This could have been just another story of an impoverished girl pushed into the flesh trade by a scheming relative, until it turned into an international rescue operation involving special police teams from two countries.

The victim, who is now on her way home by the Padma river in Bangladesh, may not be aware of the effort put in by her government and Mumbai Police to have her rescued, but she will have to thank her Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who came to know about her plight through one of her employees, who happened to be the victim’s relative and decided to reach out to her.

As of now, having been sold off to two brothels in two different cities in just a month’s time, she will only be counting the hours before she is reunited with her family.

A 20-year-old girl from Bangladesh was brought to India by her relative identified as Mustav on the pretext of securing a job. No sooner did they cross the border, Mustav allegedly sold her off to an agent called Kobi, who brought her to a brothel in Surat on May 1.

The girl lived there for a month till she managed to get in touch with Mustav again and pleaded with him to get her out of the hell hole. Mustav apologised and promised to take her home, but he had other plans.

He did come down to Surat and got her out of the brothel, but only to bring her to Mumbai and sell her off again to a certain Reena Ganguly in Kamathipura for Rs 25,000. Realising that there was no way she could escape her fate, the girl finally joined the flesh trade.

ACP Feroz Patel of Social Service branch said, “The girl did not know any Hindi and could not ask for help from anyone around her.

Kamathipura girl set to go home With a lot of effort she picked up a smattering of the language from her clients and other prostitutes and began communicating.”

It was one of her clients, whose name cannot be revealed, who sympathised with her and seven days ago arranged for a SIM card so that the victim could talk to her family back home in Bangladesh. Luckily for her, one of her relatives works with the PM’s office in Dhaka, and sought her help to rescue her from Kamathipura.

Additional Commissioner (Crime) Deven Bharti, who led the rescue mission said that the Bangladeshi government had sent a request through the Interpol.

“After Interpol got in touch with us the PM’s request, we formed a special team to rescue the girl.”

This special team of the Social Service Branch under the stewardship of Patel and crime branch Unit II, Nishikant Patil, Bhashkar Kadam, Hridinath Mishra and Subhash Mali began combing Kamathipura.

“We were informed that a few new girls had been introduced in some of the brothels. We branched out and mingled with the crowd there and finally on Wednesday managed to trace the 20-year-old and four others who were brought along with her,” said an officer from the Mumbai crime branch.

The police have arrested Mausami Raju Shaikh the manager of the brothel while brothel madam Ganguli has fled to Kolkata and has been named absconding.

“This was part of an international trafficking racket. We have booked the accused under the acts of PITA (Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act) and have handed over them to DB Marg police station, which is investigating the matter,” said Patel.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has been informed of the happy developments, and arrangements are being made to take the girl home, said the police.

-

Report prepared by Vinay Dalvi and Nazia Sayed and first published at Mumbai Mirror.

Children Park – a type of real social business

(example of MOON PARK & MOON HOUSE)

This was also published in The News Today 09 Dec 2010 and other blogs

http://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=14376&date=2010-12-09

http://www.bdcomcn.com/English-Articles/children-park-a-type-of-real-social-business-of-moon-park-a-moon-house.html

 http://bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=343086  



Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, of Bangladesh while addressing the prize giving ceremony of a painting competition at Dhaka Osmani Smriti Auditorium on October 18, 2010, has directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to recover all the children’s parks in the capital. The prime minister, according to UNB Dhaka, vowed to establish a safe and prosperous Bangladesh for every child.

Yes, there is no doubt that concerned authorities would try their best to recover all government children parks, no matter how successful they would be to maintain and keep the campaign according to given directives from the highest executive of the government. But I, like many others, am little wondered as to how much those local influential illegal occupants have gone regarding places like Children parks too. There is no need to emphasize the requirement of children parks for the over all development of a total Children. Considering their importance’s, government did their parts and hopefully would continue doing the best in this regard always. But we being the brothers and sisters, parents and relatives, teachers and lovers of every child also got to think and do exactly in the same way as our Prime Minister thought and gave directives.

Because the government can not establish more and more children parks all of a sudden, and because we all also have the morale and social responsibilities too for all the children, so, we got to also do some thing, either individually or being in a group. We may think of taking following measures to ensure so that more and more children get the facilities of Children parks:

1. Authorities of schools and other educational institutions may consider establishing children parks at their own premises, no matter how small or big those could be. They should also ensure the proper maintenances of all existing children parks.

2. Those who, specially at rural area, can effort to make few items of children park at their own premises may also make such facilities available for their own and local children. There are few such items directly related to physical exercises which don’t need lot of space, cost or electricity. Besides, such can be made with collective efforts too. Some one may also think of making the same at their roof top at city location too. The idea is so that every child gets the minimum facilities of Children Park.

3. Many rich people of our society already have hundreds and thousands of “Farm Houses” (bagan bari in bengali pronunciation) of their own. Those are indeed their spare houses out side the city areas mostly for their personal leisure and pleasure. Of course I am not trying to say any thing against their farm houses, however, would like to humbly suggest so that they could also think of making those, whole or part of those, in to some thing like children park for the local children and thus allow local children to play there either free of cost or with little ticket money. We always talk about social responsibilities and social businesses. Arranging such facilities for the children could be one of the best social responsibilities. Again the concepts of social businesses often emphasized by our Noble Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus are known to the whole world and also widely discussed. So, from that point of view too, some token ticket money may also be charged from incoming children, however, the ticket fee got to be within affordable limit of those rural parents too.

Frankly speaking, I won’t suggest any of above if I won’t believe on those totally. I use to always think in the past about these children park facilities for our rural poor children. That is the reason I tried to establish two such children park at my own according to my personal interest, planning, limited economic capabilities and efforts. Spending my pension money, I have established one Children park named Moon Park at village PIRUJALI in General Area Hotapara, Gazipur. The area is near writer Humayun Ahmed’s Nuhash Polli and really green and comfortable in all seasons.

Well, for this case, I tried to establish and experiences by myself first and then now trying to suggest some thing for others too. It is said in the religion also that you try to do the same first before you suggest the same to others. When ever, I heard or read about the social businesses expressed by noble laureate Dr. Yunus, tried to think and identify as to how many types of social businesses could there be, specially for a country like Bangladesh? I also tried to think always as to what maximum social benefits can be offered with what minimum charges from different types of social businesses. Well, there can be many different types, but, for me, I have desired to do some thing related to children’s health, enjoyment, excitement, mental growth, physical exercise etc, and so thought of establishing one children park for them as part of so-well-discussed social business.

Now at this stage, being little encouraged by the noble directives of honorable prime minister of Bangladesh, I have only one aim of mentioning this as an example and that is, so that others who are interested may also establish such children parks at different parts of our country. Besides, those who are already having their Farm Houses (bagan bari) may also become interested as well as feel responsible to tern their those farm houses, part or whole, into children park for the local rural children and allow them to play either free of charge or with little token ticket money.

“Moon Park” is a small eco friendly green garden which is also used for picnic or outing spot for those city people who may afford to rent it and be interested to enjoy the green nature as part of their rest and refreshment. However, the focus is always given to the local children’s playing and that is why the word “park” is associated with it’s name. Any one may be wondered to know that a local child may visit and play at Moon Park with only taka ten ($ US 10 cents only) per person. The Moon Park was inaugurated on 14 April 2010 (pohela boishak) through arrangement of boishakhi mela (local fair organized on the bengali new year) where all the incoming children along with their parents, friends and relatives were allowed to go inside and play with free of charge. Surprisingly the total presence on that very single day crossed the figure 2500 (almost 100% children of that general area) which really proved in my mind that, yes, our children really need such facilities. I also felt very comfortable inside for being able to make one such park for our rural children. The smiling faces of our rural deprived children are still in my memories, pictures of which can also be shared by readers from below web link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/113734232071731875096/MoonPark#

“Moon House” is also another such place, same eco friendly garden with children park facilities where children can not only play but also see life birds and fishes. No matter how many facilities children are enjoying inside but only taka 30 ($ US 40 cents only) is charged per person. It is designed to be a real safe house for the playing of children and that is why the word “house” is associated with it’s name.

It may be mention that the eco friendly green gardens of both Moon Park and Moon House are also attracting foreigners and as such contributing to the tourism in Bangladesh too. Hope the scope of tourism in this sector would also increase in future.

I hope both Moon Park and Moon House would be able to contribute for children’s playing in the long run as part of social businesses in real sense. I also hope that many other persons having similar feelings like me would also try to do some thing better for our children which are so necessary for their total development. Children would carry us forward, they are our future hopes and so we must do our best to do best for them.

For those who may be interested to know about Moon House and Moon Park for their picnic or outing purposes may also brows below web link:

http://www.moonhousemoonpark.com/

 email: moonhouse.moonpark@gmail.com,

• AL, allies take oath on Saturday
• Battle for presidency heats up
• 2 BCL men arrested at DU hall over factional fight
• BNP will help as opposition if govt wants: Delwar
• BNP concedes defeat

The Daily Star:

• Impartial anti-graft drive to continue: Hasina tells visiting UN team
• Sheikh Hasina’s acid test: The first cabinet will give the clearest sign of her promised change
• BCL captures DU rooms ignoring Hasina’s directive
• BNP divided over what to do now
• AL, JP to form govt as per condition of alliance: Says Ershad

The New Age:

• Hasina vows to make JS effective
  
• AL wants Zillur as president: Jalil

The Independent:

• Offering me president’s post is demand of people, says Ershad
• Trial of war criminals: If Dhaka makes request UN will cooperate

The New Nation:

• They will lose seats if charges prove true: No legal bar for accused from taking oath
• Democracy not out of the woods

The Bangladesh Today:

• One mandate, two choices – Taufiqur Rahman

Oped News:

• Would Women Prevent Bangladesh’s Descent to Islamism?

Gulf News:

• New Bangladesh government seeks stronger ties with Gulf

Samay Live:

• Hasina expected to take over as Bangla PM

Op-eds:

• Priorities for the next government – Md. Asadullah Khan

• Parliament to decide CG legitimacy: Hasina
• Hasina to attack poverty, offers opponents key role
• Vote reflects people’s will: EU observers
• Foreign observers rate elections fair, credible: NDI
• BNP workers are under attack, alleges Rizvi

The Daily Star:

• Strategically Speaking: Time for introspection, not rejection
• Accept polls results to strengthen democracy Foreign observers urge BNP, other parties
• Observers find no irregularities: Say polls were held in a fair, transparent manner
• Send in rigging info – BNP asks grassroots; oath decision after checking those
• Target food prices
• AL 25pc up, BNP 20pc down
• Win over abuse of religion: Civil society observes about Jamaat downfall; the party tightlipped
• Highest turnout Fake votes near zero

The New Age:

• No politics of vengeance, says Hasina
• 87.16pc turnout in 9th JS polls
  

The Independent:

• BNP-Jamaat heavyweights roll in dramatic poll outcome
• A victory against corruption, says Ershad

The New Nation:

• Possibility of deferring UZ poll ruled out
• 3,69,539 voters cast No-vote

The Bangladesh Today:

• Hasina vows to honour people’s verdict

Indian Express:

• Morning in the East

AFP:

• Bangladesh poll winner urges rival to accept defeat

Reuters:

• Battered Bangladesh sees some hope in vote results

LA Times

• Bangladesh stability is fragile as former prime minister wins election

Himal South Asian:

• After the Emergency: Bangladesh Votes

NDTV.com:

• Hasina signals tough stand against terror

UPI Asia:

• Bangladesh election: Winners and losers

Op-eds:

• A verdict against graft, war crimes, militancy – Biswadip Das
• The Dream Result: Can AL handle it? – MA Taslim
• Charter for Change now belongs to the nation – Dr. Mozammel H. Khan
• Inflation and politics: Issues not to be overlooked – Ahsan H. Mansur

• Khaleda stops short of rejecting results
• Hasina looks to work with opposition
• 2 dead, dozens injured countrywide in ‘poll reprisals’, clashes
• Work for smooth handover: IRI
• Rangamati fares highest ‘No’ votes
• Hijras see a better tomorrow

The Daily Star:

• Poll stage managed, not acceptable: Khaleda
• BNP at lowest ebb: Wiped out of Dhaka, Sylhet divisions
• AL, allies take 262 seats: 4-party manages 32
• AL-led alliance may form govt next week
• Trial in people’s court
• Dec 29 polls set high standards: Says chief adviser
• Graft, food price throw BNP out
• Highest turnout
  Fake votes near zero

The New Age:

• Highest 64 women elected to 9th JS
• New govt to take over in 10 days, says adviser

The Independent:

• BNP-Jamaat heavyweights roll in dramatic poll outcome
• A victory against corruption, says Ershad

The New Nation:

• Lessons from the polls
• Odds were too many against BNP
• BNP standing body reviews polls: Results unacceptable to people: Khaleda

The Bangladesh Today:

• AL victory is ‘victory of spirit of Liberation War’: AL

The Financial Express:

• Ruling, opposition parties will work for country’s welfare, hope businesses

The New York Times:

• Secular Party Wins Landslide Victory in Bangladesh

The China Views:

• Analysis: Why Awami League wins landslide victory in Bangladesh Parliamentary elections

DAWN:

• Clashes erupt after Khaleda rejects poll results

The Telegraph: Calcutta

• Jamaat suffers election rout
• Jamaat jolt turning point

The Economic Times:

• Hasina’s victory in Bangladesh may open up new frontiers

The Hindu:

• Historic triumph for Hasina

Gulf News:

• Bangladesh comes full circle
• Islamists take a hard beating

Op-eds:

• What Sheikh Hasina should do now – Mridul Chowdhury
• Opportunity knocks

• Grand victory for grand alliance: People go for change in fair polls; voters turnout 70pc
• Irregularities in 220 centres: Claims BNP; Khaleda hints at rigging
• You shall reap as you sow: BNP is made to pay dearly for its five years of mal-governance
• No scope for rejecting results: Says CEC
• Hasina calls for calm
• Jamaat in jeopardy
• First vote for new hope
• Mismatch between ID card, voter serial numbers turns away many

The New Age:

• AL, allies head for landslide victory
• Clear mandate for secular, egalitarian values, democratic governance
• All should accept people’s mandate, says Hasina
• Khaleda to accept results if elections fair: Expresses dissatisfaction over arrangement
• BNP alleges vote rigging, lodges complaints with EC

The Independent:

• Huge female voters’ turnout in city
• Khaleda complains of harassment

The New Nation:

• Discrepancies cost their voting right
• Counting held professionally: Foreign observers

The Bangladesh Today:

• Heavy turnout in peaceful voting

The Financial Express:

• Winners, losers together to take country forward

BBC:

• Sense of joy at Bangladesh polls
• Bangladesh stunned by Awami victory

China Views:

• Turnout rate in Bangladesh’s ninth parliamentary election highest in history

Financial Times:

• Fears of new crisis as Dhaka poll ends army rule

The Independent World

• Hasina looks set for power

Asian Tribune:

• Sheikh Hasina’s Ballot Revolution in Bangladesh

Finding Dulcenia:

• Observers Hail Peaceful Elections in Bangladesh, Despite Some Clashes

Reuters

• Q+A – What does a Hasina win mean for Bangladesh?
• FACTBOX – Bangladesh ex-PM Hasina looks set for second chance

• Bangladesh ready for shift to democracy
• Mobiles on for polls barring certain areas
• Tk 41 lakh found in BNP campaign car at Ctg
• Jamaat man, another caught for ‘buying votes’ in Netrokona
• 3 four-party men held for ‘buying votes’ in Srimangal
• Grand alliance sees landslide

The Daily Star:

• Call for change in the air
• Dhaka slums under vigil: Rival candidates active in thwarting vote buying bid
• End to vengeance: Hasina on political culture
• Campaign goes haywire: Cartons filled with Tk 41.5 lakh seized in Ctg; several other BNP-Jamaat men held across country with cash to buy votes
• Looking back at events of last 2 years
• Choose from Quran, Narayan: Campaigns Jamaat candidate in Khulna
• Cast your vote wisely: CA tells nation
• Campaign rings in a change

The New Age:

• Khaleda feels relaxed, upbeat
  
• Polls fever grips Dhaka city
  

The Independent:

• Hasina happy over poll preparations
• 6.50 lakh law enforcers deployed for poll duty

The New Nation:

• Nation goes to JS polls today: 1,555 MP-candidates are in fray
• Analysts predict immediate majority for none
• CA urges political parties: Accept poll results gracefully

The Bangladesh Today:

• CEC hopes for “respect and tolerance” after election

The Financial Express:

• Dhaka stocks rise sharply as investors upbeat about polls

Guardian UK:

• Fears as Bangladesh goes to polls

The International News: Pakistan

• Cliffhanger in Bangladesh

AFP:

• Bangladesh votes two years after cancelled elections

The Telegraph: Calcutta

• Battling begums chant peace

IHT:

• Bangladesh tries to ensure a safe return to democracy

IPS:

• BANGLADESH: Corrupt Politicians, Cleaner Polls

Reuters

• Bangladesh gears up to ensure credible vote

Op-eds:

• Not just another election – Brig ( retd) Hafiz
• The trust factor- Dr. Syed Saad Andaleeb

• Hasina, Khaleda look back to the future
• We won’t repeat mistakes, says Khaleda
• There are lessons to learn, says Hasina
• Campaigns, meetings stop from midnight
• Hasina urges voters not to sell their futures
• Be responsible, accept verdict: UN chief

The Daily Star:

• Shokrana guilty of hiding past: Judicial probe body asks EC for legal action, recommends steps against RO, SP
• No revenge: Khaleda assures armed forces
• End to vengeance: Hasina on political culture
• Bid to become PM again defended: Hasina, Khaleda respond to Al Jazeera
• Curtain falls on polls campaign
• Fear of old ghosts’ return to politics
• Polls Guidelines
• Judicial magistrates won’t be in field

The New Age:

• Khaleda for end to hartal, blockade
• Electioneering ends, polls tomorrow
• Large crowd floods Paltan
  

The Independent:

• Both alliances appear at EC, place check list with demands
• At the end of the day charisma counts: Voters have limited options

The New Nation:

• Election 2008: Politics of repentance, lofty pledges
• Sporadic clashes mark last day of electioneering: 75 injured
• Peace as illusive as ever

The Bangladesh Today:

• Defeat with grace and victory with humility

The Financial Express:

• ‘Exceptional’ general election in extra-ordinary times
• Many citizens rush for home constituencies to cast votes

American Chronicle:

• Transition to democracy or autocracy? -Sunita Paul

BBC:

• Bangladesh battle of familiar foes

Int’l Herald Tribune:

• Bangladesh holds new vote with old names on ballot

Channel News Asia:

• Bangladesh’s begums wrap up campaign for crucial polls

Reuters:

• Bangladesh rhetoric heats up, motorcade attacked

The China Post:

• Bangladesh election rhetoric heats up

VOA

• Elections in Bangladesh to Take Place December 29

Op-eds & Blogs:

• Amar vote gelo koi? (Where did my vote go?) – Towheed Feroze
• Choose with care – Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar
• For the first-time voters – Mridul Chowdhury
• Manifestos and foreign policy – M. Serajul Islam
• No more a pawn – Khusi Kabir
• Wanted: Lawmakers – Shameran Abed
• General Elections: What do people expect from elected leaders? – Harun ur Rashid

• Price, poverty top Hasina’s Paltan speech
• Hasina accuses rival of ‘whitening money’
• Hasina promises an accountable govt
• Vote for democracy, sovereignty: Khaleda
• BNP blames media for ‘misleading’ facts
• BNP expels Babar

The Daily Star:

• Hasina plays on people’s expectation for a change
• Poll finances of parties kept under wraps: EC effort for transparent election economy not making that impact
• Major parties overlook 2 crore new voters: Youths too found critical about political trend
• Elect honest men for effective JS: Dr Kamal urges voters
• JMB’s seditious mission: Wipe out the remnants of the banned outfit
• Campaign for ‘No vote’ should be strengthened: Says Citizens’ Rights Movement

The New Age:

• Hasina terms Dec 29 polls
  moment of truth
• Khaleda, Hasina address nation today
• Poll expenses surge by 41pc
  

The Independent:

• Ban on movement of vehicles on poll day
• They speak against terrorism and kill men in same breath

The New Nation:

• Unprecedented security marks Hasina’s Paltan rally: Save country from plunderers, militants
• Election 2008: The latest cross-currents
• All set for Dec 29 election

The Bangladesh Today:

• Vote for pro-liberation forces: BMS

The Financial Express:

• None can prevent victory of Grand Alliance: Ershad

BSS:

• Electioneering reaches crescendo

Al Jazeera English:

• Bangladesh’s ‘battling begums’

Reuters:

• Bangladesh voters want change, doubt they’ll get it

AFP:

• Bangladesh wraps up campaign for crucial polls

Telegraph UK:

• Bangladesh candidates invoke Islam in polls

Himal South Asian:

• After the Emergency: Bangladesh Votes

Indian Express.com:

• Return of the matriarchs

VOA News

• Bangladesh Mobilizes Security Forces Ahead of Critical Election

• Cordon polling centres until results: Khaleda
• I’m the architect of grand alliance: Ershad
• No ‘ghost voters’ found in photo voter list: UNDP
• People must vote without fear: Hasina
• Terrorists active, but security seems good: Moriarty
• Truth Commission winds up on Dec 31

The Daily Star:

• Parties go innovative to grab Bihari votes
• A party plotting to assassinate me: Khaleda points at huge public support
• Vote for peace, not terrorism: Hasina tells Lalbagh rally
• 48 graft accused contest elections: Over 100 candidates from AL, BNP face murder charges
• Women aspirants for JS seats reach new high: 50 to contest in 52 constituencies
• Group of former bureaucrats allegedly out with a mission
• Report on poll expenditure a must in 30 days
• Democracy 3.0

The New Age:

• Electioneering peaks as polls near
• Hasina warns against intimidating voters
• Rural people know little about ‘no vote’ option

The Independent:

• BDB dreams of leading nation within next 5 yrs
• Restriction on vehicles

The New Nation:

• Survey predicts BNP victory
• Honouring people’s verdict

The Bangladesh Today:

• Khaleda seeks tips from farmers

News From Bangladesh:

• Election spending of candidates

Channel News Asia:

• Ex-Bangladesh military ruler could emerge as election surprise

Reuters:

• FACTBOX-Key facts about Bangladesh’s election
• Bangladesh seizes militants, explosives, vote nears
• SCENARIOS – Bangladesh election no guarantee of future

China View:

• Bangladesh voters expecting changes for development after national elections

Daily Times: Pakistan

• New vote, old faces: Analysts believe Bangladesh poll struggles to offer fresh start

Op-eds:

• Election 2008: Don’t turn my mobile off – Naeem Mohaiemen
• How to make democracy work in Bangladesh – Habibul Haque Khondker
• Elections 2008: process and product – Dr Zakir Husain
• The legacy of promises and hopes – Syed Fattahul Alim