Banner Advertiser

Thursday, April 22, 2010

[ALOCHONA] The Turkish Imam and His Global Educational Mission



The Turkish Imam and His Global Educational Mission

October, 1992. the Soviet Union has disbanded and chaos reigns in its former territories. Three times a week, a rattly Russian charter plane filled with young Muslim devotees flies east from Istanbul across barren, low-lying steppes to the capitals of Central Asia. The men are clean-cut, sharply dressed in dark suits and ties, trim of mustache and purposeful. It is the first foray out of their hometown for most, let alone on a plane, but such is their faith in Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish Muslim imam they revere. "Fly like swallows," Gulen exhorted, "to these countries that are newly free, as an expression of our brotherhood."

Fly they did. Hundreds of volunteer teachers fanned out across five Central Asian republics. It was the start of a global movement that is now one of the largest and most powerful competing for the future of Islam around the world. There are an estimated 1,000 Gulen-affiliated schools in 100 countries — from Malawi to the U.S. — offering a blend of religious faith and largely Western curriculum. All are inspired by Gulen, an enigmatic retired preacher who oversees the schools — and a multibillion-dollar business empire — from the unlikeliest of locales: rural Pennsylvania.

Tall, lanky and possessing a smooth American accent, chemistry teacher Abdurrahman Sel was introduced to the Gulen movement while a high school student in Istanbul. His dad thought his garrulous nature would make him a good lawyer, but Sel was inspired to become a teacher because Gulen considers it the highest form of service. The only way for Islam to survive godless modernity and regain a place in public life, Gulen believes, is through a new "golden generation" who can combine Western scientific thinking with religious belief. Hence the schools.

Sel signed on for Central Asia in 1993 and drew Shymkent, a city in southern Kazakhstan. "It wasn't even on a map or in the encyclopedia," he recalls. "There was no Internet then. But I was just out of university, I was single, and it was all a big adventure. Besides, we owed the people of Central Asia a moral debt. They are our brothers." Many Turks see Central Asia as their ancestral homeland and share an ethnic and linguistic bond with its people.

From Kazakhstan's then capital Almaty, Sel traveled by bus and shared car to the grim mining city and a shell of a school building donated by Kazakh authorities. "There was no heating. I taught in fur hat and gloves for months. We spent our weekends mixing cement and laying bricks." At first locals were wary of these strangers who couldn't speak their language, wore a tie even on weekends and refused vodka, as ubiquitous as water. "Everyone expected us to leave after a few months," Sel says. "But when we stayed, they embraced us."

Sel is now director of 28 high schools in Kazakhstan, from three when he first arrived. Entrance is by competitive exam. This year, 30,000 students applied for 1,400 spots and everyone I spoke to in Almaty, from a fashion editor to a construction magnate, wanted their child enrolled. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's nephews are among Sel's students.

Gulen, the 68-year-old retired imam behind this colossal enterprise has never visited Central Asia. He leads an ascetic life on an estate in Pennsylvania, where he has lived since 1999 for medical reasons, and to avoid facing (recently dropped) charges of seeking to overthrow the secular regime in Turkey. Gulen declined TIME's request for an interview, citing poor health.

His life mission has been to create a new Turkish-affiliated Muslim elite, well versed in science and technology, successful in a global free-market economy, yet extremely devout. The schools — they are autonomous, so not technically "his" — teach an English-language Western curriculum emphasizing science and math in the classroom (though creationism is offered as fact alongside evolution) and Muslim family-values-style conservatism outside it. In an era when most denominational schools are struggling, the Turkish schools, as they are known, are thriving.

"Gulen propagates a kind of 'educational Islamism' as opposed to a 'political Islamism,' " says Bill Park, a defense studies lecturer at King's College, London, who covers Turkey. Through the schools, Park says, Gulen hoped to effect "an 'Islamization' of modernity."


__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] NABIC 20th Annual Convention – Saturday, June 12, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts



PRESS RELEASE

April 22, 2010
 
For more information, contact:
Syed Nuruzzaman ~ (617) 909-8310 ~ syed@alum.mit.edu 
Nargis Nasrin ~ (617) 694-7382 ~ nnasrin@hotmail.com
Abu Bakar Ahmed ~ (865) 387-0135 ~ abahmed@aol.com
 
NABIC 20th Annual Convention – Saturday, June 12, 2010
The 20th Annual Convention of the North American Bangladeshi Islamic Community (NABIC) will be held in BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS on SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2010 at the ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF BOSTON CULTURAL CENTER (ISBCC). The convention will have interesting and informative programs for both adults and youth. Anyone interested in Islam, Bangladesh and Bangladeshis here and abroad is invited to attend.

Venue Address:
Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, 100 Malcolm X Blvd, Boston, Massachusetts 02119.
 
Speakers:  Congressman Keith Ellison (invited), Dr. Ingrid Mattson (President, ISNA), Dr. Jamal Badawi (chair, Fiqh Council of North America), Dr. Parvez Ahmed (Past -Chairman, CAIR), Imam Talal Eid (Islamic Institute of Boston), Dr. M. Ataul Karim (Past-President, NABIC), and representatives of local Islamic and Bangladeshi organizations. 
 
Convention Theme: CARING AND SHARING FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLAH (swt)
 
Registration Fees: $15/Family (includes two boxed lunch); $10/Single (includes one boxed lunch), $5/student (includes one boxed lunch); additional lunch -$6/box (on-site registration starts at 8:30 AM)
 
Program:
²      Lectures on Islam, Bangladesh and Bangladeshis
²      Youth Program
²      Health Screening/Seminar
²      Fundraising Banquet (Dinner ticket: $25/person)
 
Convention Hotel: Courtyard by Marriot Boston Logan Airport is the designated hotel for convention guests. NABIC group (NABIC Room Block) rate is $139.00 +tax/night (until May 21st).  To make reservations, please call the hotel directly at (617) 569-5250.
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON NABIC: Established in 1990, NABIC is a non-profit tax-exempt organization of expatriate Bangladeshi Muslims. NABIC's vision is to be a role model in serving Bangladesh and the people of Bangladeshi heritage in North America as part of the Muslim Ummah and the humanity. One of NABIC's main goals is to link the people of Bangladeshi heritage in North America with the welfare of Bangladesh. To that end, NABIC provides financial assistance to several poverty alleviation, healthcare, clean water, relief and rehabilitation, and science education projects in Bangladesh. Beginning in 1997 to date, NABIC has provided more than $1,000,000 to its various development and relief partners to implement the above mentioned projects. Among its activities in the US, NABIC holds an annual convention, several regional meetings, and publishes a quarterly newsletter. For more information about NABIC visit www.nabic.org.



__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] Cut AL's link with BCL



5 educationists urge PM, warn against destructive politics
 

 
Five noted educationists of the country have urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to sever all direct and indirect links between the Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League to maintain a congenial atmosphere at all educational institutions.

"The Awami League needs to sever direct and indirect links with Chhatra League to keep students and youths away from destructive politics and maintain a congenial atmosphere in educational institutions," said a statement signed by Prof Kabir Chowdhury, Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury, Prof Jamal Nazrul Islam and Prof Anisuzzaman.

They also urged the PM to issue orders to the authorities of all educational institutions and local administration "to strictly check all criminal and unruly activities of all students and those who are not students at educational institutions".They said this decision is a must for restoring the glorious heritage of student politics.
 

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Prof Serajul Islam said student politics has moved away from its glorious past since there is no ideological practice within the two major parties--AL and BNP--and their student bodies.

Saying he is not against student politics, he said students now get involved in politics for personal benefits instead of working for the welfare of the students or addressing national problems. He blamed capitalism for the present situation where everyone is busy making money.

Prof Serajul Islam urged the prime minister to take steps so that student leaders do not get shelters from either the government or the ruling party at any level.

Terming student politics very important for the country, he said it should deal with students' problems first and a positive campaign should be launched to bring student politics on track.

The state should patronise secular force for that, he said, adding that students should speak for their welfare, hold debates on issues related to students and the nation, practise creative writing, get involved in cultural activities, sports and other extra-curricular activities to retain the image of student politics.

To do so and to keep students away from dirty politics, Prof Serajul Islam stressed the need for holding elections to student unions in all educational institutions including the Dhaka University Central Student Union (Ducsu).
 


__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] Investment scenario bleak, political grudge intensifying



Investment scenario bleak, political grudge intensifying
 
At a time when investment in the national economy is on decline from home and abroad, statement by some senior ministers to take over Islami Bank and Ibn Sina Trust and such other organisations has the danger to bring further decline in the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) and intensify this nosedive.
   The economy is in a shambles and growth this year is going to be the lowest than the past several years, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank said.
   
Moreover, the acute shortage of gas and electricity has virtually blocked the way of setting up new industry and run the existing manufacturing facilities thereby threatening job cuts and snags in income generating activities.
   Finance minister A M A Muhith said the country is facing a famine like situation as far as the energy supply is concerned. In this situation analysts wonder how responsible government ministers can speak about taking over banks, hospitals and such other institutions only because they are run by people largely belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamic groups.
   
The government is working on a move to try the leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI) for taking side with Pakistani occupation forces and their alleged involvement in armed activities which may fall under war crimes. For this purpose the Government has already set up the trial court, appointed judges and chief prosecutor when other preparatory works are in progress.
   In this backdrop, the Prime Minister recently blamed local and external forces for working to stop the trial and said the BNP is trying to save its political ally BJI and party standing committee member Salahuddin Qadir Chowdhury as a former Muslim League using Saudi government's influence on her administration.
   Meanwhile, some of the cabinet ministers said, BJI is using huge fund from Islami Bank and such other institutions allegedly run by its members to block the trial and so the government should go for taking over them.
   
   Investment scenario
   It appears like the ministers are speaking freely without thinking about what is happening currently at the investment level from domestic and outside sources. Board of Investment chief Dr S A Samad last week agreed the investment scenario is not encouraging and falling much behind the previous records. At a discussion held by Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at Jatiya Press Club, he blamed shortage of power and gas and such other infrastructural facilities as the biggest impediment to attracting new investment.
   
Most other discussants held the same view and may be for political expediency, no discussant made any attempt to analyze the investment situation from a governance perspective now obtaining in the ground.
   It is true people are not having new gas connection to commission already set up manufacturing plant and run existing plants for frequent power outages. But there are also reasons beyond such failures which are impeding investment.
   
   RMG scenario
   News of wanton destruction, violence and arson at garment factories at Savar, Gazipur or Kanchpur hit the headlines of the national dailies last week. In most incidents ruling party leaders right from MPs down to local party cadres are having hand in them as part of their alleged toll collection drive.
   "If you want to build a new plant, you will have to pay local party men," said a garment owner claiming anonymity.
   
Moreover, government business rules and procurement guideline change very frequently changing specifications of items in question, extending dates and taking new suppliers' names in the list violating existing notification, said another entrepreneur pointing out that business has become difficult to continue.
   These being the ground realities, discussants on most occasions just prefer to blame the past government to conceal the Government's own failure to improve the energy crisis over last 13 months.
   
   Four telecom firms
   A questioner at the ERF meeting raised the point of good governance, consistency in policy regime and questionable actions of the regulatory bodies saying their behaviour is very important to promote investment and protect it. He wanted to know what justification lay behind closing four telecom firms recently by the authorities for their alleged involvement in VOIP business in which people from regulatory bodies also had a helping hand.
   The Government could fine them or take them to court for bigger punishment. But the authorities had just closed the firms and disconnected their closer to one million clients sending most owners to underground and subsequently to jail.
   Such moves are sure to be counterproductive, especially when the Government takes such cases purely on political motive to destroy businesses and make their owners insolvent as they may belong to opposition. Economic cost of such moves is enormous and such actions can never be investor-friendly.
  
 Many prospective investors now stay out of the country with their money lying elsewhere as the political move of the ruling party is forcing them to stay out of the country which is depriving the nation of investment which could have otherwise benefited the country.
   Expatriate investments may also remain at the low at this moment. Analysts say it is not time for pro-BNP businessmen to invest in national economy fearing unknown reprisals. This country is by and large divided in absence of rule of law. Analysts add, this is the time for ruling Awami League to amass wealth or take possession of public land informally. Investment in the country's real sector is failing; so the nose dive is bound to occur as the IMF said growth this year may be at 5.0 per cent.
   
   IDB, OIC and IBBL
   Moreover the case for taking over of Islami Bank or Ibn Sina Trust calls for closer review. How can the ministers speak of taking over banks, hospitals or pharmaceutical company because they are run by people many of whom belong to BJI workers and supporters? For argument's sake even if BJI leaders were war crime suspects, what is the problem with the Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. (IBBL) which is having 57.36 per cent share from foreign countries.
   
The bank was established in 1983 under an agreement with Islami Development Bank (IDB) following the approval of the move by Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) at its Jeddah meeting in 1981.
   Its shareholders include Saudi and UAE royal family members and others from Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Luxemburg. It is the first such bank set up in South and Southeast Asia and since then Islamic banking has taken roots in Europe, USA and East Asia. In Bangladesh almost all other banks have also Islamic banking windows, besides insurance companies set up following Islamic banking principles.
   
So many people wonder why the government leaders and some people from different platforms are speaking without knowing its legal and practical implications.
   One wonders if they really know by taking over Islami Bank -- by far the biggest private sector bank in the country -- having investments in almost all sectors of the economy, the government may really create panic to business community destabilising the economy.
   The bank having 231 branches all over the country earned a profit of Taka 845 crore last year of which it paid 42 per cent to the government as taxes. It is employing 9467 people at various levels bringing bread to their families. The Government leaders are blaming Islami Bank for funding jihadi activists, but the bank functionaries say they are operating under strict supervision of the central bank and regular BNR audits. The bank -- established 12 years after the independence -- has no relation with war crime trial or the persons whom the government is trying to prosecute.
   The anger become clear from comment of Dr Abul Barkat who in his research on 'economy of fundamentalists' said the country's Islamic economy is growing between 7 to 9 per cent annually at a time when the national economy is growing between 5 to 5.5 per cent. His focus was that such faster growth of the Islamic economy through its network of banks, insurance and health organizations is becoming a growing threat to the country's secularist forces and their destruction may only bring peace.
   
   Health sector
   It is a recognized fact that Ibn Sina Trust, Islami Bank Hospital and such other outlets significantly contributing to the country's health sector. Ibn Sina sources say they offer low-cost health services to the people and also free treatment and hospital beds in selective cases. Their health facilities are having the latest technological equipment in service. They said they offer 25 per cent discount on diagnostic services to patients at a time when other diagnostic centers pay back to doctors who send patients to them. People wonder why a group of professionals demand the closure of all diagnostic centers and coaching centers run by groups affiliated to BJI and such other groups.
 


__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] Chatra League /Juba League



BCL attacks Oil Gas Committee demonstration, 20 injured

 
At least 20 top leaders and activists of the National Committee for the Protection of Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, were injured Thursday afternoon assaulted by cadres of Bangladesh Chhatra League, in front of Dhaka College in the city Thursday afternoon.
   The committee leaders blamed BCL, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, for the attack and announced they would hold a protest rally at Muktangan Friday afternoon.


   Of the injured, engineer Shrekh Mohammad Shahidullah, Ruhin Hossain Prince, Ragib Ahsan Munna, advocate Abdus Salam, Salah Uddin Pritom, Hasan Taufiq, Abu Bakar Ripon, Shaikat Mallik, Hasan and Himel were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The rest received treatment at other hospitals and clinics.
   Witnesses said, they were leading a demonstration when they were assaulted.
   They earlier took out a procession from the Shahbagh crossing after a rally there to demand short, mid and long term solutions to gas and power supply problems.
   No sooner they reached Dhaka College, a group of 20 or 25 BCL cadres equipped with iron rods, hockey sticks, cricket stumps and bamboo sticks swooped on the procession and severely beat all participants, particularly the leaders, they said.

   The police remain silent spectators when they were assaulted in their presence, they said. Despite repeated requests, they said, the police took no action against the attackers.
   The BCL cadres, they said, hurled abuses on the national committee leaders and threatened them with dire consequences.
   At one stage, they said, the BCL cadres swooped on the rickshaw puller, the mike man and damaged the rickshaw and the loud speakers.
   The national committee convener engineer Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah, and the member secretary Prof Anu Muhammad condemned the attack.
   They demanded arrest and punishment of the attackers and said no attack can stop the movement for the protection of national and public interests.
   Bangladesher Communist Party president Monzurul Ahsan Khan and general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim condemned the attack and said no attack can stop the popular movement for solving the gas and power crises.
   Bangladesh Samajtranrik Dal general secretary Khalequzzaman condemned the attack and said it exposed the government's 'fascist character.'
 
 
http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2010/04/23/28750
      Gono Sanghati Andolan leaders Zunayed Saki and Bachchu Bhuiyan condemned the attack. They said the government let loose its cadres to stop the people's movement after handing over gas and oil exploration to foreign companies.
 


__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] Target practice



Target practice

Khamin investigates the alarming trend of Bangladeshi nationals being killed by BSF members at the border areas

Several ministerial-level meetings between Dhaka and Delhi, three Directorate General level talks between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Border Security Force (BSF) and over five ADG level meetings could not bring about a sustainable solution to the wanton killing of Bangladeshi nationals at the border regions by the Indian border security forces, the BSF.

   Even the most recent meeting between the Bangladeshi delegation, comprising of 19 high-powered members led by the BDR DG, and their Indian counterparts at the BSF headquarters on March 7, seems to have fallen flat following the killing of Bangladeshi national Saiful Islam recently.

   Saiful was shot by the BSF at the Boikari border area under the Satkhira sadar upazila on April 1. The murder is the thirteenth this year signifying the double standards maintained by Indian border and concerned authorities despite the assurance by Indian Home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai that India would stop border shootings, during the six day-long talks in Delhi.

   According to the human rights coalition Odhikar, the BSF killed 98 Bangladeshi nationals last year although according to BDR headquarter records, the tally is at 65. Regardless of these numbers, the BDR did not kill any Indian nationals last year. From 2000 till date, the BSF has killed a total of 843 Bangladeshi nationals, according to Odhikar records.

   Most of these killings are taken at night and taking advantage of the darkness, the BSF always claims that the 'shooting' was necessary to ensure India's sovereignty. Only one BSF soldier served a sentenced through a court-martial, as he had shot a Bangladeshi national in broad daylight.

   Tthree Directorate General level talks between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Border Security Force (BSF) and over five ADG level meetings could not bring about a sustainable solution to the wanton killing of Bangladeshi nationals at the border regions by the Indian border security forces, the BSF.

   Even the most recent meeting between the Bangladeshi delegation, comprising of 19 high-powered members led by the BDR DG, and their Indian counterparts at the BSF headquarters on March 7, seems to have fallen flat following the killing of Bangladeshi national Saiful Islam recently.

   Saiful was shot by the BSF at the Boikari border area under the Satkhira sadar upazila on April 1. The murder is the thirteenth this year signifying the double standards maintained by Indian border and concerned authorities despite the assurance by Indian Home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai that India would stop border shootings, during the six day-long talks in Delhi.

   According to the human rights coalition Odhikar, the BSF killed 98 Bangladeshi nationals last year although according to BDR headquarter records, the tally is at 65. Regardless of these numbers, the BDR did not kill any Indian nationals last year. From 2000 till date, the BSF has killed a total of 843 Bangladeshi nationals, according to Odhikar records.

   Most of these killings are taken at night and taking advantage of the darkness, the BSF always claims that the 'shooting' was necessary to ensure India's sovereignty. Only one BSF soldier served a sentenced through a court-martial, as he had shot a Bangladeshi national in broad daylight.

   India began fencing its borders from 1980, despite numerous objections from Bangladesh, and finally completed this around 1990. The border killings spiked soon after this.

   'This fencing is the major reason behind BSF's unprovoked firing, which has increased since the nineties,' says Professor Imtiaz Ahmed, of the department of International Relations, Dhaka University.

   Due to border skirmishes, many residents of the border side areas of Fulbaria, Roumari in Kurigram, Tetulia in Panchagarh and other areas, cannot go about their daily farming, agricultural work, cattle-grazing, harvesting and others.

   'While trying to get to our paddy fields on this side of the fence, we are usually stopped by the BSF who threaten to shoot at us,' complains Illias Ali, a 58-year old farmer in Digrir Char border side of Lalmonirhat. 'I still do not know how we are doing anything wrong,' he says.

   Azizul Haqim, a resident of Banglabanda in Panchagarh describes BSF soldiers as crazy. 'They are capable of doing anything!' he says.

   Professor Imtiaz explains: 'India erected the border fence on their own lands and so this is creating a confusion amongst our Bangladeshi nationals who feel that any land on this side of the fence is Bangladeshi,' he says.

   'However, this side that they tread into is the Zero line or at some point is the Indian territory. Awareness amongst border land residents regarding these issues need to be generated to bring about a decrease in border killings,' he says.

   Imtiaz also points out that smuggling is also a major factor in the prevalent conflicts at the border. 'If the government can stop all illegal trafficking, border killings will fall automatically,' he says.

   'Around Rs 3.5 billions worth of goods are smuggled from India to Bangladesh every year,' informs Ahmed to Xtra. 'As this is very important for India, they let these smugglers come into Bangladesh,' he says.

   However, BSF starts shooting when these smugglers try to return to India through the borders again.

   The Indira-Mujib Agreement of 1974 and the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines of 1975 were two agreements signed by the authorities of India and Bangladesh to dissolve these issues and conflicts at the border.

   According to the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines of 1975 agreement, if any citizens trespass on the land of the other country, border forces can arrest and try them, or turn them over to the other side following necessary communications. The border guidelines also describe that any existing defence structure within 150 yards of the borders would be demolished.

   'But it is a matter of sorrow that most BSF personnel at the border fail to comply to this agreement due to lack of knowledge,' says Professor Ahmed. 'BSF is at fault here and even when Delhi gives them clear instructions, they seldom follow them through,' he adds.

   'It is a fact that dispute often arises on the ground of fencing,' writes Anand Kumar, an associate fellow at Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses at Delhi Cantonment in India to Xtra. 'Although Bangladesh claims, while citing the 1975 guidelines, that no defence structure is allowed on the border, it is common knowledge that a border fence is no defence structure like the bunkers and other army structures,' he refutes.

   'We have to settle all the border disputes politically and not by bullets,' says Major General Mainul Islam, the former Director General of BDR. 'Through discussion, in a patient and peaceful manner, these disputes can be solved between the two countries,' he says, while also stressing that friendly relations will be strengthened if unnecessary border killings are stopped.

   'The current BDR chief should take a stand rather than try to solve things "politically",' says former BDR chief Major General (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman. 'He has to tackle the situation in a manner that encourages the BDR, and order counter fire as soon as BSF starts firing,' he says.

   'He should order them to shoot three BSF if one BDR soldier is shot,' he adds.

   'Besides not being the ultimate solution, counter-fire is also a violation of international law like the unprovoked firings by BSF,' explains Dalem Chandra Barman, professor of peace and conflict at Dhaka University. 'It pushes us towards a war when a bilateral discussion can solve the problem,' he says.

   'Such border killings by the BSF are in clear violation of international human rights and even the violation of border agreements,' says Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of Odhikar. 'The agreements of 1974 and 1975, which were signed with Bangladesh, are yet to be implemented by India,' he informs Xtra.

   'India has no political will of solving the problems and we can also say that it has an aggressive stand towards Bangladesh. It is intolerable that a sovereign country's citizens will be killed in such a manner,' he adds.

   The Hong Kong based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) terms the murder of Bangladeshi nationals at the border by the BSF as 'regrettable' while expressing their concern over 'the continuous deprivation of the right to life of the people of Bangladesh', when contacted by Xtra.

   They wrote: 'We have been trying to learn about the situation and, according to the findings of the locally based human rights groups, it has been observed that the identified victims are mostly farmers or cowboys and in some cases alleged carriers of smuggled goods. We also note that even, if someone smuggles any goods (which involves people and agencies of both countries) - regardless whether the particular stuffs are good or bad for the respective societies, it simply does not allow any agency to kill the person(s) without following the due legal process exist in the countries.

   In one hand, the Indian authorities have repeatedly failed to ensure that its border guards stay away from killing its neighbouring nationals like Bangladesh. On the other, the authorities of Bangladesh have ignored the necessity of protecting its citizens from the killings committed by the Indian BSF though there have been discussions and declarations at the bilateral level to stop such killings.'

   The border killings are also catalysed by the history between BDR and BSF. According to BDR sources and experts, ever since Bangladesh's liberation in 1971, India has occupied a significant number of Bangladeshi land around the border area.

   One burning example of occupied territory is Berubari, located in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. India took over the territory through BSF.

   Bangladesh has already recovered the Padua Border Operation Post (BOP) territory from India on April 16 and 17, 2001, after 30 years of illegal occupation by India. However, 230 acres of land near the Sylhet-Tamabil border is still with India.

   To avenge the loss of Padua, around 400 BSF, including black cat members from Indian military, illegally occupied Bangladesh's Boraibari BOP in Roumari of Kurigram on April 18, 2001. The operation claimed numerous BDR lives and left many BDR soldiers and civilians wounded.

   'After learning about the Boraibari BOP incident, I ordered the Netrokona and Mymensingh BDR battalions to move toward the freshly occupied BOP on the same day,' reminisces Major Rahman, the BDR chief at the time. 'We were able to recover the occupied land from BSF that day as BSF lost shamefully,' he says.

   He informs Xtra that the border killings, ever since, are really 'delayed revenge' by the BSF. 'This is why, the death toll of Bangladeshi nationals has mounted following those incidents at Boraibari and Padua,' he reasons.

   Article 3 of the Indira-Mujib agreement of 1974, signed by Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on May 16 in 1974 in a bid to solve border conflicts, states that when areas are transferred, the people in these areas shall be given the right of living where they are, as nationals of the state. The agreement had also stressed the completion of pending demarcation of the boundary, exchange of territory through mutual agreement, no disturbance of the status quo and maintenance of peaceful condition at the border regions.

   Necessary instructions in this regard were supposed to be issued to the local authorities on the border by the two countries' government following the agreement. However, India has not implemented the agreement, 36 years after its signing.

   Experts and politically-concerned people feel that both the agreements require immediate rectification in order to reduce border killing and ensure proper justice to families of those killed by BSF over the years.

   'The rectification of both agreements is imminent for Bangladesh's betterment and to ensure that the country is no longer victimised by India. The killings at the border will fall if the government takes initiatives at rectification and at generating awareness amongst border-region Bangladeshis about the fences,' says Professor Ahmed.

   The AHRC stresses that both countries should contemplate on the mindsets of the members of the law-enforcement agencies and paramilitary forces, particularly the border guards (whether it is repressive, aggressive or responsible) and the socio-economic status, including the capabilities of the people and the effective initiatives adopted and implemented by the states and how these lead to a secured environment of livelihoods of the ordinary people as well as their attitudes.

   The former BDR chief Rahman also feels that if amongst the BSF personnel assigned on the Bangladesh border, people of Bengali origin were given priority, it could also help at reducing the number of Bangladeshi deaths. 'The communication is a barrier,' he explains.

   Rahman also cites the findings of international relations experts that most BSF soldiers are usually relocated from India-Pakistan border and placed to the Indo-Bangladesh border. Due to the lack of proper training and education, these personnel do not find any difference in the defence strategies and therefore, shoot at the slightest incident.

   'Recommending the training of lower ranking BSF soldiers, encouraging friendly behaviour amongst them and discussions, are not really the solutions,' he says. 'We have to take a bold stand through the BDR, against BSF's killings,' he adds.

   'If we continue to consider them as our Dada (elder brother), they will continue to impose illegal and inhuman actions on us,' he stresses. 'Even if we have any new agreements or rectify old ones, India will be the first to violate it,' he speculates.

   However, Maj Gen Mainul, who was replaced as BDR chief only last week, believes that there is no alternative to the solution, without discussion. 'We are trying to solve these problems and hopefully we will in sometime,' he concluded.

   Bad blood
   · Around 13 Bangladeshi nationals killed by BSF at the border this year
   · BDR did not kill any Indian nationals this year
   · BSF has killed around 843 Bangladeshi nationals since 2000
   · Most shootings take place at night
   · Border killings escalated following the construction of fence during the nineties
   · Ordinary Bangladeshis fail to distinguish between the demarcation line and the fence
   · Around Rs 3.5 billion worth of goods smuggled from India to Bangladesh every year
 


__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] BACC: Bogra Autism Care Center




DESHeSHOP
DotCom
MyBengali


Gokul Medh a historical relice at Mohastan garh, Bogra
Bogra: The first cyber info city of Bangladesh
BOGRA SOCIO-CULTURE
Bogra Autism Care Centre
Thursday, April 22, 2010
FREE EMAIL SERVICE

Sign-up your eMail

Username:

Password:
DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION

(List in Progress)
::Deputy Commissioner
::Police Superintendent
::Civil Surgeon
::District Board
::Municipalities
::Judge Court
::District Court
::Civil Defence
::Fire Service





BACC Director
Kaosar Jahan Ratna

 
 


>>>> Search for Cultural Happening >>>>

BACC: Bogra Autism Care Centre

Bogra Autism Care Centre (BACC) is a volunteer organization established in the year 2008 at Jaleswaritola, Bogra. BACC has got the registration number 1365 from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh. Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. "Mentally handicaped children with autism and down syndrome need a lot of love. Their parents are always anxious about them. The kids always need extra care" said the director of BACC, Kaosar Jahan Ratne recently in an interview.

BACC is now an Institution

Ratna a young mother was trudging along a mountian path. When she saw her second child (boy) could neither speak, nor walk normally. She went on a battle for life with her disabled child. She came forward to the aid of other children too. She started teaching 20 students everyday along with her own child. Instead of having her spirit broken she got stronger. She set up a special institution to help children with Autism and Down Syndrome. She gave the name of the institution 'BACC'. The name, meaning 'bend', signifies the turning of lives - New light in a new turn - She gave these kids the affection and care they could only receive from a mother. In her care, there are no differences between her own child and others.

Development of BACC during last 2 years

Ratna goes from house to house looking for kids with special needs. She requests parents to visit her school and check out the activities. A lot of them do visit. However, most of them don't. Due to social stigmas, a lot of them are embarrassed to bring their kids here. Some of them think of their disabled children as burdens. Ratna tries to change the attitude towards these kids in her school. She counsels parents too about how they should be treating their kids. There is special counselling and treatment for kids with autistic cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome. There are exercises that get these kids better.
  • Teachers and Staff: The There are four trained teachers in this school. The children learn how to say their names, the names of their parents, how to say words and sentences, drawing pictures, putting on clothes, participating in cultural activities. Everything is taught in a family-like atmosphere. These kids are getting pretty independent. They are not only actively socialising, they are also singing, dancing, making art and playing sports.

  • Activities: BACC really wants their kids to know the realities of the world outside of the school. Every three months they take their autistic kids out on an excursion to the outside world. They go shopping, they meet people. They learn to do everyday things. The classes take place from 09:00 in the morning to 14:00 in the afternoon. Every kid has his or her own profile. They get regular checkups from a physiotherapist.

  • Target: Even though this institution came up entirely out of personal initiative, in 2008 it was included as part of the Health Ministry. The fee is taka 500 monthly. 'BACC' is moving forward at a fairly steady pace. Director, Kaosar Jahan Ratna has faced her share of obstacles along the way- not enough space, not enough students. But she says she didn't come this far to just give up. She wants to turn this into a residential school some day.



  • This institution needs your attention: BACC Office: Jaleswaritola, Bogra, eMail: bacc_bogra@yahoo.com, Tel: 0088-01556305801, Bank Account No: 12612100003142, Name: BACC, Marcantile Bank Ltd, Bogra Branch

Autism is not something that you can "CURE" but it is Treatable; Your Support Is Changing Lives! Please Help our KIDS!
You can make a Difference. Your small monthly donation can change a disabled child's life and allows children the ability to become themselves. Educating autistic children can be a challenge in the best of children needs and circumstances. >Certificate of Registration


Workshop on Understanding Autism at Bogra 2008

IMPRESSUM
Website Management: GlobalCom Software Ltd. Dhaka, Bangladesh
© Copyright 2002 GlobalCom Software Ltd. Dhaka. All rights reserved
Webdesign & Editor: Mir Monaz Haque, CEO, GlobalCom, Berlin, Germany

PRESS AND MEDIA
::Bogra Regional News
::Bangladesh MediaPress and Media Link
::International Press
CITIZEN SERVICE
(Service in Progress)
::Statistics BograStatistics of Bogra
::Telephone Guide
::Bus/Train Timetable
::Events Calendar
VIP OF BOGRA
(Biography in Progress)
::Muhammad Ali Bogra
::Nawab Altaf Ali
::Habibur Rahman
::Putu Miah Satani
::Ziaur Rahman
::Khaleda Zia
::Tarique Rahman
::MP and Minister
::Moris Shaheb
::Nawab Ali Ukil
::Dr. Kosiruddin Talukder
::Dr. T. Ahmed
::Dr. Mohamad Yasin
::Dr. Monsur Rahman
::Fazlul Bari/Dina Bari
::Gr.Capt Shaukat Islam
::Abdul Bari/Saiful Bari
::MojiburRahmanBhandari
::Zahed Miah
::Dr. Rabea Ahmed
::Mosharaf Mondol
::Moklesur Rahman
::Prof. Ataur Rahman
::Mrs. Romena Afaz
::Prof. M. A. Dewan
::Mohadev Saha
::Prof. Abul Kalam Azad
::Prof. Mir Haider Azam
::Advocate Gaziul Hoque
::Advocate IqbalHossain
::Mir Hafizul Hassan
::Dr. Enamul Haque
::M.R.Akhter (Mukul)
::Syed Badrul Hoque
::Azmal Huda Mitoo
::Anjuman Ara
::Babu Shoylen Poddar
::Mohammad Haider Ali
::Kabez Ahmed Ukil
::Zobbar Talukder
::Dr. Noni Gopal Debdah
::Dr. Zahedur Rahman
::Akhtaruzzaman Elias

Statistics of Bogra
SocioCulture      
INFO    
Name of Institution
Total Numbers
Clubs
Community Center
Co-operative Society
Professional Society
Post Office
Bank Branches
NGOs
Mosques
Temples
Churches
Pagodas
Marriage Register
Telephones
Livestock Firms
Poultry Firms
Hatchery
Handloom
Bamboo & Cane
Carpentry
Jute/Cotton Fiber
Black Smith
Potter
Gold Smith
Others
595
69
3856
83
156
246
151
3310
159
2
1
54
3186
200
243
35
2870
1759
954
675
614
1745
585
3699
info@bogra.info
   

 

 


__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___