[ALOCHONA] Slain army officers laid to rest

Slain army officers laid to rest

New Age 3/3/09

 

Tens of thousands of mourners on Monday bade tearful farewells to army officers killed in last week’s mutiny by BDR personnel.Members of the bereaved families, politicians, army officers and people from all walks of life joined the funeral and paraded before the bodies of 49 officers of the Bangladesh Army and the wife of one of them before they were laid to rest at the Banani graveyard in Dhaka.
President Zillur Rahman, who attended the prayer session at the National Parade Ground, laid floral tributes on behalf of the nation on the slain officers’ coffins that were wrapped in national and army flags after the namaj-e-janaza.
The khatib of the Cantonment Central Mosque and religious teacher, Maulana Mohammad Mahmudul Huq, led the namaz-e-janaza and offered prayers seeking blessings from the Almighty for the departed souls.
He also prayed for the strengthening of Bangladesh’s military forces to enable them to maintain the country’s independence and sovereignty and overcome the grief caused by Wednesday’s barbaric massacre.
The prime minister’s military secretary placed a floral wreath to pay homage to the valiant sons of the soil on her behalf.
The army chief, General Moeen U Ahmed, the navy chief, Rear Admiral ZU Ahmed, and air force chief, Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman, paid respects to their dead colleagues on behalf of the armed forces at the parade and the prayer sessions, which were broadcast live by the state-run electronic media.
The dead bodies arrived on nine trucks decorated with flowers and petals at the square amid gun salutes, and many relatives, friends and colleagues broke down in tears. Many came with bunches of flowers to pay a last tribute to the deceased.
Many persons attending the state funeral were seen consoling others who were sobbing helplessly.
The officers, whose bodies were found in mass graves inside and outside the Pilkhana in Dhaka after the mutiny was quelled on Thursday, were also given an air salute by pilots of the BAF’s fighter planes.
After the namaz-e-janaja ended, 42 of the bodies were taken in a convoy to the Banani army graveyard where they were laid to rest. The other decedents were buried at their ancestral homes.
Many of the soldiers and officers who were carrying the coffins to the grave broke down in tears while the relatives wept and wailed to bid the final farewell to them.
The chief of the Bangladesh Rifles, Major General Shakil Ahmed, was among the many officers killed in the shooting by disgruntled soldiers. Fifty of the decedents were brought to the National Parade Ground to be paid the last tribute.
According to a list provided by the army’s Inter-Services Public Relations, the deceased were the chief of Bangladesh Rifles Major General Shakil Ahmed and his wife Nazneen Shakil, Brigadier General Md Zakir Hossain, Brigadier General Abdul Bari; Colonels Mujibul Haq, Md Anisuzzaman, Md Mashiur Rahman, Kudrat Elahi Rahman Shafiq, Md Akhter Hossain, Md Rezaul Kabir, Nafis Uddin Ahmed, Quazi Emdadul Haq, Shamsul Arefin Ahmed, Nakibur Rahman, Kazi Moazzem Hossain, Md Shawkat Imam, Md Emdadul Islam, Md Aftabul Islam; Lieutenant Colonels Ensat Ibne Amin, Enayetul Haq, Golam Kibria, Shamsul Azam, Md Badrul Huda, Saiful Islam, Lutfur Rahman, Md Sajjadur Rahman, Kazi Rabi Rahman, Lutfur Rahman Khan; Majors Mizanur Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman, Md Makbul Hossain, Md Abdus Salam Khan, Hossain Sohel Shanewaz, Kazi Mossadeq Hossain, Mohammad Saleh, Mahmud Hasan, Moshtaq Mahmood, Mahmudul Hasan, Humayun Haider, Azharul Islam, Md Humayun Kabir Sarker, Md Khalid Hossain, Md Maksum-ul-Hakim, Syed Md Idris Iqbal, Md Rafiqul Islam, Md Mosharraf Hossain, Md Mubinul Islam Sarkar, Mostafa Asaduzzaman and SM Mamunur Rahman; and soldier Zahirul Islam.
The rescuers recovered as many as 73 bodies from inside and outside the headquarters and are still searching for the other missing officers. The speaker, deputy speaker, members of the Cabinet, lawmakers, political leaders, serving and retired officers of the armed forces and people from all walks of life took part in the funeral.

---

__._,_.___

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] Re: Stop spreading Rumors in Bangladesh

The entire nation is mourning the colossal loss of life and human tragedy for those who survived. We pay our deepest respect to fallen officers and soldiers. The loss is so huge and irreparable, so much destruction took place in day and half is unthinkable. Nation lost its finest officers and the wall of distrust between two most prestigious organizations is now impassable.

 

As day pas by and we get more information on what exactly happened inside BDR HQ, one can no longer call it mutiny, revolt or uprising. This was pure anarchy by a bunch of criminal.

 

In our long nine months liberation war we lost 55 officers but in just day and half we lost hundreds. So many kids lost their father, so many of us lost their beloved husband, proud parents lost their beloved kids. Nation has not seen so many kids becoming orphan, wives becoming widow overnight.

 

One may have genuine grievances against another but the cruelty that been displayed is no match. I am sure this cannot be work of BDR as a hole. There must have some group worked with a grand plan to destabilize our nations security. Bring two closely netted organizations into fierce front fight using their grievances. Question is who they are. We know how the terrorist outfits such as JMB or HUJI used poor uneducated peoples grievances evoking Holly Quran and Islam We must go to the bottom of this and find it out. Nation has lost thousands of soldiers and officers in the hands of conspirators for 38 years. This blood shed must end for once and all.

 

We also have to look after ordinary BDR personnel's welfare so that another human tragedy does not unfold. We are also proud of BDR, which guards our nation's boarder and works as the first defense line for our nation.  BDR played a major role in our war of independence standing next to Bangladesh Army. We must find ways to bring back the glory and trust between this two interdependent organization not just for their sake but also more importantly for the sake of nation security.

 

Those who we fought together to liberate this country from the occupational forces of Pakistan must come together and forget their bitterly past and start a new journey. Tragedy always brings one closer to another and allows us to revisit our self and accept the mishaps in our life and take measures to correct. Time has come, it is already late but we must not miss this chance for rebuilding our trust.

 

We pray to almighty for awarding eternal peace for martyred officers and soldiers and grant strength to bereaved family members to face the unbearable loss.

 

Sincerely

Shamim Chowdhury

Maryland, USA

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, "M. M. Chowdhury \(Mithu\)" <cgmpservices@...> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>  
> I like to condemn this Army killing a heinous crime from the bottom of my heart and this killing does not justify anything regardless any disagreement between BDR-Army.  I am personally sad to lose one of my friends (Major) in this killing.  I like to emphasis that only good thing we can do now is to stop spreading the rumors that we don't know.  Our enemy will look for people who like rumors and spread it which can create confusion and problem for Bangladesh.
>  
> Everybody has their own opinion but for the sake of Bangladesh, you better stop your opinion until we hear from the investigators what actually happened and who are behind it.  I still believe that Army has good networks to find what happened and who were behind it.
>  
> I also like to stress that our hatred among us has helped to increase the fire in this situation. And this might create more hatred among us. This is the only thing that I have been trying for the last 4 years to stop the hatred among Bangladeshi.  If you are really care about Bangladesh, you have to stop hatred to others regardless his or her party affiliation.  We can have disagreement in ideology but we should not have disagreement in national interest and conspirators look for our disagreement to advance their goals in Bangladesh.
>  
> To create an friendly environment,  I was criticized from both BNP and AL, or even from few CTG supporters in Bangladesh and Abroad.  If I point out BNP failure, I was called a CTG & AL supporter,  if I point out an AL failure, I was called a BNP supporter,  if I point out a CTG failure, I was called a BNP supporter.  This kind of hate mongering in Bangladesh and abroad has to be stopped.  This is gone for too long in Bangladesh and Abroad and we need unity regardless if you are AL or BNP supporters.
>  
> Let's pray for out lost souls and pray how we can unite to move this country forward.  This loss may not be recovered but we can help to stop the rumors to recover from the future loss in Bangladesh both emotionally and economically. 
>  
> I also think that we should support democratic AL Govt to move forward and make them successful.  I will be the one again to criticize AL if they fall behind to meet Bangladesh goals.  Any Govt will work best when we general people work as a Watchdog to look after national interests regardless our party affiliations.
>  
> God Bless Bangladesh and help poor people in the upcoming economical storm.
>  
> Regards,
> M M Chowdhury (Mithu), USA
> www.changebangladesh.org
>  
>  
>

__._,_.___

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] Killing Mission

Killing Mission   By Farhad Mazhar  in response to the following:   Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 04:06:23 -0800 From: bd_mailer@yahoo.com Subject: Accountability and Distorted Truths To: zoglul@hotmail.co.uk; shahin72@gmail.com; janashah_1@yahoo.com; alfazanambd@yahoo.com; adelm@uapb.edu; hossain.khilji@yahoo.com; mbimunshi@gmail.com; rehman.mohammad@gmail.com;  mahmudurart@yahoo.com; farhadmazhar@hotmail.com; kmamalik@aol.com; premlaliguras@hotmail.com;  dhakamails@yahoogroups.com; khabor@yahoogroups.com; alochona@yahoogroups.com; bangla-vision@ yahoogroups.com; mouchakaydheel@yahoo.com; jason@prio.no; odhora@yahoogroups.com; ayeshakabir@ yahoo.com; sayantha15@yahoo.com; ghazala.khi@gmail.com; minarrashid@yahoo.com; editorazad@gmail.   com;  history_islam@yahoogroups.com; jangoonetilleke@aol.com; lankaguardian2007@gmail.com Accountability and Distorted Truths There are four major charges being leveled against the government's handling of the BDR massacre. The first one is general: The government held back the Army, who otherwise could have prevented or minimized the murders The second one is much more specific. This accuses that after the amnesty was announced, and while Nanak and Sahara Khatun were inside Pilkhana, the majority of the murders happened. From an email allegedly from an Army officer that is being widely circulated: • RAB arrives at Pilkhana gate at about 10am and ready to move in. Home Ministry said a stubborn "No". • Troops of Mirpur Cantt and Dhaka Cantt arrives at Pilkhana by 11:30am. they seek permission to go in. Again a big "No" • Innocent Media people, bluffed by the BDR jawans, focus to the nation the good side or the "right cause" of rebellion BDR. they ask for BCS officers....!!! • Govt sends nanok and others and they enter courageously into BDR Pilkhana and safely come back and they are not held hostage. • At 4:30pm, army tanks are ready to go in, briefing done, again a big "No". The army is told to go 3 km away from Pilkhana. • Night comes. sahara and nanok enter BDR and all lights are off. sahara visits families of army officers without nanok as seen on TV channels through BTV footage. She does not; we repeat DOES NOT meet any army officer of BDR. • Media people telecast live sound of firing from inside Pilkhana when sahara is inside. • sahara comes out and faces the media. some channel representative asks her "Apni jokhon vitorey chilen, amra goolir shobdo shunlam, apni shunen ni?" she say "No. I did not hear any firing". sahara did not mention anything about the 168 officers inside, nor the media asked her where were the officers. • THIS WAS BECAUSE AT THAT TIME BDR WAS COMPLETING THE TOTAL KILLING OF ALIVE OFFICERS AND THIER FAMILIES UNDER THE EYES OF NANOK AND MASS GRAVES WERE BEING PREPARED. Please refer to the Ntv exclusive with major Mokarram on 28th evening. He said that he heard the voice of home minister entering into the kote when BDR gunmen surrounded him. • IG police freely moved in because his daughter and son in law capt haider was inside. He ensured the rescue of his daughter, married 82 days earlier. • only police is allowed to enter pilkhana and throughout the night they find only 7 dead bodies and suggest that search could not be done due to darkness. The third charge is grave... The same email states that ambulances entered Pilkhaka and took away some killers under the guise of removing the injured. From the same email: • NON-MILITARY AMBULANCES ENTER AND LEAVE PILKHANA A NUMBER OF TIMES AND TAKES AWAY SO MANY DEAD BODIES...BUT THE TOTAL STILL REMAINS 7. Only 5-7 other bodies appear from canal behind BDR naturally floating. IT WAS BECAUSE THOSE AMBULANCES TOOK ABOUT 32 KILLERS AWAY. The fourth accusation is absolutely incendiary. It charges that Sahara Khatun let the murderers go, and that under the direction of the Home Ministry, the power was cut off in the area during the night of Feb 26 so the BDRs could escape. From someone whose father is a senior retired army officer, and who has may family members in the armed services: Majority of them knew this was going to happen but Home Ministry allowed them to shut the light in BDR and allowed them to escape All of these accusations were expressed in various forms when Sheikh Hasina met with Army officers on March 1. One survivor from the massacre specifically mentioned that if Sahara Khatun went to the Quarter Guard and asked about the women, then they would not have faced any abuse. In a chaotic scene, the officers accused that the killers were allowed to escape in the name of negotiations, and demanded the resignation of Mirza Azam, Nanak and Sahara Khatun Let's examine these charges. 1. To start with, the outcome of an Army-BDR firefight is known--the Army would have won in the long run. But at what cost? If the author of this email, and others bemoaning this fact truly believe the BDR would have fled in the face of an assault, perhaps they have forgotten that BDR is the most battle-hardened force in Bangladesh that faces regular live fire from BSF, while for most army soldiers the only gunfire they see come during exercises. Yes, the Army has superior heavy weapons, including tanks and gelicopter gunships. But lets not forget the civilians, family members and officers still alive who were inside Pilkhana, who would have been used as human shielf. Even the author of the email is claiming most of the officers were still alive. What would have happened to them in the cross-fire if the Army attacked? What of the Army soldiers taking part in the attack? What about the civilians outside Pilkhana? What about the BDR forces in other districts and the border, where the tensions were rising and reports of rebellion was rising? In the event of an assault, who would have prevented bloodbaths in those locations? We submit that however painful the death of the officers in Dhaka, an armed assult on Pilkhana would have been many times worse and caused a country-wide firefight. A retired Brig gen and a former DDG of the BDR agrees. Note that this person is intimately familiar with the capability and mentality of the BDR.   Sheikh Hasina essentially reiterated the same points, and for the first time she mentioned that she had asked the Army chief how long it will take to launch an air or ground assult. By the time they had leared that the officers were dead, and decided to take the route of negotiations in order to protect the families. 2. If that is so, then why are there any officers alive at all? We are not talking about the officers who were hiding; we are talking about the officers who were confided by armed BDR personnel at quarter-guard or other locations, at least 18 of whom were released on Day 2 (see our timeline, Feb 26, 4:30 PM). The only explanation that makes sense is that most of the murders had happened in an initial burst in the beginning. Lt Col. Shams, who escaped out of the Darbar hall and was hidden by some BDR soldiers, tells us: "It was between 10:30 am to 11:00 am and I assume most of the officers were killed during that time," he said in the interview. He is also the officer who described the mysterious grey pick-up entering through gate 5, bearing arms and ammunication 3. We know Red-Cross/Red-Crescent ambulances evacuated some of the injured, and those ambulences went to CMH with the injured and the dead. If the author of this email is claiming that the killers went to CMH and escaped, he has access to information that we don't. 4. We now know this: the main lights in the Pilkhana are not on a timer; they have to be turned on manually via various main switches by an electrician. Because of the firefight, there was no electrician in Pilkhana, hence there were no lights on the streets and perimeter.   We agree that it was short-sighted of the home ministry to not arrange for flood lights. At the very least, just turning on the headlights of all the army and police vehicles would have provided some light. But to accuse a person who risked her own life to go in and bring out families of the army officers of aiding and abetting criminals is reprehensible. Perhaps before leveling such charges, they should talk to Lt. Col. Kamruzzaman, who acknowledged that his wife and children were extracted by Sahara Khatun   For the investigation committee: Now, emotions are raging inside the serving and retired officers of the Armed forces, and Bangladesh once again stands on the brink of a precipice. So allow us to ask some of our own questions, and point out some other facts that we hope the investigatin committee will examine. 1. What were the various intelligence agencies doing? Lt. Col. Kamruzzaman is on record that the field agents of the intelligence agencies were involved in this. Even if this is not true, this indicates a massive intelligence failure, and we need to see some accountability from the people who head up these agencies 2. What happens to the corruption allegations? We hope that those will not be buried along with the dead bodies. If there is a systematic corruption, let us uproot at as well. And if there was no corrpution, then let the investigations clear the names of the deceased. 3. On March 1, 2009, the police forces of Bangladesh suddenly started receiving 100% ration, which was one of the 22 demands of the BDR. Was there any credible intelligence regarding a similar threat at the Police force? If so, from whom? Lastly, we end this post with a call for patience from all quarters. The sad truth is, Bangladesh has lost some brave men. But this is not the first time this has happened, and every time the killers walked away free. The Army is bringing great pressure on the prime minister. We understand their anger and outrage. But asking for resignations from MPs and ministers, people who risked their lives to save Army officers and their families serves what purpose? Who gains by removing the people withouth whose involvement the death-toll would have been higher? (We hope we have already laid to rest the wisdom of an attack on Pilkhana). Instead, the Army should focus its energy on investigating and capturing the masterminds of this murder. If this results in an Armed uprising and overthrow of the government, then the people who planned this massacre wins. But we believe the worst of the crisis is over. Gen. Moeen U. Ahmed stated categorically that the Army is under the authority of the elected government, and the PM has faced off 300+ angry, emotional officers for three hours. If this democratically elected government can withstand the pressure to act hastily, we believe the truth will shine through. And onlt then the death of the officers will not be in vain..   http://shadakalo.blogspot.com/2009/03/accountability-and-distorted-truths.html

__._,_.___

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] Re: Comments on BDR mutiny

Dear All, Here's my response to Zia Rahman's  (Associate Professor in Sociology(on- leave), University of Dhaka; Ph.D. Candidate and Instructor, Dept. of Sociology, University of Calgary, Alberta)  "Comment on BDR Mutiny"  that he circulated to many forums.May I request all the Group Moderators to kindly post my response alongside Mr Zia's write up for the esteemed members.       Mr Zia,  Wrote:   "Last year when I saw that a public university was established for the military in the cantonment area, I was really surprised. The military high commands never think about the consequences. The military have their own medical college; engineering college and now they have their own university! I am not sure whether the military high commands have ever thought about the long term effects; in the short run the military might gain but in the long term they will definitely lose. There are lots of issues in the academic minds and time has come to analyze those in a neutral and thoughtful manner."   My Response:   I don't know how much you know about this university but surely it surprises me hearing it from you who is an Associated Professor himself!  Bangladesh Military established "Bangladesh University of Professional (BUP)" that will govern all the higher educational institutes like NDC, DSCSC, MIST etc run by the military.  I am not sure whether you know that the Professors (including DU) and academicians from Bangladesh and abroad come to these military educational institutes for lecturing and taking courses. The students of the MBA classes and engineering course run by MIST are general people of the country except for some executive courses and professional courses where the military officers opting for higher education are allowed to attend. NDC, AFWC and DSCSC is purely for defence officers, police and civil servants of the Republic. What is wrong if these educational institutes produce enlightened people, or you want the military to remain uneducated? How this can have adverse effect in the long run? My experience is limited to three continent including your neighbor USA where I stayed for some higher study and found similar structure in their military too. May I know what causes concern for you if military establishes a University of Professionals?         Mr Zia Wrote:   "The military high commands, without knowing the long term effects and consequences, have been alienating themselves from rest of the society although we all are Bangladeshi and the segmentary development is not our desire---indeed a parochial and an obsolete idea in the era of globalization.. But I am sure the military high commands would have taken such ideas negatively had scholars raised such issues"     My Response:   Perhaps this para reveals the dept of your knowledge on the military. The assertion that the development in Bangladesh military is "segmnetary" and " …the military have been alienating themselves from rest of the society" is quite interesting. I am sure that as a social scientist you are aware of all the research methodology tools to prove any hypothesis. May I know how did you prove this hypothesis? What was the 'sample size' of your study? Significance level? What criterions did you take to find out that development in military is "segmentary" and "military have alienating themselves from the society"? Do you know how much time in a year these military officers are deployed by the government to stay in tents with the general people of the country in the name of VGF card distribution, disaster relief operation or traffic controlling? Have you seen where they live in the CHT where they were employed in the past for counter insurgency operation? Do you have any idea how many soldier's son have become officers? Do you know at least three of the officers who were killed were the son of some jawans. Do you have any real idea how soldiers in the military are treated by their officers? Do you know how many of them were employed during the SIDR? Have you seen them working in the field for the preparation of the voter ID? Do you know their social background? How many from middle class, upper middle class and upper class? Do they support their family or not? How many could have been associate professors like you had they not joined the military? I would urge you to make a study using those tools before making such sweeping comments.     You Commented: The issues which should have been addressed by the policy makers, intellects and academics have now been addressed by the lower strata officials belonging to the same military organization, though at the cost of human blood! There are many burning issues in military, diffusing everyday social inequality should be addressed and focused on.   And in another place: Interestingly some rebel soldiers have raised some very rudimentary but crucial issues that could have been raised by either a Professor like Muntasir Mamoon or a journalist like Mr. Nurul Kabir of the New Age.   My response:   Apparently your  deduction of the motive for the killing of so many Army Officers and some BDR jawans by the "lower strata"  was the  " social inequality"  inside BDR. I am not sure whether you are biting your own words now or not as more chilling facts are coming out about the heinous crime.  It now looks like a pure cold blooded and preplanned murder which was meticulously planned and had many sympathizers. The fact that many BDR jawans did not take part in the crime and some were killed by their own people is a testimony to that. The fact that arms were supplied form outside and sympathizers (at home and aboard) started making "complete analysis" even before knowing the full facts tells a different tale. The fact that the criminals did not only kill the unarmed officers, jawans but also some women and children and mutilated the body dump them in mass grave gives a different picture.   I strongly feel that, as an academicians  It would have been wise to wait for the facts to come, the extent of damage ascertained, the number and type of people involved reveled before making such a "comprehensive analysis" by someone like you who is employed in a reputed public university. Your ultra-quick assertions and deductions in the long essay may be taken as true by any first time reader who is not aware of the more revealing facts on the incident. It is expected that people of your stature and reputation will be objective in their analysis and comments on such a serious issue involving the killing of so many people including women and kids – unless you had a compelling reasons to make those premature deductions.   It increasingly appears to be a criminal act by some hard core criminal BDR jawns who infiltrated the BDR. One of the leaders who took part in the discussion at Ambala hotel was very young BDR jawan hardly with ½ years of service. On average, most of those who did the killing were in the age group of 22-28 having mostly 4-5 years of service. Most of the older lots were mainly passive some were coerced to join while many helped the officers to escape or hide in their own house risking their own life. These facts when considered clearly reject the notion of "Social inequality" as preached by you.     Regards Zahid Khan --- On Thu, 2/26/09, Isha Khan <bd_mailer@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Isha Khan <bd_mailer@yahoo.com> Subject: Comments on BDR mutiny To: zoglul@hotmail.co.uk, shahin72@gmail.com, janashah_1@yahoo.com, alfazanambd@yahoo.com, adelm@uapb.edu, hossain.khilji@yahoo.com, mbimunshi@gmail.com, rehman.mohammad@gmail.com, mahmudurart@yahoo.com, farhadmazhar@hotmail.com, kmamalik@aol.com, premlaliguras@hotmail.com, dhakamails@yahoogroups.com, khabor@yahoogroups.com, alochona@yahoogroups.com, bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com, bangla-vision@yahoogroups.com, mouchakaydheel@yahoo.com, jason@prio.no, odhora@yahoogroups.com, ayeshakabir@yahoo.com, sayantha15@yahoo.com, ghazala.khi@gmail.com, minarrashid@yahoo.com, history_islam@yahoogroups.com, jangoonetilleke@aol.com, editorazad@gmail.com, newtimes47@gmail.com, lankaguardian2007@gmail.com Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009, 7:20 PM Comments on BDR mutiny Zia Rahman Although very painful and unfortunate, these types of events are not very uncommon for an underdeveloped country like Bangladesh where poverty, paternalism or informal allegiance and unequal power relations are rampant and the ultimate outcome is social inequality or disparity. Hence, at the very outset disparity and social inequality seem to be the main cause of such an event. Three major aspects have been identified to comment and these are: (1) The ruling elites including military, the state machinery and even the civil society rarely contemplate the question of social inequality very seriously; they never want to understand the impact and consequences of such social inequality which is increasing in all the segments and groups in our country by leaps and bounds. Sociologically, this is a very common outcome where corruption and nepotism along with unequal power relations play an important role in making money, wealth and resources using authoritarian and feudal ethos. Although this is a very crucial issue, except very few civil society members, the society has yet to be aware of.   This is such a crucial issue that most capitalist states even have conceded and thus introduced a plethora of ancillary methods such as employment insurance, medial insurance, and other social benefits minimizing the gap between rich and poor. The whole night I watched the television news in various channels and I, as a student of social movements, have tried to understand the dynamics and severity of the event. No doubts the grievances have been developed for long, and it is very surprising that the officers of the B.D.R. and the intelligence could not even figure out such grievances. Nonetheless, it is a huge loss for a country like Bangladesh. (2) Apparently, the rebel soldiers seemed very confident and smart and they raised many critical issues which have been growing for a long time; I was even surprised hearing a soldier quoting Professor Muzaffar Ahmed regarding the corruptions of some army officers during the 1/11 regime. In a modern society, inner issues related to such problems are analyzed, raised and discussed in everyday life either by a journalist or by an academic or a television host belonging to the educated middle class. But the irony is that these types of practices are totally nil in our society even though some academics sometimes try to convey their opinions in a frightened and timid way. In a western society, these types of anger are also there, but the important thing is that there are many think tanks, organizations and researchers commenting on everyday issues, and the public agencies always incorporate those valuable opinions and suggestions in formulating social policies. In Bangladesh, civil society is still gelatinous and the coercive power of state apparatuses interrupts the honest, courageous, thoughtful and real opinions and observations raised by the academics, experts and scholars. (3) Definitely, a sagacious citizen never wants to see such a painful event, both illegal and unacceptable. But this is the reality in our country and the old proverb works out here now---history repeats itself. The issues which should have been addressed by the policy makers, intellects and academics have now been addressed by the lower strata officials belonging to the same military organization, though at the cost of human blood! There are many burning issues in military, diffusing everyday social inequality, should be addressed and focused on. Last year when I saw that a public university was established for the military in the cantonment area, I was really surprised. The military high commands never think about the consequences. The military have their own medical college; engineering college and now they have their own university! I am not sure whether the military high commands have ever thought about the long term effects; in the short run the military might gain but in the long term they will definitely lose. There are lots of issues in the academic minds and time has come to analyze those in a neutral and thoughtful manner.    Do the military have ever thought about the long term consequences of the policy of the Defense Officers Housing Society (DOHS) or the Trust Bank? Why do the military establish assets and establishments like Darbar Hall, Sena Kunja or Rifle Square? These have symbolic effects on the powerless and the masses. The military high commands, without knowing the long term effects and consequences, have been alienating themselves from rest of the society although we all are Bangladeshi and the segmentary development is not our desire---indeed a parochial and an obsolete idea in the era of globalization. Interestingly some rebel soldiers have raised some very rudimentary but crucial issues that could have been raised by either a Professor like Muntasir Mamoon or a journalist like Mr. Nurul Kabir of the New Age. But I am sure the military high commands would have taken such ideas negatively had scholars raised such issues. The military high commands should incorporate as many opinions and ideas as they possibly can. I know the Bangladesh military has many intelligent and promising officers who think about the progressive and prosperous Bangladesh. From the administrative/intelligence point of view this is a complete failure for the state agencies involved in security and intelligence. The prime minister has just visited the BDR, and the mutiny could have happened the day the prime minister visited BDR but we do not want to think about such tragic events. The policy makers and the administrators should be more serious about the future security questions of Bangladesh. And they should keep in mind that it was a complete failure as far as security is concerned It is positive that a democratic government is there having a huge verdict from the people in Bangladesh. As a political sociologist I know that dialogue, justice and peaceful solutions are the only desire of the general citizens in Bangladesh. I am sympathetic towards the family members of the BDR officers and the innocent civilians. We know that the mutiny, rebellion or insurrection is all negative terms in the legal books, and the authority and the officials will definitely do their own jobs accordingly. But my sincere desire from the ruling elites and the policy makers is that the authority should be transparent and they will inform the inner causes of the mutiny and the real conditions of the BDR to the public.   The parliament is alive and the parliament members should actively participate in the debates. Moreover, a parliamentary enquiry committee can be formed who can review the situations of military in Bangladesh on the whole incorporating military experts, academics and scholars. This might provide the resources and solutions for future problems related to such an unfortunate and unbearable BDR mutiny. (Zia Rahman Associate Professor in Sociology(on-leave), University of Dhaka; Ph.D. Candidate and Instructor, Dept. of Sociology, University of Calgary, Alberta)   http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/analysis.htm#anlysis-01

__._,_.___

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] 25th February 2009

Dear Alochoks

 

Today is a good day for me. I have been in some kind of trauma since the 25^th of February.

I hope that you too have recovered some composure – if you have been unfortunate enough to lose it.

Reading the messages in Alochona today was quite sobering.

Everybody is making good points. And yet, perhaps, there is no point to anyone’s point.

 

Here is a summary of where we are today:

 

1. We are correctly urged to show restraint, caution and patience.
2. We know that there can be a whitewash and the truth may not come out.
3. Some sections blame ISI and Pakistan, defending AL
4. Some sections blame RAW and India, defending BNP
5. Some sections blame savage factionalism within the Army
6. Hasina’s televised speech was very good
7. The escape of so many guilty men is not good at all for AL – or for the Army
8. Khaleda’s absence on the 25^th is very bad indeed
9. Sending Nanak and Mirza Azam – even Sahara Khatun - was a disaster
10. It may emerge (as a whitewash or as reality) that allies of Al Qaeda are involved.

 

We can commend Sahara Khatun’s bravery – but was she the best negotiator in Bangladesh?

Possibly. We are talking about Bangladesh after all. Right?

 

It’s possibly correct that he Army was not sent in earlier. I too didn’t want it to enter.

But the BDR camp should have been surrounded earlier.

And why all the concern about civilians in nearby building when civilians were massed at the gates and walls?

 

The 10^th point is evolving at the moment.

The hotel bombing in Karachi, the attack on Mumbai and now this in Dhaka.

The FBI and Scotland Yard, having been now called in, will likely focus most on this possibility.

 

I have exercised restraint on the forum because my friends have urged it.

I am trying to wait for the investigation even though we have never satisfactorily concluded anything.

I am trying to wait because that surely means I still have hope. That's all.

 

Yesterday, my niece’s husband was buried. I wrote this message below to a Mama in a moment of great sorrow and anger.

It is completely unrestrained. I hope it will be posted because I want anger and sorrow to be recorded too. That’s all.

 

No one should really mind the ugliness in it.

For no one really minds the closeup shots of the disfigured dead on our television screens while our children watch.

 

No one should really mind the provocation in it.

For no one really minds the daily provocations of the elected representatives and leaders of AL and BNP.

 

No one should really mind its poor quality.

For no one really minds the abysmal quality of debate and decorum in Parliament.

 

How well our MPs captured the national mood in Parliament the other day! How comforting they were!

How reassuring it was to see their moral strength and principled resolve! How glorious our choice of MPs!

 

Forgive me friend. I’ll stop and get comfort from a coffee so hot it will hopefully burn my tongue.

 

Ezajur Rahman

Kuwait  

 

   

___________________________________________

 

 

2/3/09

 

Mama

 

The janaza of my niece’s husband, Lt Colonel Sajjadur Rahman, was held this morning in Bangladesh.

Last night in Kuwait we organized a dua mehfil for all our fallen soldiers. It was attended by more than 200 people from all parties and organizations.

We prayed for all our fallen soldiers.

 

Mama. There are two pains howling mournfully in all our hearts.

One pain is for our soldiers. We can express our grief a little, like babbling, bumbling deeply wounded fools.

Another pain is for our beloved country. That grief has no expression. That grief smothers our voice like a murderous pillow.

 

Mama. They gutted us like a fish.

 

They were brothers in arms and yet they had no arms.

One unarmed brother died trying to help his unarmed brother.

Our men are not trained to die for nothing.

Our men are not trained to call for help and backup does not arrive.

 

I’m glad it was on 25^th February. I mean no disrespect to anyone but I believe we always do too much of some things in order to hide other things.

 

Now 21^st February will get a reality check. Our self congratulatory tricks will be more exposed now.

If that's what you do for less than 10 dead on 21^st February – what will you do for 150 dead on 25^th February?

25^th February will show us where we really are right now – not 21^st February which shows us who we were back then.

 

 

Maybe now our young men will not just sing songs about pretty girls, pink flowers, red saris.

Maybe now our young men will not just act like eunuchs, without courage, without backbone.

Maybe now our young men will know that it’s their country, their future and it’s being taken from them.

 

We won the War of Sovereignty in 1971. But not the War of Independence.

For Independence is not about the right for fools to govern fools.

Independence is about the right people being empowered to do the right thing.

 

My information is that junior officers hurled abuse at Hasina and Generals at the Shenakunja yesterday.

For myself. I thank God I am not a trained soldier. For I am sick of seeing the same faces, again and again.

   

Mama. If we can absorb this… We can absorb a few more deaths… Just a few more…

Justice has never found even a small home in Bangladesh.

Right now I am uncivilized. Because I have not acted, with my bare hands, against a shipping magnate from Chittagong.

Irrespective of whether he is guilty or not.

 

On Judgement Day Allah will ask us – Hey Bangladesh! Why did you not make it even halfway?

And we will say – we didn’t have enough time. And Allah will rage at us that He did give us time.

It’s just that we spat in the face of time. And kept saying Shomoi lagbeh! Astheh dhireh hobe! Rome wasn’t built in a day!

We don’t want Rome! We want a toilet that works for the guy urinating in open public drains!

 

I’m just waiting for the bill in this Parliament that will close all Madrasahs.

When do you think it will happen? Why not? Does Jamaat have a majority?

 

I am young am I not? Yes I am. I am foolish am I not? Yes I am.

 

Forgive me.

 

God rest our fallen men. God keep them close. God give their families peace.

 

God give no quarter to all patriots who dare to call themselves real men. God give them no peace and no rest.

Until a country, worthy of the fallen of 1971 and 2009, is returned to the next generation –

unbeholden to anyone one man or his family.

 

Ameen.

 

Junel

 

---

__._,_.___

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___