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". His assessment about the political plus-minus theories played in Bangladesh mirrors our own assessment. This whole episode is stage-managed by the invisible yet mighty king/queen makers and the caretaker government is used only as a cover for their political meddling in order to maintain their stranglehold on national discourse. If one and a half year is any indication, we can certainly say that no good deeds can borne out of this (This blue, underline portion is added today, Monday, 1 AM, 26th May 2008).
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
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
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