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Sunday, August 3, 2008

[mukto-mona] First BdOSN Code sprint

                     First BdOSN Code sprint
                                           15-16-17 August, 2008
                                      CSE Dept, SUST
                             BANGLADESH

Organized by : Bangladesh Open Source Network

Supported by : CSE Society and SUST OSN, Shajalal University of Science and
Technology

Introduction : Bangladesh Open Source Network (www.bdosn.org) in association with
CSE Society and SUST OSN pleased to announced that a two days Code Sprint will be
organized at CSE Dept, SUST on 8-9 August, 2008. A sprint is a time-boxed period of
software development focused on a given list of goals but with variable scope. Sprints
have become popular events among some Open Source projects.The First BdOSN Code
Sprint aims to develop 5 Open Source Projects in the Sprint. There will be 5 teams, each
leading by a Team leader and will have 5 members in the team which comprises software
professionals and computer science students. All participants will receive a certificates of
accomplishment of succesfull completion of a Sprint. The Sprint will be at end with a
team presentation of the software. Besides the Sprint, there will be a few side line talk on
different technology issues. There will be 4 such talk in two days. The talks will be open
for all students.

Objectives:
    1. Provide a platform for the Open Source programmers across the country so that
         they meet in person, socialize, and start to communicate more effectively when
         working together remotely
    2. Produce some software that will be useful for the society and people can use it
         legally.
    3. Encourage students to participate in Open Source projects.
    4. Introducing the students with the real life project and
    5. Developing interaction between the academia and the industry.

The Projects selected for first Code Sprint -
                                                            
 Sl.    Description                                Technology/Platform/Skill                           Team leader
 1.      PHP Visual Site Builder :           PHP                                                                   Mohammad Zakaria Chowdhury
          A developer's tool - a                                                                                              Director, Webcraft
          visual PHP site builder                                                                                           Bangladesh
          using CakaPHP (an open                              
          source framework). The
          main purpose of it is to
          reduce website
          development time.

 2.     A system to check real-                 Python, PyS60,                                                 Tamim Shahriar (Subeen),
          time stock price from                   Google Application                                            Software Engineer, TigerIT
          Mobile phone.                               Engine                                                                 BD Ltd.

 3.   MiniIM                                               J2ME, PHP,                                                        Kamanashis Roy (Shuva),
      (instant messenger for                     Facebook API                                                    Freelance Software
      mobile phone)                                                                                                                Developer.
 
4.   Bangla Input System Add-              Java Script and                                                   Abu Mohammad Omar
      on/Toolbar/Extension/Plug-             XML                                                                     Shehab Uddin Ayub,
      in for Mozilla/FireFox                                                                                                     Software Engineer, Nilavo
                                                                                                                                               Technologies

5.   Bug/Issue tracker software              PHP + MySQL                                                    Z.M. Mizanur Rahman
      for software development                (CakePHP Framework)                                     (Bipool), Senior Software
      projects.                                                                                                                           Engineer, TigerIT BD Ltd.


The deliverable: The Sprint will complete the above projects and released all codes under
GPL 3.0

                                                                                       


--
|=============|
Regards,
Abu Mohammad Omar Shehab Uddin Ayub
(আবু মোহাম্মদ ওমর শেহাবউদ্দীন আইয়ুব)
Software Engineer, Nilavo Technologies, Banani, Dhaka
Bangladesh Open Source Network, Dhaka
2000 batch, Dept. of CSE, SUST
www.biscomdeliveryserver.com
www.bdosn.org
www.sust.edu
----------------------------------------------------
জমি উপড়ায়ে ফেলে চ'লে গেছে চাষা
নতুন লাঙল তার পড়ে আছে, — পুরানো পিপাসা
জেগে আছে মাঠের উপরে :
সময় হাঁকিয়া যায় পেঁচা ওই আমাদের তরে!
হেমন্তের ধান ওঠে ফ'লে –
দুই পা ছড়ায়ে বস এইখানে পৃথিবীর কোলে।
__._,_.___

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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
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

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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
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

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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:
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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[ALOCHONA] Kuwait- where are the world's human right champions

Our workers abroad: no one
is doing us any favours
(New Age- 03.08.08)
When workers come back with bruises and wounds for demanding their salaries, we are reminded once more that often labour importing countries that save millions by taking cheap labour from Bangladesh think that they are doing us a favour. It's time for the realisation that the benefit is not one sided,
writes Towheed Feroze

The inhuman details of torture reportedly carried out on many of our deported workers from Kuwait are public knowledge now, and as we look at the photographs of forlorn men standing at the Zia International Airport with bandages and bruised faces, the expression on their faces asks one clear question: is this what we deserve? In fact, that is the question that should be put forward to the authorities of the countries from which our workers had to come back. And it's about time that we attach due importance to the plight faced by millions of Bangladeshi workers abroad. Yes, their tales of woe, like being stranded in the airport with no contacts or ending up in squalid prisons, have come to the papers at regular intervals but in the last one week, the events that took place in Kuwait and the subsequent repatriation of workers, many with wounds, forces us to face this matter, not only with compassion but with a stern conviction.
   Of course, if workers in a foreign land break the law and are the cause of social unrest, then the law of the land has to act. But how is this beating up of workers and their deportation justified when they were the victims in the first place? The trouble had been brewing for quite some time and the fact that workers from Bangladesh are generally not paid enough is not a revelation for most of us. We have known for quite some time that a person is lured into the overseas employment trap with a reasonably good monthly wage, say 60 Kuwaiti Dinars, in the case of Kuwait, but in reality most workers, after landing in Kuwait find that their salary has been slashed to 20 or 25. But even that is a very generous estimate because a series of recent reports have informed us that often the salary does not even cross 20 KD. Obviously, a question arises as to where the rest of the money goes and so far we have known that it goes to the middlemen. And, in our ignorance we think that the middlemen are always Bangladeshi people. Sadly, that is the first fatal flaw in our understanding. In truth, many of the middle entities are companies owned by Syrians or Egyptians and that is where the money goes. 'It's wrong to think that the money is taken by Bangladeshi agents because in many situations the manpower supplying link is but another Arab agency and since these are run by Arabic speaking people, they manage to evade the law,' commented a Bangladeshi professional who works in Kuwait. 'Even in our company, the supplier of manpower is an Egyptian company and until last month, the workers usually received 20 KD as their monthly wages,' he mentioned and added, 'Since these companies are run by Arabs, they are never caught. Then in a lot of cases the passports of the workers are confiscated and therefore, there remains no option but to remain working for the company for a miserable salary.'
   Now, it would not be fair at all to say that all of our Bangladeshi expatriates are good people. Yes there are people engaged in prostitution rings, manufacturing of spurious alcohol and drugs and if the law is strict on them we have no objection whatsoever. But, when innocent workers face physical assault and are sent back in humiliation, we must stand up and take a stance.
   But to understand the whole debacle of the workers and their deportation, we must go back a few days and trace the reports. 'The workers protested not because their salary was low but because they had not been paid for three months,' observed a Bangladeshi research analyst working in Kuwait. And, if that is the case then we support their agitation! These people have gone abroad to work and are working for salaries that are not even half of what they were promised and still sometimes we feel that the country which takes our labourers are doing us a favour? If we bring the charter of human rights in the workplace then most of the countries of the Middle-East will turn out to be gross violators. The middlemen may take a big chunk from the earnings of the workers but what is the government of that country doing to stop it?
   To turn our attention to other issues, it's reported that every month, one or two maids, working in the countries of the Arab gulf and usually from the Philippines, commit suicide. Given the spate of reports over the past decade that have given first hand accounts from survivors, of torture or beatings by their employers in the countries in question, is it not unnatural that those governments remain silent on this continuing trend of suicides?
   Now that a large number of people are back with sour experiences efforts are underway to find if these people were actually involved in any sort of disharmonious acts, we are informed that usually the ones who create the problems always manage to escape the law. 'The fall guys are the innocent ones who are used as cannon fodder. The main ones escape because of the prevalent system of 'Wasta' or link that is maintained with the authority, reportedly in exchange of bribes.'
   If the authorities in foreign countries round up those engaged in racketeering, money-laundering and other nefarious acts then we will applaud their moves. But, if they crack down on innocent people to vent their anger then there must be firm protests.
   The matter of 'favour' was mentioned earlier, and I would like to say that, by taking our workers no one is doing us any big favour. Thousands of Bangladeshi workers toil in the desert sun with the heat often reaching upto to 49 degrees and they do it, in most cases, for a salary that is lower than the one that was promised to them. Now Kuwait has a law that states that an employer has to suspend all work if the heat reaches 50 degrees but reportedly many do work day in and day out in 48 to 49 degrees. This labour is cheap and this is the labour that goes into making the hundreds of luxurious buildings and structures in the desert lands. Plain economics of the matter is that, by employing Bangladeshi workers these countries save billions and yet they feel they are doing us a favour. The hard truth, no one can offer such a vast work force at such low rates. Yes, there are Indian workers, but today, India herself needs her workers for her economic boom and she is willing to pay competitive rates. That means, the source of work force is limited.
   The bottom line is: if the law of a foreign country needs to resort to stringent measures then these should not be directed at the workers but towards the profit hungry middle agents. The trouble in Kuwait would not even have taken place if the salaries had been paid regularly, but as the situation has become ugly, we now demand a thorough investigation of the issue and a statement from the middle agents. Also, we demand human rights organisations go into these countries where manpower is imported to see if their working and living conditions meet with the minimum human standard. Western media is prompt to move into third world markets to see violations of labour laws but we never see them venture into labour markets of wealthy states. Now why is that?
   If our workers go abroad to work then they must do so in conditions that do not insult their human dignity and the governments of labour importing states need to realise this too. It's time the clear truth comes out in the open: the favour is not one sided, it goes both ways. You take our workers and you save big bucks – that's the truth thrown at your face.

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[ALOCHONA] Kuwait - Nurul Kabir said it all

 

New Age Edirorial

 

Editorial
Criminal indifference (4.08.08)

The photograph front-paged in New Age on Sunday, of a Bangladeshi worker deported from Kuwait showing the marks of injury that he sustained in police action and torture by his employers, reveals more than the despair and desperation of an individual. It exposes the feudalistic mindset of the Kuwaiti society where, seemingly, the relationship between the employers and the employees is not based on mutual recognition and respect but defined by domination – physical and financial – of the former over the latter. It also bears testimony to the military-controlled interim government's failure to stand by our overseas workers and to stand up against the violation of their rights as migrant workers by their Kuwaiti employers and as human beings by the Kuwaiti authorities.
   The series of events that unfolded over the past week should leave no doubt in anyone's minds that the Bangladeshi workers have been doubly denied – first by their Kuwaiti employers and then by the Kuwaiti authorities. It is also obvious that the workers took to the street on valid grounds. That their demand for higher pay and improved working condition was justified has been amply proved by the Kuwaiti government's subsequent decision that the private sector has to increase the minimum wage for workers to 40 Kuwaiti dinars per month and foot their insurance, housing and health expenditures. Deplorably, however, the Kuwaiti security and law-enforcement authorities came down hard on the workers for taking to the street, picking them up from their residence, torturing them and bundling them into homebound planes.
   The harsh treatment meted to the protesting workers suggest that the Kuwaiti authorities are yet to graduate from their medieval mentality, into recognising the migrant workers as partners in development, not paid-up slaves, so to speak, and that they have little regard for the international conventions that guarantees migrant workers protection from any forms of discrimination and rights violation. Perhaps they forget the fact that the modern Kuwait they so eagerly showcase to the rest of the world has been built on the blood and sweat of the migrant workers, especially from the South Asian countries.
   What is even more deplorable is the utmost indifference and, needless to say, ineptitude with which the interim government of Bangladesh has handled the issue thus far. Over and over, the incumbents have displayed what may be called its inherent apathy, if not antipathy, to the working class. For example, one of the first few things that it did upon its assumption of office was to remove makeshift shops from pavements and roadsides in the capital, thereby making thousands of people jobless overnight. Thus, when the foreign secretary issued a veiled threat to the workers in the wake of their demonstrations in Kuwait, we were outraged but not surprised.
   It is common knowledge that our workers get no redress for the exploitation they are subjected to in many countries because of the government's and the overseas missions' failure to protect their rights. In this case as well, the government has hardly taken any effective step to ensure that the deported workers, who number almost 500 by now, are adequately compensated. Such indifference borders on the criminal.
   The government should, therefore, immediately demand of the Kuwaiti authorities for compensation for the deported workers. It should also take up the issue with the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations, as, evidently, the rights of the deported workers were violated on more counts than one. Besides, it should move for a resolution by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation denouncing the incident; after all, not only Bangladeshis but workers from other South Asian countries have also been subjected to deprivation and denial of rights in Kuwait. As both Bangladesh and Kuwait are members of the Organisation of Islamic Conferences, the incumbents should also lodge a complaint with the OIC.

 


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RE: [ALOCHONA] I Do Not Know This Bangladeshi Culture

Mr. Khundkar:

I agree with you. We waste too much much money in our marriages.

Regards,

Aziz Huq




To: alochona@yahoogroups.com; alochona@yahoogroups.com
From: rkhundkar@earthlink.net
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:03:25 -0700
Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] I Do Not Know This Bangladeshi Culture


Dear Mr. Huq:
I think you are inadvertently imposing your personal conception of what an ideal mariage ceremony rituals should be. You will agree with me that marriages are very personal affairs and should reflect ideally the wishes of the bride and bridegroom getting married. If they wish to begin with ceremony with tilawat e quran and continue with namaz and dua or if they want to dance to bollywood songs to their heart's content  then they should be free to do so.
In my view, I think the biggest problem with modern marriage ceremonies is the epidemic of crass commercialism A marriage ceremony has become a celebration of gluttony and wonton expenditures that has put it beyond all limits. Whether they read from the Quran or dance to Bollywood dance cannot alter this fact.  There are ofcourse exceptions, but in general materialism and show-off rules.
Robin Khundkar



 
-----Original Message-----
From: Aziz Huq
Sent: Jul 30, 2008 6:16 PM
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] I Do Not Know This Bangladeshi Culture


We start everything in the name of Allah. Besides that, Quran is a reminder about one's  responsibility, care, love, compassion for others. The Khutbah recited in Muslim marriages are according to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SWS).  To be effective, the recitation needs to be followed by a translation, which is not often done in Bangladesh. Even with out understanding, the words of the Quran has the power to soften the hearts of a believer.

Islam encompasses all the virtues you mention. Islam is also love, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, justice, personal responsibility.  humility, humbleness, modesty,  charity,  seeking knowledge,  protecting the environment,  taking care of parents,  the sick and the poor and many others.

But it is not true that the five pillars have been invented by the Mullahs. Please open any book on the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (SWS) you will find one of the most famous Hadith attributed to Jibril (AS) whereby you will learn about the 5 pillar of Islam, 6 pillar of Iman, the definition of  Ehsan.

Please do an exercise: Go to Google and type in "The Hadith of Jibril". How many do you want to see? There are many, all narrated by aythentic scholars of Islam. If you want to look at the original Sahih Muslim or Bukhari then go to Vol 1 Hadith# 18-21 (Muslim) and Bukhari Vol #1, Hadith#7. Do you want more proofs that this is not invented by Mullas.

This is not a forum to discuss Islam but I have learned in a long and hard way as to how Islam can benefit an individual, families and our society.

Aziz Huq




To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
CC: sa7rong@yahoogroups.com; dhakamails@yahoogroups.com; think-tank-of-pakistan@yahoogroups.com; urdu@yahoogroups.com; urdu2@yahoogroups.com
From: turkman@sbcglobal.net
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:48:31 -0700
Subject: [ALOCHONA] I Do Not Know This Bangladeshi Culture


May I beg to ask, why every gathering of Moslims has to start with recitation of Qoraan, when no Wedding in the days of my Holy Prophet used to start with Recitation of Qoraan?
If this is just to make us all sancticized of all our Sins, this practice is vile, conniving and cheating. You do not become a better Moslim by starting every gathering with recitation of Qoraan, when you are one of the most corrupt nations on earth, sir.
 
The Basics of Islam are not Mollaa created 5 Pillars of Islam that have never been mentioned as 5 Pillars of Islam by Allah in Qoraan. The Basics of Islam are ...
 
1. Not lying.
2. Not Cheating.
3. Not Stealing.
4. Not Robbing.
5. Not Coveting.
6. Not Killing anybody unless at a State Declared JehaaD against the Enemies of Allah, who want to kill you.
7. Not extorting Bribes.
8. Not offering Bribes.
9. Not commiting Adultry.
10. Not getting intoxicated.
11. Not mistreating Non Moslims under your rule.
12. Not insulting gods or leaders of other Religions.
13. Believing that God is one and He knows, what's in your Hearts.
14. All Moslims are same without any prejudice of color, race and Ethnic Background.   


Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com> wrote:

         I am in partial agreement with Aziz Huq's complaints against the malaise of 'opo-sangskriti' at certain wedding ceremony gatherings in Bangladesh and in amongst the diaspora.  I have tried to sample some of the Indian soap opera fares that my female relatives and houeholders guzzle on TV.  I found them to be boring (devoid of true to life drama) and pathetically lacking in any heuristic substance or moral-elevating message like we used to get in old Bangla cinemas.
 
           However, unlike Aziz Huq, I have no memory of attending any wedding celebration, in recent times or ever, here in Dhaka or anywhere else, where I found ' weddings starting with the recitation from the Quran with translation, proper arrangements for prayer..., etc'  Perhaps he got it mixed up with his memory of attending a 'kulkhani'.
 
         It must be mentioned here that nowadays there is a rich pool of Bangladesh's own band-music that is fast replacing the usual imports from Bollywood in popular demands at 'gaye holud' and wedding ceremonies. This 'band-music' is often a fusion of folk songs of Bengal in modern , pop and rock rhythm arrangements, sometimes using innovative lyrics by talented artists. This is part and parcel of any culture's youthful vitality and I would be an obstinate clod to call it un-Bangladeshi.
 
          Aziz Huq seems particularly aggrieved by a 'diregard for Islam' by Bangladeshi Muslims at such social events. Yet, the influence of Bollywood and Indian soap opera chic is most prominently displayed in the following web-site that proudly proclaims an ardent 'regard' FOR Islam!
 
A bit ironic, a bit of a hoot, but here it is for folks to judge for themselves:
================================
 
Please find this useful link below.
 
Thanks, Shafiqur Rahman
 
 
 
 
How Bollywoody can you get?
 
        Farida Majid



From: azizhuq@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:34:41 +0000
Subject: [ALOCHONA] I Do Not Know This Bangladeshi Culture


I DO NOT KNOW THIS BANGLADESHI CULTURE
 
The music was blaring so loudly that I could not talk to the next person. The couples were swinging violently to the tune. I was way back of the room and the words I heard of the MC were not very clear. I could not figure out if she was speaking in Bangla, Hindi or English. Same was with case with the songs being played.
 
Earlier, arranging for the evening prayer was a challenge. We were given a spot by the side of the corner room where food was later served. The Adhan was called. A very small number responded.
 
A friend of mine sitting in my table simply made a comment: "It looks like we need to learn Urdu or Hindi to understand what is going on".
 
Other persons sitting in my table were two young men, one from Egypt and the other from Iran. Both second generation immigrants and fully Americanized. Both left the party long before food was served. I had lengthy and interesting conversation with them. One of them asked me if the ceremony was a typical Bangladeshi wedding.
 
Yes, I was attending the wedding ceremony of a Bangladeshi couple  both born in Bangladesh who came to the US very recently. 
 
I could not relate to any thing Bangladeshi or Islamic in any thing that I saw last night. Later when I explained my feelings and experience I was told that Bangladeshi weddings are like that now a days.
 
Marriage is one of the most important institution in our society and as such this is regarded as a time to acquire blessing and good wishes from the family members and friends. All I saw last night was indecent jokes, rough talks, loud music and vulgar dances.
 
Is this the way we want our children to start the new phase of their lives?
 
I have attended many weddings in this country where the guests were   from diverse ethnic backgrounds, though mostly from the Indian sub-continent. I am used to weddings starting with the recitation from the Quran with translation, proper arrangements for prayer, sober introduction of family members, good food, sophisticated music some times Bangla, Urdu or Hindi classics.  Besides Muslims, guests also include local American Christian and Hindus (both from India and Bangladesh).
 
Yet last night the huge hall was mostly full of Banladeshi Muslims (with the exception of the two guests I just mentioned).    
 
I would request members of this forum who are dedicated member of all the scores of Bangladeshi associations to realize that in our zeal to hold on to Bangladeshi nationalism and our disregard for Islam we are losing our children to a cheap form of culture which is most unhealthy and far removed from the decent simple Bangladeshi culture we should be proud of.
 
I fully understand that many people in our society are not very serious about Islam but to the best of my knowledge most people are very proud of our language. I left the wedding hall with this thought in my mind: why are our children turning to this cheap, vulgar, loud popular Bollywood (I was told that this is what it is called) culture. Where is the Bangla culture?  I do not know this Bangladeshi culture.
 
Aziz Ul Huq
July 24, 2008
 


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[ALOCHONA] Transit talk

Transit talk

Mubin S Khan and Musfequr Rahman delve into the arguments in favour of and against allowing India transit and look at the relationship of the two neighbours over the years
 


In the second week of July when the news broke that the Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty,

   had sent a communiqué to the foreign ministry, saying India would press once again for transit of Indian passenger and cargo vehicles through Bangladesh's road and rail network at the foreign secretary-level talks in New Delhi, it stirred a stormy debate as before.

   India has been seeking transit so that Indian vehicles can enter Bangladesh through the Benapole border and enter and leave the Indian states Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram through Tamabil, Bibirbazar and Khagrachari in Bangladesh. To reach these north-eastern states, vehicles have to travel between 1,400 and 1,650 kilometres from West Bengal and, if Bangladesh allowed them transit, the distance would come down to just over 700 kilometres.

   In August 20, 2007, New Delhi put forward a proposal to Bangladesh to allow Indian passenger and vehicular transit through a five year agreement allowing for one-year multiple entry visas with a seven-day stay in each entry, renewable for five years.

   This time around, India avoided the word transit in their proposal owing to its sensitivity and instead called for discussion on setting up a new port call at Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria, bus link between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka and goods train service between Akhaura and Agartala, according to foreign ministry officials. Whatever words it may have used, the foreign officials insisted, India was essentially seeking transit once again.

   The reaction was instant and intense.

   Khandakar Delwar Hossain, secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, urged the United Nations to intervene and called it a threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh. Two hundred and fifty-one Dhaka University professors, mostly belonging to the BNP-backed white panel, signed an affidavit asking the current government not to allow India transit.

   Various experts writing in different national dailies came out with strong opinions, both in favour of and against transit. Some experts pointed out how it is economically beneficial for Bangladesh to allow transit while some others broke in harsh criticism not only describing it as a threat to sovereignty but pointing out that an interim government, which did not have the people's mandate, was in no position to decide on such an important deal.

   The foreign adviser, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, eventually came up with a statement to calm the jittery nerves. 'We will not sign any deal which goes against the interest and sovereignty of Bangladesh,' he said.

   Meanwhile, Pinak Ranjan sought to play down the issue and said transit is essentially an economic issue and not a political one.

   Poor timing

   With a military-backed interim government in power, a large group of intellectuals fear that foreign powers, be it countries or international bodies, will try and push their agenda during its tenure and push through many deals that serve their interest, be it privatisation of state-owned institutions, oil and gas exploration or, for that matter, transit, in the absence of an avenue for the people to express their opinion closed under a state of emergency.

   The recent talk over transit has inflamed those fears.

   'It is outrageous to think that, when four people, two BDR personnel and two farmers, were killed in border skirmishes, when India has put up a barbed-wire fence along the border and is going ahead with their plans of river-linking project which will divert the water that flows through Bangladesh, they want transit from us,' says Farhad Mazhar, a political analyst and executive director of UBINIG.

   'This government is non-representative and we are going through a transitional period. This is not the time for India to put forward such a proposal,' says Farooq Chowdhury, who was Bangladesh's high commissioner to India from 1986 to 1992.

   Farooq went on to criticise the media for paying too much attention to the isolated observation of diplomats and making an issue out of it.

   'Transit is a huge issue and representatives from both countries should sit not only over transit but a range of bilateral issues and address them. Transit cannot be dealt in an isolated manner and definitely not at a secretary-level meeting,' Farooq adds.

   Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of international relations at Dhaka University, however, believes the hysteria surrounding the issue may be unwarranted at this point of time as the latest Indian proposal may not have been referring to transit at all.

   'There is a bus service that comes to Dhaka from Agartala and another one that comes to Dhaka from Kolkata,' says Imtiaz. 'Many Indian passengers first come to Dhaka and then change bus to go to Kolkata which is kind of ridiculous. I think addressing this issue was what the Indian high commissioner was referring to.'

   Economic or political issue?

   As the debate over the transit issue raged on, the foreign secretary, Touhidul Islam, stated that it would be impossible for Bangladesh to consider giving transit at this point of time in the absence of an economic assessment and in the absence of necessary infrastructure.

   'The best we can do now is to commission a full-fledged study on the benefits and risks of giving transit to India,' he told journalists.

   Many experts believe transit is primarily an economic issue and promises a range of gains for Bangladesh.

   'The way I see it, if Bangladesh is to become a middle-income country by 2020 and grow at a rate of nine to ten per cent annually then it will have to open its doors to not only India but also the rest of the world,' says Farooq Sobhan, president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.

   'We have to reach up to Singapore on the East and Iran and Europe in the West through land. Only then will our economic opportunities open up,' says Farooq, who was the Bangladeshi high commissioner to India from 1992 to 1995..

   Other experts point out the case of Europe where free movement across countries has proven beneficial to all sides.

   'Some people say we will lose all leverage in bargaining with India if we give up transit as that is the only thing they want from us,' AZM Abdul Ali, a former government official, writes in Prothom Alo, 'but the way I see it, if Indian vehicles become accustomed to using shorter routes through Bangladesh it is we who can dictate terms to them.'

   Farhad Mazhar, however, dismisses the idea that transit is merely an economic issue.

   'Our intellectuals are confusing the people by giving such statements,' he says. 'We are talking of transit between countries that are essentially of unequal strength. There is a significant difference between transit here and in Europe.'

   He goes on to explain that there is a huge economic disparity between the two countries, there are unresolved issues over water and border and finally the 'war on terror', which increases the risk of political interference as India views Bangladesh as a hotbed of terrorist activity.

   'The way I see it, India is raising the issue of transit as a part of their design to increase hegemonic control in the subcontinent,' he adds, citing the cases of Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan where Indian control is almost blatant.

   Professor Anu Mohammad, who teaches economics at Jahangirnagar University, says the so-called gains from providing transit have not been well thought-out.

   'There is economic disparity between the two countries in question. Essentially, why will Bangladesh take part in a deal which is beneficial to the Indian economy by reducing its transport cost?' he asks. 'Also, there is a strong market for Bangladeshi goods in the north-eastern states of India. There is also a huge potential for new industries to grow here targeting the markets there. Why should we give that up to India?'

   'Cargo movement of economic goods is fine. But what if there is movement of military cargo?' Anu asks.

   The political instability in the north-eastern states of India is indeed a concern for local experts.

   'What if the ULFA decides to bomb us because we gave transit? Why should we take India's problem on our shoulders?' asks Mazhar.

   Professor Imtiaz believes all of these issues depend on what kind of deal we sign with India.

   'Instead of being reactive, as in responding only when they start talking, we should be proactive,' he says. 'We should call India for a meeting and ask India for transit to Nepal and Bhutan and even Pakistan. We should ask them to reduce cross- border smuggling which is practically state-sponsored by India.'

   'In return, we can offer them transit on terms that benefit us economically. We can even ask them to invest in Bangladesh to develop our infrastructure,' he adds.

   Imtiaz agrees that transit is right now unrealistic owing to the economic disparity.

   'Right now what we can think of is transhipment – where the good travelling from India are unloaded from Indian carriers at one point of the Bangladeshi border and carried to another point on Bangladeshi vehicles,' he says.

   The beef with India

   Before leaving the country for the talks, the foreign secretary pointed out that Bangladesh would flag the issues of implementing the Land Boundary Agreement, border demarcation of the remaining 6.5 kilometres, early convening of meeting of the Joint Boundary Working Group, unfettered access through Tin Bigha corridor, exchange of enclaves and adversely possessed territory and the killing of unarmed civilians by the Border Security Forces of India and early convening of the 37th session of the Joint Rivers Commission.

   Indeed, for many people, giving transit would not have been an issue if there had not been a pile of unresolved issues between Bangladesh and India which has pushed the relationship onto the borderline of mutual hatred where Bangladeshi politicians find it fruitful to play the 'India card' so to speak, piling pressure on the government and legislators to refrain from giving India any benefits.

   What began as brotherly relationship in 1971 with India's unfettered support to Bangladesh's independence war that was heightened with India taking in a million refugees and entering the war directly against Pakistan would soon boil down to mutual distrust.

   Firstly, both India and Bangladesh have enclaves amounting to a total 225 that fall into each other's territory. In May 1974, the two countries signed an agreement to exchange the people in these enclaves and accordingly, Bangladesh enacted a legislation in November that year to honour the agreement. Five days before the deadline for the signing of relevant maps in December 31 that year, India pulled out citing that they wanted a change in the May agreement and 34 years on, the situation remains unresolved.

   In 1976, India built the Farakka Dam which diverted the waters that flow naturally into Bangladeshi rivers leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced, causing spells of drought and flood because of the irregular flow of water, also increasing the salinity in water in Bangladeshi rivers as seawater pushed inland. India had promised then that they were only doing this experimentally.

   The 1996 Farakka Agreement raised hopes that the water dispute would finally be resolved; however, India has instead gone ahead with plans to build the Tipaimukh dam on the Barak River in Manipur, and there is now a creeping fear that all the 54 rivers Bangladesh shares with India will dry up because of India's expansive plans. Add to this the river-linking project where India has plans to build canals to divert water from the north to the south.

   In 2007 India went ahead with plans of fencing the entire border with Bangladesh in a project worth Rs 1,134 crore with barbed wire. According to Indian officials, the fence was built to stop illegal migration from Bangladesh. Interestingly, it has left no effect on the cross-border smuggling of over $2 billion into Bangladesh.

   'I once told a senior Indian diplomat that we find the fence to be very insulting and said it would never work,' says Imtiaz. 'The diplomat then replied, "But it has worked in Pakistan".'

   '"So, that is who you view us as?" I said,' says Imtiaz.

   Bangladesh has further concerns over the trade deficit between the two countries. Bangladesh currently has a trade deficit of over $1.8 billion and has asked India to remove non-tariff trade barriers to close the gap between the two countries.

   One of the most important issues, however, is the border skirmishes.

   Every year, according to different statistics, nearly 100 incidents take place at the border causing in the loss of lives on both sides, but at least four to five times more on the Bangladeshi side. According to studies, border skirmishes have increased in the post-1971 period as opposed to the period of 1947 to 1971.

   Furthermore, Bangladesh and India share a border of over 4,000kms of which 6.5kms is still to be demarcated despite numerous meetings on the issue. According to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement, Bangladesh gave up the Berubari enclave and India had pledged to return in exchange a land corridor measuring 178 by 85 metres to reach the Dahagram-Angorpata enclave. However, India did not open the corridor until 1996 when it agreed to keep it open every alternate hour during daytime. Since 2001, it is open 12 hours during daytime.

   'There are many dual citizens in the border because of the corridor,' says Imtiaz. 'During the day they are Bangladeshi and at night they are Indian. It is ridiculous.'

   Alongside these persistent issues there are more issues that raise their heads now and then including the stay of wanted Bangladeshi criminals in India, the promised sale of grain to meet Bangladesh's food crisis, demarcation of maritime boundary which has been left unresolved for over 20 years.

   But, most importantly, the greatest concern for some Bangladeshi intellectuals is that the Indian government through its Research and Analysis Wing carries out many subversive activities within the Bangladesh territory to undermine the image of the country.

   'From the pattern that has emerged over the years we can safely say India follows a policy of "contained disturbance" within Bangladesh territory,' says Mazhar.

   Many intellectuals accuse Indian intelligence of being behind many of the bomb blasts that took place in Bangladesh since 1999. They further allege that India has maintained a policy of cultural hegemony by dictating the cultural direction of the country and trying to assimilate it to West Bengal.

   'In 1971 it was not only the two-nation theory that died. Along with it died the idea of a united subcontinent as Bangladesh showed that a small country can survive within the subcontinent. India has since worked to disprove this nation as a successful Bangladesh would prove fatal to their fight against the separatists movements in many places of India including Kashmir and Assam,' says Mazhar.

   Indian concerns

   The Indian high commissioner, while talking to the Bangladeshi press, recently on the secretary level meet pointed out that alongside transit, security would be one of the major concerns.

   When asked whether he was sure that Bangladesh harboured Indian criminals, Pinak responded, 'Of course, we even some of their telephone numbers.'

   India has maintained for years that insurgents from northeast India use Bangladesh as a sanctuary to launch terrorist campaigns in Indian territory. Added to this is India's concern over the growing Islamic fundamental organisations and their terrorist activities. On many occasions, Indian officials have wasted no time in blaming Bangladesh for terrorist campaigns in India like the Ahmedabad blasts. Indian officials further believe the Inter Service Intelligence uses Bangladesh as a launching pad for subversive activities inside India.

   'It is curious how Bangladesh would back the United Liberation Front of Assam when the movement essentially stems from a fight against Bengalis and Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam,' says Imtiaz. 'What may have happened is that through these porous borders a number of terrorists slip through for shelter and it is difficult for Bangladeshi officials to identify them since we mostly look alike.'

   India also has further concerns over the growing number of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants that enter India which was the justification behind the barbed wire fences.

   In 1998, the West Bengal government came up with a figure that 10 lakh Bangladeshis live in India while the Bharatiya Janata Party came up with an astounding figure of one crore. However, recent studies by Indian experts, including Samir Guha Roy of the Indian Statistical Institute, term such estimates 'motivatedly exaggerated'. After cross-checking population growth and decline rates Guha concluded that West Bengal's population problem was caused by the influx of migrants from neighbouring Indian states.

   The exaggerated number was also created by communal elements to perpetrate the myth that most of the illegal immigrants were Hindus being forced out of Bangladesh by the majority Muslim community, say experts.

   Final math

   Despite the recent controversies over transit, border skirmishes and barbed-wire fences, most experts agree that India-Bangladesh relations have improved somewhat in recent years. However, transit is not something that can be done immediately, they say.

   'I would not say that our relationship has declined over the years,' says Farooq Chowdhury. 'It is natural for neighbouring countries to go through highs and lows. We just have to ensure we have more highs than lows.'

   Many experts believe most of the failures in the India-Bangladesh relationship have been caused by inefficiency and immaturity on the part of bureaucrats and politicians on both sides, India's hegemonic designs and, in some parts, a hangover from the 1947 days where the scars of partition still raises its ugly head to induce mutual distrust between two modern states.

   'For years, the relationship between us has been neglected,' says Farooq Sobhan. 'Our heads of government should meet at least two to three times in a year to take up the various unresolved issues. We should have a state minister for foreign affairs who specifically deals with Indian affairs. We should take the opportunity of the good relations at present and build on it permanently.'

   On the transit issue, Farooq believes that there are enormous gains Bangladesh can secure. 'Bangladesh will very much be the loser if we do not allow transit. We have already wasted too much time on this,' he says.

   Farooq, however, agrees that we need to go for massive infrastructural development before we can allow India transit.

   'The people of India and Bangladesh share a mutual history in many parts and there are so many cultural and ethnic connections that there is no reason why the movement and relationship between Bangladesh should not go further,' says Mazhar. 'It is the rulers of India based in New Delhi whose hegemonic designs worry us.'

   'We could have achieved a lot from this relationship but we have not because of an amateurish attitude from both sides,' says Farooq Chowdhury. 'Transit has many implications and we have to take into account the condition of our roads and effect on our environment and security.'

   Imtiaz believes Bangladesh must play a very proactive role in its relationship with India rather than dealing with them issue by issue.

   'We should have a separate Indian cell in our ministry, the universities should have a special course and departments on Indian studies, Bangladesh should try and set up Bangladesh centres all across India. We should develop a special relationship with our neighbouring states such as Assam,' says Imtiaz. 'We should develop intelligence in dealing with a country that is crucial to our existence.'

   Nearly 90 per cent of Bangladesh, as is evident from maps, is surrounded by India. Bangladesh shares ethnicity, culture and history with many parts of India. Many of the Indians, especially in West Bengal, have migrated from what is now Bangladesh and vice versa.

   A former chief of the BSF once described the India-Bangladesh border as the most unnatural in the world. And yet, over the years, politicians and bureaucrats, in many ways, have created disharmony between the two nations to address their own selfish needs.

    'Logically, there is no reason for Bangladesh and India not have an excellent relationship,' says Imtiaz.
 

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[ALOCHONA] Cox's Bazaar is at 1st position in the global ranking for New 7 Natural Wonders

Cox's Bazaar is at 1st position in the global ranking for New 7
Natural Wonders, thanks to the tireless efforts of the global
Bangladeshi community: http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/liveranking/
Insha'Allah if we make it to the final list, the increased tourism to
see our Natural Wonder can only be good for Bangladesh. Even more
importantly, the increased profile of Cox's Bazaar will galvanize
international support to help Bangladesh face the greatest threat yet
to come - rising sea levels due to global warming.
Please continue to vote as we have more rounds to go and a lot of
competition; please don't forget to forward the link to everyone you know.

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[ALOCHONA] Some history for my friends

My comments are inserted below.

Imaam chowdhry <imaamc@gmail.com> wrote:

What a fictitious writing, just like Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's.....
 


 
On 7/30/08, Saj <SAJJAD_PAK@hotmail.com> wrote:
Pakistan was planning to conquer Saudi Arabia? Across the ocean?
 
TURKMAN:  Which Ocean? I thought it was called Arabian Sea and then to reach Eastern Saudi Arabia you go thru Persian Gulf.
-----------------------------------
 Where Pakistan had only 60,000 troops to keep in East Pakistan,
 
TURKMAN: Oh, I see, then may be all of them were Females and had given birth to 33,000 in Indian Jails because when India released them, they had become 93,000.
------------------------------
How much troops, you think would be sufficient to occupy Saudi Arabia? 5 or 15? With or without guns?
 
TURKMAN:  It had taken less than 200 Tribesmen armed with Swords a few Rifles and some backing of British in 1913, when Saud had overthrown the Caliph's Governor to start the Kingdom now called Saudi Arabia. He believes Pakistan could control population of 72 million with 60,000 Troops but had no capability to control a country of just 10 million of which 70% were Foreign Workers and 90% of Foreign Workers were Pakis.
---------------------------
Even today, Pakistan does not possess the capabilities to transfer military and military equipment across the sea, how Pakistan would have been entering Saudi Arabia at that time?  So US send 1600 troops to Saudi Arabia? Because they were afraid of Saddam? Not Pakistan?
 
TURKMAN: No. They were afraid of Al Qaeda Terrorists with a history of causing trouble. If Pakistan had capability to transfer most of Men of East Pakistan Rifles to West Pakistan and transport 93,000 West Pakistani Troops to conquer East Pakistan, she also had capability of taking-over Saudi Arabia.
---------------------------
 
I am quite sure that most of Bangalis are well aware about different Fiqah in Islam and so, you can not install germs of hate by targeting Wahabis, in between other schools of thoughts, like Hanifi, which has been followed in Bangladesh.
 
TURKMAN: Oh yeah, Wahabism is good Bangladeshis so they can turn her in to what Pakistan is now, Suicide Bombings against Pak Army twice a week by your Wahabi Taliban. Right?
-------------------------------------
 
Whether Saudis nationalised or de-nationalised. It is their internal matters.
We do not think that we need to argue on it.
 
TURKMAN: Who was arguing about it? I had only stated the fact that USA had encouraged them to nationalize Oil Wells.
------------------------------
 They did what they think was the best for their nation.
 
TURKMAN: But they had not until they got okay from USA, otherwise, they couldn't even dream of doing that and this is why Saudi Royal Family is still loyal to USA.
---------------------------------
And by the way, Let's say if they would have not nationalised the oil things. What would happen. The powerful Oil entrepreneurs from the criminal country, USA would have already bought all oil wells in Saudi Arabia.
 
TURKMAN: USA Oil companies had already owned those Oil Wells ignorant.
-------------------------------
 And the Saudis would also buying Petrol on the rate at which we buy in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Additionally, the money in the bank accounts, which directly relate to the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, would have been in the bank accounts of Oil entrepreneurs of USA. So they saved their wealth from going to other's hands? Isn't it?
 
TURKMAN: No its not. They were getting only 1/1000th of price of Oil from Oil Companies and were quite happy with that.
------------------------------
 
And what the Pakistani governments are doing now a days. They are privatising everything. See what Hubco did to this nation. Within a night electricity rates rose to double even triple. The Zionists are also active in Pakistan and buying Pakistan's crucial assets hiddenly. Recently, Agha Khan bought Habib Bank in just couple of billions of Pak Rupees. What was going to happen to country's biggest steel mill? Thanks to the useless fight between so called independent judiciary and the president. Atleast, Steel Mills had been saved from going to foreign hands. Dubai Bank's financial advisers are UK based banks. Those banks provide Internet based banking facility to their corporate customers in UK. but as per their advises, Dubai bank argue that the Internet banking facility could not be given to companies? Why?
 
Additionally, foreign funded NGOs in Pakistan are building pressure on the government to nationalise all the agriculture lands from Jagirdars and Seminars. Why? Just because they had been awarded this land by the brighteners? And what will you do with this land after nationalising? Oh, we will do corporate farming and from where those corporate farmers will come? While you kill local corporate farmers? The multinational companies, They argue. So the human being will be removed from the owner ship paper of each piece of lands and stamp paper, made in US will be installed. They will install big mills and buy all milk from farmers? and sell that milk at high prices in local market and will also export that to their own countries. Where the cost is too high? Lot of things to discuss only on this single issue. But first, you got to learn more from your paymasters.
 
TURKMAN: Bhutto had nationalized all Industries and Institutions including Private Colleges. Punjabi Govt Bureaucracy ran all of them and scavanged them. Later, the situation was that Pakistan earned no income from them and was actually printing more and more currency just to pay salaries of Employees (70 to 95% Punjabis), who didn't even show-up to work. When IMF found-out this B.S. it had refused to loan anymore money until those industries and institutions were privatized. Why the hell you think, your Punjabis should be making good money doing nothing? Machinery was not even there in Hundreds of Factories because you guys had already sold it and Employees were getting their Salaries sitting home. 
------------------------------ 
 
So when Pakistanis were fighting with each other. Pakistanis were also intending to occupy Saudi Arabia? May be you like to tell us the reasons too? No?
 
TURKMAN: Why not. People in Armed Forces were being told, Rebellion in East Pakistan was just an abberration and Pakistan had a lot greater plans to keep their moral high in East Pakistan and I was one of the witnesses of that.
---------------------------
 
About the memo you talked about. Where did you get this memo, by the way? While I am almost a full time researcher and many others, we never found any such memo. Which website, you saw this memo at? Which book? Who told you about this memo? Do you have any other memo in hand? Do you have a memo in Which the forces in East Pakistan had been told that the new commander of East Pakistan Command in on his way to East Pakistan?
 
TURKMAN: You must be crazy asking these questions, when I already told you, who I'm.
-------------------------------
 
When CIA learnt about that US Naval Fleet's presence in the Gulf? Are you trying to tell us that CIA was not aware of its presence in Gulf? Or What? Can you help us to understand that why military movements need to be kept hidden from the country's most sophisticated Intelligence Agency. But the first question is what you intending to say here. You had mixed it up everything in all your post.
 
TURKMAN: I have no idea, what the hell you are asking, Kid.
-------------------------
 
So Pakistan decided to occupy Saudi Arabia in 1971, when its own existence was in danger and then it sees that Americans are deploying forces in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan ADVISED Saudis not to allow Americans and they accepted this advised. Later in 90s Saudis allowed Americans, because of Saddam. Who invaded Kuwait? So you are trying to tell us that Pakistan kept waiting for more than a decade for favourable time to invade Saudi Arabia?
 
And ISI begged Osama to come Afghanistan to over through the Saudi government? Why not they begged Osama to go to Saudi Arabia and build a Mujahideen force to over through Saudi government and make the opportunity of safe entry in Saudi Arabia for Pakistan?
 
TURKMAN: Because there was no chance that Osama was not going to get beheaded for Treason as soon as he had landed in Saudi Arabia.
---------------------------------------
 And so Osama has no friend or family member left in Saudi Arabia, who can call him and tell him that Pakistan lied with him that US troops are physically present in Macca? Is this what you are saying?
 
TURKMAN: Yes he does but he had to believe in what ISI had told him that American Troops are even in Kaabah. Why would he have not done that knowing ISI had negotiated his Sanctuary in Afghanistan with Taliban (who did not want him)?
----------------------------
 
So the wish of Pakistan to occupy Saudi Arabia was populated in 1971, when its own existence was danger and it was near to break into two. And still he is following invasion plan, when he has been heavily under attack from the monster country, USA and on the other side, Indians had also started violating cease fire line in Kashmir?
 
TURKMAN: Pakistan was under US Attack, when Pakistan had become a Live-in Son in Law of USA after Soviets moved in to Afghanistan? Thanks for letting us know.
--------------------------------- 
 Pakistan was unable to attack Saudi Arabia because of just 1600 monster soldiers and now it can attack, when hundreds of thousands of soldiers of monster is present in Saudi Arab, in Iraq and most importantly in Afghanistan.How Pakistan could attack on Saudi Arab now. While they are also well equipped with world's most dangerous Early warning system AWACS?
 
TURKMAN: When had I said that?
-------------------------------
 
Sahibzada Yaqoob was remain Commander of Eastern Command for only one week. What advice did he gave to Gen. Madhya? May be, you like to tell us that too.
 
TURKMAN: You are a Liar because Gen. Yaqoob was not GOC of East Pakistan for just a week.
-----------------------
 
And also explain that how did you ascertain that Mujeeb order to slaughter the Biharis?
 
TURKMAN: Because without his orders, it would not have started.
-------------------------------
 
My maternal Family linked to Descendents of Tipu Sultan and half of their family was filthy rich of East Pakistan. So much land was owned by one of my cousins that he never lost any National Assembly contests in Rajshahi District. His sister was married to Ahmed Raza Choudhry of Nawab of Dacca family. All of Sh. Mujib's top secret meetings were held in his posh Bungalow in Dhonmondi, Dhaka
 
When you first introduced yourself in other Pakistan based yahoo group. You said that you are from Pakistan and now you become Bangali.
 
TURKMAN: Please show me, when I have ever said this on Internet besides admitting that I came to USA on a Pakistani Passport ...!
------------------------------
 Will you please explain this and also tell us who was left behind in the family of Tipu Sultan? What was happened to his two sons? So where the decedents came from? Or may be you had just copied someone else' writing in your post? Will you please make it clear?
 
TURKMAN: To the best of what my Maternal Grandmother told me, Shah Bakhtyar was the only Descendent left and he lived in Calcutta. He married her only cousin or the only daughter of younger brother of her father, who's name was Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Baig (who had also served as Diwaan of Kashmir until death of 2nd last Maharaja of Kashmir). She had one boy she called 'Bubban' and 2 daughters Jehan Aara and Dil Aara. Jehan Aara's family moved to East Pakistan after 1950's and had bought Tea Gardens in Sylhet and a lot of land in Rajshahi District. Her son always won a National Assembly seat from Rajshahi because all his Voters lived free on his family's land. 'Bubban' and Dil Aara's family still lives in Calcutta. I personally know, the the family of Auntie Jehan Aara but I only know personally two sons and one daughter of Auntie Dil Aara living in Calcutta.
---------------------------------- 
 
How can you ascertain that the Jamaat of Bangladesh is intending what you said in your last paragraph? OK. Just to ask you a question. Let's assume that Pakistan and Bangladesh decides to become one country again and "Bangladesh" is declared its new name. Doest that mean that we in West Bangladesh, will become slaves of East Bangladesh? While we share the same religion? The slaves are Muslims in India, where every second day Hindus slaughters them.
 
TURKMAN: Kid, you are pretty confused. I have no idea, what your questions is. All I can guess is that you want Bangladeshis to become Slaves of Punjabis ruling Pakistan. Are you a Punjabi, Kid?
--------------------------
The slaves are Red Indians, who had been slaughtered by the English people and that was the world's biggest genocide. Millions of red Indians were assassinated by the English people. The slaves were Japanese, when the monster fired a nuclear bomb over them and occupy their country and installed a General their. The slaves are Falasteeni people, whose lands had been robed by the Zionists.
 
TURKMAN: By that logic, the Slaves were Bengalis, the Baluchis, the Mohajirs, the Kurds, the Black Moslims and Christians of Sudan, the nations of North Africa in 7th Century etc, etc. More of them have been slaughtered by us than any Christians have slaughtered Red Indians and others in the history of mankind.
------------------
Neither in Bangladesh, nor in Pakistan, people have any such intentions. However, both countries could sign FTAs. Can follow a same currency and could invite other small South Asian countries to join their combined currency and there are many other things we can do jointly.
 
TURKMAN: Why not include India in this deal and have some kind of over-look authority so no country keeps printing so much money causing Inflation?
--------------------------------
 
We do not need to re-unite both countries, Mr. Turkman. As we were never separated. Just for a small time, we had hesitated to meet each other. But now, everything is going to normal again.
 
TURKMAN: On my dead body.
------------------------------
 Pakistan and Bangladesh could join hands to fight against common threats for both countries.
 
TURKMAN: What is their Common Threat?
------------------------------
Both can create some joint currency and later on could drag more countries into it, like Srilanka. A lot of other things we can do. Pakistan already providing training to Bangladeshi military officers. Lot of Bangali army men get trained from Pakistan military academy. More co-operation need in economy as well. And we are working on it.
 
Thanks.
 
Saj
 
TURKMAN: All who have received training from Pak Army should be fired because no Bangladeshi wants to become a Slave of Punjabis again and Pakistan is ruled by Punjabis, who were dead against formation of Pakistan until 1947, when Viceroy had decided to let us have Punjab also. Mr. Jinnah did that without knowing that it was going to be the biggest mistake of his life.
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: S Turkman 
 
Until 1960's nobody had thought we would ever start going backwards and start listening to our crazy Molllaas. Even our educated Mollaas like Moulvi Farid Ahmed, who always got elected to National Assembly from Faridpur was like Moulvis and Mollaas of now-a-days.
 
The biggest problem started, when USA backed nationalization of Oil Wells by Saudi Royal Family and it started spending tons of money on spread of their Wahabi form of Islam. Now they are themselves are victim of Osama, who had declared JehaaD in 1996 against the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia on the advice of ISI of Pakistan.
 
Pakistan had intention of conquering Saudi Arabia in 1971, when a secret office Memo of fore-runner of ISI, the FIC was circulated to raise the moral of Pak Army in East Pakistan saying, "What a joke that people think, we can not keep East Pakistan in control, when we are actually now planning to go ahead with our secret plan to invade the stupid small Oil Kingdoms soon".
 
When CIA learnt about that US Naval Fleet's presence in the Gulf become more prominant but Pakistan had advised Saudis to never let American Forces land on their soil. Saudis followed the advice but after being threatened by Saddam, they had let 1600 US Soldiers be stationed on their soil after Kuwait Freedom War of USA because Al Qaeda had already started its attacks in Saudi Arabia against the Royal Family.
 
Pakistan could not attack Saudi Arabia, when there were US Marines there and thousands more were in US Naval Fleet with Aircraft Careers stationed in Oman next door. This is why ISI had begged Osama to come back to Afghanistan and overthrow Saudi Royal Family. Lies were told by ISI to Osama that even Meccaa has been defiled by presence of US Troops because actually they rule Mecca. The Truth was, there were no US Soldiers in Mecca or Madina but Osama claimed that in his speeches trusting ISI.
 
Pakistan had expected no resistance in Saudi Arabia and other small Gulf Countries, when her Army landed there because half of population there was Pakistanis and almost all of them were Punjabi Migrant Workers on 2 year Visa. USA had become a Bone in that soft nice smelling Kabob ready for Lunch. Pakistan had wanted US Army out of there at any cost so, Iran was told to harrass US Navy and Iranian crazy stupids actually followed Pak advice though it made no difference in the end.
 
. This one of the brains of former East and West Pakistan, who sat in FIC Headquarter of East Pakistan located in National Assembly Building, Dhaka in 1971 but couldn't do a thing to stop my government from being turned a government of thugs.
 
The one, who knew, when to talk, when to shut-up, when to punch, when to beat the shit out of opponent and when to walk-way. I made it to USA in 1973, when all my colleagues were still in Indian Jails and remained there even longer. FIC Headquarter in Dhaka had told Gen. Yahya that he was wrong not accepting advice of one of the most senior Urdu Speaking General Sahibzada Yaqoob, who was Commander of Pak Army in East Pakistan.
 
FIC had recommended National Assembly Session but when it was not accepted, it was recommended to let Awami League at least form Provincial Government of East Pakistan. When that was rejected also and General Sahibzada Yaqoob was ordered to arrest Sh. Mujib and start Operation killing Hindus and Awami League people, Gen. Yaqoob had refused.
 
When he refused, he was demoted to a Brigadier's Rank, transferred back to Pakistan and Gen. Tikka Khan was sent to follow the orders, which he did after Republic Day. Sh. Mujib had known all this so he had ordered slaughter of Beharis and a general Rebellion two days ahead of Republic Day.
 
My maternal Family linked to Descendents of Tipu Sultan and half of their family was filthy rich of East Pakistan. So much land was owned by one of my cousins that he never lost any National Assembly contests in Rajshahi District. His sister was married to Ahmed Raza Choudhry of Nawab of Dacca family. All of Sh. Mujib's top secret meetings were held in his posh Bungalow in Dhonmondi, Dhaka.
 
Mrs. Choudhry once took me to one of her uncle Khwaja Khairuddin's apartment in Dacca. He had no idea, who I was except for being a cousin, which I was. He as a Lawyer of Sh. Mujib from days of Agartala Case, told me that Sh. Mujib had issued no statements that he could be arrested constitutionally and he was correct.
 
I had no legal reason to get him arrested because he had claimed to have no knowledge that Banga BonDhoo had ordered riots on 21st of March, 1971. Years later it turned-out that was a mistake. Awami League considered him a Traitor because he spoke Urdu too (though not good enough) and he had to flee to Pakistan, when he was actually a patriot of about to be formed Bangladesh.
 
I felt very bad when I heard that Molana BHashani and Moulvi Farid Ahmed were killed by Awami League people. Both of them were for Bengalis. Both of them had fought for rights of East Pakistanis in National Assembly. Both of them were never scared of criticizing West Pakistanis hegemony in National Assembly though they were Representives of opposite Philosophies of each other.
 
Molana BHaashani believed in some violence because he was a Moaist but Moulvi Farid Ahmed was real intellectual and was wondering, who is behind this revolution against Ayub long before emergence of Awami League as Super Victorious party of East Pakistan. I think, he knew, it was CIA because I later found-out that Pres. Nixon had wanted East Pakistanis to rule Pakistan. Nixon's problem was, he had no idea that West Pakistan was such Democratic to let East Pakistanis rule Pakistan.
 
The Result was that Ballot Box Rigging was such that people, who lived free on my cousin in Rajshahi's land, who would have died before they could vote my Anti Ayub Council League Member of National Assembly were declared they had voted for some unknown candidate of Awami League. We had more than 300 acres of Tea Gardens in Sylhet also and our candidate, who hand nothing to do with our family was defeated by CIA-sponsored Ballot Box stuffing.
 
Who did all that if not ancestors of present Bangladeshi youth?
Now its a lost cause that JmaaTay Islami wants us to become Slaves of Pakistan again. They must be living in a Dreamworld.       



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