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Monday, February 7, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"



A general avoidance of religious arguments cannot necessarily prevent one from touching upon the religion of those who have brought such disaster upon us. It depends upon how bad one thinks the situation is. One need be sensitive about the religious feelings of those who practice one set of ethics in public life and espouse a different set of ethics on the prayer mat. Rather, the verbal mocking of their interpretation of their faith is required in proportion to their mockery of the faith in public life.

No on is mocking faith itself. And the words of the Quran are more messed upon by the visits of frauds to Shahjalal's grave before the election and Holy Mecca after the election. Those who are most offended by the use of religious terminology against the ethical values of AL and BNP are only blind activists of these parties.   

Religion is a very sensitive issue? Only for the religious. I see no religious people leading AL or BNP. The gravity of ritual prayer is not enough to outweigh the gravity of ritual rottenness. People are very sensitive about religion:

… but not the blind party activist

And even if he is, he sure isn't one willing to die for something as noble as religious principle. He's too dumb and too rotten for that.

When religion will really takes offence at the assault upon its very essence by our political culture   you will know it my friend. For it will not reply by email or argument. It will not complain about the use of a word in the Quran to make a point against the current religious hypocrisy of our leaders. Nor will the reply be defined by idiots who don't know how to use a firecracker.

And so Zia puja and the tawafs at Tungipara continue.


--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, shafiq013@... wrote:
>
>
> I believe you are coming to some senses now. When you don't tend to
> stray into religious arguments then why mock someone, who ever he/she
> may be, using religion. Understand that religion is a very sensitive
> issue, people do die for religion but your faith seems very strong.
>
> Yes, I do remember Arabic is a language. Bismillah_____ are words of
> Quran. If you are Muslim as you claim you are, even if the purpose was
> to create some satire, you should refrain from disfiguring the words of
> Quran. (By the way bismilbangabandu....." does not mean "In the
> name of Bangabandhu...."). But your faith seems very strong.
>
> Realize, this is a forum of very limited people. Not everyone in
> Bangladesh and/or Bangladesh origin is readings all the postings in this
> forum. People do ignore also considering it is coming from _______. You
> are right majority of Muslims in Bangladesh have shown no comments on
> your writing. The reason you know because your faith seems very strong.
>
>
>
>
> Shafiq Ahmad
> --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> >
> > I tend not to stray into religious arguments because they are somewhat
> > pointless. But as a Muslim I have to say that this is exemplary of why
> I
> > stay away from such arguments. The mention of Islam makes some people
> > super-sensitive. Why is that? Is our faith that weak?
> >
> > Please remember that Arabic is a language and as such, many ideas can
> be
> > expressed in it including a translation of "In the name of
> Bangabandhu...."
> > - I don't suggest that my satirical construct is accurate!
> >
> > In any case, no disrespect of Islam was done in my piece. If anything
> it
> > should have appealed to Muslim sentiment to recognize and reject
> idolatry
> > when its spitting in their face. The fact that so many are unable to
> do so
> > suggests that there is a lack of Muslims in Bangladesh....and if not
> > anything else, certainly they are not the majority!
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: alochona@yahoogroups.com [mailto:alochona@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf
> > Of shafiq013@
> > Sent: 04 February 2011 23:37
> > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Really!
> >
> > I thought Mismillah, Quran, prophet are part of a religion. The
> religion of
> > Islam.
> >
> > Op! May be I am little bit old to understand it. If the mission is to
> > redicule someone, there are many other ways.
> >
> > So carry on. Carry on with your "very logical extrapolations."
> >
> > Shafiq Ahmad
> >
> >
> > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> > >
> > > I don't think this is bringing in religion. Rather its a very a
> > logical extrapolation of the way that many regard Bangabandhu. It
> > demonstrates how ridiculous and perhaps dangerous this concept is. It
> has
> > allowed many to sanitise, rationalise, obscure and generally brush
> under the
> > carpet responsibility for the malaise that is our country today. It
> allows
> > us to settle for less.
> > >
> > > Yes, the majority of Bangladeshis are Muslim.
> > >
> > > Ergo the majority of Bangladeshis should be offended by this worship
> > and the immorality and corruption it breeds and feeds.
> > >
> > > Joy Bangla...?
> > >
> > > Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: shafiq013@
> > > Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:54:22
> > > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > Reply-To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> > >
> > >
> > > Mr. Eman
> > >
> > > You frustration is understood. May be you are sour for some personal
> > > reasons. However, may I request you, very humbly, don't drag in
> > > religion in your discussion, at the least in this way. Not only it
> > shows
> > > your disrespect to religion of Islam but also indicates you have
> > nothing
> > > much to say. Even if you are not a Muslim (though your name suggests
> > you
> > > are), please show your respect to the religion of the majority in
> > > Bangladesh. You may hate Awami League or Sheikh Mujib for some (may
> > be)
> > > valid reasons. You have every right to express your viewpoint but it
> > is
> > > really a shame to bring-in religion in this way.
> > >
> > > Shafiq Ahmad
> > >
> > > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "Emanur Rahman" emanur@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I agree although the Buriganga with its effluence and waste may be
> > the
> > > most appropriate choice.
> > > >
> > > > I also propose that "Bismillah..." be removed from the
> constitution
> > > and replaced with "bismilbangabandu.....".
> > > >
> > > > To seal the deal, all references to the Prophet should be removed
> > from
> > > a new and official BAL version of the Quran as neither he nor the
> > > Almighty had any contribution to the glorious independence war, you
> > know
> > > the Bangabandhu v Pakistan war where one man single handedly
> defeated
> > an
> > > entire army.
> > > >
> > > > Joy Bangla!
> > > >
> > > > Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Sajjad Hossain shossain456@
> > > > Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 18:29:17
> > > > To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Reply-To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Subject: [ALOCHONA] Naming Dhaka as" Mujib Nagar"
> > > >
> > > > In order to pay our indebtedness to Father of the Nation,
> > Bangabondhu
> > > Sheikh
> > > > Mujibur Rahman I propose to change the name of Dhaka to "Mujib
> > Nagar"
> > > > and "Bay of Bengal" to "Bay of Bangabondhu".
> > > >
> > > > Any comments from the Alochoks?
> > > >
> > > > SH
> > > > Toronto
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > [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@!
> > Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > If this email is spam, report it to
> >
> https://support.onlymyemail.com/view/report_spam/OTg3NzY6MTIzMTYwNjk0OTp\
> lbWF
> > udXJAcmFobWFuLmNvbTpkZWxpdmVyZWQ
> >
>


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[ALOCHONA] Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain lobbies for his own power company



Ghorashal Power Project Tender

Lowest bidder lost race

Influence factor allegedly comes into play

Four months ago, Power Development Board (PDB) had to cancel a tender for a 300 megawatt dual-fuel power project in Ghorashal due to opposition from Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain at cabinet level. Back then, the Hossain family-owned company Sahco was representing a Chinese company that had failed to be the lowest bidder in that tender.

The PDB then floated a fresh tender for the project. This time, Sahco represented a Chinese consortium-- CNTIC and CMC. When the PDB opened the financial offer for the power project, another Chinese company -- Shanghai Electric-- turned out to be the lowest bidder, and not CNTIC-CMC.

But due to alleged foul play by the PDB tender committee, the consortium has now become the lowest bidder and Shanghai Electric the second lowest. Now, the PDB is seeking the power ministry's clearance for awarding the job to the consortium, well placed sources in the PDB said.

Other sources said as per the bidding criteria, instead of selecting CNTIC-CMC's bid-- the PDB should have disqualified it because the consortium's bid offer lacked vital information about its proposed power plant's net heat rate. A plant's heat rate directly affects the cost of power, they mentioned.

Apparently to save CNTIC-CMC's bid and allow it to modify its tender document, the PDB tender body during evaluation of bids unduly sought the consortium's clarification, asking it in a January 9 letter to provide the net heat rate.

This gave the consortium an opportunity to modify its bid in a way that its price offer would become cheaper than that of the lowest bidder Shanghai Electric. The consortium on January 16 gave a net heat rate and grossly changed two vital technical specifications stating that its previous specification had typing errors.

Accordingly, the consortium's bid offer became lower than that of Shanghai Electric, which had submitted a flawless offer.

Before the tender evaluation began, the read out price of Shanghai Electric for this power project totalled $ 191.4 million and CNTIC-CMC's $192.9 million.

This power plant will operate using both natural gas and furnace oil.

During the initial evaluation process, it was found that Shanghai Electric's per kilowatt gas-fired power generation cost stands at $656 and furnace oil-fired cost at $650. The CNTIC-CMC's gas- fired cost comes to $665 and $653 respectively.

After the consortium modified its bid documents, its per kilowatt gas-fired power cost came down to $657 and furnace oil-based cost to $644.

"The consortium was allowed to reduce a total cost of Tk 20 crore, and this helped it to become the lowest bidder by a narrow margin," said a PDB source.

After the evaluation process, the consortium's total bid offer stood at $192.8 million while Shanghai Electric's total increased to $193 million.

It is alleged that the tender evaluation has been tampered with under the influence of the communications minister; but the minister brushes aside the allegation saying, "I have no links with Sahco now. I am not involved."

Syed Abul Hossain said if a company (represented by Sahco) gets a contract as the lowest responsive bidder, what was the problem? It was pointed out to him that the consortium was not really the lowest responsive bidder and that it was given an unfair chance to modify the bid to become the number one. He commented, "You are free to write whatever you want. It is the PDB that should clarify this matter."

A top PDB official, requesting not to be named, said, "It was unfair for the tender evaluation body to ask for information from any company during the evaluation process because it affects the power tariff. The evaluation body should have sought permission from the board (PDB), which it did not."

But it is not clear if the PDB will now review its recommendation to award the job to the consortium at this stage.

The tender for Ghorashal project is one of the poor examples of power projects under the present government, which has so far awarded dozens of power generation contracts for a total of nearly 3,000 MW.

This is actually the third tendering for the same project. The first one, floated in 2009, had to be cancelled due to lack of participation by bidders. The second tender was cancelled due to resistance from Syed Abul Hossain, who argued the PDB picked a bidder that had submitted fabricated documents.

Back then, the communications minister claimed to The Daily Star that he had resigned from Sahco when he became a minister and that he was not influencing any bid. "I am no longer in that company. Can't this company do business just because I was in it before? All I asked of Sahco is that it should not participate in any job with the communications ministry," he said.



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[ALOCHONA] Egypt: What's Really Happening?



Egypt: What's Really Happening?
 
Tony Cartalucci
 
A great debate is going on amongst honest commentators over what is actually happening in Egypt. The debate stems from the horribly inaccurate information being supplied by the globalist owned mainstream media. A superficial look at AlJazeera, BBC, and CNN reveals that even their concerted efforts to build up public opinion behind the protesters are inconsistent. There is no better example than AlJazeera's 2 million man march, BBC's 100's of thousands man march, and CNN's tens of thousands man march.

Accomplished historian and unparalleled researcher
Dr. Webster Tarpley outright calls AlJazeera a British intelligence operation, noting that Hahrir Square had at best 50,000 protesters at the height of the "march of millions." He attempts to point out that the protesters lack any pragmatic solutions amongst their demands.

The protesters' demands indeed lack any pragmatic, technical solutions for the myriad of problems that face Egyptian society, but their demands do become very specific regarding the changes in the system they would like to see. Protesters unfurled a banner enumerating these political "reforms."


Project on Middle East Democracy, a US National Endowment for Democracy funded NGO, translates the banner as saying: "Our demands: 1. deposing the president 2. dissolving the two illegitimate houses of parliament 3. lifting the state of emergency immediately 4. forming a caretaker national unity government 5. an elected parliament that amends the constitution to allow fair presidential elections 6. bringing murders of demonstrators to trial 7. immediate judicial proceedings against corrupt officials and those stealing the of the nation."

Ironically, many of the globalist think-tanks cheer-leading the protests and distributing the mass media's talking points have also made these exact "demands." Could it be that this organic, spontaneous uprising against the Mubarak regime just so happens to resonate verbatim with the globalist policy wonks? The answer is most emphatically, no.

The
International Crisis Group, of which protest leader Mohamed ElBaradei is a trustee, verbatim repeats the need for an interim national unity government, lifting the state of emergency, and amendments to the constitution especially in regards to elections.

The Council on Foreign Relations' "Foreign Policy" magazine features an
article by Zalmay Khalilzad, of the globalist Center for Strategic and International Studies calling for the same "reforms," including Mubarak's immediate departure, a constitutional convention for amendments, and a "transitional government."

The Carnegie Middle East Center's piece "
Egypt's Path Ahead: Agree to the People's Demands" by Amr Hamzawy also repeats these demands verbatim and insists Egypt bow to a 50,000 strong ochlocracy. Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy at the globalist Brookings Institute, Martin Indyk, wrote an article with the self-explanatory title "In Egypt, the Time Has Come for Mubarak To Go."

Fellow Brookings Institute member
Shadi Hamid also weighs in. His prolific propagandizing should be of no surprise to anyone, as he had served on the globalists' National Endowment for Democracy funded NGO Project on Middle Eastern Democracy mentioned above. It should be noted that NGOs play a vital role in shaping and manipulating public opinion in regards to the globalist agenda.

In
USA Today Hamid authored "Why You Should Care About Egypt," in which he displays complete contempt for his readers by simplistically begging, "Should Americans care? Only if they care about 80 million people who yearn for freedom." He argues that President Obama's initial support for Mubarak was folly and that now is the time to support the Egyptian people.

This push comes from the same think-tanks that suggested as early as
March 2010 that the US initially feign support for Mubarak so as to avoid bringing anti-American sentiment upon the protest leaders. Hamid's clever "plea" was meant to give Obama a bridge to make the crossover to supporting "democracy."

By now, it should be abundantly clear what the globalists amongst their think-tanks desire for Egypt. Their consensus should come as no surprise as prominent US policy makers like Zbigniew Brzezinski and George Soros have seats on boards in nearly all of them. The fact that the protesters on the street and the mainstream media reflect this desire verbatim tells us exactly what is going on in Egypt.

While the protests falter and Mubarak has rejected the globalists' consensus, the globalists are now signaling a compromise. Total system change and a new regime was their ultimate goal, but they are now pressing for a
"Turkish" model where they can negotiate with the military to ensure the reforms they want are made. CFR's Steven Cook points out that the Egyptian army has little motivation for such compromises. This begs one to wonder if reports of US navy ships deploying to the area aren't meant to strengthen the globalists' hand in this matter, rather than their stated purpose of assisting in evacuations.

Tony Cartalucci's articles have appeared on many alternative media websites, including his own at Land Destroyer.    


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[ALOCHONA] Hartal violence



Hartal violence
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Bangladesh Balance of Payments in negative territory



Courtesy Financial Express 8/2/11 
Decline in remittance flow, higher import payments blamed

Siddique Islam

The country's overall balance of payments (BoP) has entered the negative territory after a long time due to widening trade gap, lower growth of inward remittance and deficit balance in the financial account, officials said.

"Due to deficit of US$ 873 million in financial account the overall balance showed a deficit of $584 million during July-November, 2010 against the surplus of $2156 million during July-November, 2009," the central bank said in its Major Economic Indicators: Monthly Update-January, 2011.

The current account balance also decreased by over 66 per cent to US$563 million during July-November period of fiscal 2010-11 (FY11) from $1.674 billion of the same period of previous fiscal.

"The pressure on external sector may continue in the near future following widening trade gap and poor performance of inward remittances," Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Mustafa K Mujeri told the FE Monday.

Mr. Mujeri, also former chief economist of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), predicted that the country's external sector might come under more pressure in the coming months due mainly to nominal growth of remittances.

The country's overall trade balance, on the merchandise account, recorded a deficit of $2.752 billion during the period under review as compared to that of $1.976 billion of the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

During the period, export earnings stood at $8.299 billion against the import payments of $11.051 billion, the BB data showed.

"We hope that the overall balance of payments will turn positive by the end of this fiscal," an executive of the central bank told the FE Monday.

He also said the pressures of import payments particularly for food grains will ease in the coming months after Boro harvest.

Meanwhile, the country received $4.581 billion as remittances during the period, registering a 1.67 per cent negative growth over the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.

"The inward remittance growth turned positive in December last after months of stagnation," a BB senior official said, adding that the positive remittance growth also continued in the month of January 2011.

The country received $6.510 billion during the July-January period of fiscal 2010-11, registering nominal a 0.386 per cent growth over the same period of the previous fiscal, according to the central bank statistics.

However, the flow of net foreign direct investment (FDI) rose to $320 million during the period against $285 million of the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, the central bank officials said.

The portfolio investment witnessed a significant rise to $56 million in the period from $34 million deficit of the same period of the last fiscal.

The net receipts of foreign aid declined to $437.69 million during July-December period of this fiscal against $1.1426 billion of the corresponding period of previous fiscal, the BB officials confirmed.

However, the central bank officials said they are not worried about the negative position of the BoP as the country has 'a satisfactory level of foreign exchange reserve'.

But the BB officials admitted that pressure on foreign exchange reserve has gradually increased due mainly to higher import payments, particularly for fuel oils, food grains and power plant equipment.

The foreign exchange currency reserve stood at $10.46 billion Monday after selling of $84 million to the commercial banks on the same day.

"We expect the country's overall balance of payments to improve further as the country is set to receive more funds from multilateral development partners by the end of this fiscal," another BB official said.


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[ALOCHONA] Re: FW: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan touched by the Enlightenment

And apart from the British, the Indians, ancient Bengal, the Pakistanis and the chinese....

...when do you expect our own period of Enlightenment?

Under Joy?

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Farida Majid <farida_majid@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> This is how the British Victorian intelligentsia including the Macaulays, father and son, the Mills, father and son, Jeremy Bentham, Stuart, Marshman, Eliot, Beverly, etc. combined with Indian landed class attitudes to concoct the disaster we are still coping with.
>
> By the way, the Zamindari system in Bengal was introduced by the E. I. Company's Lord Cornwallis in 1793. There was no zamindari during the Sultanate or the Mughal period before the Permanent Settlement Act, 1793. That rang the death-knoll for the wonderful economic system that Bengal had and the one that had made her the wealthiest realm in the world.
>
> Reading about Sir Syed at this juncture of history should provide a jolt of hindsight. But perhaps it is too late for Pakistanis.
>
> Perhaps the Chinese ideogram handbooks should give immediate solace.
>
> ~Farida
> Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 23:38:16 -0800
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims -
> Part 12: Modern Indian Ulema on the Caste Question
> By Masood Alam Falahi
> (Part 12 of Masood Alam Falahi's Urdu book Hindustan Mai Zat-Pat Aur Musalman (`Casteism Among Muslims in India'))
> (Translated from Urdu by Yoginder Sikand for NewAgeIslam.com)
>
> For Part 1 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 1
> URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3611
> For Part 2 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 2: Indian Muslim Society in the Shadow of Casteism
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3616
> For Part 3 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 3: The Impact of the Aryan Invasion of India
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3616
> For Part 4 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 4: Early Anti-Aryan Movements in India
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3626
> For Part 5 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 5: The Origin and Spread of Islam in India
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3630
> For Part 6 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 6: : In the Period of `Muslim Rule'
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3636
> For Part 7 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 7: The Role of the Medieval Ulema
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3647
> For Part 8 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 8: Firoze Shah Tughlaq's Reign
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3656
> For part 9 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 9: Evidence From the Mughal Period
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3658
> For part 10 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 10: Transformations in the Colonial Period
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3665
> For part 11 Go to: Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 11: Hindutva, Gandhism, and the Caste Question
> http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3672
> ----
>
> Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and His Justification for Ashraf Hegemony
>
> Alarmed at the prospects of vast numbers of Shudras seeking to escape caste slavery by
> converting to Islam and Christianity, `upper' caste Hindu leaders launched various movements and organisations to Hinduise them and thereby keep them firmly within, and at the bottom of, the Hindu fold. The ostensible reforms that they engendered or advocated with regard to the rules of caste may not have represented a genuine change of heart at all on their part. Nor were they really radical. They might simply have been well-devised tactics to prevent the Shudras from abandoning Hinduism. This continues to be the case even today. Be that as it may, it is instructive, and, at the same time, deeply shocking, to note that while some `upper' caste Hindu reformers were indeed willing to launch movements to critique some aspects of caste discrimination among the Hindus, and even to criticize some aspects of Hinduism, which itself is based principally on caste, till this very day there has not been a single organised effort or movement with the aim of
> putting an end to caste and caste-based discrimination and hierarchy among the Indian Muslims despite the fact these social evils have no sanction whatsoever in Islam, if properly understood. It is true that some Muslim intellectuals, including certain ulema, have tried to address this question in their own individual capacity, but it is the terrible fortune of the Muslim ummah that many supposedly great ulema and other Muslim intellectuals, past and present, have not only not done anything to combat these evils but have, directly or otherwise, even gone to the extent of arguing that caste and casteism are, in fact, `Islamic'.
>
> Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement
>
> Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (d. 1898) is regarded as a great Indian Muslim intellectual, reformer, educationist, and Islamic modernist. He was the founder of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which was later converted into the Aligarh Muslim University.
> An ardent champion of modern education, he was a passionate supporter of British colonial rule.[i] It is erroneous to imagine, as many do, that he was concerned about the welfare of all, or even most, of the Indian Muslims. The fact of the matter is that he had no concern at all for the pathetic conditions of the vast majority of the Indian Muslims, who were of indigenous Shudra origins. Contrary to popular perception, he was bothered about the welfare of only the so-called ashraf among the Muslims. Moreover, he was firmly committed to preserving and reinforcing caste hierarchy among the Muslims and to the continued domination of the so-called `low' caste Muslims at the hands of the ashraf.
>
> Syed Ahmad's attitude towards the `low' caste Muslims can be gauged from his description of the Revolt of 1857, in which disaffected Muslims played a major role. Syed Ahmad frantically sought to save the ashraf from being blamed for instigating, leading
> and participating in the Revolt, fearing that otherwise the British would take even more drastic measures against them than they already had. Recognising that the British could not now be dislodged from power, he knew that the fortunes of the ashraf crucially depended on the goodwill of the British. Hence, he made every effort to convince the British of his claim that the ashraf had little or no role to play in the Revolt, which he blamed entirely on `low' caste Muslims. The Revolt, he argued, was the handiwork of ignorant `riff-raff' (jahils), and not of the Muslim `elites' (ra`is). In this way, he sought to impress on the British that the ashraf were their loyal servants. At the same time, he repeatedly appealed to his fellow ashraf to remain faithful to the British Raj. Further, he consistently defended ashraf privileges and vehemently denounced demands for equality and self-respect for the `low' caste Muslims. He even sought to
> instigate the British against the latter by insisting that they were not faithful to the Raj.
>
> In an address to the second convention of the Muhammadan Educational Conference in Lucknow in 1887, Syed Ahmad claimed said that `lowly (adna) families' were `not useful (mufid) for the country or for the Government'. In contrast, the `nobles (ra'is) of high-status (`ala) families', he insisted, were loyal to the British and so `are useful to the country and the Government'. He referred to `Pathans, Syeds, Hashmis[ii] and Quraishis[iii]' as his `own brothers' (hamare bhai), `from whose blood', he said, `the smell of the blood of Abraham emanates'. He shared their hope that they would be employed in top posts in the British Army, `wearing shimmering uniforms'. He assured them that this would happen soon, but for this, he added, they would have to win the favour of the British. He also advised the Muslim
> ashraf attending the conference that only through higher modern education could they succeed and progress.[iv]
>
> Syed Ahmad repeated his advice to the Muslim ashraf to remain firmly loyal to the British in an article he penned in the weekly journal The Loyal Mohammadans of India. Therein he claimed, against all evidence, that in the course of the Revolt `if any community sided with the British, it was the Muslims. We can in no way support those Muslims who sided with the rebels [...] Their behaviour was detestable. Their participation in this animalistic massacre is simply inexcusable.'[v]
>
> In the above-quoted reference, Syed Ahmad used the word `Muslim' (musalman in the Urdu original), but it is apparent from his other speeches and writings that by this term he meant simply the so-called ashraf.
> To defend the ashraf from the wrath of the avenging British in the aftermath of the 1857 Revolt, Syed Ahmad penned a treatise titled
> Asbab-e Baghawat-e Hind or `The Causes of the Indian Revolt'. In it he accused the so-called `low' caste Ansaris, whom he abusively referred to as `Julahas', for `being the most active' in the Revolt.[vi] Ali Anwar argues that the publication of this book in Urdu, and then its translation into English, was a well-designed strategy to convince the British of the claim that the ashraf were loyal to them and that the Muslims who had revolted against them were from the `low' castes.[vii] In this way, Syed Ahmad and his fellow ashraf supporters sought to win the favour of the British, even if this meant instigating the latter against the so-called `low' caste Muslims.
>
> Syed Ahmad's visceral opposition to the emancipation of the `low' castes, Muslims as well as others, can be gauged by further examining his speech to the second convention of the Muhammadan Educational Conference referred to earlier. In this speech he
> vehemently opposed the suggestion that members of the Legislative Council be democratically elected because, he argued, in this way `ordinary' people (and this included, in particular, people of `low' caste background, Muslim, Hindu and other) could also be chosen. In this event, he wrote, expressing his horror, such men would `address the Viceroy' and `sit at the same table' as the so-called ashraf. This he regarded as a wholly unacceptable prospect. He insisted that only men from `high' families could have that honour. He argued that membership of the Legislative Council be restricted to those of `high' caste, and that it must not be based on merit or ability for on that basis men of `low' caste might be elected or nominated. As he put it, the Government should reserve the Council only for those ra`is `whom it considers worthy and respectable enough to occupy [the Council's] seats'.[viii] Dismissing the suggestion
> that the Government nominate men to the Council on the basis of their merit and capacity, he remarked:
>
> `In order to sit with the Viceroy in the Council, it is essential that members be respectable (muaziz) men among the most respectable men of the country. Will the ra`is of our country ever like it if a man of low status (adna darja), even if he has acquired a BA or even an MA degree, rule over them and control their wealth, property and respect? Never! Not a single [ra`is] will approve of this (Cheers). A seat in the Government's Council is a very honourable thing. The government is bound not to permit anyone but a respectable person to occupy it. The Viceroy cannot refer to him [a man from other than a `respectable' family] as "My Colleague" or "My Honourable Colleague". Nor can [such a person] be invited to royal dinners or to royal conventions, where dukes, earls and other very respectable men gather. Hence, the
> Government cannot at all be blamed for nominating [only] ra`is [to the Council].'[ix]
>
> Syed Ahmad's dogged opposition to social equality and to the progress of the `low' castes, Muslims as well as others, led him to fiercely oppose the holding of examinations for the Indian Civil Service simultaneously in India and in England. Had this been allowed, it would have benefitted `low' caste candidates, who, unlike the so-called `respectable nobles' whom Syed Ahmad represented, could not have afforded to travel to England for the examinations. But the prospect of `low' caste people entering the Civil Services was too horrific for Syed Ahmad to tolerate and he vociferously condemned the suggestion that the examinations be held in India as well. His utter disdain for the `low' castes, Muslims and others, is readily apparent in what he had to say in the defence of his position in this regard:
> `It is apparent that in
> Britain every person, high and low, be he the son of a duke, an earl, a gentleman or a nobleman or the son of a tailor or any family belonging to the lower orders, can equally compete for the [Indian Civil Service] examinations. The Europeans who pass this examination and come here [India] are of both lowly as well as high-status families. You all must certainly believe that people from lowly families are not useful for the country or for the Government [...] But the [civil servants] who come from England are so far from our eyes that we have no idea if they are the sons of lords or dukes or tailors (Cheers), and if [among them] a lowly man rules over us, it is concealed from our eyes [...] But the noble (sharif) communities (qaumen) of India would not like a low-grade [Indian] person, whose roots they know well, to rule over their lives and wealth (Cheers).'[x]
>
> Given Syed Ahmad's passionate commitment to his fellow ashraf and his
> fierce opposition to the progress and emancipation of the indigenous Muslims of Shudra origin, it is hardly surprising that the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, also known as the Madrasat ul-Ulum, which he set up in Aligarh was originally meant only for theashraf. As Abu Khalid Bin Saidi comments:
> `It is clear from most of the writings of the late Syed Ahmad Khan that he established the Madrasat ul-Ulum at Aligarh in order to rehabilitate the ashrafclass in the wake of the destruction wrought by the Revolt. That is why till 1947 the character certificate of students graduating from [the college] clearly mentioned: "This person comes from a noble (sharif) family of his district".'[xi]
>
> Likewise, Abdur Rahman Abid candidly remarks, `Sir Syed's target, through the Aligarh movement, was the ashraf. It was for the ashraf alone that he laid the foundation of the Aligarh college.' Similarly, Syed Muhammad Hashim Kidwai, a former
> Member of Parliament who taught for many years at the Aligarh Muslim University, confesses that Syed Ahmad `unfortunately did not oppose the conflict (fitna) between the ashraf and the ajlaf' and, moreover, `advised that Western education be limited only to theashraf'.[xii] Echoing this view, the noted French scholar of Indian Muslim history, Marc Gaborieau, mentions that Syed Ahmad insisted on numerous occasions that his college was not meant for `Julahas', or, in other words, non-ashraf Muslims.[xiii]
>
> What these commentators have claimed is undeniably true. Their assertions are reinforced by Syed Ahmad Khan's speech to the second convention of the Muhammadan Educational Conference in Lucknow in 1887, referred to earlier, where he mentioned, `My attention has always been drawn to the issue of the education of my Muslim brethren (meri musalman bhai)'. In the same speech he spoke of his `brothers' as being `Pathans,
> Syeds, Hashmis and Quraishis'[xiv]. Taken together, these statements suggest that as far as he was concerned, only the so-called ashraf were actually Muslims.
>
> That Syed Ahmad believed in modern education only for the ashraf and not for the other Muslims is also apparent from a speech he delivered at Jalandhar in 1894, where he advocated a limited form of education for Muslim women's education but mentioned in this regard only ashraf women. Thus, after expressing his opposition to Muslim families sending their daughters to schools, he said:
> `I very forcefully advise that the ashraf should get together and make arrangements for their daughters that should be patterned on the traditional style [of education] that was once in place.'[xv]
>
> To repeat a point already made above, while Syed Ahmad Khan passionately argued for modern, Western-style education for the ashraf, he was forcefully opposed to such education for
> the so-called `low' caste Muslims, who form the vast majority of the Indian Muslim population. This was because while he wanted the ashraf to prosper under the British, for which modern education was indispensable, he also wanted the so-called `low' castes to remain under the subordination of the ashraf, which was only possible if they continued to be denied access to modern education.
>
> This sharp contradiction in Syed Ahmad's attitude to modern education and his firm opposition to the emancipation of the `low' caste Muslims through modern education is clearly brought out in the following incident. Once, Syed Ahmad Khan was invited to a function organised by the Madrasa Anjuman-e Islamiya, a madrasa in Bareilly where poor `low' caste Muslim students studied. There, he was presented with an address by the madrasa authorities, wherein the authorities suggested the need for its students to study modern disciplines along with
> traditional Islamic subjects. In response to the address, he delivered a speech wherein he commented:
>
> `In your address you have mentioned that we should not hesitate to acquire the knowledge of other communities. Perhaps by this is meant the teaching of English. But, I tell you, with regard to a madrasa like yours, teaching English is a very grave blunder. There is no doubt that there is a pressing need for [knowledge of] the English language and for the teaching of British sciences (angrezi ulum). It is incumbent on the leaders (sardars) and nobility (sharifon) of our community (qaum) to provide higher education to their sons in the British sciences. No one is a greater supporter of the spread of English education and sciences among the Muslims than me. But there is a time and place for everything. I have seen that in your madrasa, located in the courtyard of a mosque [...], there are 75 boys engaged in studying. Given the status
> (haisiyat) and the class of these boys, it is useless to teach them English. Keep them busy with the old system of [madrasa] education—that is better for them and for the country [...] It would be appropriate if you could make efforts to teach the boys to read and write a bit, some basic mathematics enough for necessary work, and a few small booklets through which they can learn the rules of ritual worship (namaz), fasting (roza) and the simple beliefs of the Muslim religion (musalmani mazhab).'[xvi]
>
> This, in brief, was how the man glorified as the harbinger of modernity among the Indian Muslims, and projected as an intrepid revolutionary, viewed the burning question of caste and caste-based hierarchies and inequalities among the Indian Muslims.
>
>
>
> [i] In numerous places in his Asbab-e Baghawat-e Hind, Syed Ahmad refers to the British Raj as `our Government' in order to exhibit his loyalty. In his address to the Muhammadan Educational Conference in Lucknow in 1887 he went so far as to insist:
>
> `If my good fortune permitted and I became the Viceroy, I assure you that as a very strong Viceroy I would firmly preserve Empress Victoria's government in India. The virtues that any government ought to possess are exhibited by the British Government.' (Syed Ahmad Khan, Khutbat-e Sir Syed, [compiled by Muhammad Ismail Panipati], Majlis-e Taraqqi-e Adab, Lahore, 1973, pp. 9-10).
> [ii] Muslims who claim descent from the tribe of Banu Hashim, to which the Prophet Muhammad belonged.
> [iii] These Quraishis, distinct from Muslims of the Qasai or butcher caste who also call themselves by this term, claim to be descended from the Quraish clan to which the Prophet Muhammad
> belonged.
> [iv] Khan, op.cit., pp.24-27.
> [v] Quoted in Ali Anwar, Masavat ki Jang: Pas-e Manzar Bihar ke Pasmanda Musalman, Vani Parkashan Delhi, 2001, p.101.
> [vi] Syed Ahmad Khan, Asbab-e Baghawat-e Hind, University Publishers, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 1958, p. 60.
> [vii] Anwar, op.cit., p. 101.
> [viii] Khan, Khutbat…, op.cit., p.5.
> [ix] Khan, Khutbat…, op.cit., p.6.
> [x] Khan, Khutbat…, op.cit., pp. 12-13.
> [xi] Abu Khalid Bin Saidi, quoted Ashfaq Mohammad Khan, (ed.) Hindustani Mu`ashre Mein Musalmano Ke Masail, Patriot Publishers, New Delhi, 1990, p.341.
> [xii] Syed Muhammad Hashim Kidwai, `A Nikal ke Maidan Mai Dozakhi ke Khane Mai', Roznama Rashtriya Sahara(Urdu), 30 December, 2001, New Delhi, p.3.
> [xiii] Quoted in Dileep Karanth, Caste in Medieval India: The Beginnings of a Re-Examination (http://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/h_es/h_es_karan_caste.htm)
> [xiv] Khan, Khutbat…,op.cit., p.3.
> [xv] Khan, Khutbat…,op.cit., p. 279.
> [xvi] Quoted in Atiq Siddiqui, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Ek Siyasi Muta`ala, Maktaba Jamia, New Delhi, 1977, pp. 144-45.
>
> URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamBooksAndDocuments_1.aspx?ArticleID=3678
>


------------------------------------

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[ALOCHONA] Re: From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak

Mohsin Ali has no basic understanding of what is 'too far'. He thinks he understands it because he is responding to a chemical reaction in his brain to criticism and mockery of his Nethri.

If the same thing were said about Khaleda in power he would smirk with pleasure.

He thinks he can spot a 'plot of propoganda' but he wouldn't know a plot hatched by RAW if it danced nakedly in front of him.

But he's an expert on 'plots of propoganda'.


--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Mohsin Ali <baarnyinc@...> wrote:
>
> WHEN THE HOUMOUR IS BASED ON LIES, FAKE AND FALSE STORIES, INFORMATION AND MADE UP DRAMA AND IT GOES TOO FAR THEN IT IS NOT A HUMOUR, IT IS A PLOT OF PROPAGANDA.
>
> MR. SHAFIQ RAHMAN, CA, A PARTNER OF LATE SAIFUR RAHMAN (FORMER BNP FINANCE MINISTER) OF RAHMAN AND RAHMAN CA FIRM, WILL EMPLOY HIS FULL EFFORTS TO DEFAME AWAMI LEAGUE. HE MIGHT BE DREAMING TO TAKE THE POSITION OF LATE SAIFUR RAHMAN IN THE FUTURE BNP GOVERNMENT. SO, HE IS SHARPING HIS PEN.
>
> --- On Mon, 2/7/11, qrahman@... <qrahman@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: qrahman@... <qrahman@...>
> Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, February 7, 2011, 8:03 AM
>
>
>  
>
>
>
>
> Shafiq Rehman used to be a blind BAL supporter. He supported Hasina joining Ershad during 80's. Now he wrote some satire [ He has been using this style for decades!].
>
> I think all Bangladeshis should be aware and fight anyone whoever wants to hurt us as a nation. But these  lines of "Pakkistani ghosts" and "Anti-liberation force" is getting a little old. Personally I feel "Our Liberation" was for our nation. No one "Owns" our liberation war. We only inherited it. We can only honor it if we stay with the "Spirit" of 71 and do our best to help people of the nation. A map or flag does not mean much if people inside it are not free!!
>
> Anyway, kindly have a sense of humor. Personally I was not a fan of Mr. Rehman when he used to support Hasina blindly [ Even after she joined dictator Ershad during 80's]. Still I am not a fan after he changed his "Color" and became a blind BNP lover. We need honest people who are not afraid to speak against their own party or people when country requires us to do so.
>
> These Ghosts are paid with big bucks to propagate against the liberation ideals, liberation heros and those who are still fighting to uphold the liberation of Bangladesh.
>
>
> >>>>>>>>> I have faith in "Common sense" of our people. No amount of money can buy all Bangladeshis for a long period of time. I feel our problem is we have too many "Slaves". Some belong to India, some to Pakistan, some to the US, some to BNP, some to BAL. Sadly not too many "True Bangladeshis" who are always pro-Bangladesh.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Farida Majid <farida_majid@...>
> To: Alochona Alochona <alochona@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Mon, Feb 7, 2011 10:51 am
> Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak
>
>
>  
>
>
>
>
> From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak
> Posted by: "Mohsin Ali" baarnyinc@...   baarnyinc
> Sat Feb 5, 2011 5:27 am (PST)
>
> The so-called published dialogue between Hillary and PM Sheikh Hasina was a fake story.I wrote it before and challenged to prove it to be true. Dr. Golam Farid Akhter of Human Rights from Washington DC called the US State Department about this published Hillary-Hasina Dialogue and the State Department denied of any such dialogue of Hillary and Hasinausing the languages published on the internet.
>  
> This is just the propaganda of the Pakistani Ghosts. They are still fighting to change the history and redo the Pakistan. These Pakistani Ghosts are fully paid by the BNP/Jamat and ISI. Please check the internet's different blogs, Online News websites, e-mail sites and find how many hundreds of e-mails and writings these Pakistani Ghosts are posting every single day! Who have such time to volunteer to write such hundreds of e-mails and articles, dramas, fake stories every single day using very rough abusive words which even a human being cannot utter publicly? These Ghosts are paid with big bucks to propagate against the liberation ideals, liberation heros and those who are still fighting to uphold the liberation of Bangladesh.
>  
> Thank you for your understanding.
>  
> Dr. Mohsin Ali.
>
> --- On Fri, 2/4/11, Mahbub Kamal <mahbubk2002@ yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> From: Mahbub Kamal <mahbubk2002@ yahoo.com>
>
>
> ] RE: [ALOCHONA] From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak
>
> Date: Friday, February 4, 2011, 11:09 AM
>
>  
>
> In the eighties my boss Mr Kamal told me that Shafiq Rehman actually is a fraud. I did not believe him at that time as Shafiq Rehman was a hero to usfor his anti-Ershad stance.
>  
> In mid-nineties his true colour was being gradually revealed to our eyes. However 'Jai Jai Din' became a strong weapon for BNP and could strongly misled the younger generation. Laer on it lost all its credibility.
>  
> In 2000-2001 Shafiq Rehman had written the book 'Amar Fanshi Chai' in the name of certain Matiur Rahman Rentu, who was working in Sheikh Hasina's house and  got fired for stealing. Shafiq Rehman then started writing in the same way as he is doing now for Hillaryleak. One of his justifications to prove that the garbage was actually written by Rentu was the low-grade language and incorrect grammar. Well, Manik Mia used to write in the same way in his column to attract general mass, and many people like Shafiq Rehman can write both in 'porishilito' and 'grammya' Bangla.
>  
> BNP is spending millions and millions dollars of stolen money in lobbying and propaganda against Trial of war criminals, against Awami League, and most important, against the philosophy behind the independence of Bangladesh. This time Shaifiq Rehman came up with the transcript of imaginary dialogue between Sheikh Hasina and Hillary and BNP has enough black-money to get it published through lobbyists.
>  
> In the Bangla version in bdnews24, one of Shafiq's point to prove that the transcript is genuine is no one knew that President Obama's mother's PhD thesis was on Microfinance. We'll if you search in google for 'obama's mother's dissertation' you'll find 766,000 hits on that. (If you search for Sakib Al Hasan, known to more than 160 million people you'll get 229,00 hits)
>  
> For example, please go to the folllowing link
>  
> http://open. salon.com/ blog/indiana_ joe/2010/ 01/09/obamas_ mamas_dissertati on_and_other_ forgotten_ work
>  
> To be honest, Shafiq R. is a 'nordomar keet', can be beaten only by KZ and her 2 'chor and luccha' sons.
>  
> I know, BNP has millions of supporters, most of them are patriots too, I can only pray that one day they will shake of their ignorance. We need a second party who would be able to straighten up Awami League and will do constructive politics regard-less of in or out of power.
>  
> As one of my friends, a strong Awami-basher, says, BNP stands for Bangladesh Non Party.
>  
> Thanks and Regards,
>  
> MK
>
>
>
>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> From: maqsudo@...
> Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 05:54:27 +0000
> Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak
>
>  
>
>
>
>
>
>
> " Comment: It was generally understood that Awami League had won the
> last election (December 2008) with the help of General Moeen and
> India. But, it was unknown how much support was given by US to Awami
> League."
>
>
> ..............................  Is it a new/ exciting  news?
> all sensible people in Bdesh is aware of this historic development/
>
>
> then why farida majid is feeling shy about it?
>
>
> What kind of " shonar Bangla " Hasina has created this time?
> oh....and " digital Bangladesh " too....in a country...where 95% people have nothing to do with PC and computing!!!!
>
>
> Khoda hafez.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> From: farida_majid@...
> Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 17:23:55 -0500
> Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak
>
>
>
>               It is a pity that  for all his admiration for Art Buchwald, Shafik Rehman has learned nothing from that great columnist. Buchwald rarely wrote anything as long-winded, unfocused and pointless as this. The same old anti-India/anti-AL blabbering trying to be sleek and a wannabe wikileak!
> .
>                Shafik's attempt at sense of humor or political satire has always been pathetic. He fails to see that humor must accompany truth in order to give us a flash of clarity and reality in the midst of confusion and hazy understanding. That is why Socrates used humor in Plato's dialogues. In political satires there should also be a genuine love of people.  The moral outrage expressed by the superb satirical essay "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) is ultimately about his heart crying out for the plight of the people of Ireland caused by the cruel policies of English landlords.
>
>                 Here is Shafik Rehman insulting the huge mass of people in Bangladesh who voted in the Dec. 2008 which is pretty humorless and in bad taste. Not a speck of respect or even a mention of the large turnouts at each voting center.  Nothing but vitriol against India and AL again:
>
> Comment: It was generally understood that Awami League had won the
> last election (December 2008) with the help of General Moeen and
> India. But, it was unknown how much support was given by US to Awami
> League.
>
>                I don't think Art Buchwald ever wrote anything that insulted the voting public of the United States.
>
>                  Farida Majid
>
>
> To:
> From: bd_mailer@...
> Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 18:23:58 -0800
> Subject: [ALOCHONA] From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak
>
>  
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From Wikileaks to Hillaryleak
>
> Shafik Rehman
>
> On 28 November 2010, website Wikileaks and its five international
> associates, namely, The New York Times, The Guardian, EI Pais, Der
> Spiegel and Le Monde, began to publish serially “Secret US Diplomatic
> Cables”. Worldwide repercussions followed and world politics looked a
> bit different. The US government was embarrassed. Information
> published by Wikileaks were considered to be true.
>
> On the contrary, transcript of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s
> telephone conversation with Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina
> published on 16 January 2011, has raised doubts about its credibility.
> Photocopies of this transcript (in English) have been circulating. Two
> English newspapers, an English weekly and a Bengali newspaper
> published abridged version of the transcript. But, the question
> remained, is this transcript, which may be termed Hillaryleak true?
> Not just Awami League supporters have dismissed it as untrue, but some
> BNP supporters have expressed doubts as well. So, is Hillaryleak true?
>
> Before going into that, I would like to mention about Art Buchwald who
> was the top satirist of the last six decades. In 1925, he was born in
> an Austrian-Hungarian Jewish family in New York. His father was a
> tailor and very poor. Buchwald was sent to an orphanage. After some
> years, Buchwald returned home. At 17, he left home and joined the US
> Army. During World War II he was at the Pacific. After the war, he
> chose journalism as his profession. He left US and went to Paris.
> There he joined as an editorial staff of the European version of The
> New York Herald Tribune. Since then he became highly popular by
> writing humorous but sharp, satirical yet humanitarian, analytical yet
> easy reading socio-political columns. In 1962 Buchwald returned to US.
> Tribune Media Syndicate began publishing Buchwald’s column in 550
> newspapers simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic. Buchwald’s
> column became an institution. For readers with sense of humour and
> political consciousness, Buchwald’s column became a must read. In 1982
> Buchwald was awarded Pulitzer Prize.
>
> I was introduced to Buchwald’s writings in early ‘80s. In 1979, I
> returned to Dhaka from London and felt the absence of good newspaper
> in Bangladesh. We had to depend on BBC World Service radio for
> international news. At that time I began to read International Herald
> Tribune and was deeply attracted to Buchwald’s column. I noticed, he
> was the only columnist who could write by mixing fictitious dialogue
> with facts. Of course, not all his writings were of this type. But,
> often he wrote fictitious dialogue based satirical columns. It is now
> said, after Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) who wrote Gulliver’s Travels,
> Art Buchwald was the topmost political satirist.
>
> In April 1980, I began writing a weekly column, Jaijaidin, in a
> Bengali weekly, Sometimes, I began to follow Buchwald’s technique. In
> 1984, I began editing-publishing weekly Jaijaidin and there I began
> writing a weekly political column, called Diner Par Din. Occasionally,
> I wrote dialogue based columns. They were popular with the readers,
> but disliked by the rulers. Weekly Jaijaidin was banned first in 1985
> and then in 1986. One of the reasons was, in Diner Par Din column, I
> published a fictitious dialogue between the then president HM Ershad
> and his foreign minister. I was sent to exile in London. I realised
> how dangerous it could be to write fictitious political dialogue.
>
> I continued to read Art Buchwald’s columns and came to the conclusion,
> to avoid such dangers, the columnist must have deep knowledge on his
> characters, his power of imagination should be strong and maximum
> precaution must be taken in this kind of writings. In short, this is a
> difficult art to muster.
>
> That is why, although in US and UK there are so many good columnists,
> we do not see someone like Art Buchwald who can write imaginary
> political dialogue.
>
> And on this logic, I would say, tele-talks published in Hillaryleak
> may be true. Had there been a Bangladeshi writer who is capable of
> writing such imaginary tele-dialogue, we would have known long before.
> Had there been an American or a British columnist who is capable of
> writing such imaginary tele-talk, we would have read his columns long
> before.
>
> So, the question is why some people are hesitant to accept Hillaryleak as true?
>
> To answer that, we shall have to consider Hillaryleak’s contents which
> can be broadly divided into seven parts. Now read on.
>
> One: After preliminary exchange of greetings Secretary of State said,
> Madame Prime Minister I have been updated by Ambassador-at-Large
> Stephen Rapp about his visit to Dhaka. Honestly, at the request of New
> Delhi, we sent him there and tried our best to help you better
> organise the trial. After listening from Amb. Rapp and our Ambassador
> Moriarty, I felt obligated to inform you that both I and President
> Obama take the issue of human rights in its proper spirit. It is on
> this context, I called you to inform you that United States does not
> support the trial in its form and content. Bangladesh has to reform
> the whole process in a way so that it doesn’t become a conduit of
> punishing opposition.
>
> Comment: On 13 January 2011, in a press briefing in Dhaka Ambassador
> Rapp said that US attaches importance on a fair and transparent war
> crimes trial and on amending the law regarding International War
> Crimes Tribunal. So, nothing new came out here. The new information is
> Ambassador Rapp was sent to Dhaka at the request of New Delhi.
>
> Two: In reply, Prime Minister said, Madame Secretary, I understand
> your concern and I already asked my Law Minister to take note of what
> Amb. Rapp suggested. This is a trial we undertook with active support
> and assistance of New Delhi. I am sure Indian Ambassador in Washington
> DC will brief you further on that.
>
> Comment: It was generally regarded that the Prime Minister had begun
> the trial with active support and assistance of New Delhi. So, here
> too nothing new has come out. The new information is, the role of
> Indian Ambassador in Washington is significant.
>
> Three: Secretary then said, Prime Minister, United States stands for a
> certain values and policies which may or may not be the likes of New
> Delhi. Of course, we have been attentive to New Delhi’s most of the
> suggestions but this one I thought I should forewarn you.
>
> Prime Minister replied, Madame Secretary we noted your concerns and
> can tell you this much that this was in our manifesto and our people
> would like to see the trial should go on.
>
> Comment: There is no new revelation. Hasina has always been saying,
> people would like to see this trial to go on.
>
> Four: Secretary then said, absolutely, but that has to be done in a
> way so that it is accepted internationally. I am sure, even people who
> voted for your party, may not accept the trial in its form and format
> which is, to our view, flawed and politically motivated. President
> Obama working hard to bring peace to your part of the world, Madame
> Prime Minister. Therefore, United States would not allow any action
> that may only help some legitimate political forces going underground
> to create more problem for you and thereby, for us as well.
>
> Prime Minister replied, I understand. I understand. Don’t worry we
> will fix it. Don’t take it that seriously. We are doing it as we have
> to do and there are some culprits who we need to straighten up.
>
> Comment: Recently, US foreign policy has been changing to some extent.
> You can understand that when you see Secretary of State Hillary
> Clinton is apparently supportive of the Egyptian people who are
> demonstrating against President Mubarak. The US does not want
> punishing religion-based parties on the pretext of weeding out
> terrorists. US now knows, such repressive measures against religion
> based political parties may drive party activists into underground and
> in this jet age, revengeful terrorists may arrive in US and pursue
> terrorism there. So, the US wants politics to remain open where
> religion based parties may participate without fear. But note, Prime
> Minister said, the matter should not be taken seriously. Can the Prime
> Minister say this in public? Of course, she is serious. That is why
> all the top leaders of Jamaat are in jail.
>
> Five: Secretary then said, Ambassador Rapp also informed me about your
> government’s influence on the judiciary and I was told how judiciary
> is giving verdict the way you want. This is not good at the end. You
> have to be watchful.
>
> Prime Minister replied, thank you, thank you. I always value
> suggestion from yourself and President Clinton.
>
> Comment: Everybody knows that the judiciary has been set up. The US
> also knows it. That is why secretary is forewarning that such a
> judiciary may be bad for the country at the end.
>
> Six: Secretary then said, Madame Prime Minister, let me come to the
> core point for which I called you. As you have seen even Washington
> Post picked up your treatment to Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank. I thought
> it is about time to tell you how upset we are in Washington DC. I am
> personally upset because Dr. Yunus has been a family friend to the
> Clintons long before his wining of Nobel Prize. President Clinton is
> equally upset. Hope you are aware how hard he worked to see Dr. Yunus
> gets this award. I know people may have personal issues, but when it
> comes to national icon like Dr. Yunus, I thought Bangladesh shouldn’t
> demonise country’s only Nobel Laureate.
>
> Prime Minister tried to stop her. Madame Secretary, please listen,
> please listen …
>
> But Secretary continued, Madame Prime Minister, please let me finish
> first. I hope you are aware that President Obama is a big fan of
> micro-credit. He is a fan of microfinance since his mother had her
> thesis on this subject. So, I am making this call to let you know how
> upset both of us â€" President Obama and I â€" at your continued effort to
> demonise Dr. Yunus.
>
> Prime Minister replied, Madame Secretary, I hope you are aware that it
> is not us who brought up this issue. Norway is the first to complain
> about Dr. Yunus’ misplaced fund. After all, this is our domestic issue
> and Madame Secretary we will do it as per our own rules and
> regulations.
>
> Comment: It is well known that Dr Yunus has a close relationship with
> Clinton family. Also known to some is that Bill Clinton had put his
> efforts to secure a Nobel Prize for Dr Yunus. What has now been
> revealed by this tele-talk is current President Obama is also a fan of
> Dr Yunus and Obama’s mother had written a thesis on micro-credit
> finance. Note that, Prime Minister blamed Norway’s initiative. But she
> did not say Norway had investigated and cleared Dr Yunus before
> awarding him Nobel Prize. Neither did the Prime Minister say that the
> prime drive of the documentary telecast in a Norwegian television was
> to criticise the concept of micro-credit. Although, Prime Minister did
> not mention these, clearly Secretary was aware of the real position.
>
> Seven: After this, Secretary said, Madame Prime Minister, I thought I
> would not have to go that far. But, unfortunately, I was wrong. I hope
> you know as much we know, how your government came to power. Don’t
> forget that we helped you by congratulating you after the election
> terming it as a free and fair. You know Prime Minister, how this
> election result was pre-arranged at the behest of our good friends in
> New Delhi. We acted the way they suggested us. And please don’t forget
> that Gen. Moeen, who brought you to power, now in the USA and perhaps,
> we now know, more than you could possibly imagine. Prime Minister, I
> am not saying that we will disown you so soon. I am just trying to
> place issues in the order of history demands it.
>
> At this point, Prime Minister tried to change the subject and said,
> Madame Secretary we are aware of your support and assistance. We will
> do all we can to keep you happy. Don’t worry. We noted your point. Now
> let me know when you are coming to visit my country.
>
> Secretary replied, Thanks for the invitations, Madame Prime Minister.
> I thank you for your time.
>
> Prime Minister said, Madame Secretary, please bring President Clinton
> and your daughter and son in law.
>
> Hilary hangs up on the other side …
>
> Comment: It was generally understood that Awami League had won the
> last election (December 2008) with the help of General Moeen and
> India. But, it was unknown how much support was given by US to Awami
> League.
>
> The two most significant information to emerge from Hillaryleak are:
> a. the results of the elections were pre-arranged, and
> b. US had supported this.
>
> So, this then was the main points of Hillaryleak. Those who are saying
> that this is not reliable are arguing that the full identity of the
> source is not known and the language of the Secretary is not
> befitting.
>
> First, consider the source. It was published in Facebook on 16 January
> 2011 at 10:28 am by Hidden Truth. Obviously, people behind Hidden
> Truth did not wish to take risks like that of Julian Assange and
> refrained from publishing their real identity.
>
> Note the date and time of the publication.
>
> Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad in a press statement
> said, Secretary had telephoned Prime Minister on Saturday 15 January
> 2011 at 9:30 am (BST). It was then 8:30 pm in Washington DC on Friday
> 14 January 2011, After this tele-talk, the transcript was published in
> US on Sunday 16 January at 10:28 am Washington DC time. In other
> words, in US, people concerned, had 36 hours to take action on Mr
> Azad’s statement. Clearly, concerned people in US were deeply annoyed
> because something quite opposite regarding the tele-talk had been
> stated by Mr Azad. He claimed Secretary of State had praised the Prime
> Minister and had promised to act jointly on different issues.
>
> Perhaps that is why, someone in US, who was informed and concerned,
> disclosed the text of tele-talk in the Facebook.
>
> Regarding the Secretary’s language, anybody who had been listening to
> her regularly, will know, terms such as, absolutely, honestly,
> conduit, demonise, let me come to the core point, are typically hers.
> She also called Clinton as President Clinton. Because, once elected
> President of US, he is always called President. The Secretary knows
> this. She also knows that President Obama’s mother had written a
> thesis on micro-credit financing. Not many people (American or
> Bangladeshi) would have known this.
>
> And, Prime Minister’s language is also typically hers. Note that how
> she repeats, I understand I understand, thank you thank you, please
> listen please listen.
>
> Actually, Bangladeshis already know about the close relationship of
> Awami League with India and that India has been assisting the
> government on many issues.
>
> Hillaryleak has merely confirmed what was widely known. So, why
> hesitate to accept it as true? Why be reluctant to accept that the
> 2008 election results were pre-arranged?
>
> We should understand that, that is why Sheikh Hasina after returning
> from US in November 2008, decided to contest in the December election,
> but did hardly do any election campaign. Whilst her rival, BNP
> Chairperson criss-crossed some 10,000 km in two weeks, Sheikh Hasina
> stayed back in Dhaka conducting video conferencing. Sheikh Hasina knew
> strenuous campaign was unnecessary, a pre-arranged win was waiting.
>
> People will judge whether Hillaryleak is true. It is curious that so
> far US has not given any rejoinder on this.
>
> However, if Hillaryleak is true, then we must conclude that, December
> 2008 election did not bring back democracy â€" conspiracy was
> established.
>
> But where does that leave the Election Commission?
>
> Before answering that, let me go back to Art Buchwald. Due to kidney
> failure Buchwald died on 17 January 2007 at age 81.
>
> He wrote his own video obituary which was published the next day by
> The New York Times. It showed Buchwald smiling and saying, “Hi, I’m
> Art Buchwald. I just died”.
>
> Perhaps, after the publication of Hillaryleak, the Election Commission
> may say, “Hi, we’re Election Commission. We just died”.
>
> But, does the Election Commission have the honesty and sense of humour
> like Art Buchwald?
> â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-
> Shafik Rehman is a writer, editor, TV programme presenter, chartered accountant
>
> http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2011/02/02/from-wikileaks-to-hillaryleak/
>


------------------------------------

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