Three major events are currently in the news in the fastest time. Visa sanction against former army Chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed for alleged involvement in corruption, the killing of Member of Parliament for Jhenaidah-4 Anwarul Azim in India and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) proceedings against former police Chief Benazir Ahmed, and the confusion over his stay in the country. The events happened in succession, and discussion of one is being discussed simultaneously rather than overshadowing the other.

The former Army Chief was not under US sanctions. The country imposed sanctions on Aziz Ahmed and his family soon after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu visited Dhaka. The United States has not imposed new sanctions against Benazir Ahmed, but he was already covered by the country's sanctions. The name of Benazir Ahmed is among the seven former RAB officials who are being sanctioned by the US. ACC is going to take action even if there is no new decision against him. It is believed that Benazir Ahmed has fallen under the 'zero tolerance' policy of the government against corruption. While in charge, he was close to the government and influential.

After MP Anwarul Azim Anar went missing in India, it was reported that he had gone for medical treatment. After the news of his death, no medical information is forthcoming. After his tragic death, the past is coming forward with compassion, which is not happy for his family, embarrassing for the ruling party Awami League. He was a gold smuggler, involved in the hundi trade, one of the erstwhile terror groups in the south, an Interpol Red Notice criminal—these facts have come to light. The facts are so strong that it is more of a discussion than the usual sympathy for death. It is not just the participation of anti-government political groups in this discussion; rather, these have become more important than the familiarity of his public representatives among people of all walks of life.

Anwarul Azim Anar's body was not found even three weeks after the murder. Dhaka and Kolkata police are investigating. Exciting information coming. In the statement given by the police, so far it is not being claimed as a 'political murder'. The power and financial conflicts of crime empires are influential here. In the name of treatment, he went to India without informing anyone or hiding the information and from there to Kolkata, he was killed. In the past that comes to the fore after the death, the process of nomination of public representatives is being discussed. How the political parties nominate the controversial, this question is strongly raised. Although Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said in response to this question, he was nominated due to popularity. A three-time MP of Anwarul Azim Anar, he was popular; this answer did not satisfy anyone, especially the last three elections cited here as examples. Because there are many questions about the popularity of any representative in these three elections!

Apart from the murder of Anwarul Azim Anar, two other incidents are related to corruption. New US sanctions against General (retd) Aziz Ahmed and his family on charges of interfering in the due process of state through corruption and aiding and abetting corruption. According to the United States, he assisted his brother in avoiding accountability for criminal activities. He worked closely with his brother to ensure that contracts or contracts were obtained unfairly in the military sector. He took bribes in exchange for government appointments for his own interests. On May 20, the Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, it is a matter of the army. Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali also said similar things. Later, Road Communications and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that the ACC can investigate the allegations against former army Chief Aziz Ahmed. This discussion is also ongoing, but so far no action has been seen from the side of the ACC.

ACC is now busy with former IGP Benazir Ahmed. On April 18, the ACC decided to investigate the allegations of acquiring illegal wealth against Benazir Ahmed. A three-member committee was formed to investigate the complaint and submit a report. As part of the investigation, letters were sent to Bangladesh Bank's Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) the following week seeking details of his bank transactions, letters were sent to Rajdhani Unnayan Kortipakkha (RAJUK), Gazipur Development Authority, Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh seeking information on immovable and immovable assets (Rehab), City Corporation, Land Office, Registry Office, National Board of Revenue and other offices. After receiving the information from the concerned departments, in view of the application of the ACC, Benazir Ahmed and his wife and children have 621 bigha of land, four flats in Dhaka and 33 bank accounts, shares of 19 companies and three BO accounts (Beneficiary Owners Accounts for trading shares) in the name of Benazir and his wife and children. And the order of seizure of Tk. 30 lakh and Savar's land came from the court.

It is already known that Benazir Ahmed is not in the country with his family. It is known that he went to Singapore in the first week of last month for treatment. Now no one can tell where he is.

Information about Benazir Ahmed's wealth during his tenure as RAB and police Chief was not disclosed. Why it was not published? There was only one—no one dared to open their mouths in fear. He was very powerful and close to the government. Police over-powers in recent years have left no one to speak out against him. However, he became the owner of this property while in office. And it certainly abuses power. The salary of a government official is not so much that someone can own a wealth of hundreds or thousands of money! The government's 'undue favor' has worked here, if not, is this possible?

Benazir Ahmed did not suddenly become the owner of such wealth. But the government did not know this? It's hard to believe. But has the government helped him? How to say did not? Why did Benazir get exemption from the government's 'zero tolerance' policy against corruption? Because maybe only one - control the whole force by trusting the police Chief! People like the Benazirs were exempted from the procedures followed to use the administration to counter political opponents. And in this concession, the owners of huge wealth and power have become legal and illegal.

However, the question is why is Benazir Ahmed, who was close to the government, facing legal action during that government? The answer is the US ban. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu during his visit to Dhaka reiterated the commitment of both countries to work together on anti-corruption measures. Dhaka has a big show after the US sanctions against the former army Chief soon after Donald Lu's visit. Benazir Ahmed, who is under US sanctions on human rights issues, has become an "easy solution" in this case. Now Dhaka can tell Washington that the government has a zero tolerance policy against corruption regardless of the former rank and title.

The government has faced an image crisis after the US sanctions against former army Chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed, the revelation of the black past after the assassination of MP Anwarul Azim Anar and the disclosure of the huge assets of Benazir Ahmed, who was already under US sanctions. Something big was needed to overcome this crisis. The ACC action against Benazir Ahmed, and the government's support for it, is part of an image rcovery effort.

Something we've seen before. After the casino scandal, the 'shadow' was removed from the Jubo League chairman and many others. This time probably moved from Aziz-Benazir. With Omar Farooq and many others, we have understood that shadow is only shadow. In the case of Benazirs, the invisible shadow may have moved! We see the body, but cannot see whose shadow it is; It cannot even be seen!

Recently I had a long phone conversation with an economist living in a developed country. While talking about the progress of Bangladesh in various socio-economic indicators, he was talking about optimism. In his lifetime, he will see Bangladesh in such a position that it has defied even his imagination. His enthusiasm stopped at a point in the conversation. He was saying with sadness that it was not difficult for Bangladesh to become the dream 'Switzerland of the East' if order and good governance were ensured among the people.

Giving an example of how evident the tendency of people to disobey the law, the economist also said that he had to be ashamed of his 6-year-old granddaughter on a trip to Singapore, because he himself was disobeying the law and throwing fruit peels on the highway! He had to learn from that child that littering is not only wrong, but a crime. The child also taoght his grandfather that chewing gum is forbidden there.

We will now look at some recent events in the country. While many are quick to call the issue 'eyewash' by the government, it can be said that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)'s recent crackdown on the illegal wealth of former army chief Aziz Ahmed and former police chief Benazir Ahmed has dispelled a long-standing myth. .

Whether these two top officials are found guilty or acquitted in the final investigation is the next matter. But there is no doubt that a kind of fear is being created among politicians, bureaucrats and government employees. The idea is ingrained in everyone that no matter how many strategies are used to commit crimes or acquire illegal wealth, there will always be a fear of being caught. This 'fear' is very necessary even in the midst of the 'eyewash culture'.

But in reality, it became clear again that the law-abiding class in the society is not learning a little from these 'big events'. A report in today's newspaper revealed one aspect of the weakness of the authoritarian class in society. According to published news, the incident took place in the capital's posh shopping complex Jamuna Future Park. The wife of an officer (DC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, who went shopping there, was prevented from entering with a car from the opposite direction, disregarding any rules. On being interrupted, she hurled inaudible abuse at the mall's security staff, at one point even raising her hand on the security staff. Meanwhile, the police officer's wife kept saying in a loud voice, "I don't have to obey rules".

The incident did not end there, after shopping; the police officer's wife broke the law and was stopped in the opposite direction and caused a ruckus. The mall security officer had to rush in to stop her. However, after hearing the details of the incident, the police officer expressed regret to the concerned.

The news is out - so maybe we'll find out. But how many cases of lawlessness are happening silently every day - there is no calculation. We have become accustomed to seeing such power in this city as we walk. Just like the responsible persons of the law and order forces are in the cars running in the opposite direction with sirens on the busy road, so are the people of other powerful classes and professions of the society.

Society has accepted this irregularity as a 'rule', in other words, it has been forced to accept it. We know that the instance of a police officer's wife perpetrating this scandal in a major shopping mall in the capital is not a new one. But the question is - how is our social status maintained after numerous incidents like this trend of disobeying the law, abuse of power from important positions, taking people as hostages and looting resources?

The status quo is in play because the voices of the society have lost their individuality and become lifeless. They are desperate to be close to power and blessed. The so-called 'conscience' of the nation today has lost its glory and adopted a kind of silent style.

As this 'conscience' sleeps awake, the social injustice and the valueless class become more enthused and busy trying to understand the injustice and rehabilitate it naturally in the society. As a result, everyone accepts an unusual situation and pretends to be normal. This may be the reason for the resurgence of law-breaking in our society in the course of recent events.

The Teesta problem has been discussed over and again for ages. Nothing is working. Not being realized is a reflection of the many hopes and aspirations related to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people along the banks of the Teesta in Bangladesh. Every year a drought comes, and a monsoon comes. Burned by the heat, crops of the land are washed away by untimely floods. All efforts to remedy those problems are halted.

Since 1993, Bangladesh has been making strenuous efforts to resolve the issues related to the Teesta River. But since most of its problems are common, international and bilateral, it is difficult for Bangladesh to solve them alone. Therefore efforts are being made with neighboring India by signing agreements on the basis of bilateral cooperation and holding repeated meetings to find a solution in accordance with international law. Over the past three decades, many agreements have been signed through various discussions in hundreds of meetings. But due to various reasons and excuses they were not fruitful.

After the Teesta problem was kept on the file for a long time due to the non-cooperation and monotony of the upstream countries, after the Awami League came to power for the second time in Bangladesh, the Teesta river water distribution problem started unraveling from 2014 and to some extent, a ray of hope could be seen. But due to differences of opinion with the Central and West Bengal governments of India, those efforts repeatedly stumbled.

The Teesta river water crisis, especially during droughts, has resulted in extreme contradictions between the Center and the state, with mutual blame and mud-slinging. The government and the entire people of Bangladesh, including the victims of Teesta bank, were disappointed by the long wait. Indefinitely not getting the expected response from India, Bangladesh looked for alternative means. In view of this, when a third party was called to come forward in the Teesta revival project, China came forward. They use the experience of China's distress or Huangho river revitalization project to help solve the Teesta problem.

On 18th September 2016, Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Power Construction Corporation of China for investment in the Teesta revitalization project. That too was in a wavering state for a long time. Five years ago, when the Prime Minister of Bangladesh wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of China, optimism started in the implementation of the project. China is already 115 km into the Teesta catchment area of Bangladesh. Prepare project draft by completing part survey. While China has expressed interest in conducting deep surveys in the 'Chicken Neck' area of Sikkim Teesta Creek and Siliguri in the Teesta part of India, India's lack of national security in this regard has become noticeable.

India considers China's investment in the Teesta revitalization project and the presence of Chinese engineers and experts on Indian soil and the use of modern technology as a security threat. However, China wanted to start the implementation of the project immediately after the national elections on January 7, 2024. But even after five months have passed after the national election of Bangladesh, the work of the project has not yet started.

Meanwhile, our Prime Minister announced the early implementation of the Teesta Revival Project in an election public meeting at Rangpur on August 2, 2023. To hear the start date for the implementation of that declaration, the suffering residents of Teesta bank are eagerly waiting till the severe drought days of May this year.

The memorandum of understanding signed between the Bangladesh Water Development Board and the Power Construction Corporation of China or Power China on the Teesta revitalization project includes satellite cities planned on both banks of the Teesta River, river mining and governance, erosion prevention systems, modeled after Suqian City in East China's Jiangsu Province. It has been mentioned that a modern agricultural irrigation system, fish farming project and tourism center will be developed.

The Chinese company has already completed the design and feasibility study for the implementation of the project on the banks of the Teesta. Three Chinese delegations are working in the districts of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur and Gaibandha along the Teesta River. Among them, on May 10, New Delhi offered to invest money in the proposed multi-purpose project of dredging and construction of barrage in Teesta River inside Bangladesh. India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra made this proposal in a meeting with Bangladesh's Foreign Minister in Dhaka.

In this context, our Foreign Minister commented, 'We have undertaken a large project in Teesta. India wants to finance there. I said that the project in Teesta will be according to our needs. Let our needs be fulfilled.' It can be a big undertaking to fulfill our needs. But India's sudden focus on the Teesta revitalization project after decades of neglect has left our policy makers worried. It has been asked to think whether there is any other secret hidden behind it apart from achieving geo-political objectives.

Kolkata's Bengali newspaper Anandabazar said, "China has already offered investment and technology cooperation to Dhaka in Bangladesh's Teesta project. Within 48 hours of Sheikh Hasina's new government being sworn in in January, Yao Wen, the Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka, met the new Foreign Minister, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, and requested an expedited clearance for their project on the Teesta. But I have expressed concern to Bangladesh about the work of engineers and technicians of a third country on the Teesta River flowing between India and Bangladesh.

New Delhi basically, they have offered to invest money in the proposed multipurpose project of dredging and constructing barrages on the banks of the Teesta within Bangladesh. Bangladesh had been courting Beijing about this project for at least 12 years. Following Hasina's letter, China submitted a project draft surveying the 115-km course of the Teesta through Bangladesh. In that project, besides increasing the depth of 10 meters by dredging the Teesta river, reclaiming the land on both sides, building a four-lane road there and controlling the water level through some barrages and irrigation canals. But after that the project did not get clearance. Now India has proposed to implement that project.

However, India's sudden offer during the Indian national elections on the earlier agreement with China is somewhat mysterious. It is a matter of concern how all the policy makers and people of Bangladesh will accept this sudden investment interest from India after so long. Time will tell how faithfully Bangladesh will consider this financing interest of India.

As the time approaches for China to start work on the Teesta revitalization project, it will not be easy to convince India, which has been dormant for a long time, to share the Teesta water only on the proposal of their Foreign Secretary. India's practice of unilaterally withdrawing the waters of the Teesta and the resulting vacuum in providing Bangladesh with a legal and equitable share of the international flow of the Teesta is very painful. Analysts believe that India's interest in financing the Teesta revitalization project after signing an agreement with a third country could create a new wave of India's interest and participation in China.

Besides, India has not yet been told what Bangladesh's 'needs' or expectations are regarding the Teesta revitalization project. The ongoing tension between India and China over regional geopolitical power will further escalate if Bangladesh reaches out to India by violating the agreement signed with China. Besides, China may lose confidence in Bangladesh and reduce or stop its investment and technical assistance in other big projects we are running.

Therefore, the proposal of the Indian Foreign Secretary's interest in financing may prolong China's Teesta revival project as well as spoil China's good relations with Bangladesh. After India's financing proposal, China has already asked for additional expenditure of Tk. 30 thousand crore. Some people think that a situation like 'Shyam Rakhi na Kul Rakhi' has been created in the ‘Indian offer’ before the work has started.

But without verifying any public opinion, why did such a thought suddenly arise among the policy makers of our country?

Despite India's repeated promises to resolve the Teesta water issue, no action has been taken. We have found an alternative way for this. Where is the problem with being involved? To avoid this vacillation, one must think deeply. And for this reason, India should respond to the funding proposal with a deeper thought. Making big decisions in advance can be another trick. Therefore, the analysts think that the issue should be considered more seriously.

The author is a professor of the social work department and former dean of social science faculty of Rajshahi University.

Myanmar's internal conflict and the Myanmar Army's clash with the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine continue to intensify. Across the border in some townships of Rakhine, massive clashes are going on with the Myanmar army. Several Rohingya villages have been burnt there. Unable to withstand the intensity of the conflict, the Rohingyas are fleeing towards the Bangladesh border in fear of their lives. Many people think that they are forcing Rohingyas living in these areas to leave their homes by burning their villages. On the other hand, it is known that Myanmar army on one side and Rohingyas on the other side are using the Rohingyas as human shields in a well-planned way to kill the Rohingyas. Myanmar's army has lost control of many areas to AA in Rakhine State in the ongoing conflict. The Myanmar army forcibly captured the Rohingyas and orders them to fight with them during clashes with the Rohingyas in areas inhabited by Rohingyas. They are inciting inter-communal violence by forcing the Rohingyas to engage in conflict with each other in the name of protecting themselves from attacks by each other in their areas. According to Human Rights Watch, around 1,000 Rohingya have been forced to join Myanmar's army since February. Both the Myanmar army and the AA are pushing to fight for them and the Rohingya are being used as human shields on the battlefield.

About 600,000 Rohingya are still living in Rakhine state. A number of Rohingya rights activists from abroad have alleged that the AA is forcing Rohingya refugees into Buthidung town in Rakhine. Their homes have been looted and set on fire and there have been human rights violations. Many Rohingyas have been killed. 10,000 civilians have been displaced by clashes between the AA and the Myanmar army in Buthidong and Maungdu. No steps are being taken to ensure their safety and security. Regarding the conflict situation in Myanmar, the European Union (EU), the United States and some countries have called on all parties to the conflict to ensure the safety of civilians in a joint statement. It said it had helped the Rohingyas move to safer areas, but the Myanmar junta has been waging havoc there. The United States has called on Myanmar's junta and the UN to provide humanitarian access and protect civilians in the ongoing situation, expressing concern over allegations of Rohingya displacement and increased violence in Rakhine.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Falker Turk expressed deep concern over the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from Buthidung town in Rakhine State and urged Myanmar's military and AA to immediately end the conflict there. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have been displaced by renewed violence and destruction of property in the town of Buthidong in northern Myanmar's Rakhine State. The United Nations calls on the Myanmar government to protect civilians allow immediate and uninterrupted humanitarian assistance and unconditionally comply with international law. Falkar Turk urged Bangladesh and other countries to come forward to help the Rohingyas who are facing persecution.

James Rodehaver, head of the UN Rights Office's Myanmar team, described the ongoing situation as dire. The United Nations has warned that intercommunal tensions could escalate if Rohingya and Rakhine clash against each other. The United Nations also fears that retaliatory violence may occur in such a situation. Human rights monitors also confirmed the forced relocation of Rohingyas from at least eight villages under army control.

UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Thomas Andus, has called on Bangladesh to move away from its 'closed border' policy to shelter displaced Rohingya in the wake of the ongoing crisis in Rakhine. Although the United Nations, donor countries and organizations have worked to solve the Rohingya crisis, Bangladesh's generosity has expressed its opinion that the only hope for the Rohingyas. The UN Special Rapporteur has also called on all countries in the world to come forward with emergency funds to improve the situation in the Rohingya camps inside Bangladesh. Thomas Andus called for an end to the AA's "forced displacement and human rights violations" against the Rohingya.

Elizabeth Throssell, a spokeswoman for the UN rights office, said tens of thousands of civilians had been displaced in Buthidang and Maungdoo towns in Arakan amid escalating violence in conflict-torn Myanmar's Rakhine state. About 45,000 Rohingya who recently fled for their lives from Rakhine State are waiting for safe shelter on the banks of the Naf River. Elizabeth Throssell called on the Myanmar government and the AA to protect civilians in accordance with international law. Bangladesh does not have the capacity to deal with this crisis without the urgent intervention and support of the international community. Ration cuts, inadequate infrastructure, violence and the activities of Rohingya militant groups have threatened the lives of Rohingya in Bangladesh as a result of reduced aid.

Myanmar's border posts along the Bangladesh border are currently occupied by AA. This is the state of Myanmar through full self-determination under the framework, Arakan State wants to be built in the future. Its main strength is its commitment to Rakhine people's communal harmony, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Their foresight in this critical situation will help them to increase their acceptance in the international arena in the days to come.

Across the border in Cox's Bazar area, UN and other aid agencies have been working in Rohingya camps with their professional skills and sincerity for the past seven years. They are aware of the Rakhine situation. In the current context, the United Nations, UNHCR, IOM and other international aid agencies can establish a safe zone and a humanitarian corridor for displaced people in Rakhine to ensure the safety of Myanmar citizens fleeing persecution. They can manage this activity very easily from the peaceful location of Cox's Bazar. It will also support them in this work because they need acceptance in the international arena.

By participating in these aid programs together with the United Nations and international aid agencies, they can only prove themselves as the proper representatives of Rakhine beyond their identity as Rakhine ethnic armed groups. In addition to this, if the Rohingya's acceptance towards AA is revealed in the international arena, it will be useful to get international support in the coming days to implement their objectives.

Donor organizations are under pressure to provide assistance to the Rohingyas who have taken refuge in Bangladesh, so there is no opportunity for Myanmar citizens to seek refuge inside Bangladesh. Bangladesh government has taken precautionary measures at the border. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has strengthened security at Bandarban border due to the fear of new Rohingya infiltration through the border. The number of BGB personnel has been increased in the border posts and establishments in the border areas of Bandarban and Cox's Bazar and patrolling and surveillance has been increased in the border areas. The CCTV cameras installed in the border area are being monitored round the clock and the surveillance of BGB as well as intelligence agencies has also been increased.

The international community has been quick to express its concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state. The brutal events of 2017 have taught them to be cautious before the situation deteriorates. The international community has realized how generous Bangladesh was despite its limitations and humanitarian aspects. They feel the absence of such generosity in the present context. Establishing safe zones and a humanitarian corridor for displaced people in Myanmar's Rakhine state has become imperative to deal with the ongoing situation. The UN and international organizations can deal with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Rakhine by taking quick decisions. This experience of working inside Rakhine will help to play a stronger role in future Rohingya repatriation. It is expected that the United Nations and international aid agencies will come forward to solve this crisis by taking effective measures in the areas under the control of Rakhine State.

Br J (Rtd) Hasan Md Shamsuddin, NDC, AFWC, PSC, M.Phil Researcher on Myanmar and Rohingya.