Esar, you are not qualified to judge my alliance and my “Bangladeshiness”. What you should be more concerned about is the beatings of students, the torture of detainees, and wholesale human rights violations of this military government. You should be “infuriated” that this government pulls students out onto the street in broad daylight and beats them publicly. When it does that, this government does a fine job of damaging the image of Bangladesh.

As I’ve stated, when these human rights violations stop, this government’s image will improve on its own.

Zafa: Mash in his own admission wrote, “… Bangladesh has indeed dispatched… US citizens of Bangladeshi origin, it is almost certainly a violation of US laws. The United States government should take immediate steps to protect the rights of its citizens against foreign government spying”. Here he clearly stated that he considers Bangladesh as foreign country and opts for US action against Bangladesh! Based on his above statement, I can only deduct that even if he is patriotic, it is for the US. His fathers contribution towards Bangladesh democracy is not under discussion here and should not be considered as a reference for his own patriotism for Bangladesh. My questioning of Mash’s alliance and intentions are meant for him only, based on his comments that will infuriate any self respecting Bangladeshi, NRB or not. When someone projects that all he wants is good of Bangladesh because he is a Bangladeshi and then turns around to suggest that the US should go after Bangladesh for a supposed intelligence action, call me whatever you may, but as a Bangladeshi, my dignity do gets stabbed! My comments were not meant for all NRB’s. The comment, “All of it sounds too familiar from an American”, I retract.

So lets not join, if indeed there are those out there trying to destabilize the country by spreading rumor, lies and above all fear; assuming you are not one of the handful yourself.

Easer: But why not protest the stupidity of this propaganda? Why not try to question the motive behind them? And to prove their absurdity?

I agree with the sentiment of Bangali Colbert but not the means. I am sure the foreign diplomats (aka governments) have contributed to the state of affairs, some supported CTG some not. But talking about arresting them is the stupidest of comments I have heard. Sadly these kinds of remarks fits while Bosti fights, the reality is when the Western Governments pressurize Bangladeshi Governments with these stupid incidents of human rights abuse, they cannot ignore them. So how can CTG be more powerful? Not to do the mistakes like these.

People will have different opinions and I believe we all want to see a better Bangladesh. But intimidating and name calling should not be the way. These send a wrong message.

Ei Mash beta key amader ke criticise korar? Shey to US citizen. Bangladesh niye eto matha khamay ken? Ami tomar shaathey ek mot.

Ami shobchey khushi hobo jodi next US aar UKer ambassador der arrest kora hoy. Oi duidao amader desher citizen na, tobey shudhu bokbok koira jaitasey sharadin. UN r koyta re dhorley to kharap hoito na. Ami sure tumi amar shaathey ek mot thaakba.

IMF ar WB banker shob gulireyo dhorley bhaala hoito… tobey ajkal to abar shuni je CTG naki IMFer logey deal korey. Jei hala deal korsey shei halarey arrest korben naki? Naam ta bair kori daran….

Also, BBCr John Sudworth reo jeno CTG arrest korey. Apni ektu boila raikhen. Ki paisey? Amader niye kotu kotha bolbey BBCte? Shahosh to kom na…. O Bangladeshrey niya eto matha khamay ken? Mash er shada bhai naki?

Achcha, ami to jaantaam je manush naki Bangladeshi bloggerder theika BBC beshi porey. Apnar kotha shuina to mone hoitasey ulta. Tobey apnago gaan beshi, to bishshash korlam. Bangla blogger ra BBC re defeat maarsey. Amader bhaabmurti ekhon ogo haathey…

While we’re at it, shudhu onnoder citizen keno, nijeder manush jon jara CTGre criticise korey, taaderkeo ektu arrest tarrest koren. Ki bolen, kharap hoibo naki? Oops, Masher lekha porey money hoitasey oita already shuru hoiya gesey…. to ami bhaagi in case keu jodi abar amar kotha baarta misunderestimate (dekhsen, Amreekan na hoiyao ekta Bush joke chaarlaam! Apni kokhono nishchoi koren nai…) korey.

Money raakhben CTG’r bondhu bandhobra like ESAR and the people he tells us are watching: ami hochi apnader shaathey, CTGr pichey. Kalkey chilaam, aagaami te thaakbo.

Joy ESAR, Joy CTG!

Please don’t confuse the democracy that you practise in the US with the present State of Emergency in Bangladesh. The reason for the State of Emergency is altogether a different subject addressed by many including yourself on different platforms. As such the due process, which is a fruit of democracy & I cherished by you & I unfortunately cannot be expected when a State of Emergency is in affect. This is the reality! Living in a fools paradise will only strengthen the hands of the people responsible for the present situation. If it is already time to lift the State of Emergency is also a debate by itself.

The last time I checked, North American Corporate Ethics statures did not change much since I went to School in the US oh! so many year ago. Forging signature of an official of the Government is still a crime, even in the US! The court order that you mention, if I understand correctly, GOB did not need at this point. Pending committee report, BTRC only cancelled the frequency allocation based on the forged document found in the CSB application file for frequency allocation. BTRC did not cancel the broadcasting licence as yet!

You wrote, “…Bangladesh has indeed dispatched intelligence agents to the United States to spy on Bangladeshi nationals and US citizens of Bangladeshi origin, it is almost certainly a violation of US laws. The United States government should take immediate steps to protect the rights of its citizens against foreign government spying”. Man, why are you even bothered about Bangladesh? You are a US citizen writing trash about my country with god knows what ill intention and if my country do take action, you hide under your constitutional rights? All of it sounds too familiar from an American!!!

As a Bangladeshi, I also don’t like lot of the things the present CTG is doing. But that does not mean that I am about to become a propagandist against the CTG/Army & in the process rape the image of the country in the eyes of the international community. Reiterating my previous position, Diaspora bloggers should act more responsibly when commenting on the state of affairs of Bangladesh. If you already know that the present CTG is only a temporary solution where no body is certain about what fate lies ahead for BD in the coming months, leaving the country in a volatile position; when rational and general population in Bangladesh are in concensus that this governments are trying to undo wrongs of the past years inflicted by politicians through abuse of democracy, noting the spiral price increase of essential, eviction of slum dwellers, hawker issue, tortures of journalists, yet still individual actions of both Bangladeshis and friends of Bangladesh, must and should be self restrained so not to harm the overall image of Bangladesh. Protest all of you must, but lets not blow things out of proportion. Failing to do so will only help the vultures with ill motive to make the country a failed state in the eyes of the International Community.

You are very correct, you and I do not agree on much.

The BTRC notice served to CSB on the day of the shutdown says that, CSB needs to provide clarification about the forged document with seven days. Until such time, as the presence of the forged document is already proven beyond doubts

Do you understand what “proven beyond doubts” means? Did the government get a court order to shut down CSB? As I understand the news reports, government officials arrived at CSB and shut down transmission without even giving CSB a chance to announce over the air to their subscribers that they were being shut down. That is without notice. Also, shutting down CSB a week or so after threatening it for reporting “provocative” news makes the government’s move pretty transparent.

I also do not think you properly understand, as you put it, “North American Corporate Ethics Code and the law of your land”. The law in this country, that is the United States, demands due process. Please read the report from Reporters Without Borders that I linked.

I also advise you to re-read my post for the overtones and not the undertones – the overtone of my post is that media and bloggers are being intimidated. It is not just me saying that, journalists and reputable human rights organizations have also said that. If you dont think beating journalists is intimidation, I am not sure you and I will agree on much else.

You raised a very good question: Why was this news published in the Information Advisor’s paper? That is a question you should direct at the Information Advisor. The news item has certainly led to some panic amongst expatriates. Perhaps the news item has served its purpose.

As for the “pride” of the Bangladeshis, Bangladeshis are doing quite fine. I have enormous pride in the many achievements of Bangladeshis. Criticizing the military government’s human rights record does nothing to diminish the image of the Bangladeshi people. As I said in my post, what is damaging the image of Bangladesh is the torture, detention, beatings of citizens and the utter disregard for human rights demonstrated by this military government. The best thing this government could do to improve it’s image is to stop suppressing its own people.

Mr. Mash has mentioned only the name of the daily Ittefaq which is owned by Barr. Moinul Hussain. And another one is Jonomat in London.

If the news is true, it should come in evry newspapers. I think its a fake one so we should be silenced.

Isn’t it Mr. Mash?