The four years’ misrule of Khaleda-Nizami Alliance Government shall remain a black chapter in the history of Bangladesh. Never before were we subjected to the misrule of such an incompetent, wicked and oppressive government. During this period they have flooded the country with grenades, bombs, explosives and dangerous arsenals. Total lawlessness verging on to anarchy dominates the country. They converted this land into a valley of death. The people are captive in the hands of the wicked BNP-Jamat government. Murders, extra-judicial killings, serial bomb blasts, arson, extortion, intimidation, kidnapping, abduction, wrongful confinement, rape, atrocities on women, acid throwing, burning of dwelling houses, wrongful possession of property, vandalism, arms smuggling and illegal arms bazar have now become every day affair. Misuse of power, rampant corruption, nepotism, money laundering, gold and currency smuggling, drugs importation, breach of trust or cheating are commonplace. With impunity the government disobeys court’s orders, rigs elections, politicizes the administration, destroys the structure of the civil services and even violates the constitution. Harboring terrorism, patronizing armed extremists and oppressing the minorities and the journalists appear to be the avowed policy of the government. Government leaders and officers and their cronies as well as brokers and pimps of the powerful are engaged in money making by fair means or foul. Unprecedented price hike of essential commodities is the hallmark of the tyrannical regime. The misrule of the government and its utter incompetence have subjected the country to economic disorder and financial mismanagement. Every established institution in the country, such as parliament, judiciary, civil services, police force, educational institutions, institutions of local government, or professional bodies, is being destroyed by the barbarians of BNP and Jamat.

The numerous misdeeds of the government have created uncertainty, insecurity, instability and panic in the society. In a state of near anarchy the integrity, nay the sovereignty, of the country is threatened. Khaleda-Nizami Alliance Government has, indeed, committed hundreds of offences against the people. They have miserably failed in many commitments, definitely false election promises, they made to the people. They surely deserve to be tried and punished in people’s court on specific charges. As a sample one hundred and one counts of specific offences are identified and enumerated below:

1. Stealing voting rights: They did not stop after rigging the 2001 parliamentary election and fraudulently coming to power but continued with the plunder of voting rights in every subsequent election or bye-election. They denied people’s voting rights by not bringing up crucial national issues before the parliament, by disallowing the opposition members from speaking or questioning there, by telling lies or singing adulations there, and in one word making the parliament dysfunctional.

2. Killing thousands of Awami League leaders and workers: They assassinated the former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria MP, Ahsanullah Master MP, Advocate Manzurul Imam, Dr SK Mukherjee, Mumtazuddin Ahmed, Mohammed Azam, student leader Saifur Rasul Palash, Advocate Khurshed Alam Bachchu and pioneering women leader Ivy Rahman. More than a hundred thousand of leaders and activists of the Opposition parties have been hurt and disabled out of revenge.

3. Attack on millions of workers, supporters and leaders of Awami League: Torture, extortion, looting, arson, hijacking and abduction, grabbing properties, and capturing business organizations have been going on for four years. One of the instruments of harassment is instituting false cases against six hundred thousand of Awami League leaders & workers.

4. Election pledge and reality – Terrorism: The Alliance assumed power on a commitment to establish terrorism-free society. In reality the country is a romping ground for terrorists now and security of life and property has vanished altogether. 40,392 people were killed during the last 4 years as victims of political and other terrorist attacks.

5. Rape, abduction and trafficking women: During the last 4 years the armed cadres and terrorists of BNP-Jamat have raped, in some cases mass-raped, tortured, abducted and trafficked 77,950 women and female children.

6. Ethnic cleansing: With the objective of forcing the members belonging to Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities to migrate, the terrorists of BNP-Jamat Alliance have been attacking, plundering, ransacking or destroying their villages and places of worship regularly. They have systematically conducted attacks on the minorities, wounded them, violated their girls and women, grabbed their houses and business establishments and forcibly dispossessed them of their properties. They also killed prominent leaders of the communities such as Principal Gopal Krishna Muhuri, Buddhist priest Gyanjoti Mohathero, or priest Madan Gopal Goshwami to frighten the members of minority groups.

7. Patronization of terrorism: By granting general amnesty to 40,000 convicts and releasing 70,000 terrorists from custody immediately after assumption of power BNP –Jamat junta showed their determination to protect and patronize the terrorists.

8. Suppression of the free press: During the last 4 years The BNP-Jamat goons have killed 12 journalists, caused grievous hurt to 176 and arrested and intimidated numerous others. Ministers and the Speaker have admonished restraint to the journalists and threatened punitive legislation.

9. Patronizing the militant terrorists and the religious extremists: As the extremists and militants became active BNP-Jamat junta denied their existence altogether. When their exploits turned horrendous even Ministers remarked that Bangla Bhai was a non-existent mythical figure – the creation of the media. Even when extremists are arrested from any scene of occurrence, those who are directly linked with the Jamat are released even if accused of committing specific offences.

10. Failure in investigation of acts of terrorism: Not to speak of the other numerous incidents even the accused persons or offenders responsible for the dastardly grenade attack for assassination of Sheikh Hasina on 21 August, 2004 have not been identified or arrested till now. The attack took place on a rally at the centre of Dhaka before sunset killing 22 leaders and activists including Begum Ivy Rahman and causing grievous hurt to hundreds of innocent people.

11. Serious failure of intelligence and the government machinery: The BNP-Jamat government was taken by surprise by the serial bomb blast at more than 500 places all over the country on 17 August 2005 within a space of one hour. While all over the country some 37 bomb blasts or grenade attacks have taken place since 2002 till August last, killing 88 and wounding hundreds of people the government, has refrained from arresting the real culprits and avoided zeroing on the masterminds of the operations.

12. The Alliance government refrained from trying Justice Shahidul Islam on charge of corruption and simply dismissed him. The allegation against Justice Fayzee of forging certificated remains undisposed still.

13. Continuous arms smuggling under the patronage of the government: Arms smuggling and arms gathering by terrorist groups is a regular affair. Notably the case of 10 truck-loads in Chittagong jetty and 1 truck load in Bogra despite being alarming led to no proper enquiry and no arrest of the main culprits. The country has been turned into a safe route for arms smuggling and military training in safe centres of extremists is going on without any challenge.

14. Endangering the sovereignty of the country: By allowing the use Bangladesh territory to different armed insurgent groups belonging to the Rohingya militants of Myanmar the security of the country has been put under threat.

15. Extra-Judicial killings: During the last 4 years, 58 persons were killed in the name of so called heart-attacks during Operation Clean Heart, 1400 persons were killed by RAB and police in so called cross-fires and encounters and also in custody without any trial in the court.

16. Due process of law frustrated: The execution of the judgment in the Bangabandhu murder case is under obstruction while the convicted criminals and their families are being illegally allowed state facilities and amenities.

17. Harbouring fugitives from law: Harkatul Jehad leader Mufti Hannnan, a criminal sentenced to life term imprisonment and also the principal accused in the case of attempting to assassinate Sheikh Hasina, escaped apprehension on the assurance of former Home Minister Altaf Hossian Chowdhury MP. He went into hiding in Dhaka in connivance with ruling party leaders awaiting promised mercy on the recommendation of State Minister Gautam Chakravarty and other prominent BNP leaders.

18. Broken election pledge on commodity prices: The Alliance Government promised stable price line but instead accelerated price hike has added to people’s misery and taken most essential commodities beyond their buying capacity. Cost of living has increased by 150-200 percent. Price of rice has doubled and of vegetables increased many-fold.

19. Energy price hike: Prices of different kinds of fuels were increased on 6 different occasions by the BNP-Jamat junta in four years. The overall increase is between 60 and 100 percent since 2001 and it has a multiplier impact on all other prices.

20. Politicization of public services: Indiscriminate politicization of the administration and the judiciary has been made to serve the purpose of permanent rule over the country by the Alliance. Steps have been taken to destroy every established public institution.

21. Destruction of the edifice of government: The entire public administration system and the related institutions have been destroyed through sacking and sending on forced retirement hundreds of officers belonging to the civil service, police force, judicial department, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies. Overnight promotion of the partisan, inefficient and corrupt officers has been effected through unpublished illegal rules. Moreover, armed political cadres of BNP-Jamat junta have been given important posts in the government violating the existing rules and regulations. Shamelessly all the state organs have been totally politicized.

22. Failing on election pledge on Divisional set-up: The ruling junta did not implement their commitment on increasing the numbers of administrative Divisions in the country.

23. Breach of commitment on politicization of the civil administration: BNP-Jamat junta began with mass transfer and retirement of civil officers on directives from the so called Howa Bhaban. Reportedly 5,119 civil officers and employees have been retired or sent on forced retirement, 844 police officers have been dismissed and about 384 government officers are still without duty as OSDs. The promotion of many eligible officers has been postponed; nearly 1000 senior officers have been superseded to make room for junior party loyalists and activists. This way the quality, merit and experience of civil administration has been drastically eroded and it has been rendered totally ineffective, highly corrupt and absolutely dysfunctional.

24. Breach of the commitment on stopping appointment on contract basis: Contract appointments have exploded mainly as a means of politicization. Reportedly 48 officers against 58 posts of Secretaries are either on contract or are in-charge post holders.

25. Supercession galore: Judicial officers are superseded at all levels. Even Appellate Court Judges including the Chief Justice also supersedes their seniors.

26. Corruption and looting: Although pledged to create a society free from corruption, BNP-Jamat regime has established a reputation as the most corrupt country in the world for four consecutive years.

27. Fabulous corruption estimates: Estimates made in the press and by researchers place illegal black money generation at Tk. 70,000 cores (700 billion), value of bribe transactions at Tk. 22,000 cores (220 billion) and smuggling or laundering of at least TK. 40,000 cores (400 billion) to foreign countries by the family members of the Prime Minister and other groups in power.

28. Dropping corruption charges: Corruption charges brought against 16 Ministers and State Ministers even by the MP’s belonging to ruling Party were dropped and even investigations of all corruption cases against them were halted by government orders.

29. Informal power centre and corruption: Howa Bhaban belonging to the son of the Prime Minster has been set up as a parallel centre of state power. As an undeclared rule people are forced to pay bribes, commissions and percentages to Howa Bhaban for getting anything (legitimate or illegitimate) done by the government.

30. Loss of image: The Alliance Government is responsible for tarnishing the image of the country when a court in the Netherlands imposed a fine for Tk. 31 cores (310 million) in a case of corruption in the computer purchase project.

31. Wheat scam: Import of rotten wheat unfit for human consumption worth Tk. 100 crores (1 billion) from India was reportedly made with the complicity of Tareq Rahman and his cronies.

32. Cancellation of Danish aid: Tk 52 crores (520 million) of Danish grant was cancelled in a public announcement for alleged corruption by the Minister for Shipping Col. (Rtd.) Akbar Hossain.

33. Fraud in import: Powerful BNP stalwarts imported 10,300 tons of kerosin in the name of jet fuel.

34. Import of poison: Import of 20,000 tons of poisonous and banned T.S.P. fertilizers was also made by some Party stalwarts.

Cases of plunder

35. Looting of Tk. 635 crores (6.35 billion) from the Non-formal Education Programme.

36. Misappropriation of the Tk. 9 crores (90 million) of printing Guide Books for the Primary School Teachers.

37. Misappropriation of Tk 31 crores (310 million) from different projects of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

38. Misappropriation of Tk, 1,000 crores (10 billion) from the Goat Rearing project of the Prime Minister.

39. Grabbing of land worth Tk 100 crores (1 billion) in the old part of Dhaka City by the leaders and activists of the government party.

40. Misappropriation of Tk. 200 crores (2 billion) from the coastal belt Coconut Plantation project.

41. Misappropriation of Tk. 1.50 crore in the purchase deal of ATP aircraft, Tk. 60 lacs in buying two F-28 aircrafts and of Tk. 60 and 70 crores (600 and 700 million) respectively in the name of taking lease of D.C-10 and Boeing 737 aircrafts.

Cases of land grabbing

42. Allotment of Tk. 10 crore (100 million) worth of Railway land in the heart of Dhaka City free of any cost to a pocket organization of the wife of the Communication Minister Nazmul Huda.

43. Allotment of residential plots at Gulshan and Banani Residential area of Dhaka City to 16 Ministers and State Ministers and 34 MPs belonging to the Alliance partners at the rate of Tk. 8 lacs per kata only against present market value of Tk 50 lacs.

44. Creation of a “BNP-Jamat Village” at Uttara Model Town of Dhaka through illegal allotment of government land among the leaders and workers of BNP-Jamat Alliance.

45. Grabbing of 57,000 acres of government khas land in the coastal strips of Noakhali district by the family members of the Prime Minister, Ministers of the Alliance government and the godfathers belonging to BNP.

46. Anti Corruption Commission bluff: The junta deceived the citizens and development partners on the issue of ACC. They passed a weak law, appointed controversial partisan persons to form an “independent and neutral” Anti Corruption Commission. The Commission has not been able to set up its house in one year and infighting is the norm in the Commission.

47. Separation of judiciary from executive: BNP committed to implement separation of the judiciary from the executive, for which Caretaker government had finalized arrangements. After four years they sought four more months and made the 21st request for time. Now that the request has been denied by the Supreme Court hopefully the separation will take place, albeit against their intention.

48. Local government structure: BNP pledged to revive the Zila and Upazila Parishads in order to decentralize the administration. They failed to uphold the commitment and have no intention to do so.

49. Bottom-up development planning: BNP made a fuss about bottom-up development planning in their last term and sought to revive the process this time as well. In reality they are against any vision for the economy and they shun planning altogether. Neither are they interested in people’s participation nor do they care for achievement of any targets. Since it helps corruption and waste they are naturally fond of financial indiscipline and economic chaos.

50. Appointment of Ombudsman: Transparency and accountability are anathema to BNP-Jamat Alliance because it limit plunder and injustice. They cried their voice hoarse on appointing the Ombudsman but surely they are not up to keeping any pledge. Yes, they have created a new post of Tax Ombudsman but what is the real intention will only be clarified by time.

51. Limitless greed: Khaleda Zia promised to submit declaration of wealth of the Prime Minister, Ministers and persons of equivalent position and to make them public. This is another of the false promises of a thoroughly corrupt junta.

52. Corruption in government procurement: Anything but transparency and accountability are in practice in purchases and sales by public bodies. It is disgraceful that a procurement law is the pre-condition for release of funds by the World Bank.

53. Power - the Achilles’ heel of the Alliance Government: In its earlier term in five years BNP could not place an order for a single new power plant and only implemented a couple of ongoing projects with considerable delay. This time also they inherited a number of ongoing projects capable of generating 1200 MW. They halted these projects and have not yet revised or renewed them all. In four years they have added only 80 MW of electricity generation. The nation is facing a shortfall of 1000 MW of electricity each day and there is no indication that the situation will improve till 2008. It is sheer inefficiency and corruption that made the junta a confirmed enemy of energy development.

54. Unkept promises: To attract votes BNP-Jamnat Alliance promised to exempt all places of worship from payment of electricity bills. As expected they have failed to keep their word.

55. Hypocrisy regarding electronic media: BNP was so critical of the lack of autonomy of the electronic media i.e. Television and Radio. These state controlled media are more a means of Party and family propaganda now than ever before. They have further restricted the freedom of the few private TV stations on presentation of news.

56. Failure on Ganga treaty: BNP-Jamat junta made a pledge to review the treaty but the time for review passed and they made no effort to do so. Doing much worse than that they made no progress on dividing the share of water of other trans-boundary rivers such as Teesta.

57. Empty declarations: BNP-Jamat regime only pays lip service to regional cooperation. There has not been any initiative for strengthening regional cooperation under the aegis of SAARC or ASEAN. There is no overt and tangible development regarding east-oriented economic diplomacy. Trade deficits with China, Korea or Singapore are very large, indeed.

58. Empty vessel sounds much and loss of face: BNP-Jamat regime sacrificed the prominence of Bangladesh in the Non-Allied Movement and in the Least Developed Country Caucus. In the OIC also we lost the promised turn for the post of Secretary General because of nomination of a controversial unfit candidate reputed to be a terrorist and a Rajakar. Nothing worse could be done internationally to damage the image of the country more.

59. False pledge on profit making by SOEs: Instead of turning the state-owned enterprises profitable, closing of so-called losing concerns is the policy. World’s biggest jute mill Adamjee Jute Mills was closed down nearly four years ago but procedure for sale of equipment and other assets and plans for utilization of the estate have not been finalized yet, while uncared assets are being plundered away or rotting.

60. Price hike and inflation: BNP always talks of tidal wave of development and always suffers from the low level growth trap. Since their assumption of office the strength of the economy has been destroyed. Growth trend has slided back and inflation has been spiraling. The non-inflationary growth record of AL government has taken an about turn under the Alliance government. This year the inflation rate is projected to cross the two digit level after 15 years. From an inflation rate of 1.9 percent in FY 2001 to 12 percent in FY 2005 is the ironic gift of the Alliance regime!

61. Failing commitment: BNP-Jamat Alliance promised to create an investor friendly environment. Instead of protecting the investors from corruption and extortion they have actually been subjected to unprecedented level of extortion. Even the security of their lives is at stake.

62. Mirage of “one stop service”: “One stop service” is a dream project of the Board of Investment. With corruption so rampant at high levels the service is a non-starter.

63. More EPZs: BNP-Jamat junta does not appreciate the nexus between project and reality. New “Export Processing Zone” with full physical infrastructure facilities was easily promised. Of course, it cannot be fulfilled.

64. Deceit in the name of tidal wave of development: Most projects inaugurated by the BNP-Jamat junta were virtually completed or more than halfway through during the AL period. The junta changed their old names, renamed them and opened them as successful achievements. They inaugurated Syed Nazrul Islam Bridge at Bhairab, Captain Mansur Ali Bridge at Paksey, Rupsa Bridge at Khulna and Railway Station at Sylhet, all of which were renamed and given the finishing touches by them. When it came to conclude negotiations that were begun earlier the ostrich policy and lack of coordination held them up. Conclusion of negotiations for the Paksey Bridge is still to be finalized; the same is the case with fourth Surma Bridge in Sylhet.

65. Promises galore on Dhaka transport: The Alliance Government made strong commitment on “Greater Dhaka Transport Management Authority” in order to control the traffic congestion in Dhaka. It also announced its commitment to construction of eastern bypass road and monorail or circular railway system for Dhaka. None of these commitments are likely to see the light of the day ever mainly because of lack of coordination and high level of interest in corrupt deal making.

66. River erosion: Contrary to commitment there is no programme to arrest river erosion anywhere. The river dacoits are dredging earth and sand (also bolders in limited places) from riverbeds in the most unplanned and harmful manner. No programme of regular dredging is being carried out allowing the rivers to dry up. On top of it despite the law banning construction on river bank or riverbed, transgression is the rule rather than exception. Not everywhere do you have a BAPA to insist on enforcement. BNP-Jamat junta is more involved in occupying the rivers than on saving them.

67. Energy disaster: Despite the construction of the gas pipeline across the Jamuna the BNP-Jamat regime has miserably failed to supply sufficient gas and electricity to the northern part of the country. Now it looks that corruption and inertia have also prevented them from ensuring supply in the eastern part as well. Who cares if millions of people have to suffer regular brown-outs for hours each day?

68. Low cost housing: Not to speak of taking up any new project for providing low cost houses to the poor people of the towns and villages, the BNP-Jamat government halted some small ongoing efforts in this respect. The poor and the rural population are no concern of the BNP-Jamat Alliance.

69. Corruption in khas land use: “Adhikar” project for the landless and the distressed people was a commitment of BNP. No progress on the project has been feasible because all khas land is being grabbed by the Party leaders and goons. Khas land is to be settled only with the landless but in reality all khas land is grabbed by Party leaders or land developers in league with Party leaders and their cronies.

70. Failure on environmental planning: BNP-Jamat regime takes all the credit for elimination of scooters with two-stroke engine from Dhaka and ban on polythene bags. The ban on scooters was announced in 2000 and steps were already taken to implement the decision finally on 1 January 2002. Polythene unfortunately is coming back again. BNP announced the so-called “Paribesh Bangla” project in the big cities to deal with housing, education and health in a comprehensive manner but no sign of the project is still visible.

71. Farce of the literacy programme: Khaleda Zia made a commitment to remove illiteracy from the country in 5 years’ time. Instead of improvement in illiteracy removal it is reported that functional literacy rate is in the downswing.

72. Failure in the sports arena: Promise made to construct one Cricket Stadium in each Divisional Headquarters remains in the realm of dream.

73. Enemy of ICT: In its last term BNP government turned down fibre-optic submarine cable connection that was freely available. This time they have delayed the linking project and now corruption is holding up the use of the link from Cox’s Bazar.

74. Where is the internet village: For BNP-Jamat junta promises are easy to make but difficult to fulfill. Internet village is one of the broken promises. What can you expect when 350 promises of the Prime Minister remain unfulfilled?

75. Female representation in parliament: BNP pledged direct election for the exclusively reserved parliamentary seats. But the amendment that they rammed through went nowhere near direct election, also the number of seats reserved were less than promised.

76. Setback for agriculture: BNP-Jamat government has made the irrigation system vulnerable by raising the prices of kerosin, diesel and electricity. They have also created a fertilizer crisis in the country. Somehow they are against agricultural growth. In their previous term they achieved an average growth rate of 1.4 percent a year. This time also they want to maintain their record; in four years agriculture is stagnating - the average rate of annual growth is barely 2 percent. Just for comparison the agricultural growth rate during AL regime was an annual average of 4.6 percent.

77. Ministry for Ready Made Garments: BNP made a pledge to set up a “Ministry for Ready Made Garments”. When in power they taunted the garments industry as a tailoring vocation. The sheet anchor of Bangladesh foreign trade needs careful handling, nursing and latitude. Is it possible for BNP-Jamat to appreciate it?

78. De-industrialization programme: BNP-Jamat junta is proving to be anti-industry. While closing down many industries on the plea of loss making, they are not at the same time promoting industrial investment in other sectors. Thus the country is being turned into the shop keeper of the region.

79. Thoughtless free trade: Under WTO regime free trade is undoubtedly the way to go. But BNP-Jamat junta in its utter incompetence is destroying the national industries by not taking adequate precaution before throwing them into unfair and imbalanced competition. They are also taking unilateral steps not coordinating them with similar steps taken by the neighbouring markets.

80. Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord: BNP-Jamat Alliance shouted against the Accord when it was made by the AL government but they decided to stay on the course. Actually they are not implementing the Accord at all. Instead roadblocks are put up against execution of the Treaty and BNP-Jamat goons are attacking, terrorizing and occasionally killing tribesmen of Chittagong Hill Tracts. The other aboriginal populations of the country are also under various harassments and many of them are evicted now and then from their ancestral homes.

81. Arsenic contamination: Far from complying with the declaration of making Bangladesh free from the curse of arsenic, the entire programme of meeting the arsenic threat is in total disarray and no progress is in sight.

82. Special Power Act: Pledged to repeal the law BNP-Jamat junta is fully exploiting it to suppress the opposition with no intention of repealing the Special Power Act.

83. Bangladesh Human Rights Commission: Even though a draft of legislation was prepared after elaborate consultation with the civil society by the preceding AL regime, BNP-Jamat junta failed, despite strong pre-election commitment, to constitute the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission.

84. Straight forward deception: The junta declared that “Heath Insurance Scheme” for the poor would be launched but took no steps to do so.

85. Failing on election pledge: The junta has reneged on their commitment by not implementing pension scheme for the elderly citizens belonging to the working class, marginal farmers and the poor, who do not get any pension at the end of their active life.

86. Failing on election pledge on unemployment benefit: There is no sign of the promised “unemployment allowance” scheme for the unemployed.

87. Disorder in education: Introducing distortions in text books, undertaking politicization of staff and teachers, permitting gross irregularities and infringements of rules and regulations, promoting corruption and illegal money making, destroying the integrity of certification of achievements, creating ‘session jam’ by deferring examinations and admissions, setting up sub-standard educational institutions for political and commercial purposes and in a host of other ways educational environment has been rendered chaotic.

88. Illegal take-over of management of educational institutions: Violating the autonomy guaranteed under University Ordinance of 1973 the elected Vice Chancellors of the Universities have been removed in the darkness of night. Reputed Principals of Colleges and Head Masters of Schools were removed or retired by devious means including threat of force mainly to install party affiliated persons and corrupt cronies in those posts.

89. Capturing University Halls: Under the leadership of famous godfather Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu MP and other BNP-Jamat terrorists, students’ residences were occupied in most universities and Medical colleges.

90. Attack on Women students: Shamsun Nahar Hall of Dhaka University was raided at the instigation of BNP activists at midnight where police staged a mayhem mercilessly beating, arresting and torturing women students.

91. Murder in the campus: Meritorious student Sabekun Nahar Sony of the Engineering University was killed in a gun battle between Chatra Dal cadres of Muki and Togor groups over shares in tendered contracts for works.

92. Silencing free thinking: Dr. Mohammad Yunus, Professor of Economics of Rajshahi University was stabbed to death by the cadres of Jamat Shibir. Assassination attempt was made on Dr. Humayan Azad, Professor of Bengali of Dhaka University, who subsequently died while still convalescing from the attack.

93. Punishment of a fair and strict educationist: Mrs. Sabera Begum, Head Mistress of Siddeshwari High Shcool and her University going daughter Sharmin were killed in ther residence at Baridhara Dhaka.

94. Merit sacrificed in appointment of teachers and employees in institutions of higher education: Appointment of unqualified party loyalists in different Universities and Government Colleges without considering their educational qualifications, experience and merit is routine under the junta regime. Similarly in appointing administrative and other staff in the educational institutes, politicization and corruption are the only motives, no matter whether there are vacancies in the institutions or required qualifications of the employees.

95. Destroying the Bangabandhu Medical University: Appointment of partisan and unqualified teachers and other employees has been made in the Bangabandhu Medical University doubling the number of doctors as well as other employees in relation to the number of hospital beds.

96. Forget about the Liberation War: Distortion of history in the text books is the most dishonest and financially corrupt enterprise of the BNP-Jamat Rajakar junta.

97. Conspiracy to destroy science orientation the secondary level of education: Suddenly a unified education system is introduced for the SSC level undercutting science teaching, promoting business teaching and increasing the load of religious teaching without due justification or preparation. Wasting Tk 500 crore the system is introduced even before new textbooks are ready. Again printing of new text books has been privatized through a collusive process involving the Minister for Education, the State Minister and the famous Hawa Bhaban.

98. Question paper leakage: Divulging question papers for examinations conducted by Public Service Commission with the evil intention of helping unfit and unqualified Party loyalists was a sensational event but no wrong-doing was even acknowledged.

99. Campus terrorism: Forcible occupation by BNP-Jamat followers of students’ residences and campus in the institutes of higher learning, rampant terrorist activities in the campuses in collusion with non-student outsiders and under the protective watch of the police, and internecine gunfights over shares in tendered contracts have restarted session jam and loss of lives and limbs in the Universities.

100. Culture of changing designations: Rather than undertaking a new project or constructing a new facility the BNP-Jamat junta excelled publicizing false credit by changing the previous names of different projects and installations.

101. Travesty of Justice: The President granted pardon to Jubo Dal leader Zintu, a fugitive murderer given death sentence 22 years ago, on recommendation from the Prime Minister and the Law Minister. Spending the life of an exile in Sweden, he returns home, surrenders and is granted mercy in just 11 days.

Sheikh Hasina’s Sixteen Point Programme

The commissions, omissions and misdeeds listed above amount to the worst possible crime against the nation. A failed but tyrannical government is holding a tortured and immiserized people in hostage. The situation is simply unbearable.

Such a national disaster could not be neglected by Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister and now the Leader of the Opposition. In a crowded Press Conference held in Dhaka on 10 October, 2005, reviewing the plight of the nation during four years of Alliance misrule she announced a People’s Charter. She pledged that, Allah willing if Bangladesh Awami League is voted to power, the following 16 Point Action Programme will be implemented :

1. Prices of all essential commodities will be kept within the buying capacity of the general mass.

2. Education policy adopted by the last Awami League Government will be implemented. Education up to graduation level in government institutions will be made free.

3. Education, health-care, and legal assistance for women and the poor will be ensured at least cost.

4. Health service will be operated according to specific pro-people health policy.

5. Low interest credit will be provided to agriculture, industry, trade and other services in the rural areas. In implementing this programme appropriate coordination with NGO’s will be ensured.

6. Adequate irrigation facilities and supply of fertilizer with increased subsidy will be arranged. Supply of fuel in the rural areas will fully meet the demand.

7. To meet the challenge of unemployment, an employment programme will be implemented in coordination with the non-government sector. Under a comprehensive plan opportunities for increased overseas employment will be created.

8. Government involvement in trade and industry will be further reduced and government will play only an enabling role for the sector.

9. Judiciary will be separated from the executive within the shortest possible time.

10. Institutions such as Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Service Commission will be made truly independent in all respect with full powers over budget and staff.\

11. In order to ensure justice to all, all processes of the courts of law starting from the lower courts to the highest court will be brought under specific rules and regulations.

12. The Police force will be revamped as one of the best organizations in terms of efficiency, service quality and prestige.

13. Tough laws will be framed to award exemplary punishment to the bribe-takers and the corrupt. National wealth misappropriated and transferred abroad will sought and brought back home.

14. E-governance will be rapidly introduced to ensure accountability and transparency of public administration.

15. Transparency and accountability of financing of all political parties as well as of all election expenditure by contesting candidates will be ensured by framing befitting laws and regulations.

16. Regional as well as international co-operation will be assiduously fostered and fully utilized to find solutions to different national and regional problems.

While concluding her press conference, Sheikh Hasina addressed the nation in the following words:

“We are in politics for the welfare of the people. While in government, we could prove that we give priority only to the interests of the people. At this critical juncture of the country, we shall reiterate our commitment to the countrymen. We are with you”.

Sheikh Hasina asked the Government to step-down in deference to the Declaration of the 14 Party Front. She warned that otherwise the unity and determination of the people will overthrow them.

She added:

“The dark night will surely be over. Inshallah, the red sun of bright possibilities for Bangladesh will again rise in the morning sky. Let all of us be united to rescue our oppressed countrymen from the abject misrule of the Alliance government. Victory is ours.”

Newsletter _______________________
Vol. 4. No. 9. Octobr 23, 2005
Bangladesh Awami League Publication