Banner Advertiser

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

[mukto-mona] Please read Jamal Khan's e-mail // Running low on funds



Dear Friends,

Please read Jamal's e-mail below.
Jamal is running a very difficult campaign for San Jose City Council against 3 other strong candidates who are spending a large amount of money and resources that we can see from their expensive and fancy flyers that we are receiving multiple times where the costs are written as a campaign regulation requirement.

In our generation of our community, we have not actively participated that much in the American political process during the last half a century. So, Jamal as a youth of our community has ventured into this very difficult contest. Jamal is running a strong and creative campaign with limited budget. So, as a minimum, we can encourage Jamal for his brave step forward. A reasonable number of community members have donated to Jamal's campaign fund and I greatly appreciate that. However, if you are receiving this e-mail and you have not contributed to Jamal's campaign fund yet, then please consider to make some donation to Jamal's campaign fund. The donation can be any amount from $10 to $600. Please participate in it. You can donate online by credit card at this DONATION LINK or by mailing a check, as described in Jamal's e-mail below.

Thank you very much
With best regards,

Dr. Mahbub Khan
California, USA
408-859-3566-cell
mahbubkhan@ieee.org

From:  Jamal Khan <jamalkhan1@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2020 10:15 PM
Subject: Running low on funds
 
Dear Friends,


Thank you so much for being with us on this exciting journey. With your support, we have sent over 100,000 text messages, made tens of thousands of phone calls, knocked on countless doors, sent nearly 100,000 emails, distributed thousands of flyers, and posted 300 yard signs all across District 4. We are working round the clock to reach as many voters as possible in these last few days.


Our funds have depleted, and we require an additional $2000 ASAP. We need your help to fully execute our voter outreach strategy before it's too late.


You can donate (1) online or (2) by check. Here are the two options:

(1)   Donate online through a secured system at this link:   DONATION LINK 
(2)   Donate by check payable to:  "Jamal Khan for SJ-City Council D-4" and mail it to:  Jamal Khan, PO Box 32623, San Jose, CA 95152. In case of payment by check, please include a piece of paper with this required information: Name, Address, Email, Phone, Employer and Occupation.

Time is running out, and we greatly appreciate your contribution.

Thank you for being with us.

Kind regards,
Jamal



Jamal Khan  
San Jose City Council Candidate, District 4




__._,_.___
Posted by: Mahbub Khan <mahbubkhan45@yahoo.com>


****************************************************
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

****************************************************

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

****************************************************

"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




__,_._,___

Re: [mukto-mona] Global Media Statement on Harassment of mystic singers Bauls



Dear Saleem bhai,

You have done a great job by circulating the appeal on " Harassment, Arrest, Intimidation of Bauls threatens Freedom of Expression GLOBAL MEDIA STATEMENT" . Congratulations for this great task.
Could you do something similar on the massive rape incidents going on now in Bangladesh especially the children and many of them being killed. Think it over and do something about it.

Best,

Rosaline didi 

On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 10:34:21 PM EST, Saleem Samad saleemsamad@hotmail.com [mukto-mona] <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com> wrote:


 

Harassment, Arrest, Intimidation of Bauls threatens Freedom of Expression

GLOBAL MEDIA STATEMENT


[18 February 2020]

 

W

e, the media rights defenders of international and national freedom of expression organizations are concerned regarding the recent harassment, detention, and intimidation of the traditional Bauls, the mystic singers of Bangladesh.

In the month of January 2020, Sufi folk singer Baul Shariat Sarkar was arrested under the draconian Digital Security Act, 2018 when an Islamic cleric filed a blasphemy case against Sarkar for "stating that music is not forbidden in the Quran."

Similarly, two cases were filed against Baul Rita Dewan for "hurting religious sentiments" of the Muslims for her Pala-Gaan (logical debate through folk songs) performance. In fear of retaliation and personal harm, she long with her two young daughters made a public apology.

In both cases, the vested group is misusing the Digital Security Act, 2018, as a weapon to punish minorities of other faiths, folk singers and social media users too. If convicted, the Cyber Tribunal (Bangladesh) can give a verdict of a hefty fine and jail-term for up to seven years.

Notwithstanding, the media rights defenders had been warning the authorities about the misuse of the draconian Digital Security Act, 2018 which criminalises freedom of expression and has been applied to detain several journalists, writers, poets, publishers, and bloggers.

Surely, the Islamists are a serious threat to the Baul community as they often preach hate against the women, people of other faiths and of course music and cultural events. They intimidate the Baul singers to silence the traditional cultural heritage.

The question and answer session in Pala-Gaan used mystical and esoteric language, which may be misunderstood by the audience which focuses on external, literal interpretations of Sufi interpretation of society.

Conventionally the mystic song is an icon of rich folklore tradition, which is imbibed into Bangla heritage and must be protected as a cultural tradition.

To engage in Pala-Gaan, the mystic Sufi singers must have deep knowledge of different faiths, spiritualism, philosophy and contemporary issues.

The Bauls are essential in strengthening democracy, freedom of expression, philosophical debate, as well as tolerance in diversity.

Instead of protecting the folklore heritage, the draconian laws challenge the century-old tradition of freedom of belief and freedom of expression.

The nation-state was founded on the principles of secularism, pluralism, and equality for all to promote harmony among the diverse communities and cultural traditions of the land.

We are deeply disturbed that the intimidation on the Bauls violates the basic freedom of expression and freedom of faith.

We urge the Government of Bangladesh to protect its citizens from the radicalized religious groups.

We expect that the Government must act in upholding the unique traditions of secularism, freedom of faith, and tolerance in a bid to strengthen the visions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh.

Endorsed and signed by Media Rights Defenders:

  1. Dr. Aireen Jaman, General Secretary, PEN International, Bangladesh, London;
  2. Faruq Faisel, South Asia Regional Director, Article 19, London;
  3. Saleem Samad, Correspondent, Reporter Without Borders (RSF), Paris;
  4. Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, CEO, VOICE, Dhaka
  5. Khairuzzaman Kamal, Representative International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels;
  6. Mainul Islam Khan, Representative, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York;
  7. Biplob Mostafiz, Member, Mukto Prakash (FExB), Media Rights Defender;
  8. Sayeed Ahmad, Representative, Front Line Defenders, Dublin, Ireland;
  9. Ahamad Ullah, Member, Bangladesh Manabadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), Dhaka;
  10. GM Mourtaza, CEO, CCD Bangladesh; Rajshahi.
  11. Jana Syeda Gulshan Ferdous, somewhereinblog.net

For more information, please contact Saleem Samad: +88-01711-530207; Faruq Faisel: +88-01730-710267, or send emails: saleemsamad@hotmail.com; faruq@article19.org

Joy Manush! Humanity First!


><((((o>><((((o><o))))><><((((o>
SALEEM Samad
Ashoka Fellow (USA)
Recipient of Hellman-Hammett Award, 2005
General Secretary: Forum for Freedom of Expression, Bangladesh - #FExB
+8801711-530207 phone

+1-718-713-4364 ePhone
+1-863-774-1849 eFax

Email:forumforFEXB@gmail.com

Twitter: @saleemsamad

Skype: saleemsamad

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saleem.samad

Blog: http://bangladeshwatchdog.blogspot.com/

P Save a tree, think before you print this e-mail


__._,_.___
Posted by: costa rosie <costa_rosie@yahoo.com>


****************************************************
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

****************************************************

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

****************************************************

"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




__,_._,___

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)