time 3 executives for Tajreen Garment were arrested but the owner remain free.
After 6 days of fire, PM handed over cheque of Tk. 6 lac for each dead workers. But those who missed their relatives there were no soothing words for them.
The money was contributed by business associations, financial institutions and the government.
Tazreen Garment was declared closed but other garment owners took initiative to accommodate the left out workers of Tazreen.
But if such disaster cannot be prevented in future and if the plight of the workers cannot be changed, the lesson learnt from the incident will not be completed.
An ordinary citizen
Banning Jamaat Shibir November 25, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, POLITICS.Tags: banning Jamaat Shibir, Jamaat-e-Islami, Shibir
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In the backdrop of widespread violence created by Jamaat Shibir in the country, demands arise from different quarters to ban Jamaat -e-Islami and its student wing Shibir. Government Ministers and party leaders demanded ban on Jammat. The MPs in an unscheduled discussion raised their voice against the Jamaat. Left leaning politicians also in a round table conference demanded the ban.
But the Law Minister Barrister Shafiqul Hoque said that it is the Election Commission that will ban any political party, not the government.
Jamaat-e-Islami is so far a registered political party with the election commission. It had contested in the last election and have few seats in the parliament. It is in political coalition with BNP and fought the last election under the same banner.
But in a recent communique, BNP disown the violent activities of Jamaat-e-Islami.
But JI tries to defend itself saying that government is preventing it from exerting its political rights by not allowing it to bring out processions, arranging meetings , opening party office etc. Government spokesmen are saying that Jammaat is trying to disrupt the trail of war crimes.
In the meantime, our Home Minister MKA is trying to contain Jamaat and Shibir by employing pro-government political activists in support of police. He also urges the people to co-operate with the government in this regard but people are still acting as onlookers of the confrontation. The image of the police is also a little distorted from a servant of the state to a cadre of sitting government.
People are in dilemma whether Jamaat should be banned or not. Government may be also in dilemma, that’s why they couldn’t come to a decision yet.
Some people are also in support to keep Jamaat in open politics. They fear that an underground jamaat shibir would be more dangerous than the open jamaat.
An ordinary citizen
Trial of War Crimes and Politics of Jamaat-Shibir November 17, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, JUDICIARY, POLITICS.Tags: 1971, Jamaat, Shibir, war crime tribunal
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Trail of war crimes is continuing and it is expected that judgment on a few cases may be announced by December. The country is also witnessing a sudden rise of political violence on the streets of Bangladesh from capital to district towns. The shibir activists are likely involved in this violence. They are suddenly attacking the police on duty in groups with bricks and sticks. The attacks continued for about a week injuring 200 policemen in different parts of the country. The last attack took place in the heart of the city in the last week where they even attacked the protection cars and car of APS of Law Minister. The police were mercilessly beaten. The police looked helpless. Hundreds of people observed the scene as bystanders without coming in support of the police. Shibir activists only left the scene when police forces were reinforced.
The government showed sharp reaction to the incident. Home Minister in strongest language condemned the attack and declared to punish the culprits. He asked the AL youth wing-Jubo league activists to come in support of police though Juba league president didn’t accept the request saying that it is the duty of police and not of Jubo league workers. Home Minister also dismissed to have any form of dialogue with Jamaat Shibir in reply to the appeal made by US ambassador. He commented that we can’t compromise with decoits and killers. Let us first suppress them , then we shall talk. PM said that time has come to think about the religion-based politics in Bangladesh. She also said that the attacks will also accelerate the war crime trial. The AL leaders also blaming BNP for indirectly support Jamaat-Shibir attacks.
BNP recently declared that it no way owns the responsibility of attacks made on police by Jamaat-Shibir.
The objectives of the attacks on police is not clear. It is stated by neither Jamaat nor Shibir. But it is assumed that the attacks are made to somehow interfere the war crime trial. Jamaat was trying to project the trail in and outside the country as biased and not of international standard. In support of their demand they tried to organize protests at different times and different parts of the country, but those attempt were foiled by police in the capital and elsewhere. That may be a reason why they attack the police in desperation. It may be an abnormal expression of suppression of their political rights.
But is the way justified or logical in the context of judicial framework and political reality? The attacks may embarrass the government but it will at the same time distant them from the people and it will jeopardize the political existence of their party.
Government also make its position complex by starting the war crime trials not in its first term but a decade after and let Jamaat-Shibir to spread its root deep in the society, jointly conducting movement with Jamaat in early 90s for caretaker government, by not making the International War Tribunal international in standard and not independent in its procedure and inviting blame on itself to use the tribunal for its political ends.
It is difficult for an ordinary citizen to clearly visualize the days ahead but he can feel that the country is going through a very difficult phase and only hope that people would survive the crisis.
An ordinary citizen
Obama Wins ! November 9, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH.Tags: Obama, Romney, US election 2012
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Barak Obama wins for the second time to be the President of USA. Mitt Romney was his rival from the Republican. Before the election,it was quite uncertain who is becoming the president of USA. It was neck to neck tie in the pre-election polls. The last poll in the CNN labelled as Poll of polls was tie at 49% vs 49% just before the voting started.
People started to vote from 7 am and voting was open upto 7 pm. There was provision for advanced voting. A good percentage of voters caste their vote in advance. Barak Obama also voted on 26th October. Romney preferred to vote on the day of election.
Though the presidential election was more focused, but the voters also had to vote for congress and senate.
The trail of destruction of the super storm Sandy couldn’t change the schedule of election though many people who were affected by the storm would find it difficult to cast their vote.
I like the scene Biden voting standing in line and a commentator in CNN was saying that such a scene one can only see in USA.
When I left home for work in the morning, Romney was ahead then Obama in electoral votes. But when I was back home, the result settled with Obama winning at the presidency with votes from Florida still counting.
Obama was in Chicago, his root of political ascent. He congratulates his family, friends and people in a victory gathering in Chicago. Romney conceded his defeat in a public speech.
The drama of election is over and whole world observed it with keen interest.
An ordinary citizen
You Tube and Bangladesh November 2, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, Media.Tags: Anti-Islam film, You Tube, You Tube Banned
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I was looking for a practical demonstration of endotracheal intubation to have a visual impact of the process. I open the You Tube and found it still closed in Bangladesh. Like me, many of us would look into video clips of You Tube for useful purposes. But they will be frustrated.
I know that Bangladesh Government has closed down the You Tube in protest against publishing the hated film ‘Innocence of Islam’. Like Bangladesh , many of the Muslim countries also closed You Tube. But where some countries like Egypt, Indonesia only blocked the particular film, Bangladesh blocked the whole channel. It would have been better if Bangladesh could able to block specifically the film. It indicates the technical and diplomatic failure of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh should keep its effort continued to compel the Google authority to specifically cancel the film.
In the meantime, Bangladesh should open the You Tube so that people can use it as a source of information for useful use.
An ordinary citizen
Talk Show, Ministers & Code of Conduct October 27, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, POLITICS.Tags: Minister, MP, Talk show
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I missed that talk show. But the next day it became not only talk of the town but also talk of the country. The show was on RTV on before the midnight on 22/10/2012 and was conducted by Rubayet Hussain. The guests were among others Shahjahan Khan, Minister for Shipping and Barrister Rafiqul Islam, an Ex-Minister from BNP. But the talk show rather than an intellectual debate turned into a quarrel. But even then it crossed the gentleman’s limit and one of the speakers lost his temper and used abusive words that one never heard in talks before. The talk show host compelled to stop the show which was telecasting live.
The incident creates a nauseating condition among the viewers. There was something wrong in the process. The talk show may be a wrong exercise as the Prime Minister herself blamed the show as a means to cut throat of the government.
One thing is clear that talk show is not for all. Specially it is not a good platform for the politicians. Talk shows are designed for more tolerant and logical approach. The parliament would better suit the politicians. People also like to see them in the parliament but that is conspicuously absent for long time.
It is also difficult for the talk show moderator to regulate events in hard hands. He has no power like that of speaker. He can only be careful not to call the offender for the second and to be careful for his next guests.
The channels should also develop code of conduct for the guests so that this art of intellectual exercise can continue unabated.
An ordinary citizen
TIB and Profile of MPs October 24, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, POLITICS.Tags: Member of parliament, MP, TIB, Transparency International Bangladesh
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Transparency International Bangladesh recently published a report on the performance of MPs in Bangladesh. It was observed that 149 of sitting MPs representing 97% were engaged in negative activities. and 70% of them were involved in criminal activities and among them, 53.5% MPs are directly engaged. Of the 149 MPs , 141 are male and 8 female , 136 from Treasury Bench members, 27 are ministers and state ministers and 13 opposition law makers.
The negative activities include influencing administrative works, interfering developmental activities, misusing developmental funds, being involved in or support the criminal activities, influence the purchase procedures, break the electoral law, grave plots etc.
The report added that people are little satisfied with their role in fulfilling electoral pledges, representing the locality in the parliament, participation in the developmental works and communicating with the people.
The report pointed that the causes for involving in negative activities are using the MP post for earning, structural limitation such as obligation to the party, extra-administrative responsibility, not oblige to disclose information, absence of punishment specially of the government law makers, lack of exercise of democratic values.
The report also recommends increasing participation of the lawmakers in the parliament by freeing them from administrative and developmental works, abolishingg the provision for boycotting the parliament, cutting the leave of MPs from 90 days to 30 days, not to remain absent for 7 days at a stress, giving the opposition their due share, electing deputy speaker from opposition, resigning of speaker from the party and making provision for electing him uncontested in the next parliament, abolishing clause 70 of the constitution and making the MPs free to vote on different issues in the parliament.
and to discourage the negative activities the report suggests framing rule of conduct for the MPs, taking actions against negative activities, publishing statement of income and expenditure, wealth, loan , income tax, criminal cases, development allotment etc, to aware the public about the duties and responsibilities of the law makers by the media and election commission etc.
After the disclosure of the report the citizen groups and common people found the report reflected their views but the government reacted sharply to the report. They view the report as incorrect and as a conspiracy to encourage non-political transition of the government.
The officials of TIB rejected the objection and argued the report is based on actual perception of people.
An ordinary citizen
Reference Link: Report of TIB on MPs
Destruction at Ramu October 13, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, POLITICS.Tags: Buddhist, Buddhist temples, Ramu
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Bangladesh awake with the news on the morning of 30th September 2012 that organised mobs attacked the Buddhists establishments including their temples, pagodas, shops and houses mainly at Ramu, a small town near Cox’sbazar. The mob ransacked and burnt 12 temples and monasteries including 3 pagodas, 50 shops and many houses. Many valuables and historical documents were destroyed in fire.
The incident has taken place as a reaction to an uploaded picture disrespectful to the Quran in the facebook by some Uttam Kumar Barua.
On the day of event, on 29 September 2012 people gathered at Ramu from 8 pm protesting the said dishonoring of the Quran. Initially the number was in hundreds and people from all walks of life were there from all walks of life including the AL activists. Then thousands of people came from different areas most of whom were unknown to the locals. It is found that police and Administration were informed but they didn’t appear in sizable number in the scene. The mob started to attack, ransack and burn the Buddhist temples and other targets. The mob used gun powder, small concretes which seems to be already collected prior to the attack. All these indicates to the planning and organization of the attack.
The new Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir visited the site immediately after. He expressed his sympathy to the victims, declared to punish the culprits and pointed his finger to the local MP of BNP for the massacre. More than 100 people were arrested in this relation. A government inquiry committee is also formed.
BNP rejected the government’s assertion and declared to have their own inquiry on the matter.
Chairman of the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission Dr. Mizanur Rahman visited the site and seek apology for the atrocities committed to the Buddhist community.
Prime Minister Sk. Hasina jn her meeting at Cox’s bazar blamed BNP and Jammat for the crime. But many of the members of the affected community didn’t attend the PM’s meeting as they said many of attackers on the temples were present in the meeting.
A delegation from Citizens group went to the site and opined that communal sentiment overcame the political identity in the incident.
The tension of the Buddhist community is not yet over.
The people are wailing for a full inquiry, an acceptable explanation of the lapses, exemplary punishment to the offenders and proper security to the community.
An ordinary citizen
Talk Show -Citizens’ Parliament October 3, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, POLITICS.Tags: Parliament, Talk show
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Talk show is gradually becoming popular in Bangladesh. Talk show started in Channel Eye with Tritiya Matra (Third Dimension) hosted by Jillur Rahman, a young innovative media journalist. Tritiya Matra recently observed its anniversary. The get-together was attended by leading talk show experts of the country.
Tritiya Matra for long used to arrange talk show between elected members of the parliament. The idea was good but I could seldom enjoy the quarrel of the law makers. I was not impressed with the level of intellect they exposed in their deliberations.
Gradually other talk show expanded in different channels. The subjects also extended from political quarrels to constitutional, business and academic issues.
Talk show is now second to News in popularity. Every channel is telecasting multiple talk shows on different subjects. Among the subjects political issues drawing maximum viewers. Many experts draw the attention of the people by their critical analysis, independent opinion and sharp comments. Many of them are quite regular, others come occasionally. They are from different backgrounds-university teachers, Journalists , lawyers, politicians, business leaders etc.
etc.
Political issues touch all the important events- some of the recent topics include Padma bridge, Hall Mark scam, caretaker government, Share Market crisis, Bank liquidity crisis, Grameen Bank, Dr. Yunus, forced disappearance, extra-judiciary killing etc.
One of the sad scenario of our time is that though their is an opposition but there is no participation of them in the parliament. Somehow people are getting glimpse of debate on important national issues from the talk shows.
Many expert opine that the talk shows become the alternative parliament and it becomes the citizens’ parliament.
An ordinary citizen
Nanotechnology : Prospects in Bangladesh September 29, 2012
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, TECHNOLOGY.Tags: BUET, Dhaka University, nanotech, nanotechnology, research, science
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An workshop on ‘Nanotechnology and Its Prospect in Bangladesh’ was organized recently by Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the program and expressed all out support for the progress of nanotechnology in Bangladesh.
Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. The size of the materials is between 1 to 100 nano meters. The term was coined in 70s and the presence of new science could be felt in early 80s. The nanotech is gradually increasing its dimension in different field of sciences.
The prospect of nanotech is already felt by the big powers. USA has invested 3.7 billion dollars. The European Union has invested 1.2 billion and Japan 750 million dollars in development of nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology have great ptospect in developing applications in many field of sciences such as in medicine, electronics, biomaterials and energy production.
How can Bangladesh use this new science in its own advancement? One of the area that Bangladesh can afford is to introduce this new science in different universities. Bangladesh can also send our teachers and scientists to different leading universities and research organisations to get more knowledge and skills on the subject. If possible Bangladesh can also arrange joint research on the subject with foreign universities and organisations.
We should also try to use nano applications in its earliest opportunities.
An ordinary citizen
Dr. Maqsudul Alam, Our Jute and Fungus Decoding September 24, 2012
Posted by bdoza in AGRICULTURE, BANGLADESH.Tags: Dr. Maksudul Alam, Fungus, Jute
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Few weeks back I was listening to a news in the TV stating that jute cultivators are in frustration as this year they lost their crops for fungus attack.
I was more than delighted hearing the news of Dr. Maqsudul Alam discovering the sequence of the fungus that destroy our jute.
The fungus – macrophomina phaseolina- is responsible for damaging jute and 500 more crops. 30% of the jute in our country are destroyed by this fungus causing loss of Tk. 4000 crore per year. By applying this gene code of fungus and jute code that he discovered 2 years back, new varieties of jute can be developed that will be finer in form and more resistant to fungus.
The project was financed by Bangladesh Government. The news was disclosed by the PM in the Parliament. The article was published in BMC Genomics on 17 September 2012. 17 scientists of different labs worked in the team. Final sequence of fungus gene was unveiled in the BARI laboratory, Dhaka.
Dr. Maksusul Islam has earlier decoded Papaya in USA and rubber plant in Malayasia.
Bangladesh has filed for patent right of Jute code and Fungus code, the patent right may bring billions of dollar to Bangladesh in future.
Congrats to Dr. Maqsudul Alam. He is a genius. He is a great hero for Bangladesh.
An ordinary citizen
Bangladesh
