Adda

Prospect for Democracy in Bangladesh

2007-08-29T22:03:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted in Deshivoice)

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand the agenda of the military government in Bangladesh. It’s becoming crystal clear that Army is running the show and it has no desire to leave it in the coming days. If you don’t believe, watch the TV news that will show you who runs the game plan. If you look at the history of military backed political parties under General Zia and Ershad, the recent political trend in Bangladesh fingers at the same path of dirty history. Now, the military spokesperson Law Advisor Mainul Hosein says that the government may not lift ban on politics due to recent violence. Isn’t it a part of the blue print that the Army wants to stall the return of democracy? Bangladesh Election Commission has repeatedly asked the government to lift ban on in door politics to start grounds for dialogs with political parties. Nothing happened. Now, the Commission has come up with schedules of dialogs as it’s been left with no alternatives. BDnews24 reports today:

Law adviser Mainul Hosein Wednesday said recent street violence had made the government rethink a move to immediately lift a long-standing ban on indoor politics.
His latest concern came a day after the Election Commission announced that it would kick off dialogue with the political parties in the second week of next month.

"We have finalised an outline to lift the ban on indoor politics. But the recent violence in Dhaka University has forced the government to reconsider its implementation," Hosein told bdnews24.com. "The council of advisers will take a (final) decision," he said.

Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda Tuesday said that they would start the much-expected dialogue on electoral reforms with the political parties on September 12.

The major political parties have said they are not interested to sit with the EC for talks unless the ban goes...”.

General Moeen has already concluded that traditional democracy has failed to yield any good to this poor nation, as he implied to abandon it and replace it with a new form of governance and democracy (i.e. military democracy?). How many times are we going to be fooled to our Goldfish memory? Yes, we’re looking for democracy. We don’t want to fail as we’ve seen failures of military take over. We want to show the world how Bangladesh can and will return to democracy. Has the process started to welcome the return of democracy? No, not yet.

Political ban in Bangladesh has not been lifted, and it appears that will not likely to happen it in the coming days. Corruption charges and legal proceedings have painfully suffered as they’ve been crafted and enforced to serve ill-motivated political interests and hidden agenda. Yes, the mother of all corruption is still left spared and untouched. The Army Generals’ motive is clear as democracy will return as per their term. When the rest of the world is safely assured that the Bangladesh military won’t take over the government, it doesn’t guarantee that democracy will come back here without sponsorships and influences. Can we afford another hand made regime in Bangladesh in the name of democracy? Sadly, the prospect for democracy in Bangladesh is severely distorted when it solely depends on the mercy of the Generals as the free will and hope of people are cordoned off by bans and blames.

What’s Next?

2007-08-23T20:39:00.000+06:00

Bangladesh has faced an unprecedented unrest since the Army backed Caretaker government has taken over power on January 11, 2007. At the beginning, the Caretaker Government has enjoyed over pouring support from the masses as it came into power with popular mandates for ensuring a free and fair election and driving corrupt politicians away permanently. Its popular support started evaporating as the election process slowed down, consumer price hike reached at its peak, political process stalled as political activities remain banned and popular support plummeted as suspicion about the Army’s ultimate motive grew as special interest political figures enjoyed favor to regroup and reappear under a new political platform.

The current volatile situation erupted as a few soldiers got involved into fighting with Dhaka University students and beat them while they’re watching soccer game on August 20th. While students started protesting against this incident of maltreatment by the military personnel, it exploded unexpectedly as the Police force has brutally tortured mass students to quell their protest. The protest turned violent as mass people joined students to condemn the attack on students. This is a first visible sign of massive dissatisfaction with the Army backed Caretaker Government. The Army through its Information Advisor Barrister Moinul Hossain is claiming alleged foreign money and influence behind this uprising which is an old tactic to divert attention from the root cause of this unrest. This alarming sign demands to shift priorities for the Army. It needs to show respect for popular demand to return to democracy as quickly as possible. Bangladesh can not afford an army backed non elected government for a long period as its credibility and legitimacy are in question. International community is seriously paying attention to this worsening political development in Bangladesh as Google news item currently show more than 489 stories about curfew situation in Bangladesh.

Times Online reiterates concern expressed by the international observers as it states,

Some analysts and Western diplomats see the protests as the first clear indication that time is running out for the interim government. “Regrettably, the incumbents decided to take the path of repression,” the English-language New Age daily wrote in an editorial today. “The public discontent will simmer on and will find manifestation in different forms and style, sooner than later.”

The current army backed regime shows huge insensitivity to people’s interest and demand. BBC reports about high stakes in Bangladesh following the massive unrest. It says,

“…adding to the mix is a growing fear among many - particularly students and professional groups, that the military has a long-term plan to depoliticise the country, and cement its control over society. They point out that while politicians are being vilified relentlessly, military men are being appointed to various key institutions. The much-talked about National Security Council with a strong role for the military is close to being formed. The current student demonstrations may have been the opening shots in another long battle - not to get rid of military rule, but perhaps to prevent one”.

We cannot speculate what’s next waiting for Bangladesh. While blaming invisible powers behind this trouble could be a nice try, but not a smart one. The Army backed Caretaker Government has lost its credibility as it stalled the election and political process for unknown reasons when the nation is loosing patience. Army may dream for a Pakistani or Burmese military model to replace political institutions which will backfire tremendously as the people of Bangladesh have outgrown military regimes. History knows the end result for an unelected government as the Army needs to relearn this historical lesson once again until it becomes too late.

Two Teachers Jailed

2007-08-02T00:16:00.000+06:00

This is the dark side of the military ruled emergency power. These 2 poor teachers have been jailed for staging a drama against fertilizer crisis in March this year. Daily Star reports on August 2, 2007:

"Two teachers of Damurhat upazila were sentenced to different jail terms Tuesday in a case filed on charge of violating Emergency Power Rules by trying to stage a 'drama' on fertiliser crisis in March this year.

Court sources said madrasa teacher ANM Afzal Hossain was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer six months more RI and M Harun-or-Rashid, teacher of a kindergarten school, to 3 years and 4 months imprisonment and fined Tk 6000, in default, to suffer more four months.

Another accused Abdur Rahim, a farmer, was acquitted.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Shamsul Haq filed the case accusing the three persons as they tried to stage a drama in protest of “fertiliser crisis” in front of Damurhat UNO office on March 27 this year, police said.

After examining the witnesses and records, the Judge of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Yusuf Ali handed down the verdict".

This is a harsh punishment to the poor teachers who wanted to draw Government's attention to fertilizer crisis. Many more worse offenders are walking out there free when these poor teachers will suffer in jail. Who will speak for them?

Immunity for Jamaat-e Islami Bangladesh

2007-07-25T22:32:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted at Deshi Voice)
It is great news for the fundamentalist Jamat Islami in Bangladesh, as the current military backed Care Taker Government in Bangladesh has openly taken side with them. Yes, it is now reconfirmed by the highest authority of the National Coordination Committee that Jamaat is most likely immune from corruption. General Matin with his Army colleagues may seek comfort with Jamatis when the evidence shows Jamaat’s huge involvement into corruption. Daily Prothom Alo published an investigative report on July 23, 2007, “13 of its central leaders are charged with corruption. Out of their 17 MPs, 9 of them are facing charges”. So the question arises, why the current Adviser Gen M. A. Matin is maneuvering unconditional support for Jamaat? Who is he to certify Jamaat? Read his stark statement published today.

BD News reports, “Adviser MA Matin Wednesday said the caretaker government did not take any laidback approach to deal with Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists with suspected corruption ties. The chairman of the national coordination committee on serious crime responded to a question on why Jamaat leaders or activists were not arrested in the ongoing anticorruption drive. "Well, questions surfaced over the issue. It just may be that Jamaat leaders were not involved in corruption," he said. Matin, also communications adviser, told reporters in his office that the government was determined to hold elections by 2008 and took measures to prevent corrupt people participating in the polls. "I don't see any difference between a reformist and the one who is not when it comes to corruption”.

Transparency for All

2007-07-18T19:24:00.000+06:00

Right after Sheikh Hasina landed in jail, Anti Corruption Commission has asked for the wealth information for Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, two leaders of the largest political parties in Bangladesh. The timing and the sequence of this development have raised valid questions about the subtle motive of the care taker government.

Daily Star reports, "The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday served notices on former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina to submit their wealth statements as part of its initiative to find out whether there is any ground for filing graft cases against the two.

In the notices, the government anti-graft watchdog asked the chiefs of BNP and Awami League (AL) to submit statements of their movable and immovable properties to the commission within seven working days from the date of the notification.

AL President Sheikh Hasina, who had been arrested on Monday and sent to a sub-jail, was served with the notice through the jail authorities while the notice to Khaleda was sent to her Mainul Road residence in Dhaka Cantonment.

Talking to reporters on the ACC premises, its Secretary Mokhles Ur Rahman said the decision was taken yesterday morning. "This is a routine work of the commission," the secretary added.

On receiving the two most prominent leaders' wealth statements, the ACC will crosscheck the statements with the information gathered by itself with assistance from intelligence agencies.

"The ACC will file cases against them, if they are found to be suppressing information about their wealth in the statements," a source in the ACC said.

Sources in intelligence agencies said they already have information about the wealth of the two leaders. The intelligence agencies gathered the information by collecting the two leaders' wealth statements submitted to the Election Commission during filing of their nominations, and from NBR. Besides, they collected information about the two leaders' bank accounts and examined whether there were any unusual transactions, the sources said".

We're not disputing Government's intention. Anti graft watchdog needs to crate transparency for all of its action. Can the Caretaker Government claim that all of the Advisers have come clean? May I have answers to the following questions:

Where is the wealth statement for Maj. General Matin; (including his wife's business)? What is about Tapan Chowdhury's tax evasion?
Where is the wealth Statement for Tapan?
Where is the wealth statement for Giti Ara?
Where is the wealth statement for Ex Army General Sakhawat Hossain (Election Commissioner)?

Yes, this list will grow. Please tune up. Before you start clean up others mess, clean up yours.

Is Sheikh Hasina Arrested?

2007-07-16T07:08:00.000+06:00

Cross Posted at Deshi Voice

Currently, I’m observing breaking news from Bangladeshi media outlets that Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has been or is going to be arrested momentarily. This is a sad development in Bangladesh as it looks like that the country is going to be plunged into more political turmoils. It appears to a lot of observers that the military backed Interim government is trying to neutralize Awami League by taking Sheikh Hasina into custody. Please follow the breaking news from bdnews.com. Channel I news has just reported that phone lines at Sudha bhaban have been disconnected. Live breaking news was showing from Sudha bhaban... 7:05 am BD Time. More to come soon...

Blogger Tasneem Khaleel Picked up by the Army

2007-05-11T07:09:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted at Deshivoice and Bangla Adda)

As a blogger, I'm concerned about Bangladesh Army's action to arrest Tasneem Khaleel. Please read this breaking news from Salam Dhaka, "Army has picked up a freind, blogger, and human rights activist Tasneem Khalil. We're not going to let this go unanswered. Tasneem's blog is http://www.tasneemkhalil.com/Tasneem is CNN and Human Rights Watch representative in Dhaka. He also works for Daily Star.The U.S State department, CNN, HRW are being contacted through the highest levels".

Bangla Bloggers have already started their protest against this action. Rezwan has just published this breaking news in Bangla Blog. Third World View is maintaining updates on Tasneem Khalil. Another blogger Sushanta is keeping updated posts on Tasneem. Human Rights Watch has already issued a press release to protest Tasneem's arrest and demanded his immediate release.

Please join me along with thousands of bloggers to condemn this cowardly action by the Military.

Political Crisis in Bangladesh

2007-04-23T11:26:00.000+06:00

Cross posted at deshivoice

Bangladesh is increasingly dominating the world media outlets as the military backed care taker government has taken dramatic steps to take off the leaders of the two largest political parties. This is a tactical operation that Caretaker Government has undertaken to worsen political anomaly in Bangladesh that will raise suspicion among the citizens about the inner motives of this three month old Caretaker Government and its military backer.

The Independent says, “Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was yesterday blocked from boarding a flight home from London after the military-backed government barred her from returning”. International Herald Tribune says, Hasina had vowed to return to fight murder and corruption charges after the country's military-backed interim government moved last week to force her and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia — who together have dominated Bangladeshi politics for the past 15 years — into exile. "This is my country, and I don't understand why they should stop me," Hasina told AP Television News, after being told by British Airways at London's Heathrow Airport on Sunday that she could not travel.

When Hasina was attempting to board the British Airlines, back in Bangladesh a court dramatically issued a warrant against her to arrest upon arrival. It has become the most amazing senseless joke of the military backed interim Government to issue a warrant when they are barring her even to enter into Bangladesh air space. Yet, Hasina has shown her utmost courage and dedication as the Washington Post reports, "I want to face the case," Hasina said. "This is totally fake, false. I didn't commit any murder, so it is absolutely (a) false case and that's why I'm going to face it." But the Government’s move is growing more suspicion among citizens of Bangladesh. The Guardian reports the political move of Awami League as it quotes, ``How can a free citizen be barred from coming home? We will challenge this in court,'' said Zillur Rahman, a senior Awami League leader. ``She is willing to come back to face the charges against her, but the government is barring her.''

BBC reports, “it becomes clear that the country has reached a crossroads. Go one way, and the road leads to cleaner politics with free elections and restoration of representative democracy. There is a broad acceptance of the military-backed government. But go the other way, and the country risks sliding back into the kind of military-led dictatorship which so blighted Bangladesh's politics and economy in the 1980s”. But the question is becoming clearer day by day, will democracy return in Bangladesh? Who is winning by playing all these childish crooked game?

The election reform could bring the political reform, rather the military backed government chose to plunge itself in political in fight. The question remains unanswered when we ask who will benefit from this political crisis. Obviously, it does not favor the current caretaker government for the long run. Listen to the BBC’s MP who has already questioned the motive of the current interim government and has committed herself to advance this issue in the British Government.

Learning Bangla

2007-03-03T10:16:00.000+06:00

Resourses for Learning Bangla is coming soon

Bangladesh Election:

2007-01-26T11:37:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted in Bangla Blog)

Washington Post published an article on January 25, 2007 that expresses an overwhelming concern about stalled election in Bangladesh. Currently, it does not appear that we will have our national election very soon. The Caretaker Government may need time to reform election commission, voter list and the civil administration. As the Army has been credited to be instrumental in promulgating the emergency rule, its credit will quickly fade away if the election is really stalled. At least, the past records of the military regimes in Bangladesh validate this claim. We should not forget Martial Law and Emergency Law always violate human rights and free expression.

The Washington Post Article has mainly focused on the accusation by the political activists for the stalled election. Confusion and mistrust among political parties will grow if election is stalled. The article quotes one activist, "If people cannot express their rights freely, then fundamentalist groups will have more influence," she said. "Now, no political activity is allowed. With the absence of political participation, mosques will be used by the right-wing religious parties. This cannot be a good thing."

It is not at all in our distant memory that the fundamentalist and the war criminal Jamati Islami reappeared in Bangladesh politics during 1977 when the military Dictator General Zia took power. The notion overwhelmingly begs no further explanation that denying political freedom and political transperancy usually breeds and energizes the underground militant forces.

Clean up the mess in Bangladesh:

2007-01-26T10:08:00.000+06:00

(Photo Courtesy: New Age)

(Cross posted in Bangla Blog)
For almost a week Bangladesh is undergoing a huge demolition drive. Bangladesh Police, the Army, and the Municipal Authorities across the country are working very diligently to demolish all illegal structures erected inside the cities and along the highways. People have encroached public space and they built shops, clinics and houses. Now, under the emergency law, we’re knocking down everything. Aren’t we citizens of Bangladesh proud and pleased with this overzealous public interest activity? What happened to the Law, Public Enforcement, and Municipal Authorities when these structures were erected? What are the reasons behind this noble act?

(1) We’re knocking down illegal building structures to rebuild them again?
(2) Is it a public strategy of the Caretaker Government to earn cheap popularity and acceptance with citizens?
(3) Is it to prove the poor oversight of the previous BNP-Jamat Government?
(4) Is it to redesign the cities for beautification?
(5) Is it a new chapter in Bangladesh?
(6) Is it to make cities more beautiful and attractive?

Of course, we need to make our cities the most attractive and beautiful place in the country. If we don’t clean up, what will the next regime encroach again. Instead of knocking down the increasing socio-economic divide, we need to knock down illegal building structures. We’re impressed with the most expensive cars driving along the city streets. We can not knock down the root of all corruption as there’s no limit in tax evasion and corruption. When we can’t knock down the corrupt people’s power structure, as it will hurt the most powerful people of our society. Therefore, at least knocking down the illegal structures is really impressing the people of Bangladesh. Cheer up Bangladeshis!!! We congratulate the prudence of the Caretaker Government. Please continue cleaning up our cities as we can not clean up our poor society.

Political Crisis Deepened in Bangladesh:

2007-01-11T09:18:00.000+06:00

Bangladesh is facing a huge political turmoil in coming days that has been predicted for quite sometime. At the end of three day siege organized by the 14th Party alliance turned very ugly when the Police used brutal force against the political activists on January 9th. Top leaders of the 14th Party alliance were gravely injured when the Police assaulted them with the maximum force. Naturally, it poses a valid question, why have the Police taken such a hard line? It happened as the higher ups in the Police have been assured that the BNP-Jamaat led Government will return to power again. It is a sad reality that the Police can never win political opposition and agitation.

The current political turmoil has drawn international attention. The BNP-Jamaat led Alliance may win the election by force in a race less election but they won’t get international acceptance. International Political Observers have already lost their interest to monitor the upcoming election. Using the Military to quell political unrest won’t yield much result in favor of the BNP-Jamaat Alliance. As the election is moving to uncertainty, they’re quickly loosing their influence and support over the people. Internal rifts are growing. People are loosing patience.

Had the two main opposition parties in Bangladesh agreed to reform the caretaker government and the Election Commission, we could escape this political crisis. BNP-Jamat’s insistence and selfishness have thrown the country to this political crisis that the people are paying price for. Now they’re realizing that they can not run and win this upcoming election by hook or crook. They’ve shown their immaturity to foresee their future as now they’re quickly loosing political ground and people’s support altogether.

Praying for Peace

2006-07-15T09:43:00.000+06:00

Bangla blogging has become a great means to express our ideas spontaneously at the courtesy of Somewhere in. I've been greatly addicted to Bangla blogging. I'm updating this site today as I've neglected it for a while. Lately, Bangla blog has received significant updates. Specially, another fellow blogger S.M. Mahbood Morshed has shown a very interesting way to add hyperlinks in Bangla blog that allows us to enjoy the wonderful interactive features here.

Today I've spent a great amount of time in front of the TV set as I've watched news. Suddenly, our world has become very violent. It's started bleeding. Humanity has been again very sadly threatened. The whole humanity is praying for peace. We all want to see the end of hate, violence, and fighting. I start singing with our Great Poet Rabindranath Tagore for peace:

"When the heart is hard and parched up, come upon me
with a shower of mercy.
When grace is lost from life, come with a burst of song.
When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides
shutting me out from beyond, come to me, my lord of
silence, with thy peace and rest..."

Rabindranath Tagore

Reform dialog or despair for tomorrow:

2006-04-30T09:14:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted in Adda’s Bangla Blog)
Recent political developments in Bangladesh indicate that we have been plunged into more political crisis in the coming days. It appears that prospects for reforming election commission and caretaker government through a political forum between two main political parties BNP and Awami League have been stalled due to their uncompromising attitude. Even there is no last word in politics, it seems that the ruling party in Bangladesh has lost opportunities to bring the main opposition party in the discussion table as they have included representative from fundamentalist Jamati Islami and Islami Oikya Jot.

Today’s Daily Star reports, “The Awami League-led 14-party opposition line-up yesterday formally rejected the letter of ruling BNP nominating leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) for discussing the reform agenda. The opposition vowed to realize reforms in the caretaker government system, Election Commission and electoral laws through mass movements to ensure a free, fair and neutral election. It also threatened to resist any election in the country without these reforms. "The letter was nothing but a farce with the countrymen," 14-party Coordinator Abdul Jalil yesterday told newsmen after a meeting of the opposition alliance at his residence in the capital. "This letter is not acceptable from any perspective as they [the BNP] have included war criminals, patrons of militants and anti-Liberation War forces in the committee," the Awami League (AL) general secretary said. The opposition will respond to the BNP letter soon, he said”.

Our common people can hardly wait for a consensus and peaceful solution on election and caretaker government reforms as they are tired of economic hardships, gas crisis, and imbalances in currency flow. If Awami League has earned the confidence of its 14 parties to represent the reform talk unilaterally, it is unfortunate that the ruling party has grossly failed to convince its 4 party alliance to lead discussions on reform. It really proves the very fragile nature of their alliance. Instead of getting strengthened, the physical knot of alliance of the ruling may have been weakened over the last five years that precludes them to open any discussion on behalf of their alliance. Ultimately, people are suffering and getting tired of this unfortunate political crisis. They have become more conscious as they have paid the ultimate value of life struggle and rise of fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh. If the ruling party looses common sense to understand this mere reality, then they are building a castle of hope on sands.

“When I give up the helm I know that
the time has come for thee to take it,
What there is to do will be instantly done.
Vain is the struggle.
Then take away your hands and
silently put up with your defeat, my heart,
and think it your good fortune to sit perfectly still
where you are placed...”

Rabindranath Tagore

When people are rising:

2006-04-08T09:40:00.000+06:00

Adda is back. I’ll try to update my English Adda as I’m really occupied with my Bangla Adda. It is a sad news again in Bangladesh. People in a small district of Northern Bangladesh are fighting for an uninterrupted electricity supply, so that they can continue their irrigation project.

Government has grossly failed to provide electricity supply or pacify the people peacefully. It is sad as more peopled died there. New Age reports on April 7th, “At least three persons were killed and more than 50 wounded in a fierce clash between members of Kansat Palli Bidyut Sangram Parishad (action council for rural electrification) and local activists of the ruling BNP at Shibganj in Chapainawabganj, 251 kilometres northwest of the capital Dhaka, on Thursday evening. The death count may increase as many of the wounded, whose condition was stated to be critical, were without treatment. The action council had earlier announced a procession of its activists carrying brooms and sticks on Thursday and demanding uninterrupted supply of electricity.”

Read more information also from Daily Star. May be someone needs to look back that this same area experienced mass peasant’s movement almost 60 years ago. History still highlights about Nachole Krishak Andolan (peasants' movement) organised by ila mitra in 1949. Is it another phase of peasants’ movement?

Mother Language Day:

2006-02-22T10:34:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted in Adda’s Bangla Blog)

As Bangladesh has observed the language martyrs day on February 21st, do you know that the world observes International Mother Language Day on the same day as well? A lot of us may not know that UNESCO has been observing mother language day for last six years. Bangladesh has played a pioneering role in observing the language day to honor our language martyrs 34 years ago. Every year Bangladesh uniquely observes language movement that energizes our cultural revival and takes us back to our proud history for Bangla language.

As UNESCO’s Press Release says, “International Mother Language Day is celebrated every year on 21 February to promote the recognition and practice of the mother languages of the world, and especially those of minorities. It was proclaimed in 1999 during the 30th session of UNESCO General Conference”. UNESCO has organized a conference on linguistic diversity to observe this glorious day. Do you know that according to UNESCO, “half of the world's 6000 languages are in danger of disappearing in just a few generations”? That’s why we need to protect and promote linguistic diversities as UNESCO urges member states to promote 12 point language policy for its member countries. We need to promote language, its wonderful diversity as David Crystal a scholar on linguistic said, "Every time we lose a language, we lose one vision of the world." What are you going to do to enrich your mother language?

What Happened?

2006-02-21T08:05:00.000+06:00

My English blog has been very quiet for sometime. No posting. Have I given up blogging? No, that’s not true. I haven’t taken any time off. Actually, I’ve been very busy with Adda’s Bangla blog. Today I’ve published my 100th posting in Adda’s Bangla site within eight weeks. The reasons are very clear. It takes me very closed to my beloved Bangladesh and its wonderful readers. People come up with different ideas and views that they debate about. The most critical issues that highlighted in the Bangla blog are fundamentalism and Jamat’s collaboration with Pakistan in 1971. If you can read Bangla, please visit the Bangla blog site. On the top, I’m showing a snap shot of my one hundredth posting.

Shah AMS Kibria: Asking for Justice

2006-02-01T10:08:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted in Adda’s Bangla Blog)

It happened very sadly and suddenly. No one knew that it would happen like this. It was an ordinary day for a 73 year old Shah AMS Kibria, a parliamentarian, a politician, a former bureaucrat, a diplomat, a former finance minister, and a cultural person who went out to his constituency in Habiganj to address his supporters. On January 27, 2005, he finished his political meeting and was coming out from the school where his meeting took place. Suddenly, a grenade was thrown towards him. He was fatally injured and died in few hours. We have just silently passed the first anniversary of the assassination of the former Bangladeshi Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria. A happy family lost their beloved person, a nation lost one of the best and the brightest sons, an opposition party lost its star. Nothing happened in last one year. No one was brought to justice. The current BNP-Jamat Government tragically failed to bring the criminals to justice and played a dirty partisan politics to expedite the judicial process.

Shah AMS Kibria has now turned to be a powerful voice in our hearts and national spirit. His family and friends have successfully modeled a wonderful and peaceful way to protest his assassination and to demand justice for his killing. Bangladesh has unbeatable reputation in South Asia for political and partisan killing. Peoples and groups across the globes including Amnesty International, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, European Parliament, US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice have already condemned Mr. Kibria’s killing and demanded an expeditious justice to the killing of Mr. Kibria. We may loose great leaders in turmoil but we will never loose our conscience and resiliency. That is why; people wake up through political activism to reach to a national consensus to bring political criminals to justice. Mr. Kibria’s assassination is not the end of an era; it is a unique beginning of a new day to raise national and international consciousness to stop terrorism and political killing in Bangladesh. Kibria family demands international probe and UN led investigation. Why don’t you join with grieving Kibria family and the people of Bangladesh to ask for justice?

Wind of Change in South Asia:

2006-01-26T11:18:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted at Adda’s Bangla Blog)

We live in the world of rapid change. Things are changing faster than what we imagine. I remember, when we were young we used to tune news on the radio; we used to listen and think. All the news sources were unidirectional to the listeners. Now, suddenly everything is getting changed. We are no longer listening or watching; now we are speaking out loudly, forcefully, and courageously. We are witnessing the unimaginable rise of information revolution where we can write independently in the virtual world. We are blogging to express our own ideas, share our joys and pains with the rest of the world.

The most amazing thing happened in Bangladesh on December 16, 2005 when Somewhere in, a Norwegian company in Bangladesh, inaugurated blogging platform in Bangla. It named Badh Bhangar Awaz as it implies the sound of breaking off the dam to unlock the free expression of motions, emotions, interactions in Bangla blogs. Their site has already received over a hundred thousand hits within a month. All the would-be and real thinkers, writers, critics, singers are now flocking at the Bangla site to express themselves.

When people are looking for enlightment, this is the beginning of a new era where bloggers express themselves to bring out the most unseen and the most hidden treasures of unexpressed minds in the obscure corner of South Asia. The beginning of the Desicritics is another victory for all of us where all the South Asian people will join the rest of the world to tell their side of stories. It is really the beginning of the end of the digital divide. Indeed, Noble Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore imagined that real awakening of human minds in a fearless undivided world that we still have a long way to reach when he says,

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has no been broken into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth...
Into the heaven of freedom, my Father,
let my country awake.”

Rating System at Blogging

2006-01-08T23:24:00.001+06:00

I've come up with a very innovative system in Adda's Bangla Blog. I've received an overwhelming amount of response and reaction from my Bangladeshi readers. I've mainly concentrated my writing around religious militancy issues in Bangladesh, collaborator Jamati and Rajakars etc. A lot of pro-Jamati readers innundated my Bangla blog with their own judgements and personal agonies. Therefore, I've imposed a self-explained rating that has a caption like "Rajakar Free Horizon". As a blogger, I'm enjoying conversations, dialogs, debates which I believe will lead us to reach to a national consensus that will prevent the rise of militant and extremist islamic thought in Bangladesh.

From Poland to Pabna:

2006-01-05T07:39:00.000+06:00

(Cross posted in Adda’s Bangla Blog)

Both news itmes broke out almost at the same time. Law is chasing a perpetrator after sixty years. It happened thousands miles away from Bangladesh. Two unrelated stories happened three decade apart but they are uniquely related in a single thread of humanity. Both Demanjanuk from Ukraine and Moitta Nizami, from Pabna, Bangladesh have taken part in the torture and mass killing of people. As AP reports on December 29, 2005, the 85 year old Demanjanuk is accused of his role in mass killing at Treblinka Concentration Camp where he was a security guard. On the other hand, the other criminal Nizami has yet to face law for his involvement in the killing of people of Pabna in 1971. He is now our Industry Minister. A Bangladesh Daily on December 30, 2005, puts out the elaborate portrait of his heinous activity during Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 against the people of Pabna District. Law chases criminals anyway whether it happens right now or right after sixty year.

Thoughts in an evening:

2006-01-01T23:49:00.000+06:00

First published in Adda’s Bangla Blog on January 1, 2006. I have translated it here into English for my readers. Let me share with you that I’m putting more time to Adda’s Bangla site in order to reach my Bangladeshi audience, but I promise that I won’t neglect this site either. Thank you for visiting Adda.

I am a nature loving person and I really enjoy open space. Whenever I find time, I go outside the crowd to enjoy the beauty of nature. Whenever I think about nature, I mean blue sky, flowing water and green field. So, I went by the river to enjoy the evening of the first day of 2006. I took a picture of the sun set as I was thinking a lot. I started putting my ideas on the laptop for my readers.

I was thinking about the unrest in Bangladesh and was hoping to present glowing light of hope and determination in 2006. We want to see a growing trust and determination in people’s power and unity. In Bangladesh, we no longer need startling and breaking news, swinging dramatic turns in politics, and unexpected demise of conscience. We don’t need anarchy when we need peace and tranquility. We need belief in God, but we don’t need the rise of fanaticism. We don’t need immoral cultural occupation when we need to promote our own cultural heritage of thousands year. We need to “Free Democracy” not as a hostage to a Prince, but we need growing spirit of democracy in people’s spontaneity. We no longer need deception, delusion, and spread of lies. We need enlightened life for every living person of Bangladesh with ardent embracement of justice and truth. I was murmuring few lines from Tagore’s poem (dared to translate here):

“...Need food, need life, need light, need fresh air,
Need strength, health, long life of joy and light,
An encouraged expanse. Oh Poet! In the realm of penury
At least bring a portrait of trust from heaven”.

Let’s work together to instill “a portrait of trust” in people’s mind.

Top 20 News Items from Bangladesh for 2005

2006-01-01T10:41:00.000+06:00

It is really interesting to find how a Bangladesh Daily has ranked the top 20 news items from Bangladesh for the year 2005. I've tried to apply the most appropriate news link to each item. So enjoy and think:

The Most Discussed Story: A series of bomb attacks in Bangladesh
The Most Discussed Guest: Bill Gates in Bangladesh
The Most Discussed Raid: Raid against adulterated food
The Most Discussed Killing: The Killing of Shaha AMS Kibria
The Most Discussed Success: Bangladesh won cricket against Australia
The Most Discussed Organization: Jamatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB)
The Most Discussed Ruling: Rule against 5th Amendment in the Constitution
The Most Discussed Person: Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai
The Most Discussed Corruption: Niko's Car Scandal
Them Most Discussed Letter: Khaleda Zia's letter to Sheikh Hasina for dialog
The Most discusseded Threat: "Talk carefully and within limit, if you threat we will bring sedition charge": Prime Minister to the Opposition Leader
The Most Discussed Remark: "We're looking for shatruz" (enemies) State Minister for Home
The Most Discussed Divorce: Divorce between Ershad and Bidisha
The Most Discussed Parlaiment Member: Mr. Abu Hena (expelled from BNP)
The Most Discussed Attack: Suicide Attack
The Most Discussed Arrest: Arrest of matchmaker of Bangla Bhai
The Most Discussed Pardon: Convicted BNP Leader Zintu's capital punishment
The Most Discusssed Tribute: Prime Minister and more than a dozen of minister's flower wreath to a terrorist Sagir's body
The Most Discussed Appointment: 150 BNP Student Leader's Appointment as Election Oficers
The Most Discussed Competition: Star Search-Music Talent competition

Happy New Year: 2006

2005-12-31T10:52:00.000+06:00

Happy New Year. Welcome 2006!!! I have started my journey this year in Adda to express myself under a pen name “Addabaj” (Gossip Guy). I write with hope and light to revisit things, issues challenges and possibilities that we face here in Bangladesh and else where in the world. I appreciate my readers’ thoughts as they react, comment, encourage, criticize, and inspire me to move forward. Indeed, we need new ideas, hopes and inspirations. We need enlighment and commitment to change. I live in hope and dream as I see our new generation is coming to regain Bangladesh with glory and to rescue us from our mistakes and shames. My desire and dream bounce with the lines of our great Rebellious Poet Nazrul to pronounce it on the eve of New Year:

“There comes the bold new youth
eager to wipe out all that is ugly and decayed.
He comes with his unkempt hair and careless dress
on the wings of the Deluge
with a smile on his lips.

He is the eternal beauty
who knows how to destroy and build again,
Come, make merry and rejoice!
What fear has he
for whom all this destruction and rebuilding
is but a game?
Come, make merry and rejoice
and Welcome the Beautiful
who comes today in the garb of the Terrible”

Translated by: Kabir Chowdhury

Simultaneous publication in my Bangla Blog:

Rise of Fundamentalism: Agenda for Socio-Political Reform

2005-12-28T07:17:00.000+06:00

It has been a remarkable observation by the news and views expressed by the Bangladeshi media outlets that religious fundamentalism and militancy have been on rise in Bangladesh. We don’t need to conduct any social or political opinion survey in this regard. Historically, for the first time in Bangladesh militant Jamatis have enjoyed the flavor of administrative power because of petty interest of the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s political greediness.

In that respect, Jamatis have already reaped their own political interest by exploiting opportunities to directly and indirectly occupy administrative and socio-political set-ups by placing their own people. This kind of islamization has never happened before in Bangladesh. It has direct and unprecedented impact on socio-political fabric of our society. If you review the news and views, there has been an obvious and remarkable polarization taking place that people are facing the choice of either pro-Islamic alliance with a so-called nationalistic view point or a secular pro-democratic alliance to eliminate religious fundamentalism in the coming years. In the recent by-election, popular jamati incumbent seat has been lost to a popular pro-people anti-government candidate which is showing the turning point in our political dimension.

In order to measure the progress of anti-fundamentalist force in Bangladesh, we need to identify political polarization from people’s perspective. We need to identify the persons, faces, institutions that have been infiltrated by the religious fundamentalist Jamati forces. We need to enlist their activities, institutional influences and paradoxes, so that they can not change their color over night. We have seen in the past they became sea turtle to hide their face. In order to prevent the rise of religious fundamentalism, we need non-partisan people based socio-political agenda that will unmask the political economy and socio-political aspects of fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh. I hope my colleagues will come forward to lay out a socio-political agenda for people that will successfully annihilate Jamati politics from Bangladesh forever. If any one wants to see the proof, I’ll invite them to look at the fall of Ershad’s military regime in 1990. People still hold power in Bangladesh and they can easily and peacefully change the fate of greedy politician’s dream very unexpectedly. In order to bring war criminal Jamatis to justice, we need to free this critical issue from partisan politics and make it a popular demand. Hopefully, it is a new beginning of a socio-political agenda to free Bangladesh from the curse of fundamentalist and war criminal force.

Click here to read in Bangla: