Restoring Army backed CTG’s Image

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed is desperately trying to salvage the image of his army backed government. The Army-backed Caretaker government is increasingly facing scrutiny of national and international observers around all the political developments in Bangladesh as it is widely believed that their actions have not been even handed, fair and transparent.

During the recent interview with the BBC Bangla,

he dismissed,“the notion that the country is placed under a dual rule and said he does not perceive any political role of the armed forces..."I do not feel existence of dual rule… the army is assisting the civil government and playing an important role in curbing corruption, improving law and order, distributing flood relief. I do not see the reflection of their political role through these activities," he said in an interview with BBC Bangla Service yesterday”.

We could welcome his statement had all the happenings in Bangladesh validated his claim.

Current political reforms have suffered severe blow as we’re continuously watching the Army is backing certain known political faces to advance their political agenda and platform when the rest has been cowed down due to political ban. Even the corruption charges are not brought to all the bad apples as some are needed to be spared for next go round. It is really pitiful when the military backed government has starkly spared fundamentalist Jamaat leaders on some severe charges to use them for next go round. Following the recent incident in Dhaka University, the Army has arrogantly crossed its boundary when they embarked on revenge spree to charge and torture students, teachers, journalists and civilians. Undoubtedly, the current regime has completely destructed the justice system in Bangladesh as it’s fully run by fear and retribution.

The army backed CTG is trying to restore the distorted image of its government as many developments are taking place in political and diplomatic arena. Dr. Fakhruddin is visiting the United Nations later this month when he will face both diplomatic and media inquiries about his government’s action for democratic transition. United States has recently appointed James F. Moriarty as the US Ambassador in Bangladesh who is supposed to be reporting next month. Bangladesh is under the radar as the recent congressional hearing specifically expressed concern about its democratic transition.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs John Anthony Gastright, Jr is coming to Dhaka next week on a three-day official visit apparently to observe the political situation in Bangladesh. Diplomatic circles in Dhaka are considering the visit of Gastright very important, as he will be meeting the government, civil society and high military officials to know about the latest situation in the country and progress towards implementation of the election roadmap announced by the caretaker government. European Parliament has recently adopted a resolution on Bangladesh that urged “the Caretaker Government to act in accordance with the rule of law and to speed up the restoration of democracy”.

The current CTG is the direct result of the people’s demand to bring democracy through a free, fair and transparent election process. Should the army-backed CTG fail to honor people’s long cherished desire and demand for a democratically elected government, it will plunge the country once aging into another political crisis and instability. Will the Army back down from playing dirty political games behind the scene when the people are going to choose their leaders in the next election?

Joseph Crowley Called Authority for Normalcy

Source: Daily Star
August 26, 2007

US Congressman Joseph Crowley, co-chair and founder of the Bangladesh Caucus, has called on the authorities in Bangladesh to allow students to return to their institutions and to refrain from detaining faculty members and professors at universities.

Crowley, member of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, in a statement in New York said, "As calm is restored throughout Bangladesh, I urge authorities of the caretaker government to take appropriate steps in allowing life for the Bangladeshi people to resume a sense of normalcy."

He said: "Students should not have to face any obstacles imposed by the authorities in attending university, and professors should not be unnecessarily detained."

The US congressman also called on the authorities "to refrain from any wide scale crackdown and arrests at educational institutions throughout Bangladesh".

US Congressional Hearing on Bangladesh

We’re sharing with our readers a portion of the US Subcommittee Hearing on the Middle East and South Asia on the critical political developments in Bangladesh. This hearing took place on August 1, 2007. VOA reports on August 2nd, "US Congressman and the chairman of a sub committee on foreign affairs, Gary L Ackerman, expressed concern about the political reform in Bangladesh through an “extra-constitutional process”. He was speaking at the House Sub Committee on Foreign Affairs at the Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday. Islamist parties might expand their influence in the absence of any strong mainstream party, he says. He is also doubtful about the proposed time table of the general election by the end of 2008..."

Honorable Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee expressed her grave concern about the military backed care taker government’s emergency rule as she asked the State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary John A. Gastright about the steps taken by the State Department. She was concerned about the due process, human rights, and election deadline. Yes, the Bangladesh dailies have not reported what Honorable Congresswoman made quite clear in her opening statement. Honorable Congresswoman specifically warned that if Bangladesh is not moving for election, the US Congress will push for special legislation. Thank you Honorable Congresswoman Jackson for joining us in restoring democracy in Bangladesh.

Get this widget Share Track details

Daily Star reports on August 3rd:

“The United States has reiterated its strong support to the caretaker government's drive against corruption in Bangladesh and commended the announcement of election roadmap as well as the reforms measures.

"Success of reform measures taken by the caretaker government will benefit the people," said US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Gastright at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday during a testimony given in the US Congressional Committee.

His remarks came a week after US President George W Bush appreciated Bangladesh's election roadmap. Bush made his statement on July 26 when new Bangladeshi envoy to US presented his credentials at the White House.

According to a release issued by Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, Gastright said the caretaker government has undertaken a series of reform measures, which will benefit the people of Bangladesh, if carried out successfully”.

New Age reports:

“US congressional committee wants lifting of ban on politics”
Members of the US Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs expressed their desire to see the lifting of the ban on political activities in Bangladesh soon, and hoped that the interim government would stick to the deadline declared in the roadmap for holding general elections by 2008.

The committee made the remarks during the testimony given by US deputy assistant secretary of state, John Gastright, at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday. The hearing was presided over by chairman of the committee Congressman Gary L Ackerman and was attended by Congressmen Joseph Crowley, Steve Chabot, Frank Pallone and Congresswoman Jackson Lee, said a release issued by Bangladesh embassy in Washington”.

Yes, the hearing also inquired about the safety of the two leaders, detention of two hundred thousand people, corruption, terrorism, human rights, the numbers of cross fires by RAB and so on. Indeed, there are a lot of issues unexplained about the military backed Government’s undue influence on selective political reform, patronage, and mass intimidation on political, civil and professional groups. That has yet to be explained. After all, the Subcommittee Hearing has really put the State Department on task to follow the overall progress unfolding in Bangladesh and maintain its diplomatic efforts to keep the militarybacked government on track. You can also watch this two-hour long hearing in real player. Who will dispute that this world has become smaller?