Hundreds rushed to hospital with suspected poisoning at Bangladeshi garment factory

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“We are suspecting that it was poisoning of the water. It could be some sort of pesticide,” S M Mannan, a vice president of the BGMEA, told AFP. He went on to state that the factory has its own water supply from a deep-tube well so the scope for contamination was almost nil. “Someone might have mixed poison in the water,” he said. Global scrutiny over the conditions under which a number of Bangladesh-produced items are made is intensifying after a cluster of disasters at factories producing commercial goods.

1,129 people died in a disaster at the Rana Plaza Bangladeshi garment factory in April, with bodies still being dragged from the collapsed wreckage over a week later. The building was also located in a northern suburb of Dhaka, called Savar. It was the world’s most lethal industrial accident since the 1984 Bhopal disaster in India.

Fires are common in the factories of Bangladesh’s garment industry, which comprises about 80 percent of the country’s exports. Bangladesh houses more than 4,500 factories dedicated to churning out such goods. A fire last November killed 112 people. The latest was in an 11-story building in Mirpu, located between Dhaka and Savar, killing the company’s managing director and some of his personal staff and friends.

Despite Bangladesh factories’ proneness to disaster, Walmart and Gap, both voiced opposition to a broad safety upgrade agreement in mid-May, which included “dispute resolution mechanisms.” The new pact additionally called for retailers to pay up to $500,000 a year toward the effort, and to halt business with any Bangladesh factory that refuses to make safety improvements.

If Walmart and Gap become signatories to the agreement, they may leave themselves open to cases filed by US lawyers on behalf of the workers in Bangladesh who suffer as a result of unsafe working conditions.

Earlier on Wednesday, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at families protesting the death of their relatives in the April disaster, who had gathered where the building once stood. They have been calling for the authorities to publish a list of missing workers so that their relatives can claim compensation.

“There were up to 1,000 protesters, they blocked a key highway and staged a sit-in in front of the ruined site for nearly three hours,” local industrial police inspector Amjad Hossain told Reuters.

“Primarily we suspect the water supply of the Starlight Sweaters factory was poisoned or contaminated,” local industrial police officer Mahfuzur Rahman told AFP on Wednesday. The factory is located in Gazipur, a suburb just north of the capital, Dhaka. The estimate of 600 was cited to the news agency by the administrative officer of the factory, with an official from Bangladesh's Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), stating that the contamination could well have been deliberate.

(RT)

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The life of a soldier - Tribute

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Standing in the soul-shivering cold with a determination to serve the homeland and gaurd it against any physical aggression, a soldier reminds his mother advising him in his early youth not to let down the green flag ever in his life. He feels the warmth of the words of his mother in that hard cold weather which is his only motivation against the fears popping up in his heart. He knows that his fiancee is waiting for him back in his village to be married to him but the pushing force behind his ultimate determination is his urge of getting the triumph of dying for his motherland for he knows that his life is worthless in front of the great duty he has been handed over.
The soldier feels the pride of lifting the whole nation on his tough shoulders as his chest is the first barrier between his enemies and and his nation. He doesn't care whether his chest will be decorated with medals after his soul departs nor does he want any valuable reward. His only gain is his satisfaction of conscience in this battle of life and death as no one sheds his life for few medals and wordly rewards.
The mother of a soldier sheds tears for her son every night and prays to Lord for his safety but she never prays for her son to be called back from the battlefield, she never complains, she never desires. She knows the worth of the mission that her son has been assigned and after shedding tears she shuts her eyes gently with pride. She thanks the Almighty for choosing her son for this sacred job.
The soldier's younger sister remembers the days when they were little and used to play together in the village's playground. She recalls the golden moments spent with her brother looking at the sky full of stars and wishes that her brother can be with her right now, but suddenly coming out of the cloud of memories she realizes that her brother is in the severity of weather gaurding millions of sisters like her so they can dream of a sparkling future. Her sadness turns into pride and taking a long breath, she thanks the Almighty for assigning this noble duty to her brother.
A soldier never regrets his decision to serve the land. He beats the severe conditions with his remarkable power of endurance for he is persistent to defend the land where he grew up. His friends are in the quest of building their professional career but he knows that he and his comrades on the battlefield are the chosen and lucky ones to be there as very few qualify the merit of the position he holds. Not many dream of having his position, because everyone doesn't know the worth of being a soldiers, the saviour of the nation.
The soldier sheds tears realizing that some of his countrymen play in the hands of his enemies and malign his noble position and cause. But his heart gains the strength knowing that majority of his nation is backing him. He recalls the love and affection he recieved back in his village from his relatives to shun the bad thoughts and hopes that his misled countrymen will also enchant slogans in his favor once they are guided to the right path. The sun was rising and the soldier was feeling happy when he heard the call of his mate who was next on duty. The soldier offers the morning prayers and goes into his bunker for a well-deserved sleeping hoping that his sleep will not be spoiled as it was continously spoiled for the last one week due to heavy clashes with enemies.
We are soldiers, Don't love us as we die young!
Pakistan Army Zindabad!

Faraan Khan

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A tribute to the Son of Pak Sarzameen - Cecil Chaudhry

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Cecil Chaudhry (May his soul rest in peace) was a heroic Jawaan of Pak Air Force who safeguarded and served this land on the basis of sheer love for Pak Sarzameen. Despite belonging to the minority, he proved his love for Pakistan by heroically contributing to the 1965 and 1971 wars against the hostile enemy. The national hero aslo participated in PAF battles against Israel in 1967. Pakistan today is proud of her son, irrespective of the color, cast or creed when his soul rests in peace, having given his duty to the Pak Sarzameen with all his sincerity and devotion. The great son of PakSarzameen truly trusted and believed to what the founding Father - Quaid-e-Azam said at the creation of Pakistan:   

We are starting with the fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state. No matter what is his colour, caste or creed is first, second and last a citizen of this state with equal rights, privileges and obligations..

Chaudhry was schooled at St Anthony’s High School and was an alumnus of the Forman Christian College. He joined the Pakistan Air Force Academy in 1958, where he studied aeronautics and mechanical engineering. It was as a pilot that Chaudhry developed his legacy as national hero for several flight missions including the 1965 and 1971 wars for which he received a Sitara-e-Jurat and Tamgha-e-Jurat.


He served as the principal of St Anthony’s High School in Lahore and St Mary’s Academy Lalazar, Rawalpindi. “He struggled for the rights of minorities and women,” said retired Brigadier-General Samson Simon Sharaf, who was close to Chaudhry and present at the hospital. “He was a great fan of Quaid-e-Azam’s ideals and was critical of the Objectives Resolution [of 1949].”

*Cecil Chaudhry, the son of Faustian Elmer Chaudhry, the famous Chief Photographer of Pakistan Times, Lahore, was born in 1941. His interest in aircraft and flying brought him to the PAF and he graduated in 1960. He soon established himself professionally and in 1965 was working as Flight Commander (Training) under the renowned Squadron Leader Sarfraz Rafiqui. When war broke out on 6 September, 1965, Cecil busied himself flying numerous Close Support missions to ward off the Indian ground attack against Lahore and Sialkot. He was detailed to fly a dusk strike mission against Halwara under the command of Squadron Leader Rafiqui. 


There were unavoidable delays in their take-off and Halwara got forewarned because of the successful PAF strike against Pathankot. When Rafiqui, Yunus and Cecil reached their target Halwara, they were intercepted by numerous Hunter aircraft of the Indian Air Force. During the engagement, after shooting down one Indian Hunter, Rafiqui’s guns jammed and he handed over the lead to Cecil. The three fought bravely against heavy odds but Rafiqui and Yunus were shot down while Cecil managed to return safely after shooting down a Hunter. The loss of his mentor Rafiqui and friend Yunus enraged Cecil and he fought the rest of the war aggressively and with determination. For his acts of courage, dedication and professional ability, Cecil received the Sitara-i-Jurat.


During the 1971 war also Cecil, by now a Squadron Leader, fought with valour. On 7 December, during his second mission of the day over Zafarwal-Shakargarh sector, Cecil’s aircraft was hit by ground fire and badly damaged. He had to eject in enemy territory but he managed to make good his escape and reached Sargodha base safely. He continued to fight valiantly despite fractured ribs and exacted his revenue on 11 December, when he managed to shoot down an Indian SU-7 fighter right over the area where he had lost his aircraft.


During the course of his service, Cecil commanded the prestigious No 9 Squadron and the Combat Commander’s School PAF. He retired in 1986 in the rank of Group Captain. Not one to sit idle, he took time to educate himself and subsequently became the Principal at St. Anthony’s School at Lahore. He continues to turn out scores of motivated young men who are bubbling with zeal and enthusiasm to serve their country with dedication, pride and honour.


Squadron Leader William Desmond Harney, a Navigator of exceptional courage and dedication to duty needs special mention. Born in Chittagong in 1937, after receiving his early schooling at St. Placids, W.D. Harney joined PAF Academy in 1957 and graduated in 1960.


In 1965, when war broke out, W.D. Harney was posted as Navigator in a Bomber Squadron. During the war, inspite of a hand injury, he voluntarily undertook 14 bombing missions and especially the most hazardous ones to Adampur, Halwara, Jodhpur, Pathankot and Ambala. In all the missions, he excelled in leadership, courage and devotion to duty. His mission-planning and execution of the missions was so meticulous that despite heavy odds, he always reached his targets and contributed significantly to the accuracy of the attacks. For his display of extreme courage and professionalism, W.D. Harney was awarded the Sitara-i-Jurat.


Squadron Leader W.D. Harney participated wholeheartedly in the 1971 war also and undertook a number of daring missions. He retired in 1974 and decided to settle in Australia where he had gone to attend to his ailing father.* [1]

[1] Defence Journal


Xharaf Vsm

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KGB, CIA, RAW behind East Pakistan's Fall in 1971 - Yuri Bezmanov (Ex-KGB Agent)

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Enticing Fury

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India - An enemy since 1947

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Pakistan—Time for some facts on India’s 1971 invasion of Pakistan.

First of all, there was no ‘Indo-Pakistan war of 1971′. That’s a misleading description. India INVADED Pakistan in 1971. Use the right words because there is a big difference. Pakistani history books, official and private, need to be corrected.

There was a full-fledged, one-sided invasion across an international boundary. And it was an unprovoked invasion, preplanned. A foreign country exploited a chaotic election in Pakistan to launch a snap attack without warnings. Remember: there was no Lashkar-e-Tayyeba in 1971, nor was there an armed freedom struggle in occupied Kashmir. There was no excuse of ‘terrorism’. India invaded Pakistan to hurt and kill as much Pakistanis as possible simply because India saw a good opportunity and seized it.

To this day, India deliberately uses the term ‘India-Pakistan war of 1971’ to avoid admitting what it actually was: an unprovoked invasion of another country. Unfortunately, Pakistanis at all levels continue to use the Indian description for that invasion. The Indian role in 1971 war is the dirtiest Indian secret. It’s been effectively hidden from the world. The Indians never discuss how they invaded Pakistan in that year. And Pakistanis discuss everything except the foreign invasion across international borders. The reason this invasion remains unknown is because of our inability in Pakistan to show the world what really happened.

This did not start out as a Pakistan-India war. It was a Pakistani election gone bad and political parties resorted to violence to make a point. Elections go bad everywhere and sometimes they get violent. It happened in Pakistan in 1971. India saw an opportunity in internal Pakistani chaos and invaded Pakistan across the international border without any provocation from the Pakistani side.

India exploited the fact that the Pakistani military was not on alert and that we did not have enough soldiers at that time in East Pakistan. Why weren’t there enough Pakistani soldiers to defend the territory against a foreign invasion? East Pakistan was geographically disconnected from the rest of the country. But more importantly Islamabad never thought that India would launch such a brazen attack on Pakistan without any reason, especially when Pakistan was a member in several US-led defense pacts. Pakistani planners miscalculated in believing they could rely on an ally such as the United States for help. [Indian government documents released this month show that Washington not only ditched Pakistan but also secretly told New Delhi it would support India in case China entered the war to help Pakistan.]

India’s blatant war of aggression was not a chance happening. It was meticulously planned. Two years before the ‘war’, India started secretly recruiting local peasants in areas of East Pakistan adjoining India. In two years, these recruits became foot soldiers for a terrorist militia known as Mukti Bahini that sprung into action as soon as the Indian army began the invasion. Indian soldiers and their terror militia went on a rampage, murdering Pakistanis on linguistic basis [Urdu, Bengali] to feed chaos and pitch Pakistanis against one another. This provided a cover for wanton killings by Indian soldiers because all killings ended up being blamed on Pakistan.
Wrong Pakistani political and military decisions helped the Indian invaders.
The Indian terror militia was dismantled as soon as the war ended with the surrender of the outnumbered Pakistani units. India crowned its invasion with orchestrating a secession, declaring the occupied Pakistani lands an independent country.

If Pakistan does not and cannot trust India, it is because of India’s treacherous unprovoked invasion in 1971. India set many examples later that prove it won’t miss an opportunity to hurt Pakistan when possible. The Indian ruling elite, especially the minority Hindi-speaking bigots in northern India, have wanted to destroy Pakistan since our independence in 1947. They have some strange notion that Pakistani territories somehow belong to them according to their religious history. Some of them cannot forget ten centuries of our rule in the region and have a deep fear and loathing of anything Pakistani. If there is a war in Afghanistan, India would be the first to exploit it to send saboteurs into Pakistan from the Afghan soil. If the European Union decides to allow importing Pakistani textiles, Indian diplomats would spring into action to object. Indian writers, analysts and commentators in the US and anywhere else in the world are the first to launch anti-Pakistan diatribes whenever there is a chance to do it.

It’s a deep seated hate for Pakistan in the north Indian Hindi-speaking belt. And this hatred was at the heart of India’s decision to invade Pakistan in 1971.

Yes, we committed mistakes in our internal politics in 1971 that helped the Indian enemy in its designs. But we have learned those lessons. What is important now is that every Pakistani man and woman understand that our homeland faced a treacherous invasion and a blatant aggression across international borders in that year. Whatever our own mistakes domestically, that cannot justify a blatant war of aggression by a foreign country exploiting our internal situation.
Know the history. And know your enemy.

(PakNationalists)

 

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