Hartal : Strike !!!Virus of politics: Many discussions held by the political parties of Bangladesh. On white meeting they never support Strike, they even not get the new way rather than such a destructive and harmful event like Hartal (strike). To establish political demand if that is really the demand of maximum public, must can roar against Government. I am sorry to say that i never support such a political event which directly makes harm to public, what gain? I never clear. Hope many like me are not clear.

Time changed. we were under different political culture ,so at the beginning of independence -?we also needed Hartal as political demand.Nowfrom my core observation. AFTER39 years THE NATION LOOKING FOR THE ALTERNATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIFFER WITH GOVERMENT. NO MORE HARTAL IS EXPECTED.

HARTAL IS A STRAIGHT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS !!!! –guru
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated her call upon the main opposition BNP to join the parliament and speak for the people instead of resorting to hartal that is highly detrimental to both democracy and development leading to raising people’s sufferings. There was no any issue to enforce hartal in the country, rather the issue for which you have resorted to hartal was created by you during your tenure, she said while taking part in a general discussion on the proposed national budget for 2010-2011 fiscal.

Blaming BNP for calling hartal (general strike) in a bid to increase miseries for the people, she said the present government showed utmost restraint after wining the last general election as it did not take any revenge for the BNP-backed atrocities on the leaders and workers of Awami League after 2001 election.

“Even, we, the alliance (Mohajote) government, did not bring out victory procession soon after our landslide victory in the last general election as we remained involved in the development activities for bringing welfare to the people,” she said.

Describing the heinous attacks on general people, especially an engineer, at Shahbagh crossing and setting fire on two youths by the pickets during hartal as unfortunate and barbaric, Sheikh Hasina urged the main opposition to refrain from such anti-human activities.

The Awami League Chief accused the BNP leaders of threatening the government officials not to put their signatures in any file of the government. “If the officials can not sign files, then how the problems of gas, power and water, for which you have enforced hartal, would be solved,” she posed a question to the arch political rival BNP.

The Prime Minister said that the main opposition BNP has been carrying out such heinous activities after being deprived of the scope of looting public money after losing the last general
election.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is working relentlessly aiming at fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people for which they voted Awami League to power. “Our only objective is to build a hunger and poverty free Bangladesh after fulfilling basic rights of the people,” she added.

Expressing her confidence over ensuring welfare of the people through implementation of the national budget proposed in the house on June 10, she urged BNP not to infuse frustration into the minds of the people centering the proposed budget, which was designed to bring maximum welfare to the general masses.

In this context, she called upon all concerned including main opposition BNP to take concerted efforts in implementing the government’s new fiscal documents for building a happy and prosperous “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by 2021.

The Prime Minister while making her statements on the proposed budget requested the finance minister to waive income tax imposed on the sources of the saving certificates.

Apart from this, she also requested the finance minister to reduce tax on export- oriented industries, stock exchange, locally produced vaccine and small-scale trade. She also requested him to waive tax on hearing aid for the disabled people.

Thanking the officers of employees of revenue department for realizing tax more than target, the Prime Minister requested the
authorities concerned to distribute a portion of the tax among
the officials and employees.

Thanking finance minister for announcing the budget in line with the election pledges and Vision-2021 of Awami League led alliance government, the Prime Minister said special emphasis has been given on the budget to strengthen rural economy and raising living standard of 80 percent of the country’s total population living in rural areas.

Brushing aside the criticism against the budget terming it as an ambitious one, Sheikh Hasina said we have to work with high ambition for bringing welfare for the general masses. “This ambition is to raise living standard of the people of the country,” she added.

The Prime Minister said her government has been able to keep the economic wheel of the country moving despite worldwide economic recession. “Even, we have been able to keep prices of essentials under purchasing capacity of the people,” she added.

The Prime Minister in her nearly one-hour speech highlighted her government’s programmes in agriculture and food, social safety net, rural infrastructure development, health, education, power, energy, tourism, communications and trade and investment sectors.

Besides, she said her government had also taken massive progammes including construction of elevated express-way and circular way to make the capital city peacefully habitable by reducing traffic congestion in the city.

Mentioning various steps taken by her government in agriculture sector, she said agricultural cards have been distributed among 1.82 crore farmer families in the current fiscal while steps have been taken so that each farmer could open a bank account with Taka only 10.

The Prime Minister said a total of Taka 750 crore has been distributed among 92 lakh farmers while uninterrupted power supply was ensured during the Boro season. As a result, we have witnessed bumper rice, potato, jute and seasonal fruits like mango and jackfruits production this season, she added.

Regarding government’s programmes in achieving food security, the Prime Minister said special facilities have been provided to 2.2 crore people through distributing 16.04 lakh tonnes food grains under its food safety net programmes.

Besides, she said, the government has maintained a stock of 16 lakh MT of food grains to face any emergency like natural disastrous. Expressing her dismay over the past BNP government’s decision to handover the land of food godown to Chittagong EPZ at Taka only 1.00, she said it is unfortunate to take such a decision when we are facing tremendous problem in storing adequate food grains to ensure food security for our people.

In this context, she said steps have been taken to build food godown by recovering the land. Besides, she informed the house that two projects are in pipeline to get approval of ECNEC to construct 333 food godowns with 19,000 tones each across the country.

The Prime Minister referred her government’s social safety net programes and said it has increased different allowances for old, disabled to increase living standard of people.

Elaborating her government’s programmes for development of rural economy, the Prime Minister said rural economy must be strengthened aiming at ensuring overall economic uplift as the country’s economy is based on rural areas.

Referring to country’s existing power situation, the Prime Minister said her government is working relentlessly to increase the country’s power generation considering the growing demand of people.

She said the country’s power generation raised at 5, 520 MW in May this year from 3,525 MW. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that more 1120 MW power would be added in the national grid by December this year following various steps taken by the government to this end.

Giving details of her government’s programme to raise the country power generation, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that more 2,600 MW power would be generated in the country by 2015.

Calling upon the countrymen to maintain austerity in use of power, she said her government has already taken steps to distribute energy saving bulbs to save power. With the use of energy savings bulb, she said a total of 200 MW electricity would be saved per day by June next.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has undertaken short, mid and long-term programmes for increasing gas extraction in the country. In this context, she said signing of two agreements are under process for exploring two blocks in the country’s offshore areas. She said decision has made to install 356 kilometre gas transmission pipe line to provide gas in the country’s south-western region.

She said her government has already formulated a draft coal policy and upgraded energy policy. She said decision would be taken in extracting coal considering environment and interest of people, she added.

Mentioning various programmes undertaken by her government for industrial expansion and business, she said the government has finalized the draft of industrial policy and strengthened BSTI for improving quality of products.

The Prime Minister said her government has provided loan of Taka 61, 166 crore in the country’s industrial sector in the current 2009-2010 fiscal for massive industrialization.

The Prime Minister said the present government has also taken massive programes to reach the health services to the doorsteps
of people. She said her previous government had undertaken projects to set up 18,000 community clinics across the country in this regard.

But, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government after coming to power suspended the pro-people projects, she said and adding that her
present government has revived the projects to provide health service to the door steps of people.

Besides, she said steps have been taken to increase bed in thana health complex from 30 to 50 and district hospitals from 250 to 500. The prime minister also mentioned appointment of doctors and nurses to this end.

Expecting that jute will regain its lost heritage of Golden Fibre with invention of genome of jute she said the government has taken extensive programme for the development of jute and jute industries.

The jute mills have been allocated Taka 1,092 crore through cash and bank guarantee during the current financial year, she said.

Mentioning about various measures undertaken by the government for the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) she said banks and financial institutions have disbursed total Taka 23,995 crore in this sector during 2010.

Referring to initiatives for employment she said total 1,12,434 were employed during last one and a half years. The government has already undertook works for capital dredging and maintenance of rivers for bringing back their navigability, she said.

The process of construction of Padma bridge has marked much progress, she said adding assurance for US dollar 2.4 billion has already been received for construction of the bridge, which would be completed by 2013. Highlighting various measures of her government for the development of infrastructure including roads and bridges she said the government is firmly committed to economic uplift through infrastructure development.

“We want to make Dhaka as habitable,” she said adding “government has plans to construct flyovers, elevated expressways, underground roads, ring roads for reducing traffic jam and for this BRTC has already introduced 100 busses and more 700 busses would soon be collected.”

She also mentioned about various programmes of the government for resolving water crises in the city.

Mentioning about foreign policy of her government she said the past government damaged the image of the country as militancy and terrorism increased during that period. “Bangladesh is not a country of militancy, corruption, and torture of journalists,” she said adding “Bangladesh is now a country of huge potentials.”

Country’s image has increased abroad, she said adding Bangladesh has been elected at 22 organizations in the globe and Bangladesh representative was elected at CEDAW scoring the highest votes.

She referred to the efforts of her government for turning Bangladesh as a peaceful country in Asia.

Mentioning about the efforts of making the country a Digital Bangladesh she said ICT Act 2009 has already been formulated and ICT Policy 2009 has been approved for this purpose.

Besides, government has taken steps for introducing E-Post Office, mobile money, computer lab, machine readable passports, online job application, online admission, e-voting, district web portal, setting up High-Tech Park at Gazipur and also setting up
satellite.

Highlighting activities of the government during assuming power on January 6, 2009 to June 21, 2010 she said cabinet through 77 meeting has taken 487 decisions, of which 83 percent of 405 decisions were implemented.

On the other hand, BNP-Jamaat alliance government during October 10, 2001 to April 25, 2003 through 66 meetings took 237 decisions, of which 112 or 51 percent were implemented.

From January 13, 2009 to June 8, 2010, ECNEC approved 287 projects worth Taka 96,994 crore through holding 50 meeting.

Prime Minister urged all for working together for building a Sonar Bangla free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy dreamt by the best Bengali of all ages Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

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Protesting the government’s misdeeds and misrule.in protest at the misdeeds and misrule of the government, including acute shortage of power, water and gas, oppression on opposition leaders and activists, violence centring on tender manipulation, land and property grab by ruling party men, harassment of girls in educational institutions, politicisation of administration and deals signed with other countries against national interest.
Today a daylong general strike called by the main opposition party in Bangladesh. This is first such event in 3 1/2 years. The opposition party BNP had laid out the strike plan last month in protest of certain issues they have pointed out as government failure.
The general strike ( Hartal) is not a very popular mode of protest in Bangladesh. Yet opposition parties resort to this tactic more often than other means as they don’t find the alternatives to hartal as biting. One reason the opposition resort to this sort of day long general strike is because this makes the government feel insecure and vulnerable. For this same reason current ruling party Awami League resorted to 303 ( nearly a year) days of general strike since 1991.

Hartals are now more a test of the mindset of the government than anything else. Accordingly today??s hartal was an opportunity for the government to show how tolerant and democratic they are and a tool of the opposition to trap the government into exposing the government’s intolerant fascistic mindset ( if there is any).

Clearly the following photo assay shows heavy handed repressive acts of the government in a day which otherwise would have been a day of peaceful non-violent exercise of democratic right
Comments :
Hartal : Strike !!!Virus of politics: Many discussions held?by the political parties of Bangladesh. On white meeting they never support Strike, they even not get the new way rather than such a destructive and harmful event like Hartal (strike)?. To establish political demand if that is really the demand of maximum public, must can roar against Government. I am sorry to say that i never support such a political event which directly makes harm to public, what gain? I never clear. Hope many like me are not clear.

Time changed. we were under different political culture ,so at the beginning of independence -?we also needed Hartal as political demand.?Now?from my core observation. AFTER39 years THE NATION LOOKING FOR THE ALTERNATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIFFER WITH GOVERMENT. NO MORE HARTAL IS EXPECTED.

HARTAL IS A STRAIGHT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS !!!!

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Bangladeshi police and protesters clash during strike,Police and opposition protesters have clashed in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, amid the country’s first general strike for more than three years.

Police stopped marches and arrested about 200 people, officials say.

The strike was called by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies to highlight the government’s “failures and excesses”.

It is seen as the first significant challenge to PM Sheikh Hasina since she took office in January 2009.

The BBC’s Mark Dummett in Dhaka says most Bangladeshis have heeded the strike call.

Public transport and most businesses remained shut across the country.

The BNP and it ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, accuse the government of failing tackle corruption and improve services.

They are also demanding early elections.

Bangladesh is due to hold parliamentary polls in 2013.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who leads the secular Bangladesh Awami League, said on Saturday: “The BNP and its stooges are out to frustrate democracy and create anarchy

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Hartal : Strike !!!Virus of politics: Many discussions held?by the?political parties of Bangladesh. On white meeting they never support Strike, they even not get the new way rather than such a destructive and harmful event like Hartal (strike)?. To establish political demand if that is really the demand of maximum public, must can roar against Government. I am sorry to say that i never support such a political event which directly makes harm to public, what gain? I never clear. Hope many like me are not clear.

Time changed. we were under different political culture ,so at the beginning of independence -?we also needed Hartal as political demand.?Now?from my core observation. AFTER39 years THE NATION LOOKING FOR THE ALTERNATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIFFER WITH GOVERMENT. NO MORE HARTAL IS EXPECTED.

HARTAL IS A STRAIGHT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS !!!!

HARTAL : STRIKE REVIEWS .

26/06/2010DHAKA: Security has been beefed up in the Bangladeshi capital today ahead of the anti government general strike called by the main opposition BNP, amid fears of violence as the supporters of the ruling Awami League plan to thwart the day-long shutdown tomorrow.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party has announced a nationwide anti-government general strike tomorrow to oppose the ruling coalition’s policies, including “compromising national interests” by inking deals with India earlier this year.
Former prime minister Khaleda Zia, the chief of the BNP, announced the anti-government campaign on May 19 for “compromising national interests?? by signing deals with India during prime minister Sheikh Hasina??s New Delhi tour in January, oppose “tender-grabbing and extortions by government cronies?? and deteriorating utility services in the country.
The authorities and the supporters of the Awami League have said they were determined to crackdown on those creating “anarchy and disorder” in the country.
Dhaka metropolitan police has banned processions on the main roads in the capital and stepped up security to prevent any violence.
Dhaka police chief AKM Shahidul Haque told mediapersons that an additional 10,000 force will be deployed in the capital to maintain order.
He said police would not prevent the BNP from its planned strike, but actions would be taken if they try to create anarchy by vandalising vehicles or setting those on fire.
Pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) today announced that it would thwart the dawn-to-dusk general strike of BNP, triggering fears of violent clashes.
“So BCL will be on the field to prevent the strike by any means,” Mahmud Hasan Ripon, the BCL president, was quoted as saying by the bdnews24 online.
He expressed fears that the radical Islamist groups, including ‘Jamaat-Shibir’ could take advantage of the strike to create chaos in a bid to halt the trial of the war criminals accused of genocide during the 1971 ‘Liberation War’.
He asked the leaders and activists of BCL to stay on the alert tomorrow.
Law minister Qamrul Islam told reporters yesterday that the government had no plans to confront the protesters, but warned: “We will not tolerate anarchy or disorder during the hartal”.
BNP chief Zia has warned the government against creating any obstruction during the countrywide shutdown.
“The government will have to bear the responsibility of the consequences if it tries to obstruct our peaceful programme,” she warned.
BNP secretary general Delwar Hossain alleged today that the government had been arresting and harassing BNP leaders and activists across the country to disrupt the strike.
BNP-led four party alliance, including the Islamist Jammat have already declared their support to the strike.
During Hasina’s New Delhi visit, Bangladesh and India signed three agreements to jointly combat the terror menace while New Delhi announced a one-billion dollar line of credit to Dhaka.
India decided to give 250MW of power to Bangladesh from the central grid while they signed a power-sharing agreement. Bangladesh also promised not to allow its territory to be used for terror against India.
Political parties have frequently resorted to shutdowns and general strikes in Bangladesh to pressure the government, often leading to violence, political deadlock and seriously crippling its economy.
An earlier UNDP report calculated that the net loss in one day’s shutdown to around Taka 500 crore while it cost the country 3 to 4% of its GDP on an average every year between 1991 and 2000.

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