UNB, Dhaka, 18 December : The first batch of US embassy cables related to Bangladesh, released on whistleblower site WikiLeaks, has failed to reveal much that the public will find particularly enlightening or interesting, except maybe an affirmation that the “Minus 2” strategy to remove the leaders of the Awami League and BNP had in-fact been in place in 2007.
In probably the most damaging revelation contained within the handful of cables released so far that touch upon Bangladesh, the DGFI is implicated in an effort to absorb the banned terrorist organization, the Harkat ul Jihad, into mainstream politics through a misbegotten attempt at forming the Islamic Development Party (IDP), just before the December 2008 elections.Hasina, Khaleda’s return put CTG at ‘crossroads’
The most intriguing cable as far as Bangladesh is concerned, originating from the US mission in New Delhi dated April 27, 2007, reveals the thinking between the US, the UK and India in the aftermath of the ‘1/11’ political changeover in 2007.
This was four days after the arrest warrant out against Sheikh Hasina at that time was suspended, and two days after the ban on her re-entering the country was lifted.
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Pro-Maoist group "PCAPA" calls 24-hour shutdown Monday
IANS, Kolkata, 18 December : Pro-Maoist tribal group, Peoples’ Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) Saturday called for a 24-hour shutdown Monday in West Bengal’s three Maoist-dominated districts to protest ‘atrocities’ of the joint security forces.
‘The shutdown on Monday has been called in Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts as the common tribal people living in the areas were facing torture and harassment from the joint forces and armed cadres of the CPI(M),’ a PCAPA spokesman told IANS on phone from Lalgarh area of West Midnapore.
IANS, Kolkata, 18 December : Pro-Maoist tribal group, Peoples’ Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) Saturday called for a 24-hour shutdown Monday in West Bengal’s three Maoist-dominated districts to protest ‘atrocities’ of the joint security forces.
‘The shutdown on Monday has been called in Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore districts as the common tribal people living in the areas were facing torture and harassment from the joint forces and armed cadres of the CPI(M),’ a PCAPA spokesman told IANS on phone from Lalgarh area of West Midnapore.
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