DGFI’s Brig Gen Bari “absconding” in army record, asks for US asylum
“He was posted to the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) as a director from the post of additional DG of Rab. During the caretaker rule Bari was the second-in-command of DGFI and played a key role in arresting high-profile corruption suspects, mostly politicians and businesspersons…Brig Gen Bari who served as the second man of DGFI since BNP-Jamaat-led alliance rule was posted to the Bangladesh embassy in Washington at the end of caretaker rule.” [Daily Star]
“Several top AL leaders including Abdul Jalil and Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir demanded severe curtailing of the influence of the military’s intelligence wing in the civilian administration. They alleged that they were harassed and tortured during their incarceration by the people of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence . Although not naming him directly, the politicians’ wrath was particularly directed at Brigadier Bari.” [bdnews24.com]
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Brig Gen Bari absconding in army record
He tells Star he’s not returning soon
Julfikar Ali Manik, Daily Star, June 10, 2009
Brig Gen Chowdhury Fazlul Bari, who was posted to the Bangladesh mission in Washington during the caretaker rule, is being considered as an absconder by the military authorities, army sources say.
“In the army we’ve declared Bari as an officer absent without leave, which is commonly known as absconding,” says an army source.
Bari denied any move seeking political asylum in the US when The Daily Star contacted him over phone following such information surfaced in the local media yesterday.
He however confirmed that he is not coming back to the country soon.
The government in April asked Bari to hand over his charge as the military adviser in Bangladesh Embassy in Washington and return home.
Bari handed over his charges in the embassy but did not return home.
He told The Daily Star last evening that he wanted extension of his service in the US, but the government did not extend it. He then applied for leave.
“I would return to Bangladesh on completion of my children’s studies,” said Bari, who also served for the Rapid Action Battalion since its inception in 2004.
He was posted to the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) as a director from the post of additional DG of Rab.
During the caretaker rule Bari was the second-in-command of DGFI and played a key role in arresting high-profile corruption suspects, mostly politicians and businesspersons.
Some of the newly elected lawmakers in and outside parliament strongly criticised the role of DGFI as they “witnessed” during their confinement as corruption suspects in caretaker rule.
Brig Gen Bari who served as the second man of DGFI since BNP-Jamaat-led alliance rule was posted to the Bangladesh embassy in Washington at the end of caretaker rule.
He told The Daily Star, “I wanted extension of my job in the Embassy but government did not give it. I handed over my charges and applied for leave.”
He however did not say anything whether his leave has been granted or is still pending. He rather suggested that this correspondent contact the army headquarters about his leave.
Army sources say Bari was asked to immediately return home where his leave would be settled. But as he did not return home, the army considers him as an absconding (AWL) officer.
The sources add he has been absconding for the last three weeks and if he continues doing so for 60 days the army authorities would declare him as a “deserter”.
Bari will have to face trial either as an absconder or a deserter whenever he returns to the country. But in case of absconding, the punishment will be comparatively lesser, the sources say.
The sources add Bari is still in the army but after 60 days of his AWL he will be no more in the service.
“I did not apply for any political asylum as it needs huge money and it is also difficult,” Bari said in reply to a question.
Bari’s brother and top BNP leader in Habiganj Ashraful Bari Noman told the Daily Star he has no knowledge about seeking political asylum.
Noman said last evening, “I know that he [Bari] applied to the government for extending his posting in the US after receiving recalling notice from Dhaka.
“He left Dhaka for Washington just four months ago from the recalling order. That is why he submitted a prayer for extending his posting till July as his children will complete their academic session by then,” Noman said.
He went on to say that he doesn’t know any further development after Bari’s prayer.
The Daily Star contacted the Bangladesh mission in Washington over phone to check the information regarding Bari’s asylum. But no official was available for comments.
Telephone operator and private secretary to the ambassador said the office starts at 9:30am, but no-one reached the office though it was 9:40am.
The operator said no official in the embassy in Washington reaches office before 10:00am.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=91965
Brig Gen Bari seeks asylum in US
Bdnews24.com . Washington
A top army officer posted to the Bangladesh embassy in Washington is seeking political asylum in the United States following his recall to Bangladesh last month.
Brigadier General Chowdhury Fazlul Bari, defence advisor at the embassy in Washington, was recently recalled after serving little over a year, a person close to Bari, preferring to be unnamed, said.
He relinquished his position on May 7 and has never been seen in public since then.
Bari was director at the all-powerful DGFI during the 2007-2008 military-backed caretaker government and is known to have played a key role in the arrest of several top politicians and bureaucrats.
In the wake of the Awami League’s return to power several top AL leaders including Abdul Jalil and Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir demanded severe curtailing of the influence of the military’s intelligence wing in the civilian administration.
They alleged that they were harassed and tortured during their incarceration by the people of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence . Although not naming him directly, the politicians’ wrath was particularly directed at Brigadier Bari.
It is not clear whether Bari would be granted asylum by the United States immigration authorities. To obtain permission to stay in the United States, the asylum seeker must prove to the authorities that his life would be in danger in his native country.
১৯৯৯ সালে মহিউদ্দীন খান আলমগীর ভাবতেও পারেন নাই যে তাঁকে ২০০৭ সালে ব্ল্যাক হোলে পিষ্ট হতে হবে। আর ২০০৭ সালে কচুক্ষেতে তাসনিম খলিলের আর্তনাদ শুনতে শুনতে ব্রিগেডিয়ার বারী একবারও ভাবেন নাই যে ২০০৯ সালের মধ্যে তিনি জেনারেল থেকে সোজা অ্যাবস্কন্ডারে রূপান্তরিত হবেন। সবারঈ এর থেকে শিক্ষা নেয়ার আছে।
[Reply]
This guy should be brought back home and charged for treason. He fled the country with full knowledge of Fakruddin, Matin and Ifthekar of the corrupt caretaker government.
Bari is known to be very sympathetic to fundamentalist Islamic terrorist groups and their financier Jamaat-e-Islami. That is why Jamaat was left untouched by this crook. He must have taken millions of dollars out of the country which he and at least hundred other army officers had earned through extortion, blackmailing, and intimidation during Fakruddin’s ruined two years.
Corruption reached new heights during that time.
He should be brought back and charged for manslaugter, defamation, gross violation of human rights and tarnishing the image of the armed forces.
[Reply]
@Xanthis translated:
In 1999 Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir could never imagine that he would be crushed in the black hole in 2007. And in 2007 while listening to journalist Tasneem Khalil’s screams, Bari never could imagine he would be transformed from “General” to “Absconder”. Everyone has something to learn from this experience.
[Reply]
xanthis Reply:
June 11th, 2009 at 2:10 am
আরেকজনের নাম খুব শুনতাম… ব্রিগেডিয়ার জেনারেল এ.কে. আমিন। যদ্দূর জানি তত্ত্বাবধায়ক সরকার ক্ষমতায় থাকা অবস্থাতেই এঁকে বাংলাদেশ ইন্সটিটিউট অফ ইন্টার্ন্যাশনাল এ্যন্ড স্ট্র্যাটেজিক স্টাডিজ-এর প্রধাণ বানিয়ে দেয়া হয়েছিল। বোধ হয় সে সময়ে একটা প্রমোশানও পেয়েছিলেন। এই মাননীয় এখন কোথায় আছেন কেউ বলতে পারবেন?
[Reply]
Involving the military in political matters destroys professionalism. Zia did it. It didn’t work leading to many rebellion and mutinies in the army and ultimate death of himself in the hands of army personnel. Ershad continued the process that resulted in his overthrow. The army tried it again at the instigation of Md. Yunus under Fakruddin but failed again. It is time that they take lessons from the past and restrict themselves to the barracks and strictly military matters. It is not for them to rule. It is binding on them to defend the borders under democratic leadership.
Sri Lankan army deserves credit for its total allegiance to civilian leadership inspite of a protracted civil war. But in the end the army won against the rebels because of their absolute submission to civilian authority as spelled out in the constitution. The Bangladesh army should follow the Sri Lankan army role model.
If overambitious immoral thugs like Bari are allowed to carry out extrajudicial killings and political witch-hunting without doing intelligence gathering within the armed forces one sees events like the BDR massacre. The direct involvement of NSI and DFI in illegal terrorist acts as exposed in the black market weapons transit through Bangladesh for Indian and Karen rebels has badly damaged our image abroad.
This culture of impunity must go and the perpetrators of crime must be punished.
[Reply]
Recession Reply:
June 11th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
“Sri Lankan army deserves credit for its total allegiance to civilian leadership inspite of a protracted civil war. But in the end the army won against the rebels because of their absolute submission to civilian authority as spelled out in the constitution. The Bangladesh army should follow the Sri Lankan army role model.”
The problem is we see every thing wrong with our army just bexcause of 75, 81. People forget it is 09. Think about the above statement. Only few nation thus far successfully handled insurgency. Ours is one. CHT issue has dies down and we have a friendly administration. I am sure not as good as many we would like to see. But fact remains we stopped fighting long time back. We had the lowest possible casualties on both side. We have MPs, Ministers from CHT region.
And yet we ask that we should look at Srilankan army for example! One that took 30 years and more to resolve! That had 100s of thousands of casualities! That didn’t fight a counter insurgency only but launched a total war against the LTTE! That made millions of refugees! That maimed countless! What a contrast! Today in Canada 100s of thousands marched world wide against the alleged humna rights violation by Srilankan army and their government! Yet there govt did not budge an inch! No journalists were and are allowed in the war zone, far remains journalists from abroad! BBC tried. So did CNN. None were allowed access! Possibly rightly so. The MP from Canada, long after the war is over, went to Srilanka to visit the war torn northern Srilanka with valid visa. He was detained by Srilankan Intelligence and Govt at Airport and booted out:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/ottawa-blasts-raes-absurd-deportation/article1176032/ – Ottawa blasts Rae’s ‘absurd’ deportation
Another MP is denied visa. And yet we compare with Srilankan out of ignorance possibly, and ask our army to be like them. I wonder how would we, our media, and world react, this site in particular, if we are to do the same! Launch full scale war against our tribal friends, deny access to media in every form, no HR access granted, kill 1000s and more, maim countless, so and so forth, ….
The comparison comes as if our army did not work under political leadership! In fact that is precisely what our army has done! The treaty was signed by political ladership. They (our army) had been so suucessful along with out government that never possibly we were barred to visit the beuatiful areas of CHTs. We went there for sightseeing, for a retreat! We hardly felt anything. Because every thing was so under control while all the way army kept on securing the land in those days. Not only that army kept on taking casuaties that never came up in media for whatever (strategic or other) reason. My friend dies in CHT, just in case, a fine officer at the age of possibly less than 30.
I wonder if our army follows Srilankan army and would have launched full scale war what would have the comment be!
Proudly being a Bangladeshi, I feel my country and my army held up and fared much better compared to the Srilankans. Not to forget, our military institutes made and tarined leaders for them (for Srilankan Army) to lead! I met one such Srilankan Cadet in Bangladesh Military Academy while visiting my friend there in early ninties. We have everyreason to be proud, that, out army trained their officers to lead what is considered today a success.
And yet some people I understand will always talk the way they do about our army. Just for example, while the publicity such as this post come up for discussion, the fact that in daily star, another positive report came up which is not discussed here at all. Well we veryly know, positive news make less of a reporting.
[Reply]
I dont suppose he will be working at the local 7Eleven. May be we will see him at the Bangla Association meetings where he can be yet another neta!
[Reply]
When the CTG/army is in power, politicians are on the run; and vice versa. It means NEITHER our politicians are innocent, nor army, police, BDR or RAB. They are all birds of same feather!!
But the question is, when will this culture end? The culture that when politicns are in power, they witch hunt everyone else, but themselves. When AL is in power, BNP are the crooks, when BNP in power its AL. Now AL is saying they will PROBE all activities since 2001 to 2008, ie probe BNP and CTG, not 1996 to 2008!!! (why include AL, right? : ) We are innocent!
So its no rocket science that army guys are now on the run. Our “honorable” politicians, who were hiding in Singapore , UK and India concealing their assets a and black money are now back in power!! Watch out army and BNP ! Which side should we PEOPLE support? army, al or bnp?
The answer is NONE.
Support non-partisan anti-corruption to eliminate ALL crooks.
[Reply]
tacit Reply:
June 11th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
KGazi, there should have been no reason for Brig. Fazlul Bari to be on the run. He is a serving army officer. Even if AL packed him off to retirement as soon as he reported to HQ, he would still be in LPR for a year. I am sure you have seen the statements by some AL ministers praising Gen. Moeen. In this situation, it is not immediately apparent why Brig. Bari would fear to return to BD.
AL’s probing of 2007-2008 has been, and I believe, will be limited to Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and his parliamentary committee. It will not go further than that.
I think Brig. Bari took this assignment to Washington, DC during the middle of last year. How can we discount the possibility that this is what he had been planning to do all along? And then, there is the parallel question, what exactly did he do between January 2007 and June 2008 that he is going to take the extreme step of going AWOL from the army and applying for political asylum in the US?
In conclusion, I think AL govt. should reach out to Brig. Bari and reassure him about returning home. Whatever our differences, we should be able to work them out in a decent and civilized manner. Otherwise, the defection of a serving army officer and a former Director of DGFI will remain a black mark against this government.
[Reply]
Hi Roushan,
Note your excellent above write-up contents of which have received my best attention. The above second last Paragraph has caught my attention wherein I quote “the black market weapons transit through Bangladesh for Indian and Karen rebels has badly damaged our image abroad” un-quote.
I am a Rangoonite M.A. from R.U. hence, familiar with both Burmese; History & Geographyical Location of entire of Burma. The more then 60 years rebellions of the Tribal Ethnic minorities out of which the Karens are the most successful. The Karen State is Bordering mainly with Thailand and China, ac’dgly, thousands of miles away from both; Bangladesh and India hence, not a very; plausible, logical or economical route for weapons transit from Bangladesh!!! Weapons smuggling originates from the Golden Triangle which is locate, in the heartland of the Karen State!!! I, shall therefore, remain obliged for further feed back if any possible from your end in this respect.
[Reply]
The entire subcontinent is now under democracy for the first time in history. Pakistan is battling the Talibans to strengthen democracy. Taliban was a creation of the Pakistani army’s dreaded ISI wing. It is in the interest of the region that the mullahs are uprooted. The Sri Lankans defeated the Tamil tigers with full Indian backing. Maoist insurgency in Nepal has been subdued by democratising them.
The region inspite of poverty and economic ails have made remarkable progress. It is poised to become a regional powerhouse along with India and China.
Only a flourishing democracy in South Asia can ensure its prosperity. Any military adventurism in any of the smaller countries will spell major disasters for them taking them back to the black period of the seventies.
Bangladesh fared the worst under outrightly corrupt military dictatorships in the past.
[Reply]
Human Rights Watch, AI and others has scathing criticism of the DGIF in their reports and some called for demolition the notorious organization. Mr. Bari is directly involved in human rights violation in Bangladesh. His getting political asylum in US would be difficult if this connection is highlighted. I would request Bangladshi Americans and concerned US citizens to write to their congressman, state department and Department of Justice mentioning these issues. That would hopefully foil this ‘thugs’ effort to stay in USA. These military thug should learn that they have been granted immunity for too long.
[Reply]
to xanthis. is it AK Amin or ATM Amin. Here is this guy http://www.iiss.org/events-calendar/2008-events-archive/january-2008/brigadier-general-atm-amin/. We should keep these peoples name in our collective memory, its worth remembering them. because it might take another decade or even a generation before our military system is able to clean itself up. what bothers me some of these people are given opportunity for training in US or other western countries, I assume US doesn’t do any sort of background checking.
[Reply]
Off course we’ll have to keep these names in memories for all the time. But here the focus should have been the ringleader himself, Gen. Moeen U. Ahmed. Because how much abuses of power and position the single or two star Generals did, these all have been matters of discussions without definite references. They were people of behind the scene. I mean even Tasneem Khalil has not mentioned any specific names, I don’t know why. But there will be no justifiable grounds to take concerns of Amin, Bari, Masud or others if the ringleader himself gets away. It looks like this time he will get away. Because a ticket to far west approved by the authority will appear as the most gifted thing he could ever have asked for and it seems the ticket to his desk is coming in name of “Ambassadorship” to United States.
[Reply]
[...] return again. His underling Brig. Fazlul Bari had the right idea when he decided he liked America too much. One can confidently expect Moeen to follow suit; he has already made his liking for the balmy [...]
Quite an explosive piece at Shomokal
http://www.shamokal.com/details.php?nid=115950
[Reply]
I don’t think he would get past UK immigration today
[Reply]