No references to a branch of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal (BNP Youth Wing) in Comilla Town, Comilla District (1995-1999) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

On 12 January 1999, The Daily Star reported that the "two top leaders of the 12-year-old committee of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, BNP's youth front, [were] fighting each other, forcing an angry party chief Khaleda Zia to abandon the plan to bring [in] new faces." The article identifies Mirza Abbas as the president of the Jubo Dal and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy as general secretary (ibid.). On 22 February 1999, The Independent identified Mirza Abbas as the "Joint Secretary of the BNP, former Mayor of Dhaka and President of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jobo Dal." Other "top leaders" named are Barkatullah Bhulu and Moazzem Hossain Alal (Daily Star 12 Jan. 1999). The Dhaka city president of the Jubo Dal is identified as Abu Sayed Khan Khokon (Daily Star 14 May 2000).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

The Daily Star [Dhaka]. 14 May 2000. "Jubo Dal Takes up Special Programmes." http:www.dailystarnews.com/200005/14/n0051403.htm [Accessed 20 Sept. 2000]

_____. 12 January 1999. "BNP's Youth Leaders Bicker to Block New Juba Dal Faces." http:www.dailystarnews.com/199901/12/n9011121.htm [Accessed 27 Sept. 2000]

The Independent [London]. 22 February 1999. "BNP Leader Arrested and Released." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Urgent Appeals File. Resource Centre.

Bangladesh Country File. Resource Centre.

Dhaka Courier

Europa World Year Book 2000

IRB Databases

Political Handbook of the World 1999

World News Connection (WNC)

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the BNP in Dhaka

Internet Sites including:

Amnesty International

Government of Bangladesh

BanglaNet.com

Country Reports 1999

Human Rights Watch

The Independent [Dhaka]

OneWorld.net

Virtual Bangladesh