An existentialist photograph and the reality of non-existence
by Shameema Binte Rahman, Translated from Bengali for AlalODulal.org by Tibra Ali
A photograph. The whole body is buried under debris. Only one part is sticking out: an ID card with its lace wrapped around the wrist and the fingers. Continue reading
Prof. Anu Muhammad arrested during left hartal. © Priyo
While Our Eyes Are Elsewhere
by Anu Muhammad, Translated by Tibra Ali for AlalODulal.org
Despite putting people from all walks of life at risk, the recent violence and uncertainty in our country seem to have inconvenienced the local and foreign plunderers and invaders very little. On the contrary, in many instances because of the shifted attention it has even helped them. For many this time of uncertainty has been a blessing!
By Bangladeshi standards, the red-brick compound of A.K.M. Mosharraf Hossain is a country estate. A four-foot wall encircles the property in the capital city of Dhaka. The only way inside is past a guard booth and a metal gate that leads to the politician’s roundabout driveway. But there was no problem gaining admission on May 23, 2005, when two representatives from Niko Resources , a Canadian natural gas company, arrived at the gate. They were waved through with a brand-new, shiny gift—a black Toyota Land Cruiser. The two Niko officials, both Bangladeshi, stood by while the car keys were handed over to Hossain’s driver. Continue reading
The following is a documentary on Joseph Kony of Uganda Lord’s resistance Army. The documentary vividly describes the despicable crimes committed by Kony.
The man who was dispatched by the global community- International Criminal Court to be more specific, to investigate and prosecute this Joseph Kony, was Argentine Luis Moreno Ocampo. He led the investigation and prosecution. Before his assignment of leading the prosecution of Joseph Kony, he was instrumental in prosecuting the notorious military junta in Argentina. After Joseph kony, Mr Ocampo prosecuted Sudan’s Omar al Bashir and issued an arrest warrant for his involvement in Darfur atrocities.
So it seems after dealing with monstrous Joseph Kony, murderous Generals of Aregentina and radical Mullah of Sudan– Ocampo finally seems fit to investigate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government!
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Soumen Sengupta (l), Azam Khan (r)
This blog is named after guru Azam Khan, who sang “Railine er oi bosti te/Jonmechilo ekti chele/Ma taar kade/Cheleti more geche/Hai amar Bangladesh”.
Today, another Azam Khan finally speaks up.
Rahnuma Ahmed: Who benefits? Cabinet ministers, their family members, their family businesses (suspicions of a “cartel”). Ruling party loyalists. Traders. Stock market regulators (officials in the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh). Military officers. Government high officials (in the civilian bureaucracy, in state-owned banks)… allegiances, whether to the Awami League or the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, are not hard and fast. “When it comes to making money, they [businessmen] are above politics.”
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After doing so much NATOK all summer, Awami League ends up “following” all of World Bank’s directives, and the WB, “satisfied”, reopens Padma Bridge funding discussion. So why did Awami League put people of Bangladesh through this process of denial, chest-thumping, contrition, back door, acknowledgment, firing, and return cap-in-hand?
The World Bank understands that all government employees and officials alleged to have been involved in corrupt acts in connection with the project have been put on leave from Government service until an investigation is completed, and that a full and fair investigation is now underway.
1) The other gates 2) “World Bank is Corrupt” 3) Anu Muhammad on World Bank 4) Abul Hossain: I came, I destroyed, I resigned 5) Bridge over troubled water
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