Shaptahik Pechal – Weekly Roundup

Shaptahik Pechal, our weekly round up of the must-read/watch/hear stories concerning Bangladesh this past week. Sex, lies and videotrack to follow for your post-breakfast Friday morning tea.

Our W@nk@h of the Week this week was an easy choice. Our law minister Shafique Ahmed who this week is at the vanguard of the government’s effort to demonise anyone who dare suggests that the government may not have acted wholesomely. Like Human Rights Watch. Shafique Ahmed warned them “not to do it again”. That is, not to call for disbanding of RAB again. A government circular warned of an international conspiracy.

For not even realising that, in the name of Dinbodol we have basically come back to 2005, Shafique Ahmed is unanimously our WoW.

*UPDATE: David Bergman asks: HRW report on BDR trials: the questions the government must answer

Completely gratuitous links to sex and nudity

Bangladeshi man arrested for posting ‘obscene’ pictures of government figures on his facebook page.

Syhleti Chair(wo)man arrested with male companion in hotel – is making sex illegal the new birth control policy?

2/11 watch

Third party being positioned – Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Asif Nazrul and Rafiqul Haque launches new third party – the new SUJON? Tell us what you think.

Blast from the past

Mahumudur Rahman Manna has been thinking about joining BNP for a looooong time.

Bangladeshi in New Delhi

Mahmudur Rahman’s new pet cause? A Bangladeshi sculptor has been jailed by Indian authorities for 8 years for …. fake currency possession. Not forgery. Possession.

Mohabharot (“Friendly Neighbour India”)

The only sensible economist from Chicago is concerned about India’s economy. Clearly, his NRI privileges will be revoked.

India to make drones. Soon there will be no one to hold to account for future Felanis.

Nepal (“Place We Need Urgent Transit To”)

Switzerland of Asia watch. Turning from an elephant to a panda.

How contraception is changing Nepalese society.

Antorjatik

Libor explained. (Pronounced Lie-bor, no matter what you may have heard on BBC.)

The patriarchy harms innocent bystanders too: man slaps stranger after mistaking woman in mall for wife out shopping “without his permission”.

Track of the Week

Dedicated to the Prime Minister