Exhibition on Shipbreaking in Bangladesh

EXHIBITION: Steel Beach - Shipbreaking in Bangladesh
8 February - 30 March 2008
Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour

Skeletons of half-scrapped ships and workers tearing them apart on the mud-flats of Bangladesh are vividly captured in a new photographic exhibition coming to the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Steel Beach - Shipbreaking in Bangladesh draws together more than 40 images by Sydney photographer Andrew Bell to show the tough reality and dangers of the unregulated shipbreaking industry.

Near the town of Sitakunda, on the mud flats of the Bay of Bengal, the beach graveyard for old ships stretches more than 25 kilometres. It is home to approximately 65 separately owned ship scrap-yards and more than 40,000 workers.

Andrew Bell's photographs capture the unwanted oil tankers, passenger liners and fishing boats beached on these mud-flats where thousands of labourers work with blowtorches, hammers and brute strength to dismantle and recycle every inch of the giant steel structures.

He portays the dangerous conditions the labourers work under without basic safety equipment.

His photographs also show the immense task of recycling these ships, from the removal of all electronics, fittings, furniture, pipes, wiring, bolts and heavy mechanical equipment to the oil from the ship's bottom and the steel structure itself. Breaking a sizable ship takes about six months.

Bell trained in London and has been a photographer for more than 30 years. He has travelled extensively with his camera including documenting the tribes of Kenya, Chernobyl, and the Swenkas of Soweto (South Africa).

He first became fascinated by the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh when coming upon an article on the Greenpeace website. Astounded at the working conditions and the "industrial wasteland" of the beach, Bell has been to Bangladesh three times in an ongoing project to to document this dangerous industry and its workers.

Steel Beach - Shipbreaking in Bangladesh opens to the public on 8 February 2008, admission free. It will remain on view until 30 March.

The Australian National Maritime Museum, in Darling Harbour, is open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm. All inquiries (02) 9298 3777 or visit http://www.anmm.gov.au/

Deshi Voice observes first anniversary

Deshi Voice, a group blog, is going to observe its first anniversary on January 27th. We are committed to continuously raise and reflect all the issues, challenges, and prospects that we are experiencing in today's Bangladesh. We welcome your feedback, comments and concerns about our blog. You can share your thoughts with us at voice4bd at gmail dot com Thank you for staying with us.

News analysis of a dramatic trial

বাংলাদেশে চলছে নাটকীয় বিচার। প্রাক্তন প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনার বিরুদ্ধে চাঁদাবাজির মামলার প্রক্রিয়া শুরু হয়েছে। প্রধানমন্ত্রী থাকা অবস্থায় তিনি জনৈক আজম চৌধুরীর নিকট থেকে তিন কোটি চাঁদা নিয়েছেন বলে সামরিক সরকার তাঁর বিরুদ্ধে মামলা করেছে। অবশ্য সামরিক গোয়েন্দা বাহিনীর লোকজনের হাতে মামলাকারী উধাও হন। তারপর মামলা দায়ের করার পর পরই তিনি মু্ক্তি পেয়ে বাড়ী ফেরেন। বর্তমান সামরিক সরকার তাঁর হাঁটুতে নেমে আসা বুদ্ধি দিয়ে এই নাটকীয় মামলায় নেমেছে। এর আইনগত বা প্রামাণিক সত্যতা নিয়ে আইন বিশেষজ্ঞসহ সাধারণ মানুষের মনে যথেস্ট সংশয় ও প্রশ্ন আছে। আজকের চ্যানেল আইনে প্রচারিত আজকের সংবাদপত্রের আলোচনায় অবজার্ভার পত্রিকার সম্পাদক সাংবাদিক ইকবাল সোবহান চৌধুরীর আলোচনার ভিডিওটি এখানে দেখুন:



বর্তমান সামরিক সরকার তার মাইনাস ফর্মুলা বাস্তবায়নের জন্য যে প্রক্রিয়া আর পদ্ধতি গ্রহণ করেছে তা যথেস্ট হাস্যকর। এর ফলে সরকার যে বিচার ব্যবস্থার স্বচ্ছতাকে নির্মমভাবে বলি দিচ্ছে তা বলার অপেক্ষা রাখে না। বিচারের জন্য এধরণের রাখঢাক করে সাজানো মামলা দিয়ে সরকার নিজের রাজনৈতিক এজেন্ডাকে জনগণের কাছে স্পস্ট করছে। এই মামলার অভিযোগের দূর্বলতা ও অস্পস্টতার বিশদ বিশ্লেষণ করেছে এশিয়ান সেন্টার অব হিউম্যান রাইটস। অবশ্য সরকার তার পছন্দের পথে এগোবে। এর মধ্যে আছে নির্বোধদের ঔদ্ধত্য। তা হাস্যকর হলেও সমস্যা নেই। এর আইনগত দূর্বলতা থাকলেও সমস্যা নেই। গোয়ার্তুমির কাছে যুক্তি খাটে না।

Trial Episode 1: Sheikh Hasina

Watch today's news coverage on Sheikh Hasina's trial:


BDnews24 reports,

Earlier during the trial, Hasina said: "I know I won't get justice. I want justice from Allah and people."

"I have struggled all my life for democracy. I will struggle more. But I have never agreed to any military dictator's coming to power or becoming president. Military dictators have captured power in this country time and again."

Hasina described the chief adviser's address to the nation as a "lie".

"The chief adviser said the trial of politicians was going on under law. This is worse than trial. This is in-camera trial. This is against the constitution."

At the time, the judge intervened and told Hasina, "Instead of saying all this, tell us whether you are guilty or innocent."

The comment prompted lawyers to heckle the judge.

Hasina called for calm.

The Awami League president continued: "The Election Commission has said they will hold the election by December, as per their roadmap. However, where there is no road, where do you get the map?"

The embattled party chief also demanded the unconditional release of all students and teachers of Dhaka University detained following the campus unrest last August.

"Defaming a teacher is shameful for the nation. The nation will not tolerate this shame. They don't want the nation to become educated," she said.

To the judge, Hasina said: "Why is everything revealed to you from a special place. You have no power to do anything against them. If you do, you may be in trouble."

"I wanted to resist vote rigging by the four-party alliance in order to establish the people's right to vote. This is my big crime."

"I was abroad attending to my ailing daughter when the cases were filed against me. I was then told that if I did not return to the country the cases would be withdrawn against me."

"I am now facing these false cases because I refused to agree to their proposal," Hasina said.

The former premier said: "I don't know Azam Jahangir Chowdhury. I have never even met him. How then could I take bribe from him?"

"Around 4,300 megawatts of power were produced during my tenure. How was so much electricity produced if I took bribes?"

"I want to tell the nation through the court that I'm a daughter of the Father of the Nation."

"I myself became prime minister and have never taken one taka through corruption. I'm completely innocent. How can I tolerate such defamation?"

Hasina said she had given the family's Dhanmondi home to the nation and that 1,200 students were continuing their studies through the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust.

She claimed 982 students had had their education suspended due to the case.

Hasina claimed that she had not had full access to her lawyer: "I have been kept in solitary confinement," she said.

"Allah protected me from the attacks on August 15 and August 21. But now they want to kill me off politically. This case has been filed to smear me in front of the people," Hasina alleged.

Breaking News: Court frames charges against Sheikh Hasina

BREAKING NEWS
Court frames charges of extortion against Hasina, Rehana, Selim

Dhaka, Jan 13 (bdnews24.com) – A Dhaka court Sunday framed the charges of extortion against Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and their cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim for trial proceedings to go ahead.

Metropolitan sessions judge Md Azizul Haque framed the charges against them and set Jan 17 for starting testimony of the witnesses, a bdnews24.com correspondent reported from the makeshift court on the Sangsad Bhaban premises.

The judge rejected the arguments by the defence counsels that the charges should not proceed further.

Hasina was in the dock when the judge framed the charges. Selim, a former cabinet member under Hasina's premiership, also witnessed the charge-framing. Rehana lives in London, and the prosecution showed her as a fugitive.

They are facing charges of extorting some Tk 3 crore from a businessman when Hasina was in office in 1996-2001.

Hasina's counsels said they would challenge the latest decision in the higher court.

They also requested the court to adjourn Sunday's proceedings for 21 days to make room for the appeal to the higher court but the judge refused to do so and framed the charges.

The judge read out the charges and asked Hasina if she was guilty.

Hasina said: "I am completely innocent. The case has been filed as part of a conspiracy. Allah has saved me on Aug15 and Aug21. Now the government is out to malign me before people. This trial is illegal."

"This is an 'in camera' trial. The case is illegal in line with the constitution. It is aimed at preventing me from contesting the polls."

The former prime minister told the judge: "You are not independent although the judiciary is free. You get messages from special places. You have no way to disobey them."

The former prime minister said she was facing the present condition because she did not agree to allow that a military dictator would come to power.

"I have fought for democracy throughout my life. I will call upon the people to continue to fight for that cause. There's nothing better than democracy."

On June 13 last year, businessman Azam J Chowdhury filed the case against Hasina and Selim, accusing them of giving them some Tk3 crore in extortion.

Azam said he was forced to pay the money, otherwise the accused had threatened to cancel the project.

Hasina was arrested on July 16 last year at her Sudha Sadan home in Dhanmondi. Hours after her arrest, she was sent to a special jail awaiting trial.

The Awami League said it would continue to fight legally to free the detained leader.

Chief Adviser addressed the nation

Four former student leaders Zahiruddin Shapan, Fazlur Rahman, Shirin Akhter and Mahmudur Rahman Manna are talking about the caretaker government and future of national politics in Bangladesh. Watch this interesting hour long discussion at Tritio Matra moderated by Zillur Rahman at Channel I.



Daily Star reports,

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the government is considering lifting restrictions on indoor politics countrywide and gradually relaxing the state of emergency depending on 'needs and circumstances'.

Addressing the nation on the first anniversary of the caretaker government in office, he said his administration would soon move to open dialogue with political parties in line with the decision taken by the advisory council Thursday.

"I hope the political parties will capitalise on this situation to be democratic and free of corruption. The sooner it happens, the better," said Fakhruddin.

In his speech, he outlined various steps and achievements of the government since taking over on January 12 last year.

"We hope the government, Election Commission and the political parties will hold discussions between themselves to pave the way for an ascent to democracy," he added.

"I reaffirm our commitment to holding the national election by December 2008 and if possible even earlier," said the chief adviser, who in his maiden address to the nation on January 21 last year pledged to have the stalled ninth parliamentary election held as early as possible.

"The government has been trying to create a level playing field for everyone so the election is free, fair and acceptable," he observed.

He said he hopes to see a democratically elected government by this time next year and that government would be dedicated to meeting the basic needs of the people.

Calling on everyone including the political parties to establish honest and competent leadership at all levels, Fakhruddin said, "In accordance with your wishes, we will surely hold an election acceptable to all, free from terrorism and influence of black money and muscle power."

"Such a spontaneous transition is rare in the world history. But we are going to do that because we believe democracy has no alternative," he noted.

Amid growing political violence and public displeasure, President Iajuddin Ahmed stepped down as the chief adviser along with 10 other advisers on January 11 last year.

The same day he declared the state of emergency and cancelled the election scheduled for January 22.

The next day former Bangladesh Bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed was sworn in as chief adviser.

The new caretaker government slapped a ban on indoor politics on March 7. The curbs were lifted on September 10 but only for the capital.

Political parties have long been calling for a complete withdrawal of restrictions on politics. Besides, they have been asking the government to open dialogues with them to clear doubts over the conduct of polls.

In his address last night, the chief adviser repeatedly said the election would be held within the time envisaged in the Election Commission's electoral roadmap.

He said he hopes 2008 would be a watershed year marking a transition to a true democracy fulfilling public aspirations.

Turning to last week's cabinet shake-up, he said the replacements for five advisers and appointment of special assistants would revitalise the advisory council.

Assuring the people that his government is not interfering in the EC's work, Fakhruddin said electoral rules would be reformed once the commission is over and done with its dialogue with the political parties.

He said the government has set up Regulatory Reform Commission, separated the judiciary from the executive and reconstituted the Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Service Commission and University Grants Commission to promote good governance.

He added that the government's anti-corruption drives have been a signal that no-one would be spared if found guilty.

The former World Bank official said despite political turmoil and spiked prices of oil and other commodities on the global market in last fiscal year, the country clocked a GDP growth of 6.5 percent thanks to significant growth of industry and service sectors.

Citing formation of the Better Business Forum among other initiatives to improve the business climate, he said exports and investment are going up after a lull in the first three quarters of 2007.

He acknowledged that low- and fixed-income groups have been hit hard by soaring prices of essentials that, he said, were the result of international price hike, a 15 lakh tonnes shortfall in food grains and havoc caused by back-to-back floods and Cyclone Sidr.

Hoping that rice prices would come down further, Fakhruddin said the government has imported rice, launched open market sales and Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programmes to tackle the crisis.

There's no alternative to prioritising agriculture if the prices of commodities are to be kept within the people's reach, he said adding that the government will do everything necessary to ensure a bumper Boro yield.

It has already taken steps to import fertiliser and give greater farm subsidy. Besides, it has allocated Tk 350 crore for agriculture research, added Fakhruddin.

He also said the administration has received accolades for taking precautionary measures that kept casualties and damage in the November 15 cyclone low.

He said power generation, development in communications sector and manpower export figure high on the government's priority list.