61.73 % Prothom Alo readers did not support PM when she said she changed names to give BNP a good lesson
http://prothom-alo.com/onlinepoll/
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On 25th February 2010, Bangladesh will observe the first year of the massacre inside the headquarters of Bangladesh Riffles [border security forces], where more than 56 army officers were brutally murdered, many of the family members of those officers humiliated and raped. Awami League led grand alliance government has though decided to observe this day as 'Pilkhana Killing Day', there is no sign of any progress in the investigation into this heinous crime of the history of Bangladesh.
http://www.samakal.com.bd/details.php?news=13&action=main&option=single&news_id=49052&pub_no=259
It is known to all that government assigned senior police officer Abdul Kahhar Akhand as the chief investigation officer to investigate the massacre. Being appointed, Mr. Akhand told reporters on numerous occasions that his entire process of investigation would be completed in 'three months'. But, now, it is clear that though one year has already passed, there is no sign of submitting the investigation report, nor there is any hope of ultimately trying the killers and their masterminds of this notorious crime.
Initially after the incident, several senior members of the ruling party as well the government continued making series of statements accusing various parties to be involved behind February 25 Pilkhana massacre. Commerce minister Lt. Col. Faruk Khan championed all by making self-contradictory statements on this issue thus putting accusations on "foreign forces" to "Talibans" to "Anti liberation forces". And, shall I mention the home minister Advocate Sahara Khatun's role? I think it is better not to!
Officials of Bangladesh Army described the 'mutiny' as the biggest massacre of defense commanders anywhere in the world, saying the impoverished South Asian nation's powerful military will need quite a long time to recover from such tremendous loss. Brigadier-General Mahmud Hossain, Director of Military Intelligence told reporters that, Bangladesh Army was ready to storm the headquarters of the BDR here soon after the mutiny erupted, but heeded to Premier Sheikh Hasina's advice at the last minute to resolve the issue politically.
He said the army was ready to put down the BDR mutiny soon after it began, but decided to support Prime Minister Hasina's decision to solve the issue politically.Terming it "possibly the worst massacre of Army officers in Bangladesh's history", Brig Hossain said the anger among the armed forces was very natural.
Outraged over the killing of its officers during the brutality of BDR soldiers, the Bangladesh Army demanded "maximum" punishment for those involved in the massacre."Exemplary punishment of the culprits will cool our resentment. Our demand is that the investigation into the killings should be quickened and maximum punishment should be given to those persons responsible for them," Brig. Hossain said.
I think now it is not necessary at all to comment as to whether the 'political resolution formula' of the Prime Minister was correct or not, as the matter is now under investigation, and any comment in this direction may lead or mislead the investigators, if they at all are interested yet in pressing the investigation process to a conclusion. We did not hear about the progress in the investigation by senior official of Criminal Investigation Department [CID] Abdul Kahhar Akhand. It is also a reality that this gentleman is over-burdened with numerous investigations in other 'sensitive' cases, and possibly he hardly finds any time in looking into the February Massacre case. No one knows when the investigation will conclude or whether it will see the light at all. Critics say the investigation into the February Massacre case has already been sent to 'cold storage'. I am sure, those having minimal knowledge about this matter will understand the reason behind such fate of the investigation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly said that no killing shall go unaddressed in Bangladesh. Surely she was pointing to the tragic murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Jail killing and attempt on her life. Certainly the perpetrators of the mentioned notorieties deserve punishment. No one will disagree on this point. But, what makes me feel sad is, the government is very tactfully trying to put cloud on the February Massacre case and doing everything to ensure the total process to be delayed. And, there is saying – justice delayed is justice denied. Are those family members of martyred army officers as well those affected members of their families not going to see the killers and conspirators of February massacre punished?
http://www.weeklyblitz.net/521/february-massacre-in-bangladesh
http://www.newagebd.com/2010/feb/24/front.html
http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/02/24/news0616.htm
February 21 is a very important day in the history of Bangladesh. Because, back in 1952, courageous students of Dhaka University fought for establishment of Bangla as our mother language, while the then Pakistani government was desperately trying to impose Urdu as the only official language of both West and East Pakistan. A number of students of Dhaka University were murdered by the Pakistani police and army on this day. For this particular reason, Language Movement and February 21 are extremely important parts of the history of Bangladesh.
21 February was proclaimed the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. Its observance was also formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.
On 21 March 1948, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Governor General of Pakistan, declared that Urdu would be the only official language for both West and East Pakistan. The people of East Pakistan [now Bangladesh], whose main language is Bangla, started to protest against this. On 21 February 1952, [8 Falgun 1359 in the Bangla calendar], students in the present day capital city of Dhaka called for a provincial strike. The government invoked a limited curfew to prevent this and the protests were tamed down so as to not break the curfew. The Pakistani police fired on the students despite these peaceful protests and a number of students were killed.
While Dhaka University students played the heroic role during the Language Movement back in 1952, a section of students belonging to ruling Bangladesh Awami League has created an example of extreme anarchism and hooliganism on the same day just 58 years later!
Before describing this horrific notoriety of the activists and leaders of the student's wing of the ruling party, I must first of all inform my readers that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, terms the members of the student's wing of her party as 'Golden Boys'. But, what they have done on February 21, 2010 will possibly now give them a new name – 'Golden Goons'.
According to newspaper reports, a number of female students from a college in Dhaka went to pay floral tribute at the Central Shahid Minar [Central Monument of the Language Movement], which is located inside the Dhaka University campus. But, several activists and leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League [student front of the ruling party] started teasing the girls. At one stage, guardians of these female students turned angry at those unruly youths. They protested to such nasty attitude of the ruling party activists on the fellow female students. But, a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League became violent at such protest of the guardians of the affected female student, and started dragging one of them inside the boy's dormitory. When the guardians tried to stop such notoriety, a few more members of the student's wing of the ruling party pulled a number of guardians along with few more female students inside the dormitory and started beating them with field-hockey stick and bamboo sticks in presence of thousands of people, who came to pay homage to the heroes of the language movement. Members of law enforcing agencies were witnessing the entire episode silently.
After assaulting the girls and their guardians for almost half-an-hour, the members of the ruling party's student wing, forced them to leave the university campus. It was even reported that, the female students were molested and sexually harassed by the leaders and activists of the ruling party student's wing.
Members of the ruling party's student wing are engaged in series of violent activities as well severe terror inside various campuses in Bangladesh, since Bangladesh Awami League came in power in January 2009. On several occasions, girl students were sexually harassed and abused by these 'Golden Goons'. But the government did not take any action against any of the culprits.
It may be mentioned here that, when Awami League was in power during 1996-2001, a leader of its student's wing raped 100 female students in consecutive 7 days inside Jahangir Nagar University campus and brought out a celebration procession to pronounce his 'heroism' in raping 100 female students. The matter came as top story of a number of newspapers in Bangladesh, but the government did not take minimum action against that culprit.
There are series of allegations of extortion, murder, rape and various forms of crime against the activists and leaders of the ruling party's student wing. Since Bangladesh Awami League formed government, these 'Golden Goons' have established virtual reign of terror in every educational institutions and campuses in the country.
I am sure; none of these incidents miss the attention of the Prime Minister. But, I am equally sure, that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will simply ignore these notorieties of her own party men. When Awami League came in power, they promised to change the politics of the country with something new to move Bangladesh ahead towards prosperity and peace. But, the ground realities in Bangladesh are truly alarming.
who raped our mother and sister in 71, they are doing same now in 2010 and will do upto 2021. |
UN-HABITAT: World Urban Youth Assembly International Essay CompetitionThe world urban population has grown at very high rates over the past two decades. According to the UN-HABITAT State of the World Cities Report 2008/2009, it is estimated that by the middle of the 21st century, half of the world's population will be living in urban areas. While the urban population in developed countries will remain unchanged in the next two decades, the urban populations in the developing world will more than double. The majority of city inhabitants in the developing world are overwhelmingly young people, and are the most affected by issues of poverty, exclusion, and unemployment, access to housing, water and sanitation. The theme for this year's UN-HABITAT World Urban Forum which is being held in Rio de Janeiro from 22 to 26 March, "The right to the City– bridging the urban divide" seeks to engage practitioners and policy makers to rethink the urban utopia and identifying the best practices and actions in every city, creating a better world where everyone can live with dignity, respect and citizenship. Young people living in urban areas can play a significant role in addressing the challenges facing decision and policy makers planning for and managing cities. Young people from around the world participating in the World Urban Youth Assembly on 19 and 20 March will have an opportunity to deliberate and make recommendations to better inform the urban agenda. UN-HABITAT invites youth from around the globe to participate in the World Urban Youth Assembly International Essay Competition to generate ideas and solutions to address youth challenges in cities. Essay Theme: "Right to the City: Bridging the Urban Divide" Write an essay about the youth challenges in cities today, using your city as an example, to address the following questions':
We encourage you to give personal experiences and practical solutions. Essay Guidelines:
Deadline: Moreinfo: http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=531&cid=7844
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Zia Veneration and Hallucination of A Obaid Chowdhury
Under the influence of hallucination, one who standing under the boiling sun settling to the middle of the sky fails to understand the existence of the sun and dares to compare it with candle light, writer A Obaid Chowdhury is one of that kinds who reminds me of Bangla vernacular GANZAR NOUKA PAHAR BAIYA ZAY!
Similar to others of his Jatiotabadi Jihadi kind who has taken puff out of same KOLKI has tried to establish this wacky bizarre story of Major. Zia proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh on March 27, 1971 though Maj. Zia himself never thought of claiming this even in his wildest martial dream until his last breath.
Gen. Zia's government on February 13, 1979, constituted an authentication committee for writing and printing history of the Liberation War. Dr Mofizullah Kabir was the committee Chairman and Hasan Hafizur Rahman as Member Secretary. The books published by this committee in November 1982 and again reprinted in December of 2003. Both editions said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence on March 26, 1971.
If Gen. Ziaur Rahman claimed to be the author of proclamation of independence then why did his own constituted history of Bangladesh liberation war authentication committee of Dr. Mofizullah Kabir and Hasan Hafizur Rahman put Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans name as the author of proclamation of independence which was announced over the radio (Shadhin Bangla Biplobi Betar Kendro) by then Major Ziaur Rahman on March 27 1971 who happened to be the third person who had read the same proclamation since March 26 of 1971.
Beside that, Mr. A Obaid Chowdhury forgot, the Proclamation of Independence, which is part of our sacred constitution, also acclaims Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's call for independence on March 26, 1971 as the legal instrument of our independence war.
Making superfluous comparison between unparallel leader of then East Pakistan and later acclaimed Father of the Nation of independent Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with Z force military commander during liberation war and later on Bangladesh's First Military Dictator and Chief Martial Law Administrator is not just uncalled pointless debate but a malicious attempt of Anti Liberation forces to re-write the independence history of Bangladesh. Only people taking puff on grass can come up with this malice story to glorify Zia which Zia himself did not dare to claim.
It was not military strongman Gen. Zia, but his widow Khaleda Zia who as Prime Minister of Jamaat-BNP alliance government appointed BNP-Jamaat sycophant Rejaul Karim, Prof M Moniruzzaman Mia, Prof Emazuddin Ahmed, Barrister Moinul Hossain, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, Prof Sirajul Islam, Prof KM Mohsin, Prof Abul Kalam Monjur Morshed and Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmed to re-write the history of liberation war.
In June of 2004, Khaleda Zia appointed committee published the books giving an intentional erroneous report of the declaration of independence showing Maj. Ziaur Rahman as the proclaimer of independence where he (Maj. Zia) himself conferred the position of provisional head of the state to his own credit on March 27, 1971.
What a silly thinking, as if people of then East Pakistan keep waiting TWO DAYS for a messiah (Zia) to come and rescue them. Fools have no idea that common people, Bengali military personal, Bengal Regiment, East Pakistan Rifles, Police forces and even Ansar Battalion across the country revolted at the first hour of Operation Search Light strikes the soil of Bangladesh at mid night of March 25, 1971.
There was a huge outburst of anger among common people and historians who went to the court demanding to overturn this dimwitted start to finish lie by anti liberation Jamaat-e-Islami influenced BNP alliance government.
High Court bench comprising of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Mamtazuddin Ahmed dismissed BNP-Jamaat sycophant claim of Mej. Zia as proclaimer of independence. In a epoch making judgment, the High Court ruled that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, not Ziaur Rahman, proclaimed the republic's independence on March 26, 1971. The proclamation was relayed by Kalurghat Betar Kendra (radio centre) in Chittagong .
The High Court bench observed that the Proclamation of Independence published on April 10, 1971 by then government of Mujib Nagar, states beyond doubt that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the declaration of independence. Further, the proclamation is protected by article 150 of the constitution and thus cannot be changed at will. The court also declared illegal and unconstitutional the publications of the third volume of the books titled 'Swadhinata Juddho: Dalilpatra' (The Liberation War of Bangladesh: Documents) during BNP-Jamaat alliance government. It directed the government to confiscate the books painting late president Ziaur Rahman as declarer of independence. Besides, it directed the government to stop sale, distribution and reprint of the books at home and abroad. The bench said the government might take initiative to bring to trial those involved in attempts to establish an untrue version of the Liberation War. It observed that the persons responsible have in fact committed an offence against the nation and the constitution.
Now the million-dollar question is why Khaleda Zia's BNP did what Gen. Zia's BNP did not dare to do. Answer is desperation, there was no alternative for BNP to survive politically simply banking on a dead mans image who has no role on long struggle of Bangladesh other then a halftime Sector Commander and half time Z Force commander. BNP took this lesson out of total melt away process of Bhashani Nap almost immediately after the death of a popular leader Maulana Bhashani.
BNP needed a glorifying image of Gen. Zia in the history of Bangladesh to rescue his image being villainous first military dictator of Bangladesh who has direct involvement with almost all political killing that took place from August 15, 1975 until his death. Gen. Ziaur Rahman did not even spare Col. Tahers life (hanged him after a few hours of camera trial) who happened to be his savior without whose help he could not be any body but a dead body right on November 3, 1975.
A Obaid Chowdhury and his brand will make every effort to cook distorted facts as history, which surely will go unproductive, and truth will prevail. Now or hundred years down the road, law of the land will always find Gen. Zia guilty of being an illegal military dictator just like the recent epoch making high court and supreme court verdict which nullified all his martial law regulation (Cancelation of 5th amendment of constitution) and declared his regime illegitimate and illegal. Interestingly court called Gen. Zias regime illegal and illegitimate during the prime minister ship of her widow Khaleda Zia. This verdict of quashing Gen. Zias regime by the highest court endorses another vernacular Bangla phrase DHORMER KOL BATASHA NORA.
Shamim Chowdhury Maryland, USA February 23, 2010 Email: veirsmill @yahoo.com
Hasina's Zia Phobia
In a cabinet meeting on February 15, 2010, the 'mohajote' government led by Awami League decided that anything bearing the name of the late president Ziaur Rahman would be eliminated, be that Zia International Airport or the name Ziaur Rahman in school textbooks. The decision was said to be in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict to void the 5the amendment of the constitution. Earlier, Zia's announcement of independence in March 1971 was nullified by another court order. Yet earlier, Zia's murals and pictures had been destroyed or erased from public places. The people in general did not seem to approve these vindictive partisan behaviors. It was a manifestation of immaturity and politics of hatred, they remarked. One may not be surprised if the Zia Mazaar is destroyed, renamed or reassigned to someone else!
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