Released on = April 9, 2006, 10:21 pm

Press Release Author = Dr. Richard L. Benkin

Industry =

Press Release Summary = None of these prominent individuals are the center of
attention, however. All of them are focused on one man, a journalist from
Bangladesh whom they have come to honor. The man is Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury,
Weekly Blitz editor, who is accepting the prestigious Moral Courage Award from the
American Jewish Committee.

Press Release Body = The scene is this. We are in a large ballroom in a posh
Washington hotel. The room is filled with dignitaries. There is US President
George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, various Senators and Members of
Congress-people who ultimately will decide on whether or not Bangladesh and the
United States sign a Free Trade Agreement. And, of course, a great many prominent
private Americans are in the room, too, people who the politicians listen to and
receive their support from. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is there, as are
several heads of state including those from India, Australia, Germany, Israel, and
quite a few more.

None of these prominent individuals are the center of attention, however. All of
them are focused on one man, a journalist from Bangladesh whom they have come to
honor. The man is Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, Weekly Blitz editor, who is
accepting the prestigious Moral Courage Award from the American Jewish Committee.
And when it is his turn to speak, he addresses the assembled dignitaries by telling
them about Bangladesh-his country, the country of the man whom they have come to
honor. The story he tells is one that provides the guests with information about a
country that most know little about, which means they are dependent on what they
hear from others, whether that information is positive or negative, accurate or not.
The information that Shoaib gives them paints a picture of a courageous people
fighting-successfully, he will add-against terrorists and others who seek to
undermine the people's traditions.

He tells them how the government of Bangladesh righted the wrong certain elements
tried to do to him. They dropped the false charges, have made it possible for him
to write and to publish his paper again-freely. They have made it so he can travel
to the United States and elsewhere. He will tell them that Bangladesh is a country
where journalists are better off than they were; and where the government is trying
to fight terrorism, corruption, and bring its people out of poverty. And when they
look at him silently asking how they can help, he will tell them with support for
their anti-terror efforts, by helping to stop the seemingly endless tide of
one-sided and skewed stories about his people, with trade and commerce and a free
trade agreement, and by supporting efforts at bringing investment and improving
infrastructure. In the days that precede and follow Shoaib's speech, he and meet
with several influential Americans and decision makers from other countries, as
well, further spreading the good word about Bangladesh and facilitating various
benefits to its people.

It is a night when an accurate picture of the struggle that Bangladesh is bravely
fighting is provided to some of the world's most influential individuals. It is a
night when the honor they are paying to Shoaib becomes an honor paid to Bangladesh.

But, unfortunately, it appears as if that wonderful night for Bangladesh is not
going to take place.

For it appears that the government of Bangladesh has determined not to return
Shoaib's passport in time for him to make the May 4th ceremony. Right now, it does
not appear as if it intends to return it in the near future. Certainly-and the
government is aware of this-the delays and obfuscations are making is such that even
if it is returned, it will be difficult to secure a visa in time for the event.

So, what happens instead of that great night for Bangladesh? First of all, none of
that happens. The chance to get more positive publicity for Bangladesh than ever
before will go unused. The chance to leave a strong impression with international
decision-makers and suggest some concrete actions will have passed without anyone
noticing. Instead, when I receive the award in Shoaib's behalf, I will be expected
to explain why he is not there to accept the accolades of so many world leaders. I
will try hard not to become another in a long line of people who bad mouth
Bangladesh, but I will have no choice but to tell them-first, because it is the
truth; but also because Shoaib is my brother and a man who abandons his brother is
no man.

I will have to tell them that the sedition charge remains that as a result; the
government refuses to return his passport. I will tell them that this is the case
even though everyone, including members of the government, admits that there is no
substance to the charge. When they ask how the government can accuse someone of a
charge they know to be false, they will come to know that radicals-who have stated
their intent on subverting Bangladesh law-still carry a good deal of influence in
the country; and they will wonder how much truth there can be, then, to Bangladesh's
claims that they are fighting terror. What other conclusions might these world
leaders draw? While we can only guess, what will be clear to them is that the
government of Bangladesh calls a criminal someone whom they have come to honor.

The government can prevent this calamity by doing two things: one, see that
Shoaib's passport is returned to him immediately as has been promised; two,
intervene with the United States embassy to speed up the process that will get
Shoaib the visa he needs in time to make the affair.

Will the government take these actions? Only they know the truth.



Web Site = http://www.freechoudhury.com

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