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Friday, September 6, 2013

[mukto-mona] Telegraph Review of Untouchable God Novel





Review: Telegraph, Calcutta: 30 August 2013
Untouchable God (Samya, Rs 350) by Kancha Ilaiah uses dark humour to dig out and lay bare the viciousness of the caste system in India. The author — whose scholarship focuses on criticism of the Hindutva philosophy from the perspective of the neglected castes — uses terse satire in this novel to show how the tyrannical and supercilious ways of thinking of the upper castes can make them as ruthless as the Taliban or the Nazis. In this novel, a Dalit named Pariah is beaten to death for the crime of "thinking about God". To the six important men belonging to the upper castes who 'arrange' his murder, it is a crime for a Dalit to think about god because it may also lead him to thoughts of equality. These six men collectively represent the "Brahmins of India". They belong to six sub-castes based on 'purity', and therefore also embody the similarities and differences that exist among sections of the higher castes. One of them, Namboodri from Kerala, belongs to a caste that created "the most perfect system of discrimination that the world has seen". To add to the irony, Ilaiah has brought into the scenario a coloured American, who has come to India to know more about Mahatma Gandhi's non-violence movement and how it had inspired Martin Luther King Jr.


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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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Re: [mukto-mona] Fw: [notun_bangladesh] কক্সবাজারে নারী জাগরণ- ভীত করে তুলেছে ধর্ম ব্যবসায়ীদের !




This is a teaching moment for Awami League. They can teach the meaning of the true secular politics, not by colorful words and banners, but by deeds. They can demonstrate secularism to the people of Bangladesh by organizing men and women, students and teachers from schools, madrassas, mosques, temples, churches, etc. to come together and bring them in the forefront of the campaign for the secular politics. In that - the center stage should be given to the public, not politicians; politicians need to lead from the background. This is the moment to revive the spirit of the Bangalee-Jatiotabad.
 
This is the moment to show the contrast between a secular politics against the communal politics of BNP/Jamat. This is the moment to show that - religion is not for the communalists; religion is not sale for business or politics or personal gain; it's for self-purification to prepare for the eternal life. Religion is strictly a personal matter, and it should not be used as a tool for exploitation of weak and vulnerable people in the society.
 
Awami League can be a positive force in this fight and set a clear demarcation between them and the BNP/Jamat. This is a learning opportunity for the people of Bangladesh. I believe - students are ready and waiting for the teachers. Awami League can take up this job.
 
Jiten Roy
 


From: Muhammad Ali <man1k195709@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2013 1:09 AM
Subject: [mukto-mona] Fw: [notun_bangladesh] কক্সবাজারে নারী জাগরণ- ভীত করে তুলেছে ধর্ম ব্যবসায়ীদের !

 

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: SyedAslam <Syed.Aslam3@gmail.com>
To: Khobor <khabor@yahoogroups.com>; notun Bangladesh <notun_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>; "chottala@yahoogroups.com" <chottala@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 1:48 PM
Subject: [notun_bangladesh] কক্সবাজারে নারী জাগরণ- ভীত করে তুলেছে ধর্ম ব্যবসায়ীদের !

 

কক্সবাজারে নারী জাগরণ- ভীত করে তুলেছে ধর্ম ব্যবসায়ীদের   
                                                                    বৃহস্পতিবার, ৫ সেপ্টেম্বর ২০১৩, ২১ ভাদ্র ১৪২
মহসিন চৌধুরী/ দীপন বিশ্বাস, উখিয়া থেকে ॥ কক্সবাজারের উখিয়ায় প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনার স্মরণকালের বিশাল জনসভা হেফাজত-জামায়াত-বিএনপির ভিত কাঁপিয়ে দিয়েছে। সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতি নষ্টের চক্রান্ত আর হেফাজতীদের দিয়ে জামায়াত-বিএনপি আগামীতে আওয়ামী লীগকে বেকাদায় ফেলার কৌশলে উল্টো ফাঁদে পড়েছে। বৌদ্ধরা দারুণ খুশি বিহারের আধুনিকায়নে। জনসভায় হাজার হাজার নারী জাগরণের পাশাপাশি ধর্মপ্রাণ সাধারণ মানুষ ও মাদ্রসার হুজুরদের অংশগ্রহণ হেফাজতীদের ঘাঁটিতে প্রতিক্রিয়ার সৃষ্টি হয়েছে। নিজেদের মধ্যে দ্বন্দ্ব, অবিশ্বাস আর আস্থাহীনতার জন্ম নিয়েছে। স্থানীয় আওয়ামী লীগ নারীদের জাগরণ ধরে রাখতে নারীদের ওপর জামায়াত-হেফজতীদের যে কোন নির্যাতন, নিপীড়ন রোধে তৃণমূল পর্যায়ের আওয়ামী লীগ নেতাকর্মীদের সতর্ক থাকার নির্দেশনা দেয় জেলার হাইকমান্ড।
বর্তমান সরকারের আমলে কক্সবাজারে বেশ কিছু বড় প্রকল্প ও ১৯ বৌদ্ধবিহার পুনর্নির্মাণ করে সর্বস্তরের মানুষের মন জয় করার পরিবেশ সৃষ্টি করেছেন আওয়ামী লীগ সভানেত্রী শেখ হাসিনা। মাত্র ২ লাখ জনসংখ্যা অধ্যুষিত সীমান্তবর্তী দুর্গম উখিয়ায় আওয়ামী লীগের জনসভায় বহু মানুষের অংশগ্রহণের সঙ্গে রামুতে ১৯টি দেশের কূটনৈতিকদের সমাবেশ ঘটানো হয়। শেখ হাসিনার এ সফলতায় বিএনপি-জামায়াত কূটনৈতিক মার খাওয়ার উপক্রম। গত বছর বৌদ্ধবিহারে তা-ব চালানোর দায় আওয়ামী লীগের কাঁধে তুলে দিয়ে বিএনপি দেশে-বিদেশে কূটনৈতিক ফায়দা লোটার চেষ্টা করে। কিন্তু শেখ হাসিনার আন্তরিকতা ও দ্রুত পদক্ষেপ বিরোধী দলের এ চক্রান্ত অনেকটা ভেস্তে যায়। বিএনপি নেতা মওদুদ আহমদের নেতৃত্বে কথিত তদন্ত দল বৌদ্ধবিহারে হামলার জন্য আওয়ামী লীগকে দায়ী করে বিদেশে নানা অপপ্রচারে লিপ্ত হয়। আওয়ামী লীগের হাতে সংখ্যালঘুরা নিরাপদ নয় বক্তব্য দিয়ে কূটনৈতিকদের প্রভাবিত করারও চেষ্টা হয়েছিল। কিন্তু মঙ্গলবার চীন, ভারত ও আমেরিকান রাষ্ট্রদূতসহ ১৯ কূটনৈতিক প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে রামু এলে বিরোধী দলকে ব্যাকফুটে যেতে হয়েছে।
জামায়াত-হেফাজতের ঘাঁটি হিসেবে এতদিন পরিচিত ছিল চকরিয়া থেকে টেকনাফ পর্যন্ত কক্সবাজারের কয়েকটি উপজেলা ও দ্বীপাঞ্চল। পাশের দেশের বিচ্ছিন্নতাবাদী ও সন্ত্রাসীদের সশস্ত্র তৎপরতা ছিল উখিয়া, নাইক্ষ্যংছড়ি ঘিরে। জামায়াত-হেফাজতীদের ছত্রছায়ায় সশস্ত্র প্রশিক্ষণ নেয়ার কার্যক্রমও ছিল। প্রায় দেড় হাজার মাদ্রাসা ও এতিমখানা দেশী-বিদেশী অর্থ সহায়তায় পরিচালনা করে জামায়াত ও হেফাজতীরা দেশের দক্ষিণ-পূর্ব সীমান্তবর্তী পর্যটন জেলাটিকে কব্জা করে রাখে। নানাভাবে তারা সাধারণ মানুষ ও নারীদের মধ্যে ধর্মান্ধতাকে প্রভাবিত করার অপচেষ্টাও চালায়। কিন্তু সে খোলসে ধরে রাখতে পারেনি ধর্মান্ধ চক্রটি। এর প্রমাণ ছিল উখিয়া হাইস্কুল মাঠে মঙ্গলবার স্মরণকালের সর্ববৃহৎ নারীদের মহাসমাবেশ ঘটিয়ে। এখানকার ধর্মভীরু নারীরা খোলস ছেড়ে বের হয়ে হেফাজতীদের যেন বৃদ্ধাঙ্গুলি দেখিয়েছেন। নারীদের অংশগ্রহণ হেফাজতীরা খুব ভালভাবে নিচ্ছে না। উখিয়া-টেকনাফের আওয়ামী লীগ নেতারাও বিষয়টি টের পেয়ে সাধারণের পাশে দাঁড়াতে দেখা যায়। বুধবার বিভিন্ন স্তরের শ্রমজীবীদের সাহায্য করেছেন আওয়ামী লীগ নেতারা। মঙ্গলবার জনসভায় অংশগ্রহণের সুবিধার্থে কক্সবাজার-টেকনাফ-আরাকান সড়কে ছোট-বড় সব ধরনের যানবাহন চলাচলে ব্যাঘাত ঘটে। এর ক্ষতিপূরণ হিসেবে দলের পক্ষ থেকে রিক্সাপ্রতি ৫শ', ব্যাটারিচালিত টমটমপ্রতি ৮শ' এবং সিএনজি ট্যাক্সিপ্রতি ১ হাজার টাকা প্রদান করে ক্ষতি পুষিয়ে দেয়া হয়। টেকনাফ, উখিয়া এবং রামুতে নারীদের ওপর জামায়াত-হেফাজতীদের নির্যাতন, নিপীড়ন রোধে তৃণমূল পর্যায়ের আওয়ামী লীগ নেতাকর্মীদের সতর্ক থাকার নির্দেশনা দেয় জেলার হাইকমান্ড। নারীদের ভবিষ্যতে আরও উজ্জীবিত এবং আওয়ামী লীগের ভোটব্যাংকে পরিণত করতে স্থানীয় সংসদ সদস্য আবদুর রহমান বদি বিভিন্ন সহায়তা প্রকল্প চালু করেছেন। তাঁর ঘনিষ্ঠজন দিয়ে এসব সহায়তা মনিটরিং করা হচ্ছে। এতে সর্বত্র বইছে আনন্দের জোয়ার। উল্লেখ্য, এমপি বদি জনসভায় তাঁর বক্তৃতায় এ এলাকার উন্নয়নের জন্য প্রয়োজনে নিজের মনোনয়ন উৎসর্গ করার ঘোষণা দেন। এমপি বদি প্রশাসনের বিভিন্ন পর্যায়ে দমন ও শিষ্টাচারবহির্ভূত কর্মকা-ে দেশজুড়ে আলোচিত ও বির্তকিত। তবে তৃণমূল পর্যায়ে তাঁর ব্যাপক জনসমর্থন জনসভায় প্রমাণ মিলেছে।
নারী ও মাদ্রাসা হুজুরদের ব্যাপক অংশগ্রহণ কক্সবাজারে এখন টপ অব দ্য টাউন। শহরজুড়ে সাধারণদের প্রতিক্রিয়া ছিল জামায়াত-হেফাজতীদের অপপ্রচার সামনে ম্লান হয়ে যাবে। কক্সবাজারের প্রতি শেখ হাসিনার আন্তরিকতার প্রমাণ ইতোমধ্যে তিনি নিজেই দিয়েছেন। এ আমলে এ জেলার জন্য কয়েকটি বড় প্রকল্প গ্রহণ করে বাস্তবায়ন শুরু হয়। সাড়ে ৪ বছরে তিন দফায় এসেছেন এ শহরটিতে। ঘুমধুম পর্যন্ত রেললাইন স্থাপনের প্রক্রিয়া শুরু হয়েছে। কাজ শুরু হয়েছে বিমান ঘাঁটি ও বিমানবন্দরের। আর কক্সবাজারের আন্তর্জাতিক ক্রিকেট ভেন্যুর জন্য স্টেডিয়াম নির্মাণ হচ্ছে দ্রুত। মেরিন ড্রাইভের সুফল পাচ্ছেন সর্বসাধারণরা। আরাকান সড়কের শতাধিক সেতুর সম্প্রসারণ কাজও চলছে। নির্বাচনের আগের মূহূর্তে সবচেয়ে বেশি প্রভাব ফেলেছে ১২টি মাদ্রাসা আধুনিকায়নে। ৬টি উপজেলায় এসব মাদ্রাসা ১২ কোটি টাকা ব্যয়ে সম্প্রসারণ হবে। এর অর্ধেকই জামায়াত-শিবিরের প্রতিষ্ঠান হিসেবে পরিচিত। সরকারী অর্থে এসব মাদ্রাসা আধুনিকায়ন হওয়ায় জামায়াত নেতারা বিব্রত। সরকারের এ পদক্ষেপ আওয়ামী লীগের বিরুদ্ধে অপপ্রচারে বাধার কারণ হচ্ছে। শুধু তাই নয়, জনসভাতেও এসব মাদ্রাসার হুজুরদের সক্রিয় অংশ নিতে দেখা যায়। কক্সবাজারের খুর স্কুল, তৈতৈয়া তাফহিমুল উলুম দাখিল মাদ্রসার প্রতিষ্ঠাতা ছিলেন জেলা জামায়াতের আমির মরহুম আবু ছাবের। তাঁর ছেলে এ্যাডভোকেট আহমদ ফারুক নিজেই সাংবাদিকদের কাছে প্রতিক্রিয়া ব্যক্ত করে বলেছেন, সরকার মহৎ কাজ করছে। কিন্তু ধর্ম নিয়ে সরকারের বিরুদ্ধে অপপ্রচার চলছে। তিনি মাদ্রাসা পরিচালনা কমিটির সর্বসম্মতিক্রমে দলবল নিয়ে জনসভায় উপস্থিত হয়েছিলেন। কক্সবাজারে বৌদ্ধবিহারের পাশাপাশি মাদ্রাসার উন্নয়নে সরকারী এ দুরদর্শী পদক্ষেপ সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতিতে ভারসাম্য এনেছে। শেখ হাসিনার আন্তরিকতায় সব মানুষের কল্যাণে এ উদ্যোগ বলে কক্সবাজারবাসী মনে করছেন। ফলে জামায়াত-হেফাজতীরা এ অঞ্চলে সরকারের বিরুদ্ধে একতরফা অপপ্রচারের কৌশল অনেকটা রোধ হয়েছে। যা আগামী নির্বাচনে কক্সবাজারের ৪টি আসনেই সরকারী দলের জন্য ইতিবাচক ফল বয়ে আনতে পারে।
এদিকে জনসভায় মাদ্রাসা হুজুরদের অংশগ্রহণেই জামায়াত-হেফজতীদের হাইকমান্ডে নিজেদের মধ্যে বিভক্তির ইঙ্গিত পাওয়া গেছে। সৃষ্টি হয়েছে পরস্পরের প্রতি বিশ্বাস-অবিশ্বাস। টেকনাফের হেফাজত ইসলামের নেতা স্বয়ং আবদুর রহমান বদি এমপির ছোট ভাই মৌলানা মুজিবুর রহমান। তাঁর মাধ্যমে টেকনাফ-উখিয়ার বহু হেফাজত হুজুর মিছিল নিয়ে শেখ হাসিনার জনসভায় যোগ দেন। এ ঘটনাও তাদের মধ্যে অভ্যন্তরীণ প্রভাব ফেলে। আসন্ন নির্বাচনে জামায়াত-বিএনপি-হেফাজতীদের একতরফা ব্যবহারের কৌশলে ওই জনসভা আঘাত এনেছে। জামায়াত-বিএনপির দুর্গে আওয়ামী লীগের এ কৌশলে বিরোধীরা রীতিমতো বিব্রত। তাই পাল্টা সমাবেশ ঘটিয়ে তাঁরাও চেষ্টা করছেন বলে জানা যায়।
বৃহস্পতিবার, ৫ সেপ্টেম্বর ২০১৩, ২১ ভাদ্র ১৪২
http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/news_view.php?nc=27&dd=2013-09-05&ni=147770

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Re: [mukto-mona] Saudi Arabia - Britain's Mysterious Ally



1. Do you think late painter F. M. Hussein committed a lot of criminal acts? 

2. You have read Taslima. What criminal acts has she committed? Can you give an example? 

3. Which projonmo chotwor organizers free stink and how? Can you be specific? There are always extreme thinkers. Do not judge the entire movement by the actions of a few. 

4. So those who preach atheism are not free thinkers. Those who challenge the well established figures are not free thinkers. That's what you want to say? 

5. Those who believe that the supreme figure has to be Bhagwan or Allah will argue that God in "In God we trust" is the biblical God. It looks like you belong to this group. 

6. Read the constitution one more time to see how Islam has become an integral part of it. Don't act naive. 

7. Taslima is half educated. Probably so are Daud Haider and Humayun Azad. You deserve congratulations for being fully educated! 

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 2, 2013, at 5:54 AM, QR <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:

 

s the quote I have used in my message above wrong? No, right

>>>>>> Have no issues with quotation.

Daud Haider, Taslima Nasrin, Humayun Azad are good examples.

>>>>>>>>> Having doubts about our Creator is NOT offensive. However distorting message of religion, reputed person, region etc are criminal acts. No doubt about it. I have read works of Taslima and the only mistake of Muslims of Bangladesh was to pay too much attention to this babbling idiot, who did not what she was talking about. Certain Muslims overreacted and she should have been challenged for a debate.

Recent projonmo chotwor movement has expressed the national intolerance against the free thinkers and atheists in a naked way

>>>>>>>>> I do not agree with your definition or scope of "Free thinker". A free thinker thinks freely with fear and (Supposed to ) express those feeling honestly. IN Bangladesh, most of those ( The one I listened to and read about) people are half educated and thought just cursing loudly is free THINKING. It is free stinking not thinking. They have NO original ideas and ONLY know how to insult people. Thinking critically and honestly takes a lot of work and most people (Including mukto-mona contributors) do not have necessary skills to do that. Those who has such skills, most of them talk about subject they do not know about. So free thinking in Bangladesh is basically blind leading blind!!

I don't understand how you call the present BD constitution secular when it's secular nature has been corrupted by making Islam an integral part of it

>>>>>>>> Now this is a good question. Bangladeshi laws are derived from British common laws (Also US,UK, Indian, laws came from the same source). Apart from family laws (Laws of inheritance etc) our laws are not govern by Islam. The constitution only start by saying "In the name of Allah...". Which is like US dollar bills saying " In God we trust". These are symbolic gestures only. I honestly do not see WHERE and HOW Islam became an integral part of constitution? Islam offers FULL alternative to what we have but we do not have that in Bangladesh.

It looks like you do not know much about our constitution and Islam. Feel free to read up on them....

You might have noticed that free thinkers and atheists in BD simply express their views as their democratic right.

>>>>>>>> fully agree. However expressing views and distorting information are two DIFFERENT animals. Expressing views is a fundamental right of EVERY Bangladeshi citizens and causing mischief and violence (By distorting information) is a crime. Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman was arrested for distorting information. Why should law be applied for people you like?

. It is the religious fanatics and militants who attack the free thinkers, atheists, places of worship and the members belonging to other religious groups. All the intolerance comes from them.

>>>>>>>> I am firmly against all kind of violence. Those who attack people or places of worship should be and must be punished. Similarly those who incite violence by spreading false info should NOT be spared.

I do not know who (obviously an extremist thinker) has proposed to convert the places of worship to toilets.

>>>>>>>> One of the leading hate mongers. who claims to be an atheist. Yeah if this guy had any points to make he can do that without being a "Drama queen". I do not mind people who have fanatical anti-religious views as long they express them without distorting religious text or insulting religious leaders. Unfortunately these half educated people (Like Taslima) are more interested in drama than thinking critically.

Intimidation can come from both sides.

>>>>>> Fully agree. Just because I do not like hate mongers from one side does NOT mean I endorse all religion people. I do not endorse violence in the name of religion.

They are intimidating not only to the free thinkers, they are intimidating to our women also.

>>>>>>>>> Our history tells us they do not get much support from mainstream  in the long run.

They are the rightist group out there to kill all the possibilities we potentially have as a nation.


>>>>>>>> Trust me, if that ever happen, this nation will stand firmly against them. Our history tells us that (Starting from when Isa Khan stood up to Akbar till recent times). Maybe you have doubt against our leaders but our people will stand united again against fanaticism of any kind.

Shalom!



-----Original Message-----
From: Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Sep 1, 2013 8:42 pm
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Saudi Arabia - Britain's Mysterious Ally

 
Is the quote I have used in my message above wrong? No, right? A very insignificant fraction of Bangladeshis are atheists and they are not publicly vocal. But a high profile or an outspoken atheist is always in danger. Daud Haider, Taslima Nasrin, Humayun Azad are good examples. Recent projonmo chotwor movement has expressed the national intolerance against the free thinkers and atheists in a naked way and it has drawn the attention of the press all around the world.  This intolerance has even been expressed by the PM Hasina. 

I don't understand how you call the present BD constitution secular when it's secular nature has been corrupted by making Islam an integral part of it. I can tell you this was unnecessary and divisive. 

You might have noticed that free thinkers and atheists in BD simply express their views as their democratic right. It is the religious fanatics and militants who attack the free thinkers, atheists, places of worship and the members belonging to other religious groups. All the intolerance comes from them. 

I do not know who (obviously an extremist thinker) has proposed to convert the places of worship to toilets. We can only simply ask him or her what points he or she had in favor of this argument. We must not jail him let alone kill the writer for a proposal that is intimidating to the believers. Fight him with counter arguments. 

Intimidation can come from both sides. Presently the fanatic and fundamentalist religionists are way more intimidating than the extreme free thinkers. They are intimidating not only to the free thinkers, they are intimidating to our women also. They are the rightist group out there to kill all the possibilities we potentially have as a nation. 


Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 31, 2013, at 7:25 AM, QR <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:

"In a range of other countries -- such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait and Jordan -- publication of atheist or humanist views on religion are totally banned or strictly limited under laws prohibiting 'blasphemy'."
It is really sad that Bangladesh is included in the above group. We started with the 1972 constitution secular nature of which has been corrupted first by Zia and then Ershad thanks to the constant pressure by and negotiation by the power hungry dictators with Islamist political parties like Jamaat. 


>>>>>>>>> Now tell me how many atheists were punished for simply "Expressing their views" in Bangladesh?

Calling people to turn our places of worship (Masajid) into public toilets is beyond expressing views. I would say it is bordering hate crime. Similar to the scrudals who want to destroy Hindu or Christian places of worship. I have seen and heard of many atheists and even more non-practicing Muslims. I have NOT witnessed much hatred for these bunch. But if you have an agenda to keep insulting or destroying properties, you should be punished.

Right now Bangladesh has secular laws. Secular does not mean one has to be anti-religious. Sadly our half educated "Humanists"' do not know the difference and in some cases deliberately chose to ignore the vital difference and encourage young men to act like hate mongers.

Similarly if someone does not like watch people worshipping a snake or monkey, it is illigal to attack those places. It is OUR duty to respect our diversity and protect all religious groups in Bangladesh.

Shalom!

-----Original Message-----
From: subimal chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Aug 30, 2013 8:12 pm
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Saudi Arabia - Britain's Mysterious Ally

It is good to see that the Saudi society is advancing no doubt although it has a long way to go before it can stop.
 
"In a range of other countries -- such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait and Jordan -- publication of atheist or humanist views on religion are totally banned or strictly limited under laws prohibiting 'blasphemy'."
It is really sad that Bangladesh is included in the above group. We started with the 1972 constitution secular nature of which has been corrupted first by Zia and then Ershad thanks to the constant pressure by and negotiation by the power hungry dictators with Islamist political parties like Jamaat.  

From: SyedAslam <Syed.Aslam3@gmail.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 11:28 PM
Subject: [mukto-mona] Saudi Arabia - Britain's Mysterious Ally
 

Saudi Arabia - Britain's Mysterious A



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[mukto-mona] Fw: Pentagon Is Ordered to Expand Potential Targets in Syria With a Focus on Forces





----- Forwarded Message -----

The New York Times

September 5, 2013

Pentagon Is Ordered to Expand Potential Targets in Syria With a Focus on Forces

By DAVID E. SANGER and ERIC SCHMITT
WASHINGTON — President Obama has directed the Pentagon to develop an expanded list of potential targets in Syria in response to intelligence suggesting that the government of President Bashar al-Assad has been moving troops and equipment used to employ chemical weapons while Congress debates whether to authorize military action.
Mr. Obama, officials said, is now determined to put more emphasis on the "degrade" part of what the administration has said is the goal of a military strike against Syria — to "deter and degrade" Mr. Assad's ability to use chemical weapons. That means expanding beyond the 50 or so major sites that were part of the original target list developed with French forces before Mr. Obama delayed action on Saturday to seek Congressional approval of his plan.
For the first time, the administration is talking about using American and French aircraft to conduct strikes on specific targets, in addition to ship-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. There is a renewed push to get other NATO forces involved.
The strikes would be aimed not at the chemical stockpiles themselves — risking a potential catastrophe — but rather the military units that have stored and prepared the chemical weapons and carried the attacks against Syrian rebels, as well as the headquarters overseeing the effort, and the rockets and artillery that have launched the attacks, military officials said Thursday.
Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said that other targets would include equipment that Syria uses to protect the chemicals — air defenses, long-range missiles and rockets, which can also deliver the weapons.
Mr. Obama's instructions come as most members of Congress who are even willing to consider voting in favor of a military response to a chemical attack are insisting on strict limits on the duration and type of the strikes carried out by the United States, while a small number of Republicans are telling the White House that the current plans are not muscular enough to destabilize the Assad government.
Senior officials are aware of the competing imperatives they now confront — that to win even the fight on Capitol Hill, they will have to accept restrictions on the military response, and in order to make the strike meaningful they must expand its scope.
"They are being pulled in two different directions," a senior foreign official involved in the discussions said Thursday. "The worst outcome would be to come out of this bruising battle with Congress and conduct a military action that made little difference."
Officials cautioned that the options for an increased American strike would still be limited — "think incremental increase, not exponential," said one official — but would be intended to inflict significant damage on the Syrian military.
It was a measure of the White House's concern about obtaining Congressional approval that Mr. Obama canceled a planned trip to Los Angeles next week, where he was scheduled to speak to the A.F.L.-C.I.O. and hold a fund-raiser. One senior official said Mr. Obama would get far more involved in direct lobbying for a military authorization, and there is talk inside the administration about a formal address to the nation.
In endorsing a strike on Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee made some modifications to the resolution proposed by the White House, and other versions are also being circulated. The latest is from Senator Joe Manchin III, a conservative Democrat from West Virginia who proposes giving Mr. Assad 45 days to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention and begin securing and ridding the country of its weapons stockpiles. Only if Mr. Assad refuses would the president be authorized to take military action.
"We need some options out there that does something about the chemical weapons," Mr. Manchin said. "That's what's missing right now."
The concept is already being debated by some government officials and foreign diplomats, though the White House has not weighed in.
For now, White House officials insist that they are slowly gaining ground in lining up support, though the evidence is slim. "We're very pleased with the trend lines," said Benjamin J. Rhodes, the president's deputy national security adviser. "I think each day what you've seen is different members coming out on a bipartisan basis to support an authorization to use military force."
He noted Wednesday's Senate committee vote and the endorsements from a range of senators, including from John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and the liberal Democrat Barbara Boxer of California. "What we're seeing each day is an increasing number of members who are convinced that a military response is necessary," Mr. Rhodes said. "But we're going to continue to make the case to members."
Privately, some members of the Obama administration appear concerned that General Dempsey's presentations to Congress — particularly his repeated assertions that any American intervention in Syria is unlikely to have a decisive effect on the civil war — are undercutting the administration's argument that the attacks, while targeted, would also change Mr. Assad's calculus.
So as the target list expands, the administration is creeping closer to carrying out military action that also could help tip the balance on the ground, even as the administration argues that that is not the primary intent.
The bulk of the American attack is still expected to be carried out by cruise missiles from some or all of the four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers within striking range of Syria in the eastern Mediterranean. Each ship carries about three dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, a low-flying, highly accurate weapon that can be launched from safe distances of up to about 1,000 miles.
But military planners are now preparing options to include attacks from Air Force bombers, a development reported Thursday by The Wall Street Journal. The Pentagon was initially planning to rely solely on cruise missiles.
Bombers could carry scores more munitions, potentially permitting the United States to carry out more strikes if the first wave does not destroy the targets.
Among the options available are B-52 bombers, which can carry air-launched cruise missiles; B-1s that are based in Qatar and carry long-range, air-to-surface missiles; and B-2 stealth bombers, which are based in Missouri and carry satellite-guided bombs.
The Navy in recent days has moved the aircraft carrier Nimitz into the Red Sea, within striking distance of Syria.
But Defense Department officials said Thursday that the Nimitz, and its squadrons of F-18 Super Hornet attack planes, as well as three missile-toting destroyers in its battle group, are not likely to join any attack unless Syria launches major retaliatory strikes.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told lawmakers on Wednesday that an American operation would cost "in the tens of millions of dollars," the first time any administration official has put even a rough price tag on the possible strike.
Mr. Assad has openly mocked the United States for delaying any military action, and has seized on the pause to move military equipment, troops and documents to civilian neighborhoods, presumably daring Mr. Obama to order strikes that could kill large number of civilians.
"The additional time gives Assad the potential advantage of complicating U.S. targeting by surreptitiously moving people or even chemical munitions into them, aiming to create casualties or chemical release as a direct result of U.S. attacks," said David A. Deptula, a retired three-star Air Force general who planned the American air campaigns in 2001 in Afghanistan and in the 1991 Persian Gulf war.
But General Dempsey told lawmakers on Wednesday that American spy agencies are "keeping up with that movement," which he said also included prisoners, potentially to be used as human shields, and that all necessary steps would be taken to minimize civilian casualties.
The Pentagon is also planning contingencies to counter or respond to any retaliatory attacks by Mr. Assad's forces. General Dempsey said the Syrian leader could lob long-range rockets against his neighbors; encourage surrogates and proxies, like Hezbollah, to assault American embassies; or carry out a cyberattack against the United States or American interests.
"We are alert to all of the possibilities and are mitigating strategies in the way we've positioned ourselves in the region," General Dempsey said.




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[mukto-mona] FW: পৃথিবীর অষ্টম আশ্চর্য




 

Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 20:51:47 -0400
Subject: পৃথিবীর অষ্টম আশ্চর্য
From: shafiqul76@gmail.com
To: bangladeshiamericans@googlegroups.com; skgroup.online@gmail.com; shafiqul76@gmail.com


বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশনের নিত্য-সত্য জ্ঞান নিয়ে সবসময়ই সন্দেহ আছে দেশবাসীর। যেকোনো খেলা সম্প্রচারের সময় গুরুত্বপূর্ণ মুহূর্তে খবর সম্প্রচার আমাদের জাতীয় টেলিভিশনের ক্ষেত্রে নতুন কোনো বিষয় নয়। কিন্তু আজ সাফ চ্যাম্পিয়নশিপে বাংলাদেশ বনাম পাকিস্তানের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ম্যাচটি সম্প্রচার করতে গিয়ে বিটিভি বোধহয় অতীতের সব রেকর্ডই ভঙ্গ করেছে। পাকিস্তানের বিপক্ষে দেশের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ এই খেলাটি সরাসরি সম্প্রচার করার এক পর্যায়ে তারা দেখাতে শুরু করেছে নেপাল-ভারত ম্যাচ।
সেমিফাইনালের যাওয়ার লড়াইয়ে নেপাল-ভারত ম্যাচটিও আমাদের জন্য গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। কিন্তু তাই বলে নিজের দেশের খেলা বাদ দিয়ে অন্যের খেলা সম্প্রচার করতে থাকাটা কেমন ব্যাপার সেটা বোধগম্য নয়। ঠিক কোন কারণে বিটিভি বাংলাদেশের খেলা সম্প্রচার করতে করতে ভারত-নেপালের খেলা দেখানো শুরু করল, সেই ব্যাখ্যা দিয়েও কোনো স্ক্রলও দেখানো হয়নি।

মন্তব্যঃ কোন সরকারের আমল দেখতে হবেনা। দেশের চেয়ে দাদা বড়।
[দি ম্যাসেজ।]

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RE: [mukto-mona] বঙ্গবন্ধুর হত্যাকারী ফারুক-রশীদ গং-এর সকলেই ছিলেন খাঁটি মুক্তিযোদ্ধা



Dear Ms. Majid,
I agree with you that none can respond to this so-called MP Nilofar Moni as to why Killers of Bangabandhu Rashid/Farook gang were not given state honor after their EXECUTION. Perhaps Nilofar Moni along with her other like minded friends of BNP-JAMAT can do this honor to the killers if they ever come back to power!!!
-R. M. Islam
 

From: farida_majid@hotmail.com
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 20:38:24 -0400
Subject: [mukto-mona] বঙ্গবন্ধুর হত্যাকারী ফারুক-রশীদ গং-এর সকলেই ছিলেন খাঁটি মুক্তিযোদ্ধা

 
Very good, Delwar!
 << বঙ্গবন্ধুর হত্যাকারী ফারুক-রশীদ গং-এর সকলেই ছিলেন খাঁটি মুক্তিযোদ্ধা। তাই তাদের কেন রাষ্ট্রীয় মর্যাদায় দাফন করা হয়নি, এই প্রশ্নটি তুলেছেন বঙ্গবন্ধুর খুনির দল বিএনপির জাঁহাবাজ এমপি নিলোফার মণি। এই প্রশ্নের তীরটি তিনি আজ ছুড়ে দিয়েছেন টকশো তৃতীয় মাত্রায় অংশগ্রহণকারী প্রতিপক্ষ রাজশাহী অঞ্চল থেকে নির্বাচিত আওয়ামী লীগের এমপি আব্দুল ওয়াদুদ দারাকে। বাংলাদেশে মুক্তিযোদ্ধারা আওয়ামী লীগ দ্বারাই হয়েছেন সবচেয়ে বেশি নিপীড়িত ও নির্যাতিত। তার অন্যতম একটি উদাহরণ হলো বঙ্গবন্ধুর খুনিদের রাষ্ট্রীয় মর্যাদা না দেয়া। মণির এই প্রশ্নের জবাব যেমন এমপি দারা দিতে পারেননি তেমনি আমারও জানা নাই এই প্রশ্নের জবাব কিভাবে দেয়া যায়। >>
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Re: [mukto-mona] Saudi Arabia Passes Domestic Abuse Ban For First Time



First thing first. You do not need to be a pundit to comment on an issue. You comment on while varieties of issues. For such behavior you cannot say that Muktomona has a fundamental problem. Muktomona is run by a group of rationalists and yet publish pieces based on purely blind faith. 

I don't understand why you are upset. You said some good words (you always do)about Islam. Personally I did not disagree. I simply said that these good words do not apply exclusively to Islam. Do you disagree? 

Don't you agree that one man-one woman union is the most progressive rule that no religion has accepted as a principle or law? Don't you agree that in case of marriage women are discriminated as a man can have multiple wives while a woman cannot have multiple husbands? 





Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 3, 2013, at 11:44 AM, QR <qrahman@netscape.net> wrote:

 

Dear all,

Last two posts below demonstrate the fundamental problem of Mukto-Mona.

These pundits want to comment on Islam but do not have even primary idea of the subject.


Let us analyze....

Even a child will tell you that do not buy something you can't afford. You pulled out a completely vacuous statement, which tells everything about you.

>>>>>>>> Actually it speaks volume about YOU. As per Islam marriage is not only about money. In this case a man is expected to treat (If he has more than one wife) equally. Which includes how much time he spends with one. So if one spend one day with one wife, it is expected to spend the next day with the other wife. Same condition goes for housing, expenses etc. If there is a dispute, one has to judge them equally.

It is far beyond money. The noble Qurán stress this point and says a man will be accountable in front of God for this. So if a God fearing person is unsure about being fair to more than one wife, it is better to marry ONLY ONE.

it is important to mention. Since NO other religious book has this codified law in them. NONE!!

It shows that either you don't see the other side of the argument or you don't give a damn about the other side.

>>>>>>>>>> If you had an open mind about my opinions, you could have said, it shows that I have studied other religious books to know this for a fact. Based on your opinions, it appears you are not aware of Islamic values but sadly too eager to say ugly things about Islam and attack anyone who dares to disagree with such absurd point of views.

I don't know – how you see "fairness" in a totally unfair statement. It amazes me every time you say something; it gives me a glimpse of the mindset of a religious person.

>>>>>>>>> Fairness is an unfair statement?? Please explain yourself.

---Do you realize that you are speaking on behalf of all religions, all moralists, and even all socio-economic systems that want to give a woman dignified position in the society. The restriction is not exclusively Islamic.


>>>>>>>> I ONLY explained what Islam says (That is why I started by saying, as per Islam....). I have NOT said anything about any other faiths. Don't know why you even bothered to reply? :-)

-----Look at the condition "if you cannot deal with more than one wife FAIRLY)". Why do you think the prince who spent $13 million in one night for a dancer (his woman for the night) cannot deal with more than one wife fairly? A more progressive view should be not to allow a man to have more than one wife. The "if" clause has to be dropped. If a man can have multiple wives and women, a woman should be allowed to have multiple husbands and men.

>>>>>>>>> brother dealing with one wife fairly is not easy. Ask any married man. So if one decides to marry more than one, it is even more difficult. The Qurán is a progressive book (My opinion), so even 1400 years ago it spelled out the obvious. If you still doubtful, ask any married man anywhere in the world. It takes a lot of work to make marriage work.

Those who want to be safe in the day of judgement, it is better to marry only one.


As the society is progressing, all religions are found to be interpreted as allowing a man only one wife and a woman only one husband. Even in ancient India this used to be emphasized on.

>>>>>>>> Not always true. What if a couple want to have kids and the wife is not able. what if the wife have other physical problems? Islam allows to have more than one wife without abandoning the first wife. Also there are so many cases of extra marital affairs. It is better to marry someone than treating a lady like a prostitute (and depriving her for her rights over husband). 

If you refer to the Koran or Islam on every issue, you simply make things more misleading as the half-educated and illiterate mollahs will advocate for the dogmatic views of a religious book. And this will make transition to one man-one woman union very difficult as basically no religion has accepted this as a strict principle.

>>>>>>>>>>> If half educated people (about Islam) get over their obsession about blaming Islam for everything, I do not need to speak about Islam so much. I refer to the text of Islam to offer references and to add quality (And credibility) to our discussions.

I have NEVER said anyone has to agree with me. I simply want to share factual information about Islam (when we discuss Islam here).

Therefore, I am NOT advocating Islam to you but explaining it to this forum. Since most people (Even with Muslim sounding names) do not know about Islam. Hopefully my effort will make lives of half educated mullahs even more difficult. They cannot get away with bluffing people about Islam anymore.


Lastly, I have tried to use religion to bring people closer ( I have quoted from Veda, Bible as well). That is the fundamental difference between my approach and those who want to sell Islam for worldly gain.

Shalom!



-----Original Message-----
From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, Sep 2, 2013 3:25 pm
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Saudi Arabia Passes Domestic Abuse Ban For First Time

 

"The Qurán is the ONLY religious book that says, Marry only one (If you cannot deal with more than one wife FAIRLY)."


This is a no-brainer argument; why is this so valuable to you, Mr. Rahman? Even a child will tell you that do not buy something you can't afford. You pulled out a completely vacuous statement, which tells everything about you. It shows that either you don't see the other side of the argument or you don't give a damn about the other side. I don't know – how you see "fairness" in a totally unfair statement. It amazes me every time you say something; it gives me a glimpse of the mindset of a religious person.  
Thank you.

Jiten Roy
 


From: subimal chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, September 2, 2013 2:12 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Saudi Arabia Passes Domestic Abuse Ban For First Time

 
"As per Islam, it is illegal to visit erotic dancer. It is immoral to spend that kind of money while so many hungry people around us all over the world."
-----Do you realize that you are speaking on behalf of all religions, all moralists, and even all socio-economic systems that want to give a woman dignified position in the society. The restriction is not exclusively Islamic.
 
"The Qurán is the ONLY religious book that says, Marry only one (If you cannot deal with more than one wife FAIRLY)."
-----Look at the condition "if you cannot deal with more than one wife FAIRLY)". Why do you think the prince who spent $13 million in one night for a dancer (his woman for the night) cannot deal with more than one wife fairly? A more progressive view should be not to allow a man to have more than one wife. The "if" clause has to be dropped. If a man can have multiple wives and women, a woman should be allowed to have multiple husbands and men.
 
As the society is progressing, all religions are found to be interpreted as allowing a man only one wife and a woman only one husband. Even in ancient India this used to be emphasized on. 
 
If you refer to the Koran or Islam on every issue, you simply make things more misleading as the half-educated and illiterate mollahs will advocate for the dogmatic views of a religious book. And this will make transition to one man-one woman union very difficult as basically no religion has accepted this as a strict principle.  
 
 



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




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