এবারের তেহরান সম্মেলন (NAM)

ন্যাম

এবারের তেহরান সম্মেলন

ফারুক চৌধুরী | তারিখ: ০৫-০৯-২০১২

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« আগের সংবাদপরের সংবাদ»

‘ন্যাম’ কোনো সংগঠন বা প্রতিষ্ঠান নয়। ‘ন্যাম’, অর্থাৎ জোটনিরপেক্ষ আন্দোলন তার নামের সঙ্গে সামঞ্জস্য রেখেই, একটি আন্দোলন। এর কোনো সদর দপ্তর নেই, নেই কোনো সচিবালয়। ন্যামের কোনো মহাসচিব বা কর্মকর্তা নেই যে তিনি বিশ্বময় সফর করে বেড়াবেন; কোথাও সমস্যার আগুন জ্বললে তা নির্বাপিত করতে তাৎক্ষণিকভাবে সচেষ্ট হবেন। ১৯৬১ সালে ন্যাম যুগোস্লাভিয়ার বেলগ্রেডে যাত্রা শুরু করল। সেই যুগোস্লাভিয়া রাষ্ট্রই এখন বিলুপ্ত। যে দুই পরাশক্তি থেকে নিরপেক্ষ থাকার অভিপ্রায়ে জোটনিরপেক্ষ আন্দোলন শুরু হয়েছিল, তার একটি পরাশক্তি, সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়ন আজ ভেঙে খান খান। অবশ্য সেই সময়ের পৃথিবীর বর্ণনায় একটি কথা চালু ছিল। তা হলো যে পৃথিবীতে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র আর সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়নই দুটি নিরপেক্ষ রাষ্ট্র। অন্যরাই এই দুই দেশের কারও না কারও পক্ষের! বর্তমান পৃথিবী বহু মেরুর না এক মেরুর (অর্থাৎ যুক্তরাষ্ট্র), তা নিয়ে পণ্ডিতেরা বিবাদ করতে পারেন, তবে কেউই বলবেন না যে পৃথিবীটি এখন দ্বিমেরুর।
তবু তিন বছর অন্তর ন্যাম সম্মেলন অনুষ্ঠিত হচ্ছে। ২০০৯ সালে তা হয়েছিল মিসরের শারম আল শেখে, এ বছর হলো তেহরানে আর ২০১৫ সালে তা হবে ভেনেজুয়েলায়। ন্যামের কোনো গঠনতন্ত্র নেই, নেই কোনো নির্ধারিত ভোট গ্রহণ পদ্ধতি। সেখানে সিদ্ধান্ত গৃহীত হয় মতৈক্যের মাধ্যমে। কিন্তু সিদ্ধান্ত বাস্তবায়নের নেই কোনো প্রক্রিয়া। আর যেখানে মতৈক্য সম্ভব নয় সেখানে আন্দোলনটি কোনো অবস্থানই গ্রহণ করে না। তবু ন্যামের তাৎপর্য রয়েছে। নইলে প্রতি তিন বছরে ঢাকঢোল পিটিয়ে সম্মেলনটি কেন অনুষ্ঠিত হবে?
আমার মতে, তেহরান সম্মেলনের প্রধান তাৎপর্য ছিল সম্মেলনটি তেহরানে অনুষ্ঠিত হলো এবং ১২০টি দেশের রাজা, উজির, আমলা তাতে অংশ নিলেন। ১৯৭৯ সালে ইসলামিক বিপ্লবের পর এত বড় একটি আন্তর্জাতিক সম্মেলন সে দেশে অনুষ্ঠিত হয়নি। তাও হলো এমন একটি সময় যখন যুক্তরাষ্ট্র আর তার তল্পিবাহক ইসরায়েল ইরানকে একঘরে করতে সদা তৎপর রয়েছে। কারণ হচ্ছে এই কল্পনাপ্রসূত অভিযোগ যে, ইরান পারমাণবিক অস্ত্র তৈরি করার প্রস্তুতি নিচ্ছে। এদিকে ইরান বলছে যে তাদের ইউরেনিয়াম সমৃদ্ধিকরণ কেবল পারমাণবিক শক্তির শান্তিপূর্ণ ব্যবহারের জন্য। ইরান বলছে যে তারা পারমাণবিক অস্ত্র বিস্তার চুক্তিতে স্বাক্ষর করেছে এবং সেই চুক্তির শর্ত তারা অক্ষরে অক্ষরে মেনে চলবে। ইমাম খামেনি তো এই সম্মেলনেই বললেন যে পারমাণবিক অস্ত্র তৈরি করা ‘পাপেরই’ শামিল। এদিকে যে দুটি দেশ, যুক্তরাষ্ট্র আর ইসরায়েল, ‘নেকড়ে এল, নেকড়ে এল’ বলে হইচই করছে, তারা ভালোভাবেই জানে যে পারমাণবিক অস্ত্র বিস্তার রোধ চুক্তির স্বাক্ষরকারী না হয়েও ইসরায়েলের কাছে একটি সমৃদ্ধ পারমাণবিক অস্ত্রভান্ডার রয়েছে। এক অর্থে তাই তেহরানে ১২০টি রাষ্ট্রের এই সমাগম এই বৈষম্যমূলক বিচারের বিরুদ্ধেই একটি প্রতিবাদ।
ইরান একটি ভদ্র দেশ। ইরানিরা, প্রেসিডেন্ট আহমাদিনেজাদের জাতিসংঘে কড়া সব উক্তি সত্ত্বেও, একটি ভদ্র জাতি। গত বছরের অর্থাৎ ২০১১ সালের মে মাসে ইমাম খোমেনি ত্রাণ ফাউন্ডেশনের আমন্ত্রণে আমি ইরান গিয়েছিলাম। প্রত্যক্ষ করেছি যে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রসহ পাশ্চাত্যের অর্থনৈতিক নিষেধাজ্ঞার দংশন সত্ত্বেও, ইরান সুস্বাদু খাবার, সুদর্শন নারী-পুরুষ, সুশ্যামল পার্ক, সুনিয়ন্ত্রিত স্কয়ার এবং সর্বোপরি হাজার হাজার বছরের সভ্যতার, সুললিত ভাষাভাষী মানুষের ঐতিহ্যবাহী পরিষ্কার-পরিচ্ছন্ন একটি দেশ। ইরানিরা আত্মবিশ্বাসী, তবে উগ্র নয়। আমি ইরানিদের এই সম্মেলন সুষ্ঠুভাবে সম্পন্ন করার জন্য সাধুবাদ জানাই। পৃথিবীতে খুব বেশি উন্নয়নশীল দেশ নেই যারা এই মাপের উৎকর্ষ ব্যবস্থাপনায় একটি সম্মেলন অনুষ্ঠিত করতে পারবে। ইসলামিক কনফারেন্সের পররাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী সম্মেলন এবং ঢাকায় দুটি সার্ক সম্মেলন করার আমার প্রত্যক্ষ অভিজ্ঞতা রয়েছে। সুবিশাল ‘ন্যাম’ কনফারেন্সের তুলনায় তা কিছুই নয়। তবু সেগুলো অনুষ্ঠিত করতে আমরা হিমশিম খেয়ে যাই। তাদের বহু প্রকার সীমাবদ্ধতা সত্ত্বেও, যে যথার্থ ব্যবস্থাপনায় ইরানিরা এই সম্মেলন করতে পেরেছে তা তাদের, জাতি হিসেবে দক্ষতারই পরিচায়ক।
আরব বসন্তেরই ফসল, মিসরের প্রেসিডেন্ট মুরসি এই সম্মেলনে একটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালন করেছেন এবং তাঁর কর্মকাণ্ডে দূরদর্শিতার স্বাক্ষর রেখেছেন। মুসলিম ব্রাদারহুডের মুরসি রক্ষণশীল ও উগ্রপন্থী হবেন—পাশ্চাত্যের এ ধারণা অমূলকই মনে হচ্ছে। সিরিয়া সম্বন্ধে ইরান ও মিসরের অবস্থান বিপরীত। ইরান আসাদ সরকারকে সমর্থন করে আর মিসরের অবস্থান সেই দেশের বিদ্রোহীদের প্রতি সহানুভূতিশীল। মুরসি প্রস্তাব করেছেন যে তুরস্ক, সৌদি আরব, ইরান ও মিসরকে নিয়ে একটি ‘কনট্যাক্ট গ্রুপ’ সিরিয়া সমস্যার একটি রাজনৈতিক সমাধানে সচেষ্ট হোক। প্রস্তাবটি দূরদর্শী, পরিপক্ব ও সাহসী। বিপরীত অবস্থানে থেকেও যে মিসর ও ইরান সহযোগিতায় কাজ করতে প্রস্তুত, তা মধ্যপ্রাচ্যের জন্য একটি সুখবর।
যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের ভ্রুকুটি অগ্রাহ্য করেও জাতিসংঘের মহাসচিব বান কি মুন তেহরানে উপস্থিত ছিলেন এবং সেই দেশের নেতাদের সঙ্গে বিভিন্ন বিষয়ে আলোচনা করেছেন। ইরান এ সম্মেলন অনুষ্ঠিত করে তার দায়িত্বশীলতারই প্রমাণ রেখেছে। আগামী তিন বছর জোটনিরপেক্ষ আন্দোলনের নেতা হিসেবে ইরানের একটি গঠনমূলক ভূমিকা পালনের অবকাশ রয়েছে। একটি মনগড়া অজুহাতে ইসরায়েল ইরানের ইউরেনিয়াম সমৃদ্ধিকরণ স্থাপনাগুলোর ওপর অতর্কিত আক্রমণ চালাতে পারে বলে যে ভীতি ছিল, তেহরানের এ সম্মেলন তা অনেকটাই তিরোহিত করল।
ফারুক চৌধুরী: সাবেক পররাষ্ট্র সচিব। কলাম লেখক।

33rd BCS Written will start on 07.10.12 Sunday

The Security Situation in Bangladesh

OVERVIEW

● The security situation in Bangladesh was relatively calm and stable. However, consequence of abortive coup attempt by few misled members of Army, intermittent political hostilities, frustrated investors resorting to vandalism, RMG workers locked in clash with police, sudden attack of Nipah virus, unremitting campus violence, few number of murders in the capital and elsewhere by unknown gunmen and criminals, armed mugging/robbery in several areas including the capital, abduction of people, recoveryoffewdead bodies, increased activities of militants and extremist while RAB and police hunting them all‐out, recovery of few number of weapons and ammunitions, quite a few petty crimes in the capital and decreased fatalities in RTA’s were observed.

HIGHLIGHTS

● Road Traffic Accidents (RTA): Reportedly, 62 people were killed while 354 were injured countrywide. This brings fatal RTAs to a total of 364 persons killed and 905 injured during the year 2012.

● Top Level Army Officers Reshuffled: On 26^th January 12, Dhaka 9 Division GOC Major General Ashrraf Abdullah Yusuf was posted as AG to Army HQ. Bandarban Brigade Commander K.M Mominur Rahman was transferred as GOC of 9 Division with promotion as Major General. Earlier Adjutant General Abu Belal Md. Shafiul Haque has been transferred as GOC Comilla. Former GOC of Comilla Major General Mohammad Kamruz Zaman was closed at Log Area for involvement with recent foiled up in Bangladesh Army. Brig General Tariqul Alam was also closed at Log Area for same incident.

● 4 Killed As Cops Fired On And Local BNP Unit Called Half-Day Hartal(Laxmipur And Chandpur): On 29^th January 12, four persons died in Laxmipur and Chandpur towns when police fired on demonstrating BNP activists and supporters. To protest the killings, local BNP units called for half-day hartal in Chandpur and Laxmipur towns on 30^th January 12 which was ended peacefully.

● Khaleda Zia Led Rally In Dhaka: On 30^th January 12, BNP brought out a mass procession led by its Chairperson Khaleda Zia to mount pressure on the government for a restoration of the caretaker government system. The route was confined between Nayapaltan and Moghbazar intersection.

● Dhaka City AL Kicked Off Rally & Jubo League Formed Human Chain In Mothijheel: On 30^th January 12, the Dhaka metropolitan Awami League's rally demanding punishment to war criminals and those trying to foil the trials kicked off in front of the party's Bangabandhu Avenue office. Leaders and activists of Awami Jubo League, an associated body of the ruling party, formed a human chain at Mothijheel area protesting what it said was the opposition's recent plot to topple the elected government.

● Jamaat Man Killed In Clash With Cops & BNP-Led Alliance Called Half-Day Hartal In Rajshahi: On 30^th January 12, a Jamaat-e-Islami activist was killed and around 80 others, including 19 cops, were injured in clashes between law enforcers and Jamaat-Shibir men in the city's Hatim Khan area of Rajshahi District. Thus BNP-led four-party alliance called a half-day hartal in Rajshahi city on 31^stJanuary 12 to protest the killing.

● BNP Held Protest Rally: On 31^st January 12, BNP observed Countrywide Protest Day in Dhaka, all District and Upazilla’s to protest against alleged repression and killing of opposition activists by law enforcers and ruling party alliance.

EXTREMIST/TERRORIST ACTVITIES:

● ‘Criminal' Killed By Rivals: On 26^th January 12, an alleged criminal was found dead in a marshland at Narayankandi village along Chuadanga-Jhenidah border area.

● Kushtia Jubo Dal Leader Murdered: On 26^th January 12, a Jubo Dal ( student wing of BNP) leader was killed by three alleged drug peddlers following a feud over illegal drug trade in Housing Estate area of Kushtia District.

Dowry System

Dowry system is a curse to our social life. This system is very harmful to the society. Many innocent women fall victim to dowry system and their lives become miserable. This dowry system has been prevalent for many years among the Hindus. The Hindu women cannot inherit their paternal property. That’s why; cash money, various ornaments, goods, dresses etc are given in their marriage ceremony. This evil tradition is established in Muslim society day by day. Many men marry women for the greed of their property and if they are unable to get these, they torture women. Many times, as a consequent of this, the girls take the way of suicide or they are killed by their husbands or others.

In this millennium it is a sad picture that even after centuries of study, debate, seminar, we have failed to ensure the equitable right of women. In Bangladesh, women constitute half of the total population. The majority of them are below the poverty line. It is said that women of our country are the poorest among poor. Thousand of girls here fall victim to dowry system. Their sufferings know no bounds. Besides incidents of bride burning, suicide take place quite often.

There are some women who go back to their father’s home forever. There is no doubt about the necessity of removing dowry system. To abolish this system government has enacted strict laws. Yet dowry system is continuing and the women have been suffering. We have to try to put an end to this system. We should protect women from the curse of dowry. So everybody both male & female of the society should be conscious in this matter. 

Geopolitical Importance of Bangladesh

Geopolitical Importance of Bangladesh

Being located in between Indian mainland and its reveling seven sister states Bangladesh's strategic importance for Indian has been very crucial to communicate by less spending. Besides being almost inside India having a small mouth to bay of bangal it has also become an attraction for USA and China sometime to deter India to maintain regional strategy.

The geographical location of Bangla­desh is a preponderant fact that influ­ence the decision makers in making foreign policy. Because of the various elements in the formulation of foreign of a country, geographic location oc­cupies a significant position.(1) Geo­politics examines the political and strategic significance of geography in this context geography is defined in terms of the location, size and resour­ces of the places. Geopolitical loca­tion of Bangladesh gives it both strength and weakness from different perspectives. As it is by location land locked by India it keeps Bangladesh in a dis advantage but a little land boundary with Myanmar and its en­trance in sea give an advantage to its external orientation. India's need of corridor through Bangladesh and en­hancing global importance of the south Asian region comes as a hope to Bangladesh to keeps its foreign policy in a advantageous position.

Location of Bangladesh:

With an area of about 144,000 sq km, Bangladesh is situated between latitudes 20-34' and 2638' north and latitudes 8801' and 9241' east. The country is bordered by India on the east, west and north and by the Bay of Bengal on the south. There is also a small strip of frontier with Burma on the southeastern edge. The land is a deltaic plain with a network of numerous rivers and canals. Through Myanmar( Burma )Bangladesh is linked to the entire South East Asian region.. China is not very far off. Geographically The Peo­ple's Republic of china is a very close neighbor of Bangladesh with only 100 km of Indi­an territory between their borders.(2)Though Bangladesh does not have a common border with Nepal and Bhutan Both are very close neighbors separated from the northern border of Bangladesh by 13.7 miles and 18.67 miles of Indian territory respective­ly.(3)Bangladesh shares 54 international rivers with India and Myanmar. Though in the south she has her own out let to sea but the funnel like shape of the Bay of Bengal puts her in conflict with both India and Myanmar in determining the sea border.

Neighbors of Bangladesh:

India and Myanmar are the immediate neighbors of Bangladesh with common borders. The land border with Myanmar is about 243 kilometers while that India extended over 4,025 kilometers. Thus, in terms of peace along the extensive border and over all national security, the quality of relations with India is of crucial importance to Bangladesh. Among the near neighbors of Bangladesh though with out common borders, The nearest are Nepal (distance 13.7 miles/22km), Bhutan (distance 13.7 miles /22km).and china(dis­tance 60 miles or 100km). Among the neighbors of Bangladesh there are three countries with nuclear power.

Geo political Weakness and its impacts of Foreign policy:

Truly Bangladesh is clearly locked by India both in land and water except a little border

with Myanmar. Geopolitics may be a disadvantage when a country is landlocked b or

shares common border mostly with one country. While sharing common border if she is

in dispute relationship with her neighbor , her foreign policy will largely conditioned by

fear psyche.(4). Also the security consideration of a country is greatly dictated by geo­

graphical locaton.Bangladeshes nearness of border with India may appear as a weakness in her defense against any future military conflict with India. Common sharing of Rivers also appears as a weakness for Bangladesh because the flow of water which depends of the source of the rivers. Due to its almost flat topography Bangladesh also doest have the natural strategic defense that can be a barrier for the external attackers. The flow of 54 common rivers from India into Bangladesh territory creates yet another weakness to Bangladesh. Construction of Farakka barrage and possibility of constructing more other barrages also appeared as a weakness given by the nature to Bangladesh which we are considering as a geopolitical disadvantage to Bangladesh. Shiligori corridor between Bangladesh and both Nepal, Bhutan which also appears as a weakness to Bangladesh, as it could has brought more advantageous position if ti were Bangladesh part. This small land separate Bangladesh from linking Nepal and Bhutan. If Bangladesh had linkage with Nepal or Bhutan it could have made easier linkage to china which could have been strengths in bargaing to formulate Bangladesh's foreign policy. This peculiar location in the region has forced to consider India as the significant factor ih the formulation of countries foreign policy. Though there we have only but small option to go out avoiding India but the political realities of that country still cant make any positive chance for Ban­gladesh. Bangladesh's geopolitical location on the very besides of giant nuclear powerful India and its smallness and not deserving of abandoned natural resources dictates its pol­icy maker not to take such policy which avoids India. Very practically we see now and then Indian BSF solders kills many Bangladeshis but we can not take those killings in consider to talk to them avoiding the geo political reality. In our foreign policy with India we see that until the mid august , 1975 Bangladesh had cordial relations with India. It seems that the policy makers at that time realized the significance of geopolitical reality. Geopolitics dictates Bangladeshis closer relation with India It is realized through the signing of the friendship treaty which demonstrating to integrate Bangladeshis security

with India. Bangladesh due to her political and security dependence on India did not strengthen relations with countries having odds with India. (5) there is not the same risk of the Chinese cutting off Assam as there was iin 1962, since in the course of hostilities, the northern Bangladesh is likely to be overrun by the Indian forces, and he communica­tion lines with Assam will be broadened rather that narrowed down or closed"(7) just af­ter the Bangladesh's emergence Subramanian was confident to say that "This country need no longer to be afraid that incase of military pressure from china, Assam will be cut off from the rest of the India"

Since independence Bangladesh is being used as transit route by rail and inland water ways between India's two part. It gives India benefits interms of quick movement s of goods and less freight cost. For what we see India's great interest to take corridor facility-

ties through land roads and using Chittagong port. For the foreign policy decision makers of Bangladesh this transit facilities more correctly corridor as India proposed has been an important factor to bargain and to mitigate other problems like water dispute, border dis­pute , sea border dispute with India.

Geo political Strength and its impact upon foreign policy:

Though Bangladesh is a small country and almost locked by India its geopolitical loca­tion gives it some strength in this interdependent world which is prone to be mulipular. Bangladesh is being significant geopolitically where we can categorizes some of the im­portant causes

Increasing importance of South Asia in International Politics:

Bangladesh being situated in South Asia its importance because of its geopolitical loca­tion is increasing day by day with the increasing importance of South Asia and broadly Asia in International Politics. 'South Asia comprises of and where it is situated in the world, it becomes a vital position in the world at the end of the 20th century. The eight countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives- that constitute South Asia are a zone of fire. China is situated in the north of this zone, Russia is on the North and West, the Middle East, Balkans and Europe are on the West, and the Indian Ocean on the South. The Indian Ocean connects the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.'(6) If the 19th century was the century of the Atlantic and the 20th century of the century of the Pacific, then, as the calculations of India and some other countries go, the 21 st century will be the century of the Indian Ocean.(7)

Asian High way:

For the fulfillment of Asian high way Bangladesh is Significant part it links India with south eastern countries through easer low cost way. Though Bangladesh yet hasn't linked with the Asian high way because of disagreement with India one another's proposal still Bangladesh remains as not to be avoided.

Transit Way:

First of all geopolitical location of Bangladesh appeared for itself in some cases has been disadvantages as so its been very disadvantageous to India also. To communicate with the north western part India has the only and small corridor which is shill gory between Bangladesh and India. Incase of any dispute or war with china India's northwestern part becomes very much vulnerable to be separated. What we observed in Sino-India war of 1962 on border dispute. We understands Bangladesh's geopolitical importance from a re­nowned Indian Strategic analyst K.SUBRAHMANYAM where he wrote in July ,1971, "there is not the same risk of the Chinese cutting off Assam as there was iin 1962, since in the course of hostilities, the northern Bangladesh is likely to be overrun by the Indian forces, and he communication lines with Assam will be broadened rather that narrowed down or closed"(7) just after the Bangladesh's emergence Subramanian was confident to say that "This country need no longer to be afraid that incase of military pressure from china. Assam will be cut off from the rest of the India"

Since independence Bangladesh is being used as transit route by rail and inland water ways between India's two part. It gives India benefits interms of quick movement s of goods and less freight cost. For what we see India's great interest to take corridor facili­ties through land roads and using Chittagong port. For the foreign policy decision makers of Bangladesh this transit facilities more correctly corridor as India proposed has been an important factor to bargain and to mitigate other problems like water dispute, border dis­pute , sea border dispute with India.

Geo political importance of Bangladesh for other countries:

Not only India has interest over the geopolitical location of Bangladesh. But also courti­ers like Nepal, Bhotan, China, and USA and even courtiers like Japan and Australia are showing their interest considering the geo political importance of Bangladesh. Nepal and Bhutan being land locked and not having sea access very much interested to use Bangla­deshis sea ports to foster their trade. As china has competing relationship with India al­ways seeks opportunities to contain India geostratagically where Bangladesh becomes

one of the perfect positions to her intention. Though USA has its biggest naval base in Andaman Nicober islands its intend to use chittagong Sea ports to strengthen its strategic position in the south Asia considering the importance of the region in World politics. More clearly interms of any dispute with India and china Chittagong port is the better place to contain two nuclear power and which are growing as a super power in interna­tional system. Japan and Australia also for their national interest maintain good relations with Bangladesh and where Australia has different project and aid in great deal in Chitta­gong hill Tracks. No state regulates its foreign policy with out being motivated by its na­tional interest.

Conclusion:

The above analysis over the geopolitical reality and its impacts on foreign policy formu­lation gives us the understanding that the Bangladesh hardly can avoid India as a factor to its foreign policy also in this changing world its being vice-versa. Geopolitical reali­ties dictation over foreign policy provides both disadvantages and disadvantages which also makes the countries interdependent in this world system.

References :

1. Akmal Husain, "Geopolitics and Bangladesh foreign policy" CLIO/1989.

2. Mohammad Shamsul Hoque, 'Bangladesh in International politics: the dilemmas of weak states 1 993'UPL,p165

3. Ibid, p 159

4 Akmal Husain, Ibid.

5. Akmal Husain, Ibid

6. "Geopolitics of South Asia and the threat of war"(Paper presented at the Conference on Glob­al Conflict and Threat of War at the University of Windsor, Canada on October 2, 1999. 7. k. Subramanian, Bangladesh and India's security, alit and Dutt, Dehra Dun, 1972,p.109

Eassay and Report Sugesstion

Essays with Hints and without Hints

1.   Water Crisis in Bangladesh

2.   Food Poisoning

3.   3. Food Security

4.   MDG

5.   Environment Pollution

6.   Bricks Fields

7.   Drying River

8.   Women Empowerment

9.   Health for All

10. Earth Quake

11. Education for All

Reports

1.   Mobile Phone Crime

2.   Cyber Crime

3.   Pornography Act 2011

4.   Child Labour in Bangladesh

5.   Early Marriage

6.   Tobacco Free Country

7.   Drug Free Country

Hill Cutting

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Metropolitan

Stop hill cutting in 5 dists, HC asks govt

Staff Correspondent

The High Court yesterday directed the government to stop all kinds of hill cutting in five districts, currently taking place without environmental clearance certificate.

Delivering judgement on a writ petition, the court ordered the authorities concerned of the government to take effective steps immediately to protect the hills in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari.

It also asked the authorities to take appropriate legal action against those involved in cutting hills without securing environmental clearance certificates from the Department of Environment (DoE).

The HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim delivered the verdict following the petition, filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) on August 23 last year.

The petition said some people were cuttings hills in the five districts without having environmental clearance and damaging the environment of the areas.

The HC on that day issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to stop hill cutting and take legal action against those involved.

After holding hearing on the rule yesterday, the HC delivered the verdict.

Advocate Iqbal Kabir Lytton appeared for Bela, while Assistant Attorney General Yeadia Zaman represented the state.

Following another petition by Bela seeking restriction on cutting hills at Shahjalal Upashahar and six upazilas of Sylhet, the same bench on March 1 directed the government to take steps in this regard. The upazilas are Sylhet Sadar, Gowainghat, Beanibazar, Companyganj, Jaintapur and Golapganj.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Front Page

Khagrachhari

8 held for hill cutting

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

Police yesterday detained eight day labourers for cutting of a hill in Manikchhari upazila of Khagrachhari and fined them.

The detainees were identified as Mohammad Kabir Hossain, 75, Anamul Haque, 40, Anis Mia, 28, Joynal Abadin, 25, Suman Mia, 20, Mohammad Dalim, 20, Sujan Mia, 20, and Mohammad Gias Uddin, 18.

On secret information, a police team raided the spot in Gabamara area around 1:30pm and arrested the workers red handed while they were cutting a hill indiscriminately, said Officer-in-Charge of Manikchhari Police Station Keshab Chakraborty.

He said the labourers were yet to disclose the name of the person who hired them for the job.

Later in the evening, a mobile court fined the workers Tk 8,000 each.

However, local inhabitants Abdul Sattar, Kanchan and Abu Siddique blamed an official of Khagrachhari public health department, Sohrab Hossain, for the hill cutting. He has an orchard in Osmanpolli area adjacent to Gabamara.

Sohrab was levelling the hill for the last three days to channel water from a nearby lake to his orchard for irrigation, alleged the locals.

This correspondent tried several times to speak to Sohrab over phone for comments, but his number was found switched off.

Contacted, Jafar Alam, Manikchhari upazila nirbahi officer, said legal action would be taken against the person if the allegation was proved in investigation.

The High Court on March 19 this year directed the government to stop all kinds of hill cutting in five districts including Khagrachhari. It also asked the authorities concerned to take appropriate legal action against those involved in cutting hills without securing environmental clearance certificates from the Department of Environment (DoE).

Monday, January 23, 2012

Front Page

Stop hill cutting for industry

DoE asks KEPZ authorities that claims to have govt nod

The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday stopped the slicing away of this hill at the KEPZ in Anwara area of Chittagong. The KEPZ authorities had been leveling the hill to make industrial plots claiming that they had necessary permission from the DoE. Photo: Anurup Kanti DasStaff Correspondent, Ctg

The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday directed the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) authorities to stop cutting hills in its project areas under Anwara and Patia upazilas in Chittagong.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of DoE conducted a drive in KEPZ project areas and found that the authorities had levelled around 40 to 60 feet high hills at three different sites to make industrial plots.

The DoE team also directed the KEPZ authorities to plant trees and dig ponds to revive the ecology of the hilly areas and protect their biodiversity.

“No one can level hills indiscriminately in the name of land development,” said DoE Director Munir Chowdhury, who led the drive.

Any development work should take place in line with protecting the hills, instead of destroying them, he added.

However, Brig Gen (retd) Hasan Nasir, in-charge of the KEPZ project areas, claimed that necessary permission from the DoE to develop the plots had been obtained.

The DoE in its letter directed the KEPZ to preserve 60 percent of hilly regions and construct plots in the remaining areas, he said.

“We will never exceed the 40 percent limit to construct plots as per our proposed plan,” Brig Gen Hasan said.

The DoE team without checking any document arrested a security guard and a driver stationed in the project area, he said.

But the team soon released them when the KEPZ officials showed them necessary approval from the DoE, he added.

The DoE team during the drive found that the KEPZ authorities were cutting hills beyond the permitted limit, said Munir Chowdhury.

Therefore, it asked the KEPZ officials concerned to come to its Dhaka office and show their necessary documents of approval today, the DoE director added.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Front Page

Hill cutting, tree felling increase risks

A hectic search for the bodies of the victims continues at Khulshi Firozshah Colony in Chittagong city yesterday.A landslide hit the area Tuesday night turning there sidential area into a chaos of mud and bodies. Photo Anurup Kanti DasMorshed Ali Khan

Indiscriminate deforestation, hill cutting and unplanned human settlements are causing the series of landslides in Chittagong, according to experts.

All along the hilly districts of Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Cox's Bazar and Rangamati trees are felled at random, instantly turning the soft soil of the hills extremely vulnerable to slides. The extent of deforestation has reached such a critical stage that many big and small trees have disappeared presenting denuded look of the hills.

On top of that, unabated hill cutting, despite stringent laws forbidding that, and the shelter scarcity of a large population also play key roles behind the mind boggling number of casualties in landslides.

Over the last five years, mudslide buried several hundred people alive across the Chittagong hill areas. In the latest incident, at least 85 people perished in landslides across the division from Tuesday.

Prof Md Jahangir Alam, vice chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, said indiscriminate felling of trees and hill cutting are the two major causes for landslides. “If the hills are stripped of vegetation, their sandy soil would cave in with the slightest rainfall,” he added.

He said during a visit he found that the hills along the roads were devoid of trees. “To minimise the risk we must plant trees on the hills so that tree roots can retain the soil,” said Prof Jahangir, adding, “We also have to make the hill owners construct retaining walls where the hills have been cut.”

Zafar Alam, director of the Department of Environment in Chittagong, said unplanned settlement at the foot of hills was the biggest concern. “The soil of Chittagong hills is soft and sandy. The places, where the landslides happened, were at the foot of hills that had a sharp rise, at places up to at 80 degrees,” he said, adding, “With the slightest rain the alluvial soil of the hills become unstable and vulnerable to slides.”

Alam also said most of the mudslide victims were from the plains and unaware of the perils of the hills.

unday, July 15, 2012

Front Page

Hill cutting and land grabbing goes on...

While people die in mudslides at the foot of the hills in Chittagong and the hill tracts, hill cutting and land grabbing goes on at Road-1 of Khulshi in Chittagong. Signboards there say that the land belongs to local ruling party lawmaker Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and former police officers, and huts have been built to ensure occupation of the land. Photo: Banglar Chokh

Friday, March 2, 2012

Front Page

Stop hill cutting

HC says environmental assessment is a must

Staff Correspondent

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government not to cut hills without obtaining environment clearance certificate from the Department of Environment (DoE).

The court ruled that the environmental impact assessment is essential in order to preserve the nature which is whyobtaining the certificate is mandatory before cutting any hill in the country.

A bench comprising Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim gave the verdict following a writ petition and directed the government to be careful so that no hills are cut without the DoE's clearance.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) filed the petition on November 24 last year seeking restriction on cutting hills at Shahjalal Upashahar and six upazilas of Sylhet.

The upazilas are Sylhet Sadar, Gowainghat, Beanibazar, Companyganj, Jaintapur and Golapganj.

On November 27 last year, the HC had asked the government to take steps to prevent cutting of hills in those areas and also issued a rule upon it to explain why the hill cutting should not be declared illegal.

Advocate Iqbal Kabir Lytton appeared for Bela, while Assistant Attorney General Yeadia Zaman represented the government.

Monday, March 19, 2012

HC orders end to hill cutting in 5 dists

File photoStar Online Report

The High Court on Monday directed the government to stop all kinds of hill cutting in five districts without environmental clearance certificate.

The districts are Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari.

Delivering a judgement on a writ petition, the court directed the authorities concerned of the government to take appropriate legal action against those involved with cutting hill without collecting environmental clearance certificates from the Department of Environment.

A HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim came up with the verdict following the writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association.

The organisation filed the petition on August 23 last year saying that the hills were being cut in the five districts without the clearance certificates damaging the environment of the areas.

The HC on that day issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to stop hill cutting and to take legal action against those involve in cutting hill illegally.

After holding hearing on the rule, the HC on Monday delivered the verdict.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Front Page

One fined for hill cutting

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday fined the owner of Brindartila at Debpur area of Sylhet Tk13 lakh for illegal hill cutting.

DoE Director Mohammad Munir Chowdhury asked Ratan Moni Mohanta to refill the earth and plant fruit and timber trees on the said area within March 27.

The offender yesterday deposited Tk 10 lakh and was allowed to deposit the rest Tk 3 lakh within a week, said DoE officials.

On February 23, a DoE team headed by Munir Chowdhury in a drive filed a case against Ratan. They found that Ratan owned 60 decimal land of the hillock.

A total of 61 lakh cubic feet earth had been cut from the hillock, the officials informed.

However DoE informed the district administration and asked them to take measures against the said landowner.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Metropolitan

Stop hill cutting in 6 Sylhet UZs: HC

Staff Correspondent

The High Court yesterday asked the government to take steps to prevent the cutting of hills in six upazilas of Sylhet for the next six months.

The upazilas are Sylhet Sadar, Goainghat, Beanibazar, Companyganj, Jaintpur and Golapganj.

The court also issued a rule upon the government in response to a writ petition to explain in three weeks why the hill cutting should not be declared illegal.

It also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to rehabilitate the people living at the basement of the hills to other places.

Bangladesh Environment Lawyers' Association (Bela) filed the writ petition on November 24, saying that different individuals have been cutting hills and tilas in the upazilas and damaging the environment.

The rights organisation prayed to the court to pass the necessary directives on the government to stop cutting hills and tilas in the upazilas.

Bela filed the petition as public interest litigation after several reports were published in The Daily Star, the daily Prothom Alo and the daily Ittefaq over the issue.

The bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain came up with the orders and rule after holding hearings on the petition yesterday.

Advocate Iqbal Kabir Lytton appeared for Bela, while Deputy Attorney General ABM Altaf Hossain represented the government.

hursday, January 26, 2012

Front Page

KEPZ denies illegal hill cutting

Staff Correspondent, Ctg

Authorities of the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) yesterday denied the allegation of cutting hills in its project area at Anowara in the port city.

Brig Gen (retd) Mohammad Hasan Nasir, a KEPZ advisor, made the claims at a press conference at its office when General Manager of KEPZ Engineer Md Shahjahan, advisor Engineer AAM Zia Hussain and senior officials were present.

Nasir said though they have secured necessary permission from the government as well as the Department of Environment (DoE) to prepare the project's land, a DoE team in a drive on January 22 directed them to stop cutting hills.

On enquiry from The Daily Star, he claimed that they maintained the hill height at 22-metre level after a technical body of the DoE had earlier allowed them to keep the height between 18 and 20 metres from mid sea level (MSL).

“The government permitted us to use 60 percent land of the area and we've prepared only 40 percent for industries. It is a land of hillocks with an uneven undulation. If anyone wants to set up industry here, the land has to be prepared,” he said and added that they have been preparing the land following the government direction.

KEPZ officials said it might be a communication gap among the offices within the DoE.

He said when the KEPZ will be operational it will be a workplace for around 3.50 lakh people which demands a strong and healthy environment. Considering this, about 16 lakh trees have been planted and 17 lakes dug in the project area.

They also urged the government that if decisions like this are imposed again and again they would stop the development work which will not be a good example for the country's economy.

However, as The Daily Star reached DoE Director Munir Chowdhury over phone yesterday for his comments about the claims, he said his department did not give the KEPZ any permission to cut the hills.

"KEPZ authority has not yet submitted to us their land development plan," he added.

The DoE director spoke of indiscriminate hill cutting without even demarcating the land area of the project and said, "The DoE will take legal action after assessing the extent of environmental damages caused due to such hill cutting."

Stop hill cuttingDoE asks KEPZ→ Staff Correspondent

  CHITTAGONG: The Department of Environment (DoE) has asked the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) authorities to stop all kinds of hill cutting activities for developing its plots at Anwara upazila.

A notice to this effect was issued on Sunday after a DoE team led by its Director (Enforcement) Munir Chowdhury conducted a drive after receiving information about destruction of hills there.

DoE Chittagong Deputy Director Golam Ahmed Bhuiyan, members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the upazila land administration assisted the team during the drive.

The team revealed that several 40- or 60-foot hills were being levelled by bulldozer and excavator and around 47 kathas of land were levelled in the KEPZ area.

However, the KEPZ authorities have earlier obtained prior permission, tagged with conditions, from DoE to level the hills for developing the plots.

In this regard, Munir Chowdhury said the KEPZ authorities are levelling the hills taking advantage of loopholes of the conditions.

Levelling the hills completely would threaten biodiversity and also result in soil erosion, he said.

“We directed the KEPZ authorities to submit the related documents within 2:00pm tomorrow (Monday) and the government high-ups would be informed of the matter for next course of action,” he said.

KEPZ Managing Director Lt Col (retd) Mohammad Shahjahan told reporters that they are developing the plots after obtaining prior permission from the DoE.

He also claimed that no conditions of DoE are being violated during the development work.