Dear Zunaid
I too do not want to argue with you as I think we actually do not
differ much on substance – though perhaps we do differ much on style.
I don't care if what I write is tantamount to an insult. I write to
offend but someone needs to. Just look at what I described in the
Embassy. You may describe it as a rather unfortunate affair, which
though unusual, is simply symptomatic of a third world country. I
don't.
You should find the Embassy incident – and the many others I
mention – that are born in fact, far more insulting to our nation
than any of my words that are born in obvious rage. Rather, I find
genteel and polite discussions of such features of our nation as
insulting.
My words are more disturbing than the events in the Embassy? Therein
lies our difference. The Embassy incident – and many, many more –
cry out for scathing review, blistering rebuke and sulphuric
sarcasm. I mourn the limitations of my brain for I am simply not
acidic or clever enough to do the subject matter justice. May Allah
forgive my weakness and sear my mind with a far harsher intellect.
That I may better describe the evil of corruption and offend my
politer brothers more. Or perhaps in a nation of 130 million there
is no room for such words? Let's talk about the beast of corruption –
but first understand the nature of the beast.
I accurately described what happened. I never gave the impression
that no one else knows about Kuwait. Don't twist my words. You will
find much of what I wrote is in reply to your own earlier comments
that someone else has far more accurately described Kuwait than me
and the innuendo that somehow I do not know what I am talking about
because I am an NRB – a rather lame and tiresome opinion.
Sorry – I didn't see what you wrote about the response of any
Bangladeshi organizations in Kuwait to the plight of our labourers.
They are all far too busy with fighting between themselves and
bringing politics into everything.
I have every right to call for the removal of Hasina and Khaleda.
What on earth makes you think I have no right to do so? Many people
agree with me, including many labourers with whom I spend far more
time than you do. In fact the labourers I talk to find it quite
refreshing when I verbally assault the political establishment. They
nod their hands when I describe much of our systems as manure.
You are quite insulting to use the argument that it is difficult for
me to leave my job. To me it is a childish and cheap argument used
as a futile last resort.
Western NRBs are not responsible for the mess in Bangladesh. Rather
they have supported millions of Bangladeshis with the sweat of their
brow. Western NRBs have much to offer Bangladesh and, as the trend
shows, need not express shame or seek permission for anything that I
am aware of. I think a lot of people in Bangladesh need to get off
their high pony about Western NRBs and do something practical for
Middle Eastern labourers.
I have no inferiority complex and am fully comfortable with my love
of Bangladesh and my pride in Bangladesh. That is why I can
experience the deep sense of shame and sorrow about the failures and
excesses of my nation. I don't understand how you don't feel a lot of shame or sorrow - perhaps that is my limitation not yours. Nevermind.
How hilarious that you negate my description of events in Kuwait as
an allegation this needing an investigation that. Obviously you have
no idea about just how corrupt the system is. The CTG may get round
to it if is around much longer. Possibly not. And an investigation by
Hasina's AL or Khaleda's BNP! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
HAHAHAHAHA! So funny. So sad. There are tears in my eyes.
You may excuse as much as you want by saying third world instead of
third rate. I won't. Third rate is as third rate does. It's the
God's honest truth, untainted by limitation. Perhaps you would not feel offended if I used 'second rate'? How about 'second rate third world?'
So how many millions of our countrymen had to compromise the values taught them in elementary school in order to keep their job? Are you one of them?
I simply referred to the handicaps of Hasina and Khaleda in order for you to identify them. The real mockery is that so many are comncerned about the handicaps of nethris but care nothing about the thousands of handicapped begging on our streets. However I do appreciate that this concept would not be taught in elementary school.
So the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on
expatriate affairs calls Kuwait before boarding his flight asking
his contacts, inside and outside the embassy, to arrange meetings
with companies needing labourers. So he can sell visas through his
own company in Bangladesh.
So 200,000 Deshis at risk in Kuwait and not one has a signed
contract!
Because EVERY Bangladeshi broker and dalal is protected by
elected politcians.
First rate manure of the third rate Parliament of a 'second' rate nation.
Quite sincerely
Ezajur Rahman
Kuwait
--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "junaid.sultan" <junaid.sultan@...>
wrote:
>
>
>
> Dear Mr. Ejazur
>
> I had not intention to indulge in arguments with you but to me the
> writing like these are very disturbing and I quote" Perhaps, you
> have forgotten that during the BNP government a thousand labourers
> attacked and ransacked the Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait. Another
great
> record for our proud nation. Rest assured that the same attack
would
> have happened under an AL government. This CTG will not last much
> longer. The questions are not about the temporary struggles of the
CTG.
> The real questions are:
> How do you feel about Hasina and Khaleda as PM again?
> What price is worth paying to be rid of Hasina and Khaleda?
> I unquote.
>
> I quote another one." The departure, or demise, of Hasina and
> Khaleda will expose AL and BNP for what they really are... Third
rate
> parties lead by third rate people - in a third rate country."
>
> And I unquote again.
>
> Is not this tantamount to insult to the nation? No sensible man or
woman
> in Bangladesh will claim that we are first rate country because we
are
> not. But under no circumstances, we call ourselves a third rate
country.
>
> Mr. Ejazur, for you it may be important to step into and stay in
manure
> to understand its texture, smell and composition. Otherwise a
common man
> knows these qualities of manure. Come on, we are not interested to
know
> the details what happened in Bangladeshi Embassy in Kuwait. We are
> interested to know why it happened, we are interested to know how
it can
> be avoided in future. You have pointed your fingers on AL. This
should
> have been investigated or still can be investigated if there is any
> substance in this allegation. Or, you are saying this out of your
> political believes. We understand that Kuwait is Kuwait. You are
not in
> Bangladesh where you can hire one thousand goons (you gave the
number)
> and buses to storm a place.
>
> I know you are an authority on Kuwait and nobody can lecture you on
> Kuwait. But don't try to give us the impression that nobody else
> know about Kuwait. Even on the net you will find many charity
> organizations in that country. There are good and bad people in all
> societies. Do you want us to believe that Kuwaitis themselves will
let
> 500 labourers to starve in their country? It is really commendable
and
> appreciable for your group for their contribution of one month's
> salary. This is lot of money. (Now we know you are spearheading a
> group).
>
> I agree that many NRB's went back to the country. But who are they.
> They are again those poor labourers from Middle East. There are
very few
> people and you can count them on your finger tips that came from
West
> with a desire to work for the country. We, in Bangladesh, salute
these
> people though I understand that these people were not awarded with
the
> due respect. People like you, living in Middle Eastern countries
will
> come back only when they will be asked by their employers to
leave. And
> in lot many cases most people working in the Middle Eastern
countries
> have their families settled in Canada or Australia. Tell me
honestly, do
> you have the right to call for the price of getting rid of Khalda
and
> Hasina. Especially from a worker in Saudi Arabia whose job is
already at
> stake. We understand your position. We understand it is extremely
> difficult to leave your job. But don't lecture others to do what is
> difficult for you to do.
>
> Mr. Ejazur, it is not at all necessary to write a song to show your
> patriotism. It is not necessary to listen to patriotic songs day
and
> night to be a patriotic. However, it is worthy to note when you are
> ashamed of your surroundings. Who is around you – your family, your
> motherland? Are you ashamed of them? As a third world country (I
said
> third world country not third rate country) don't we know our
> limitations? What makes us so ashamed?
>
> A man is known by his virtues and not by his physical disability.
This,
> we have learned in our elementary school.
>
> With all my regards
>
>
>
> Junaid
>
>
> In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "ezajur" <ezajur.rahman@> wrote:
> >
> > Come on Junaid. Do we have to still scratch the surface of words?
> >
> > I never mocked the labourers. I went to the Embassy within an
hour of
> > the disaster. I know what happened, how it happened and why it
> > happened. I know the then Defence Attaché, a Brigadier General,
was
> > mistaken for the Ambassador and beaten up. I know the then
Defence
> > Attache's office was mistaken for the Ambassador's office and
totally
> > ransacked. I know the Ambassador, a political appointee and
current
> > BNP grandee, was hiding in his office. I know the Sonali bank
> > reprentative saved the Ambassador by barricading the door. I
know the
> > then Counsellor was hiding in the bathroom and took his shirt
off to
> > appear as one of the labourers and save himself. I know which
> > manpower brokers support BNP and tried to warn the Embassy. I
know
> > which manpower brokers support AL and paid for the buses to take
the
> > labourers to the Embassy. I know which journalists support BNP
and
> > blamed the labourers. I know which journalists support AL and
blamed
> > the Embassy. I know which BNP officials were sent by the
Government
> > to investigate the incident and labour problems. I know how they
> > deliberately avoided the truth.
> >
> > To understand the texture, smell and composition of manure you
need
> > to step into it first and stay in it for a while.
> >
> > A European priest rallied the expat community in Kuwait to help
500
> > labourers starving in a camp. Many nationalities helped. Please
have
> > a guess as to how many Bangladeshi organizations helped? Come
on –
> > have a guess? NONE – and there are 150 organisations registered.
> In
> > the end it was only my group at a cost of a month's salary each.
> >
> > So please – don't try to lecture me on Kuwait.
> >
> > What do we know? That we are a first class country? I know that
too.
> > Otherwise I would have taken my heart somewhere else a long time
ago.
> > Yes we are a first class nation, with first class people and
first
> > class potential. I can write a love poem to my village in 30
minutes.
> > But that doesn't mean we spend all day and night listening to a
> > million patriotic songs with no sense of shame about what goes on
> > around us.
> >
> > We have to scream SHAME! SHAME! louder to be heard in a room
full of
> > pride and arrogance and ignorance and patriotism. And with
Bengalis
> > we have to provoke and offend and disturb – not just shout.
> >
> > The far corners of the West and the remote corners of Bangladesh
are
> > littered with the broken dreams of NRBs who went back to
Bangladesh
> > to be part of the post independence glory. If we don't know what
they
> > found and if we don't know how they were treated and if we don't
know
> > how they were robbed then we don't know the story of NRB's. Some
can
> > try to win an argument by playing on the complex guilty
complexes of
> > NRBs – but it won't work on me honey.
> >
> > I am the `people like these' that you mention. And to think we
are
> > paper tigers is to underestimate our passion and our commitment.
It
> > is to underestimate what we have done and we will do to take our
> > country back from the demons that have plagued our nation since
> > birth. Underestimate us as you want to. In a way it helps us : )
> >
> > The CTG is NOT to be excused from helping our countrymen in
trouble
> > abroad.
> >
> > Make a list of all the female leaders of the modern era and tell
me
> > which of them are intellectually brilliant and which of them are
not.
> > Go on! You will find only 3 of them are not brilliant.
> >
> > One is Winnie Mandela. The other two come from a first class
country.
> >
> > One is limping on one leg and the other is deaf in one ear.
> >
> > Ezajur Rahman
> >
> >
> > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "junaid.sultan" junaid.sultan@
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Mr. Saeed
> > >
> > > Thanks a lot for your very informative narrative. You have
analyzed
> > the
> > > situation very correctly. Especially, when one gentleman in
this
> > column
> > > was trying to mocker the poor workers who ransacked the
Bangladesh
> > > Embassy in Kuwait and our "proud" nation. (I think this
> > > gentleman has immense love for his country. That is why he
calls it
> > a
> > > third rate country). Thanks again for making us aware the real
> > reasons
> > > behind the sad happening in Kuwait years ago.
> > >
> > > The present situation and condition of Bangladeshi workers, as
we
> > see in
> > > the newspapers, is worrying. Lack of initiative by the
Government to
> > > negotiate and resolve this issue is disturbing also. Some high-
up
> > must
> > > visit and reassure particularly the unskilled workers there.
The
> > > Government is too busy planning the exit of Khaleda and Hasina
but
> > these
> > > poor people have nothing to do with the politics of Hasina and
> > Khaleda.
> > > Why these poor people should be made to pay the price to get
rid of
> > > these ladies. Even to think about it is a crime. Those who
talk like
> > > this I invite them to leave their jobs, comeback to the country
> > (even
> > > it's a third rate country) and join the band wagon against
Khaleda
> > > and Hasina. I bet they will not. As somebody rightly said in
the
> > past,
> > > they are paper tiger only.
> > >
> > > For people like these, we also don't want Khaleda and Hasina
to be
> > > PM again. To their beloved Moeen and Fakhruddin let them be the
> > > President and PM but we want them to leave their present
positions
> > and
> > > come through proper channels (through elections).
> > >
> > > Junaid
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "saeedurrehman92"
> > <saeedurrehman92@>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I agree with Mr. Ejazur but I would like to add here that the
> > problem
> > > of
> > > > Bangladeshi manpower is much older than last 20 years. In
fact it
> > > > started right from the beginning, in late seventies when
> > Bangladeshis
> > > > started going to Middle Eastern countries in mass scale. The
then
> > > > Government did not have a very clear cut policy as a result a
> > skilled
> > > > Bangladeshi, even an Engineer, was paid less than his Indian
or
> > > > Pakistani counterpart. If I limit my statement to Kuwait and
Saudi
> > > > Arabia, initially, a worker could go there with relatively
low
> > > > expenditure. However, with the passage of time, the export of
> > > unskilled
> > > > workers started increasing. The manpower exporters, who also
> > started
> > > > growing like mushrooms, were more interested in exporting
> > unskilled
> > > > manpower. These were poor people with low educated, come from
> > villages
> > > > and so were easier to cheat. Imagine, as of today, an
unskilled
> > worker
> > > > has to pay Taka 200,000.00 to 300,000.00 to go to Kuwait or
Saudi
> > > > Arabia, with average monthly pay of Taka 5,000.00 and a
contract
> > of 3
> > > > years. Due to lack of a straight forward policy by any past
> > > Governments,
> > > > the sufferings of these poor people kept on multiplying. The
> > > Bangladesh
> > > > Embassy in Kuwait was stormed 3-4 years back by Bangladeshi
> > laborers.
> > > > The Kuwait media was very sympathetic to Bangladeshi workers
at
> > that
> > > > time. The Kuwaitis realized that these laborers are not only
low
> > paid
> > > > but unfortunately not timely paid also. But as usual, the
> > Government
> > > did
> > > > not pay any heed. Some time later a sitting Army Maj. Gen.
who was
> > > made
> > > > ambassador in Kuwait, and who really made some moves for the
> > > betterment
> > > > of laborers, was removed prematurely because of his alleged
> > connection
> > > > to AL. Instead, a high profile office bearer of the party in
> > power was
> > > > made the ambassador of Bangladesh in Kuwait.
> > > >
> > > > I have narrated all this to explain that all Bangladeshi
> > Governments,
> > > > the past and the present, are interested only in the
remittance of
> > > these
> > > > poor workers. It is painful to see the present regime is no
> > different
> > > if
> > > > not worse than the previous Governments. It is very
difficult to
> > > > comprehend why they are following the ostrich policy to the
> > present
> > > > problems of 1.8 millions Bangladeshi labors in Saudi Arabia?
As an
> > > > incumbent they are duty bound to tackle the issue. It is not
> > enough
> > > and
> > > > not acceptable to say that the problem was created by past
> > > Governments,
> > > > we are in power for a short time etc. etc. Perhaps they are
> > spending
> > > > all their time and energy to get rid of Hasina and Khaleda.
With
> > this
> > > > agenda in mind, they have gone completely out of their
senses.
> > Mind
> > > you
> > > > we are not interested in Hasina and Khaleda but we want to
> > survive.
> > > > Please for Heaven sake; concentrate on the welfare of the
common
> > man,
> > > > though we underatand you are accountable to none.
> > > >
> > > > Regards to all
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Saeed
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "ezajur" ezajur.rahman@
wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > No brother - almost all labour problems have built up over
the
> > last
> > > > > two decades. Perhaps, you have forgotten that during the
BNP
> > > > > government a thousand labourers attacked and ransacked the
> > > Bangladesh
> > > > > Embassy in Kuwait. Another great record for our proud
nation.
> > Rest
> > > > > assured that the same attack would have happened under an
AL
> > > > > government.
> > > > >
> > > > > This CTG will not last much longer. The questions are not
about
> > the
> > > > > temporary struggles of the CTG. The real questions are :
> > > > >
> > > > > How do you feel about Hasina and Khaleda as PM again?
> > > > >
> > > > > What price is worth paying to be rid of Haina and Khaleda?
> > > > >
> > > > > Best wishes
> > > > >
> > > > > Ezajur Rahman
> > > > > Kuwait
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Sajjad Hossain
shossain456@
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > But most of the labour problem started since the CTG took
> > power
> > > > > last year. The Malaysia debacle, the recent Saudi
nightmares all
> > > > > happened in the last one year. Why you blame AL and BNP.
The
> > CTG is
> > > > > seeing the GHOSTs of these two large parties. I tell you
that
> > is not
> > > > > good symptom. It is time to visit a Psychiatric.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ezajur ezajur.rahman@ wrote: Dear Robin
> > > > > >
> > > > > > You accurately describe the situation.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The people who betray our labourers first and then
exploit our
> > > > > > labourers the most are actually ......?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Other Bangladeshis.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It is as nasty, ugly, cruel and absurd a situation as
you can
> > > > > imagine.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The Embassies are invariably weak but they are neither
the
> > cause
> > > > > nor
> > > > > > the solution of the problem. Can you guess where the
root of
> > the
> > > > > > problem lies?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The root of the problem lies with politicians who
PROMOTE AND
> > > > > PROTECT
> > > > > > this situation. You have to mix with the people involved
to
> > see
> > > the
> > > > > > truth in all its ulginess.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > For every one labourer who commits suicide or dies from
> > depression
> > > > > or
> > > > > > hypertension (yes it happens more than you might guess)a
nail
> > > > > should
> > > > > > be buried in the coffins of our most renowned
politicians.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Watch the AL and BNP writers.....
> > > > > >
> > > > > > They know that AL and BNP MPs work hand in hand with
> > recruiting
> > > > > > agents - cheating and ruining our labourers.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > But they will never talk about it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Why? Because they are clueless cowards who think that
> > attacking
> > > the
> > > > > > CTG absolves them of their own responsibility and their
own
> > guilt.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Have a grown man fall at your feet crying hysterically
> > because he
> > > > > was
> > > > > > cheated by a man power agent who was protected by an
MP...
> > Then,
> > > by
> > > > > > God, you will feel some of the hatred that I feel.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Maybe hatred solves nothing. But the lack of hatred gives
> > these
> > > > > > people all the scope they need to do what they want.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The departure, or demise, of Hasina and Khaleda will
expose
> > AL and
> > > > > > BNP for what they really are... Third rate parties lead
by
> > third
> > > > > rate
> > > > > > people - in a third rate country.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > What offends us most? My last sentence? Or the weeping
grown
> > man
> > > > > > cheated by his democratically elected MP?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Best wishes
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Ezajur Rahman
> > > > > > Kuwait
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ---------------------------------
> > > > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with
Yahoo!
> > Mobile.
> > > > > Try it now.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
------------------------------------
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