Bangladesh News and Discussion

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 15 Dec 2008 11:31

Bangladeshi leaflets ask voters not to elect Hindu candidate

Monday, December 15, 2008

Dhaka: Leaflets asking Muslims not to elect a Hindu candidate have been distributed in a northern constituency of Bangladesh in the run up to the Dec 29 general election, a media report said Monday.

Three types of leaflets distributed in Thakurgaon-1 constituency ask people not to vote for Ramesh Chandra Sen, the nominee of the Awami League (AL) because he is a Hindu. Voters have been asked to elect Mirza Fakhrul Islam, nominee of the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), The Daily Star newspaper reported.

The leaflets - one containing verses from the Quran and their translation, the other a parody of a popular song and another a few short Bangla verses - bear the name of Bangladesh Muslim League presidium member M. Shamsul Haque. He is currently the vice-president of Thakurgaon Sadar BNP committee.

The party Haque belongs to was powerful during the Pakistan era, but has not had mass support in Bangladesh since the 1971 separation.

Election Officer Mohammed Saiful Islam told The Daily Star that the distribution of the leaflets "is not a violation of electoral rules since no Muslim League candidate is participating in the election from this constituency".

However, Sen said the leaflets had an appeal beyond party lines and were meant to exploit Muslim religious sentiments.

One of the leaflets, titled "Al-Quraner Bani" (teachings of the Quran), quotes different verses and clearly asks Muslims not to cast their vote for a non-Muslim candidate.

It also says that Islam does not accept the idea of secularism.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 16 Dec 2008 03:21

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/chida ... or/398949/

HM PC does some plain speaking on BD terrorist camps being allowed to exist in BD.

Young MPs from the region, Kiren Rijiju, Agatha Sangma and Sarbababda Sonowal had earlier made spirited interventions, wondering why the repeated blasts in the North-East had failed to strike a chord in the rest of the country like the Mumbai Terror attack did.

The minister later assured the House that the UPA Government was as much concerned about the blasts in the region as it was about the Mumbai terror attacks. “Though Bangladesh has repeatedly assured India that its territory would not be allowed to be used by Indian insurgent groups, it is regrettable that many terrorists continue to live there,” Chidambaram said.

Ramesh · Post by **Ramesh** » 27 Dec 2008 07:27

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/26b ... essels.htm

Bangladesh on Friday moved two warships to confront an alleged 'intrusion' by three Indian vessels,
for hydrocarbon exploration in its territorial waters, in the resource-rich Bay of Bengal.

The move came after the Bangladesh Navy protested the incident and the government
ordered a probe, following which 'appropriate' action will be taken.

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 27 Dec 2008 11:57

An Indian official said it was “unnecessary” on Dhaka’s part to “create an issue” over what was not a naval ship. “It was a ship hired by the petroleum ministry for surveying. The ship was never in Bangladeshi waters,” the source said. He did not comment on whether there were supporting navy vessels.

The source said the Indo-Bangla technical committee on maritime boundaries was to meet early next year, and both countries were expected to address disputes to it instead of acting “unilaterally”.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081227/j ... 307909.jsp

Rishi · Post by **Rishi** » 27 Dec 2008 22:08

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/1 ... ws0139.htm

Indian ships refuse to back off despite Navy protests

The Navy has protested the intrusion of three Indian survey ships into Bangladesh's territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal, but those have refused to leave, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

A naval commander said two Bangladeshi ships had been sent to the region and a third was on its way as reinforcement. They would confront the two Indian vessels in the area, said the official, who declined to be named.

The Bangladesh Navy frigate 'Khalid bin Walid' was dispatched to the spot Thursday night and asked the Indian ships to back off, said one maritime official declining to be named.

"Three Indian survey vessels started seismic survey activities some 140 nautical miles southwest off Mongla seaport.

"Right after detection of the Indian ships, frigate Khalid bin Walid went there and asked them to leave Bangladesh territorial waters," said the official.

The official added that battleship BNS Meghla was also heading to the place from Chittagong port.

Both Bangladesh and India claim the waters, but until the dispute is settled no-one can carry out exploration works there, according to international law.

.....

The Indian intrusion took place in less than two months of Myanmar sending vessels and equipment to carry out the exploration in the disputed waters of the Bay of Bengal, some 60 nautical miles off Saint Martin's Island on November 2.

Dhaka is sandwiched between the two neighbours and resumed talks on maritime boundary after a long time earlier this year. With India, the talks resumed after 28 years. They remained at a preliminary stage with all sides reiterating their own positions.

Rishi · Post by **Rishi** » 27 Dec 2008 22:11

http://www.newagebd.com/2008/dec/27/front.html#3

Indian naval ships along with exploration vessel refused to leave Bangladesh’s territorial waters despite Dhaka’s protest.

Foreign ministry officials said an exploration vessel backed by two Indian naval ships intruded into Bangladesh’s waters for hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay since early Thursday.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 27 Dec 2008 22:12

that should be BNS Meghna, meghna is a river in BD.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 27 Dec 2008 22:46

Any information about the so-called secret memo signed between Bhutto and IG about the release and safe-passage of 195 Pakistani war criminals - repeatedly being cited in this election by the BNP/Jamaat. I have come across this many times before, but never managed to get hold of any real docs. I have private sources who "verify" the broad nature of this agreement, but is there any way of getting this info out?

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 29 Dec 2008 05:00

300 migrants missing off Andamans

vina · Post by **vina** » 29 Dec 2008 11:16

Right.. Indian Navy saves these poor souls and the fat fundamentalist overlords sitting in Dakha give "tawk" about eevil Yindoos and sends millions more flooding across our land borders and sponsor groups like Ulfa and HuJi and other guys in the northeast.

If ever there was a more ungrateful scum on the earth, I wonder where to find them. The BDs are of no use to anyone, but rather a massive collective burden on everyone else, especially their neighbors. Global food prices go up, India ships subsidized rice to these ingrates. Pakis brutalize them, India bails them out. But who these scum suck up to ?. Wonder why they didnt ask the Pakis, Soddies and Malaysians and the rest of the "islamic brotherhood" for rice when there was a price shock , but came running to India.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Dec 2008 11:37

Let the Bongs batter each other through the "war of the widows".I'm sure that they can easily immerse themselves in their own affairs.India must simply construct the equivalent of the Berlin wall,or what the US has done with the border with Mexico,a series of fences,e-fences,heavily mined areas where fencing is not possible,etc.,and special border forces to just obliterate any intruders.The lakhs of illegal immigrants into India is destabilising our country and we must take evry measure to stop it.On the contrary,insttead of treating the country like Pak,we should also try and promote the Bangladeshi economy wherever possible,so that their nationals ar prosperous and remain at home.They must be cajoled hopefully into selling India their large reserves of gas,as the Indo-Pak-Iran gas pipeline is now a dead duck.The Bangladeshis one must remember are not like the martial Punjabis and tribals who rule Pak with their nether regions and not their brains.The Bengalis are by nature intelligent and one hopes that the rulers of Bangladesh resist attempts to interfere in Indian affairs,despite the best efforts of the ISI.The greatest danger from Bangladesh is infiltration of insurgents and terrorists with Paki backing.

Rishi · Post by **Rishi** » 29 Dec 2008 11:41

For BD watchers, here are some links to their English press:

1. Daily Star http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/index.php
2. The New Age http://www.newagebd.com/
3. The Nation http://nation.ittefaq.com/
4. Dhaka Courier (Fortnightly) http://www.dhakacourier.net/
5. BD 24 News Portal http://bdnews24.com/home.php

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 29 Dec 2008 14:01

vina wrote: If ever there was a more ungrateful scum on the earth, I wonder where to find them. The BDs are of no use to anyone, but rather a massive collective burden on everyone else, especially their neighbors. Global food prices go up, India ships subsidized rice to these ingrates. Pakis brutalize them, India bails them out. But who these scum suck up to ?. Wonder why they didnt ask the Pakis, Soddies and Malaysians and the rest of the "islamic brotherhood" for rice when there was a price shock , but came running to India.

vina,

I clearly recall my grandfather predicting this many years back when I was a wee kid and it seems he was right on all counts. To paraphrase what he had said: "After Bangladesh was born, it was all 'Joy Indira, Joy India' (Hail Indira, Hail India)...but mark my words, these people (BDs) will go back to hugging the same people who raped and murdered them and will start claiming them as brothers....for in the end to them Islam is all that matters. India is the enemy regardless of the blood it has shed for Bangladesh and its freedom."

Perhaps he got his insight because he had the opportunity to see BD being born ....he was the first chief engineer/head of PWD in BD after BD was born in '71...essentially becoz at that time he had been head of the eastern Indian region and they just included the new country under his responsibility (in addition to the fact that the last Chief engineer of PWD in East Pakistan who was also his classmate in BE college was halal'ed by Paki Army...no remains found till date).

satya · Post by **satya** » 29 Dec 2008 14:31

Why not find creative use of these BDees , use them as the cheapest labor ofcourse no privilage of indian citizenship today or tomorrow just a work visa ( with heavy annual renewal fee & other conditions ) and no family member to reside in India ever if they want put conditions so tough tht only so called rich of BDees can come & live but no citizenship .Citizenship only to be given to minorities / hindus under some Human Right thingie again to continously finger BDees to make them behave . As for illegals in India ,do what Dutch do albeit a bit more creative , catch them & keep them in detention center & make them work on min. wage ie 30-40 rs per day ; give them jobs in all those low cost wage industries , blunt the advantage of PRC and tell to world we are humanists providing them job ( create a clone of Barkha Dutt but one completely nationalist doing a 'guided' tour of such facility with happy BDees and telecast everywhere ) . We just can't throw them in Bay Of Bengal not yet , till this Global Warming thingie reaches its climax then there will always be ways but till then use them . Earn on them ,simple and yes we do need to create that Chittagong Hills Autonomous Hill Region exclusive for Hindus & Budhists , it won't be tough & ofcourse experience we will gain in creating such 'Autonomous Regions' will only hone our skills for our ultimate goal on PRC & TSP. In these days of Kalyuga , we always need slaves to maintain royals & the free citizens in a harmonized society , conditions for these slaves can be improved but there will always be need of slaves , take it anyway there's no way of having all a society only of Rich & middle class , never gonna happen in reality .

Shafqat · Post by **Shafqat** » 30 Dec 2008 02:16

I see the mood in this page hasn't changed much!

Check out the poll results. AL 136, JP 19, BNP 18, Jamaat 2, so on ...

For the oldtimers, sorry for the long hiatus. Life changing events one after another.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 30 Dec 2008 02:23

Hasina takes Bangladesh majority - unofficial results

Vivek K · Post by **Vivek K** » 30 Dec 2008 02:26

Shafqat you can understand the mood of the posters based on the happenings of Nov 26th. But it is good to see the AL in power again!!

Rangudu · Post by **Rangudu** » 30 Dec 2008 02:29

As we analyze the BD political changes with the Awami victory, I'll try to strike a contrarian pose with regard to Indian relations with Dhaka.

There is near unanimity here that the BD military and body politic has long been dictated by the TSPA type jihadi/Jamaati world view especially towards India. We have rightly expressed anger at these elements hiding behind a demographic invasion and threat of more such actions to needle India.

However, I'm thinking if there is some scope for India to activate the saner elements and to some extent slow the Jamaati trend by making some political concessions and showing a "big heart." I know this is heretical and may be naive, but my BD information base is not up to date and I'd like to get the opinion of people more in the know. Yes, BD is stonewalling on terror groups, BDR's rogueness and the unchecked demographic assault on India's North East, but can India still not make concessions to settle water issues, border demarcation, cattle smuggling etc, that would give political cover to the elements that are in BD that really do not want to mess with India?

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 30 Dec 2008 02:38

rangudu, I think you are on the money. while the islamist factions in BD are very powerful and influential, the country is still not extremised to the core at all levels of society as pakistan is.
liberal sections of the society still command some capability and with support can at least fight the jehadis to a standstill.

shafaqat, good to see you back after a long time.

brihaspati · Post by **brihaspati** » 30 Dec 2008 03:15

Current figures seem to be AL -223, 4-party - 26, and others -6.

AL has crossed the 2/3 majority required to amend constitution. I think the greatest danger that will come now, is from the Islamic forces within BD. It is doubtful that the Islamic axis within the military, the various NGO networks funded by oil-money, as well as the political elite - will remain silent and inactive. They and their foreign handlers will panic, that waiting further could jeopardize overall Islamic strategy for the subcontinent. Such popular mandates usually bring in sustained, long term, and vicious putschs from "reaction". At the moment, the BD people appear to be voting to punish the 4-party. But how far did the military itself want this to happen? Is it possible that the "western" allies won, over the "Islamic" allies, and pressurized BD military sufficiently to let this happen? Such pressures have apparently been initially successful in Pakistan, but ultimately the balance of forces in Pakistan is showing through. My own assessments of BD balance has always been that the forces of Bengali nationalism was slightly weaker than Islamic retrogression (for various reasons - elite affinity for Islam, mainly for feudal reasons, and land). The military command reflects this social division - and if a wave could have acted in favour of AL, this could mean (1) the military conceded to western pressure (2) BD yuppies, both urban and rural have decided that an Islamic orthodoxy could jeopardize their prospects within globalization (3) the Saudis decided not to restrain the Jamaat types and commited Islamic votes - and allow BD to pretend to go slow on Islamization as BD was coming firmly under Indian radar for terror, and such Islamization could actually strengthen Bengali nationalism leading to further setbacks for Islamization.

sum · Post by **sum** » 30 Dec 2008 10:08

Hoping and praying that our short-sighted netas didn't give up on the AL while they were in the wilderness and maintained contacts at all levels...

Ujjal · Post by **Ujjal** » 30 Dec 2008 14:07

Shafqat wrote:I see the mood in this page hasn't changed much!

Check out the poll results. AL 136, JP 19, BNP 18, Jamaat 2, so on ...

For the oldtimers, sorry for the long hiatus. Life changing events one after another.

Thanks for dropping by, Shaf. I have high hopes for AL. Let's see ....

satya · Post by **satya** » 30 Dec 2008 16:05

Isn't it beautiful , almost utopia , democracy in full bloom in Indian Sub-continent & radical forces on back steps , we have 'successful transition' from dictatorship on our western borders , fully complemented by sudden outburst of democratic support in Cashme-re then how could our eastern neighbour be left of this historic moment so they come yes sir with a bang they have elected ' secular ' govt. not some radical anti india BNP but truely secular AL , ofcourse its another matter in not so distant past , we all saw what democracy brought on our motherland when it came on our western front. And then we had our almost 27th state of Republic ie Nepal in full bloom under the guidance of Maoists .Its an year of democracies , Maldives the last bastion of 'dictatorship' gone & so also Bhutan , only left is SriLanka soon to make sure that peace prevails under democratic Sinhalese majority forever . And wait our own Delhi rejected right wing hindu taliban party / BJP with a thumping majority for nationalist Congress & they told us how nationalists they are by being the largest minority in survey for giving away that Cash-me-re to our Western neighbours /wana be Mughals . So its democracy . So what's left , oh yes election in India , it too will bring a truely yours democratic govt. that will guide India to its destiny !
So let's prepare for we know all............... AL victory was a surprise to naives not to those who know BD & the mud it stands on . BD is now firmly in control of Army providing 'guidance' , what else could have been expected , even BBC has certified that bio-metric voter ID cards were issued & no dead people & fake voters were allowed , do i need to say more even if now we have here high hopes pls do tell me what are those high hopes is it about a bit slow speed in their demographic invasion ? And now AL is in power , we should make the grand gesture pls let's give Assam or atleast some parts , take our level of co-operation to new heights .

Water , give them all as if they didn't have enough of it , its a bloody non-issue , only problem with our babus is they chose to fight over a non-issue and always skip the real issue under the carpet . I say again use these BDees , they provide us the advantage over Hans , use them in all possible ways , earn from them , this globalization offers us so many opportunities ,why shy now & take cover under some dharma /morality blanket .

skher · Post by **skher** » 30 Dec 2008 17:58

satya wrote: So let's prepare for we know all............... AL victory was a surprise to naives not to those who know BD & the mud it stands on . BD is now firmly in control of Army providing 'guidance' , what else could have been expected , even BBC has certified that bio-metric voter ID cards were issued & no dead people & fake voters were allowed , do i need to say more even if now we have here high hopes pls do tell me what are those high hopes is it about a bit slow speed in their demographic invasion ? And now AL is in power , we should make the grand gesture pls let's give Assam or atleast some parts , take our level of co-operation to new heights .

Water , give them all as if they didn't have enough of it , its a bloody non-issue , only problem with our babus is they chose to fight over a non-issue and always skip the real issue under the carpet . I say again use these BDees , they provide us the advantage over Hans , use them in all possible ways , earn from them , this globalization offers us so many opportunities ,why shy now & take cover under some dharma /morality blanket .

IMO,AL would do wonders for BD as well as India if just agreed to the previous package offered by Vajpayee in 2003 regarding transport links,border fencing,enclave exchange,power linkages and sharing of waters.

I don't get it....why would BD like to have water...they get flooded every monsoon!

Has Chittagong Hill been given sixth schedule like status?

On the strategic front, can AL be trusted to allow dedicated black ops against ISI-DGFI terror cells?

satya · Post by **satya** » 30 Dec 2008 21:25

Let's get one thing clear about our neighbours on East & West ie ones from the Religion of Peace , any package agreed with India is a sell out of their Land & its inhabitants in their eyes .With BDees problem is just tht ,its just mud they have in name of land , the population they have can't be sustained in any possible manner unless they are employed in India , there is no business/employment opportunities worth their name in this BD land .This our babu log understand but question comes how to manage them , here politicos from both parties play havoc , one for votes & another did so under the toxic influence of Jack Daniels mixed with twisted version of Raj Dharma that only he understood so a proposal was made of grand gesture under last AL regime that has solution for all the non-issue problems be it cattle grazing or low water supply during summers but none addressed the issue ie what to do with these millions BDees sinking in their beloved mud of their country . So long , GoI doesn't address this issue , all these grand gestures means absolutely nothing .Already DDM are going wild over the victory of AL terming it as victory of pro-Indian Party ! And am sure this issue of demographic invasion will never be understood let measures be taken. At most , GoI will say please do something and SH will say i will but what can she do , who wanna stay in mud and sleep in mud when you have the option of crossing to a fertile land that too paying just 100 rs to our Fakirs / BSF guards ( this is the going rate for illegal immigration , i have frd in G'gaon whose domestic help is a BD and she said so every 6 months she go regularly back and comes back 100 rs is what she pays ! ) Do i need to say any more ,these people have nothing back home to look forward to , they have everything to gain in India .
We have to accept this reality and sooner we make laws to make good use of this BD labor better for our law & order scenario and for our nation as a whole . These BDees are now in all major cities denying all those jobs to the real needy Indians from less developed states ,unless GoI understands this and make it Indians first and only most menial jobs that too under harshest possible conditions to BDees will we be able to keep India safe atleast from BD silent invasion .Use BDees not only against PRC, use them against Mayanmar Junta . Hard decisions make Great Powers , soft decisions standalone makes the nation a game for someone else .

Malayappan · Post by **Malayappan** » 31 Dec 2008 07:28

Shafqat, Warm welcome friend!

Timely as well.

What is your take on the results - apart from the numbers? Also how do you think India should respond?

And please do stay on this time!

Malayappan · Post by **Malayappan** » 31 Dec 2008 07:55

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/n ... ?nid=69401
BNP at lowest ebb
Wiped out of Dhaka, Sylhet divisions

It is a shock-and-awe rout for the BNP, once a mighty party.

While we wait for more news (and hopefully comments from Shaqat?) the degree loss of BNP in Dhaka is interesting. Dhaka AFAIK is the citadel of BNP politics. How did the cantonment vote? Is this a kind of defining moment?

Hope Delhi has allocated time to handle the developments. Opportunity like this never comes again!

Malayappan · Post by **Malayappan** » 31 Dec 2008 08:01

Some Analysis

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/n ... ?nid=69413

Soul-searching in BNP for reasons

Excerpts

Party insiders said although misrule and corruption of BNP-led four-party alliance government had an impact on the poll results, it was the inclusion of war criminals in the alliance that worked as the most detrimental factor.

"Voters could not accept our alliance with anti-liberation Jamaat," said a senior leader of BNP, adding that BNP developed deep ties with Jamaat and other radical Islamist parties, which discouraged voters, especially the young generation of first time voters, to vote for four-party alliance.

"There were widespread publicity against anti-liberation forces and there were rousing voices for trials of war criminals.

So is there some hope left still for Bangla Nationalism?

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 31 Dec 2008 08:05

Rangudu wrote:However, I'm thinking if there is some scope for India to activate the saner elements and to some extent slow the Jamaati trend by making some political concessions and showing a "big heart." I know this is heretical and may be naive, but my BD information base is not up to date and I'd like to get the opinion of people more in the know. Yes, BD is stonewalling on terror groups, BDR's rogueness and the unchecked demographic assault on India's North East, but can India still not make concessions to settle water issues, border demarcation, cattle smuggling etc, that would give political cover to the elements that are in BD that really do not want to mess with India?

R,

It has to be a carrot and stick policy. A carrots alone policy is interpreted as weakness by Islamists. The so-called 'saner' elements in BD can defy the Islamists only up to a limit, for fear of physical violence against them.

IMHO the pre-requisite for a 'fair' policy towards Bangladesh is India gaining complete control of the border. After that, offer concessions but couple them with demands for reciprocity e.g. hand over Indian terrorists hiding in Bangladesh, take back BD illegals staying in India etc.

Making unilateral concessions to an Islamic country will never buy their friendship or peace.

If you understand Hindi:

Bhay bin hoye na preet.

Raj Malhotra · Post by **Raj Malhotra** » 31 Dec 2008 13:44

Can somebody post the "percentage" of votes received by various parties in Bangladesh?

Raj Malhotra · Post by **Raj Malhotra** » 01 Jan 2009 03:29

AL 25pc up, BNP 20pc down

Tells the story

Awami League lost in 2001 elections as it had only 0.5% votes less. This time around around 15-16% of total voters were weeded out as fake (17-18% of actual voters). No wonder awami league won by 16-18% votes.

Rangudu · Post by **Rangudu** » 01 Jan 2009 03:49

An AL government cannot afford to be seen as making concessions to India too fast. My bet is that once the warm words are exchanged, Sheikh Hasina will have to appear to be tough with India. Any cooperation will have to behind the scenes. If we are smart, we should let the elected BD government be seen as obtaining a "big" concession from India first and let the goodwill be accumulated before we push too hard for action on jihadi/ULFA front.

Anyway, I'm sure the hardline pro-TSP elements would not waste time cooking up a crisis. All it takes is a few BDR men to capture an Indian and send his body back.

Kakkaji, I agree but sometimes you have to make choices on which wars to pursue. We can take the initiative now if we are smart.

Santosh · Post by **Santosh** » 01 Jan 2009 09:37

BDA earns top dollar for UN deployments in troubled areas. Looks like the whip has been cracked from the top to on BDA to kick isloos out of government. This was expected since the elections 2 years ago were called off as farce when Khaleda Zia party was all fixed to hit a home run. BD is nicely tracing the footprints of their TFTA brothers on the west.

Nitesh · Post by **Nitesh** » 01 Jan 2009 16:56

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/unc ... 35942.html

Navy, Coast Guard rescue 100 illegal Bangladeshi migrants
December 28th, 2008 - 9:04 pm ICT by IANS -

New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) Donning a humanitarian role, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have rescued about 100 Bangaldeshis, who were illegally taken to Thailand for fishing, and were drifting in the Indian Ocean for 12 days, an official here said Sunday.The Bangladeshis, rescued off the Andaman and Nicobar islands, were being interrogated at the Little Andaman Island.

“These boys, 412 in number, from Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh were hired by a local person for fishing in Thai waters. However, as soon as they arrived, they were caught by the Thai police,” a defence official of the Integrated Defence Command in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands told IANS by telephone.

“They said the Thai police put them on a pontoon tied to a ship to deport them back. But these boys quietly opened the cable and the pontoon started drifting.

“One of the survivors reached the Little Andaman Island. Following this, the army, navy, air force and Coast Guard in consultation with the local police launched an aerial reccee and patrolling to locate the rest of them,” the officer said.

During patrols a boat, with 88 people onboard, was found 40 nautical miles away from the Little Andaman Island. A dozen others were also rescued.

“The Indian Navy and Coast Guard rescued the survivors in a joint operations. The rescued people are being questioned if there is a pattern in their trafficking,” the official added.

sum · Post by **sum** » 01 Jan 2009 18:31

So, these guys will be put up in Assam now since BD will surely refuse to take them back?

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 01 Jan 2009 22:09

Sheikh Hasina's victory is too big by any count. 3/4th of the electorate voted for her party. For any one this is once is an era happening. She needs visonaries in her team and she has to become down to earth to uplift her countrymen. It is extremely important that she does not become like Jayalalita and rule rough over the population.

India has an oppurtunity to reform the Bangladesh's anit-Indian mind set. Bangladesh is surrounded by India on all sided except for a small border with Myanmar and it is important to explain to its population to become friendly with India. Hasina has a huge oppurtunity.

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 01 Jan 2009 22:42

How many of you here seriously believe that the fencing of the Indo-BD border will in anyway reduce the illegal immigration and infiltration of terrorists into India??

Well I dont

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 01 Jan 2009 22:59

why so yogi_g ?

fencing works but only if certain other criteria are also met which haven't till now.
there are a lot of local problems
some are
a) some Indian farmers have their land across the fence. fencing means the crop can be looted with impunity. some people have had parts of their households across the fence.
obviously these people won't support an insurmountable barrier.
b)strong smuggler gangs and their nexus with local police and politicians.
c)corruption in BSF.
and so on.

most if not all can be solved with some initiative at the local level.

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 02 Jan 2009 00:21

Rahul M wrote:why so yogi_g ?

fencing works but only if certain other criteria are also met which haven't till now.
there are a lot of local problems
some are
a) some Indian farmers have their land across the fence. fencing means the crop can be looted with impunity. some people have had parts of their households across the fence.
obviously these people won't support an insurmountable barrier.
b)strong smuggler gangs and their nexus with local police and politicians.
c)corruption in BSF.
and so on.

most if not all can be solved with some initiative at the local level.

You summarized the show-stoppers well Rahul ji. point b in part contributes to point c, point b I feel is the single biggest reason which I doubt we will be able to solve in the immediate future. A lot many 72-seekers would have crossed the border by then I am afraid.

to add to your list,
d) Vote bank politics -- this again contributes to point b. This can be solved though if there are strong local citizen's anti-illegal immigrant movements like as seen in Assam...
e) I dont think is a major one but just jotting it down. There is resentment in Bangladesh with the fence being built, sort of the "Mexico" feeling and also some reasons as pathetic and unfounded as "BSF mischief". On some BD forums I even found hilarious comments like "why do they want to build fences when the economy of BD and India are pretty much the same" etc etc. This resentment might be utilized by the political parties to demand that the fence building be stopped/torn down (unlikely but still possible) in order to improve BD-India relations.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 02 Jan 2009 14:46

The rout of the "military faction" of Bangladeshi politics is a political milestone in that nation's history.A free and fair election,from the foreign observers,has swept back into power Sheikh Hasina,Mujib's daughter,along with a massive majority that gives her the power to change the constitution in favour of the Bengali people of Bangladesh.Historically,her party has been a friend of India better than that of the other "merry widow".There is an excellent opportunity here for India to improve relations with B'desh and work out agreements on many issues including security,which will be to the benefit of both countries.The primary defeat in this election is that of the pro-Paki foeces who have been collaborators with the ISI in attempting to destabilise India through terror in the N-East.Yesterday's outrage in Assam only shows that there is much work to be done.While improving relations with B'desh,especially if India can rope in the B'deshi economy into a mutually beneficial one for both nations,gas exports to India too,then a more prosperous B'desh will to a large extent with employment opportunities at home, lessen the problem of B'deshi illegal immigration into India.If the MEA is crative enough,even a security agreement can be worked out as part of a comprehensive package with it.The snuffing out of Paki/ISI influence in the country is ripe,as the electorate has rejected the overt/covert military influence over the country.

PS:View from an expert on the subject.

"The Bangladesh election results are out of this world. But Hasina is feather-brained and there is every danger of her shooting herself in the foot which is precisely what the Jamaat and the BNP are waiting for!"