Whispers Forum

India and Bangladesh have maintained bilateral relations for 53 years, and last year, India extended an invitation to Bangladesh to attend as special guest the G-20 summit held in New Delhi. Bangladesh is India's largest trading partner in South Asia. Both countries are collaborating on significant projects in the field of electricity and energy. The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline is crucial for transporting high-speed diesel. Over the past decade, India has invested thousands of crores of rupees in Bangladesh for the construction of roads, railways, and ports. The current situation in Bangladesh will also affect trade with India, and China may push forward its demand to use the Chittagong port. India shares a border of about 4000 kilometers with Bangladesh. Therefore, in view of challenges from countries like China and Pakistan, India needs a friendly government in this region.
Aditya Kumar

Sheikh Hasina’s abrupt and dramatic resignation/ exit from Bangladesh(BD),is a matter of concern for India. China and Pakistan are jointly responsible for the mess. The Maldives, Srilanka, Nepal, Myanmar and now Bangladesh, are falling like ninepins. The increasing proximity of the Maldives and Nepal towards China, is a blow to India’s sphere of influence in south Asia. Worse, India cannot be comfortable with the care-taker government in BD. Pakistan as hostile neighbour is continuously launching terror attacks by infiltrating commandos into J&K. The reported jubilation by the ISI at Rawalpindi, Hq over Bangladesh, is on expected lines. For them, it is a revenge taken for 1971 war defeat. All things considered, China has succeeded in implementing its infamous “string of pearls” policy against India. Tough days are ahead for India.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Appellant sought certain information about inquiry report about Ganeswar Behera which was denied under section 8(j) of the RTI Act, 2005 claiming that the required information relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest. During the hearing before CIC, the Appellant submitted that she had sought information related to her husband but no information was provided to her. Ganeswar Behera was present in the hearing along with the Appellant and upon being queried by the CIC, he gave his ‘no objection’ to the Public Authority if the information related to him is parted with the Appellant. The CIC found no infirmity in the initial reply of the PIO, as the Appellant in her RTI application and first appeal has nowhere mentioned that the information sought is related to her husband and Ganeswar Behera has no objection in parting his information to her. The CIC directed the PIO to re-examine the RTI application and give information to the Appellant as per the documents available on record.
Comments
An individual should ideally file an application himself/ herself rather than asking the spouse to file an application. In case the latter is resorted to, a no objection certificate should be attached along with the initial RTI application.
Citation: Rosalini Behera v. East Coast Railway, CIC/ECRBH/A/2023/107864; Date of Decision : 12-04-2024
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com

It is reported that two Irani agents installed an explosive device in the room of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas chief, at the behest of Mossad, Israel. The complex where Haniyeh was staying is said to be heavily guarded. It is really a catastrophic failure of intelligence and security for Iran and a tremendous embarrassment for the Guards, which uses the compound for retreats, secret meetings and housing prominent guests like Haniyeh. World is looking forward to witnessing the further course of action by Iran in response to this booby-trap.
Sunil Kumar

This is indeed a rare instance, in fact the only one known to me, when a top Civil Servant chooses to take on himself the task of showcasing the journey of a critical sector like coal through the lens of the successive Captains of the Management Teams that led the development of the sector from the ashes to a vibrant transformed national jewel through tireless efforts over half a century. Sincerely expected the book to be a treasure of knowledge for generations associated with the Coal Sector, past, present and future.
Partha Sarathi Bhattacharyya, former Chairman Coal India Ltd

Aspirants must try to study without joining coaching. I agree with Mr Reddy that aspirants for various examinations must try to study without joining coaching institutes. But as I understand, there are very different approaches to school/ college education, competitive exams and entrance tests for MBA etc. While school education gives thorough book knowledge, which is very essential, competitive exams like Civils, etc. tests the knowledge of the candidate as to how he/ she applies the knowledge gained in schools. The next category of MBA entrance tests also tests the same knowledge as is tested in Civil etc exams - but with speed and accuracy. I hope this assessment is correct. At this point, I will disagree with Mr Reddy because applicability of knowledge to tests will need some kind of coaching and guidance, which may come from oneself or parents or coaching institutes. The coaching institutes sharpen the candidates knowledge to apply properly to the subject.
Pradeep
New generation should draw inspiration from 1957 batch IFS officer
Recently, Muchkund Dubey, IFS 57 died at the ripe old age of 90. He was first among all the candidates selected that year (1956 exam). Had he come first today, he would have been hailed all over social media for his feat of topping the exam from conditions of extreme poverty and films might have been made on him. He came from a dirt poor family. As a student, he never had more than one pencil. He bathed at a municipal tap and laid out his only dhoti to dry, wearing just his "gamcha". His Professors at Patna University would provide him with fees and often, a meal. Such was his brilliance that he topped the IAS exam despite the terrible poverty he was mired in. Once in the Indian Foreign Service, he addressed the UN. B K Nehru, ICS is supposed to have remarked that the speech was brilliant but he wished it had been delivered in an Oxbridge accent. Muchkund, the dirt poor Bihari that he had been born as, stuck to his Bihari accent. When he was posted to Bangladesh, he quickly attracted attention. But for that posting, he would never have made it to Foreign Secretary. To all the poor Biharis of that era, he was the example they all would try to emulate. The Civil Services Examination has always attracted talented young men and women from humblest of backgrounds and Muchkund was a very early example of merit defeating extreme poverty.
Vijay Kumar