*Janakantha editor will be released*
*When Sheikh Hasina will be free*
Janakantha revolutionized Bangladesh Print Media. Janakantha is the news
paper which did not submit to the Islamic fundamentalists & political
Islamists, and did not compromise its journalistic ethics and standards for
the Nizami-khaleda gov't advertisement money. For these two crimes! who else
but the editor of Janakantha will be in jail?
Mr. Atiquallah Masud was target of the Islamists, viz. by Jamaat/ BNP a long
time ago. When the care taker government came to power Jamaat with its
sympathizers was able to get him. He is the poor victim of the growing
militancy in Bangladesh. He is in jail and will be in jail for 48 long years
if the Islamists have their way as the prevailing situation in Bangladesh
suggests, unless the war criminals are tried and put away for good, and the
progressive forces return to power.
On 9th May in Washington, D.C. in a Congressional Human Rights Caucus
Symposium in Rayburn building, Mr. Selig Harrison, director of the Asia
Program at the Center for International Policy and a senior scholar of the
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, told point blank that, it
was almost certain that AL was coming to power and to stop that from
happening this drama of 1/11 was played as programmed. After BNP/Jamaat left
power, all the episodes played was aimed at preventing Awami League from
coming to power and the charade continues to date. Editor Atiqullah Masud is
also a victim of that evil scheme. Sheikh Hasina is in jail for the same
reason. The main game plot is to 'Stop Awami League' by any and all means.
They forget that Pakistan tried to stop AL and Bangladesh emerged as a free
country. I don't know what fate will ordain for those heinous Islamists, but
I am sure militant Islamists are bound to be doomed in Bangladesh. In the
same Washington event, I was invited as a speaker. During the Q&A session,
someone asked a question about Jamaat and my answer was: US administration
policy towards Jamaat is not a reflection of the popular sentiment in the US
nor that of In Bangladesh. In fact Jamaat is the party which gives shelter
to all Islamic terrorists. State department acting director Mr. Richard
Sacks also spoke there and was present during the Q&A.
Two years or so ago, few Bangladeshi editors were invited to the US State
Department, when I had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Atiqullah Masud. We
met him mainly to 'Thank Him' for his unassailable service rendered for the
safety and welfare of the religious minorities of Bangladesh during
BNP/Jamaat rule, especially, during the dark days in the aftermath of 2001
election when the Islamic goons celebrated their victory by killing, raping,
looting and persecuting the religious minorities of Bangladesh. This
honorable man, a true patriot who left the comfort and the luxury of richess
and joined the war against Pakistand for our freedom is jailed today for his
unbowed stance for our freedom and justice and against dark pulses
discrimination and Islamic fanaticism. Inspite of government's
ruthless incarceration of him, the sacrifice Mr. Atiqullah Masud had made
has already earned him the distinction of People's Editor. We salute him and
I am sure minorities and progressive forces are saluting him as well. At
this time, I must take the opportunity to say, 'Thank You' to all Janakantha
journalists including respected Toyab Khan & Borhan Bhai.
The question, when Mr. Masud will be freed, looms large today. We can't
envisage a scenario of his freedom under this government. But it can
certainly be predicted that his incarceration will end when Sheikh Hasina is
free. I am sure there is no jail in Bangladesh which can confine her for too
long. Clock is ticking; she will be free along with all the progressive
forces. For Khaleda Zia, I am sorry, she should be tried for 'Crime against
Humanity' and surely, I want an open, free & fair trial.
The tide is turning. On May 18, the Chief Advisor opined in his speech "new
dawn of the new year will welcome a democratically elected new gov't in
Bangladesh". It is not far-fetched that the new dawn of the new year will
also write a new script for all the actors who played in the 1/11 drama.
Until that--let's keep our fingers crossed.
Sitangshu Guha
New York
5/23/2008
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Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
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Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
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MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
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Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
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German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
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