Freedom Fighters are not beggar : the pain of my hearts

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

SHEIKH HASINA Prime Minister of Bangladesh,

Sheikh Hasina was born on 28 September, 1947 at Tungipara under Gopalganj district. She is the eldest of five children of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of independent Bangladesh.

She graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1973. She was elected Vice President of the Students Union of Government Intermediate Girl’s College. She was a member of the students League Unit of Dhaka University and Secretary of the Students League Unit of Rokeya Hall. She actively participated in all the mass movements since her student life.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with the members of his family was martyred on the fateful night of 15 August 1975. Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana were the only survivors as they were in West Germany at that time. Later she went to the United Kingdom from where she started her movement against the autocratic rule in 1980. Sheikh Hasina was unanimously elected President of Bangladesh Awami League in 1981 in her absence, while she was forced to live in exile in New Delhi. Ending six years in exile, she returned home finally on 17 May 1981.

In the parliamentary election held in 1986, she won three seats. She was elected Leader of the Opposition. She led the historic mass movement in 1990 and announced the constitutional formula for peaceful transfer of power through Articles 51 and 56 of the Constitution.

Following the election of 1991 Sheikh Hasina became Leader of the Opposition in the country’s Fifth Parliament, She steered all the political parties in the parliament towards changing the Presidential system into the Parliamentary one.

Sheikh Hasina created awareness among the people and waged a struggle for Non-party Caretaker Government to ensure free and fair polls. Her movement reached the peak after a non-cooperation movement in March 1996 and the provision for Non-party Caretaker Government was incorporated in the Constitution.

At the call of Sheikh Hasina a large number of people of all walks of life expressed solidarity with the movement at the ‘Janatar Mancha’. In the Parliamentary election held on 12 June 1996, Bangladesh Awami League emerged as the majority party and she assumed the office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 23 June 1996.\

After becoming the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina adopted a number of pragmatic policies for overall development of the nation including poverty alleviation. During the last four years her government achieved laudable success including signing of the historic 30 year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India, signing of historic peace Accord on Chittagong Hill Tracts and inauguration of the Bangabandhu Bridge on the river Jamuna.

Sheikh Hasina was conferred Degree of Doctor of Law by the Boston University of the USA on 6 February 1997 and Honorary Doctor of Law by the Waseda University

Govt working to project real history of country to children:

Sheikh Hasina

Real history of the country's War of Liberation to the children for the greater national interest. "It is our responsibility to let the new generation know the actual history of the country as vested quarters have been distorting the nations' history indiscriminately by proclaiming martial law and grabbing state power on various occasions," she said. The Prime Minister said these while distributing prizes among the winners of different children and juvenile competitions organised by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust on the occasion of birthday of Bangabandhu on March 17 at Osmani Memorial auditorium here. Sheikh Hasina also the Chairperson of the trust handed over the prizes of different competitions to the winners in various categories for the year 2006, '08.'09 and 2010.

Sheikh Hasina said the history of the heroic Bengali nation has to be projected before the children who will lead the country in future. We have to bring back our lost glory as the heroic nation, she added. The Prime Minister said her government is working relentlessly to fulfil the ideals of Bangabandhu who dreams for ensuring a better life for the children with proper education to build them as worthy citizens of the country. Referring to various activities of the trust, Sheikh Hasina said it had been providing education stipend to 1000-1200 students in each month along with extending financial support to the distressed children. Apart from this, financial support are being provided to the victims of August 21, 2004 Grenade attack.

The Prime Minister said the trust has conducted a free medical programme across the country from January 10- March 17 in which over eight lakh people was given medical services. Besides, the trust had a project to set up a medical college and a nursing institute in Gazipur to facilitate medical services for the commoners. Mentioning the painting and essay competitions organised by Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Sheikh Hasina said it will help flourish the latent talent of the children and build their self- confidence.

"When I came back in 1981 from exile, the then government of President Ziaur Rahman did not allow me to enter our Dhanmondi-32 residence: Sheikh Hasina

September 04,2010

Tears rolled down her cheeks and emotion gripped the audience as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina narrated the massacre at the historic Dhanmondi-32 and unkind behaviour of a government with her after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975. "When I came back in 1981 from exile, the then government of President Ziaur Rahman did not allow me to enter our Dhanmondi-32 residence where my father along with most of my family members was brutally killed," she said.

Speaking at a prize giving ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here this morning, she said even General Zia did not allow her to organise a Milad Mahfil seeking eternal peace of the martyrs of August 15 inside the residence. "It was Zia who forced us to hold milad for my parents and others who were killed in the August 15 massacre on the road," Sheikh Hasina said in a voice choked with emotion. Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, who along with her younger sister survived the massacre, described as crime against humanity, said president Zia imposed restriction on opening of the residence from where Bangabandhu led all anti- autocratic movements.

Later, the government led by Justice Abdus Satter opened the historic house and handed over it to Sheikh Hasina. "When I entered the house, I saw dried blood everywhere and clothes and other valuables were seen scattered on the floor". Sheikh Hasina said the killers did not only kill the country's founding father along with most of his family, they also looted all valuables from the house. There was pin-drop silence in the Osmani Memorial auditorium when Sheikh Hasina was narrating the tale of the blackest chapter of the world's history.

People specially the children who joined the function were seen wipe their eyes when Sheikh Hasina in her broken voice was describing the barbaric incident. The Prime Minister said after receiving the house, she and her younger sister decided to make it a museum for the people of the country. "I thought that the people of the country are the owner of the house as Bangabandhu launched all of his pro-people movements from the house," she added. Sheikh Hasina said she inaugurated the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on August 14, 1994 and after that the museum remains opened for public. Later, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Memorial Trust was formed on April 11, 1994 with an aim to provide various services for the common people.

The trust will set up a medical college and a nursing institute in Gazipur to provide medical services for the common people. Zia, the beneficiary of Bangabandhu murder commenced the curfew-politics: Awami League. Sheikh Hasina

Awami League (AL) will resist the anti-government movement called by the main opposition BNP after Eid-ul-Fitr, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, acting general secretary of AL, has said. Earlier on August 24, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at a BNP-organised iftar party spoke of announcing an anti-government movement programme after the Eid to “free the countrymen from their sufferings”. According to Hanif, BNP called this movement to save the war criminals, and to cover up the “corruption and misdeeds” committed by Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko -- the two sons of the BNP chief.

"If BNP goes for movements, especially to protect war criminals and to cover up the corruptions and misdeeds of Tarique and Koko, Awami League men won't sit idle. We'll resist them," he said at a press conference at the party president's political office in Dhanmondi. Hanif, also said the graft charges against Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman are being investigated and they will soon be brought back to stand trial. "No corrupt person and looter of state wealth will be spared whether they stay home or abroad, or on parole or absconding.” He said Koko will be brought back home immediately after expiry of his parole, which the High Court has extended up to October 3. "Bring back that money that your two sons siphoned off to different countries including USA and Malaysia and deposit it to the state exchequer," Hanif called on the leader of the opposition.

The AL leader also alleged the grenade attack on AL rally on August 21, 2004 was carried out in a planned way in an attempt to kill Sheikh Hasina under the direct supervision of Khaleda Zia, her elder son Tarique Rahman, nephew Saiful Islam Duke, political adviser Harris Chowdhury, former state ministers Lutfozzaman Babar and Abdus Salam Pintu and Saiful Islam Joarder, the dismissed army colonel. The AL leader vehemently protested the recent remark of BNP that late President Ziaur Rahman legalized the Awami League of doing free politics in the country and termed it as false and fabricated. "Rather Zia, himself was beneficiary after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” started the politics under the shadow of military force and commenced curfew-politics in the name of democracy, he observed.

জিয়ার আমলে 'নিখোঁজের' সংখ্যা জানার তাগিদ

জিয়ার আমলে 'নিখোঁজের' সংখ্যা জানার তাগিদ
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ঢাকা, জুলাই ২১ (বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকম)- প্রয়াত রাষ্ট্রপতি জিয়াউর রহমানের আমলের নির্দিষ্ট একটি সময়ে 'নিখোঁজ' সামরিক কর্মকর্তার সংখ্যা বের করতে জরিপ করা উচিত বলে মনে করেন লরেন্স লিফশুলৎজ।

খ্যাতনামা এ সাংবাদিক বলেছেন, "১৯৭৭-৭৮ সালে হারিয়ে যাওয়া সেনা কর্মকর্তাদের পরিবারের মধ্যে বর্তমান সরকারের একটি জরিপ করা উচিত; যাতে কীভাবে তারা মৃত্যুবরণ করেছেন বা কোথায় তাদের সমাহিত করা হয়েছে তা চিহ্নিত করা হয়।"

"এ জন্য একটি স্বাধীন কমিশন গঠন করা যেতে পারে। কমিশন অনুদ্ঘাটিত মৃত্যুর ঘটনাগুলো বের করবে।"

কর্নেল আবু তাহেরের ৩৫তম মৃত্যুবার্ষিকী উপলক্ষে বৃহস্পতিবার সন্ধ্যায় আয়োজিত এক আলোচনা সভায় মূল প্রবন্ধে এ কথা বলেন লিফশুলৎজ।

১৯৭৫ সালের ১৫ অগাস্ট সেনাবাহিনীর একদল বিপথগামী সদস্য বঙ্গবন্ধুকে সপরিবারে হত্যার পর সেনাবাহিনীতে অভ্যুত্থান-পাল্টা অভ্যুত্থান চলে। এরই এক পর্যায়ে জিয়াউর রহমান ক্ষমতা নেওয়ার পর কর্নেল তাহেরসহ ১৭ জনকে সামরিক আদালতে গোপন বিচারের মুখোমুখি করা হয়।

১৯৭৬ সালের ১৭ জুলাই রায়ের পর ২১ জুলাই ভোরে কর্নেল তাহেরের ফাঁসি কার্যকর করা হয়। ফাঁসির পর নেত্রকোনার কাজলায় পারিবারিক গোরস্তানে তাহেরকে দাফন করা হয়।

গত ২২ মার্চ রিট আবেদনের প্রেক্ষিতে হাইকোর্ট তাহের হত্যাকে অবৈধ বলে রায় দেয়। কথিত ওই বিচারের বৈধতা নিয়ে করা চারটি রিটের প্রেক্ষিতে এ রায় হয়।

তাহেরের গোপন বিচার চলাকালে লিফৎশুলজ ফার ইস্টার্ন ইকোনোমিক দক্ষিণ এশিয়া প্রতিনিধি হিসাবে তৎকালীন ঘটনা প্রবাহ নিয়ে প্রতিবেদন করতে বাংলাদেশে আসেন।

তাহেরের ওই বিচার চলাকালে তিনি ঢাকা কেন্দ্রীয় কারাগারে অবস্থিত গোপন ট্রাইব্যুনাল নিয়ে প্রতিবেদন লেখার চেষ্টা করেন। ভেতরে ঢুকতে ব্যর্থ হয়ে তিনি কারাগারের বাইরে অবস্থান নেন। পরে সরকার তাকে ধরে নিয়ে দেশ থেকে বহিষ্কার করে।

ওই বিচার প্রসঙ্গে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ তথ্য দিতে পারেন- এই বিবেচনায় রিটের শুনানির সময় তাকে আদালতে বক্তব্য দিতে অনুরোধ করে হাইকোর্ট।

'আশা করি মির্জা ফখরুল কথা বলবেন'

ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ছাত্র শিক্ষক মিলনকেন্দ্র টিএসসিতে কর্নেল তাহের সংসদ আয়োজিত বৃহস্পতিবারের আলোচনা সভায় লিফশুলৎজ বলেন, "তাহের হত্যা অবৈধ ঘোষণা করে দেওয়া হাইকোর্টের রায় ছিল আক্ষরিক অর্থেই ঐতিহাসিক। এটা আধুনিকতা ও সভ্যতার পথে বাংলাদেশের এক গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অগ্রগতি।"

"তাহের ছিলেন একজন অসাধারণ ব্যক্তিত্ব। তার জীবন কাহিনী বর্তমান প্রজন্মের মাঝে ছড়িয়ে দেওয়া উচিত। যাতে তারা এর থেকে অনুপ্রেরণা পেতে পারে।"

মার্কিন এই সাংবাদিক বলেন, "তাহের হত্যার রায় দেওয়ার পর বিএনপি নেতা এমকে আনোয়ার বলেছিলেন, 'সরকার একজন বিদেশি সাংবাদিককে ভাড়া করে এনেছে।' তখন আমি তাকে ফোন করে কথা বলতে চেয়েছিলাম। তিনি কথা বলতে চাননি।"

"পরে বিএনপির তৎকালীন সিনিয়র যুগ্ম মহাসচিব মির্জা ফখরুল ইসলাম আলমগীরও এক সমাবেশে এ কথা বলেছিলেন," জানিয়ে লিফশুলৎজ বলেন, "এবার বাংলাদেশে এসে আমি মির্জা ফখরুল ইসলাম আলমগীরকে ফোন করেছিলাম। আশা করছি, তিনি কথা বলবেন।"

আলোচনায় জাসদ সভাপতি ও তাহেরের সঙ্গে অভিযুক্ত হাসানুল হক ইনু, হায়দার আকবর খান রনো ও গোলাম রব্বানী বক্তব্য দেন।

কর্নেল আবু তাহের বীর উত্তম ১৯৩৮ সালের ১৪ নভেম্বর আসামের বদরপুরে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন।

১৯৭১ সালের ২৫ মার্চের গণহত্যার প্রতিবাদে স্টাফ কলেজ থেকে পদত্যাগ করেন। ১৯৭১ সালের ২০ জুলাই মেজর এম এ মঞ্জুর, মেজর জিয়াউদ্দিন এবং ক্যাপ্টেন পাটোয়ারিকে সঙ্গে নিয়ে পাকিস্তানের অ্যাবোটাবাদ থেকে পালিয়ে সীমান্ত অতিক্রম করে ভারত যান তাহের।

মুক্তিযুদ্ধে ১১ নম্বর সেক্টরের কমান্ডার ছিলেন। ১৪ নভেম্বর (জন্মদিনে) ঢাকার প্রবেশদ্বার কামালপুরের শত্র" ঘাঁটিতে আক্রমণ চালানোর সময় আহত হন তাহের। তার বাম পা বিচ্ছিন্ন হয়ে যায়।

বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকম/প্রতিনিধি/এসএন/পিডি/২১৩৪ ঘ.

30% more FDI in 2010 than 2009 in Bangladesh

30% more FDI in 2010 than 2009 in Bangladesh

Foreign investment in Bangladesh is highest among South Asian countries.

Bangladesh advanced to the 114th position last year from 120th in the previous year in the World Investment Report (WIR) 2011 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad). The country improved its position in the ranking among 141 countries in global inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) by attracting $913.32 million in 2010, according to the report released yesterday. The FDI grew by 30 percent in 2010 compared to that in 2009, showed the data. In 2009, Bangladesh attracted $700.16 million in FDI and ranked 120th among 141 countries, while in 2008 the country's ranking was 117th with a total inflow of $1.086 billion. The trend of FDI inflow showed that Bangladesh performed well in the context of South Asian countries, said M Ismail Hossain, professor of economics at Jahangirnagar University, at a press conference at the Board of Investment (BoI) office while launching the report. The data showed that the inflow of FDI in India declined to $24,640 million last year from $34,613 million in 2009. In Bangladesh, sector-wise, a total of $92.06 million came to the power, gas and petroleum sector, $238.78 million to manufacturing, $186.63 million to trade and commerce, $360.31 million to transport, storage and communication and $21.7 million to the services sector. Singapore ranked top by investing $317.19 million in Bangladesh in 2010, while UK second with $105.68 million investment, the Netherlands third with $64.92 million, Hong Kong fourth with $63.84 million, USA fifth with $56.95 million and India sixth by investing $43.19 million. “The FDI inflow increased in 2010 for arrival of energy companies in the country,” said SA Samad, executive chairman of the BoI. He said, during the period a total of $6,276.80 million was estimated as local investment in 1,600 projects, with a 142.55 percent rise compared to the previous year. Samad said inadequate supply of gas and power, a lack of bargaining capacity and scarcity of land are mainly responsible for lower inflow of FDI in Bangladesh

low� ' n l �8 �9 in Bangladesh

The future leader

Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed (Bangla: সজীব ওয়াজেদ জয়) (born July 27, 1971), also known as Sajeeb Wazed Joy, is an IT professional who was selected by world economic council as one of the 250 Young Global Leaders of the World. He is the son of sheikh hasina the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the grandson of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first President of Bangladesh.

Early life and education

Sajeeb Wazed was born in 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War to the eminent Bengali nuclear scientist Dr. M. A. Wazed Miah. His birth during the war and subsequent victory of the Bengalis earned him the nickname given by his maternal grandfather, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, "Joy" which in Bengali means victory.

Wazed received his early education in India. He attended Kodaikanal International School in Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu. He later studied in Bangalore University where he pursued a Bachelor of Science in computer science, physics and mathematics. Wazed then studied computer engineering at the University of Texas, Arlington in the United States. Subsequently, Wazed attended the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University, where he completed a Masters in Public Administration.

Politics

In 2004, Sajeeb Wazed visited Bangladesh amid speculations that he would be taking up the Sheikh family's political mantle. He and his wife received a rousing reception as they landed in Shahjalal International Airport. Thousands of people lined Dhaka's roads to have glimpse of Joy and his wife. During the visit he rejected a letter sent by Tarique Rahman, son of the then Prime Minister and his mother's arch rival, Khaleda Zia. The letter congratulated Sajeeb's possible entry into politics.

In 2007, Wazed was selected by the World Economic Forum in Davosas one of the "250 Young Global Leaders of the World". The forum cited his role as Advisor to the President of the Bangladesh Awami League.

During the 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crises and Minus Two controversy, both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were arrested by the military backed interim government on charges of corruption and "anti-state" activities. Hasina maintained that the charges were baseless and her detention was part of efforts by the military to keep her out of the political arena in order to pave the way for another period of quasi-military rule in Bangladesh. Sajeeb Wazed began campaigning in the United States and Europe for the release of his mother and other detained high-profile politicians. Hasina was eventually released in June 2008. She subsequently traveled to the United States for medical treatment.

In December 2008, Bangladesh held national elections that saw Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and its coalition partners secure the biggest parliamentary majority since 1973, capturing 262 seats in the 300 seat parliament, 230 of which went to the Awami League. Sheikh Hasina was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 6 January 2009. Prior to the elections, Wazed wrote an article in the Harvard International Review in which he outlined a "secular plan" to stem the rise of Islamic extremism in Bangladesh.

Wazed gave an interview to the BBC in February, 2009 in the aftermath of the violent Bangladesh Rifles mutiny. Asked about security threats faced by his mother from tension provoked in the military by the mutiny and whether certain quarters were trying to stage a scenario similar to that of his grandfather's assassination in 1975 during a coup by junior army officers, Wazed commented that there was a "distinct possibility" of such a situation being intended. He also stressed that security was beefed up at the Prime Minister's residence and went on to praise his mother's handling of the mutiny. "This is probably the biggest incident Bangladesh has had since 1975 and our government and the prime minister has handled this compassionately, pragmatically but decisively to bring the situation under control" he said Primary membership

On 25 February 2009, Wazed officially joined the Awami League as a primary member of the Rangpur district unit of the party. Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif handed over Wazed's membership form to district party leaders. Rangpur is the ancestral home district of his father Wazed Miah.

The move by Wazed to formally join the Awami League was widely welcomed by leading political leaders and commentators, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Senior BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan gave his party's official reaction by stating "we see the matter positively"

Digital Bangladesh

Within days of joining the Awami League as a primary member, Wazed, in his capacity as a software developer, unveiled the concept paper and action plan for the government's ambitious "Digital Bangladesh" scheme; to develop a strong ICT industry in Bangladesh and initiate e-governance and IT education on a mass scale. Wazed emphasized the use of information technology to achieve Bangladesh's development goals. He also noted that the Digital Bangladesh "scheme" would contribute to a more transparent system of government through e-governance, as it would greatly reduce massive bureaucratic corruption in Bangladesh. He also spoke of Bangladesh's potential to become an IT outsourcing hub in the next few years given its various advantages in a growing young educated population with a "neutral" English accent. Wazed stated that by the 2021, the IT industry can overtake textiles and readymade garments as the principal foreign exchange earner for Bangladesh.