"Glory to you Nelson, for 25 years from a solitary prison you defended human dignity!" Fidel Castro wrote in a brief note to Mandela that was published in the Communist youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde and appeared in other state-controlled media. "You knew how to resist and, without wanting to or trying to, you became a symbol of humanity's highest nobility." Help the poor, pleads Mandela as he turns 90 5:00AM Sunday July 20, 2008  Photo / AP Nelson Mandela sat beaming, his legs propped up and covered with a blanket as 10 grandchildren sang Happy Birthday and smothered him with hugs and kisses as he celebrated his 90th birthday on Friday. At his home in rural south-eastern South Africa, elders in traditional dress came to pay their respects, sheep were trucked in and bare-breasted young women sang and danced. The man himself still found time to read a pile of newspapers, to keep up with local and international affairs. Mandela told a small group of reporters he was fortunate to have reached 90, but remains troubled by the demoralising poverty still faced by so many of his countrymen. His message was simple - the wealthy must do more. "There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate, who have not been able to conquer poverty," he said. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for fighting apartheid and after his release in 1990 lead negotiations to end racist white rule, before being elected president in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. He completed his term in 1999 and did not run again, but has continued to take a leading role in the fight against poverty, illiteracy and Aids in Africa. Birthday messages have been pouring in, including from US President Bush, who applauded Mandela as "a great example of courage, hope, and the power of freedom". A variety of birthday celebration events are planned in Mandela's honour this weekend, including a lunch with 500 dignitaries, a soccer festival and a pop concert. - AP Fidel Castro hails Mandela at 90 as 'symbol of humanity's highest nobility' The Associated Press Published: July 20, 2008 HAVANA: Fidel Castro on Sunday hailed Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, calling the Nobel Peace Prize winning icon "a symbol of humanity's highest nobility." "Glory to you Nelson, for 25 years from a solitary prison you defended human dignity!" Castro wrote in a brief note to Mandela that was published in the Communist youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde and appeared in other state-controlled media. "You knew how to resist and, without wanting to or trying to, you became a symbol of humanity's highest nobility." Mandela turned 90 on Friday. Imprisoned for nearly three decades for fighting apartheid, he was release in 1990 and went on to be elected president in South Africa's first democratic elections. Castro, who is suffering from an unknown illness and will tun 82 next month, has not been seen in public since undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006. His younger brother Raul succeeded him as president in February, becoming Cuba's first new head of state in 49 years. Fidel Castro won the gratitude of many Africans by sending 350,000 troops to battle the former white-dominated South African government in Angola's civil war, draining resources from the apartheid system. Castro wrote to Mandela Sunday that "you will live on in the memories of future generations and with you, so will the Cubans who fell defending liberty and their brothers in other parts of the world." < __._,_.___ *****************************************
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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190  __,_._,___
Awami League - BNP: Coming to "Amerika".
Mohammad Gani (USA)
"Since the mathematicians have invaded the theory of relativity, I do not understand it myself anymore" said Albert Einstein. So, he diluted the definition of his theory of relativity to an easier one by saying this; "Put your hand on a hot stove for 1 minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty lady for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity! I can't agree more!
The history of gutter records and "Theory of Awami League-BNP philosophy" have so far been well known and understandable to many of us until they have invaded United States and many other countries around the globe except Haiti. Many simply do not get it "why?" And it has become difficult grasping the mystery in vision and mission of cultivating Bangladeshi "original politics" here in USA and in other foreign lands. These days, you shall see hundreds and thousands of AL-BNP dealerships-leaderships Head Quarters inundating many cities in USA, Canada, Japan, England, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, Russia, Finland, Norway………you name it! InshaAllah, all these "AL-BNP enclaves" and its rhetoric overseas have been growing real fast and indeed have surpassed all other "National politics in USA and abroad" from countries like India, e.g. Janata party, Congress , British labor….., Pakistani PPP, Muslim League…..etc.(if any).
So, I have devoted myself for last several days exploring all possible "good reasons" behind AL-BNP mission abroad and am still struggling with. I wondered but kept trying, digging and digging deeper and at the end I was so tired and exhausted that………………..
"Today is the 1st Tuesday of November, Year 4008; US national Fair and Free election has just ended few hours ago and by 11PM the election results started coming with stupefying landslide victory for the Awami League candidate running for US President and along with the absolute BNP majority in the Senate /House. Original US Democratic/Republican Party (now, Razakar) have suffered all out humiliating defeats. Also, good news started coming from London, Canberra, Ottawa, Riyadh, Singapore, Tokyo, and Moscow…….. Where Awami League and BNP secured undisputed election victory with decisive lead! My heart started pumping real fast, my hands are flying high at the sky, and my eyes glimmered with uncontrollable prides! I could not take all those many good news in a real time; thus started shouting loud with "Joy-Bangla" slogan [I mean "Joy-Bangladesh": Indian occupied West Bengal is not liberated yet.] until my wife has pushed me and wake me up! I was very upset with her for waking me up while I was only getting ready to see the final episode of our proud Awami League US President ever in the White House who should make USA as the most corrupted and the poorest country in the world in about 120 days! That would have been the beginning of counting days for the DAY OF JUDGMENT; I mean final days of this planet!
She (my wife) scolded me for sleeping during that entire afternoon and wished that I should be a philosopher instead of being a "happy husband". Probably she was mentioning of a quote by Socrates who said, "My advice to you is; get married and if you find a good wife you'll be happy, if not you'll become a philosopher." I think she was claiming to be a "good wife" and perhaps Socrates wife was not that good; so he became a philosopher!
Anyway, I must put all the turbulence of my nightmare (day-dream) under the bridge and move on. I would like to admire our "foreign grown" national assets for their glorious success and accomplishments in cultivating Awami League-BNP politics in USA as well as for producing 150 million Associations, Society, Samity, Foundations etc and several powerful FOBANA Colleges. But the catch is, if we look through closely, all we shall see that Kingpins (Queen-pins) Hasina and Khaleda are the actual ventriloquists while all these toady native intellectuals, powerful royal Bengal tigers in USA and in other foreign countries sit near their (Hasina & Khaleda) knees with melted cheese and butter as the Hasina and Khaleda's strings make these puppet-mouths open and shut! Their actual motives are hard to comprehend but circumstantial observations are convincing to conclude that they are only domineering elements consumed by greed of useless personal image, photo opportunity and fake dignity with no true love for 150 million poverty stricken people of Bangladesh nor to address any of their cause.
I know the "Truth" is always a bitter pill. When our champions of democracy and their lieutenants of corrupted minds and wisdom (worldwide) do not own up to their habitually damaging public behaviors, someone needs to talk down to them! I don't see these foreign chauvinists of Awami League and BNP talking down to their intractable matriarchs (I mean, mother leaders Hasina and Khaleda) that they are to be accountable and responsible for all the national crisis like culture of corruptions, extortion, grafts, Chandavazi, bribery those made Bangladesh from a "bottomless basket" to the most corrupted country on earth or for the "truancy" from the Parliaments for months and years together after the national election.
These national leaders and their obedient pupils (worldwide including Bangladesh) always take refuge under the banner of Patriotism, Democracy, human rights and freedom of Speech and been fooling this poor nation for years, making fortunes for themselves and their families but always remain unapologetic and defiant of any wrong doing. Our foreign grown top level AL/BNP rising stars always defend obstinate Hasina and Khaleda and their bleak images over defending the best interests of 150 million people of Bangladesh.
This poor nation desperately need leaders of integrity and not any carnival side shows act (as we have recently seen in USA for Hasina) that shall uplift our country from the crooks, thieves, liars and thugs like Hasina-Khaleda and their cronies for last 15+ years? These overseas comrades have been engaged in sanitizing the most virulent and despicable public records of Hasina and Khaleda at all times. But the good news is all these visionary and powerful "foreign-grown" AL/BNP leaders and advisers shall instantly get lost in the "Manholes" of Dhaka city side walk upon arrival! Thus, they are Monarchs with no Kingdoms and also with only rare exception, they do not have guts to get into mainstream US politics locally or nationally!
One could disapprove of my speaking for responsibility, accountability and patriotic elements the way I have delivered but advices to these patriotism-addicted "foreign grown native leaders" and their comrades are long overdue. Someone has to come up with the rubber bullets that could make impact on or make a difference in extending fingers at their eyes. I strongly believe that this is not any euphemism but exact description of their sordid tales as our community mouthpieces those have so far been detestably counterintuitive and ubiquitous, incongruous and disobliging to national interest, detrimental and invidious to community relationships in USA. No, it is not my vainglorious attempt to vilify our "foreign grown" lunatic Bangladeshi politicians by any means but only to exert some momentum in churning the stalled but complex vortex of leadership responsibility.
These individuals abroad have wiser ways to utilize their talents, intelligence and wisdom for the "common and exigent" interests of 150 million people of Bangladesh instead of enjoying aimless and useless weekend roller coaster rides around imaginary AL/BNP dream parks in USA and in other foreign lands.
Mohammad Gani
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/49110 1. I am afraid the very term "transit facility" has been misunderstood. Here the proposed transit facility will allow India to transport goods from one part of India to another part. It would not be a trade between India and Bangladesh. It would shorten the trade route for India and make the transportation more efficient cost wise and in other ways too.
2. Landlocked countries like Nepal gets transit facilities from India. India allows Nepal to get its imported goods from Kolkata port by trucks and imported Bangladeshi goods by rail. India sometimes uses this transit facility to create political pressure on Nepal. This happened some time in eighties when I was involved in exports to Nepal from Bangladesh. I don't think that in the international arena that was a respectable thing that India, a big country, did to a small country like Nepal.
3. I don't know what our policymakers have in their mind. If it does not cost any thing to Bangladesh, unhesitatingly Bangladesh should provide her friend country transit facilities. What can be the possible negative factors against providing this facility to India?
(i) One factor that immediately comes to my mind is infrastructure. Is it ready to withstand and accommodate the additional huge transportation of goods? If it is not, India should help Bangladesh develop the necessary infrastructure.
(ii) How to be sure what goods are being transported? Are they hazardous? Should arms and explosives be allowed? These are legal issues. These are to be mutually settled.
(iii) Will there be any transshipment? Would Bangladeshi transporters be allowed to carry the goods? Will the Bangladeshi agencies be allowed to work as clearing, forwarding and handling agents? These are the economic issues that Bangladesh and India should settle on a friendly basis and with positive attitudes.
4. Cheap anti-Indian politics and anti-Indian slogan (Jamaatis and some other Islam-pasand parties have already started talking in such terms) should not over weigh the long-term tangible and intangible benefits that Bangladesh might derive from the proposed transit agreement.
---SC
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India Bangladesh border clashes
I have said it before that the illegal border trades and the involvement of the border security forces in the smuggling are the key causes for the India-Bangladesh border strifes. We have seen Indian border security forces (BSF) killing one Bangladeshi every five days on the charge of trespassing Indian borders.
On Thursday the BSF intruders into Bangladeshi soil killed two Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) jawans. The Daily Star reports: BDR officials said BSF guards opened fired on their personnel when they challenged the latter for illegally entering about 1,300 yards into Bangladesh territory shortly after Thursday midnight.
A group of BSF guards from Neemtita camp under Murshidabad district entered Bangladesh crossing the River Padma on a speedboat and walked over a risen shoal to Raghunathpur village of Durlobhpur union under Shibganj upazila near pillar No 110.
Being informed, a patrol team of BDR from Raghunathpur border post led by Habilder Abdul Hannan Sarker rushed to the village and challenged the intruding BSF men for violating the line of control, reported our Chapainawabganj correspondent.
Two BSF bullets hit Hannan while six hit Lance Nayek Krishnopodo Saha as BSF men suddenly opened fire on them, killing them instantly. The bodies were recovered from a pool of blood. "Blood marks were also on the trail of BSF men's escape path." said Ataul Ghani, a villager.
Immediately after the killings, BDR retaliated with full force trading over 200 rounds of shots with BSF for about an hour.
"BSF intruded illegally and opened fire without any provocation," Director (Operation and Training) of BDR Col Abdul Halim told a hurriedly arranged news briefing at BDR Headquarters in Dhaka.
"In the face of BDR's counter attack, the BSF men fled leaving their speedboat behind," Halim said adding that they also arrested an Indian national from the spot.
"The incident could have been prevented had the BSF not opened fire." Now we will look at the contrast of reports in different news sources:
BBC:
India said its troops had been chasing cattle smugglers and that both sides' forces had traded heavy fire. One Indian soldier was seriously injured.
Locals said Indian troops had opened fire on the cattle smugglers, perhaps without informing the Bangladeshi border force. The Statesman:
Two jawans belonging to Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) were shot dead by a BSF constable near Nimtita border outpost in Murshidabad last night while they were allegedly escorting a group of cattle smugglers to Bangladesh. AP:
The clash occurred when an Indian border patrol vessel tried to prevent cattle from being smuggled into Bangladesh on a boat, said Ashish Kumar Mitra, the head of India's Border Security Force.
The Indian forces were monitoring the boat in the pre-dawn darkness when they were fired upon without warning, Mitra said.
Col. Mohammad Abdul Halim (of BDR) said the Indian Border Force patrol boat entered Bangladeshi waters and when a Bangladeshi Rifles vessel challenged them to leave, the Indians opened fire.
The Bangladesh Rifles arrested an Indian citizen, Anjam Hossain, and seized a boat at the scene. ExpressIndia:
District Magistrate (of Murshidabad) Subir Bhadra said the BDR opened fire when cattle were being smuggled to Bangladesh near Nimtita area of the district.
The BSF retaliated after an Indian border guard was injured in the BDR firing, Bhadra said. ExpressIndia in an another article:
According to the BSF, four teams of their personnel were monitoring the river around midnight when a large number of cattle were spotted swimming in the river. BSF jawan R K Pande found himself surrounded by a dozen boats while he was trying to bring the cattle towards the Indian side. "It was dark and before the jawan could make any move, Pande was fired upon," Murlidhar said. The two sides then exchanged fires. Pande, who had sustained bullet injuries with his right toe blown off, meanwhile, managed to reach another border outpost. Thaindian News reports that Pande fired first:
BSF Inspector General (South Bengal) C.V. Murlidhar told IANS that BSF constable R.K. Pande was on night patrolling when he saw a few people smuggling out some cattle through the riverine border.
"In an attempt to stop the cattle from going to the other side of the fence, he opened fire targeting the smugglers in the dark. Pande also sustained two bullet injuries in his legs during the gun battle. He's now admitted to a hospital in a critical condition," Murlidhar said. China View:
The senior official who asked not to be named said the Indian BSF entered the Bangladesh territorial water last night while chasing some smugglers by speed boats in the Padma river, one of the three biggest rivers in Bangladesh.
As a BDR patrol team challenged, the Indian BSF opened fire killing two Bangladeshi border guards on the spot. BDR made counter fire forcing the Indian BSF to retreat. Sify.com reports:
The BDR had no business to be there at such hours.
Besides infiltration from the Bangladesh side, cattle smuggling from India is common, primarily for beef in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
India prohibits cattle exports, as beef consumption is frowned upon by the country's majority Hindu population. Now you see people may easily be distracted by all these news as almost none of them are telling the true story. Now can we summarize the important information from the above?
* Many reports confirmed that the Indian patrol boat entered Bangladesh territory (1300 yrds to be precise). The boat was seized along with an Indian citizen. He is a prime witness to this.
* BSF claimed that they were chasing cattle smuggler. "BSF jawan R K Pande found himself surrounded by a dozen boats while he was trying to bring the cattle towards the Indian side." Well I thought it was the smugglers we were taking about not the cattle. Why were they protecting the cattle?
* In border region the norm is that the forces challenge any trespasser before shooting. BDR said they challenged the intruding BSF men for violating the line of control and they were shot in return. BSF commented "the BDR had no business to be there at such hours" - seemingly they did not anticipate BDR intervention to what they were doing in Bangladesh waters.
* Was the BDR men helping the smugglers as per BSF's suggestion? But wait we also get the report in Express India "BDR opened fire when cattle were being smuggled to Bangladesh". Quite confusing.
* Indian troops had opened fire on the cattle smugglers, perhaps without informing the Bangladeshi border force. - In any logic how can you unprovocatively shoot in a foreign territory on suspicion? Do they have authority to kill on their will? Does the country have any law of shooting alleged criminals (who determines who is guilty?) at sight?
* The Indian forces were monitoring the boat in the pre-dawn darkness when they were fired upon without warning. The BSF retaliated after an Indian border guard was injured in the BDR firing - We are back to the who fired first issue and the Indian newspaper reports are quite contradictory (Pande shot first or was fired upon?).
* India prohibits cattle exports, as beef consumption is frowned upon by the country's majority Hindu population. - Well if it was legalized all these men would not have died.
All of these proves that we need some authentic pieces of journalism to understand these kinds of incidents. Apparently some people are hiding something here and we are getting provocative news reports which are anything other than the truth.
Update: BSF kills two more Bangladeshis n Chougachha border in Jessore Saturday, a day after two BDR members were killed by Indian border guards:
"Rezaul Islam and Zainal Abedin were near the barbed wire fencing in Panchpirtala border area around 5am. At the time, BSF members from Moshrumpur border opened fire on them.
BDR Jadavpur company commander Mosharraf Hossain alleged that the BSF had killed the two Bangladeshi youths without any "provocation".
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/india-bangladesh-border-clashes-searching-truth
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Is Bangladesh a failed state? Prothom Alo published a report on 20 July 2008 as it's main news by the head line ` Is Bangladesh in the list of failed state? ` US Congress recently published a report which shows Bangladesh at the rank of 12 out of 144 countries. The report cite the reference of the finding of Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy magazine. The reference of the report in the daily draws sharp reactions from the experts.
Bangladesh ranked 12 with 100.3 points out of 144 states, Somalia holds the last position on the basis of following 12 indicators: Social Indicators:
I-1. Mounting Demographic Pressures
I-2. Massive Movement of Refugees or Internally Displaced Persons creating
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
I-3. Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
I-4. Chronic and Sustained Human Flight Economic Indicators
I-5. Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines
I-6. Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline Political Indicators
I-7. Criminalization and/or Delegitimization of the State
I-8. Progressive Deterioration of Public Services
I-9. Suspension or Arbitrary Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread
Violation of Human Rights
I-10. Security Apparatus Operates as a "State Within a State"
I-11. Rise of Factionalized Elites
I-12. Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors The ordinary citizen compiled the following scores of Bangladesh in different attributes:
| Index no | Attributes | Bangladesh score | Rank in the item |
| | 1.1 | Mounting Demographic Pressures | 9.8 | 2 |
| | 1.2 | . Massive Movement of Refugees or Internally Displaced Persons creating Complex Humanitarian Emergencies | 7.1 | 38 |
| | 1.3 | Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia | 9.7 | 4 |
| | 1.4 | Chronic and Sustained Human Flight | 8.4 | 5 |
| | 1.5 | Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines | 9.0 | 9 |
| | 1.6 | Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline | 7.1 | 54 |
| | 1.7 | Criminalization and/or Delegitimization of the State | 9.1 | 17 |
| | 1.8 | Progressive Deterioration of Public Services | 7.8 | 39 |
| | 1.9 | Suspension or Arbitrary Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread Violation of Human Rights | 8.0 | 31 |
| | 1.10 | . Security Apparatus Operates as a "State Within a State" | 8.3 | 23 |
| | 1.11 | Rise of Factionalized Elites | 9.6 | 06 |
| | 1.12 | . Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors | 6.4 | 71 |
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The table shows interesting finding- Bangladesh scores worst in 1.1 in `Mounting demographic pressure' likely due to climate changes where Bangladesh is rather a victim of the global warming induced by excess carbon emission. The other areas where Bangladesh scores low are 1.3 Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance probably the researchers is not liking the collective bargaining of the LDCs, BIMSTEC,D8 etc;1.4 Chronic and Sustained Human Flight; 1.11 Rise of Factionalized Elites which the report defined as Fragmentation of ruling elites and state institutions along group lines and Use of nationalistic political rhetoric by ruling elites, often in terms of communal irredentism or of communal solidarity; and 1.5 Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines. The report does not assess from a neutral point. It is fragmented view from above.
The report fails to recognize the courage and resilience of Bangladeshi people in overcoming 2 massive floods and a devastating cyclone, the effect of microfinance on the low income group and the positive transformation that is taking place in our state craft. In no way Bangladesh is a failed state or will be one? Bangladesh will prove the skeptics wrong.
http://bdoza.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/is-bangladesh-a-failed-state/
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| The end of the era of anti-corruption
One of the main platforms of the Emergency Government, that is, its drive against corruption is collapsing fast under its feet; it only remains to be seen how far and how painful will be the fall both for the Emergency Government and the people of this Country.
The last few days have witnessed a whole deluge of people being released on bail by the higher courts; people who had been incarcerated on various charges of corruption. The defending lawyers point out procedural mistakes and the rights of the accused to "fair trial" and bail of course; the higher judiciary agrees to these justifications and releases the accused who are considered by the people at large to be some of the most corrupt, real-life "god fathers" of every conceivable and even some unconceivable crimes ranging from thievery to extortion, bribery, arms and drug smuggling, murder and even genocide.
The ACC has been unable to justify its allegations or even prepare charges against the accused and our government's chief lawyer, the Attorney General has resigned "on health grounds". While our courts and our lawyers are busy defending the rights of people such as these, who is going to defend the right of an entire Nation not to be victims of a wholly predatory regime of extortion, murder and rapine of private and public wealth?
In numerous articles, editorial after editorial, I have pointed out that this Emergency Government is not going to solve any of the core problems of our Nation, that the Emergency was an ill-conceived attempt by a few to bring about a "regime change" to replace one group of the "privileged and the powerful" by another group, that the anti-corruption drive was a farce to justify the Emergency and that finally the Nation and its people will be brought to ruination by the activities of this Government.
In 18 months of Emergency, our people have become poorer, even more deprived and helpless than they were before; our politics has not changed one little bit; corruption in public and private life is as rampant as before; governance and public administration is as cynical and as careless of the welfare of the people as it ever was and our Military is as involved in murky politics as it ever could be. So, what did we achieve except road-shows of various types and forms - road-shows for eating potatoes, for building a better Bangladesh, for raising awareness about corruption - all for the benefit of 150 million people grinded down by poverty, privations, diseases and an endless cycle of natural disasters.
Talking of road-shows, the latest is the one planned by the ACC and the TIB to raise awareness of young people against corruption through holding concerts in major cities of the Country. The TIB has planned to spend Taka 56 lakhs on these concerts when the people of this Country are unable to garner enough money to have one square meal a day! Somebody ought to ask the TIB for their sources of such incomes. The Chairman ACC, having made all arrangements and having set all conditions for emptying the jails of all "VIP prisoners" he had earlier charged with corruption, is now busy sponsoring concerts. So much for the Jihad against corruption! No, the Chairman ACC is not going to resign; he is going to listen to music along with the Chief Advisor and the Chief of Army Staff, while Bangladesh burns. The era of anti-corruption is dead and so are the people of this Nation - Long live the Nation of the deaf, the dumb and the dead.
http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm |
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People in bangladesh hardly think that this CTG is for the people of BANGLADESH, BY THE PEOPLE BANGLADESH OR OF THE PEOPLE OF BANGLADESG.
To KNOW How people in Bangladesh think of CTG
visit the link http://www.ittefaq.com/content/2008/07/21/news0122.htm আল্লাহ যাকে যখন ইচ্ছা ক্ষমতা দান করেন,মাইনাস টু ফরমুলায় তাই হাসেন
http://www.microscopiceye.blogspot.com/
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Make susil Mozaffar the prime minister, Majumdar as deputy prime minister , Shaikh siraz, Moti , Mahfuz and other susils as member of the cabinet.
All problems of bangladesh will be solved . It seems to me seeing them posingh thier nose everywhere.' What do you think ? agree with me or disagree?
প্রতিনিধি , অশীল সমাজ
হে আল্লাহ আমাকে কখনো বিদেশীদের তাবেদার সুশীলদের অন্তর্à¦ূক্ত করো না |
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Sydney Gay and Lesbian Community Publishing Limited is a community-owned, incorporated company. The company's core business is publishing the Sydney Star Observer, a weekly gay and lesbian community newspaper. Although the newspaper is Sydney-based, it is distributed right across Australia. It has the highest audited circulation of any lesbian and gay newspaper in the country. And boy! We are glad to have been covered!! This certainly means a lot for BOB and everyone associated with it. Rejoice! Himadri ====================================================================================================== Getting connected in Bangladesh - Category:
- Community
- Author:
- Lyndon Barnett
- Posted:
- Wednesday, 9 July 2008
The second instalment of our series spotlighting gay life in a foreign country looks at Bangladesh, a country that receives relatively little international attention but is at the beginning of a journey toward major equality and acceptance. Dhaka-raised, Quazi Haque, 29, describes a Bangladesh where neither society nor the government recognises the existence of a gay and lesbian population. "There is no social acceptance for gay people. I chose not to `come out' because I didn't want my parents to be socially embarrassed," Quazi said. "There wasn't really any threat of bodily harm, just a potential to be isolated from society." Nazrum Islam, Counsellor with the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra says that Bangladeshi society does not permit homosexuality. "The population is 90 percent Muslim and it is not allowed in Islam," he said. "That is why there is no official recognition of homosexuality in Bangladesh." Quazi believes the reason lies partially with religion. "It is wrong when the Government is represented as not recognising homosexuality because Islam doesn't approve. Bangladeshi laws and the Constitution are independent of Islamic laws," Quazi said. "The grip of the religious leaders is weak but Bangladeshi society is not bold enough to go against the teachings of the religion." As a result of the culture, Quazi's teenage years were not easy. "Without any support, I suffered a lot growing up." Quazi was determined to make a difference and provide a support network for the gay population of Bangladesh. The challenge would be how. As Bangladesh had no gay infrastructure, Quazi was starting from the very beginning. The solution came in the form of the internet. "A Yahoo group was the easiest method I found to connect the gay population of Bangladesh. I created Boys of Bangladesh or BOB," he said. Since creating the Yahoo group in late 2002, BOB has become the central hub for all gay communication in the country. Virtually all websites now discussing gay Bangladesh list BOB as the main support avenue for Bangladeshis. A group of six volunteers moderate all postings, with Quazi moderating some posts on his laptop in Sydney. Quazi believes the success of the group lies in the impartiality of the moderators. BOB essentially established rules for the Bangladeshi gay society. "Without boundaries everyone can do whatever they want. I wanted the gay Bangladesh society to mature and have rules in which to make their lives liveable," Quazi said. "Through BOB I've achieved that to some extent." BOB is not only confined to the virtual world. The moderators also organise activities such as dinners, picnics and movies. "Through BOB gay people could establish friendships and not just meet other men for sex," he said. Acts of homosexuality are illegal in Bangladesh under the British imperial remnant, Section 377. However, this law is rarely, if ever, used to prosecute offenders. Quazi, who currently works as an engineer, came to Sydney in 2003. "I couldn't live honestly in that society. Even today, and despite BOB, there is still no one in Bangladesh who will openly identify as gay," he said. "Change takes time. In the last five years a lot has been achieved. The pace is getting faster and faster. I think in 20 years Bangladesh will have everything that Sydney has today." Bangladesh can feel isolated and lonely for that country's gay and lesbian population. Visit BoysOnlyBangladesh (BOB): __._,_.___ *****************************************
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Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190  __,_._,___
I was tempted to make a response to the mail that illustrates 7 reasons for giving transit to India. Here's what I thought after reading each reasons: 1. Bangladeshis are first and foremost mainstream Indian remember, once upon a time Bengal was cultural, educational, financial center of India. If we can revive that role, bangladeshis will be better off. I don't see the relevance. These are subjective judgment. In the current context it might be the other way round. Please take a statistics of how many Bangladeshis go to India for higher studies and vice versa. 2. It will allow access to a more resourceful country. Where are those more resourceful countries? How is it more advantageous compared to getting access through Myanmar to South East Asia (resourceful countries like China, Japan, Malaysia)? I guess the point is entirely one sided. 3. It will open-up our society and breakdown sectarian narrow grip of politicians on people" It would be too naive to think that India does not have `sectarian narrow grip of politicians on people". I guess Norendro Modi stands out a good example. Surly India's political culture is much matured. However our `context' is different and I think (my personal opinion) that religious harmony in Bangladesh is much better. 4. It will compromise the jamatis/fundamentalists, who are now becomming powerful in closed bangladeshi ghettoes. I guess the point is little mixed up here. Jamatis/ fundamentalist are becoming powerful not because we did not give transit to India but for the lack of a consensus amongst the political parties in Bangladesh to abandon them and as some Bangladeshis are voting for them in election. Giving transit cannot be an answer to fight against the jamatis. This is has to do with the education and preference of the people and politicians of Bangladesh. 5. Business opportunities will improve. Yes this is a valid point but 'improve' for whom and by what magnitude? I haven't come across any empirically unbiased research on this issue yet. Some World Bank working paper found a weak case for pursuing a bilateral FTA between Bangladesh and India and suggested unilateral trade liberalization by both countries as more benefiting (Bangladesh Development Series Paper No: 13 by World Bank). 6. It will facilitate pooja and eid marketing. What could be better for us! Ah! Here we go… A number of things could be 'better' for us. We could rather restrict our Pooja and Eid marketing within our country and thereby help develop our small and cottage industries (just the way India used to do decades ago). We could give the breathing time to our growing industries so that they are able to compete with the outside good (just the way the Indians used to do ). 7. Overall, general public will be happier and the social health will improve. "Happiness" is a relative term and I guess we rank quite high in this context. About "social heath", consider the rate and number of HIV affected people of both the countries and multiply that with the mobility offered by transit, you may have a different picture. Yes, we will be able to travel to India for medical need much easily, but for that we already have a train service and it is running in loss due to shortage of passengers! The distress and calamities of present day bangladeshis are due to their philosophical and cultural imprisonment. They cherish to merge into the unique, great indian melting pot of modern era. Nobody can stop it! If anything, the `distress' here is not of the people of Bangladesh but of the logics of the writer and the prism through which he is seeing this issue. We may be more reasonable before passing any judgment on such important issue and blaming others of being parochial when our own logics doesn't stand the test of reality. One more thing, the concept of "melting pot" have been proven wrong /created backlash in many countries and the social scientist these days prefer "Salad Bowel" where each entity can live with their own distinctive identity. Take care and take it easy. Cheers ZIK __._,_.___ *****************************************
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
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
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.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
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Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
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VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190  __,_._,___
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