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| Bangladesh |
| Brig Gen Bari AWOL |
| 2009-06-10 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] 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. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Foreign service is just comfortable exile for these types. Not sure why we want to keep him. |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-06-10 04:16 |