Bonikbarta Exclusive

In one of her interview, the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "Sheikh Mujib was a social democrat who envisioned Bangladesh as a welfare state. He wanted to improve people's basic needs like food and housing through socialism. He believed in the 'leave no one behind' approach. He also clarified that Bangladesh would not import any ideology from elsewhere. In other words, everything would be managed according to our ideology. To understand these nuances, you need to delve into our history."

Sheikh Hasina's interview was published by her party's research cell, the Center for Research and Information (CRI), in their magazine 'WhiteBoard.' It covers her experiences in governance over four terms, the current and future state of the country, and various policy issues. During her time in power, CRI was crucial in providing intellectual input to the Awami League. This party thinks tank is predominantly staffed by members of the Sheikh family, who were responsible for the publication of the policy-oriented 'WhiteBoard'.'

In 2010, the CRI became visible and active in implementing various party agendas and shaping public opinion. The 'WhiteBoard' magazine, a key player in this endeavor, serves as an intellectual policy strategy and advisory body for the Awami League. To this end, the 'Young Bangla' organization was established in 2014. Under CRI's supervision, the 'Joy Bangla Youth Award' was launched for youth entrepreneurs and institutional levels. Similarly, the 'Joy Bangla Concert' was organized around the March 7 speech of Bangabandhu.

However, the organization also closely monitored various activities of opposition parties and the party's members. At the same time, there have been allegations against CRI regarding the dissemination of propaganda, rumors, and fake news to suppress dissenting opinions before the AL government fell from power. As a result, Meta has shut down 50 Facebook accounts and 98 pages associated with the organization. The international platform stated that the individuals involved were connected to the AL and CRI.

In a report for the first quarter of this year (January-March), Meta also stated that Facebook pages associated with the AL and CRI regularly posted content in Bengali and English. This included news, current events, election-related posts, and criticisms of the BNP, allegations of BNP corruption, the BNP's role in pre-election violence, and various posts supporting the current government.

The chairman of CRI is Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, serves as the vice-chairman. Other members of the trustee board include Sheikh Hasina's sister, Sheikh Rehana's daughter, Azmina Siddiq, and her son, Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby. Outside the family, the trustee board includes former State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid Bipu. Tanmoy Ahmed is the research organization's coordinator for the Sheikh family and the party.

While Sheikh Hasina was in power for 15 years and 7 months, the CRI magazine 'WhiteBoard' was launched on September 20, 2020. Claimed to be the country's first policy magazine, this publication is intended to provide an impartial and comprehensive review of policy issues, as conveyed by Radwan Mujib  Siddiq, the grandson of Bangabandhu and the chief editor, during the inauguration ceremony.

At the inauguration ceremony, CRI trustee Radwan Mujib  Siddiq said, "This magazine will provide an objective and clear message for policymakers and young people. WhiteBoard is creating a platform for the most talented individuals in the country. It will also continue to serve those working for Bangladesh from abroad."

The WhiteBoard website mentions that Radwan Mujib Siddiq is a genealogical consultant and a young lawyer. He is also a patron of the political history project, "Graphic Novel Mujib and Hasina: A Daughter's Tale," a documentary film. Bobby, who holds a Master's degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, is a consultant in strategy and communications for various international and governmental organizations.

The editorial board of WhiteBoard includes Syed Mofiz Kamal as Co-Editor and Ruth Griffiths as Copy Editor. The magazine's website lists 10 members on the advisory board. At the top of the list is Dr. Atiur Rahman, former Governor of Bangladesh Bank. Dr. Atiur, who holds the Bangabandhu Chair at Dhaka University, is also the Executive Director of the research organization Development Coordination. With a doctoral degree from SOAS, University of London, this economist's expertise in sustainable finance, financial inclusion, and monetary policy is highlighted in WhiteBoard.

The WhiteBoard notes that another board member, Syed Akhtar Mahmood, is an economist who worked at the World Bank for three decades on private sector development. In 2002, Akhtar Mahmood co-authored the World Bank's private sector development strategy and has led global efforts in regulatory reform and public-private dialogue. His research areas include trade, competition, investment climate, policy reform mechanics, and political economy. Akhtar Mahmood, a doctoral degree in economics from Oxford University, was also a visiting fellow at Yale University.

During Sheikh Hasina's tenure, Mohammad Shahidul Haque, who became Foreign Secretary in 2013, played a significant role in implementing the country's foreign policy. He is also a member of the advisory board of WhiteBoard. The publication's website first highlights his position as the Bangabandhu Chair at Delhi University. This diplomat, an expert in foreign policy and migration, is a senior fellow at North South University. A former director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), he co-authored the book "Springer 2020" on migration. Shahidul Haque holds a Master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States.

The advisory board of WhiteBoard includes several individuals associated with BRAC, a world-renowned development organization based in Bangladesh. One such member is Samia Haque, the Dean of the School of General Education at BRAC University, a member of the Academic Council, and a professor of anthropology. As a research fellow at the Center for Peace, she has led collaborative projects with the World Faith Development Dialogue at Georgetown University. Her research areas include secularism, extremism, religious revival, social movements, gender issues, and democracy. She completed her postdoctoral studies in anthropology at Brandeis University.

Another member of the advisory board is Shajia Omar. Shajia, who has worked as a communications consultant for BRAC, is a communications and stakeholder engagement specialist at the World Bank. She has also been a communications consultant for international organizations such as UNDP, IOM, ILO, and IFC. She completed her Master's degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Asif Saleh, the Executive Director of BRAC, is a member of the advisory board of WhiteBoard. The publication describes him as a writer, technologist, and social entrepreneur. He was a policy specialist for the Prime Minister's Office's Access to Information (A2I) program. Asif, who has also served as an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, has worked for IBM, Glaxo Wellcome, and Nortel. He holds a degree from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Sonia Bashir Kabir, a renowned technology entrepreneur and impact investor, is the Chairman and CEO of SBK Tech Ventures and SBK Foundation. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees at BRAC University and serves on the board of UNESCO's Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development. Sonia has previously served as the Managing Director for Microsoft in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, and Laos. She completed her Master's degree at Santa Clara University.

Scientist Senjuti Saha is a member of the advisory board of WhiteBoard. She is the Director of the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF) and serves on the Polio Transition Independent Monitoring Board of the World Health Organization (WHO). Her research focuses on preventable infectious diseases in children. Senjuti completed her postdoctoral work in molecular genetics at the University of Toronto and led the decoding of the AARS-COV2 genome in Bangladesh.

Kazi Anis Ahmed, the Director and CEO of Gemcon Group and a director at Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate Limited, is a member of the advisory board of WhiteBoard. He is also the co-director of the literature-centric Dhaka Lit Fest and the president of the Bangladesh branch of PEN International, an influential international organization for writers, bloggers, and journalists. He has completed a postdoctoral degree in literature from New York University.

The final member of the advisory board is Azmina Siddiq, Sheikh Rehana's younger daughter. She is an Advocacy and Policy Advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. According to her profile on the WhiteBoard website, Azmina Siddiq is a sociologist and a security policy expert. Her research areas include political risk and counter-extremism. She completed her Master's in security studies from King's College London.

On the occasion of the launch of WhiteBoard, an Editors' Note was published, and Radwan Mujib wrote, "Why are we initiating this now? Because Bangladesh is making rapid progress, relying on its youth. Yet, there are new challenges ahead. Bangladesh aims to be among the top 30 strongest economies in the world by 2030. However, there is no data-driven analysis of what is happening in our country. This is why WhiteBoard is starting its journey. WhiteBoard will present a comprehensive overview of activities for students and young professionals both in the country and abroad, as well as for policymakers and implementers."

Radwan Mujib further wrote, "WhiteBoard will provide data-driven analysis and reviews on everything from economics to gender-based violence, and from technological innovation to youth employment. The first issue of this magazine discusses the policies and plans adopted by Bangladesh's founder, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to rebuild the war-torn country. Consequently, it addresses and dispels misconceptions about his administration that emerged after the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family members in 1975, revealing the truth. Although Bangabandhu's remarkable achievements might seem overshadowed by his administrative activities, it is essential for current policymakers and young people to understand them."

The main office of the Awami League's research cell, CRI, is located at Building 2, 32 Dhanmondi, Dhaka. CRI's activities were also conducted from Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi and another office at 6/A Dhanmondi. However, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5, the offices adjacent to Bangabandhu Bhaban and Sheikh Hasina's political office were set on fire and destroyed.

During a visit to CRI's three offices yesterday, it was observed that the office adjacent to Bangabandhu Bhaban, which was destroyed by fire, remains closed. The same situation applies to the office adjacent to the Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's political office.

Several employees at CRI, who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that the logistical support of the organization was destroyed in the fire, making it unlikely that operations will resume anytime soon. They also have no idea when the activities might be able to start again.