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Thursday, February 10, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Dead Felani a bigger threat to Govt than to India's BSF

Dead Felani a bigger threat to Govt than to India's BSF

Felani on her death has become a bigger threat to the government and
its party apparatus than to the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) who
gunned down her in the barbed wire fenced border early last month.
The perceived threats have come to the public following the
imposition of Section 144 at Felani's home village Nageswari and
around the locality as some human rights groups from the capital
sought to visit her home and hold a public meeting to mourn her death.

Bir Bikram stopped
The group led by Sector Commander of Liberation War and retired
Wing Commander of Bangladesh Air Force, Hamidullah Khan, Bir Bikram,
was taken under security watch on their arrival at Kurigram town and
stopped them from moving out of their hotel by police and other
security personnel.
Local administration at the same time imposed ban on holding
meeting in the locality justifying that as some local Awami Lague (AL)
activists have also called for a meeting at the same venue at the same
time, the ban is necessary to avoid any clash.
The group later tried to visit the local Press Club but police held
them back from going there while AL youth front activists staged
procession in the street bringing pressure on them to leave the town.
A section of the press branded the group as an offshoot of BNP
which is out to agitate the people on the issue. However, home
minister Sahara Khatun had earlier visited the home of the murdered
Felani, offered condolences to her father and a token compensation of
Taka three lakh to help him overcome the grief.

Felani issue banned
But when some other groups sought to visit her home the government
appeared to have taken a critical view about it and critics here
wonder why the authorities are putting all such ban on speaking about
the issue even in her own local community.
The Indian BSF personnel have committed the horrendous act which is
not only a homicide but also a crime against humanity. Not only the
people of Bangladesh are mourning the death, national and
international media are also taking the issue as a cold-blooded murder
demanding legal action on the killing.
This is more so because Indian BSF soldiers are routinely killing
Bangladesh nationals in the border --- one in four days on an average
--- which is only visible on Israel-Palestine border and yet they are
going with all sort of impunity.
Critics wonder why the government is critical of taking the Felani
issue to the public, why is it giving the impression that they are
also sharing the guilt that BSF have perpetrated by way of killing
Felani in the barbed wire border fence.
They say it speaks of the way the government is out to gag the
voice of the opposition, and more so the ruling AL does not want to
expose the Indian brutalities on Bangladeshi nationals as it has the
close ally across the border.
This is a clear signal of despotic rule in the country. And the
gagging of the voice is gradually spreading over the ruling party MPs
as well.

Half a dozen MPs
Last week, the Prime Minister blocked the way of half a dozen MPs
from speaking in the House on an issue centering the communication
minister.
Following it, Moinuddin Khan Badal of JSD which is a partner of the
grand coalition government said he saw clouds gathering in the horizon
of the House. He said he would not speak on the issue what the Prime
Minister has brought to a preemptive end.
He said the Prime Minister spoke critically of the press for
breaking news with a cartoon relating to a letter written by the
communication minister to the Prime Minister, but mysteriously signed
by the secretary of the ministry.
The Prime Minister sought to protect the minister, but why she had
done it is a big question denying the right of about half a dozen MPs
from the ruling elite to speak.
Badal said, if the press is allowed to speak they can simply bark,
but if you deny them to write and treat them as enemy they would bite.
The government should decide which one is better, he argued.
In an oblique reference to the Communication Minister he said if
one can not stand straight and speak, the House can hardly move with
such 'slaves.'
Referring to the letter signed by the secretary of the ministry to
the Prime Minister, he said it violates the MPs privileges, and if
such things get shelter, the House would lose its significance.
Democracy is thus heading towards an autocratic rule in the
country. In a case relating to airport project at Arial Beel in
Srinagar where the AL government had sought to build and was later
forced to abandon it following public uprising in the area, the
government has filed at least three cases involving over 22,000 people
as accused.
The accused include not only BNP Chairperson and Opposition leader
Khaleda Zia but also Professor Emeritus Sirajul Islam Choudhury of
Dhaka University and such other high profile intellectuals and
professionals. People wonder why the government is not acting
rationally.

http://www.weeklyholiday.net/front.html#03


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[ALOCHONA] Fatal steps in India's no man's land

Fatal steps in India's no man's land

By Syed Tashfin Chowdhury

DHAKA - Felani Khatun, a 15-year-old Bangladeshi girl living in India,
wanted to reach her village of Banarvita in the Kurigram district of
Bangladesh to get married to a Bangladeshi man with whom her wedding
had been arranged. The only hurdle for her was the international
border at Anantapur, India, that separated her from Bangladesh on the
other side.

Felani's father, Nurul Islam, had been living illegally in Assam,
India, for the past 10 years. While working as a rickshaw-puller in
the area, he had married and had three children besides Felani. In a
bid to get Felani to his village prior to her wedding, Islam had
sought the help of two cattle smugglers, Buzrat and Mosharraf Hossain,
in exchange of 3,000 Indian rupees (US$66).

Guided by the smugglers, Islam was able to cross the barbed-wired
border fence on a wooden ladder at around 6am on January 7. Felani was
not so lucky. As soon as she had reached the top of the ladder and was
about to jump over to the other side, part of her clothing became
entangled on the fence. Scared, she started to scream in fear at what
could happen next. That was probably one of her last few thoughts.

Before Islam could quieten his daughter, patrolling Indian Border
Security Force (BSF) personnel heard her cries, spotted her on top of
the fence and shot her at around 6:15am. Although Islam managed to
escape, eye witnesses claimed Felani cried for water for the next 30
minutes before taking her last breath.

Around five hours later, BSF personnel took her body down from the
fence. They then tied her hands and arms to a pole, much like an
animal, and carried her off, eye witnesses said. Felani's body was
handed over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel the next day.
The ornaments Felani had worn for her wedding while crossing the
border were missing from her body, according to a fact-finding report
by Odhikar, a non-government organization promoting human rights in
Bangladesh.

The incident, which took place on January 7 this year, has enraged
Bangladeshis at home and abroad, and has also highlighted the nature
of human-rights violations carrying on unabated at the
Bangladesh-India border at the hands of BSF personnel. A recent Human
Rights Watch report on human-rights violations around the borders is
also leading people to question Bangladesh's weak foreign policy, as
the government has has done little to press Indian authorities on the
BSF's behavior.

Almost a week after the border killing, during a two-day meeting in
Dhaka between Indian and Bangladesh officials at the home secretary
level, the Indian government expressed regret at Felani's death. On
January 19, the Indian delegation at the 10th meeting of a joint
working group formed to mitigate conflicts at the border was led by
Shambhu Singh, a government official, while the 11-member Bangladesh
team was led by Joint Secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed.

Bangladesh urged Indian authorities to take effective measures to halt
casualties from shootings by the BSF, as was reported by various media
the next day. Bangladesh had earlier proposed the use of non-lethal
weapons by Indian border guards against unarmed civilians, but Indian
authorities made no official response to the proposal.

At the next day's meeting of the two delegations, India said it had
initiated a "court of inquiry" into Felani's killing. "We have already
instituted a court of inquiry to investigate the death of a
Bangladeshi minor girl ... The guilty will be punished," Indian Home
Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai said at a joint news briefing after the
two-day meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka.

However, Pillai waived away the claims of human-rights organizations
that around 930 Bangladeshis have been killed by the BSF at the
India-Bangladesh border since 2000. Four Bangladeshis were killed in
January 2011, according to Odhikar. (By comparison, the number of
people killed seeking to cross the Berlin Wall in its 28-year history
was variously put at from below 100 to above 200.)

"The number of such deaths on the border fell to 31 in 2010, while 61
BSF members were injured during that time," Pillai was quoted as
saying by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age in an article published on
January 21. "I still stand committed to zero deaths of unarmed
civilians on the border."

Gawhar Rizvi, a foreign affairs adviser to Bangladeshi Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina, disclosed during a seminar at the House of Lords in
London on January 24 that the Indian government has "suspended two
border guards in connection with Felani's killing."

Nevertheless, human-rights experts and organizations in Bangladesh
believe the killing of unarmed Bangladeshi civilians at the border
will continue.

"India is at fault here and they should be held responsible for
violating human rights," Mizanur Rahman, chairman of the National
Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh, told Asia Times Online.
According to international standards, even if the civilians are
"unlawful intruders", they still have the right to be "tried and
punished according to their crimes", but India gets away with such
crimes all the time due to the power it exerts, he said.

A Odhikar's monthly report of January 2011, listing human-rights
violations in Bangladesh, said, "According to the Memorandum of
Understanding and related treaties signed between the two countries,
if citizens of the two countries illegally cross the border, it would
be considered trespass and as per law those persons should be handed
over to the civilian authority."

Yet it has been seen time and again that "India has been violating
treaties, shooting at anyone seen near the border or anyone trying to
cross the border, which is a clear violation of international law and
human rights," the report said.

The two countries have signed the Indira-Mujib Agreement of 1974 and
the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines of 1975 to resolve issues and
conflicts at the border.

In its report, Odhikar urged the Bangladesh government to "take
effective steps with the Indian Government to ensure the prevention of
further firing and killings by the BSF".

Despite assurances from the Indian home secretary, the report pointed
out that the BSF reportedly killed four Bangladeshis at the border
last month. Of these, three were allegedly shot and one was tortured
to death. "Furthermore, two were reported abducted by the BSF during
this period," the report said.

The Odhikar website states that around 74 Bangladeshi nationals were
killed by the BSF in 2010.

"This is clearly a failure of Bangladesh's weak foreign policy. The
Bangladesh government has failed miserably at persuading their Indian
counterparts to stop the BSF's atrocities at the border," Adilur
Rahman Khan, Odhikar's secretary and an advocate of the Supreme Court
of Bangladesh, told Asia Times Online.

"The persistent occurrences of these incidents can mean one of two
things. One, the Indian authorities are insincere about their promises
to the Bangladesh counterparts. Two, the BSF is out of control of the
Indian authorities."

The number of killings by the BSF over the past decade meant the
border could easily be considered "the most dangerous border in the
world", said Khan. Even at the Palestine-Israel border, shootings
occur from both sides. The shootings are mostly one-sided at the
India-Bangladesh border," he said, pointing to a Human Rights Watch
(HRW) report published in December 2010 and titled "Trigger Happy:
Excessive Use of Force by Indian Troops at the Bangladesh Border",
that covers the issue.

The HRW report, written in collaboration with Odhikar in Bangladesh
and Indian human-rights group Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM), consists of investigations on both sides of the border.

HRW interviews in the report found that "virtually all serious
allegations of torture and killings were against the BSF". The cases
were reported from victims in the Indian districts of Murshidabad,
Nadia, Coochbehar, and North 24 Parganas. In Bangladesh, cases were
found from the border districts of Jessore, Satkhira, Naogaon,
Chapainababganj, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Thakurgaon, Kurigram, Panchagar,
and Dinajpur.

Victims' accusations against the BSF range from verbal abuse to
harassment, shooting, abductions, arrests, and torture to killings of
adults, women and children.

Full of actual accounts from victims and relatives of those killed and
tortured, the report said that "according to Odhikar, from 2000 till
September 2010, over 930 Bangladeshi nationals were killed in the
border area by the Indian BSF". According to the BSF, 164 Indian
nationals and 347 Bangladeshi nationals have been killed through BSF
shootings since 2006. The detail focuses on the fact that the BSF acts
aggressively toward border residents on the Indian side of the border
as well.

The border areas of Bangladesh and India are heavily populated, with
most Bangladeshi and Indian nationals extremely poor. Large numbers of
farmers in these areas have lost their farms and other means of
livelihood due to river erosion, and are driven towards cattle
rustling.

Around 20,000-25,000 animals enter Bangladesh through West Bengal
daily. Although cross-border cattle trade is illegal in India, the
sale of Indian livestock in Bangladesh are legal and taxable, and
Border Guard Bangladesh personnel often facilitate cattle traders. The
well-organized traders, with links to both BGB and BSF personnel, are
hardly in the line of fire of the guards. Even so, the traders employ
villagers to ferry cattle from the Indian side to the Bangladesh
territory, often at night.

Bangladeshi nationals who venture into India to smuggle cattle into
Bangladesh for payments of between 500 and 1,000 takas ($7 to $15) per
trip, tend to be those spotted by BSF personnel, who open fire without
warning.

Such was the case of Nazrul Islam, a 40-year-old laborer from Baribaka
village, Meherpur district, who entered India on January 21 and later
sought to return over the fence while fellow members of a rustling
gang herded the cattle elsewhere. After hearing shots at around 5am on
January 22, his cousin, Mohammad Ershad, found Nazrul's body caught in
the barbed wire of the border fence a few hours later. Two bullets had
hit Nazrul in the abdomen while he was caught on the fence.

The report pointed out that usually BSF shoots at rustlers who fail to
pay the right bribe.

Smuggling of medicines such as Phensedyl, an addictive cough syrup
that is banned in Bangladesh as it contains the narcotic codeine, and
rice occurs at the border. In the other direction, women from
Bangladesh are trafficked to India to be sold off to brothels there or
in other countries. Some will work illegally as domestic helpers in
India.

Over and above these, millions of Bangladeshis live and work in India
and often Bangladeshi nationals visiting relatives in India fall prey
to BSF bullets when trying to cross back into Bangladesh.

The joint working group dealing with border issues deals with concerns
such as the nearly 100 Phensedyl factories on the Indian side of the
border fence, weapons, explosives, drugs smuggling from India, while
New Delhi is worried about human trafficking into India, the
unauthorized influx of Bangladeshi economic migrants; smuggling of
fake currency, narcotics and cattle.

Bangladesh and India are also concerned about the number of criminals
hiding in both the countries. During a meeting in Dhaka on September
28, 2010, the BGB handed over a list of 63 Bangladeshi criminals
hiding in India, while the BSF handed over a list of 79 Indian
criminals said to be hiding in Bangladesh.

On January 24, 2010, 17-year-old Shyamol Karmokar of Bishroshiya
village in Chapainababganj district, Bangladesh, left his house
without telling anyone that he was going to visit his aunt in Malda,
India. As he couldn't afford a passport, he crossed the border
illegally. While trying to cross back two days later, he was spotted
by the BSF and was shot without warning. Naren Karmokar, Shyamol's
father, found his son's dead body on January 29 with bullet wounds on
his abdomen, chest and neck.

In March 2010, the then Bangladesh border force chief Major General
Mainul Islam, while acknowledging that there was a history of "people
and cattle trafficking during darkness", said of the border killings,
"We should not be worried about such incidents. ... We have discussed
the matter and will ensure that no innocent people will be killed."

The Indian side displays a similar lack of concern. Last September
during an official visit to Bangladesh, the director general of the
BSF, Raman Srivastava, responded to Bandgladesh's complaints that his
force was killing "innocent, unarmed" Bangladeshi civilians by saying:
"We fire at criminals who violate the border norms. The deaths have
occurred in Indian territory and mostly during the night, so how can
they be innocent?"

While the comments portray the Indian and Bangladesh border guards
notion that criminals can be shot if they are engaged in illegal
activities, it does not address the harassment, torture and killings
of Bangladeshi civilians who stray into Indian territory or even
inside the Bangladesh border.

To reduce crimes and to prevent militancy spreading across the border,
India in 1980 started constructing a fence along more than 3,000
kilometers of its border. The barrier, however, is built a few
kilometers inside Indian territory, and Bangladeshi citizens can often
be fatally confused as they stray into India across the often unclear
actual demarcation line.

On January 25, laborer Motiar Rahman of Kadamtala village, in Jessore,
Bangladesh, strayed into Indian territory at around 7:15am as there
were no clear markers. The report mentioned his account: "After about
15 minutes, two BSF soldiers captured me. They blindfolded me and took
me to the BSF camp at Angrail. ... At that time, I thought that the
BSF men were going to kill me. After reaching the camp, they took off
the blindfold and tied me to a tree which was just beside the camp.
They left me there until 11pm ... "

Motiar was given food after this. But as soon as he finished eating,
the BSF began to torture him. "I was beaten severely with a bamboo
stick, on my back and feet by the same soldier who brought me the
food. I was kicked several times and as a result started bleeding from
my penis. At this point, another BSF soldier started beating me on my
head with a bamboo stick. This torture went on for at least 45
minutes. The BSF men jumped onto my chest, and kicked me on my head
and face with their boots. I think I collapsed and became unconscious
... "

Motiar was again tortured the next day before being handed over to the
Bangladesh border guards on January 27.

Dalem Chandra Barman, chairman of peace and conflict studies
department at Dhaka University, told Asia Times Online, "The fence has
divided families across the border thus increasing atrocities."

Indiscriminate killings by the BSF also occur within Bangladesh
territory. On March 13, 2009, following an argument with a boy fishing
in the Dohalkhari lake in Bangladesh, a BSF trooper opened fire. Two
teenagers who were grazing their cattle were hit by the bullets. Abdur
Rakib, 13, was shot in the chest and died instantly; 15-year-old Omar
Faruk was injured. Rakib's body was carried away by BSF personnel in a
van and handed over following an autopsy in India.

On March 14, a meeting was held between the border guards of both
sides, when the BSF "tried to insist that the victims were illegal
cattle traders". After Bangladesh guards presented witness accounts
countering the Indian version of events, the BSF apologized and
promised that the soldier responsible would be punished. However,
there is no information of any action taken.

Several reports of Indian security forces shooting poor, unarmed
villagers along its 4,023-kilometer border with Bangladesh have drawn
international criticism, but the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) - which
rose up in an infamous 2009 mutiny that killed 57 officers - also
faces allegations of "extrajudicial" killings.

However, while the killings by the BGB are well-documented, the same
cannot be said for the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) killings. A
look into the BSF's history explains why and how.

India established the BSF, a 220,000-personnel strong force, on
December 1, 1965, to protect its land border during peace time and to
prevent transnational crimes. Operating under the administrative
control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it is responsible for
preventing smuggling, unauthorized entry and exit from India as well
as "combating the secessionist militant campaign in the state of Jammu
and Kashmir".

As documented in "Trigger-Happy", an 81-page Human Rights Watch (HRW)
report on the border situation, the BSF authorities justify any
killings by terming the person killed a suspected smuggler who was
trying evade arrest. The second most used excuse by the BSF was that
"its personnel had to fire in self-defense".

Upon investigation, it was usually found that either the alleged
criminals were unarmed or armed with sickles, sticks and knives, or
that in shooting these victims border guards had used "excessive
force". Moreover, in most cases, the victims were found "shot in the
back", suggesting they had been fleeing.

In other cases, scratches, bruises and marks of beating were found on
the bodies of the victims. In most cases, victims were caught by the
BSF, tortured and finally killed before handing over the body to BGB
personnel. In some cases, the BSF claimed that Bangladeshi nationals
killed were "militant suspects" - without being specific on the nature
of the militants' goals. These claims remain unproven.

A former BSF official interviewed for the Human Rights Watch report
admitted that about a decade ago orders were handed down to shoot at
suspected smugglers at the Bangladesh border. The official said the
assumption underlying the policy was that it would deter such illegal
activities.

BSF personnel are also not accountable to the local administration,
the police, or to human-rights institutions. The Indian police, in
fact, often refuse to register complaints against the BSF because,
under India's Border Security Force Act, BSF personnel cannot be
prosecuted in civilian courts without approval from the federal home
ministry - permission that is seldom granted.

This legally sanctioned impunity is even included in a new bill to
prohibit torture under consideration in the Indian parliament. The
bill, as presently drafted, will require approval from the central or
a state government for a court to have jurisdiction over an offense
committed by a public servant.

Also the HRW report stated, "[A]uthorities say that BSF personnel are
prosecuted by internal courts, where the hearings and verdicts are not
public. Although the BSF claims that these courts are routinely used
to prosecute those that commit crimes or violate the Border Security
Force Act, there are no publicly known cases in which a BSF member was
convicted of a crime for a human-rights abuse at the India-Bangladesh
border."

Time and again, the Indian government claimed that the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) acts as the watchdog for such incidents.
However, even the commission cannot independently investigate
allegations against federal forces, including the BSF.

Besides mentioning the BSF atrocities, the HRW report carries accounts
of human-rights violations by the BGB (or by the BDR as the force was
before March 2010). Most damningly, it said the BDR, "often fails to
defend the rights of Bangladeshi citizens".

The HRW report does mention the 27-year-old villager Rashidul Islam of
Lalmonirhaat, who was picked up by the BGB and beaten to death at a
river bank. His body was thrown into the river. Rashidul's father
later assumed that this was due to an altercation between Rashidul and
BGB personnel regarding the amount of bribes while smuggling cattle
into Bangladesh. Rashidul was a Bangladeshi national, who was killed
within the Bangladesh territory.

As BGB personnel get a cut from smugglers, they are not usually
inclined to shoot at Indian smugglers or cattle rustlers. It is
estimated that goods worth around 3.5 billion Indian rupees (US$77.5
million) are smuggled into India each year. That BGB may get at least
10% from this as their cut goes some way to explaining that there have
been no reported incidents of BGB shooting Indian nationals in 2009
and 2010.

After the HRW report was released, the Director General of Border
Guard Bangladesh, Major General Rafiqul Islam, was quoted as saying by
Bangladeshi newspaper New Age: "Our [Bangladesh's] weak point is that
the killings take place on Indian territory. We find the killing of
innocent people unacceptable and we have repeatedly brought up this
issue with the Indian authorities, as have our home minister, foreign
minister as well as the prime minister. The number of killings has
started to come down over the last few months."

Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of the Bangladeshi rights organization
Odhikar and an advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, rejects
this view. "Nothing of the sort has happened. That India is aggressive
towards Bangladesh is portrayed through the construction of the border
fence by India and the persistent killings and torture of Bangladeshi
nationals at the hands of BSF despite repeated requests from
Bangladesh government," he said.

National Human Rights Commission chairman Mizanur said, "We have
raised the gross human-rights violations issue with Justice K G
Balakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Human Rights Commission, during
his recent trip to Dhaka. He has assured [he will] extend utmost
pressure on the Indian government to stop the disproportionate force
used upon unarmed citizens. However, the steps were probably not
enough to curb the killings significantly."

Dhaka University's Barman said, "Discussions between the two sides and
'border haat' [a bilateral agreement to allowing makeshift bazaars at
the common border] can encourage differences to fade away."

"Why would India take Bangladesh seriously when the latter is
subservient to the former? Moreover, how can negotiations work between
a killer and his victim? Who will mediate such a negotiation?" asked
Khan while adding that India has little intention of doing otherwise
in the future.

He pointed out that the "muscle-flexing" tendency of India has
continued ever since its involvement in the liberation war of
Bangladesh in 1971. The disputes between the two nations have
continued near the border since then, over a number of areas such as
Boraibari, Daikhata-Dumabari, Chitmahal, Padua, Khagrachhari,
Lathitila, Muhurichar and others.

"So Bangladeshi nationals were being shot in these areas by the BSF
much before 2000. The number of unreported deaths of Bangladeshi
nationals is much more than just 930 from 2000; this number is three
or four times more if listed from 1971," he said.

"In order to press home the notion that Bangladesh should be taken
seriously, the Bangladeshi government should strengthen its foreign
policy and its defense forces by increasing its reserve forces," said
Khan.

Syed Tashfin Chowdhury is a senior staff writer at New Age in Dhaka.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/MB10Df02.html


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



Dear Mr. Ejaz

I think we are drifting away from the original point but I agree more than 100% with your argument. I don't mind if someone is mocking the religiosity of others (Hasina, Khalida and you name it). But that too has a limit. Doing so, be careful that you are not mocking the religion itself. Hey! I myself follow a religion but cannot claim I am following it perfectly.

The guy who started this argument, apparently, stepped out of his limits. I still want to give him the benefit of doubt, as he may have done it very inadvertently. All I want to emphasize and re-emphasize, don't be taken away out of the blind hatred (or blind love) of someone. Not everything in this world is moving in a way you would like to be. (That does not mean at all that you should not criticize and point-out the wrongs, you have every right of it).   

With one last thing, I would like to close this argument. One should admit his faults. There is a saying in English language, "nobody but a fool is always right".

With lot of love. I am writing this posting at 3 a.m. as I don't have much time to write during the day.

Regards

 

Shafiq Ahmad


--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "ezajur" <Ezajur@...> wrote:
>
>
> Dear Shafiq
>
> Thank you for a well reasoned reply.
>
> "A general avoidance of religious arguments cannot necessarily
> prevent one from touching upon the religion of those who have brought
> such disaster upon us."
>
> What I am trying to say – and of course I could have phrased it
> better – is that, bluntly:
>
> Just because I avoid religious argument due to the respect of 1) every
> religion 2) people's sensitivity and even 3) the nature of religion
> itself, does not mean that I cannot mock a person's approach to his
> religion when that person is heaping misery on so many people.
>
> This is entirely about mocking the person and not at all about mocking
> the religion.
>
> If someone has brought disaster upon us I am not saying we should mock
> his religion. Of course I am not saying that. I am claiming the same
> religion as my own! But I am saying I can mock such a person's
> approach to religion and use of religion. The religion itself is just
> fine.
>
> To remove any confusion I quote you: "If someone is a hypocrite, is
> visiting Mecca and all, before and after elections, he is to be blamed
> and not his/her religion." It is perfectly said.
>
> But that does no mean that I am bound by ethics to refrain from mocking
> his pilgrimage as he presides over murder, extortion, rape and mayhem.
> Rather, ethics requires us to highlight his religious hypocrisy.
>
> I agree with you about Jamaat.
>
> You are right, Zia puja and Tungipara tawafs are certainly not caused by
> any religion but by people. I never suggested anything different. But I
> must mock the puja of Zia and the tawafs of Tungipara!
>
> I am sensitive about your relationship with your religion and indeed,
> every person I have ever met. But it is my religious duty to mock the
> religiosity of Khaleda, Hasina and their blind party supporters.
>
> Islam is big enough, great enough and strong enough to not only tolerate
> the use of religious terms in this context but also to drive the
> rebellion against the hypocritical religiosity of the Bangladeshi
> politician.
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Ezajur rahman
>
> Kuwait
>
> --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, shafiq013@ wrote:
> >
> >
> > Dear Mr. Ejaz
> >
> > You killed all the argument by your first sentence. "A general
> > avoidance of religious arguments cannot necessarily prevent one from
> > touching upon the religion of those who have brought such disaster
> upon
> > us." How logical.
> >
> > Ethics says one should respect all religions. If anyone has brought
> any
> > disaster upon you, why to touch his religion. Above all his/her
> religion
> > has not taught to bring disaster upon you. If someone is hypocrite, is
> > visiting Mecca and all, before and after elections, he is to be blamed
> > and not his/her religion.
> >
> > I agree with you that "People are very sensitive about
> > religion:… but not the blind party activist". But I will add
> > here that it is not only the "blind party activist" but the
> > blind opponents also. The guy, desperately, to mock someone, knowingly
> > or unknowingly, has dragged in the religion. Had he not been that
> > desperate, would have not done so.
> >
> > I totally disagree that there are no religious people leading AL or
> BNP.
> > Only Allah knows the level of faith of a person. I and you are not to
> > judge this. Also religion cannot be monopolized by political parties
> > like Jamaat.
> >
> > Again my friend, Zia puja and the tawafs at Tungipara has nothing to
> do
> > with the religion of Islam or for that matter any other religion I
> know.
> > If somebody is doing it, he is to be blamed and not his religion.
> >
> > I am extremely sorry if I offended you but was curious to know why you
> > are explaining. The argument was started by some other gentleman.
> >
> > Shafiq Ahmad
> >
> > --- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "ezajur" Ezajur@ wrote:
> > >
> > > 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 not 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] The partition of Sudan.

Arab League, OIC and Moslim Countries have nothing to say just like they had nothing to say on 30 year long Ethnic Cleansing of Black African Moslims and Non Moslims in Southern Sudan by Arab Sudanese, who killed about 2 million of them.
Islam does not permit Racial Discrimination no Moslim Countries ever cared about that Ethnic Cleansing of real Blacks in Sudan. JehaaDis are blaming Israel and USA for partition of Sudan, when Referendum was actually proposed by China that has been drilling Oil in Southern Sudan for more than a decade and had her Embassy Building construction started before the Referendum started in that region that does not even have Roads.
Turkish Investors are 2nd to China now in Southern Sudan, not USA or any European Country.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Akbar H <akbar_50@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Unity is an obligation and a necessity," Sheikh Yousef
> Qardawi, a leading Sunni cleric based in Qatar,
> declared during a Friday sermon aired on Qatar
> television at the end of December. "Greater Sudan
> must remain Greater Sudan. It is prohibited for a Muslim to vote for secession
> and a disgrace for a non-Muslim to do so." But during the prolonged and
> devastating civil war in Sudan
> did the so called Muslim umma tried to solve this issue? The clear answer is
> no. In reality Muslims does not have any common ground on this issue nor did
> they ever realize the consequences of such a murderous and debilitating civil
> war.
>
>
> Arab League observers monitoring last week's voting said the
> polling process was transparent and in line with international standards. But
> Amr Mousa, the group's secretary-general, expressed concern over whether South
> Sudan would remain loyal to its Arab neighbours. He said he hoped
> the Sudanese people would maintain the historically good relations between the
> north and the south, apparently disregarding the estimated 1.5 million victims
> of the civil war.
>
>
> "Muslims have a problem delivering territory under Islamic
> sovereignty to a population of non-Muslims," Yitzhak Reiter, an expert on Islam
> from the Hebrew University
> and the Ashkelon Academic
> College, told The Media Line. "Sudan
> is almost the only place in the world where the word Jihad preserves its
> original meaning in the sense of forcefully converting non-Muslim tribes to
> Islam. The north has attempted in the past to implement sharia in the south."
>
>
> Nevertheless, South Sudan is likely to become the
> world's 193rd country, after preliminary polling results released on Monday
> indicated that over 95 percent of voters opted to secede from the Islamic north
> in a regional referendum. The final vote tally is expected to be announced on
> February 14, with actual secession ensuing on July 9. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
> dubbed the partition of Sudan
> an American and Zionist conspiracy. A hollow cry of an useless extremist organization.
>
>
> Akbar Hussain
>


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[ALOCHONA] FW: On Egypt Upheaval: An interesting report by one who was there to observe 2005 election



        I like this report because it mentions Hanan Ashrawi, one of my favorite Arab intellectuals.  Since I remember following 2005 election in Egypt closely, I concur with some of the analyses. The Muslim Brotherhood may not be the dreaded monster in a new and changed world.
        
                                                    Highlights are mine.
 
                              ~farida
 


Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 21:36:42 +0530
Subject: [india-unity] On Egypt Upheaval: A Report

 
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110208/jsp/opinion/story_13547899.jsp

THE OLD ORDER CHANGETH
 
An eyewitness to the 2005 presidential polls in Egypt, Aditi Bhaduri reacts to the churning that the country is going through at the moment

It was exactly a decade ago that Hanan Ashrawi, sitting in her office in Beit Hanina in the outskirts of Jerusalem, told me: "If the Arab world does not change by its own will, it will be changed. If there is no peaceful transition to democracy it will take place violently and I believe that there is a public opinion in the Arab world that is simmering... there is a demand for serious reform and serious democratization... it will not happen by default or by itself, there has to be an active movement. The Arab world has to be part of the contemporary world; it cannot keep falling short, falling behind. There is no room in history for all those who fall by the wayside."

Ashrawi had then just assumed the role of spokesperson of the Arab League, something unique in a region where women do not enjoy great political or economic participation, and was expounding the failure of the Arab League in solving the Palestinian issue. Not surprisingly, she resigned soon after. Her words, however, seem to be coming true a decade later in the events that have unfolded first in Tunisia, and now, in Egypt. The Arab world is not a homogeneous one. North Africa or the Maghreb is as distinct from the countries of the Levant as the latter are from the oil producing Gulf states. But it is fitting that this churning in the Arab world began in Tunisia — a modern, secular state, with an educated middle class which has distinguished itself from the other countries in the region, taking advantage of its colonial past. And it is not surprising that this unrest has spilt over into Egypt.

 

Egypt is the unofficial capital of the Arab world. There is an Arab saying: Cairo writes, Beirut prints and Baghdad reads. Egyptians dominate the Arab intellectual scene. The country is home to the hallowed Al-Azhar University, where Muslims from all over the globe study to perfect their knowledge of the juridical aspects of Islam, but whose alumni also include the late Houari Boumedienne, former president of Algeria and leader of the 1954 anti-colonial revolution against the French, and the late Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder of Hamas. All Arab Nobel laureates, except for Yasser Arafat, are Egyptians. The Egyptian film and music industry sets the cultural trends in the region. Democratic leanings have made themselves felt here from time to time.

 

I was in Cairo in 2005 when Egyptians went to the polls to elect their president. The Opposition was brutally crushed, with candidates challenging President Hosni Mubarak's rule being thrown into prison. But Egyptians did not take it lightly. The Kefaya movement — kefaya means enough — was launched, challenging Mubarak's 25-year-old rule, which he had kept in place with the emergency law since 1981. Its activists were an odd mix of Islamists, Christians, leftists, students, Arab nationalists, intellectuals, with a great number of women in its fold. Their main demands were: transparency in the funding of political parties, multi-candidate presidential elections, and placing a term limit on the presidency. On May 25, 2005, a referendum was held to amend the 76th constitutional clause whereby more than one candidate could stand for the presidential polls. The change was felt to be merely cosmetic — the conditions for contesting the elections virtually negates the possibility of any independent candidate from contesting, while making it impossible for any candidate to win except for Mubarak himself, who was then standing for the fifth term. The Kefaya and the Opposition parties gave a nationwide call to boycott the referendum and held demonstrations in central Cairo. Less than 30 per cent of the electorate voted, though the State-controlled media announced that there was a 75 per cent turnout. I watched how demonstrators suffered police brutalities, the women among them sexually assaulted. Since then, women turned up every Wednesday, dressed in black, calling for the resignation of the minister of interior, on whose orders they had been assaulted.

 

To show up the sham, the main opposition parties then — the Al Ghad and Tagammu — and two independent candidates — the activist, Saad Eddin Ibrahim and the feminist and novelist, Nawal El Saadawi — announced their intention of standing for the presidential polls (this, too, was a first in the Arab world). But repression followed soon after. The candidate for the Al Ghad party, Ayman Nour, was arrested on charges of forging signatures, while others were barred from campaigning, holding meetings, travelling, or appearing on the State-controlled media. Most of the major opposition parties decided to boycott the polls and Mubarak went on to become president for the fifth time.

 

But Egyptians had not taken it lying down. Neither was there much sympathy for the Muslim Brotherhood, who later went on to occupy one-fifth of the Opposition seats in parliament. An impetus for the anti-government movement had then actually been the second Palestinian intifada. Egyptians watched how disillusioned Palestinians rose up against the Israeli occupation, as also against their own corrupt Palestinian Authority. A year later, Egyptians were demonstrating against the Iraq war, and part of their ire was directed against their own government for its inability, or rather unwillingness, to do anything about it. Anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments were perceived to be safer alternatives to exhibiting displeasure with the Egyptian government, which was one of the two Arab countries to maintain diplomatic ties with Israel, and was being paid for it by the United States of America. Yet, the aid never percolated down to the masses, while unemployment and poverty levels increased. Like most autocratic Arab governments, Egypt found it convenient to deflect the people's angst from itself towards Israel and the US, the countries the Arabs love to hate but long to visit. But Egyptians are also aware of the role that Egypt has played since 2005 in turning Gaza into the prison that it is.

 

What transpired in 2005 was unprecedented for the Arab street. Six years later, it is only to be expected that an uprising would be of a greater magnitude. Mubarak is now in the 31st year of his rule, the emergency law is still in place, the parliamentary elections held two months ago were totally rigged. Commentators around the world are sceptical that any political vacuum now maybe filled in by the Muslim Brotherhood. This may be true, but it may also be that the popularity enjoyed by the Brotherhood is being exaggerated. After all, in the Palestinian territories it was the Palestinians who were most uneasy with the idea of Hamas coming to power. If the Brotherhood does come to power, it will not have the support of any of the Arab states, just as Hamas did not. Even Salafist Saudis are against the idea of a religious radical group seizing power in any Arab country. And the churning in Egypt may not even stimulate a similar churning in any other Arab state for now.

 

However, the old order changeth, and it is doubtful that any amount of platitudes by Mubarak will redeem him, even temporarily, in the eyes of those he has treated as his subjects. The first day of demonstrations resulted in four dead, 500 arrested, and angry protests flaring up in every corner of the country. It has got worse now. The overthrow of the Mubarak regime will not signal the immediate democratization of Egypt's polity. The path ahead is a painful one, but the best start would be to have Mubarak gracefully yield the reins of government to Mohamed ElBaradei, who can then head an interim government till truly free and fair presidential elections, scheduled for September 2011, are held.


--
Peace Is Doable



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Re: [ALOCHONA] Bangladesh girl bled to death after lashing



If sincere and honest intention is there nothing can stand as obstacle to the dispensation of Justice. The honourable High court has shown it's respect to the cause of justice by acting spontaneously to dig into the wrongfully covering of  the gruesome murder of Hena the innocent poor girl.

 

The people are expecting that the murderers and the instigators( the illegal Fatwa baz) and the main accused be given harshest punishment which should act as future deterrent .

 

Our deep respect for the Honourable learned Judges of High Court.

 

Faruque Alamgir

 

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 1:44 PM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
 

Bangladesh girl bled to death after lashing say doctors

Hena Begum Hena Begum took six days to die

A Bangladeshi girl who was publicly whipped for an alleged affair with a married man bled to death, according to a fresh post-mortem examination.Doctors in Dhaka found multiple injuries on the body of Hena Begum, the deputy attorney general told the BBC.

The High Court ordered her body to be exhumed and taken to the capital after a local autopsy recorded no injuries.Miss Begum died in hospital six days after last month's beating, which has caused shock in Bangladesh and abroad. Police have opened a murder investigation.

The doctors who carried out the initial investigation have been summoned to explain their findings in the High Court on Thursday.The second post-mortem examination was carried out by a team of doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital."Multiple injuries were found. The girl died because of bleeding," deputy attorney general Altaf Hossain told the BBC Bengali service.

Cousin arrested

Hena Begum, also called Hena Akter, was buried on 31 January. She was 14. A week earlier, she had received about 80 lashes in her village of Chamta in Shariatpur district, about 90km (56 miles) from Dhaka.

A village court consisting of elders and clerics had accused her of having an affair with a fellow villager and cousin, Mahbub Khan. Her family say she was innocent of the accusations.Mr Khan was also found guilty - of rape - by the village council and sentenced to be lashed, but he managed to escape during his punishment.

Police have named him as the main accused in the case. They said on Wednesday he had been arrested near Dhaka. Correspondents say he could face rape or even murder charges if the courts find that his actions ultimately led to his cousin's death.

Four others including a Muslim cleric have also been arrested in connection with the death.The High Court stepped in following local media reports that there had been a deliberate attempt to cover up the case in Shariatpur.

This is the second reported case of a fatality linked to a Sharia law punishment since the practice was outlawed last year by the High Court. In December a woman of 40 died in Rajshahi district after being publicly caned for an alleged affair with her stepson.




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Re: [ALOCHONA] Prothom Alo Editor under watch



Friends


The people takes this news as another tricky play of the RAW agent Moti n the seat power to show that are at odds

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 2:12 PM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:



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[ALOCHONA] Re: Felani murder has no impact on relations with India: Dipu Moni

Dear Onirul

The reference given is incorrect - it should be 8th February 2011.

Regards

Ezajur

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Onirul Pathan <onirul008@...> wrote:
>
> would you send the reference of the news please?
>

>
> ________________________________
> From: ezajur <Ezajur@...>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tue, February 8, 2011 4:57:48 PM
> Subject: [ALOCHONA] Felani murder has no impact on relations with India: Dipu
> Moni
>
>  
> Felani murder isolated incident, FM tells JS
> Daily Star 8/2/11
> Staff Correspondent
>
> The Foreign minister on Monday termed the death of Felani, who was brutally
> killed by Indian Boarder Security Force, as an isolated incident.
>
> `The incident of Felani killing was a stray incident which did not put any
> impact on the friendly relations between the two neighboring countries,' said
> the state minister for forest and environment ministry Hasan Mahmud, while
> speaking on behalf of Foreign minister Dipu Moni.
>
> The state minister was replying to a question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul
> Haque.
>
> He also said that although the killing of Felani was an isolated incident, it
> was heartrending and flag meetings were held between the border security forces
> of the two countries to discuss the issue.
>
> `We held joint meeting with the Indian authorities and they assured that such
> incident would not take place in future,' said Hasan Mahmud.
>
> Replying to another question from ruling party lawmaker Rafiqul Islam, the
> Foreign minister said that the government had taken a move for ensuring better
> treatment of Bangladeshi people at the foreign embassies in Dhaka while applying
> for visa.
>
> The AL lawmaker drew attention of the minister to the situation in front of the
> embassies where there was no waiting room for the visa applicants and they had
> to wait on the road even amidst adverse weather.
>
> On behalf of the foreign minister, Hasan Mahmud said that the government already
> held meetings with the authorities of Indian High Commission and the situation
> has improved there.
>
> He said that the ministry also held discussion with the US embassy and some
> other embassies in this regard.
>


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Re: [ALOCHONA] Women-friendly police



Serving the people as per tradition of the only People's government(Democratic???) that has been installed by Hindu Staaan n UK/US allies as reported by Hillaryleaks.

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
 

Women-friendly police
 
 
 
 




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Re: [ALOCHONA] Felani murder has no impact on relations with India: Dipu Moni



The whole nation is placed as reference of subjugative attitude of the seat power.No action( treaties/MOU/Credit etc etc) of the power with our eternal friendly neighbour HINDU  STAAAN(????) has been taken to benefit Bangladesh.Most of the treaties signed in Delhi by the PM is hidden under mysterious secrecy denying the nation the right to know what and why ?????????????????????


Blockade to visit Felani's family by the power and it's thugs is another proof of the policy to shield the big boss from the people who intends to show their( Bangladeshis) hatred to such bestial killers who are termed as friend. 
It's a shame for the people of Bangladesh that freed the nation from the Janwar Pakistanis not to go under tutelage of another. 
It is unfortunate that we are led by spineless submissive leaders  who cannot rise to the occassion when the nation needs them badly ??????????

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 9:47 AM, Onirul Pathan <onirul008@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

would you send the reference of the news please?


From: ezajur <Ezajur@yahoo.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, February 8, 2011 4:57:48 PM
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Felani murder has no impact on relations with India: Dipu Moni

 

Felani murder isolated incident, FM tells JS
Daily Star 8/2/11
Staff Correspondent

The Foreign minister on Monday termed the death of Felani, who was brutally killed by Indian Boarder Security Force, as an isolated incident.

`The incident of Felani killing was a stray incident which did not put any impact on the friendly relations between the two neighboring countries,' said the state minister for forest and environment ministry Hasan Mahmud, while speaking on behalf of Foreign minister Dipu Moni.

The state minister was replying to a question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque.

He also said that although the killing of Felani was an isolated incident, it was heartrending and flag meetings were held between the border security forces of the two countries to discuss the issue.

`We held joint meeting with the Indian authorities and they assured that such incident would not take place in future,' said Hasan Mahmud.

Replying to another question from ruling party lawmaker Rafiqul Islam, the Foreign minister said that the government had taken a move for ensuring better treatment of Bangladeshi people at the foreign embassies in Dhaka while applying for visa.

The AL lawmaker drew attention of the minister to the situation in front of the embassies where there was no waiting room for the visa applicants and they had to wait on the road even amidst adverse weather.

On behalf of the foreign minister, Hasan Mahmud said that the government already held meetings with the authorities of Indian High Commission and the situation has improved there.

He said that the ministry also held discussion with the US embassy and some other embassies in this regard.





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