BOYCOTT BANGLADESH

Dear all,

Sohail Choudhury, Executive Editor
Email: EDIBLITZ@YAHOO.COM
WEEKLY.BLITZ@GMAIL.COM

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AS GOES SHOAIB CHOUDHURY, SO GOES BANGLADESH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND SUPPORT.

Shoaib is due back in court on August 31st and September 1st, 2008, at which time he may be sentenced.

Additionally, he is now facing direct and ominous threats from the criminal owner of the Aparadhkantha newspaper who has attempted, twice, to extort large sums of money from Shoaib. When Shoaib refused he has begun an extraordinarilyvery and ongoing smear campaign against Shoaib and his publication WeeklyBlitz.net . He is now threatening Shoaib and his family directly and has published photos of Shoaib’s home, exposing Shoaib and his family to grave danger.

A few days ago an unknown intruder came to Shoaib’s home asking for Shoaib. He was told that Shoaib wasn’t there, at which time the intruder proceeded to film the entrance points to his house. When asked who he was, the intruder said he was a journalist working for the the Daily Manabzamin (a newspaper edited by the Voice of America correspondent in Dhaka). He even gave his cell phone number. However, when an inquiry was made it was learned that no such journalist existed with that newspaper, nor did they ever assign anyone to film Shoaib’s home. It was learned that the intruder was in fact from the Daily Aparadhkantha (Crime Voice), a newspaper known for blackmailing people. The intruder demanded TK.100,000 to be sent to the editor of Aparadhkantha, Rashedul Hassan, with the threat that unless the money is delivered there will be “dire consequences.”

Aparadhkantha’s owner is known for extorting money from people and maintains close links with notorious crime racket in the city and therefore their heinous actions are putting Shoaib’s life in real danger.

When Shoaib reported this incident to the police and asked for protection, he was refused. Since the intruder came, members of Shoaib’s family have been in complete terror.

This newspaper is running series of false campaigns against Shoaib with fabricated stories. It is assumed that members of Rapid Action Battalion [UNIT 3] might be behind such notoriety. RAb-3 men abducted Shoaib on March 18, 2008 at gun point and looted his office. Nothing was done about them despite several written complaints.

The fate of Bangladesh depends, in no small measure, on the fate of this courageous hero.

Please take a moment to scroll down and write the retailers listed below. Bangladesh relies, most heavily, on its exports, most notably garments and shrimp. The buyers of these products, therefore, have great pull with the Bangladeshi government. Please contact them and ask them to have all false charges against Shoaib dropped. If you have any questions please write me.

BUYERS OF BANGLADESHI GOODS AND SERVICES:

UNITED STATES:

Bob Walton
Chairman, Board of Directors
H. Lee Scott, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716
USA
Phone: 479-273-4000
Wal-Mart’s Global Ethics Office: ethics@wal-mart.com

Glenn K. Murphy
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Gap, Inc.
Two Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
USA
Phone: 650-952-4400
The Gap’s Board of Directors: board@gap.com
Corporate Compliance: corporate_compliance@gap.com

Philip H. Knight
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mark Parker
President & Chief Executive Officer
Nike World Headquarters
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, OR 97005-6453
USA
Phone: 1-800-344-6453
Nike’s Corporate Responsibility Governance: nikeresponsibility@nike.com

Mackey J. McDonald
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Eric C. Wiseman
President and Chief Operating Officer
VF Corporation
105 Corporate Center Blvd.
Greensboro NC 27408
USA
Phone: 336-424-6000
Corporate governance E-mail: corpgov@vfc.com

Emanuel Chirico
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
USA
Phone: 212-381-3500
Mark Fischer
Senior V.P, General Counsel and Secretary
E-mail: markfischer@pvh.com

Shoaib is back in court. The trial began on August 6, 2008 and continued on the next day. As you may know by now, on Thursday Shoaib’s lawyers cross-examined the plaintiff in this case, Mohammed Abdul Hanif, former officer-in-charge of Airport Police Station. Shoaib will need to return to court on August 31st and September 1st, 2008 for cross-examination. There are 20 witnesses against Shoaib, all planted by the government.

Generally, Shoaib must appear in court by 9:00am and stay till 4:00 – 5:00pm. The accused are not allowed to sit in the courtrooms, thus are forced to stand for hours and sweat in the extremely hot weather. There is no fan at the waiting portion of the courtrooms. Moreover, Shoaib is not allowed to drink water or eat anything all day.

On Wednesday, when Shoaib went to court, he had high fever, a severe headache and pain in other parts of his body. So he went inside the courtroom and sat at a back bench which is designated for members of press (Shoaib is a journalist). But the Additional Public Prosecutor, after seeing Shoaib seated, asked the police to remove him from the courtroom. He also mocked Shoaib and joked about him.

As you know, Shoaib is facing sedition, treason and blasphemy charges with which he was charged on December 24, 2004 (he was arrested on November 29, 2003). The charge was framed by the court on November 13, 2006, at which time the judge made the following statement:

“I, Md. Momin Ullah, Metropolitan Session Judge do here by accuse you Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury for the following reasons:

The State Prosecution has brought allegation against you, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury stating that, being the editor and owner of Blitz newspaper, you sent an article titled ‘Hello Tel Aviv’ to USA Today newspaper published from Washington. Furthermore, in 2003, while attempting to travel to Israel to attend a conference titled ‘Education Towards Culture of Peace, organized between 1st December to 3rd December 2003, you appeared at the Zia International Airport on the 29th November 2003 and the Immigration police arrested you and found the copy of the speech you prepared to deliver in the conference. In that speech, you have made offensive comments on Muslim world, Islam and Muslims in Bangladesh and commented about existence of Al Qaeda and other Islamist militant groups, by which you have tarnished the image of Bangladesh in the outside world. Furthermore, you have made conspiracy of spreading anti-state news through that speech and you by sending that speech to outside world, you have played offensive role to Bangladesh’s security, public discipline and adverse role towards Bangladesh’s relations with the outside world. In you report, you have mentioned about guerilla training in the Bangladeshi madrassas, by which you have influenced the religious sentiments and made imaginary stories abroad about jihadist training in favor of Laden, Arafat and Saddam, by which you have put Bangladesh’s foreign relations to threat and through this you have caused offense under Penal Code Section 505 (A), 295 (A) and 120 (B).

The allegations were read before the accused and he claimed to be innocent (not guilty) and prayed for justice.

Md. Momin Ullah
Metropolitan Session Judge”

Please note that although the judge refers to an article titled ‘Hello Tel Aviv’ which was reportedly published in USA Today, such article doesn’t exist. Moreover, Shoaib never wrote any article for USA Today. The entire case is based on mere imagination of the police, investigating officer and the Bangladeshi terrorist authorities. The main reason behind their anger is that Shoaib is promoting interfaith understanding, demanding relations between Bangladesh and Israel, and confronting radical Islam as well as Holocaust Deniers.

The trial will likely conclude in the next 2-3 months. If the judge will convict Shoaib, Section 120 (Sedition) entails the death penalty. On the other hand, the judge may convict Shoaib for a life term or for several years.

Weekly Blitz, of which Shoaib is owner and publisher, is the only Zionist newspaper in the Muslim world (www.weeklyblitz.net). It will continue its mission. Because of its editorial policy confronting radical Islam and culture of Jihad, local businessmen refrain from advertising in Blitz. But, some of Shoaib’s friends abroad occasionally support his newspaper through advertisement. If you can, please buy an ad at www.weeklyblitz.net .

BUYERS OF BANGLADESHI GOODS AND SERVICES:

UNITED STATES:

H. Lee Scott, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716
USA
Phone: 479-273-4000

Bob Walton
Chairman
Board of Directors
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716
USA
Phone: 479-273-4000

Glenn K. Murphy
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Gap, Inc.
Two Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
USA
Phone: 650-952-4400

Philip H. Knight
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Nike World Headquarters
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, OR 97005-6453
USA
Phone: 1-800-344-6453

Mark Parker, President & Chief Executive Officer
Nike, Inc.
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, OR 97005-6453
USA
Phone: 1-800-344-6453

Mackey J. McDonald
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
VF Corporation
105 Corporate Center Blvd.
Greensboro NC 27408
USA
Phone: 336-424-6000

Eric C. Wiseman
President and Chief Operating Officer
VF Corporation
105 Corporate Center Blvd.
Greensboro NC 27408
USA
Phone: 336-424-6000

Emanuel Chirico
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
USA
Phone: 212-381-3500

(Originally posted June 6th, 2008)

Shoaib had to appear in court on May 27th, 2008 at 10:00am as usual. In May he had two court appearances (on May 8th and 27th).

He spent hundreds of hours in court since 2003 (he was arrested on November 29th). This legal harassment is causing him considerable mental and financial constraints every month.

Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi government withdrew police protection from his residence on May 5th, 2008 and that protection never returned, even though Shoaib and his brother Dr. Richard L. Benkin were promised by many of the officials in the government, repeatedly, that they will arrange for police protection for Shoaib.

The law and order situation has deteriorated in Bangladesh, and members of Shoaib’s family have been in constant fear of attacks due to absence of
police protection.

Moreover, members of notorious Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] looted cash and valuables from Shoaib’s office when they abducted Shoaib on March 18th, 2008. Despite numerous promises from the government, the looted valuables had never been returned nor there has been any action against the culprit RAB men.

[Originally posted December 6th, 2007)

Bangladesh’s Goverment Revoked Shoaib’s Bail and Threatened to Shut Down His Publication - reported by The Weekly Blitz (www.weeklyblitz.net)

Information Advisor to the interim government, Moinul Hussain, sent a messenger, Nasir Sikder, to the Weekly Blitz office. Sikder, who identified himself as Hussain’s messenger, threatened Shoaib Choudhury with cancellation of the publication’s license and harassing Blitz editor, Shoaib, through the government’s TASK FORCE.

WE MUST RENEW OUR EFFORTS TO GET THE OPPRESSIVE ISLAMISTS OUT OF POWER BEFORE BANGLADESH JOINS THE LEAGUE OF TERRORIST STATES.

Please scroll all the way down to the list of retailers who purchase and sell goods from Bangladesh, write or call them and ask them to stop buying Bangladeshi products until all phony charges against Shoaib Choudhury are dropped.

LET’S GET THIS JOB DONE!

[Originally published October 7th, 2007]

Reliable sources inside Washington DC indicate that the Bangladeshi government has not been able to move its agenda forward with the U.S. because of its false persecutions of Shoaib Choudhury; in other words, there is no hope of any trade legislation. Those people said the Bangladeshi government should know that if it keeps up with this false persecution, it will continue to lose income and aid from the U.S.

Also, various Bangladeshi newspapers are reporting that Wal-Mart has cut its imports from Bangladesh. Wal-Mart is the largest importer of Bangladeshi goods, and at least one Bangladeshi paper suggested that Wal-Mart might stop ordering from Bangladesh altogether.

WE REMEMBER with respect and admiration the courageous Arabs and Muslims who have risked their life for speaking out.

[originally posted July 7, 2007]

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is a Muslim journalist, publisher, author and peace activist who resides in Bangladesh, a persistent and outspoken opponent of the radical Islamists and advocate of human and religious rights.

Shoaib was arrested in 2003 after writing articles exposing the rise of radical Islam in Bangladesh and its insidious spread through Muslim madrassas. He also urged Israel and Bangladesh relations as well as interfaith dialogue based on mutual respect. He was arrested as he was about to board a plane to address a writers group in Israel - on the media’s role in building a culture of peace. No charges were brought against him as he was imprisoned for 17 months. He was tortured and denied medical treatment. His family was attacked, his newspaper suspended, his home and office ransacked, and the government conducted a smear campaign against him.

He was then charged with treason, sedition and blasphemy, charges which carry a possible death sentence.

Dr. Richard Benkin, in the U.S., worked tirelessly for Shoaib Choudhury’s release. He found a friend in Congressman Mark Kirk. They had intense meetings with the Bangladeshi ambassador Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, during which the ambassador admitted the charges against Shoaib were false. As a result of these meetings Bangladesh released Shoaib Choudhury and promised to drop all charges against him. Shoaib was released, but the Bangladeshi government reneged on its promise and upheld its false charges against him. Shoaib has since been on trial which carries a possible death sentence.

Shoaib had another day in court on June 28, 2007. The result was disappointing to say the least. After more assurances that this time justice would be done, the Bangladeshi government decided to do nothing—again! The court set another date for Shoaib, this time July 18th. More ominous than that, however, the Public Prosecutor stated his willingness to proceed with this scurrilous action against Shoaib—after everything the government has been telling individuals and international officials. The action only raises more questions about the new government’s alleged anti-radical commitment. Every day that it maintains these charges, this “new” government looks more and more like its corrupt and radical-appeasing predecessors.

Mr. Choudhury has been offered asylum in the United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden and Denmark. He declined, stating there was no honor in surrender, and that “Bangladesh is my country. Let the radical Islamists leave.”

Mr. Choudhury received the Bangladesh Lokgeeti Shilpi Goshthi COURAGEOUS JOURNALISM AWARD 2005, PEN USA, FREEDOM TO WRITE AWARD 2005, the American Jewish Committee, MORAL COURAGE AWARD-2006, the Bangladesh Minority Lawyer’s Association MORAL COURAGE AWARD 2006, and the Jasimuddin Memorial AWARD FOR JOURNALISM, April, 2007.

U.S. House Resolution 64, passed (409-1) in March 2007, states, in part: “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Bangladesh should immediately drop all pending charges against Bangladeshi journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. Whereas Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is a Bangladeshi journalist who, because of his beliefs in interfaith dialogue between Jews and Muslims and criticism of Islamic extremism, is on trial for sedition, an offense punishable by death;…” Click here to read it.

The Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, Chicago Tribune, The New York Times and The New York Post; The Australian, The Globe and Mail, The Jerusalem Post, The Guardian, The Kuwait Times all wrote articles in support of Shoaib.

The European Parliament also issued a Resolution in support of Mr. Choudhury. Click here to read it.

So did the Australian Senate. Click here to read it.

Bangladesh is now on its most important crossroads: will it become yet another terrorist state, or will it join the family of nations which promote peace and prosperity for its citizens and a source of pride to the world?

Shoaib Choudhury’s numerous supporters all over the world are demanding that the Bangladesh government drop all charges against him. Shoaib’s supporters among lawmakers in most countries on which the Bangladeshi economy relies - United States, Canada, Australia, many European nations, and some in Asia - have called publicly for the case to be dropped.

One of Bangladesh’s most important goals is attain free trade agreements (FTAs). The U.S. has an FTA with garment producing countries of Latin America and is buying an increasing number of garment imports from giants India and China. The only way Bangladesh can compete in the long term is with the advantages of tariff relief. A few months ago, a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate that would give them a modicum of that. SB652 is something of a consolation prize for nations without an FTA because it offers them some relief. But SB652 is terminally stalled in committee with no prospect of moving forward largely because of Bangladeshi obstinacy on Shoaib’s case.

We will boycott all Bangladeshi products and services - world-wide - until Bangladesh drops all charges against Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury.

Below is a list of known buyers of Bangladeshi products. Other lists of influential people and organizations will be added below. Please write them. You can use the text above in your letter. Demand boycott of all Bangladeshi goods and services until all charges against Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury are dropped.

If you know of any other buyers of Bangladeshi products in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, etc., please write me and I will add them to the list.

BUYERS OF BANGLADESHI GOODS AND SERVICES:

UNITED STATES:

WAL-MART, INC.

H. Lee Scott, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716
USA
Phone: 479-273-4000

Bob Walton
Chairman
Board of Directors
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716
USA
Phone: 479-273-4000

For Arkansas residents:
Wal-Mart is located in Arkansas’ 3rd congressional district: John Boozman (R)
(Congressman Boozman spoke strongly in favor of HR64 on behalf of Shoaib)
Senators: Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D) and Mark Pryor (D)

THE GAP, INC.

Glenn K. Murphy
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gap, Inc.
Two Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
USA
Phone: 650-952-4400

For California residents:
The Gap is located in California’s 8th congressional district: Nancy Pelosi (D)
Senators Diane Feinstein (D) and Barbara Boxer (D)

NIKE, INC.

Philip H. Knight
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Nike World Headquarters
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, OR 97005-6453
USA
Phone: 1-800-344-6453

Mark Parker, President & Chief Executive Officer
Nike, Inc.
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, OR 97005-6453
USA
Phone: 1-800-344-6453

For Oregon residents:
Nike is located in Oregon’s 1st congressional district: David Wu (D)
Senators: Ron Wyden (D) and Gordon Smith (R)
(Senator Smith is the originator of Senate Bill 652.)

VF CORPORATION

Mackey J. McDonald
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
VF Corporation
105 Corporate Center Blvd.
Greensboro NC 27408
USA
Phone: 336-424-6000

Eric C. Wiseman
Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer
VF Corporation
105 Corporate Center Blvd.
Greensboro NC 27408
USA
Phone: 336-424-6000

For North Carolina residents:
VF Corporation is located in North Carolina’s 6th congressional district: Howard Coble (R)
Senators Elizabeth Dole (R) and Richard Burr (R)

PHILLIPS-VAN HEUSEN CORPORATION

Emanuel Chirico
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
USA
Phone: 212-381-3500

For New York residents:
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation is located in New York’s 14th congressional district: Carolyn B. Maloney (D)
Senators: Charles Shumer (D) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)

BANGLADESH’S MINISTRY OF COMMERCE EXPORT PROMOTION BUREAU:

http://www.epb.gov.bd/export_related_org.html

BANGLADESH GARMENT MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTS ASSOCIATION:

http://www.bgmea.com

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