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Saturday, September 17, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Corrupt ministers, nothing to worry



News analysis

Corrupt ministers, nothing to worry

Syed Badrul Ahsan

http://www.dailydinkal.net/2011/09/18/1/details/1_r4_c8.jpg

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised to show the door to any minister found involved in corruption. One ought to have every reason to feel elated at such an expression of decisiveness on the part of the head of government.

Unfortunately, the elation goes missing when the prime minister adds that for a minister to be taken off the cabinet, one must come up with proof that the minister has been engaged in wrongdoing. The conclusion which you then draw is that absolutely nothing is going to happen to any minister, that all ministers will be there, safe in their jobs, till the term of the government comes to an end.

And all those calls over these past many months for a reshuffle of the cabinet have as good as come to naught. For any minister to leave government, for anyone to suggest that a minister is corrupt, their accusers must now come forth with hard, documentary evidence of their dark deeds before the prime minister will consider asking them to go.

But that is not how democracy functions. In a republic, an unhappy citizenry, worried by the perceived wrongdoing of ministers or by their poor performance, have all the right in the world to demand that they leave or be stripped of their responsibilities in order for the administration to re-inject energy into its working, for the country to move on. In more liberal and patently responsible democracies, ministers who stand accused of corrupt dealings or plain incompetence take it upon themselves to resign.

And then there is another way of showing respect to popular feeling, which is for a minister to step down for sometime and stay away from power until such time as when he or she is cleared (if at all) of the charges brought against him or her. And those charges, brought by a public made weary through ministerial ill performance or shady dealings, are to be investigated not by the public but by the appropriate agency of the government.

In India, the case against A Raja was inquired into by the Criminal Bureau of Investigation, not by those who first served up those reports of the allegations against him through the media. Manmohan Singh made sure that Raja first resigned. Once that was done, the CBI took over. There is absolutely no instance of the Indian prime minister suggesting that evidence be first brought into the public domain against Raja before he could be dismissed from the cabinet.

In the extremely charged politics, we happen to be going through in Bangladesh today, there is little question that something is gravely wrong with the performance of some of our ministers. Away in Hamburg, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has been telling the nation that she would quit if the people want her to. And then she adds that those gunning for her are people envious of the successes of the Foreign Office. What successes? That our diplomatic establishment has stayed almost comatose, indeed has been forced into an emasculated state over the past three years is a reality no one can overlook.

Questions over the performance of the communications minister and his ministry are in a constant state of multiplication. The prime minister, the minister in charge and others in the government have in the past couple of months informed us that the past government, or governments, did little to improve the condition of roads and highways across the country. Maybe they have a point.

The bigger point, though, relates to the times between January 2009 and now. In all this time, what has this government done to show that its record has been any better than that of those it points the finger at? Let the facts be clear: all this noise about roads, all these frantic activities over road repairs, all those walking tours by the communications minister would not be there if citizens had not begun to express their exasperation at the way their lives were being twisted into unreality by the potholes, the sliced off stone and mortar on what used to be roads. Should these roads have not been taken care of by the authorities on their own? And shouldn't some heads have rolled by now over this whole nightmare of citizens' suffering?

No, it is not for the citizens of this people's republic to gather evidence of corruption against the functionaries of the government. It is for the prime minister, it should have been for the prime minister to take action against non-performing ministers before we as citizens began to grumble. It should have been for the prime minister to reassure us that drivers would have to undergo and pass examinations before they could qualify for licences. It is the job of the prime minister to see that ministers do not become trapped in conflicts of interest, that they do not serve in the government and yet remain attached to trade unions at the same time.

The prime minister has ordered an inquiry into alleged corruption over the Padma bridge project. The thought is cheering.

But why did such action have to come when reports began to appear overseas about Canadian investigations into perceived corrupt deals related to the project? After the World Bank demonstrated clear displeasure and annoyance at everything going wrong over the planned bridge?

Must we always act when people abroad begin to scowl at us and not before?

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=202929



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[ALOCHONA] The Royale Entourage



The Royale Entourage

Bureaucracy and extremely polarized administrative system at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are set to waste at least US$ 2 million from the national exchequer of the country during the upcoming US trip of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, who is scheduled to arrive in New York City of September 18, 2011.


http://www.dailydinkal.net/2011/09/06/1/details/1_r4_c9.jpg

It is learnt that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will arrive in United States to attend sessions of the United Nations. Prior to this visit, a 10-member "advance team" led by an army officer of Brigadier General rank will arrive in New York City on September 8, 2011, while for the first time, another 10-member "advance team" will also arrive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself. Only for this so-called advance team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at least US$ 100,000 will be wasted from the national exchequer. Though there is no such culture of sending "advance team" from the ministry of foreign affairs by any of the developing countries, Bangladesh's current government has unnecessarily initiated sending of such team, which will cost nothing but tremendous wastage of public money. It may also be mentioned here that, none of the developed countries send any "advance team" led by any military official. This particular culture of sending advance team prior to the visit of the head of the government was introduced by the governments after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be arriving in New York City on September 18, 2011, who will be leading a huge entourage comprising 35 people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's office. Additionally, sister, son and daughter of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister will be included in the team, along with her nephew, niece and grand children. Only the total number of members of Prime Minister's family in the entourage will be 19. During this trip, Sheikh Hasina will be celebrating her 64th birthday on September 28, 2011 at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which is located at Park Avenue. Minimum rent for the suites at Waldorf Astoria Hotel is US$ 719 per night, while room rents are minimum US$ 319 per night. During the visit of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, total number of 25 rooms will be booked at this hotel along with a number of suites to house her family members. Additionally, the ball room of the hotel will be hired for the celebration of the birthday of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister. Total cost of accommodation and food at Waldorf Astoria Hotel for the entire entourage of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister will cross US$ 300,000.

The expatriate Bangladeshis in United States, who are members or supporters of the ruling party, will organize a reception for the Prime Minister at Hilton Hotel on September 25, 2011. Bangladeshi Prime Minister, who also is the president of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, is expected to give instructions to her party activists in United States to join an organization formed under the US laws. It may be mentioned here that, operation of branch of any foreign political party is not permitted under the existing laws of United States. Bangladesh Awami League has taken up the initiatives of forming an organization to avoid legal consequences of continuing the operation of foreign branch of the Bangladeshi political party.

Keeping eyes on the upcoming US visit of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, the New York and Washington offices of Bangladesh missions are actively pursuing to contact major media outlets in United States with the goal of getting interviews of Sheikh Hasina published in local newspapers or aired in local TV channels. Moreover, the Bangladesh embassy in Washington is trying to hire some local columnists for writing favorable articles or opinion editorials.

It is already indicated that, Sheikh Hasina will be interviewed by Voice of America's Bangla service during this trip. Additionally, Bangladesh embassy is trying to get Fox News, CNN and other major television networks in United States for interviewing the Bangladeshi PM. Sheikh Hasina also is planning to host a small party for the members of media in New York City, which also is aimed at drawing attention of the media towards Bangladeshi Prime Minister.

Commenting on the upcoming visit of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, a source within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on condition of anonymity told Weekly Blitz, "This looks like the entourage of any Arab royals. She represents a poor and developing country, and has no right of wasting huge amount of public money is celebrating her birthday abroad as well offering luxury to the members of her entire entourage as well as members of her own family. This is exorbitant wastage of public money. Only autocratic rulers or monarchs can afford to do this."

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1747/royale-entourage-of-bangladesh-pm


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[ALOCHONA] Re: Wikileaks on Logi-Boitha










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[ALOCHONA] The State Of Human Rights in Bangladesh



The State Of Human Rights in Bangladesh

By Dr. K. M. A. Malik

Introduction

Gross violations of human rights can be found in third world states, many or most of which are ruled by military and family dictatorships or pseudo-democratic, autocratic regimes, and some under foreign occupation. There is hardly any respect for democratic practices, mutual tolerance and equal rights of others with different colour, belief, culture or ethnicity.

The leaders of these societies/countries are mostly corrupt and morally bankrupt and possessed with unlimited greed for power and money. They lack transparency and accountability in their actions and governance. This is true in many countries including Bangladesh .

Bangladesh Scene

The worst forms of human rights violations such as unlawful torture and killings, abduction, rape and other violent crimes happened during the war of liberation in 1971 (perpetrated mostly by the Pakistani army but also by some Bengali elements, estimated 1 million deaths). Lack of proper democracy and propensity for authoritarianism (during periods of both civil and military regimes) resulted in human rights abuses in varying degrees at different times. Unfortunately, no regime in power since 1972 has ever acknowledged its responsibility in this regard, and very little has been done to stop these practices.

In recent years, the human rights situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated to an alarming stage. People are concerned specially by the denial mode of the present Awami League (AL) government and their inability or inaction to prevent or reduce the instances of human rights violations. Most worrisome is the justification by some ministers and leading politicians of the ruling party for suppressing opposition political views and media freedom.

Extra-judicial killings [1]

During Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rule (2001-6), Bangladesh Awami League (AL) as the main opposition party criticized, very rightly, the culture of extra-judicial killings by law enforcing agencies including the special crime fighting force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) formed in 2004. Before 2008 elections, AL promised to stop such unlawful killings. Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni made commitments of 'zero tolerance' regarding this type of killings in different international forums including the Human Rights Council (March 01, 2010; May 12, 2009) and the Universal Periodic Review Session (UPR) in Geneva (February 2009).

But these commitments were never fulfilled. Unlawful killings have continued unabated. The victims are suspected 'criminals', members of the radical left political parties, or simply innocent people, all killed without the due process of law.

According to Odhikar (a non-profit human rights organization) report [2], 127 people were killed extra-judicially in 2010. Of those 127 killed in this year, 1 was a BNP activist, 2 belonged to the Islami Chattra Shibir; 1 an expelled AL leader, 33 from radical left parties, 3 small business men, 2 drivers, 1 street sweeper, 2 farmers, 1 rickshaw puller, 3 workers, 1 night guard, 2 detainees, 1 hospital employee, 9 youths, 1 father of an alleged drug peddler, 64 alleged criminals. The figure includes only the reported number of those killed in the so-called 'crossfire' as well as those tortured to death and custodial killings. But it does not include custodial deaths, where the causes of deaths remain uncertain.

According to 'Law and Salish Centre', another human rights forum, during January – December, 2009, total 229 persons were killed by crossfire. 'Odhikar' put the number of extra-judicial killings at 154 for the same period. Of these, 35 were killed in custody. The number given by 'Odhikar' is lower than that cited by the 'Law and Salish Centre', but the exact figure, probably much higher than those reported in the media, may never be known. A large number of detainees and prisoners die due to torture during interrogations, but the official version for such death is 'heart attack', 'suicide' or similar causes!

Custodial torture and deaths

National and international laws prohibit the use of intimidation, mental and physical torture of any detainee or prisoner by the state agencies. But in Bangladesh , like other third world countries, inflicting different kinds of mental and physical torture is a routine procedure to extract information from the accused persons in detention. In some cases, the victims simply 'disappear' [3].

The practice of custodial torture and unlawful killings started in the country during the first AL regime (1972-75) and has continued unabated till today. It reached a tragic stage during the army-led emergency regime (2007-2008), when hundreds of top political leaders and businessmen were mentally and physically tortured in detention and jailed after sham trials. Serious physical injuries were inflicted by torture on many leading politicians including Tareq Rahman, senior Secretary General of the opposition BNP party. More than 70,000 political workers at grass-root levels were thrown into prison without any concrete charges. Due process of law was denied to them.

Odhikar compiled a report (from print media) with 68 proven cases of custodial torture during 2009. Despite denial by the authorities, it is a common knowledge that those who are supposed to uphold the law are often themselves the violators.

Case of Mahmudur Rahman [4]

The practice of custodial torture and barbaric treatment of prisoners and detainees has been highlighted recently by Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, acting editor of the Bengali daily Amar Desh, in a series of articles. Mr. Rahman was targeted by the government for vendetta and revenge for publishing a report on the alleged corruption by some government leaders including the prime minister's son, Sajib Wajad Joy. He was arrested without warrant in June last year, interrogated under remand and put into prison. He was seriously tortured both physically and mentally. The case aroused nationwide protests and condemnation. Mr. Rahman was released from prison on March 17, 2011 , but there are still dozens of false cases against him.

Deaths of BDR prisoners in custody

In the aftermath of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) rebellion on February 25-26 in 2009, thousands of BDR personnel were detained for interrogation and trial. Many of those prisoners met with 'unnatural deaths' while in custody. According to informed sources, some key witnesses simply 'disappeared'. The number of deaths cited earlier does not include the custodial deaths of BDR prisoners. According to Odhikar [2], a total of 51 BDR members died during February to 31 December, 2009 . Among them, 26 BDR members died while in custody, of which 6 have allegedly died due to torture. Some sources suggest that the 'unnatural deaths' of BDR members in custody were close to 100. We do not know exactly how many of the thousands of detainees were illegally tortured, but considering the culture of barbaric torture of our 'crime investigators', one may presume that the number would run into hundreds, if not thousands. Allegations of serious torture to extract confessional statements have been made.

Violations of Women's rights

Custodial torture, rape, acid violence and dowry related violence

Treatment of women prisoners are even worse than that meted out to male prisoners. There is no reliable statistics on the number of women prisoners and the number abused while in custody. They are probably supposed not to exist in our society. However, it is widely known that common abuses to women prisoners involve the denial of food and bed, and on many occasions, rape, especially to women from poor sections of the society. Many are held in prison without any concrete charges or trial for months and years, under sub-human conditions. In recent years, high profile women prisoners including the family members of some leading political figures were ill-treated in prison and many were denied bails pending trial.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) - A New Rakkhi Bahini?

It has become quite obvious during the last six years of RAB's operations that the some members of the force have been responsible for serious abuses of human rights. Compared with the earlier BNP regime, it became more powerful and desperate in its acts during the army-led Care Taker Government (CTG). The present AL government seems to be more dependent on RAB for not only crime fighting but also for suppressing opposition political forces and dissenting voices.

There is a growing suspicion in the country that the present government wants to remodel this force after the 'Rakkhi Banini' that existed during 1972-75 [5]. This Bahini was formed as the main security arm of the then AL government (under the supervision of a top Indian army officer). It recruited only the AL party loyalists and was given more power and authority than the regular police, army and other security forces. They engaged in indiscriminate murders and torture of thousands of political opponents and became a dreaded force (like death squads in Latin America ). Rakkhi Bahini was disbanded after the change of government in August 1975.

It is perhaps too early to say if the AL government really wants to recruit more party loyalists and cadres to remodel RAB after 'Rakkhi Bahini' or not. What is evident, however, that the culture of extrajudicial killings and custodial torture, disregard for acting within the framework law and acting as an instrument of the ruling party are facing increasing criticisms not only from the human rights defenders inside, but also from concerned persons and organizations abroad. International human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have expressed deep concerns about the ongoing violations of human rights by different organs of Bangladesh state including extrajudicial killings and suppression of opposition.

Mr. Abbas Faiz, South Asia researcher for Amnesty International, Lord Eric Avebury of the UK House of Lords, Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch raised this and several other issues with prime minister Sheikh Hasina during her recent UK visit [6] .

RAB - the British/US/India connections

It was suspected from the very beginning that one of main purposes for the formation of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) (apart from ordinary crime fighting) was to 'eliminate' the threats posed by various left radical groups operating in the western districts and also by the so-called Islamic militants. There are reasons to believe that the force had also the blessings of some foreign powers ( USA , UK , India ). The challenges coming from the extreme left and extreme right forces are also said to threaten Indian security. While the ambassadors and policymakers of these countries make daily public comments on smaller issues in Bangladesh , they have hardly 'advised' any government since 2004 (BNP/CTG/AL) to stop unlawful killings and custodial torture by RAB. The first prominent victim of RAB's unlawful killing during the present AL government was the leftist ideologue Mr. Mufakkarul Islam Chowdhury who was arrested unarmed and killed in a so-called 'crossfire'.

In fact, the links of the USA , UK and India to RAB are no longer secret. The rulers of all these countries are obsessed with the potential threat of 'Islamic terrorism' in Bangladesh and as revealed in WeakiLeaks cables, they consider RAB as a potential counter-terrorism ally [7]. Wikileaks disclosures have also revealed that the USA wanted RAB to become 'Bangladeshi FBI' and that that they were providing training to Bangladesh security forces on interrogation techniques. The EU proposal for a 'Counter-Terrorism Training Centre' in Dhaka to 'fight terrorism in the region' indicates deep western (and Indian-Israeli) involvement.

A Guardian report on January 17, 2011 [8] revealed that the " UK authorities passed information about British nationals to notorious Bangladeshi intelligence agencies and police units, then pressed for information while the men were being held at a secret interrogation centre where inmates are known to have died under torture ."

According to this report, "a number of the British suspects were taken to the secret interrogation centre, known as the Task Force for Interrogation cell (TFI) . The location of the TFI and the methods employed by those who work there became clear during the Guardian investigation, with both former inmates and intelligence officials speaking out about its operations.

"Faisal Mostafa, from Manchester , was taken to the TFI after Smith's visit to Dhaka (2008) and is alleged to have been forced to stand upright for the first six days of his incarceration, with his wrists shackled to bars above his head. He is then alleged to have then been beaten and subjected to electric shocks while being questioned about Bangladeshi associates. At the point at which he was to be questioned about his associates and activities in the UK , he is said to have been blindfolded and strapped to a chair while a drill was slowly driven into his right shoulder and hip."

Following this and several other reports published recently in the Guardian and other media on the collaborations of the UK authorities with the Bangladesh security forces on detention and torture are being questioned by human rights defenders across the world.

According to a UNB report (January 6, 2011) Phil Shiner, a human rights lawyer in Britain, has called for a UK-led international inquiry into the activities of RAB to uncover the truth behind RAB's highly dubious human rights record [9] . "If it is found that RAB consistently violated these rights in carrying out their operations, the UK government can be dissuaded from providing the training and support facilities that it has been to RAB over the last three years, as revealed in US embassy cables relating to Bangladesh released by whistleblower site WikiLeaks."

Phil Shiner described RAB as a reckless, Latin American-style "death squad", as described in a damaging report published in the Guardian, on December 23, 2010 . He further said, "all states owe duties to each other to cooperate and uncover RAB's activities, and to bring all unlawful activities, including of executions, to an immediate end."

Dubious role of the government

The government position on the issue seems to be dubious, to say the least. The home minister Ms Sahara Khatum denies about the existence of extra-judicial killings and custodial torture, whilst some other ministers have condoned the law enforcers' actions as 'acts of self-defence'. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remained silent on extrajudicial killings and custodial for a long time, only last week while visiting London , she said that her government is trying to reduce such practices. The fact, however, remains that her government has been ignoring or violating an earlier High Court order to completely stop extrajudicial killings and custodial torture by the security forces.

Indo-Bangladesh border – South Asian Killing Fields

One of the most significant but least discussed violations of human rights of Bangladeshi (some Indian) citizens occurs along the India-Bangladesh border. Mainstream media including the TV channels and most of the otherwise outspoken members of the so-called 'civil society' in Bangladesh remain mostly silent on the barbaric 'shoot-to-kill' practices of India 's BSF along the border.

The problems along the border are not something new. There are cross-border movements of people living in the border area, without permission. These movements are of course illegal, and anybody doing this may be arrested, but the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) adopts a 'shoot-to-kill' policy. This has resulted in regular and systematic violations of human rights for hundreds of Bangladeshi and also of some Indian citizens.

The problems along the India-Bangladesh border and India 's barbed wire fence to prevent illegal cross-border movement of people and goods have been discussed in many media reports [9-11]. Different human rights organizations including Odhikar compile annual report on the number of people who become victims of BSF atrocities. According to Odhikar, 158 Bangladeshi citizens were killed, wounded, or otherwise harmed by the BSF and in a few cases by Indian citizens in 2010. During the last 10 years, the number of such victims is more than a thousand.

India 's inhuman policy of killing unarmed Bangladeshis along the border was highlighted by Brad Adams, the Asia director of Human Rights Watch, in an article in the Guardian on January 23, 2011 [9] . The following extracts from this article would illustrate the point.

"Over the past 10 years Indian security forces have killed almost 1,000 people, mostly Bangladeshis, turning the border area into south Asian killing fields. No one has been prosecuted for any of these killings, in spite of evidence in many cases that makes it clear the killings were in cold blood against unarmed and defenceless local residents.

"Shockingly, some Indian officials endorse shooting people who attempt to cross the border illegally, even if they are unarmed. Almost as shocking is the lack of interest in these killings by foreign governments who claim to be concerned with human rights. A single killing by US law enforcement along the Mexican border makes headlines. The killing of large numbers of villagers by Indian forces has been almost entirely ignored.

" India has the right to impose border controls. But India does not have the right to use lethal force except where strictly necessary to protect life. Yet some Indian officials openly admit that unarmed civilians are being killed. The head of the BSF, Raman Srivastava, says that people should not feel sorry for the victims, claiming that since these individuals were illegally entering Indian territory , often at night, they were "not innocent" and therefore were a legitimate target."

One very callous and cruel atrocity happened in the border area (Kurigram district) on January 7, 2011 . A 15 year poor girl (named Felani) was caught in the barbed wire fence while crossing the border; BSF shot her in cold blood and kept the dead body hanging on the barbed wire for five hours. The incident has been heavily condemned in both India and Bangladesh .

The incident aroused so much indignation and condemnation that the BSF DG was obliged to express sorrow with a promise that such killings would not happen again. Senior leaders of the AL government including the home minister and prime minister use most of their time to criticize the opposition political parties but remain totally silent about the border killings by BSF. The home minister is on record to say that she would request the BSF to use 'rubber bullets' instead of live ammunitions to shoot at the people along the border!

Suppression of political opposition

The AL government is nominally democratic but it has narrowed down the space for political opposition by denying the rights of peaceful protests and public meetings. Thousands of criminal cases have been filed against opposition political leaders and workers. Last year former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was evicted from her residence. The national parliament has become a one-party show, a place for condemning the opposition for all failures of administration and governance. No issue of national importance is discussed in the parliament. The main agenda of the government seems to erase the name of former President and founder of BNP, Ziaur Rahman, from history and denigrate his legacy.

Attack on media, freedom of thought, expression and of speech:

In Bangladesh , in 2010, freedom of thought and conscience, and of free speech deteriorated significantly. Attacks on journalists, the press, newspapers, television increased.

1 . According to Odhikar, a total of 04 journalists were killed, 118 injured, 49 threatened, 43 assaulted and 17 attacked (total 231) during 2010. Details can be found in the Odhikar report. A Mass Line Media Centre report quoted in the daily Star says that in 2010, 5 journalists were killed, 124 were assaulted while on duty, 112 after publishing report and 99 out of vengeance.

2. The opposition newspaper Amar Desh was closed down and its editor Mahmudur Rahman was arrested during June1-2, 2010. Earlier on June 1, 2010 the publisher of the newspaper, Md. Hashmat Ali, was picked up from his residence by the members of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and was forced to sign some blank papers. Mahmudur Rahman was tortured physically and mentally while in remand. He was released from prison in February 17, 2011 , but dozens of false cases have been filed against him.

3. On April 27, 2010 , a leading television channel, Channel-1 was shut down.

4. The photo-exhibition titled 'Crossfire' organised by Drik Gallery, was shut down about an hour before it was due to be opened on March 22, 2010 .

5. The government of Bangladesh blocked access to Facebook on May 29, 2010 for uploading some satirical images of sole leaders and also for uploading the Anisuzzaman Enquiry Report on the BDR massacre which mentioned the names of some AL leaders.

6 . T he private TV station 'Banglavishion' was compelled to take off the air a programme on the life style of a hangman, a convicted prisoner, who got 18 months' off for working as a hangman.

7. 'Unfriendly' media outlets are regularly intimidated and threatened for any criticism of the government. The editor car of Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age, was attacked by some ruling party thugs.

8. The ruling party hooligans attacked the national Press Club after the pro-government candidates failed to win its elections.

In the election manifesto of Awami League-2008, the government party promised that it would ensure the freedom of all types of mass media and flow of information. Despite having a law on right to information in place, one of Prime Minister's unelected Advisers said on September 20, 2010 , that the government is not bound to give information to the journalists. Commerce Minister Faruk Khan even accused the journalists for publishing 'false' reports against the government. There is no information and public discussion about dozens of treaties and agreements signed with India and with other countries and organizations that affect the vital national interests.

Failure of the Judiciary

Judiciary has been formally separated from the executive, but has still to act independently without manipulation and control by the government and the powerful.

Filing of cases against Dr. Yunus on flimsy ground has been criticized even in international media. Cases were filed against some leading figures in Transparency International for reporting on the corrupt practices in various departments of the government including Judiciary and Police.

Thousands of cases against the ruling party members (some of them facing serious charges of corruption and violent crimes) have been withdrawn by the government, while thousands of opposition members (belonging to BNP and Jamat) are facing hundreds of various charges. Personal vendetta and jealousy are said to motivate Sheikh Hasina to use the state machineries to file dozens of cases against Dr. Yunus, Khaleda Zia, and hundreds of other leaders and activists of the opposition camp. Anybody criticizing the Hasina family or India is selected as special target for harassment and intimidation violating all democratic rights, practices and norms.

Government measures and legal system have failed very miserably to ensure justice for the poor and their children, for ethnic and religious minorities, for the workers in general, but women and child labourers in particular. Trade union rights of industrial workers are restricted and sometimes their wages are withheld. 2010 witnessed a sharp rise in incidents of harassment and physical abuse of young women and girls, mostly by ruling party youths.

The investigative process and framing of charges are often influenced by government interference or due to corrupt practices. Instances of appointing judges based on party loyalty, not on merit, have resulted in the lack of transparency and fall in public confidence and respect for the justice system.

In all, 2010 has been a year of serious human rights abuses, which cover all the sectors of human rights – social, political, economic and cultural. Lack of accountability and acts of impunity persisted and prevented the redress of such violations.

Notes and references:

[1] Extra-judicial Killings and Custodial Torture: From 'Cross-fire' to 'Death-squad',

by K. M. A. Malik, Bangla Mirror, May 21 and 28, 2010

http://www.newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=318941

[2] Human Rights Report Bangladesh 2010, January 1, 2011 .

[3] http://www.weeklyholiday.net/2011/010411/edit.html

[4] During 192-75, about 30,000 people belonging to the then opposition Jatio Samajtantric Dal (JSD) and other left groups were killed by police and Rakkhi Banini. The leftist leader Siraj Sikder was brutally killed in police custody.

[5] Suppressing media freedom: War on Amar Desh and Mahmudur Rahman

by K. M. A. Malik, http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=321781

http://www.sonarbangladesh.com/article.php?ID=2922

http://www.countercurrents.org/malik110610.htm

[6] Meeting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, by Abbas Faiz

http://www.newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=347520

[7] WikiLeaks reveals Rab's image abroad, by Emran Hossain http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=167076 , December 23, 2010. [8] UK linked to notorious Bangladesh torture centre by Ian Cobain and Fariha Karim

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/17/uk-link-bangladesh-torture-centre.

[9] http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/format-wap/id-38618

[10] India'a 'barbed wire fence' around Bangladesh b y K. M. A. Malik, Bangla Mirror, January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 2006.

[11] India 's shoot-to-kill policy on Bangladesh borders, b y Brad Adams, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2011/jan/23/india-bangladesh-border-shoot-to-kill-policy.

[12] Felani's last steps : India 's shoot-to-kill policy claims one more innocent

http://www.economist.com/node/18073333?story_id=18073333 , February 3, 2011.

[ Dr. K. M. A. Malik is an academic, author, columnist and human rights campaigner, and Chair of Centre for Research and Strategy. He lives in Cardiff , UK , and may be contacted via e-mail: kmamalik@aol.com . This essay is based on a talk at Kings College , University of London , in February, 2011].

http://www.countercurrents.org/malik230411.htm


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[ALOCHONA] Indian Administrator in BD [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from Abu Zafar Mahmood included below]


Attachment(s) from Abu Zafar Mahmood

1 of 1 File(s)


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[ALOCHONA] Worth a Listen: Trial, error and the God complex



http://www.ted.com/talks/tim_harford.html


Tim Harford: Trial, error and the God complex



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Re: [mukto-mona] Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's column-Fair view



I think a clarification is needed. Not only religious books, military manuals, police force training books etc ALSO have a load of violence. I do not think any mature adults would asks us to ban those books.

While the Qur'an talks about violence, it does NOT "Tell" Muslims to be violent. Unless someone takes verses "Out of context" there is no way to justify violence against innocent people as far as teaching of Qur'an is concern. Also Mahabharata talks about war a lot but as far as I know it did not promote killing of innocent. Rather it was seen as a noble act by "Protecting good" and standing up to evil.

For example, when people of Bangladesh were attacked by a trained army during 1971, what was the right thing to do? Respond with violence or offer more of our sisters to that army?( It was a rhetorical question) So you know the point I am getting to.

"Violence" itself is like a knife. We can use it to cut vegetable or murder people. When Mastarda Surja Sen attacked the colonial British regime it was the RIGHT thing to do. Also our "Mukti-Bahini" did the right thing by responding violently against a army who wanted to kill and rape bunch of people by DISTORTING religious teaching.

Therefore, you have every right to disagree with me. I am cool with that. However I am at a lost trying to understand your "Logic". Flatly I do not see any logic at all.

Religion is a personal matter, and it should not infringe upon others'

You are right and I agree with you. HOWEVER if you read my posts carefully I have NOT inserted religion to anyone. Rather supported my point about what we do and what the religion ACTUALLY says.

After taking a closer look at how we practice religion, I see most of us do not even understand the real teaching of it rather overly focused on 'Rituals" often without knowing any meaning of them (Spiritual or literal).

Lastly you are welcome to criticize the verse of the Qur'an if you feel the verse I quoted was immoral. However you were trying to oppose the "Option" of me quoting the Qur'an. So you did not say anything against being fair to all ( Source: Al Qur'an 5:8) or how the Qur'an itself rebuked people NOT to abuse religion for personal gain. But you did not want to even see any verse of the Qur'an.

Simply put, the verses I share supports fair dealing with ALL people and the next ones warns people NOT to abuse God's words for personal gains. I am pretty sure these are "Universal values" even if anyone does not subscribe to any religion.

I admit I have some "Unusual" way of presenting my ideas but I am pretty sure I do not serve anything unsavory or hateful. :-)

I have been called many things by 'Secular" and religious people, I enjoy them.

Shalom!!



-----Original Message-----
From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, Sep 17, 2011 6:28 am
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's column-Fair view

 
@QRahman:
 
You said there is violence in all religious scriptures, and I accepted your argument. You have cited an example from Bhagbot-Gita about the premise of the Kurukhetra war, which I accepted also.  I can go one step further from you, and that is - the premise of that war is not convincing to me, and I have argued about it with many Hindus. I also know - there are violent statements in Bible also. My argument is why should we quote or praise something that contains violent verses?
 
Mr. Rahman, how many times have you seen quotes from Bible or Bhagbot-Gita in this forum? Perhaps rarely, if ever.  Religion is a personal matter, and it should not infringe upon others' religious freedom. You, Mr. S. A. Hannan, Mr. Ashgor Ali, etc., perhaps don't see that way.
 
The bottom line is – this is the Mukto-mona discussion forum, and you have the right to quote from anything you want, and we have the right to criticize them, as I did in my last post. When you post something in this forum, you should anticipate some counter-points. I still think, it is not appropriate to put religious books or verses on trial here. That's why I asked you to stop quoting from Quran.
 
However, I still think you are a good sport, unlike many others. Thanks.

Jiten Roy

--- On Fri, 9/16/11, qar <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:

From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's column-Fair view
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, September 16, 2011, 3:40 PM

 
So, stop quoting from those violent books, since most of us (members) in this forum are least interested in the religion.

It seems you are contradicting yourself. If you are a 'Free thinker" or "Mukto mona", why do you see the need to tell me what book I can read and quote from. Maybe you are not informed about the Qur'an and what it teaches. What gives you the right to TELL people what they can READ and practice?

Looks hypocritical to me!!

Just because I quoted a book does NOT require you to accept it. If you are a "Free thinker" you should be open to an opinion that is different from yours.

I am well aware of what happened in direct action day but people from BOTH sides suffered.

It is easy to pretend to be a free thinker but the real test comes when someone disagree with you and you can accept different opinions. IF you read my posts CAREFULLY I was actually showing where people violated teaching of religion (Talking about Pakistan!). I was not promoting religion to anyone but simply stated FACT of life.

Do you have a phobia against religion or ideas? That would make this a bitching session against religion. I hope "Mukto Mona" can do better than that.

Maybe we can start being honest with each other and FREELY discuss our ideas.

Shalom!!

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Sep 16, 2011 6:40 am
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's column-Fair view

 

 
Mr. Rahman's post below is full of propaganda; it's a gross misrepresentation of facts. Saheed Suhrawadi's direct action plan culminated into one of the worst communal riots, likes of which Bengal has never seen before. Please do not re-write the history to mislead people.
 
Readers please click on the link below to see what happened during the direct action plan and the Noakhali-Carnage following the direct action plan:
 
You talk about noble Quran - radical Islamist also get inspiration from the very same noble Quran. You are right, all Holy books have violence. So, stop quoting from those violent books, since most of us (members) in this forum are least interested in the religion.
 
Jiten Roy
--- On Thu, 9/15/11, qar <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:

From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's column-Fair view
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 12:26 PM

 
Mr.Mushrafi,

Thank you for your balanced response. I agree with it. I would just like to add that, Mr. Jinnah was not a religious man. Neither did he ever wanted to work for any "Islamic" country. He used to curse at Maulanas or religious scholars.

Like most Muslim leaders he worked to free India from the British. However when communal situation became beyond tolerable level, he was asked to lead the Muslims and he did that. Even Sheikh Mujubur Rahman who lead Bengalis to fight against "Pakistan" was working with Shahid Surwardi to save Muslims for horrible assaults from religious zealots who wanted to kill Muslim for "Being Muslims". All these leaders supported the concept of Pakistan because that was the only option left or watch innocent people being slaughtered like animals. Dr. Akbar S Ahmed made the same claim about Jinnah in his book about Jinnah. Dr. Ahmed was a diplomat and now teaching in the USA. The biggest tragedy of Pakistan and Muslims living in it is leaders of that country abused Islam for their personal goal of power and money over the years. Albeit it did not start as an "Islamic" country. It started as a safe place for Muslims where Muslims did not have to face death for "Being Muslim"!!

We Bengalis should thank Allah that, we are not part of abusing our religion to that extant and the noble Qur'an warns Muslims from abusing Islam for personal causes.


Know they not that Allah knoweth what they conceal and what they reveal? And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book, but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture. Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:"This is from Allah," to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby. And they say: "The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days:" Say: "Have ye taken a promise from Allah, for He never breaks His promise? or is it that ye say of Allah what ye do not know?" Nay, those who seek gain in evil, and are girt round by their sins,- they are companions of the Fire: Therein shall they abide (For ever).

[ Source: The noble Qur'an 2:77-81]


Pakistan is like most nations of the world filled with good and bad people. However it did not enjoy good leaders like most nations. We all know how most Pakistani leaders practices Islam. Let us see what Qur'an demands from Muslims.....

O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

[ Source: The noble Qur'an 5:8]

I used to think very highly of Mr. Gaffar Chowdhury but I was disappointed by his contradictory statements. So I lost respect and he only sings the "Tone of the day" and like most other opportunists we have around us. He constructs his ideas with half truths and mislead his readers. Every nations have their good sides and bad sides. Pakistan is part of "History" for most Bangladeshi and we should leave it there. Those of us who likes Islam, we can follow what the noble Qur'an teaches us and Valid Hadiths says. No need to follow Pakistan or any particular nations. 


But all of us we know that India is a secular nation.


I beg to differ. Like Pakistan India started as a secular nation and (unlike Pakistan) still kept that concept in the books. However India's policies and practices are nothing close to being a "Secular" nation. We all know how it treats a very India-friendly country like Bangladesh. Need I say more?

Maybe nothing short of a "Lot more" will justify my statement. I'll just share one stat from India. West Bengal is known for being "Secular" and it was lead by anti-religious communists for most part of last forty years. It has 26% Muslims in West Bengal and ONLY 2% Muslims were allow to have government jobs in that state. Again our west Bengali "Brothers" are very liberal. Just imagine that state of Muslims where more right wingers are in power.

Personally I think instead of looking at India or Pakistan, we should look at ourselves and try to make BANGLADESH a better country. We have many challenges and we should not face them as a divided nation. When we united we defeated very well trained army during 1971. If we can keep the spirit alive we can take our beloved Bangladesh to the next level. That should be our "Patriotic" goal. We waste too much time, energy and resource by fighting with each other!!


Peace!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Mohammad Mushrafi <mushrafi@hotmail.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 6:11 am
Subject: RE: [mukto-mona] Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's column-Fair view

 
They are leaders. They have to take 'all' responsibilities for their leading themes, issues and slogans which aroused people at diffrent given time in the history. It seems no responsibility lies on the people who 'whorships' their leaders with whim and often with 'delusions' for various known and unknown reasons. Down the track of time we retrospectively often put all the blames on the 'leaders' and nothing kept for ourselves.
 
Today Mr. Jinaah is a 'man of dust bin' to most of us who once was worshiped by the muslims when they were often cornered, discriminated, humiliated by the majorities of undivided India. The politics is such a twist that once 'The ambasador of Hindu-Muslim unity' was pushed to become the leader of minority Muslims of India. Mr. Choudhury rightly could not deny that fact that the arogancy, jelousy and grandiosity of Patel-Neheru forced him to take adverse decision at the end.
 
The 'Half educated Barister' kind of statement is an insult to the historical facts. There were full educated Indian baristers at that time in India, many of whom loved to be in the good book of British rather then to speak out about the rights of the Indians. It is unfair to forget that Mr. Jinnah, Moulana Azad were the congress leaders much beofore Mr.Gandhi joint the congress after returning from South Africa or Mr. Neheru returned from UK.
 
In the twist of dirty politics Mr. Jinnah was pushed out and lived in UK for about 5 years away from Indian politics. Barister Shahed Ali and other Muslim students went to Mr. Jinnah and requested him to fight for Muslims right and respect in India. Mr. Jinnah was so annoyed and furious on this idea that he asked them to leave his home at once. But later he unwillingly agreed to pursue. The Pakistan was acheived mainly by the actvities of Muslims of Bengal, being the majority population of the then Pakistan. That was the reality of time given the political twists and turns that always drove mob towards some thing to change to unexpected.
 
Even then Mr. Jinnah's vision of Pakistan was totally diffrent then what was in the reality after his death. We know Mr. Liaquat Ali khan was shot dead in a meeting by the communal political force. One can be sure that Mr. Jinnah would have been shot the same way as Mr. Gandhi if he was alive and pursuing his vision.
 
Mr. Jinaah is dead in East Bengal becuase of his historic blander of language decision for Pakistan by undermining Bangla. It is also true the force behind his that fateful decision were Khaja Najimuddin and their gang. Though they were themselves Bangali speaking.
 
Pointing to the failures of today's Bangladesh, many of us now often blame Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his leadership of our liberation war. Its easy to critisize when crtical decision making moment is a past event. But at the moment of decision-making a considerable number of factors and events works which is usually not evident.
 
Now just stop for a moment and assume that we Bangladeshi's are in Indian union today. Where would each of us including Mr.Choudhury, be today. We could easily be part of neglected Muslims of India as the statistics of US Embassy expressed. Instead of 16 crores we could be counted as 13 crores of Bengali in East Bengal.  Instead of 18 crores of Indain Mulslims, it could be 18croes(India)+16croes (Bangladesh)+18croes (Pakistan)= total 48 crores in that discriminatory condition. Mr. Choudhury put secularism as a solution of this tragedy. But all of us we know that India is a secular nation. One would ask despite the secularism why Indian minorities are discriminated. It is because no 'ism' can give the solution for such issues. Only human sincerity to their ideals and responsibility of action can bring a just soceity. Often it appears as utopia in reality.
 
It would be fair if we exercise greatfulness, impartial judgement and a bias free knowledge-based attitude towards the history and the historical personalities as they deserve.
 
Dr. Mushrafi
Australia

To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
From: jnrsr53@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:26:06 -0700
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's column--my comments--see below


This is a very informative article, as expected, from Ghaffar Chowdhury. I liked every thing he said in this article.
 
It reminded me of a talk I gave in a seminar at the St. John's University, right after the general election in 2001 in Bangladesh. This seminar was organized to protest the wide spread targeted attacks on the religious minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, by BNP and Jamati cadres after their election victory. The title of my talk was "The Forgotten Religious Minorities." I raised the very same question that Ghaffar Chowdhury has raised in his article, which is – partition of India has made religious minorities, on both sides, suddenly alien in their own ancestral homeland for no fault of their own, and altered their destiny forever.  On the contrary, majority, especially leaders, have reaped the fruits of the partition, and have totally forgotten to think about the possible impact of the partition on the lives of those minorities left behind. Otherwise, repatriation of religious minorities from both parts would have been mandatory with the partition. Who gave those leaders the right to play with the destiny of millions of people? I asked. This article has brought back that thought once again after 10 years. Ghaffar Chowdhury is correct – communality gave birth to the partition of India, and partition perpetuated communality in that region. It was a grave miscalculation on the part of the leadership of both sides. Such communality cannot be erased easily. I do not think communal harmony can ever be established between India and Pakistan. I will be the happiest man on earth if I am proven to be wrong someday.
 
Bangladesh is altogether a different animal. Here we are lucky to have an instrument - called the Bangalee-Nationalism - that can form the required bond between different religious communities. Only Awami League can use it, but they have so far avoided it. I don't know why?
 
Jiten Roy

--- On Mon, 9/12/11, S A Hannan <sahannan@sonarbangladesh.com> wrote:

From: S A Hannan <sahannan@sonarbangladesh.com>
Subject: [mukto-mona] Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury's column--my comments--see below
To: dahuk@yahoogroups.com, "'Khobor'" <khabor@yahoogroups.com>, sahannan@yahoogroups.com, mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com, banglarnari@yahoogroups.com, "'WitnessPioneer'" <witness-pioneer@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Monday, September 12, 2011, 11:59 PM

 
 
dhaka থেকে shah abdulhannan লিখেছেন, ১২ সেপ্টেম্বর ২০১১; রাত ০৯:৪৩
 
Quaid Azam was not a half educated Barrister, he was the leader of all the Muslims of the subcontinent.He was also the leader of Bengali Muslims including Mr.Suhrawardy, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and probably also Gaffar sahibin 1940 onwards.
Gaffar sahib has forgotten history.Pakistan with the then two parts in 1947 was the result of efforts of all Muslims of the subcontinent.
Indian Muslims sacrificed their interests knowing full well that they would be mistreated in India.Even then they wanted true ( not false) independence of Muslim majority areasof India .
The reason for partition may be seen in Joswant Sings book on Mr Jinnah.
East Bengal Muslims became ten times advanced in economy than west Bengal Muslims even in Pakistan times.From no Jute Mills there were established 100 jute Mills and so many other industries including Steel Mil, Paper Mill, News paper Mill and also the second port of Mangla.Bangladesh has continued to develop and West Bengal development is much poor.
Gaffar sahib will understand his folly if ha asks Bangladeshis if they now want to join India now. 67644
 

আজ 'কায়েদে আজম' বেঁচে থাকলে কী ভাবতেন কী করতেন?

আব্দুল গাফ্ফার চৌধুরী

গতকাল, ১১ সেপ্টেম্বর রোববার ছিল পাকিস্তানের 'কায়েদে আজম' মোহাম্মদ আলী জিন্নাহর ৬৩তম মৃত্যুবার্ষিকী। ১৯৪৮ সালের এই দিনে তার মৃত্যু হয়। বহু বছর বাঙালি মুসলমানরা (বাংলাদেশ যতদিন পাকিস্তানের অন্তর্ভুক্ত ছিল) জিন্নাহর জন্ম-মৃত্যু দিবস (২৫ ডিসেম্বর তাও জন্মদিন) প্রতি বছর ঘটা করে পালন করেছে। এখন তার নামের আগে পাকিস্তানি ছাড়া আর কেউ 'কায়েদে আজম' কথাটি ব্যবহার করে না এবং এই দুটি দিবস চোখের ওপর দিয়ে চলে যায় আর কেউ তাকে স্মরণ করে না এবং নতুন প্রজন্মের বাঙালির হয়তো দিনটি স্মরণেও আসে না। তার জন্ম-মৃত্যু দিবসটি বাংলাদেশে প্রায় বিস্মৃত।

গতকালও (রোববার) এই মৃত্যুদিবসটি আমার চোখের ওপর দিয়ে চলে যেত। এই দিনটির বৈশিষ্ট্য এবং জিন্নাহর নামটিও আমার মনে আসত না, যদি একটি খবরের দিকে আমার চোখ না পড়ত। খবরটি ঢাকার একটি কাগজে বের হয়েছে। তাতে বলা হয়েছে, মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্র মনে করে ভারত তার দেশের মুসলমানদের সংখ্যা কম করে দেখাচ্ছে। ২০০১ সালে ভারতের আদমশুমারিতে দেখানো হয়েছে মুসলমানদের সংখ্যা ১৩ কোটি ৮০ লাখ। কিন্তু আমেরিকার হিসাব মতে এই সংখ্যা অনেক বেশি। নয়াদিল্লির মার্কিন দূতাবাসের হিসাবে এই সংখ্যা ১৬ থেকে ১৮ কোটি।

গতকাল (রোববার) যখন আমার হাতে আসা ঢাকার কাগজে এই খবরটি পড়ছি, তখন চকিতে মনে পড়ল, আজ ১১ সেপ্টেম্বর। ১৯৪৮ সালের এই দিনে পাকিস্তানি মুসলমানদের দ্বারা সম্বোধিত 'কায়েদে আজম' ইন্তেকাল করেন। তিনি অবিভক্ত ভারতের ৎকালীন ১০ কোটি মুসলমানকে একটি আলাদা জাতি বলে দাবি করে দেশটিকে ধর্মীয় দ্বিজাতিতত্ত্বের ছুরিতে ভাগ করেছিলেন। মৃত্যুর ৬৩ বছর পর আজ যদি তিনি কবর থেকে হঠা জেগে উঠতেন এবং জানতেন খণ্ডিত ভারতেই এখন মুসলমানদের সংখ্যা প্রায় ১৪ কোটি অথবা মার্কিন হিসাব অনুযায়ী ১৬ থেকে ১৮ কোটি, তাহলে তিনি কী করতেন? কী ভাবতেন? আরেকটি পাকিস্তান দাবি করতেন কি?

ধর্মের ভিত্তিতে জাতিত্ব নির্ধারণ এবং দেশ ভাগ করার মতো সম্পূর্ণ অবাস্তব অবৈজ্ঞানিক বুদ্ধি মোহাম্মদ আলী জিন্নাহর মতো একজন আধুনিকমনা, পাশ্চাত্য শিক্ষিত নেতাকে কেমন করে পেয়ে বসেছিল তা ভাবলে এখন বিস্মিত হতে হয়। যে নেতা গান্ধী কংগ্রসের দ্বারা সমর্থিত ভারতের মুসলমানদের খেলাফত আন্দোলনকে পর্যন্ত নিজে সমর্থন দেননি এই বলে যে, এটা সামন্তবাদী, মধ্যযুগীয় এবং পশ্চাৎমুখী আন্দোলন, তিনি কিভাবে পরবর্তীকালে ধর্মের ভিত্তিতে দেশ ভাগ করার অবাস্তব সর্বনাশা মন্ত্রে দীক্ষা নিয়েছিলেন, তা এক বিস্ময়ের ব্যাপার। তিনি অবিভক্ত ভারতের ১০ কোটি মুসলমানের মধ্যে কোটিকে ভারতে রেখে কোটিকে নিয়ে পাকিস্তান গঠন করেছিলেন। তিনি তো অল্পবুদ্ধির নেতা ছিলেন না। তার বুদ্ধিতে কি এই কথা ধরা পড়েনি যে, এই চার কোটি মুসলমান ভারতে বাস করেই কালক্রমে ১৪ কোটি হয়ে দাঁড়াতে পারে! তখন তারা ভারতীয় হতে চাইলেও সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠ সম্প্রদায়ের কাছে সমান মর্যাদার ভারতীয় বলে গৃহীত হতে না- পারেন। তখন তাদের স্বার্থ, নাগরিক অধিকার মর্যাদা ক্রমাগত ক্ষুণ্ণ হতে থাকবে বই বাড়বে না।

ভারতে এখন মুসলমানদের ভাগ্যে তাই ঘটছে। ওয়েবসাইট উইকিলিকস সম্প্রতি নয়াদিল্লির মার্কিন দূতাবাসের এক তারবার্তা প্রকাশ করে ভারতীয় মুসলমানদের বর্তমান পশ্চাৎপদ অনুন্নত অবস্থার কথা ফাঁস করে দিয়েছে। উইকিলিকসের ফাঁস করা খবরে বলা হয়েছে, 'গত বছর ফেব্রুয়ারি মাসে ইউএস ভিউজ অন ইন্ডিয়ান ইসলাম অ্যান্ড ইটস ইন্টারপ্রেটেশন' শিরোনামে দিল্লির মার্কিন দূতাবাস ওয়াশিংটনে একটি তারবার্তা পাঠায়। ভারতের বিভিন্ন সূত্র থেকে সংগৃহীত তথ্যের ভিত্তিতে তারবার্তায় বলা হয়, ২০০১ সালের সরকারি আদমশুমারি অনুযায়ী ভারতে মুসলমানের সংখ্যা ১৩ কোটি ৮০ লাখ। কিন্তু বাস্তবে এই সংখ্যা অনেক বেশি- ১৬ থেকে ১৮ কোটি।

তারবার্তায় ভারতের মুসলমানদের অবস্থা সম্পর্কে বলা হয়, 'ভারতে আজিম প্রেমজির মতো কোটিপতি থাকলেও বেশিরভাগ মুসলমানের অবস্থা খুবই খারাপ। মুসলমানরা চরম দারিদ্র্যের মধ্যে বাস করছে। ভারতের পার্লামেন্ট এবং অন্যান্য নির্বাচনী বডিতে মুসলমানদের সংখ্যা খুবই নগণ্য। ভারতের দলিত শ্রেণীর চেয়ে মুসলমানদের অর্থনৈতিক অবস্থার অবনতি তুলনামূলকভাবে বেশি। কিছুসংখ্যক মুসলমানের অবস্থার উন্নতি হলেও তাদের চিত্র ভারতের মুসলমানদের আর্থ-সামাজিক অবস্থার সামগ্রিক চিত্র নয়।'

এই হচ্ছে নয়াদিল্লির মার্কিন দূতাবাস থেকে ওয়াশিংটনে পাঠানো রিপোর্টে বর্ণিত ভারতের ১৪ কোটি অথবা ১৮ কোটি মুসলমানের বর্তমান অবস্থা। চল্লিশের দশকে ধর্মের ছুরিতে শুধু অবিভক্ত ভারতকে কর্তন করা নয়, ভারতের মুসলমানদেরও বিভক্ত করে ৎকালীন 'কোটি মুসলমানের জন্য 'হোমল্যান্ড' তৈরি করতে গিয়ে জিন্নাহ কি ভাবতে পেরেছিলেন, অবশিষ্ট চার কোটি এবং তাদের কোটি কোটি ভবিষ্য বংশধরের জন্য তিনি যুগ যুগ ধরে 'নিজভূমে পরবাসী' হওয়ার ব্যবস্থা করে যাচ্ছেন? তাদের ভবিষ্য সম্পূর্ণ অনিশ্চিত অন্ধকারে নিক্ষিপ্ত হবে? কাশ্মীর সমস্যা জন্ম নেবে?
ভারত থেকে ভাগ করে এনে ৎকালীন যে 'কোটি মুসলমানের জন্য তিনি 'সাধের পাকিস্তান' গড়লেন, তার অবস্থাই বা এখন কী? তার মৃত্যুর অল্পদিনের মধ্যে একটি গণতান্ত্রিক মুসলিম রাষ্ট্রের চরিত্র থেকে পাকিস্তান একটি কট্টর ধর্মীয় সামরিক ফ্যাসিবাদী রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত হয়। রাষ্ট্রের সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠ অধিবাসীদের অংশ পূর্ব পাকিস্তান বা বাংলাদেশ আলাদা হয়ে যায়। খণ্ড পাকিস্তানের অবশিষ্ট অংশ হিংস্র জঙ্গিবাদের এখন লীলাভূমি এবং মিত্র আমেরিকার বর্বর ড্রোন বোমা হামলায় সম্পূর্ণ বিধ্বস্ত। পাকিস্তানের মুসলমানরা শিয়া-সুন্নি, আহমদিয়া-সুন্নি, মোহাজের অমোহাজের ইত্যাদি ভাগে বিভক্ত হয়ে আত্মঘাতী বিবাদে লিপ্ত এবং আল কায়দা তালেবানরা সেখানে তাদের সন্ত্রাসের রাজত্ব কায়েম করেছে।

লন্ডনে এক পাকিস্তানি সাংবাদিক-বন্ধু আমাকে বলেছেন, 'তোমরা বড় ভাগ্যবান তাই শেখ মুজিবের মতো নেতা পেয়েছিলে। তিনি সময়মতো বাংলাদেশকে পাকিস্তানের জংলি ফৌজিশাসন থেকে মুক্ত করে আলাদা স্বাধীন দেশ না করলে এখন পাকিস্তানের পূর্বাংশ হিসেবে তোমরাও একদিকে তালেবানি সন্ত্রাসে জর্জরিত এবং অন্যদিকে মার্কিনি ড্রোন হামলার শিকার হতে। তোমরা এখন এই গ্রেট লিডারের সামান্য ভুলত্র"টির যতই সমালোচনা কর, একথা ভুললে চলবে না, তিনি তোমাদের স্বাধীন জাতিসত্তা প্রতিষ্ঠা করেছেন এবং একটি স্বাধীন নেশন স্টেট উপহার দিয়ে গেছেন। পাকিস্তানের সঙ্গে সহমরণে তোমাদের যেতে হয়নি।'

পাকিস্তানের জনক জিন্নাহকে বলা হতো 'হাফ এডুকেটেড ব্যারিস্টার' কারণ, তিনি তখনকার কোন কোন ভারতীয় নেতার মতো ম্যাট্রিক পাস করেই বিলেতে ব্যারিস্টারি পড়তে এসেছিলেন। কলেজ বা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের চৌকাঠ পেরোননি। স্যুট-প্যান্ট পরে, চোখা ইংরেজি বুলি ঝেড়ে তিনি যতটা আধুনিক কেতাদুরস্ত নেতা সেজেছিলেন, জ্ঞানে-পাণ্ডিত্যে সম্ভবত ততটা আধুনিক হতে পারেননি। আধুনিক রাষ্ট্রবিজ্ঞান সম্পর্কে তার জ্ঞান-বুদ্ধির সীমাবদ্ধতা তাই অনেককে বিস্মিত করে। নইলে সাতচল্লিশ সালের ভারত ভাগের সময় তিনি কী করে আবার নিজের ধর্মীয় দ্বিজাতিতত্ত্ব অগ্রাহ্য করে কৃত্রিমভাবে গঠিত তার পাকিস্তান রাষ্ট্রের সব ধর্মের মানুষকে তাদের ধর্মের পার্থক্য ভুলে পাকিস্তানি নামে এক মহাজাতি হয়ে যেতে বললেন, আর যে কয়েক কোটি মুসলমানকে ভারতে ফেলে এলেন তাদের বললেন, 'তোমরা ভারতীয় হয়ে যাও?'

এটা তো আধুনিক রাষ্ট্রবিজ্ঞানের এই চরম ৎকর্ষের দিনে ফরমান জারি করে জাতি গঠনের চেষ্টা। তাও আবার ব্যক্তিগত ফরমান। জিন্নাহ ফরমান দিয়ে পাকিস্তানি জাতি গঠন করতে চেয়েছিলেন। ফরমান দিয়ে জাতি গঠনের এই চেষ্টা মধ্যযুগের রাজা-বাদশারাও করেননি। আর যুগে জিন্নাহ ফরমান জারি করে জাতি গঠন করবেন কী করে? তিনি একটি ভূখণ্ডের নাম 'পাকিস্তান' রাখতে পেরেছিলেন। সেই ভূখণ্ড অখণ্ড থাকেনি এবং পাকিস্তানি নামে একটি অখণ্ড জাতি গঠনও সম্ভব হয়নি। বাঙালিরা বহু আগে আলাদা হয়ে গেছে। সিন্ধি, বালুচ, পাখতুনরা তাদের আলাদা জাতিসত্তার জন্য লড়াই অব্যাহত রেখেছে। সুযোগ পেলেই পাঞ্জাবিদের বন্দুকের শাসন থেকে তারা আলাদা হয়ে যাবে।

মোহাম্মদ আলী জিন্নাহ হয়তো চেয়েছিলেন ভারতের মুসলমানদের উপকার করতে। প্রথম যৌবনের রাজনীতিতে সেক্যুলার জিন্নাহ অবিভক্ত ভারতীয় অভিন্ন জাতিসত্তার মধ্যে কমিউনিটি হিসেবে মুসলমানদের সমান নাগরিক অধিকার মর্যাদা প্রতিষ্ঠার চেষ্টা করেছেন একথাও সত্য। এজন্য তিনি 'অ্যাম্বাসেডর অব হিন্দু-মুসলিম ইউনিটি' খেতাবও পেয়েছিলেন। ভারতীয় মুসলমানদের পক্ষ থেকে তিনি কংগ্রেসের কাছে যে চৌদ্দ দফা দাবি উত্থাপন করেছিলেন, তাতেও তার এই সেক্যুলার জাতীয়তাবাদী মনোভাবের পরিচয় পাওয়া যায়।

জিন্নাহর চৌদ্দ দফা দাবিতে ব্রিটিশ ভারতের ৎকালীন বোম্বে প্রেসিডেন্সিকে ভাগ করে সিন্ধুকে আলাদা প্রদেশ করা এবং মুসলমানদের জন্য ব্যবসা-বাণিজ্যের কিছু অধিকার দাবি করা ছাড়া কম্যুনাল উগ্রতা ছিল না। কংগ্রেস নেতৃত্ব বিশেষ করে নেহেরু তার মতো একশ্রেণীর নেতার অহমিকা জেদের জন্য জিন্নাহর চৌদ্দ দফা আগ্রাহ্য হয় এবং জিন্নাহ ক্রমশ সাম্প্রদায়িক রাজনীতির দিকে ঝুঁকে পড়েন।

জিন্নাহকে সাম্প্রদায়িক রাজনীতির দিকে ঠেলে দেয়া এবং শেষ পর্যন্ত ভারত ভাগ করার পেছনে ৎকালীন কংগ্রেস হাইকমান্ডের নেহেরু, প্যাটেল প্রমুখ নেতার জেদ, বিদ্বেষ অহমিকা কাজ করেনি তা নয়। কিন্তু এর মোকাবিলায় ভারতীয় মুসলমানদের ঐক্যবদ্ধ করে তাদের দাবি আদায়ের পথে না গিয়ে জিন্নাহ নিজের জেদ অপরিণামদর্শিতার কাছে আত্মসমর্পণ করে একেবারে দেশ ভাগ চইবেন, এটাই ছিল ভারত উপমহাদেশের ইতিহাসের সবচেয়ে বড় ট্রাজেডি। নেহেরু-প্যাটেলের অহমিকা, জেদ বিদ্বেষের রাজনীতির সঙ্গে নিজের জেদ, অহমিকা বিদ্বেষ নিয়ে যুদ্ধ করতে গিয়ে তিনি ভারতের মুসলমানদের উপকার করার বদলে তাদের যে অপকার করে গেছেন, তার প্রমাণ আজকের ব্যর্থ এবং বিধ্বস্ত রাষ্ট্র পাকিস্তান এবং ভারতের মুসলমানদের বর্তমান দুর্দশা দুরবস্থা।

১৯৪৬ সালের নির্বাচনে মুসলিম লীগ সারা ভারতে ভালো ফল করতে না পারা সত্ত্বেও যখন দেখা গেল জিন্নাহ দেশভাগে বদ্ধপরিকর এবং বাংলা, পাঞ্জাব, আসাম ভাগ করে জিন্নাহর ভাষায়ই যে 'ট্রাঙ্কেটেড পাকিস্তান' তাকে দিতে চাওয়া হচ্ছে তিনি তাতেই রাজি, তখন মাওলানা আবুল কালাম আজাদ তাকে সতর্ক করে দিয়ে বলেছিলেন, 'এখনও সময় আছে। জিন্নাহ যেন ভারত ভাগ করে এই উপমহাদেশের, বিশেষ করে ভারতের মুসলমানদেরও সর্বনাশ না করেন। দেশ ভাগ করে দেশের একটি ক্ষুদ্রাংশের পাকিস্তান নাম দিয়ে মুসলিম ভারত তৈরি করলে বর্তমানে ভারতের কংগ্রেস যতই সেক্যুলারিজমের কথা বলুক, তাদের বা অন্য কোন দলের নেতৃত্বেই দেশের বৃহদাংশ ক্রমান্বয়ে হিন্দু ভারতে পরিণত হবে এবং সেখানে মুসলমান স্বার্থ অধিকার নিশ্চিতই খর্ব হবে। অন্যদিকে খণ্ডিত মুসলিম ভারত বা পাকিস্তানেও মুসলমানদের মধ্যে ঐক্য থাকবে না। তারা মযহাবি, আঞ্চলিক ইত্যাদি নানা স্বার্থদ্বন্দ্বে লিপ্ত হবে। পশ্চিমা সাম্রাজ্যবাদ নতুন বেশে উপমহাদেশে অনুপ্রবেশের সুযোগ পাবে। এক কথায় ভারত ভাগ ভারতের মুসলমানসহ সারা উপমাহাদেশের জন্যই অনৈক্য, বিবাদ সংঘাতের জন্ম দেবে। ভারত ভাগ কোন সমস্যারই সমাধান করবে না।'

ভারত ভাগের সময় মাওলানা আবুল কালাম আজাদের এই সতর্কবাণী তো জিন্নাহ গ্রাহ্যই করেননি, বরং তিনি অত্যন্ত অশোভনভাবে মাওলানা সাহেবকে 'a show boy of hindu congress' বা 'হিন্দু কংগ্রেসের শো বয়' বলে গালি দিয়েছিলেন। আজ ইতিহাস প্রমাণ করছে, জিন্নাহ হয়তো ভারতীয় মুসলমানদের 'কায়েদে আজম' (great leader) সেজে তাদের উপকার করতে চেয়েছিলেন; কিন্তু নিজের জেদ অহমিকার রাজনীতির দরুন তাদের অপকারই করে গেছেন।

পাকিস্তান কবে আবার বর্তমানের বিপর্যয় ধ্বংস কাটিয়ে উঠে দাঁড়াবে, ভারতের চৌদ্দ কোটি অথবা আঠারো কোটি যা- হোক মুসলমান আবার দলিত সম্প্রদায়গুলোর চেয়েও অধিকারবঞ্চিত মর্যাদাহীন অবস্থা থেকে সমান নাগরিক অধিকার নিয়ে ভারতে প্রতিষ্ঠা লাভ করতে পারবে, তা এখন অনুমানের ব্যাপার, নিশ্চিতভাবে কিছু বলার উপায় নেই। ভারতের বাইরে বাংলাদেশে সংখ্যালঘু অমুসলমান সম্প্রদায়গুলোর অবস্থাও ভালো নয়। নামে তদের সমান নাগরিক অধিকার আছে, বাস্তবে নেই। সারা উপমহাদেশেই আজ মানবিক অধিকার মর্যাদা নানাভাবে ক্ষুণ্ণ লঙ্ঘিত। সেক্যুলার জাতীয়তাবোধ সেক্যুলারিজমের নিঃশর্ত প্রতিষ্ঠা ছাড়া এর কোন প্রতিকার নেই। এই সত্যটি সারা উপমহাদেশের মানুষ প্রকৃতভাবে কবে উপলব্ধি করতে পারবে, কে জানে?
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সূত্রঃ যুগান্তর, ১২/০৯/১১]



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               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




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