Confluence of The Two Seas

Confluence Of The Two Seas

" The Pacific and the Indian Oceans are now bringing about a dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and of prosperity. A 'broader Asia' that broke away geographical boundaries is now beginning to take on a distinct form". So spoke the Prime Minister of Japan.

SHINZO ABE
I would like to begin my remarks today by extending my sincerest condolences to many victims of nature's great fury, the people of India who have suffered tremendous damage from the recent torrential rain cantered in Bihar state, who are even at this very moment struggling against enormous hardships.Today I have the great honour of addressing the highest organ of state power in this largest democracy in the world. I come before you on behalf of the citizens of another democracy that is equally representing Asia, to speak to you about my views on the future of Japan and India..........................

Exit strategies:Some lessons from history

Exit strategies: Some lessons from history
Rehman Sobhan discusses the stark choices facing the nation

The exit strategy for the caretaker government (CTG) may turn out to be its most challenging task because the full agenda of the forces behind such a government have yet to be made explicit. In exploring the options of the CTG and its backers it may be well to take some lessons from the entry and exit of previous militarised regimes in both Pakistan and Bangladesh............

This should never happened

This should never have happened
Brig Gen Shahedul Anam Khan ndc, psc (Retd)

It must cause all right thinking persons to ask why a fracas between some army persons and university students turned into violent protests that witnessed wide-scale vandalism and destruction, which could only be controlled through imposition of curfew. One could ask why the students' anger did not subside once very high-ranking officers of the army visited the spot and assured the students of appropriate actions against the errant soldiers, and that the army billet located at the gym would be withdrawn. In fact, all the logical demands of the students were accepted. Why then the events of August 21 and 22?...............

Take the people with you

Take the people with you
Prove the allegations of attempted subversion

We are deeply concerned over the statement made by Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed about evil forces trying to make a capital out of Dhaka University incident of August 20 by bankrolling crores of taka to wreak anarchy in the country on the following day. The allegations are of very serious nature. And although, as claimed by the army chief, the design has been 'foiled', the onus is now on the government to come out with credible evidence before the people to enable the formation of a greater public support behind the government's efforts...........

Which way now ?

Which way now?

Ahmed Shafiqul Huque

This is the first time a non-partisan caretaker government had to use repressive measures to quell disturbances in Bangladesh. An incident between army personnel and students on Dhaka University campus erupted into a major show of disenchantment with the government. Only a short while ago, this government enjoyed unprecedented public support.What could have led to such a drastic change? In his address to the nation, the chief adviser attributed the disturbances to the efforts by certain quarters who were taking advantage of a minor event to destabilise and discredit the government. This explanation is not too different from the excuses used by governments in the past whenever they were unable to contain violence on the streets. However, the sabotage of communication cable around the same time in a remote area of Chittagong and the images on television of men on rampage who appeared to be non-students lend some credence to the chief adviser's claim............................

In the eye of the storm

In the eye of the storm

M. Abdul Hafiz
"Pity the nation that raises not its voice save when it walks in a funeral, boasts not except among its ruins." -- Kahlil Gibran

An apolitical student uprising in Dhaka University on August 20 and 21 has disencumbered the nation of its ignominious impotence -- but at a cost. Indeed, the spontaneity, spread, and intensity of the event has few parallels in our recent history. It spread like a prairie fire, engulfing in its flames the entire country, while the student community was gripped by a spasmodic hysteria. When the rampage stopped, it left a deep scar on the face of the nation and the establishment. Already exasperated with multiple problems, they are trying to understand what it was all about................................

Scholar, Statesman, Gentleman

Web| Jul 26, 2007

Vice Presidency

Scholar, Statesman, Gentleman

Not just a 'bhadralok', he is also a man of firm and strong views and an impartiality of spirit, articulate and self deprecating, a warm and loyal friend. For once, one salutes those who had the discrimination to select him to uphold the honour of the country.

ARUNDHATI GHOSE Imagine having a friend nominated as Vice President of India! I am sure there are other people whose friends have entered high portals, but one would be hard put to find one so eminently deserving of recognition, one who does, not just his friends, but his country proud, as Hamid Ansari. The pride and glee are however, tempered with a hint of regret; no longer would we be able to have long discussions on the state of India’s educational system, the problems in the Middle East, gossip about the UN or India-US relations, in the lounge of the IIC or even on the telephone! Protocol, security will, and have already, reared their heads as Hamid moves into inaccessible circles One cannot really gossip with the Vice President of the country—or can one?...............

Govt. Should Not Mislead People

Govt should not mislead people

There is little doubt that, since independence, the majority of those who have been in state power, both civil and military, have varying degrees abused power and authority to amass public wealth. What is more, instead of investing the large amounts of ill-gotten wealth in this country, which would at least have contributed to a certain extent to its economic development, a major portion of the money has been illegally taken out of the country and deposited in foreign banks........

Let leadership grow from the ruins

Let leadership grow from the ruins
The state of emergency, crackdown on corruption suspects and ban on politics isolated the chiefs of the two large parties from most of their long-term colleagues. The difficult time has at least done one good thing – it has exposed the leaders to their followers spread up to the villages. True leadership emerges from crisis; not from guided reform formula mapped out in drawing rooms or somewhere else. A ‘test-tube’ political party is also unlikely to be the answer. Let the top leadership prove its ability in the present times of crisis, or let the new leadership emerge from the ruins, writes Titu Datta Gupta

THE ban on politics has apparently opened a floodgate of reform recipes with aging politicians vowing to do right now what they could not do in decades. Colleagues and silent party loyalists across the country are amazed, sometimes amused to see how some of their long-known leaders are turning into total reformists overnight........................

Strengthening Democracy ?

This is no way to strengthen democracy
Just as "command economy" failed, so will "command politics"
Mahfuz Anam
The only reason that the caretaker government has survived six months in power, and the chief advisor acknowledges it every time an occasion arises, is because the general public think of it to be an instrument to strengthen democracy. But now if this very instrument of 'strengthening democracy' becomes a symbol of mindless and arbitrary use of power, then how will the public distinguish it from such previous abusers of power and continue to lend it support? .........