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Sunday, September 6, 2009

[mukto-mona] New English blog articles from Mukto-Mona




Mukto-Mona Writers' Corner

Welcome to the newsletter, Mukto-Mona Writers' Corner from Mukto-Mona.

Mukto-Mona is one of the most frequently visited Bengali and South Asian secular humanist websites, chiefly run by a team of dedicated volunteers. This is the first Bengali site which is dedicated to the growth and promotion of a comprehensive free thought movement on the Internet by focusing on science, rationalism, secularism and humanism. In recognition of the contribution made in secular, democratic, social and cultural movement, in 2007 Mukto-Mona achieved prestigious Jahanara Imam award. Mukto-Mona has reached a steady level that some of the most well-known e-columnists/bloggers of South Asian origin today are being named as "Mukto-Mona writers". Many of the contemporary writers and supporters who have published their articles in Mukto-Mona are distinguished scholars in their own disciplines. If you are a writer/scholar/activist and agree with our visions, we would be very happy to publish your work in our site.

If you are a member of the blog you can post your article directly in our site. Alternatively, you can send your article at mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com CC to mukto-mona-owner@yahoogroups.com 


The Latest articles in Mukto-Mona:


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Mukto-Mona Moderators



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               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




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[ALOCHONA] Off shore exploration in Bangladesh can be a risky proposition



Off shore exploration in Bangladesh can be a risky proposition

Bangladesh has granted exploration rights to Conoco Philips and Tullow oil in three disputed offshore blocks in the Bay of Bengal. The oil companies are expected to spend about $160 millions exploring the area. Given the lack of agreement and understanding between Bangladesh, Myanmar & India regarding the ownership of the territory involved , this can be a somewhat risky proposition. There has been some tension between Bangladesh & Myanmar in the recent past on this very issue.

The Bangladesh government recently awarded exploration rights to Conoco Philips and Tullow oil to explore some offshore blocks in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh is bordered by India on one side and Myanmar on the other side on its southern coast which touches the Bay of Bengal. The Bay of Bengal has seen a lot of exploration activity recently and is estimated to hold reserves of about 18 billion barrels of oil and about 200 trillion cft of natural gas. Substantial gas reserves have already been discovered by Reliance Industries in the KG basin in the bay of Bengal.

The ownership of some of the territory in 3 offshore blocks awarded by Bangladesh has been disputed by Myanmar & India. This is because the maritime boundary between India- Bangladesh and Bangladesh-Myanmar is disputed. Under the UN Convention on Law of the Sea(UNCLOS) 12 nautical miles from the coast is territory, 200 nautical miles is Exclusive Economic zone and 350 miles is continental shelf of the country. Both India and Myanmar have maintained that this be demarcated using the Equi distant principle whereas Bangladesh has insisted on demarcating their territory based on the principle of Equity. This use of different basis and the curved shape of the coast line at the top of the Bay of Bengal has resulted in an overlap of some territory between India-Bangladesh and Bangladesh-Myanmar.

As per International law, the equidistant principle of demarcation will apply if there is no prior agreement/claim/historic reason for not applying it. Bangladesh has not filed a claim to the ICJ as yet and has not had any talks with India on this subject for the last 28 years. In case Bangladesh does not file a claim by July 27th, 2011, the equidistant method of demarcation will apply and some of these blocks will become India/Myanmar territory.

Thus it will be prudent to wait and see the developments on this front before spending any money on exploration in the disputed areas.



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[mukto-mona] News Letter attached. Climate Rally on 18 September for Bnagladesh to UN [2 Attachments]

[Attachment(s) from Kamrul Ahsan khan included below]

 


Dear Friends
 
Please publish & circulate  this news attached ASAP. Thanks for your support and cooperation for the cause.
 

 
Best Wishes
 
Kamrul Ahsan Khan
For BEN Team
 
0401683930 (Mobile)



 
 


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Attachment(s) from Kamrul Ahsan khan

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[ALOCHONA] 26 killed in crossfire in 5 weeks



26 killed in crossfire in 5 weeks

At least 26 people were killed in 'crossfire' or shootout with RAB and Police in five weeks from August 1 to September 6. Among them, 19 were killed in August and 7 in last six days. However, Home Minister Sahara Khatun denied that there were extra judicial killings.

According to UNB News Agency, two criminals, including an underground operative of outlawed Gono Bahini, were killed in separate incidents of 'shootout' in Kushtia and Faridpur early Sunday.

A regional leader of JSD Gonobahini was killed in an encounter at Anda village in Mirpur upazila in Kushtia early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Abdul Hannan alias Hana, 40, second-in-command of Siraj group of JSD Gonobahini.

In another incident, a top terror was killed in a shootout with RAB members at Krishnapur in Sadarpur upazila in Faridpur early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Toffazal Hossain alias Tafu Khan, 40. He was wanted in several cases including of murder.

Earlier, three people, including two suspected extremists, were killed in encounters with law enforcers in three districts, Khulna, Pabna and Kushtia on September 5. And on September 3, two gunrunners were killed in a shootout with RAB at Bhaturia village in sadar upazila in Jessore.

Earlier, human rights watchdog Odhikar said 19 people were killed in crossfire with RAB and police in August and most of them occurring in the southwestern region. Ten of the victims were activists of outlawed parties.

The human-rights organizations have long been asking the government to stop the killings terming them extra judicial. The High Court on June 29 asked the government to explain why killing without trial in so-called crossfire or encounter will not be declared illegal, and why departmental and criminal actions should not be taken against those who perpetrate such killings in custody and outside.

RAB on last Thursday said as many as 577 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 472 incidents until Aug 31 since the formation of the elite force on March 26, 2004.

Meanwhile, according to bdnews24.com, Home minister Sahara Khatun has said that the ongoing crackdown on outlaws and extremists in the southwest is based on a list prepared by the law-enforcement agencies.

"The law-enforcers are carrying out the clampdown as the extremists and terrorists regrouped in the south-western region," the minister told reporters at the Secretariat.

She claimed that no extra-judicial killing was taking place during the swoop. "Those who are getting killed are dying in gun battles with the police and RAB." "Will the law-enforcers take bullets trying to detain the extremists?" she snapped at reporters.

"The outlaws, terrorists and militants should be nabbed and they (the law enforcers) will take any measure for that," the minister said. Security has deteriorated in recent times in the region, which was a 'death valley' a few years back, with a number of murders taking place.
 



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[ALOCHONA] PM wants fighter base at Cox's Bazar: report



PM wants fighter base at Cox's Bazar: report

Dhaka, Sept 6 (bdnews24.com)—The prime minister has given directives to turn Cox's Bazar airport into an advanced airbase for speedy dispatch of fighter planes, according to a paper presented by defence ministry officials to a parliamentary body on Sunday. The report presented to the standing committee on defence said the ministry has also proposed allocating 25 percent of the annual defence budget to the air force until 2014 for its modernisation.

It further said that the government was moving to set up a radar station in Cox's Bazar, followed by one in Barisal, to bring the country under radar coverage. The paper said the defence ministry had finalised the specifications for procuring a radar system for Cox's Bazar. None of the standing committee members spoke to the press after the meeting. "We have not discussed anything newsworthy today," defence committee chairman Idris Ali told reporters at the parliament building.

The paper tabled at the meeting by defence ministry officials said, "As per the directives of the Prime Minister, preparation for turning the Cox's Bazar air port into an advanced air base is on. "The ministry is coordinating with the civil aviation authorities of Bangladesh to stretch the existing runway and build [other facilities]."

Ministry officials said in their report that the deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar had already taken measures to acquire land for the purpose. The report also said the ministry had drafted short-term, mid-term and long-term plans to modernise the air force. "As per the short-term plan, 25 percent of the annual military budget can be given to the air force until 2014. "Or a special budget allocation can be made to install vital instruments for modernisation of the air force," it said.

"Short-range and mid-range surface-to-air-missile (SAM) system can be procured to secure the air force's installations as mid-term measures (from 2014 to 2021)," said the report. It also said the existing A-5, FT-6 and F-7 fighter planes could be replaced in phases in the long-term. "After 2021, measures can be taken to purchase new planes for the air force's three squadrons," said the defence ministry paper.



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[ALOCHONA] Restore Eye Sights to 500 Bangladeshis



As Salamu Alaykum.

Recently I received this appeal for donation from a friend of mine. The project seemed  genuine and very worthwhile to me so I decided to forward this to friends like you. Please go through this and donate whatever amount you are capable of. If you have any questions please contact M. Akbar whose email is address is given below. The process of giving is easy and appears safe. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala give you many fold rewards for this or any other act of kindness during this month of Ramadan as He has promised the believers.

I have never seem Gaibandha and most probably will never in the future. But we have attachment to some Gaibandha in our lives.

Ramadan Kareem

Aziz Huq




Restore Eye Sights To 500 Bangladeshis

 

            KARMIRHATH, based at Gaibandha, has been running a charitable hospital since 1986 and is also engaged in other humanitarian activities, such as, free distribution of wheelchairs, train marriageable girls from ultra-poor families in income generating trades, and flood rehabilitation projects.

 

            KARMIRHATH is participating in Global Giving's "Open challenge". Now through September 18, if KARMIRHATH can meet the goal of raising at least $4,000 from at least 50 donors, KARMIRHATH will earn a permanent spot on www.GlobalGiving.com, the internationally recognized marketplace for philanthropy that connects individual and corporate donors to the causes they care most about, and we will be eligible to place multiple projects in future.

 

            We in KARMIRHATH are very excited about this opportunity of reaching a whole new network of donors to help the downtrodden and less privileged people in Bangladesh by providing affordable health care,  training to the needy to save them from social injustices and mobility to the handicapped. Since 2006 we have distributed 3,300 wheelchairs free of cost to the needy and another 3,300 will be distributed in August and September, 2009. Please help us achieve our goal of raising $4,000 from 50 donors by September 18, 2009 by making a donation to KARMIRHATH on www.globalgiving.com/3595, where you can see our current project, "Restore Eye Sights To 500 Bangladeshis." A few photos showing KARMIRHATH's activities are attached.

 

            Every donation helps, and no donation is too small. You can support KARMIRHATH for as little as $10 and make an impact while helping us earn a permanent spot on GlobalGiving.

 

            The holy month of Ramadan-a month of sacrifice and generosity, is upon us. Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) has said, "Wealth does not decrease with charity but Allah blesses the giver and increases (it) many fold." And so, let us, in the spirit of Ramadan and humanity contribute generously to KARMIRHATH's project, "Restore Eye Sights To 500 Bangladeshis", through www.globalgiving.com/3595. You may like to donate whole or part of your Zakat contribution to KARMIRHATH.

 

            Please share this with your friends and family and request them to help too.

            Thanks for your support and may Allah bless you and your family. For any questions or queries, please contact
makbar@aol.com.

 

PS:  GlobalGiving is a Registered US based 501(c)3 Non-profit organization. So, by helping through it, you may get a tax benefit.

 

PS: Good news! As of today, we have received almost $1,400.00 from compassionate friends like you.

 

 

 




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[ALOCHONA] AP - El Salvador Navy finds boat with Bangladeshi migrants



El Salvador finds boat with Bangladeshi migrants

 

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The Salvadoran navy says it has found 76 migrants from as far away as Bangladesh, Nepal and Eritrea aboard a boat in the Pacific.

 

Navy Capt. Maximiliano Corado says the boat was detected about 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the coast, and "without doubt the final destination was to arrive in the United States."

 

The migrants include 25 Bangladeshis, 25 Nepalese, 21 Eritreans and five Ecuadoreans.

 

Corado said Sunday that the boat set sail a week ago from the Ecuadorean port of Manta.

 

He said all the migrants appeared to be undocumented, and all except the Ecuadoreans are to be deported.

The Ecuadoreans were turned over to police for investigation of possible migrant trafficking.

 

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RE: [ALOCHONA] Ex-finance minister Saifur dies in car crash




 God Bless Him.


To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
From: ezajur.rahman@q8.com
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 10:14:04 +0300
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Ex-finance minister Saifur dies in car crash



Ex-finance minister Saifur dies in car crash
BNP announces 3-day mourning programme

Courtesy New Age 6/9/09

Staff Correspondent

 
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member M Saifur Rahman, who served as the country's finance minister for the longest period, was on Saturday killed in a road accident in Brahmanbaria.
   Saifur met with the tragic accident when his car fell into a ditch at Khariyala of Ashuganj on the Dhaka–Sylhet Highway at 2:30pm.
   He was taken to Brahmanbaria General Hospital where physicians pronounced him dead at about 3:30pm. He was 77.
   He was on his way to the capital from Moulvibazar, his constituency for which he had been elected lawmaker four times between 1979 and 2001.
   Saifur, who had already lost his wife, Durre Samad Rahman in 2003, is survived three sons and a daughter.
   The police, quoting witnesses at Khariyala, said the car in which Saifur was travelling, fell into a ditch after the driver lost control trying to save a dog.
   The Rapid Action Battalion rushed to the spot and began rescue operation immediately.
   Local Awami League lawmaker Lutful Hai Sachchu told reporters the car skidded off into a ditch and fell into five-to-six-foot water.
   'Saifur Rahman was wearing a seat belt. It took 10 to 12 minutes to get him out of water by breaking open the door of the car and cutting the seat belt,' said Lutful Hai.
   After rescuing him, the battalion took him straight to Brahmanbaria General Hospital where physicians pronounced him dead. As the news spread, hundreds of people rushed to the hospital premises.
   Saifur's private secretary Shamsul Huq, Sajib Miah, Sharif Ahmed, Miraj Hossain and Shams Miah who were accompanying him were all critically injured. All of them were admitted to Brahmanbaria General Hospital.
   The accident marks an end to the eventful life and chequered political career of Saifur Rahman, who was handpicked by the late president Ziaur Rahman into his advisory council in 1976 in charge of commerce. He then became finance minister.
   The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, expressed her deep shock at the death of the senior most member of the party's standing committee. The BNP has postponed all its programmes for Saturday and Sunday showing respect to Saifur and announced a three-day mourning programme.
   'As a successful finance minister and politician, Saifur Rahman had contribution to the country's economic development. He also played a significant role in establishing the BNP and its expansion working as a close aide to the late president Ziaur Rahman. He also played an important role in restoring democracy to the country,' Khaleda said.
   'The nation lost a wise politician in his sudden death. It is an irreparable loss for the country and it has created a vacuum in national politics,' Khaleda said.
   Saifur's body was brought to his house at Gulshan in Dhaka in the evening. A pall of gloom descended there as the microbus carrying Saifur's body entered the Jalalabad House.
   Khaleda visited the place to pay her respect to Saifur. The body was laid in state in front of the house and mourners filed past in solemn silence.
   A cross section of people flocked to Saifur's house. The finance minister, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, industries minister Dilip Barua, Awami League advisory council member Tofail Ahmed, Awami League presidium member and chairman of the committee on public undertakings Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Huq Inu, Dhaka University professor emeritus Anisuzzman, Awami League lawmaker Subid Ali Bhuiyan, Awami League president's adviser Salman F Rahman, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Annisul Huq, former Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez also went there.
   Former Jatiya Sangsad speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, BNP standing committee member M Shamsul Islam, vice-chairmen M Hafizuddin Ahmed, Sarwari Rahman and Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, BNP chairperson's adviser ASM Hannan Shah, joint secretary general Selima Rahman, office secretary Rizvi Ahmed and Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal president Barkatullah Bulu also went to Saifur's house and consoled his two sons and the daughter. Saifur's eldest son, Naser Rahman, has started for home from Saudi Arabia.
   Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid and assistant secretary general Muhammad Quamaruzzman also went to Saifur's house.
   The family said the first namaz-e-janaza would be held in the Gulshan Azad Mosque at 11:00am, and then the body would be taken to the BNP's central office at Naya Paltan at 12:30pm for the second namaz-e-janaza. The third namaz-e-janaza will take place on the national assembly building premises at 2:30pm.
   Saifur will be laid to rest in his family graveyard in Moulvibazar Monday afternoon after holding namaz-e-janazas at Shahi Eidgah in Sylhet at 1:00pm and in the Moulvibazar Government High School ground at 4:00pm.
   The body was taken to the mortuary of the United Hospital at Gulshan from his house Saturday night.
   The New Age correspondent in Moulvibazar said normal life in Saifur's hometown came to a halt at the news of the death.
   Most of the offices and business establishments immediately pulled down their shutters to show respect to Saifur.
   Similar was the situation in Sylhet where Saifur went on Friday to say prayers at the shrine of Hazrart Shah Jalal.

 





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[ALOCHONA] Information needed for Database on Diaspora philanthropy/charity



Dear Friend,

 

We are writing to seek your assistance in compiling information on Bangladeshi Diaspora (Non-Resident Bangladeshi) philanthropic initiatives for a project being jointly undertaken by the Bangladesh Freedom Foundation (www.freedomfound.org) and Drishtipat (www.drishtipat.org).

 

Remittances from Bangladeshi migrants play a critical role in the country's economy with its contributions to the development budget estimated to be ranging from 30% to 40%. While most of the remittances are directed at the household level, a very small portion is said to be transferred in the form of individual and faith-based charity. There is also a gradual increase in the number of Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) or Diaspora groups organizing and arranging for collective transfer of resources for development purposes in their home country beyond individual to individual giving. Organized Diaspora philanthropy remains largely untapped, not well documented and an area with potential for further organizing and strengthening.

 

To address this knowledge gap, the Bangladesh Freedom Foundation and Drishtipat are undertaking research for building a database on Diaspora philanthropic organizations and select case studies with the long term objective of increasing the flow of information, resources, knowledge, and expertise. The research is being supported in part by a grant from the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium (www.asiapacificphilanthropy.org).

 

As a first step we are requesting for information on different Bangladeshi Diaspora philanthropic initiatives and organizations that you may be involved with or are aware of. We would greatly appreciate any contact information and website addresses that you can share with us and also if you could share this letter with your friends and colleagues so that we can reach a wider audience.  We hope that this will help more Diaspora members to contribute to Bangladeshi causes in an informed manner.

 

If you know of or are a part of any organization who is engaged in philanthropic or charitable programs in Bangladesh from abroad, it would be greatly appreciated if the organization's name and contact email address/phone number/website can be emailed to sadia@drishtipat.org by September 15, 2009.

 

Thank you again for your time in this matter and we look forward to your continued cooperation.

 

Sadia Faruque

Project Coordinator

 

On behalf of,

 

Asif Saleh                                                                                                Safi Rahman Khan

Executive Director                                                                                   Executive Director

Drishtipat                                                                                                 Bangladesh Freedom Foundation

asif.saleh@drishtipat.org                                                                          ed@freedomfound.org

 

 
The Bangladesh Freedom Foundation is an independent grant making organization that supports the growth and advancement of philanthropy in Bangladesh towards freeing people from poverty, ignorance, and oppression.

 

Drishtipat is a non-profit, non-partisan volunteer organization committed to safeguarding human rights in Bangladesh through action-oriented projects funded by its Diaspora Bangladeshi members and implemented by its Bangladesh based partner organizations.



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[ALOCHONA] Information needed for Database on Diaspora philanthropy/charity



Dear Friend,

 

We are writing to seek your assistance in compiling information on Bangladeshi Diaspora (Non-Resident Bangladeshi) philanthropic initiatives for a project being jointly undertaken by the Bangladesh Freedom Foundation (www.freedomfound.org) and Drishtipat (www.drishtipat.org).

 

Remittances from Bangladeshi migrants play a critical role in the country's economy with its contributions to the development budget estimated to be ranging from 30% to 40%. While most of the remittances are directed at the household level, a very small portion is said to be transferred in the form of individual and faith-based charity. There is also a gradual increase in the number of Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) or Diaspora groups organizing and arranging for collective transfer of resources for development purposes in their home country beyond individual to individual giving. Organized Diaspora philanthropy remains largely untapped, not well documented and an area with potential for further organizing and strengthening.

 

To address this knowledge gap, the Bangladesh Freedom Foundation and Drishtipat are undertaking research for building a database on Diaspora philanthropic organizations and select case studies with the long term objective of increasing the flow of information, resources, knowledge, and expertise. The research is being supported in part by a grant from the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium (www.asiapacificphilanthropy.org).

 

As a first step we are requesting for information on different Bangladeshi Diaspora philanthropic initiatives and organizations that you may be involved with or are aware of. We would greatly appreciate any contact information and website addresses that you can share with us and also if you could share this letter with your friends and colleagues so that we can reach a wider audience.  We hope that this will help more Diaspora members to contribute to Bangladeshi causes in an informed manner.

 

If you know of or are a part of any organization who is engaged in philanthropic or charitable programs in Bangladesh from abroad, it would be greatly appreciated if the organization's name and contact email address/phone number/website can be emailed to sadia@drishtipat.org by September 15, 2009.

 

Thank you again for your time in this matter and we look forward to your continued cooperation.

 

Sadia Faruque

Project Coordinator

 

On behalf of,

 

Asif Saleh                                                                                           Safi Rahman Khan

Executive Director                                                                              Executive Director

Drishtipat                                                                                            Bangladesh Freedom Foundation

asif.saleh@drishtipat.org                                                                      ed@freedomfound.org

 

The Bangladesh Freedom Foundation is an independent grant making organization that supports the growth and advancement of philanthropy in Bangladesh towards freeing people from poverty, ignorance, and oppression.

 

Drishtipat is a non-profit, non-partisan volunteer organization committed to safeguarding human rights in Bangladesh through action-oriented projects funded by its Diaspora Bangladeshi members and implemented by its Bangladesh based partner organizations.



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[mukto-mona] Distortion of Hinduism

With reference to the following Visual Illustrations at
http://tinyurl.com/mbnxuh

I must commend Vidhyadhar Gadgil for attempting to expose the true face of the "Hindu Janajagruti Samiti" through his column 'Folk, Religion and Hindutva' (Herald 4 Sep).  This group made the headlines recently for opposing the Ganesha paintings of Dr Subodh Kerkar, even though there is absolutely nothing in the Artist's paintings that can even remotely be considered as vulgar or provocative.

It goes without saying that Hinduism has a long standing tradition of depicting its Gods and Goddesses in liberal fashions. Artists, sculptors and Artisans have, over the years, painstakingly created thousand of paintings, sculptures and other images of Gods in various shapes, styles, figures and forms. Through such needless protests and agitations, the HJS is proving to be a group that is making a mockery of the liberal principles of Hinduism. 
To understand and know the true face of this orthodox Hindu group, one only has to take a peek at the matter that has been published on their own website (http: www.hindujagruti.org ). While surfing through this website sometime back, I came across several visual illustrations which would surely come under the purview of hate speech punishable under the Indian laws. 

In these illustrations, fellow Indian citizens, particularly Christians, Muslims and many of our National leaders including our honorable PM and members of the Nehru Gandhi family have been shown in extremely poor light. While Muslims have consistently been depicted either as Jihaadis, terrorists or supporters of Osama Bin Laden; Christians have been portrayed as Evildoers and Hindus who do not subscribe to their version of Hinduism have been branded as heretics who will suffer perishing fates. What is even more alarming is that Court Judges who have passed liberal Judgments have not been spared either. These groups are thus showing neither respect for fellow citizens nor fear for the laws of the land and are slowly threatening to become a law unto themselves. 

It appears that these illustrations, titled "Samarth" are being regularly published in the "Sanatan Prabhat", a local daily of the Sanatan Saunstha that is circulated in Goa and Maharashtra, two places where this group operates. The "Hindu Janajagruti Samiti" incidentally happens to be an offshoot of the Sanatan Saunstha.

The Chief Minister and the Home Minister must be directed to take action against these groups. These groups have defamed our National leaders, Christians, Muslims and even Hindus who do not subscribe to their hard-line philosophies. They may even be liable for contempt of Court proceedings for making a mockery of the Judiciary through their publications.

One fails to understand why the Government is treating this group with kid gloves, especially since its own leaders like Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have been shown in extremely humbling and embarrassing postures. These visual illustrations are deliberate attempts to insult, wound and provoke the feelings of entire communities and those responsible for the same need to be dealt with sternly and severely. 

In the face of such provocative illustrations, will the Government act against these groups? The true "Secular test" of the present Government lies therein!

regards
Sandeep Heble
Goa


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[ALOCHONA] AABEA presents Technical Seminars on October 10, 2009 at AABEA's 25th Anniversary celebration [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from Mahfuzur Rahman included below]

 


American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers & Architects (AABEA) 
Presents
 
 ~ TECHNICAL SEMINARS ~ 
 
in
 AABEA's 25th Anniversary Celebration
 
Saturday October 10, 2009 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
 
University of Maryland at Shady Grove

9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

 
(snacks, drinks, tea, etc. are available from the food stall with nominal price)
 

The attendance in Seminars is NOT limited to engineers and architects only.  Everyone is requested and highly encouraged to attend.

 

Seminar Schedule:
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm:  Seminar on IT (Information Technology); presented by Dr. Mahbub Haque
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm:  Seminar on LEED; presented by Anwar Iqbal Kochi
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm:  Seminar on Energy Sector; presented by Dr. Saifur Rahman & Dr. Ahmed Badruzzaman
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm:  Seminar on Tipaimookh Dam; presented by Enam Haque & Dr. Sufian Khandokar
 
 
Seminar Chairperson & Moderator: 
Nasreen ChowdhuryPresident-Elect,  AABEA - Washington DC Chapter
 
Seminar Coordinator:
Hares Sayeed,  President,  AABEA - Central Executive Committee
 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: From I-495 take I-270 North towards Frederick.  Take Exit 8 to Shady Grove Rd.,  At exit ramp keep left and turn left at signal on Shady Grove Road – West towards Hospital.  Pass the Hospital.  Next signal is Rte 28 (Darnestown Road).  Pass Rte 28, then turn immediate first right at Gudelsky Drive.  After entering to Gudelsky Drive, turn left and continue, you will see the Auditorium Building at your right.  Parking is on your left.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
REGISTER NOW for evening program!  Tickets are selling very fast! 
www.aabeadc.org/Events

 

Evening Highlights:
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm:  Courtesy DINNER for ticket holders only
{Serving of dinner shall close at 8:00 pm.  Sorry, no exceptions!}
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm:  Welcome Speeches & Recognition
                                       (please show your wrist band before entering in auditorium)
9:00 pm to 11:00 pm:  Entertainment program featuring local performers and
                                         Bangladeshi celebrities
                                        (please show your wrist band before entering in auditorium)
 
Please see the attached colorful flier with the wonderful photographs of the Bangladeshi celebrities.  Please bring your family, relatives, & friends on October 10, 2009 (Saturday) and stay with us from 2:00 pm to midnight to enjoy AABEA's 25th anniversary celebration with lots of fun & entertainment.  Thank you very much for your outstanding help & support and remember, we can achieve great things, if only you are with us.
 

Best Regards,

 

AABEA CEC and AABEA DC Executive Board

 

For further information please contact us at "contact@aabeadc.org".

or any of the executive board members:

 
Faisal Quader, President, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 301-990-7363; 301-526-7888 (cell)
Nasreen Chowdhury, President-Elect, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 703-493-9219; 703-944-4604 (cell)
Ajhar Nakib, Secretary, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 703-760-9616; 703-953-4788 (cell)
Mahfuzur Rahman, Treasurer, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 410-796-0577; 301-646-3475 (cell); 703-875-4054 (work) 
Shah "Raja" Ahmed, Executive Member, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 301-873-1440 (cell)
Zia Karim, Executive Member, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 352-383-1582; 410-807-6160 (cell)
Imran Feroz, Executive Member, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 443-756-9858
Nancy Hoque, Executive Member, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 202-558-6756
Misu Tasnim, Executive Member, AABEA Washington DC Chapter: 240-462-4000 (cell)
Hares Sayeed, President, AABEA Central Committee: 202-841-6269
Ahmed Ali, Executive Member of AABEA Central Committee and Liaison to Washington DC Chapter: 301-404-5567
 
American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers & Architects (AABEA)

Attachment(s) from Mahfuzur Rahman

1 of 1 Photo(s)


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