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BANGLADESH: Help reform politics, establish good governance, information adviser urges media

Information Adviser Mainul Hosein asks journalists to help the government be successful

The Daily Star
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Law and Information Adviser Mainul Hosein yesterday asked the journalists to put forward their well-thought proposals as input to the ongoing reform process in the politics and governance of the country.

“Not only information, we need your responsible cooperation. Please let us know what more reforms we need for establishing a sustainable democracy and good governance,” he said while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a workshop titled ‘Role of media in achieving the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs).

The workshop was organised by People’s Forum on MDGs, Bangladesh in cooperation with DemocracyWatch and Campaign for Popular Education (Campe) at Biam auditorium in the capital.

The adviser said it was the failure of the successive governments that needed to introduce the caretaker government system.

“Therefore it is not enough to think just about the politicians, but also the whole system,” he added.

“An earthquake has occurred in the political arena of the country and we need your cooperation to reconstruct the nation,” he asked the journalists saying that only an honest, accountable and responsible government can truly address the issues of MDGs.

The adviser said this government in a sense is alone though it has support from people and media.

“We see you as our associate force…our parliament. If this government fails, the responsibility will also go onto you,” he said, adding, “We may make mistakes, but please correct those.”

He said the government is passing through a sensitive and tough time, and urged the journalists to play a responsible role and question the political parties that contributed to present situation.

Barrister Hosein said the caretaker government would be successful only if an accountable and responsible government could be formed through a fair and credible election, but this requires reforms in the partisan politics, which has made “our task very difficult.”

“One caretaker government has already been paralysed, and we cannot make another one face the same fate,” he said asking the journalists to make recommendations on what kind of election and government they want.

The government’s efforts to rid the country of corruption and establish good governance should be correctly evaluated for the eventual progress, the adviser said, adding that it will not be wise to expect too much from this government.

Barrister Hosein said it is a positive sign that the political parties are now talking of reforms within the parties.

“This is our success, as we began talking about such reforms,” he added.

The adviser said he thinks the media has never been so free as it is now.

The honest people who could not speak aloud the truth for so many years, now have the courage to speak, he noted.

On the sideline of the workshop he told the journalists that the government is thinking to withdraw the restrictions on indoor politics.

Journalist Ataus Samad, who chaired the session, said the government should be aware of its deadline.

“It should clearly inform us about all the reforms it is undertaking,” he added.

Journalist Mahfuzullah said the present government that gained full public confidence in the beginning has now lost it to some extent.

All the achievements will be futile if the government fails to regain it, he observed.

Former adviser to caretaker government Mahbubul Alam said rural people should have access to micro-finance and be empowered for achieving the MDGs.

Jai Jai Din Editor Shafiq Rehman put education at the topmost priority to uproot corruption and develop the society.

State-run news agency BSS Chief Editor Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, Campe Director Rasheda K Chowdhury and DemocracyWatch Executive Director Taleya Rehman also spoke.

Bangladesh has been under military rule since January

A Bangladeshi journalist who has detailed alleged human rights abuses has been arrested, his wife has said.

Tanseem Khalil was picked up by plainclothes police who took his passport, office equipment and papers.

Mr Khalil writes for Dhaka’s Daily Star newspaper and runs his own blog, as well as reporting for CNN and for the US-based Human Rights Watch.

Bangladesh has been in a state of emergency since violence marred the build-up to elections in January.

Mr Khalil’s wife, Sharmin Afsana Suchi, told the AFP news agency that police entered their home to arrest her husband without producing an arrest warrant.

“They said it was emergency time and they can arrest anyone they want,” she said.

“They used abusive language and searched the whole house before taking him away.”

Human Rights Watch said Mr Khalil had been a “prominent voice in Bangladesh for human rights and rule of law”, and the group was concerned for his safety.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6647437.stm 

Army releases CNN correspondent and blogger

Authorities held Tasneem Khalil, a journalist and Human Rights Watch researcher, for one day

By Joyce Jaing
AsiaMedia Staff Writer

Friday, May 11, 2007

Human Rights Watch reported that their Bangladesh researcher Tasneem Khalil, who is also an investigative reporter for The Daily Star, was held for one day after being taken from his home in Dhaka late Friday night.

Four men took Khalil, 26, to the Sangsad Bhavan army camp, outside the parliament building in Dhaka, the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization said.

The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam said in a statement that authorities told him that Khalil was being questioned for the contents of his personal blog and the content of text messages, or SMSes, rather than his journalistic work.

Khalil’s blog is at times critical of the government and security forces. He also wrote a report for Human Rights Watch called “Judge, Jury, and Executioner: Torture and Extrajudicial Killings by Bangladesh’s Elite Security Force.” The report detailed the attacks Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an anti-crime force, made against corrupt officials.

Human Rights Watch said that the men did not have a warrant but searched Khalil’s house and took his computers and documents. Sharmin Afsana Shuchi, Khalil’s wife, said in an email that her husband had been taken in the middle of the night by men identifying themselves as part of the “joint forces.” Khalil has not yet been charged with any crime, but Human Rights Watch officials say they are monitoring the situation.

“The Bangladeshi military should be on notice that its actions are being closely watched by the outside world,” Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, is quoted saying in the organization’s press release. “Any harm to Tasneem Khalil will seriously undermine the army’s claims to legitimacy and upholding the rule of law.”

Fred Abrahams, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch, told AsiaMedia via phone that Human Rights Watch is investigating Khalil’s detainment before choosing a course of action.

“It all depends if he will face charges, but for now we don’t know what will happen,” Abrahams told AsiaMedia via phone.

“The apparent military arrest of such a prominent and well-respected journalist as Tasneem Khalil without any stated cause is an indication of the fragile state of press freedom in Bangladesh,” Committee to Protect Journalists Executive Director Joel Simon said in a press release.

Khalil’s arrest was the latest in a string of military actions against journalists. According to Human Rights Watch, Khalil was called into questioning by military intelligence last week.

Date Posted: 5/11/2007

Tuesday, May 15, 2007  22:41 IST

http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southasia.asp?parentid=69890

DHAKA: Himal Magazine, a political monthly on South Asian politics, has its latest issue censored in Bangladesh as its editorial explicitly stated that Bangladesh is under military rule. The editorial begins by saying, “The subterfuge is over.

It has now become clear that Bangladesh is under the control of an autocratic military regime. After three months of pretending that it had little to do with the new interim government, set up in early January, the Bangladesh Army’s role in derailing an already shaky democratic process is now obvious.”

According to a press release sent by the editors of Himal Magazine, authorities have obstructed the proper distribution of their May 2007 issue.

The expunged editorial and article from May 2007 issue will be found at

http://www.himalmag.com/2007/may/commentary_bangladesh_hasina.html

IFJ blasts Bangladesh authorities’ censorship of Himal Southasian

May 16, 2007

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has criticised moves from Bangladesh authorities to censor sections of the May edition of Himal Southasian, a monthly political magazine.

According to the Himal Southasian, the latest issue of the magazine was only allowed to be distributed after the removal of an editorial, “Khaki Politics in Dhaka”, and one article, “The Dhaka Regime’s Messy Surgery”, which dealt with the future of democracy in Bangladesh and the growing power of the military.

“Despite vocal assertions from the Bangladesh authorities that no restrictions would be imposed on media freedoms during the state of emergency period, this blatant censorship of the Himal Southasian, raises serious doubts about the motives of the caretaker government,” IFJ President Christopher Warren said.

“We seek to remind Bangladesh authorities that during this current state of transition it is exceedingly important that the Bangladesh people have unfettered access to information,” Warren said.

“A democracy cannot be built without the basic foundations of freedom of speech and expression,” he said.

The Himal Southasian has announced the cover feature of its upcoming June 2007 issue will address the ongoing political situation in Bangladesh.

“The IFJ urges the Bangladesh authorities to refrain from any future interference with the editorial independence of media, and allow the Himal Southasian magazine to be distributed in its entirety throughout Bangladesh,” the IFJ president said.

For more information please contact IFJ Asia Pacific +61 2 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 115 countries.

http://davaotoday.com/news/2007/05/16/ifj-blasts-bangladesh-authorities%E2%80%99-censorship-of-himal-southasian/

Journos assaulted for reports on corruption

Two reporters held for stories of corruption on the Technical Education Board

The Daily Star Tuesday, May 15, 2007

The chairman, secretary and a few officials of Technical Education Board at Agargaon in the capital yesterday assaulted two reporters and confined them for publishing reports on corruption of the board.

Board Chairman Idris Ali called senior reporter of The New Age Siddiqur Rahman Khan and staff reporter of The Daily Janakantha Mostaq Ahmed over telephone and asked them to publish rejoinders of news carried in the dailies.

When the reporters told the chairman to send written rejoinder, he said it would not require.

Later, the chairman, along with others, started beating them. They also snatched the reporters’ mobile phone sets and identity cards and confined them to a nearby Ansar camp.

Hearing the news, a number of newsmen from different print and electronic media rushed to the spot and rescued the two injured journalists with the help of Rapid Action Battalion and police.

When the newsmen asked the chairmen about the injuries of their colleagues, he claimed that both of them got hurt as they hit a door. Idris kept mum when asked about the reporters’ torn dresses.

Mostaq Ahmed lodged a criminal case against the chairman, Mohammad Shajahan, secretary of the board, Mamun-ur-Rashid, private secretary to the chairman, Barek Hossain, an employee of the board, and Asadul, an on-duty Ansar at the board office, police said.

Education Ministry formed a one-member probe body with joint secretary (technical and madrasa) Humayun Khalid and asked them to submit report by today.