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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

[mukto-mona] FW: Tariq Ramadan on Swiss ban on minarets ( source Guardian)



 

 


 



:

 

My compatriots' vote to ban minarets is fuelled by fear

By Tariq Ramadan

It wasn't meant to go this way. For months we had been told that the efforts to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland were doomed. The last surveys suggested around 34 percent of the Swiss population would vote for this shocking initiative. Last Friday, in a meeting organized in Lausanne, more than 800 students, professors and citizens were in no doubt that the referendum would see the motion rejected, and instead were focused on how to turn this silly initiative into a more positive future.
 

Today that confidence was shattered, as 57 percent of the Swiss population did as the Union Démocratique du Centre (UDC) had urged them to -- a worrying sign that this populist party may be closest to the people's fears and expectations. For the first time since 1893 an initiative that singles out one community, with a clear discriminatory essence, has been approved in Switzerland. One can hope that the ban will be rejected at the European level, but that makes the result no less alarming. What is happening in Switzerland, the land of my birth?

There are only four minarets in Switzerland, so why is it that it is there that this initiative has been launched? My country, like many in Europe, is facing a national reaction to the new visibility of European Muslims. The minarets are but a pretext -- the UDC wanted first to launch a campaign against the traditional Islamic methods of slaughtering animals but were afraid of testing the sensitivity of Swiss Jews, and instead turned their sights on the minaret as a suitable symbol.

Every European country has its specific symbols or topics through which European Muslims are targeted. In France it is the headscarf or burka; in Germany, mosques; in Britain, violence; cartoons in Denmark; homosexuality in the Netherlands -- and so on. It is important to look beyond these symbols and understand what is really happening in Europe in general and in Switzerland in particular: while European countries and citizens are going through a real and deep identity crisis, the new visibility of Muslims is problematic -- and it is scary.

At the very moment Europeans find themselves asking, in a globalizing, migratory world, “What are our roots?”, “Who are we?”, “What will our future look like?”, they see around them new citizens, new skin colors, new symbols to which they are unaccustomed.

Over the last two decades Islam has become connected to so many controversial debates -- violence, extremism, freedom of speech, gender discrimination, forced marriage, to name a few -- it is difficult for ordinary citizens to embrace this new Muslim presence as a positive factor. There is a great deal of fear and a palpable mistrust. Who are they? What do they want? And the questions are charged with further suspicion as the idea of Islam being an expansionist religion is intoned. Do these people want to Islamize our country?

The campaign against the minarets was fuelled by just these anxieties and allegations. Voters were drawn to the cause by a manipulative appeal to popular fears and emotions. Posters featured a woman wearing a burka with the minarets drawn as weapons on a colonized Swiss flag. The claim was made that Islam is fundamentally incompatible with Swiss values. (The UDC has in the past demanded my citizenship be revoked because I was defending Islamic values too openly.) Its media strategy was simple but effective. Provoke controversy wherever it can be inflamed. Spread a sense of victimhood among the Swiss people: we are under siege, the Muslims are silently colonizing us and we are losing our very roots and culture. This strategy worked. The Swiss majority are sending a clear message to their Muslim fellow citizens: we do not trust you and the best Muslim for us is the Muslim we cannot see.

Who is to be blamed? I have been repeating for years to Muslim people that they have to be positively visible, active and proactive within their respective western societies. In Switzerland, over the past few months, Muslims have striven to remain hidden in order to avoid a clash. It would have been more useful to create new alliances with all these Swiss organizations and political parties that were clearly against the initiative. Swiss Muslims have their share of responsibility but one must add that the political parties, in Europe as in Switzerland have become cowed, and shy from any courageous policies towards religious and cultural pluralism. It is as if the populists set the tone and the rest follow. They fail to assert that Islam is by now a Swiss and a European religion and that Muslim citizens are largely “integrated”. That we face common challenges, such as unemployment, poverty and violence -- challenges we must face together. We cannot blame the populists alone -- it is a wider failure, a lack of courage, a terrible and narrow-minded lack of trust in their new Muslim citizens.

Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss citizen, is professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford University, and hosts Islam & Life at Iran’s Press TV.

(Source: The Guardian)

 

This email was sent to ahmadtotonji@yahoo.com, by United Muslims of America (UMA). The preceding document was posted on UMAnet - a service of United Muslims of America http://www.umanet.org - Opinions expressed in the above post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views of UMA

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[mukto-mona] Re: [khabor.com] FW: Tariq Ramadan on Swiss ban on minarets ( source Guardian)



Because of day by day discovery of real face of islam and muslims in the west, more perils will be fallen upon this hateful Islamic creed all over the world. Muslims will utterly fail to integrate in their host nations and as a result, more sad things are coming to them. Be prepared for more.
 
SKM

On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 2:49 AM, S A Hannan <sahannan@sonarbangladesh.com> wrote:
 

 

 


 



:

 

My compatriots' vote to ban minarets is fuelled by fear

By Tariq Ramadan

It wasn't meant to go this way. For months we had been told that the efforts to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland were doomed. The last surveys suggested around 34 percent of the Swiss population would vote for this shocking initiative. Last Friday, in a meeting organized in Lausanne, more than 800 students, professors and citizens were in no doubt that the referendum would see the motion rejected, and instead were focused on how to turn this silly initiative into a more positive future.
 

Today that confidence was shattered, as 57 percent of the Swiss population did as the Union Démocratique du Centre (UDC) had urged them to -- a worrying sign that this populist party may be closest to the people's fears and expectations. For the first time since 1893 an initiative that singles out one community, with a clear discriminatory essence, has been approved in Switzerland. One can hope that the ban will be rejected at the European level, but that makes the result no less alarming. What is happening in Switzerland, the land of my birth?

There are only four minarets in Switzerland, so why is it that it is there that this initiative has been launched? My country, like many in Europe, is facing a national reaction to the new visibility of European Muslims. The minarets are but a pretext -- the UDC wanted first to launch a campaign against the traditional Islamic methods of slaughtering animals but were afraid of testing the sensitivity of Swiss Jews, and instead turned their sights on the minaret as a suitable symbol.

Every European country has its specific symbols or topics through which European Muslims are targeted. In France it is the headscarf or burka; in Germany, mosques; in Britain, violence; cartoons in Denmark; homosexuality in the Netherlands -- and so on. It is important to look beyond these symbols and understand what is really happening in Europe in general and in Switzerland in particular: while European countries and citizens are going through a real and deep identity crisis, the new visibility of Muslims is problematic -- and it is scary.

At the very moment Europeans find themselves asking, in a globalizing, migratory world, "What are our roots?", "Who are we?", "What will our future look like?", they see around them new citizens, new skin colors, new symbols to which they are unaccustomed.

Over the last two decades Islam has become connected to so many controversial debates -- violence, extremism, freedom of speech, gender discrimination, forced marriage, to name a few -- it is difficult for ordinary citizens to embrace this new Muslim presence as a positive factor. There is a great deal of fear and a palpable mistrust. Who are they? What do they want? And the questions are charged with further suspicion as the idea of Islam being an expansionist religion is intoned. Do these people want to Islamize our country?

The campaign against the minarets was fuelled by just these anxieties and allegations. Voters were drawn to the cause by a manipulative appeal to popular fears and emotions. Posters featured a woman wearing a burka with the minarets drawn as weapons on a colonized Swiss flag. The claim was made that Islam is fundamentally incompatible with Swiss values. (The UDC has in the past demanded my citizenship be revoked because I was defending Islamic values too openly.) Its media strategy was simple but effective. Provoke controversy wherever it can be inflamed. Spread a sense of victimhood among the Swiss people: we are under siege, the Muslims are silently colonizing us and we are losing our very roots and culture. This strategy worked. The Swiss majority are sending a clear message to their Muslim fellow citizens: we do not trust you and the best Muslim for us is the Muslim we cannot see.

Who is to be blamed? I have been repeating for years to Muslim people that they have to be positively visible, active and proactive within their respective western societies. In Switzerland, over the past few months, Muslims have striven to remain hidden in order to avoid a clash. It would have been more useful to create new alliances with all these Swiss organizations and political parties that were clearly against the initiative. Swiss Muslims have their share of responsibility but one must add that the political parties, in Europe as in Switzerland have become cowed, and shy from any courageous policies towards religious and cultural pluralism. It is as if the populists set the tone and the rest follow. They fail to assert that Islam is by now a Swiss and a European religion and that Muslim citizens are largely "integrated". That we face common challenges, such as unemployment, poverty and violence -- challenges we must face together. We cannot blame the populists alone -- it is a wider failure, a lack of courage, a terrible and narrow-minded lack of trust in their new Muslim citizens.

Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss citizen, is professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford University, and hosts Islam & Life at Iran's Press TV.

(Source: The Guardian)

 

This email was sent to ahmadtotonji@yahoo.com, by United Muslims of America (UMA). The preceding document was posted on UMAnet - a service of United Muslims of America http://www.umanet.org - Opinions expressed in the above post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views of UMA

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[ALOCHONA] Green barrier fast disappearing



Green barrier fast disappearing

Kutubdia, Dec 01 (bdnews24.com) – Salt evaporation lakes, vast stretches of shrimp cultivation and fields of Shutki drying in the sun stretch as far as the eye can see. Once in a while, two or three young screw pines break the otherwise monotonous view.

This is the view of Kutubdia Island, which lies a kilometre off the coast of Cox's Bazar on the south-east coast of Bangladesh. Just ten years ago, one of the largest tracts of manmade mangrove, or 'parabon', forest in South Asia stretched along the Kutubdia channel here.

Forest guard Abu Taher told bdnews24.com, "The parabon has disappeared. Land grabbing syndicates backed by influential figures have depleted the forest for salt, shrimp and dry fish production."

Kutubdia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jafar Ahmed said the island would be one of the areas most affected by climate change.

He told bdnews24.com, "There is no forest left here."

Forest specialists say parabon depletion in Bangladesh started decades back, with one-fifth of the forests being levelled over the years, and it still continues uncurbed.

Forest stretching over large areas have been cut down illegally by "influential groups", mainly to make way for shrimp cultivation, and also through pressure of increased population.

As a result, 30 million residents of the 710km belt stretching from Khulna's Shyamnagar to Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya face growing danger from storms and tidal waves. As climate change threatens to unleash more frequent and intense cyclones and tidal waves, the coastal areas with their shield of forests fast disappearing are now under threat.

Kamal Hossain, a professor of Chittagong University's Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science, told bdnews24.com on Monday: "Risks in coastal areas are rising with global climate change."

"The continuing exhaustion of coastal forest is further raising the dangers."

He said the parabon forests of Chakaria in Cox's Bazar have already been completely depleted and the Noakhali-Patuakhali-Barguna coastal belt was also under threat.

"If it weren't for the Sundarbans, the districts Jessore, Khulna and Bagerhat would also be in grave danger."

The Sundarbans in the southwest are part of the largest stretch of natural mangrove in the world and designated a world heritage site.

The coastal forests in the southeast, on the other hand, were created artificially. The term 'parabon' is used locally to refer to these manmade forests.

Environmentalist Ansarul Karim estimates that about 6,000 hectares of parabon have been depleted in Cox's Bazar.

According to the Coast Trust, a local NGO, some 4,000 out of 10,000 hectares along the Teknaf-Sonadia coast have been illegally razed in the past decade alone to make way for shrimp cultivation.

It says some 225 cases are pending against 625 persons in Cox's Bazar for illegal destruction of parabon forest.

Depletion of parabon not only leaves the coast susceptible to natural calamities but also speeds coastal erosion and salination of soil, says the Trust.

With current rates of erosion, Kutubdia Island will collapse into the sea within 40-45 years, says the NGO. The same can occur along other areas of the coast.

UNO Jafar Ahmed said the forest department has begun re-forestation. Abu Bakar Siddique, forest officer of Kutubdia Range, also told bdnews24.com that a reforestation project along the Kutubdia channel is underway.

But it's a big task. Ainun Nishat, former resident representative of International Union for Conservation of Nature, said that increased pressure of population and expansion of shrimp cultivation has put entire localities at risk from Barguna to Cox's Bazar.

Information from the Disaster Management Training Centre of Dhaka University reveals that more than 700,000 people died in some 25 cyclones and tidal waves over the last four decades.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, there are records of 365 cyclones in the Bay of Bengal from 1877-1995 that lost intensity before hitting the mainland. However climate change may cause such cyclones to hit the mainland with more force in future.

Experts say that coastal mangrove and parabon forests are the only possible protection. Failure to preserve the existing forests and replace the lost stretches could lead to total devastation of coastal areas spelling disaster for around 30 million people.

Kamal Hossain said: "Parabon can protect them. We must preserve our green barrier."




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[ALOCHONA] Human Rights Monitoring Report on Bangladesh



Human Rights Monitoring Report on Bangladesh

Transparency and accountability must be ensured in the trial of the BDR Jawans to maintain human rights and political stability.Increase in remand and torture may undermine the role of the judiciary to ensure human rights and constitutional responsibilities.Denial of extrajudicial killings by the government despite High Court Division's Suo Moto Rule.Human Right Defenders condemn abduction of two ULFA leaders by India.Rise in political clashes and the frustration of political gatherings .Threats conveyed to journalists

Odhikar has been working to preserve the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights and as a part of its mandate regularly observes and reports the human rights situation of Bangladesh. An account of the human rights situation of Bangladesh covering the period of 01 -30 November 2009 is given below.

A. Transparency and accountability must be ensured in the trial of the BDR Jawans

1. The trial of those allegedly involved in the BDR mutiny commenced outside Dhaka in the district of Rangamati on November 24, 2009. A total of 6 Courts have been formed to carry out the trial. As per the BDR law the Court constitutes of three members. The Director-General of the BDR is the head of this three- member panel. On the first day of trial, five BDR members from the 12 Rifles Battalion Rajanagar Camp were brought before the Court.

2. Questions regarding the transparency and accountability of this trial have been raised in the media and expert opinions are also divided on the critical margins between existing legal regimes, demand for justice and power politics. Added to the concern is the national security issue and the antagonistic perception and conflict between different armed institutions. In this context Odhikar hopes that conditions are met to ensure justice over and above other political considerations that are already complicating the situation. Odhikar believes that upholding the human rights of the BDR Jawans should be the primary concern of all quarters.

B. Increase in remand and torture may undermine the role of the judiciary to ensure human rights and constitutional responsibilities

3. As per an investigative report published by the Amar Desh newspaper dated 02 November 2009, the police have taken 2005 persons into remand over a period of one month and twenty-eight days in Dhaka city. Amongst these persons, 702 of them are members of the BDR. Following arrest as crime suspects under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a total of 172 persons have been taken into remand. On average the Judicial Magistrate Court of Dhaka granted remand for 35 persons on a daily basis . It is commonly alleged that the persons taken into remand have been mentally and physically tortured in the name of interrogation. After an accused has been taken into remand by the Police from the Court, the accused is often taken elsewhere by other forces. For the purposes of interrogation, the person in custody is taken to the JIC and TFI Cells which are not sanctioned by law; torture goes on in the name of interrogation. The BDR members accused of causing bloodshed in the Peelkhana murder incident of February 2009, have been retracting confessions they made previously under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. On November 2, 2009, Deputy Assistant Director (165) Abdul Jalil, Junior Commissioned Officer Nayeb Subedar (5349) Alauddin, Nayek (62505) Dulal Gazi, Habildar (42185) Yusuf Ali and Sepoy (68435) Al Mamun filed applications to the Dhaka Courts for retracting their previously made confessional statements. The applications stated that the confessional statements had been extracted from them by applying electric shocks and other forms of torture during the remand period.

4. These are serious violations of both domestic laws and international conventions that Bangladesh is a party to. Furthermore, it contravenes the pledges that Bangladesh made as a member of the UN Human Rights Council.

5. Attaining confessional statements by torturing the accused person goes against the basic principles of human rights and the Criminal Procedure Code. Although Bangladesh signed the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on October 5, 1998, the above actions are stringent violations of the Convention. The prevention of torture is also upheld in Article 35(5) of the Bangladesh Constitution.

6. Odhikar urges Magistrates to refrain from accepting confessional statements that have been attained through torture, especially when it is evident that the accused persons have been tortured.

7. Odhikar would like to remind the concerned authorities that the provisions of Sections 330 and 331 of the Penal Code prescribe that attaining confessional statements by the application of force through beating or severe injury or 'grievous hurt' is a punishable offence and the perpetrator may suffer up to 10 years imprisonment and fine.

8. During the process of interrogation, the law enforcement agencies should observe and uphold the directions of the High Court Division which it gave in a 2003 case. The verdict of the High Court states that if the need for interrogation arises, then it must be carried out in front of the lawyer of the accused or in front of someone who is known to him. If there are signs of beatings on the body of the accused prior to his arrest, he must immediately be taken to a doctor. In addition to this, the accused must be examined by a doctor before and after interrogation. The accused cannot be interrogated in an undisclosed place. None of these directions, given by the court almost six years ago, have been observed to date.

C. Denial of 'extrajudicial killing by the government despite High Court Division's Suo Moto Rule

9. On 17 November, 2009 a Division Bench of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, comprising of Justice A.F.M Abdur Rahman and Justice Imdadul Huq Azad, issued a suo moto rule, giving the government and Rapid Action Battalion 48 hours to explain the shooting and killing of two brothers in Madaripur, asking why the deaths should not be ruled extra-judicial. On the same day, the Home Minister of Bangladesh, Sahara Khatun claimed that "no crossfire killings" had taken place. The step taken by the court received appreciation from the human rights defenders. The Home Minister decried "There has been no crossfire since our government has taken office." she stressed. Brothers Lutfor Khalashi, 40, and Khairul Khalashi, 38, both alleged to be members of Shorbohara party, were killed in what RAB said was "an exchange of gunfire" in Madaripur early on Monday, November 16th. The deaths were reported just 36 hours after family members voiced fears that the two might be killed in custody.

10. It must be remembered here that the Government is promise bound to maintain 'zero tolerance' for cross fire and torture.

11. According to Odhikar 118 people have been killed in crossfire/encounter/shootout' incidents in the eleven months of the Awami League-led government which assumed power on 6 January, 2009.

12. It must be noted here that the issue of 'crossfire' came to the forefront again after the formation of the elite force Rapid Action Battalion on March 26, 2004, during the BNP government. This is not the first time this kind of violence has occurred. In 1972, the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini was formed at the time of the first Awami League Government, that was just as eager to bring down people in 'crossfire' and 'shoot-outs'.

13. Between 01 and 30 November 2009, 120 people became the victims of what was termed 'crossfire'.

14. The blatant claim of the Home Minister that no "crossfire killings" have taken place since the current government took office, is a clear signal that the present regime will keep on violating human rights, despite the intention of the judiciary to take up the issue as serious national and international concern.

D. Extra-judicial killings

15. During the month of November 2009, 14 people have reportedly been killed extra-judicially. It has been further alleged that of these people, 4 were killed by RAB, 9 by Police and 1 was killed by coast guard.

16. It has been alleged that of these extrajudicial killings, 11 were killed in 'crossfire/encounters/gun fights/shootout' while 3 persons were tortured to death.

17. Of the 14 persons, 2 belonged to the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Jonojuddho),1 was a member of the Purbo Banglar Communist Party ( Red Flag), 2 were members of the Shorbohara Party, 1 was a member of the New Biplobi Communist Party, another one was belong to Biplobi Communist party, 1 from Gono Mukti Fouz,1 was a Chairman of Union Parishad, one was an accused, one was a shopkeeper,1 was an alleged criminal, 1 was a young man and another one was an alleged dacoit leader.

E. Abduction of two ULFA leaders by India

18. On November 1, 2009, a group of men abducted Chitrobon Hajarika and Shoshodhor Chowdhury, the Finance and International Affairs Secretaries respectively of Assam's freedom aspiring organization ULFA, from Sector No. 3 of Uttara, Dhaka and took them to India. Very soon after the news of the abduction, Abdus Sobhan, the Home Secretary of Bangladesh told the BBC that he was not aware of the arrest of any top ULFA leaders or the handing over of them to India. It must be mentioned here that India and Bangladesh do not have an extradition treaty between them. The Home Secretary's statement directly implies that they have been abducted by people who are not part of the Bangladesh law enforcing agencies, alleging that the abduction has been conducted by Indian agencies violating the sovereignty of Bangladesh and contravening international human rights provisions.

19. Following the statement made by the Bangladesh Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan, the arrested leaders were brought before an Assam Court and a photo of that was published in the newspapers. The ULFA leaders told the Court how they had been abducted from Bangladesh in the middle of the night.

20. The two ULFA leaders are members of the political wing of ULFA, and not involved in military operations. They had taken refuge in Bangladesh to safeguard themselves and their families and to rally the support of the people of Bangladesh for their right to self-determination. Given the situation of the North Eastern States of India and the blatant human rights violations by the Indian army in those areas, the lives of the abducted ULFA leaders are cause of concern.

F. Rise in political clashes and the frustration of political gatherings

21. On November 3, 2009, the BNP organised a council session and mass gathering of its Sundolpur Model Union unit at the Dhakargaon Soddarbari Bazaar field at Daukkandi, Comilla. On the same day the Jubo League organised a protest gathering at the same venue in demonstration against the bomb attack on Parliamentarian Fazle Noor Taposh. This resulted in tension between the followers of the two political groups following which the UNO of Daudkandi enforced Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the area of the Soddarbari Bazaar field banning all forms of gatherings there.

22. On November 5, 2009, the Barisal Awami League and its sister organisations organised a protest rally in remonstration of the bomb attacks near the Awami League Central Office in Dhaka. This protest rally eventually caused a great deal of destruction to the Barisal BNP Office.

23. On November 8, 2009, Jubo Dal activist Saidul, an accused in the murder case of Ashraful Islam Sohel, a Chattra League leader who was killed during the last BNP- led Four Party Alliance government, assaulted Murad, the former Joint Secretary of the district Chattra League, at Lalmonirhat. In response to this event the activists of Chattra League and Jubo League brought a protest rally, ransacked and set fire to the offices of the Jatiyotabadi Sramik Dal.

24. On November 9, 2009, the Bi-annual Council of the Horinakundo Upazilla BNP in Jhinaidaha and the Pouro BNP was set to be held at the Zilla Parishad Auditorium. However after a meeting in protest of the bomb attack on MP Fazle Noor Taposh was held at the same venue, tensions arose between the followers of the two political groups. The Upazilla administration in context of the situation declared Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and banned any sort of gathering.

25. On November 10, 2009, the Chattra and Jubo League activists attacked and frustrated the BNP Council of Raujan, Chittagong.

26. On November 17, 2009, the BNP declared the holding of its Daudkandi, Comilla Council at the local Fatema Plaza premises. When the Awami League also declared the holding of a protest gathering relating to the bomb attack on Parliamentarian Taposh, a clash resulted between the two groups, causing the Upazilla administration to declared Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the area, banning any sort of gatherings.

27. Every citizen of the State has the constitutional right to conduct political activities in a peaceful manner and also the right to criticise the Government. In addition to this, the Constitution also clearly guarantees, through Article 38 and 39 the right to organise and take part in gatherings and form associations.

28. According to information gathered by Odhikar in November, 8 have been killed and 1402 injured in political violence. There have been 38 instances of Awami League and 19 instances of BNP intra party clashes. In addition to this, 319 people were injured in the Awami Leagues internal conflict while 317 were injured in BNP initiated intra party violence.

G. Threats conveyed to journalists

29. Kazi Jesin, a well known journalist and an anchor of Bangla Vision, a private television channel of Bangladesh, has alleged that she has received threats over her cell phone and email. Jesin subsequently filed a General Diary at the Mohammadpur Police Station. The persons making the threats have been demanding that 'Point Of Order' be taken off the air. 'Point of Order' is a television talk show, where Kazi Jesin raises critical questions and concerns conducive to create awareness about human rights and constitutional rights of the people of Bangladesh. It should also be mentioned here that Jesin received death threats several months ago.

30. The security of Kazi Jesin is a cause for concern and the Government must immediately identify the threat makers and take legal measures against them.

31. Journalists have been subjected to various forms of harassment during the month of November. During this time, 9 were injured, 8 threatened and 4 assaulted. One was attacked and cases were filed against 2 journalists.

H. Human rights violations along the Bangladesh-India border

32. From facts gathered by Odhikar there have been 12 incidents of human rights violations committed by the BSF upon Bangladeshis during the month of November. It has been learned that 6 Bangladeshi citizens have been killed and 5 injured and 1 was abducted by the BSF.

33. Despite human rights organisations and the media consistently placing forth and highlighting the incidents of human rights violations along the border, no signs are yet to be seen of bringing an end to these violations or providing any sort of compensation to the injured party or their families.

I. Condition of the workers of the ready-made garments business

34. In the month of November approximately 130 workers of the Ready Made Garments sector were injured during clashes for demanding over-due wages.

35. The licenses of those garments factories that are not observing the three-party contract (tripartite agreement) and are sustaining the labor unrest must be cancelled.

J. Other forms human rights violations

Rape

36. In the month of November, a total of 27 females were reportedly raped, where 10 were adults and 17 were children . Of the adult women, 4 were allegedly killed after being raped and 6 were gang raped. From the 17 female children who were raped, 4 of them were killed after being raped and 6 were victims of gang rape.

37. On November 17, 2009, 12 activists of the Jubo League raped a 12 year old girl, a student of Class VI at the Kobirhat Madrasa in Noakhali. The Police have arrested Jubo League activists Hedayetullah and Jahir Uddin following the incident.

38. The Government must take effective and unbiased steps to stop all forms of violence against women.

Dowry related violence

39. During November 2009, a total of 25 women were reportedly subjected to dowry related violence. 22 of them were allegedly killed due to the violence and 3 of them were tortured in various ways.

Acid attacks

40. During November 2009, a total of 4 persons have reportedly been victims of acid throwing, where 3 were adult females and 1 was a man.

Death in jail custody

41. During November 2009, it has been reported that a total of 5 persons passed away in jail custody allegedly due to illness.

Recommendations

42. Transparency and accountability must be upheld in the treason cases involving the BDR Jawans.

43. Torture during interrogation and in the remand period or during custody must be stopped.

44. Recommendations put forth by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh in 2003, regarding measures to be put in place to prevent torture and ill treatment in custody and remand, must be implemented as soon as possible.

45. The Government must take effective measures to bring an end to violence against women. The guilty parties must be brought under the purview of prevalent laws and tried. The victim must also be given proper support by the Government.

46. The wages of the workers of the readymade garments factories must be paid on time. The Government must watch over the garments factories to ensure that the workers are being paid regularly and that the issues concerning wage raises are resolved. The Government must also ensure that the tri-partite agreement is being observed.

Odhikar

Tel: 88-02-9888587, Fax: 88-02-9886208,

Email: odhikar.bd@gmail.com, odhikar@citech-bd.com

Web: www.odhikar.org

Notes:

1. Odhikar seeks to uphold the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the people.

2. Odhikar documents ,records and highlights violations of human rights and receives information from its network of human rights defenders. It monitors the media reports of twelve national daily newspapers.

3. Odhikar conducts detailed fact-finding investigations into some of the most significant violations.

4. Odhikar is consistent in its human rights reporting and is committed to remain so.

Director
Odhikar
Gulshan, Dhaka – 1212,
Bangladesh.
E-mail: odhikar@citech-bd.com
odhikar.bd@gmail.com
odhikar@sparkbd.net
Website: www.odhikar.org

http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=295329



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[mukto-mona] Mass media: masses of money?



"If this was advertising, many candidates — not only Mr. Chavan — would be found way beyond the election expense limit. If it was not advertising, then it was 'paid news,' a term now firmly embedded in the media lexicon. If it was advertising, why was it not clearly marked as such? That's a question media owners and journalists would have to answer"
 
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan spent a mere Rs. 5,379 on newspaper advertisements during the recent State Assembly election, by his own claim. And he spent another Rs.6,000 on cable television ads. These figures are clearly at odds with the unprecedented media coverage the Chief Minister got during the election campaign. The Hindu has gathered 47 full newspaper pages, many of them in colour, focused exclusively on Mr. Chavan, his leadership, his party and government. These appeared in large newspapers, including one ranking amongst India's highest circulation dailies. However, they were not marked as advertisements.
— PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE

The front page of the Ashok Parv (Era of Ashok) supplement, which must have cost a fortune.
 
Mass media: masses of money?
P. Sainath
The same exclusive report, with different bylines, in three rival dailies. Swathes of advertising dolled up as news stories. Is 'paid news' getting institutionalised?

— PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE

The same story on Ashok Chavan appeared in three rival dailies word for word (only the headline differed in one). It was bylined in Pudhari, attributed to "Special Correspodent" in Lokmat, and went without a byline in the Maharashtra Times. Nowhere does the word advertisement figure alongside these 'news' stories.
"Young dynamic leadership: Ashokrao Chavan," read the headline of a prominent news item in the Marathi daily Lokmat (October 10). That was 72 hours before the people of Maharashtra went to vote in the State Assembly polls. The item was attributed to the newspaper's "Special Correspondent," making it clear this was a news story. The story showered praise on the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for having achieved so much for so many in so few months. The same story also appeared word for word the same day in the Maharashtra Times, a leading and rival Marathi daily. Two minds with but a single thought? Two hearts that beat as one?
A cute and comforting thought. Except that the very same story (again word for word, only with a different headline) had appeared three days earlier in the Marathi daily Pudhari (October 7). In that case, with a reporter's name at the bottom of the item.
In the Maharashtra Times, the piece ran without a byline. But again, as a news story. There is no mention of the word advertisement or sponsored feature next to the item in any of the newspapers. And unless the bylined reporter of Pudhari moonlights as" Special Correspondent" for Lokmat, while also being a ghost-writer for the Maharashtra Times, the appearance of the same piece verbatim in the three rival newspapers does seem odd. But maybe not so odd? Mr. Chavan seems to have gained greatly from what is now called 'package journalism' or 'coverage packages.'
A limited check by The Hindu turned up around 47 full pages of 'news' (quite a few of them in colour) centred on Mr. Chavan and his fine qualities as a leader. These mostly appeared between October 1 and 12 in more than one paper but mainly in multiple editions of Lokmat. (These 47 pages are barely a third of those actually published in that period.) The pattern seems to have been set with a launch on September 12 of a four-page colour supplement titled Ashok parv (The Era of Ashok). And then followed up with a full page almost every day in October till voting day (October 13) titled "Vikas parv" or The Era of Development. The Vikas parv pages, too, are centred on Mr. Chavan. And, of course, the achievements of Maharashtra under the Congress.
This flood of 'news' did not harm Mr. Chavan's prospects. He won the Bhokar Assembly seat of Maharashtra's Nanded district by defeating independent candidate Madhavrao Kinhalkar by a margin of over one lakh (120,849 against 13,346) votes.
In strict terms, the unprecedented coverage the Chief Minister received during the poll campaign cannot be called advertising. None of those full pages bears that word. And his "day to day accounts of election expenditures" do not reflect any real spending on ads. All candidates are required by law to submit their campaign expenses accounts to the district election officer within 30 days of the declaration of results. Mr. Chavan's accounts, which are in The Hindu's possession thanks to an RTI application to which the appropriate authorities responded with commendable speed, claim a total expenditure of just Rs. 11,379 on advertising. Indeed, he had a mere six advertisements in print and these cost a trifling Rs. 5,379. (The rest was spent on slots on cable television.) Moreover, all his print ads went to a single newspaper, Satyaprabha. That is a small daily in the district of Nanded. Yet Mr. Chavan was the focus of scores of full pages in very major dailies. If those had been ads, they would have cost crores of rupees. More so given the large newspapers they featured in.
Lokmat is a very popular Marathi daily newspaper. It ranks as the 4th largest circulated daily in India while being numero uno in Maharashtra, with more than ten million readers (NRS 2006). The Maharashtra Times is no small-town sheet either. It too has millions of readers and is part of India's largest newspaper group. (Our limited check turned up 'news' of this kind in many other dailies. However, in some we were able to get through most of the issues between Oct. 1 and 12. Piles of the rest, from 18 other newspapers across the state, lie with us for scrutiny.) If Indian-language papers ran most of such 'news,' that was mainly because they were the preferred platform to reach voters during election time.
At market rates, say industry insiders, placing a four-page colour supplement in all 13 editions of a newspaper like Lokmat could cost an advertiser between Rs. 1.5 crore and 2 crore. "Also," says an executive who has worked in this field, "this was election time. It comes once in five years. Forget about discounts, the rates climb higher in a seller's market." But never mind the supplements. The pages titled Vikas parv ran very frequently in Lokmat in October till almost voting day. (We have 35 such pages that ran between Oct. 1 and 12).
The cost of these alone, if they were advertising, would have been hugely above the election expenditure limit. Of course there could have been, as the executive concedes, special deals struck between the advertiser and the newspaper. (Incidentally, a member of the family owning Lokmat, Congress MLA Rajendra Darda, has joined the Ashok Chavan Ministry with full cabinet rank. He was a Minister of State in the earlier government. His website describes him as Vice Chairman & Joint Managing Director. It also calls him "a driving force behind Lokmat's success for the last 35 years.")
Two enterprising dailies handled their 'paid news' differently. They required each 'advertiser' to buy thousands of copies of the paper. That way, they made their money, while showing higher sale numbers. Crucially, not a single newspaper carrying this kind of material runs the word advertisement with such 'news' items. The post-poll period has seen some debate in the State over what is now called the 'paid news' industry. Many believe that this time the news media went further than ever before in passing off advertising as news. And that the practice has moved from petty corruption of a few journalists to a media-run game worth hundreds of millions of rupees.

— PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE

This is a sample of of the `Vikas parv' (Era of Development) pages that ran during the polls. Such full pages, if advertisements, are very expensive, especially given the extensive use of colour.
Govind Talwalkar, a distinguished leader of Marathi journalism, now retired, is amongst those deeply upset. He wrote in anguish from the United States to The Hindu saying "this is a perfect case for a CBI inquiry...Never in such a long career have I found journalism reduced to such a degrading and reprehensible state." Mr. Talwalkar was active in the profession for over 50 years. For 27 of those, he served as editor of the Maharashtra Times.
Many others are disturbed. "But will those running the new 'industry' give it a name upfront?" asks one editor. How do we calculate in ad rates the value of what is nowhere marked as advertising? Even if a 30-40 per cent premium was tagged on for elections? When countless other 'news stories' like these often appear besides genuine news reports? This reporter, aided by journalists from different parts of Maharashtra, has acquired an impressive collection of such 'news items.' Besides, poll-time 'coverage packages' now include multiple exposure in print, on television — and online.
What can be done about this fairly new trend in electoral campaigning and media coverage of candidates?
The constitutional jurisdiction of the Election Commission, which has been elaborated in several judicial decisions, is the "superintendence, direction and control" of elections. This means its authority to act directly on the rights and wrongs of an election ceases once the results are declared. However, during the election process, it could do much more than it has done so far. It can be at least as tough on big time overspending, which makes a mockery of legal spending limits, as it is on relatively minor things, for instance wall writing, graffiti, and pamphlets. The ECI knows better than anyone else that the overwhelming majority of submitted expense accounts are false.
The ECI can of course conduct a study of, or hold a workshop on, the misuse of media in various States during the 2009 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. So can the Press Council of India.
But under the electoral law, an election can be "called in question" only by an election petition filed by a candidate or elector in a High Court within 45 days of the election of the returned candidate. Section 123(6) of The Representation of the People Act, 1951 makes it clear that "the incurring or authorising of expenditure in contravention of section 77" is a corrupt practice, which can form the matter of an election petition. If that happens, with the necessary evidence on the alleged corrupt practice, things could get rough. Mr. Chavan and several newspaper and television groups could find themselves between a rock and a very hard place. No matter which way you cut it.
If it was advertising, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is in a spot. Pleas of 'well-wishers' fêting their hero in print won't wash. The Rs. 10-lakh-expenditure limit stands breached. If the defence were that the party did this on the Chief Minister's behalf, it would mean the Congress party in the State would have to own up to faking advertising as news to mislead voters. If the 'coverage packages' were sponsored, it would still leave open the question of who paid how much to whom. Was it 'news,' then? If it was 'news,' the reports we have compiled must rank amongst the most remarkable 'news' judgments ever. With different papers publishing the same stuff with differing bylines. With the content reeking of sycophancy.
 
If this was advertising, many candidates — not only Mr. Chavan — would be found way beyond the election expense limit. If it was not advertising, then it was 'paid news,' a term now firmly embedded in the media lexicon. If it was advertising, why was it not clearly marked as such? That's a question media owners and journalists would have to answer. For dressing it up it as news was to bring wrongful and undue influence to bear on the voters. If it was advertising, were the 'advertisers' properly billed for their ads? If not, we could be looking at illegal cash transactions and tax evasion that runs to millions of rupees. If it was 'paid news,' then both media outlets and politicians are guilty of much more than financial wrongdoing. They would have to answer for the profound damage done to the democratic process.


 
With Regards

Abi
 

"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst"

- Aristotle




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[mukto-mona] Re: [khabor.com] MoAssghar aka Nidal Hasan



I think some miscreant is using the distorted form of my last name to mislead good members of this forum. I have never seen anyone spelling his name as "Assghar."
 
This could be one of the Satans we already know!
 
Mohammad Asghar
 



From: Anis Rahman <anis90242@yahoo.com>
To: moassghar@yahoo.com; khurshid <mirza.syed@gmail.com>; khabor@yahoogroups.com; Ashraf <syguia@aol.com>; asghar <msa7011@yahoo.com>; Alamgir <malamgir1@aol.com>; iftikhar <hnhtex99@yahoo.com>; turkman@sbcglobal.net; dabir <md.dabiruddin@yahoo.com>; MOZUMDER <mozumder@aol.com>; Farid <akhtergolam@gmail.com>; "saifpacific@yahoo.com" <saifpacific@yahoo.com>; FBI <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>; mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, December 1, 2009 9:58:23 AM
Subject: Re: [khabor.com] MoAssghar aka Nidal Hasan

:)

--- On Tue, 12/1/09, SAIF Davdas <islam1234@msn.com> wrote:

From: SAIF Davdas <islam1234@msn.com>
Subject: [khabor.com] MoAssghar aka Nidal Hasan
To: moassghar@yahoo.com, "khurshid" <mirza.syed@gmail.com>, "Khabor" <khabor@yahoogroups.com>, "Ashraf" <syguia@aol.com>, "asghar" <msa7011@yahoo.com>, "Alamgir" <malamgir1@aol.com>, "iftikhar" <hnhtex99@yahoo.com>, turkman@sbcglobal.net, "dabir" <md.dabiruddin@yahoo.com>, "MOZUMDER" <mozumder@aol.com>, "Farid" <akhtergolam@gmail.com>, "saifpacific@yahoo.com" <saifpacific@yahoo.com>, "FBI" <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>, mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 4:23 AM

 

I ask you, Hazrat Assghar, aka, Hazrat Abu Nidal Hasan--O slave of Allah, before slaying me and Kamran Mirza—you did not shout Allahu-Akbar. Why my son? Have you lost your marbles? I suspect, the only reason you did not shout Allahu Akbar is because you knew FBI would come after you with vengeance? Is that right? Dear Forum Members---I request you to visit my post again on Siraj Sikder and tell me where did I insult Hazrat Assghar? Wake up friends and see another Abu Nidal Hasan among you. He is about to blow himself up!


SaifDevdas
islam1234@msn.com


Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 01:52:00 -0800
From: moassghar@yahoo. com
Subject: 'Bongeshor' Seikh Mujib
To: islam1234@msn. com; mirza.syed@gmail. com
CC: khabor@yahoogroups. com; dahuk@yahoogroups. com; alochona@yahoogroup s.com; ajmol.ali@treas. state.nj. us; anis90242@yahoo. com; abidbahar@yahoo. com; akhtergolam@ gmail..com; veirsmill@yahoo. com; dsarkar1@hotmail. com; shah.mahmood@ navy.mil; banglarnari@ yahoogroups. com; beautyanwar@ hotmail.com; turkman@sbcglobal. net; tasneembr11@ yahoo.com; malamgir1@aol. com; anisahmed63@ yahoo.com; syguia@aol.com; celeti@aol.com; md.dabiruddin@ yahoo.com; delwar98@hotmail. com; enayet_2000@ yahoo.com; sahannan@sonarbangl adesh.com; hares.sayed@ dc..gov; himu.rozario@ comcast.net; hnhtex99@yahoo. com; inara_islam@ hotmail.com; bd_mailer@yahoo. com; kaljatri@emailme. net; khalidhasan@ hotmail.com; mahbub28se@yahoo. com; mozumder@aol. com; mukto-mona@yahoogro ups.com; captmunir@gmail. com; nizam_moer@sky. com; nzh.biman@gmail. com; imrulalqays@ gmail.com; saifpacific@ yahoo.com

bainchod paki mirza/ devdas, you moderfukers, you did not live in hell in 1974? was you the bustard sons of seikh kamal? who knows .... maybe, maybe your mom got some sprem donatiun from seikh kamal ..... obviously!

You bainchod did not even live in Bangladesh when Seikh kamal was fuking and raping girls in Dahka university? Sulatana was grabbed in daylight and forcely married to bustard seikh kamal. ask anyone who lived in dhaka in 72? Seikh kamal was da bastrd son of mujib. mirza modercod, you did not live in hell in bangladesh in 72-75? Mujib's death was the greatest thing in the history of bangladesh, same as Hitlar's death duirng WWII.

Devdas, pungir put? what you know abt mujib's killing? mujib killed thousands, millions people. mujib was a 3rd class student, he was a 3rd class politician. only thing, mujib liked power, same as hitlar. only difference between mujib and hitlar is: mujib could not fuk eva brown! mungir put devdas do not even live in banglades, you did not suffer the death of hunger. mujib killed more people than pakis in 74. feminein 74, was a total failure of mujib. kombol chora gazi golum mostafa was mujib's dulabhai. fazlul hoq moni, mujib's bhatija. this is mujib's minsters. mujib wanted to be a 'Bongeshor', khanki hasina wanted mujib to be a 'amirul muslimin'. Mujib created nazi party, BAKSAL. Mujib wanted to be 'bongeshor' in 15 August. but, heil hitlar, mujib kiked da buket.

devdas, you quoted mujib "Where is Siraj Sikdar'?
devdas, you should know by now "where is Mujib?"



--- On Tue, 12/1/09, Syed Mirza <mirza.syed@gmail. com> wrote:


On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 2:24 AM, SAIF Davdas <islam1234@msn. com> wrote:
 
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:28:30 -0800
Subject: [khabor.com] Banglar Hitlar - Seikh Mujib

 
Well dumba Ayubi, you gotta understand one thing: if Hasina can keep saying this thing, she is the most successful politician in the history of Bangladesh. BAL is same as Nazi Party, and Hasina is the pathetic liar as Goebells.

I see it's a slap on your face, because, no one is dare to say truth about Mujib from 72-75. Why Mujib died of his own wound, and why people were cheering in 15 October 1975? Anyone talking about Mujib's atrocities, no one!

Dumba Ayubi, you must know Goebells thing: 'if you say a lie 10 times, after 3rd person hearing it become truth'. So, if Ulema Parishad can keep saying things like that the Mujib who caused femine in 74, Seikh Jamal raped Dalim's wife, Seikh Kamal raped & forced marriage Athelete Sultana from DU, Gazi Ghulam Mustafa was a great KombolChora, Abdur Rab Serniabat, minister of Mujib's cabinet was Mujib's in-law. Mujib's cabinet was a sham, it was a family business.

What is so proudful about Mujib? What is so great about Mujib?

Mujib fomed RakshiBahini, same as Hitlar's Swastika, Mujib formed BAKSAL, same as Hitlar's Nazi party, mujib changed the constitution, same as Hitlar's NDP in 1939. Mujib wanted to be a 'Bongeshor' - same as Hitlar 'Heil Hitlar'.

What is Mujib?
Mujib is the greatest Banglar Hitlar.

15 August should be observed as 'Najaat Dibosh' - a day of attonment from Mujib's dictatorship.






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