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Thursday, May 2, 2013

[mukto-mona] STOP THEM STOP THEM রাজধানীর ছয় প্রবেশপথে অবস্থান নেবে হেফাজত



রাজধানীর ছয় প্রবেশপথে
অবস্থান নেবে হেফাজত
* বাধা দিলে তাৎক্ষণিক বসে পড়ার নির্দেশ
* আল্লামা শফী ঢাকায়ই থাকবেন
 মোশতাক আহমদ
ইসলামের অবমাননাকারী 'নাস্তিক-ব্লগারদের' শাস্তিসহ ১৩ দফা দাবিতে আন্দোলনরত ধর্মীয় সংগঠন হেফাজতে ইসলাম আগামী ৫ মে ঢাকা অবরোধ কর্মসূচি সফল করতে নানা প্রস্তুতি নিচ্ছে। চলছে প্রস্তুতি সভা। কর্মসূচির দিন ঢাকার ছয়টি প্রবেশমুখে লাখো মানুষের অবস্থান নিশ্চিত করতে এরই মধ্যে সংগঠনটির কর্মীদের নির্দেশ দেওয়া হয়েছে। কর্মীরা রাজধানীর প্রবেশমুখ ডেমরা, পোস্তগোলা, আমিনবাজার, আব্দুল্লাহপুর, টঙ্গী ও বাবুবাজার ব্রিজে অবস্থান নেবে। কর্মীদের মুখে থাকবে জিকির ও হাতে তসবিহ। সম্পূর্ণ 'সুন্নতি তরিকায়' প্রস্তুত হয়ে ঢাকা অবরোধ কর্মসূচি সচল করা হবে বলে কালের কণ্ঠকে জানিয়েছেন হেফাজতে ইসলামের কেন্দ্রীয় যুগ্ম মহাসচিব মাওলানা মুফতি ফয়জুল্লাহ। জানতে চাওয়া হয়েছিল, অবরোধ কর্মসূচিতে বাধা এলে কী করবেন? এর জবাবে হেফাজতের এই নেতা বলেন, 'আমরা শান্তিপূর্ণ অবস্থানে বিশ্বাসী। আমাদের আন্দোলন কারো বিরুদ্ধে নয়। কারো পক্ষেও নয়। শুধুই আল্লাহ ও আল্লাহর রাসুল (সা.)-এর জন্য। আমাদের দাবি, সরকার আমাদের ১৩ দফা মেনে নেবে।' তিনি বলেন, 'আমরা কারো বাধাকে ভয় করি না। তবে কোনো বাধা এলে আমাদের নেতা-কর্মীদের প্রতি নির্দেশ থাকবে তাৎক্ষণিকভাবে যেখানেই বাধা আসবে সেখানে যেন জায়নামাজ নিয়ে বসে পড়ে।'
কতক্ষণ অবরোধ চলবে এ বিষয়ে হেফাজত নেতা মুফতি ফয়জুল্লাহ বলেন, 'প্রাথমিকভাবে আমরা আশা করছি সরকার কোনো বাধা না দিলে সন্ধ্যার মধ্যেই কর্মসূচি শেষ করে চলে যাব। কিন্তু যদি সরকার সত্যিই কোনো বাধা দেয় তবে মনে করব এ সরকার নাস্তিকদের পক্ষের সরকার। আর সে ক্ষেত্রে আমরা যথাসময়ে সব কিছু জানাব।'
বিভিন্ন স্থানে প্রস্তুতিমূলক সভা : হেফাজতে ইসলামের কেন্দ্রীয় নেতারা জানান, ৫ মের ঢাকা অবরোধ কর্মসূচি সফল করতে গত এক মাস ধরে তাঁদের নেতা-কর্মী ও সমর্থকদের নিয়ে সারা দেশে প্রস্তুতিমূলক সভা-সমাবেশ হয়েছে। প্রতিটি স্থানেই সভা-সমাবেশে ব্যাপক সাড়া পাওয়া গেছে। ১৩ দফার সঙ্গে সম্পূর্ণ একমত হয়ে নেতা-কর্মীরা অবরোধে আসতে ইতিমধ্যে সব প্রস্তুতি শেষ করে রেখেছে। এ বিষয়ে হেফাজতের সহকারী মহাসচিব মাওলানা আহলুল্লাহ কালের কণ্ঠকে বলেন, 'আমরা কোনো দলের বিরুদ্ধে নই, শুধু আল্লাহ ও রাসুলের বিরুদ্ধে অবমাননাকারী নাস্তিকদের বিরুদ্ধে। তাই যেকোনো দলের লোকজন আমাদের সংগঠনের কর্মসূচিতে আসতে পারে, যারা আমাদের দাবির প্রতি একাত্মতা প্রকাশ করে।'
শুকনো খাবার সঙ্গে আনার অনুরোধ : অবরোধ কর্মসূচিতে ঢাকায় আসার পথে নেতা-কর্মী ও সমর্থকদের চিঁড়া, মুড়িসহ শুকনো খাবার সঙ্গে আনার জন্য অনুরোধ জানিয়েছেন হেফাজতের কেন্দ্রীয় নেতারা। এ বিষয়ে কেন্দ্রীয় যুগ্ম মহাসচিব মুফতি ফয়জুল্লাহ কালের কণ্ঠকে বলেন, 'আমরা কারো মুখাপেক্ষী হতে চাই না। তাই নেতা-কর্মী ও রাসুল প্রেমিকদের শুকনো খাবার সঙ্গে আনার জন্য অনুরোধ করছি।' জানতে চাওয়া হয়, এতগুলো লোক সকাল থেকে সন্ধ্যা পর্যন্ত অবস্থান করবে তাদের অজুসহ যাবতীয় প্রাকৃতিক প্রয়োজনের জন্য কোনো ব্যবস্থা থাকবে কি না। এ বিষয়ে হেফাজতের এই নেতা বলেন, 'আমরা সংশ্লিষ্ট এলাকার নেতাদের অনুরোধ করেছি। তার পরও বলতে পারি, আল্লাহর মেহমানরা কষ্ট পাবে না। নিশ্চয়ই স্থানীয় মানবপ্রেমী লোকজন এ বিষয়ে এগিয়ে আসবে।'
অবরোধ কর্মসূচি হবে শান্তিপূর্ণ : হেফাজতের কেন্দ্রীয় যুগ্ম মহাসচিব মাইনুদ্দিন রুহী কালের কণ্ঠকে বলেন, তাঁরা যেকোনো মূল্যে অবরোধ কর্মসূচিকে শান্তিপূর্ণ করতে চান। তাঁদের বিশ্বাস, সরকার কোনো বাধা দেবে না। তাহলে তাঁরা দিনব্যাপী ঢাকার প্রবেশমুখে অবস্থান নিয়ে কর্মসূচি শেষ করবেন। যদি তার পরও কোনো বাধা আসে তবে তাৎক্ষণিক কেন্দ্রীয় নেতারা বসে পরবর্তী কর্মসূচির সিদ্ধান্ত দেবেন।
আল্লামা আহমদ শফী ঢাকায় থাকবেন : অবরোধ কর্মসূচির সময় হেফাজতে ইসলামের কেন্দ্রীয় আমির আল্লামা আহমদ শফী রাজধানী ঢাকাতেই অবস্থান করবেন বলে জানিয়েছেন হেফাজতের কেন্দ্রীয় নেতারা। তাঁরা জানান, আল্লামা আহমদ শফী কর্মসূচির দু-এক দিন আগেই চট্টগ্রাম থেকে ঢাকায় চলে আসবেন এবং নেতা-কর্মীদের উৎসাহ জোগাবেন।


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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




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[mukto-mona] One Pakistan by Nehru, Two Pakistans by Indira



Let us do some serious intellectual discussions on this subject.
 
The creation of Pakistan was a disaster for the non-Muslims (and their descendants) of the land that became that country in 1947. However, it was good for the land that became India in 1947. In fact, on an overall equation, the descendants of the non-Muslims of the pre-1947 India probably have done better by keeping most of the Islamic hate-mongers at the two ends, as opposed to everywhere. Many people give Nehru the credit for that. But I would not call that too foresighted. Without removing the excessive religiosity and hatred among the Muslims, the subcontinent cannot be peaceful in the long run. After all, the borders are porous enough for people like Bachhu Razakar to flee Bangladesh, go through India and then take shelter in Pakistan. Even with their minority status now, the Muslim hate-mongers are already creating a lot of discontent in many places in India today.
 
The bottom line is that segregation of hateful minds is not a long-term solution, removing hatred is.

Sukhamaya Bain

======================================

From: Shah Deeldar <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com>
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>; "bangladesh-progressives@googlegroups.com" <bangladesh-progressives@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 2, 2013 7:02 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Re:We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as next President of Bangladesh

 
The quote is somewhat dramatized but it is not too far away from the ground reality. Minorities will be forced to leave the country as they have already done in Pakistan. The choice would be to submit to the will of Islam or cross the border. With Hepazoti blessing, Bangladesh will try the Pakistani path to take people for another ride for the last time. I bet some of the Awamis would not mind to join the gang if that serves their interests. Is Member Das wrong? I am not so sure.
-SD

"All great truths begin as blasphemies." GBS


-----Original Message-----
From: Kamal Das <kamalctgu@gmail.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thu, May 2, 2013 6:18 am
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Re:We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as next President of Bangladesh

 
When Raja Gopalacharya was informed on the 16th of Dec. 1971 of the conquest of Dacca by the allied forces, his reaction was, "Her father Nehru created one Pakistan, she created two"  He was right.  People like Sumon Ahmed prove the validity of comment by Raja Gopalacharya.



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Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: 
Call For Articles:

http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68

http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585

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VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




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Re: [mukto-mona] Re:We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as next President of Bangladesh



I think QR's stupidity should be ignored by the attacker, Dr. Kamal Das, and by the nice guy, Mr. Subimal Chakrabarty.

From: QR <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 2, 2013 5:45 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Re:We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as next President of Bangladesh
 
When Raja Gopalacharya was informed on the 16th of Dec. 1971 of the conquest of Dacca by the allied forces, his reaction was, "Her father Nehru created one Pakistan, she created two"  He was right.  People like Sumon Ahmed prove the validity of comment by Raja Gopalacharya.

>>>>>>>>>> A great example of irresponsibility. Member Das is not happy with ONE person, so he cursed all of Bangladesh. As if we have not made enough sacrifices for this country!!

All countries of the "Sub-continent" have many serious issues. ONLY a communal bigot like Raja Gopalacharya can say such an awful thing about people of Bangladesh on 16th December of 1971.

Another person with similar mentality is quoting from this bigot. VERY sad.

Shalom!
-----Original Message-----From: Kamal Das <kamalctgu@gmail.com>To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>Sent: Thu, May 2, 2013 6:18 amSubject: Re: [mukto-mona] Re:We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as next President of Bangladesh
 
When Raja Gopalacharya was informed on the 16th of Dec. 1971 of the conquest of Dacca by the allied forces, his reaction was, "Her father Nehru created one Pakistan, she created two"  He was right.  People like Sumon Ahmed prove the validity of comment by Raja Gopalacharya.
On Thu, May 2, 2013 at 5:18 AM, Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com> wrote:
 
Shumon Ahmed: "Sometime I wonder if some of these people are for Bangladesh?"
 
Shumon Ahmed, you seem to be displaying your immaturity in the above statement. You must be a young fellow. What you said is that - sometime you wonder if some of these (Hindu) people are for Bangladesh. It's displaying your communal mindset. I did not want to respond to your comments, but felt the need just to expose your mindset, hoping that - it may help you understand yourself a little better. Let me elaborate a bit further.
 
You like BNP/Jamat alignment, and you wonder if some of these Hindus are for Bangladesh or not. You must know – Jamat houses countless razakars and war criminals, who fought against the independence of Bangladesh. Yet, you do not have any doubt about their support for Bangladesh, because they are Muslim after all. You must have seen or heard about Pakistani flags are flying over some Muslim houses on some special occasions, such as 15th August. Still, it did not raise your doubt about their allegiance to Bangladesh. Have you ever seen Indian flags are flying over any non-Muslim house? The answer is NO, but - you still have doubt if some of those non-Muslims are for Bangladesh or not.
 
I hate when people make stereotypical judgments, and that's why I had to respond to your comments. I have nothing against you; I just wanted to point out the implicit communality in your mindset.  
 
Now, as for Dr. Yunus, who you like so much, I was so happy – when he wanted to float a political party. I am sick and tired of political corruptions in Bangladesh. I thought, it would bring some changes, at least initially. But, he failed to do so due to lack of support.
 
You know - Dr. Yunus supported "Minus-2-Theory." Then, why suddenly BNP supporters want to see him as the President of Bangladesh? Do you know why? It is to boost international support for BNP, especially blessing of USA. Don't you think Awami League understands this political angle? You must also know - President is nominated by the Parliament, in which 2/3 majority is Awami League. Don't you see why it is improbable for him to be the President, at this time, no matter how much you like him? I bet, you never thought about it. If you did, you should have guessed the prospect of Dr. Yunus becoming the President. In your mind – any one who dislikes Dr. Yunus, for whatever reason, must be anti-Bangladesh or is it only true for non-Muslims.

Jiten Roy


--- On Wed, 5/1/13, Kamal Das <kamalctgu@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Kamal Das <kamalctgu@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [PrioBangla] Re: [mukto-mona] We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the next President of Bangladesh ( Re: [Bangladesh-Zindabad] Hamid isn't a neutral pertson(হামিদ 70;ল নিরপেক্ষ &# 2472;ন, সংকট বাড়ব ;ে: মোশাররফ) Dr. MUsha rraf Hossain)
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 12:53 PM

 
"People like Kamal Das" are apparently majority in this country. 
"An uneducated person like Hasina" is more educated academically than Khaleda Zia and more experienced than Yunus in politics.  Fortunately Chittagong University Economics Department is better aware about the academic standing of Yunus than any idiotic blogger of Sumon Ahmed's status. "Already we are back to a few decades under Hasina misrule."  What parameters does this idiot have to make such a comment?  The idiot could not even write the sentence correctly.  It should have been 'by a' instead of 'to a'.

Fact remains that Yunus tried to open a political party under the active support of the post 1/11 Govt., failed and promised not to be in the game again.  One has to break all the rules to bring him to the helm of affairs.  Even then he would not last due to the lack of constitutional legitimacy.
On Wed, May 1, 2013 at 2:57 AM, Shumon Ahmed <http://mc/compose?to=shumonoh@yahoo.com> wrote:
 
People like Kamal Das only think that an uneducated person like Hasina fits into the position. Sometime I wonder if some of these people are for Bangladesh? They always avoid people like Dr. Yunus for some unknown reason who can run the country efficiently.
Hasina can harm the country and take it back to medieval period. Already we are back to a few decades under Hasina misrule.
 
To: "http://mc/compose?to=Alapon@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Alapon@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Alochona@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Alochona@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BaaiNews@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BaaiNews@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BaaiWdc@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BaaiWdc@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BaaiWdc_comm@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BaaiWdc_comm@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Bangla-Women@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Bangla-Women@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesi@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesi@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BangladeshCommunity@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BangladeshCommunity@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesh-Zindabad@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesh-Zindabad@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesh_News_Website@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesh_News_Website@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BangladeshCommunity@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BangladeshCommunity@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Bangladeshi@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Bangladeshi@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BanglarNari@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BanglarNari@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Miss_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Miss_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BanglaVision@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BanglaVision@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Better_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Better_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BdFacts@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BdFacts@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BdFacts@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BdFacts@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BdNews@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BdNews@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=BdResearchers@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=BdResearchers@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Bikalpa_Dhara_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Bikalpa_Dhara_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Chottala@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Chottala@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Corruption-Free-Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Corruption-Free-Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Dahuk@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Dahuk@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=DakBangla@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=DakBangla@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Dakghor@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Dakghor@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=DUAFI@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=DUAFI@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Diagnose@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Diagnose@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Digital-Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Digital-Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=DigitalBangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=DigitalBangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Friends_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Friends_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=FriendsNFamilys@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=FriendsNFamilys@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Group_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Group_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Hindu_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Hindu_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Khabor@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Khabor@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh11@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh11@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh14@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh14@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh101@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh101@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh21@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh21@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh31@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh31@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh39@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh39@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh42@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh42@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh44@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh44@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh45@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh45@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh48@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh48@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh55@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh55@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh103@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh103@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh111@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh111@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh125@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh125@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh126@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh126@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh129@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh129@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh130@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh130@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh131@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh131@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh133@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh133@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh141@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh141@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh198@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=MyBangladesh198@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Mukto-Mona@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Mukto-Mona@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Notun_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Notun_Bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Ovimot@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Ovimot@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=PrioBangla@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=PrioBangla@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=Reform-Bd@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Reform-Bd@yahoogroups.com>; "Bangladesh-Progressives@GoogleGroups.com" <Bangladesh-Progressives@GoogleGroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=akramulqader@gmail.com" <http://mc/compose?to=akramulqader@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 9:51 PM
Subject: [PrioBangla] Re: [mukto-mona] We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the next President of Bangladesh ( Re: [Bangladesh-Zindabad] Hamid isn't a neutral pertson(&#2489;&#2494;&#2478;&#2495;&#2470; &#24 70;&#2482; &#2472;&#2495;&#2480;&#2474;&#2503;&#2453;&#2509;&#2487; &# 2472;&#2472;, &#2488;&#2434;&#2453;&#2463; &#2476;&#2494;&#2524;&#2476 ;&#2503;: &#2478;&#2507;&#2486;&#2494;&#2480;&#2480;&#2475;) Dr. MUsha rraf Hossain)
 
Dear Readers,I am waiting to hear more from these few Non-Muslim extremists. Even good words about Dr. Muhammad Yunus is upsetting them. Are they really Bangladeshi origin?
With best regards,
Em
arat Hossain Pannah
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Em Pannah
Doctor of Management (Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Identity Theft), MS, MSc., CISSP, CAP, CISM, NSA-IAM, NSA-IEM, Foundations of Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Professional, Textbook Writer/Publisher, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in USA
Primary email: epannah@yahoo.com | Secondary email: em.pannah@faculty.umuc.edu
Primary phone: (443) 690-3955 | Secondary phone: (301) 358-9232------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kamal Das <http://mc/compose?to=kamalctgu@gmail.com>
To: http://mc/compose?to=mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 7:59 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the next President of Bangladesh ( Re: [Bangladesh-Zindabad] Hamid isn't a neutral pertson(&#2489;&#2494;&#2478;&#2495;&#2470; &#24 70;&#2482; &#2472;&#2495;&#2480;&#2474;&#2503;&#2453;&#2509;&#2487; &# 2472;&#2472;, &#2488;&#2434;&#2453;&#2463; &#2476;&#2494;&#2524;&#2476 ;&#2503;: &#2478;&#2507;&#2486;&#2494;&#2480;&#2480;&#2475;) Dr. MUsha rraf Hossain)
 
Why not one of the Allamas of the Kaomi Madrasas?  Shame on the people who think a loan shark as the best person fit for the post.  Did not Allah bestow any gray matter in their upper chamber?
2013/4/23 QR <http://mc/compose?to=qrahman@netscape.net>
 
It is my request to all of you to please strongly demand and raise your voice to have Dr. Muhammad Yunus (the best of the bests - the pride of Bangladesh - one of the most honorable and known persons in the world now) as our next President of Bangladesh
>>>>>>>>>>> It is a good emotional request but I would advise him against it. As a nation WE have to learn to respect knowledge, courage and visionary leadership.

Even in this forum(With people with above average education and exposure to modernity) the amount of personal attacks, foul language and mud slinging is at an alarming level.

So one of the greatest visionaries of our time like Dr. Yunus should not waste him precious time in our rotten group. UNLESS we make some radical change in our politics, our politics is not the place for him.
As you have seen even educated privileged members don't have strong enough backbones to praise him openly. Since he is in the 'bad book" of some leaders. Most members here (Even those who don't live in Bangladesh) cannot get over their own political biases.

Dr. Yunus should not waste his time on people like ourselves. Maybe sometime down the road we'll muster some courage to be proud of him. I am afraid by that time, it may be too late.

My two cents....


Shalom!
-----Original Message-----From: Dr. Em Pannah <http://mc/compose?to=epannah@yahoo.com>To: Bangladesh-Zindabad <http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesh-Zindabad@yahoogroups.com>; ovimot <http://mc/compose?to=ovimot@yahoogroups.com>Cc: akramulqader <http://mc/compose?to=akramulqader@gmail.com>; anis.ahmed <http://mc/compose?to=anis.ahmed@netzero.net>; aahmed <http://mc/compose?to=aahmed@voanews.com>; friendsnfamilys <http://mc/compose?to=friendsnfamilys@yahoogroups.com>; alapon <http://mc/compose?to=alapon@yahoogroups.com>; nazrulic <http://mc/compose?to=nazrulic@gmail.com>; muhanazm <http://mc/compose?to=muhanazm@yahoo.com>; baaiwdc_comm <http://mc/compose?to=baaiwdc_comm@yahoogroups.com>; mohammedjubair <http://mc/compose?to=mohammedjubair@hotmail.com>; khabor <http://mc/compose?to=khabor@yahoogroups.com>; syed.aslam3 <http://mc/compose?to=syed.aslam3@gmail.com>; malamgir1 <http://mc/compose?to=malamgir1@aol.com>; baainews <http://mc/compose?to=baainews@yahoogroups.com>; teambccdi <http://mc/compose?to=teambccdi@yahoo.com>; aabeag <http://mc/compose?to=aabeag@yahoogroups.com>; dhroopad <http://mc/compose?to=dhroopad@yahoogroups.com>; duafi <http://mc/compose?to=duafi@yahoogroups.com>; news4bangla <http://mc/compose?to=news4bangla@gmail.com>; ektaracore <http://mc/compose?to=ektaracore@yahoogroups.com>; chottala <http://mc/compose?to=chottala@yahoogroups.com>; buetian_wdc <http://mc/compose?to=buetian_wdc@yahoogroups.com>; dc.drishtipat <http://mc/compose?to=dc.drishtipat@gmail.com>Sent: Mon, Apr 22, 2013 5:29 amSubject: [mukto-mona] We want Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the next President of Bangladesh ( Re: [Bangladesh-Zindabad] Hamid isn't a neutral pertson(&#2489;&#2494;&#2478;&#2495;&#2470; &#24 70;&#2482; &#2472;&#2495;&#2480;&#2474;&#2503;&#2453;&#2509;&#2487; &# 2472;&#2472;, &#2488;&#2434;&#2453;&#2463; &#2476;&#2494;&#2524;&#2476 ;&#2503;: &#2478;&#2507;&#2486;&#2494;&#2480;&#2480;&#2475;) Dr. MUsha rraf Hossain)
 
Dear Readers,
It is my request to all of you to please strongly demand and raise your voice to have Dr. Muhammad Yunus (the best of the bests - the pride of Bangladesh - one of the most honorable and known persons in the world now) as our next President of Bangladesh. All Bangladeshi people, no matter whatever their political or religious preferences are, need to let the world know that Bangladeshi people have the courage of honoring their national hero.
 
With best regards,
Muktijodha Em
arat Hossain Pannah
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Em Pannah
Doctor of Management (Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Identity Theft), MS, MSc., CISSP, CAP, CISM, NSA-IAM, NSA-IEM, Foundations of Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Professional, Textbook Writer/Publisher, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in USA
Primary email: epannah@yahoo.com | Secondary email: em.pannah@faculty.umuc.edu
Primary phone: (443) 690-3955 | Secondary phone: (301) 358-9232------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Dr. Em Pannah <http://mc/compose?to=epannah@yahoo.com>
To: "http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesh-Zindabad@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesh-Zindabad@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=ovimot@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=ovimot@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "http://mc/compose?to=akramulqader@gmail.com" <http://mc/compose?to=akramulqader@gmail.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=anis.ahmed@netzero.net" <http://mc/compose?to=anis.ahmed@netzero.net>; "http://mc/compose?to=aahmed@voanews.com" <http://mc/compose?to=aahmed@voanews.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=friendsnfamilys@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=friendsnfamilys@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=alapon@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=alapon@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=nazrulic@gmail.com" <http://mc/compose?to=nazrulic@gmail.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=muhanazm@yahoo.com" <http://mc/compose?to=muhanazm@yahoo.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=baaiwdc_comm@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=baaiwdc_comm@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=mohammedjubair@hotmail.com" <http://mc/compose?to=mohammedjubair@hotmail.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=khabor@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=khabor@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=syed.aslam3@gmail.com" <http://mc/compose?to=syed.aslam3@gmail.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=malamgir1@aol.com" <http://mc/compose?to=malamgir1@aol.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=baainews@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=baainews@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=teambccdi@yahoo.com" <http://mc/compose?to=teambccdi@yahoo.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=aabeag@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=aabeag@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=dhroopad@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=dhroopad@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=duafi@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=duafi@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=news4bangla@gmail.com" <http://mc/compose?to=news4bangla@gmail.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=ektaracore@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=ektaracore@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=chottala@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=chottala@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=buetian_wdc@yahoogroups.com" <http://mc/compose?to=buetian_wdc@yahoogroups.com>; "http://mc/compose?to=dc.drishtipat@gmail.com" <http://mc/compose?to=dc.drishtipat@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Bangladesh-Zindabad] Hamid isn't a neutral pertson(&#2489;&#2494;&#2478;&#2495;&#2470; &#24 70;&#2482; &#2472;&#2495;&#2480;&#2474;&#2503;&#2453;&#2509;&#2487; &# 2472;&#2472;, &#2488;&#2434;&#2453;&#2463; &#2476;&#2494;&#2524;&#2476 ;&#2503;: &#2478;&#2507;&#2486;&#2494;&#2480;&#2480;&#2475;) Dr. MUsha rraf Hossain
Dear Readers,
Please demand with me and raise your voice to have Dr. Muhammad Yunus (the best of the bests - the pride of Bangladesh) as our next President of Bangladesh. Please let the world know that we honor our national hero.
 
With best regards,
Muktijodha Em
arat Hossain Pannah
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Em Pannah
Doctor of Management (Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Identity Theft), MS, MSc., CISSP, CAP, CISM, NSA-IAM, NSA-IEM, Foundations of Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Professional, Textbook Writer/Publisher, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in USA
Primary email: epannah@yahoo.com | Secondary email: em.pannah@faculty.umuc.edu
Primary phone: (443) 690-3955 | Secondary phone: (301) 358-9232------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Mohiuddin Anwar <http://mc/compose?to=mohiuddin@netzero.net>
To: http://mc/compose?to=ovimot@yahoogroups.com
Cc: http://mc/compose?to=akramulqader@gmail.com; http://mc/compose?to=anis.ahmed@netzero.net; http://mc/compose?to=aahmed@voanews.com; http://mc/compose?to=Bangladesh-Zindabad@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=anis.ahmed@netzero.net; http://mc/compose?to=ovimot@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=friendsnfamilys@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=alapon@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=nazrulic@gmail.com; http://mc/compose?to=muhanazm@yahoo.com; http://mc/compose?to=akramulqader@gmail.com; http://mc/compose?to=baaiwdc_comm@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=mohammedjubair@hotmail.com; http://mc/compose?to=friendsnfamilys@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=nazrulic@gmail.com; http://mc/compose?to=khabor@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=syed.aslam3@gmail.com; http://mc/compose?to=ovimot@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=malamgir1@aol.com; http://mc/compose?to=alapon@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=baainews@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=teambccdi@yahoo.com; http://mc/compose?to=aabeag@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=dhroopad@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=duafi@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=news4bangla@gmail.com; http://mc/compose?to=ektaracore@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=chottala@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=buetian_wdc@yahoogroups.com; http://mc/compose?to=dc.drishtipat@gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 1:10 PM
Subject: [Bangladesh-Zindabad] Hamid isn't a neutral pertson(&#2489;&#2494;&#2478;&#2495;&#2470; &#24 70;&#2482; &#2472;&#2495;&#2480;&#2474;&#2503;&#2453;&#2509;&#2487; &# 2472;&#2472;, &#2488;&#2434;&#2453;&#2463; &#2476;&#2494;&#2524;&#2476 ;&#2503;: &#2478;&#2507;&#2486;&#2494;&#2480;&#2480;&#2475;) Dr. MUsha rraf Hossain
 
হামিদ দল নিরপেক্ষ নন, সংকট বাড়বে: মোশাররফ
২১ এপ্রিল,২০১৩
 
 
 
 
 
 
আরেফিন শাকিলআরটিএনএনঢাকা: রাষ্ট্রপতি পদে ক্ষমতাসীন আওয়ামী লীগ থেকে মনোনয়ন পেয়েছেন অ্যাডভোকেট আবদুল হামিন। এ বিষয়ে বিএনপির স্থায়ী কমিটির সদস্য খন্দকার মোশাররফ হোসেন বলেছেন, 'স্পিকার হিসেবে আবদুল হামিদ নিরপেক্ষতার পরিচয় দিতে পারেননি। তিনি আসলে দল নিরপেক্ষ ব্যক্তি নন।'আরটিএনএন- কে দেয়া প্রতিক্রিয়ায় বিএনপির এই প্রভাবশালী নেতা বলেন, 'আবদুল হামিদের মতো দলীয় ব্যক্তির পক্ষে চলমান সংকট সমাধান করা সম্ভব নয়। তিনি উত্তপ্ত রাজনৈতিক পরিস্থিতি সমাধান করতে পারবেন, এ নিয়ে আমাদের যথেষ্ট সংশয় রয়েছে।'তবে তার দল বিএনপি প্রত্যাশা করেছিল, সংবিধানের নিয়ম অনুযায়ী দেশের ২০তম রাষ্ট্রপতি নির্বাচিত হবেন। দলীয় নয় বরং নিরপেক্ষ ও গ্রহণযোগ্য অনেক ব্যক্তি বাংলাদেশে ছিলেন। তাদের নির্বাচিত করা হলে দেশ উপকৃত হতো।মোশাররফ হোসেন আরও বলেন, 'সংবিধানের নিয়ম অনুযায়ী সংসদ সদস্যদের ভোটেই আমরা রাষ্ট্রপতি নির্বাচন চাই। বিএনপি গণতন্ত্রে বিশ্বাস করে। তাই সংবিধানের প্রতি সব সময় শ্রদ্ধাশীল।'তিনি জোর দিয়ে বলেন, 'দল নিরপেক্ষ ও সকলের কাছে গ্রহণযোগ্য ব্যক্তিকে আমরা রাষ্ট্রপতি হিসেবে দেখতে চাই, একথা আগেও বলেছি। কারণ বর্তমান রাজনৈতিক পরিস্থিতির উত্তরণে নিরপেক্ষ ও গ্রহণযোগ্য রাষ্ট্রপতি অনেক ভূমিকা রাখতে পারতেন।'অতীতের উদাহরণ টেনে বিএনপির এই স্থায়ী কমিটির সদস্য জানান, '১৯৯৬ সালে বর্তমান আওয়ামী লীগ সরকার বিচারপতি শাহাবুউদ্দিন আহমেদকে রাষ্ট্রপতি করেছিলেন। আর ২০০১ সালে ক্ষমতায় গিয়ে বিএনপি অধ্যাপক ড. ইয়াজউদ্দিন আহমেদকে রাষ্ট্রপতি করেছিলেন, যারা কেউই দলীয় লোক ছিলেন না।'গত ২০ মার্চ সিঙ্গাপুরে চিকিৎসাধীন অবস্থায় ১৯তম রাষ্ট্রপতি মো. জিল্লুর রহমান মৃত্যুবরণ করেন। এরপর থেকে অস্থায়ী রাষ্ট্রপতির দায়িত্ব পান স্পিকার অ্যাডভোকেট আবদুল হামিদ।
 
 
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[mukto-mona] My article on Bangladeshi arrested bloggers appears in CFI.



I am glad to announce that our plea is finally being covered by international media! CFI has just published my essay which summarizes the arrested bloggers' condition in Bangladesh (thank you to Michael De Dora for taking initiative).

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/avijitroy/

I am sure this will help us gain global attention about the issue. I believe that this sort of international awareness has the potential to pressure the Bangladeshi authorities into releasing the bloggers. Without such pressure, Bangladesh's government will not take any action.

We also had a 'world wide protest' event for the same issue, you can see the pictures and related updates here:


Avijit
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No Flag Large Enough to Cover the Shame - Guest Post from Dr. Avijit Roy

May 1, 2013

On May 2, CFI and other organizations will take part in protests around the world against the persecution of atheist bloggers and other dissidents in Bangladesh.  

Dr. Avijit Roy is a Bangladeshi writer perhaps best known for founding Mukto-Mona.com, a website for freethinkers of Bengali and South Asian descent. Over the past several weeks he has been an extremely important contact for the Center for Inquiry, providing us with critical updates regarding the situation in Bangladesh, and connecting us with people in Bangladesh who are in need of assistance. The following is a guest post from Dr. Roy, originally posted at his blog.

1

blogger_arrest_bd
What comes to mind when affronted by the picture above? If you didn't know the story behind the picture, or if you hadn't been online for the last month, you very well might think that the men standing before you are a gang of thieves who have been caught red-handed. Perhaps this is a picture that border guards have posted of some poachers or drug dealers that they have recently detained.

But alas, your speculations would be incorrect if you did indeed believe that the men arrested in this picture are drug lords, poachers, or criminals of any kind. They are, however, a group of brilliant writers. These men are known as Bangladeshi bloggers; the items that are displayed in front of them – the bloggers' own computers and laptops – have been seized and searched by Bangladesh's law enforcement. What a nice catch our police force has made!

At times, I fall speechless when asked if I have anything to say about the sorry case of the writers in our country. So many readers like me read their conceptions with such devotion, using their articles as a means to enhance our knowledge as well as our own logic skills. I was even personally acquainted with one of the accused "atheist" bloggers, Subrata Shuvo, who had wanted to publish one of his articles on Mukto-Mona (www.mukto-mona.com, a site for freethinkers of mainly Bengali and South Asian descent which I use to moderate), several weeks ago. His proposed story was on Mr. Shahidul Haque [aka: Shahidul mama (Uncle)], who was a freedom fighter of 1971. It was through Shuvo's writing that I learned how S. Haque was the major eyewitness of Quader Molla's – an evil war criminal's – trial. Since S. Haque was a guerilla fighter, he saw the brutal genocide conducted under Quader Molla's command. Haque was also an activist in the protests and riots of '66 and of '69.

Before reading Subrata's story, I never knew a person such as Mr. Haque had existed – a person who is so passionate, brilliant, and brave, a person who loves his country more than I do. This fearless soldier came back from Sweden just to testify against Quader Molla, in the hope that he and countless others would finally achieve justice. "I won't complain against the tribunal, but the sentence (that Quader Molla was only given life in prison) is simply outrageous" said Mr. Shahidul, where many had expected the vicious criminal to be hanged until death, at the very least. Shubrata's writings covered various topics, examples of which are titled, "Interview: Ferdousi Priyovashini on freedom fighters & war children" and "Daily Shangram: their contribution on covering 1971's 25th March." Both articles were proof of the profound love that Shubrata felt for his homeland. There is no doubt that, because of youths like him, the Shahbag movement could awaken the people of Bangladesh.

And how does our government respond to his actions? Instead of praising or even acknowledging his patriotic contributions to the Bangladeshi community, they locked him behind bars. Their rationale? His 'atheism'. After hearing about such horrific proceedings, I started reading Subrata's Bangla blog on mukto-mona to see for myself why the government had taken such offense. To my surprise, I could not find a single entry indicative of the so called radical atheistic mindset that he was being accused of. Well, Subrata did write an essay on Richard Dawkins, one of the famous atheist celebrities of our time, but we all know that Dawkins is more than just another atheist – he is one of the best scientists of our time! Even people with the vaguest interest in science are mesmerized with Dawkins' writing and logical analyses. Just as a skilled piano player spellbinds us with his keys or as a poet captivates us with his lines, Dawkins' logic entrances us with his in-depth explanations….and anyone can express gratitude towards him for this reason alone! I myself have done so several times. As I read Humyun Azad's Shab kichu nashtoder Adhikare jabe (All will go to the rights of Evil), or when I recite Bangladesher Katha (Story of Bangladesh), I encounter the same contentment as when I read Dawkins' works. Should such feelings really be measured on a spectrum separating atheism and theism? Even Einstein, arguably the most celebrated man on the planet, abandoned the idea of a personal savior, saying – "I don't try to imagine a personal God; it suffices to stand in awe at the structure of the world, insofar as it allows our inadequate senses to appreciate it." The beauty and sublimity of Einstein's words will no doubt affect a person's mind, regardless of if he is an outspoken atheist or deeply religious.
Russell Pervez is another arrested blogger who was famous for his unique, hyper-article writing style in various Bangla blogs. His writings always reminded me of the style of the late Christopher Hitchens, because both writers used their immense knowledge in history, politics, science, literature, and religion to produce quality works. In a recent newspaper article, Arif Jebtik, the eminent blogger and columnist wrote a column in an online newspaper (bdnews24) under the title Ekmatro Bikalpa Bhalo Manushder Shakriyata(The only alternative is the activeness of a few good men)[1]. He began by asking why an exceptional scholar such as Russel would leave his comfortable and respectable life in the US to teach kids science in Bangladesh. Russell loved Bangladesh so much, that he left America for Bangladesh with his 2 year-old-child, despite the fact that his wife was still busy finishing her Ph.D. He took his son with him to book fairs, cultural programs, and to Shahid Minar to show gratitude towards our martyrs. He left America's high-paying corporate jobs and took over teaching science in school instead. Soon, his wife joined him in Bangladesh, and she started teaching as well. One instant, Russell was busy spreading love for his country and knowledge about the freedom war of 1971; the next minute, he is in jail, accused of being an Atheist, which has suddenly become a punishable crime in our country.
The day after Asif Mohiuddin – another reputed blogger — was arrested, he was interrogated by the detective branch about his earlier protests against the raised fees that Jagannath University's students had been afflicted with. His writing — which was heavily critical of religious dogma, bigotry and superstition – and his political activism angered the government, as well as marked the beginning of the threats he received from fundamentalists. These threats eventually led to action in mid-January this year. Mohiuddin was brutally stabbed and severely injured by three suspected but unidentified Islamist fundamentalists. When Asif returned, the BTRC (The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) allegedly told the blog communities to stop spreading his messages. Complying with the threat, Somewherein, Bangladesh's first Bangla language community blog site, ultimately banned Mohiuddin, who used to write there regularly (and was even 2012′s User Winner for "Best Social Activism Campaign" at the Deutsche Welle's International Blog Awards)[2]. Now, of course, he is arrested. While Asif has been an object of criticism for a number of groups, many young freethinkers in Bangladesh look to him as a nonconformist idol, who has fought against the tyrannical state machinery until the very end. Asif's last status and a forceful writeup(published in richarddawkins.net – just before he got arrested) about the arrested bloggers reads,
There was a time in the 17-18th century in Europe when women who excelled in knowledge, science and philosophy more than men were blamed for witchcraft and were burned alive by the churches and their theocratic government. Education and thus advancement for women has always been a threat for radicalism so this is why the church and the government indulged in burning the progressive women by branding them as witches.The exact same situation is in Bangladesh right now. The whole new generation who brought in a revolution in Bangla blog community with their advancement in science, philosophy and critical mind, who wrote against the religious fundamentalism and in favor of our great liberation war, freedom of speech, secularism and democracy will be burned alive just like witch-hunt in the late middle ages. I was threatened a lot when I spoke against governments autocracy from so many other bloggers, but where are they now? Are they supporting the two headed snake government who acts secular but shelters the fundamentalists?
Asif went to jail with his head held high. This was enough to give the government a reassuringly sharp slap in the face, courtesy of the blogger community.

2

A few weeks ago, I wrote a Bangla article for an online Bangla newspaper that caused me to rethink deeper about the issue[3]. Here, we still have malicious Facebook pages like 'Basherkella' & 'New Basherkella' who spread religious hatred among Muslims, and instead of it being banned, they are going viral! Lots of citizens belonging to different religious group are losing everything, even their lives. Some are taking of rail slippers with intentions of damaging rail systems, so that trains will slide and passengers will be killed. The Facebook pages that advocated these actions were not deactivated, and nothing was done to stop them. Even the newspaper "Amar Desh" (whose editor, Mahmudur Rahman, has been arrested few weeks ago) is still active online and is spreading made-up stories describing the personal life of a murdered blogger, calling people names and tagging them atheists. Uneducated Mullahs, who don't have a single idea about what a blog or blogger is, are proclaiming the bloggers to be evil. "Ansarullah Bangla team", whose members are sidekicks to Hijbut Tahrir – which was banned in Bangladesh for terrorism – is still working online. The team is imprinting fictitious messages in the heads of youths, posting tutorials on how to make bombs in a regular kitchen, and asking our sisters to join the Suicide Squad. The killers of Rajib were given gallant honor on their website! While the government should be taking care of these terrorists, it spends its time arresting progressive bloggers instead.

The weirdest and most disgusting aspect of the entire ordeal is how the media portrayed the bloggers; they were deemed as crooks in the public eye. Nobody has seen anything like this before. Our government is the ruling party that has housed known criminals like Shamim Usman. We normally see detectives running in circles to catch high-profile criminals or killers. What they caught instead were these couple of 'dangerous' bloggers – men who were presented as criminals and robbers for minding their own business and writing about freethinking and political issues. Co-blogger Nijhoom Majumder remarked, "DB (detective branch) usually takes photos like these when they arrest some serious criminals. The way the picture was taken, someone would think these three bloggers were caught red handed while stealing a computer! As a blogger myself, all I feel is pity." I'm pretty sure that we are all feeling the same. It's a shame for all of us — for writers, bloggers, and free thinkers worldwide. As an act of protest, several prominent blog sites such as Sachalyatan, Muktomona, Amar blog, Muktangon, etc, went on blackout by turning their sites off at that time. Just after the bloggers got arrested, Mukto-Mona issued a statement titled, 'Bangladesh government squishing freedom of speech by arresting and harassing young bloggers inside the country'[4]. Dr. A. H. Jaffor Ullah, one of the prominent members of Mukto-Mona, composed a very powerful article under the title – 'Muzzling the voice of freethinking bloggers: An alarming development in Bangladesh!'. Both his article and the statement were cited by international press and also were shared (in Facebook) and twitted numerous times.

3

However, in the darkest of hours I still see a slither of light. Prominent citizens and intellectuals like Dr. Salahuddin Ahmed, Dr. Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Dr. Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Dr. Anisuzzaman, Dr. Ali Akbar Khan, Dr. Ajoy Roy, Qayyum Chowdhury, Ramendu Majumdar, Dr. Sarwar Ali, Advocate Sultana Kamal, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Khushi Kabir, M M Akash, Dr. Yasmin Haque, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Tarek Ali, Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Shaheen Anam, and Robaet Ferdous stand boldly on our side. They have requested the government not to block free speech and free thinking[5]. "Everyone has the right to practice their religion, but nobody should block free speech", they proclaimed. It provides me with some solace that even when the free thinking spirit is being gagged, we still have so many enlightened people on our side. Several days later, the teachers and students and online activists formed a human chain in front of Dhaka Central Jail on April 22, demanding release of four bloggers. They gathered there wearing black badges and masks and holding placards, some of which read, "Either release the arrested bloggers from jail or put us into it."[6]
bloger_der_mukti_naile_jele
Pic: The teachers and students and online activists gathered in front of Dhaka Central Jail holding placards- "Either release the arrested bloggers from jail or put us into it."

We also have the international support from a few influential organizations. IHEU, the world umbrella organization for freethinkers and humanists, issued a strong statement titled, "Government is stepping right into the trap set by these Islamic fundamentalists"[7]. A few days later they issued another alert: 'Call to action: Defend the bloggers of Bangladesh'[8]. Atheist Alliance Int'l (AAI) also demanded immediate release of the bloggers. The American Humanist Society also sent a petition to the US Ambassador to get involved. CNNBBCHuffington Post, and Slate published articles criticizing Bangladesh's actions towards the bloggers. Psychology Today published an article on April 10, 2013 titled, 'Atheism Shouldn't Be a Crime: Blasphemy should be celebrated, not outlawed.' In it, Dave Niose reminds us of the obvious, yet necessary, point that atheism should not be criminalized:
One of the many problems with the concept of protecting religion from defamation is that ideas (including religious ideas) cannot be defamed – only people can be defamed. If governments feel that any idea must be shielded from scrutiny, questioning, or even ridicule and satirical commentary, that idea must be extremely weak, or alternatively the society in question must be repressive.
This is why blasphemy should not be criminalized, but celebrated. Those subversive individuals with the bad manners to remind us that no idea is sacred – that governmental defense of any theology necessarily weakens the legitimacy of both the government and the theology – should be thanked for making us think and for reminding us that we live in a free, open society.
Nonbelievers are valuable contributors to society and deserve no inferiority complex or stigmatization, yet their government encourages it. "Theistic supremacy" is too often the official governmental line, only because politicians find it easy to pander to religious voters by exalting religious belief. It may not be akin to throwing atheists in jail, but it still isn't right.
Amnesty International issued a statement titled, 'Bangladesh: writers at risk of torture'. Center for Inquiry (CFI), a New York-based global secular group has requested the US Secretary of State John Kerry to 'pressure the government of Bangladesh to reverse its policy of arresting atheist bloggers who were critical to religion'. CFI sent a letter to Secretary Kerry and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook 'to do all they can to raise public awareness of this situation'. Other influential organizations such as Free Society Institute of South Africa, Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists, Global Voice Advocacy, and several other bodies have also called for immediate release of the Bangladeshi bloggers and appealed to several other foreign authorities to press Bangladesh on the issue.[9]

Besides these organizations, many influential writers and activists, including Taslima Nasrin, PZ Myers, Hemant Mehta, and Maryam Namazie, publicly expressed their support. Among them, the Iranian-born activist, commentator, broadcaster, and 2005'sSecularist of the Year award-winner, Ms. Namazie called for 25 April to be an international day to defend Bangladesh's bloggers and activists[10]. Dhaka University students and teachers have also called for a strike on April 25th to press for the release of the four bloggers. An international coalition of atheist and humanist organizations led by CFI also planned demonstrations in New York, Washington D.C., London, Ottawa, and other cities around the world on the same day[11]. The rallies being organized by groups such as Center for Inquiry, American Atheists, and the International Humanist and Ethical Union were supposed to be held outside Bangladeshi embassies and consulates to demand the release of the bloggers who were arrested on charges of blasphemy[12].

Then, struck the Savar tragedy. An eight-story building collapsed on April 24th in Savar, a small town in the outskirts of Dhaka, killing at least 300 people and injuring more than 1,000. April 25th, the day after the tragedy, has been proclaimed the National Day of Mourning in Bangladesh. In effect, official protests to be led by CFI have been postponed to May 2nd. Dhaka University students and teachers also cancelled the strike anticipated for the 25th of April[13].
mu_student_atheist_april25
Pic: Aaron Underwood, vice president of the MU student atheist organization, speaks to a crowd at the Defend Dissent protest on Thursday April 25, 2013.

However, several freethinking groups, including the American Atheists and Secular Coalition for America, decided to continue with the protests that were originally planned for April 25th, since the day had already been declared 'International Day to Defend Bangladesh's Bloggers.' American Atheists led protests at the consulate office in New York City and the embassy in Washington, D.C. (with assistance from the Secular Coalition for America). Defending his decision, American Atheists' president David Silverman said,
"My decision to continue … is based on the fact that I feel this is an urgent problem. People are in jail for doing nothing but self expression, and that is wholly immoral. This protest is weeks in the making, international in scope, and we aren't canceling it because of an impromptu day of mourning imposed by the very people imprisoning atheists like us."
protest_april25b
Pic: Freethinkers rallies on Thursday (April 25) outside Bangladeshi embassies.
Maryam Namazie led another protest rally in Trafalgar Square in London. A day prior to the demonstrations, she wrote a powerful blog titled, 'While we remember the dead, let us also remember those fighting to live.' In it, she expressed,
Today 25 April has been declared a day of mourning in Bangladesh for the victims of the nation's worst factory disaster. The death toll of the collapsed garment factory has risen to 160; more than a 1000 have been injured. Rescuers continue to hunt for survivors.
Those who died in the building collapse did not need to die. Workers saw cracks in the building the day before but were ignored.
Today is also the International Day to Defend Bangladesh's Bloggers, four of whom are imprisoned, and more than 80 others who face death threats by Islamists. Here too their safety and lives have been ignored by the Government.
In both these cases, the Government has failed to defend fundamental rights. Unfortunately, it is too late for the many garment factory workers. But there is still time to save Bangladesh's bloggers. The Government must act before it is too late.
On 25 April, whist we remember the dead, we must also remember those who are fighting to live.
Protests in Columbia, MO also ensued. Members of local groups of skeptics, atheists, secular humanists, and agnostics convened on Thursday at the University of Missouri's campus to be part of the global movement[14].
protest_april25
Pic: Several freethinking groups protested globally on April 25th, whereas many others will continue on May 2nd  [More pictures can be found here].
The remaining groups who did not participate in the April 25th protests, have rescheduled for May 2nd. These groups include the Center for Inquiry, CFI-Canada, and British Humanist Association. They will lead protests in Washington, D.C., Canada, London, and NYC. An additional protest rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh is also planned for May 2nd.
It is clear that international pressure against the Bangladeshi government is rising(please refer to my piece which can be found in BDNews24, an online Bangla newspaper, and in Mukto-Mona Bangla Blog- here). If Bangladesh does not change its course of action, it is clear that our country will not progress. Of course, only time will tell what direction it takes. If the bloggers are kept against their will, Bangladesh will be well on its way to being a fundamentalist autocracy; if it does, however, let the bloggers go in peace, there may be some hope for redemption. For now, the cards are in the government's hands.

Courtesy of: Aldrin Malakar (for translating portions of one of my Bengali articles) andTrisha Ahmed (for corrections and the final proofreading)

References:
[1] Arif Jebtik, Ekmatro Bikalpa Bhalo Manushder Shakriyata,(The only alternative is the activeness of a few good men), bdnews24.com (opinion); Published: 2013-04-04
[2] Bangladesh gags award-winning blogger, Deutsche Welle Report.
[3] Avijit Roy, Bloggerder Bak swadhinotay chaina hostokkhep, (Do not squish the freedom of speech of the bloggers) banglanews24.com, published on 23 Mar 2013
[5] Muktachintar poth ruddho na korar ahobaan, A Statement from prominent Citizens of Bangladesh; banglanews24.com, 05 Apr 2013
[8] IHEU Action Alert: Call to action: Defend the bloggers of Bangladesh, 9 April, 2013
[9] US body against blogger's arrest, Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com, Published: 2013-04-17
[10] Maryam Namazie, On 25 April 2013 we stand with Bangladeshi bloggers and activists!, http://freethoughtblogs.com,
[11] Worldwide Protests for Free Expression in Bangladesh, Campaign for Free Expression, CFI.
[12] Kimberly Winston, Atheists Rally Around Jailed Bangladeshi Bloggers, Huffington Post, Posted: April 25, 2013
[13] Kimberly Winston , Atheists postpone protests after Bangladeshi disaster, The Washington Post, April 25, 2013
[14] Karyn Spory, Bloggers' imprisonment sparks free-speech rallies, Columbia Daily Tribune, Friday, April 26, 2013

About the Author: Dr. Avijit Roy is a Bangladeshi blogger, published author, and prominent defender of the free-thought movement in Bangladesh. He is an engineer by profession, but well-known for his writings in his self-founded site, Mukto-Mona(mukto-mona.com) – an Internet congregation of freethinkers of mainly Bengali and South Asian descent. As an advocate of science, and metaphysical naturalism, he has published seven Bangla books, and many of his articles were published in magazines and journals. Dr. Roy lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and he can be reached at charbak_bd@yahoo.com


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Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: 
Call For Articles:

http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68

http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585

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VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




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