God did not create the universe and the "Big Bang" was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics, the eminent British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking argues in a new book. I have written a Bangla article addressing the issue. It is here: Regards Avijit |
Gorbo Bangladesh : Another political experiment!
Is this a political platform for the reformists or a fresh effort to split BNP? Or is this the government's B-Team? PROBE looks into Gorbo Bangladesh....
by ANWAR PARVEZ HALIM
Gorbo Bangladesh, ostensibly a social organisation, hosted an iftar on August 27 at the Banani field in the city. Sitting on the dais were Mahi B Chowdhury, JP leader Sadek Siddiqui, Professor Dr. Shaheda, JSD (Rab) leader Abdul Malek Ratan, Islamic TV's Director Mahmudur Rahman and sports personality Kaiser Hamid. In a break away from the norm, the programme had no chief guest. Instead, a chair placed in the middle of these persons on dais remained empty with a notice on the back: "Waiting for a qualified leader." A similar message ran on the banner behind them: "In search of a qualified leader."
Who are the initiators of this Gorbo Bangladesh? What are their aims and objectives? What do they mean by "qualified leader?" Is this a precursor to a political platform? The organisation's Convenor Prof. Dr. Shaheda speaks readily to PROBE on these issues. Incidentally, she is the wife of late BNP leader KM Obaidur Rahman.
She says, the present Member Secretary of Gorbo Bangladesh Kamrul Hasan Nasim had been working over the past two or three years with the hardworking people at the grassroots. Our main aim is to raise public awareness for qualitative change in the social, political and economic arenas. On March 3 we held a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity to launch our platform.
Kamrul Hasan Nasim of Chuadanga was involved in JSD politics as a student, but later became a central committee member of BNP's front organisation Krishak Dal. He also ran a programme 'Lal Sabujer Bangladesh' on Islamic Television. He was involved in import and export business for some time but now is a full-timer with Gorbo Bangladesh.
Former football star Kaiser Hamid is Convenor of the organisations youth body 'Tarunyer Joy'.
Prof. Shaheda claims that several leaders of 14 major and minor political parties are with her in this initiative, both overtly and covertly.
Gorbo Bangladesh has published a four-page brochure. It lists the qualities needed for a qualified leader as well as the aims and objectives of the organisation along with its organogram. Along with the 101-member central committee, it has names of 15 affiliated bodies. The names of these front organisations are unique. The youth front is named Tarunyer Joy (Victory of the Youth); the student front is Amra Chhatra (We are Students); the women's organisation is Aanchal (the end of the sari); the professionals' front is Jiban Juddho (Life's Struggle); the farmers' front is Krishaker Hashi (The Farmer's Smile); the religious front Manobotar Sanglap (Dialogue of Humanity), and so on.
Professor Shaheda says, presently work is on at building up the organisation countrywide and the response is overwhelming. They are planning a grand rally at the Paltan Maidan in Dhaka shortly.
Such organisation needs significant funds. Says Prof. Shaheda, "For the time being we are funding the programmes from our own pockets." She stresses, "This is no NGO so we have no donors. We have no wish to take funds from donors because we will not be dictated by anyone."
While Gorbo Bangladesh claims to be a non-political social organisation, will it eventually become a political party? In response Prof. Shaheda says, "Not for the time being. This may be a social platform, but everyone has a constitutional right to politics." She adds that Gorbo Bangladesh is legally registered as a social organisation.
Prof. Shaheda sternly criticises Awami League, BNP, Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia. What type of leader does she look for? She replies, "A leader with integrity, merit, farsightedness, patriotism and character. These five qualities are a must. None of the leaders of the ruling party and the opposition have these qualities, not even Hasina or Khaleda."
She goes on to say, "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a bold leader, Ziaur Rahman had integrity and in some aspects, Ershad had a modern vision. But their journey forward seems to have got stuck in a traffic jam."
"There has been so-called democracy since 1991. Then political blunders brought us to 1/11. The politicians are responsible for this. The people welcomed 1/11, but that does not mean anyone wanted military rule. Moeen Uddin and Fakhruddin did not keep their commitment. They failed."
As for Hasina and Khaleda, both of them have 'inherited' their political leadership. They have none of the five qualities for which we are searching. If they did a U Turn and took on these five qualities, we would accept that. But we have seen them for the last 30 years. They have been failures. The present government is 90% a failure. When a government is a failure, the opposition's responsibility is doubled. But the opposition here is virtually non-existent. Khaleda Zia is busy with the claim on her house and with Koko's parole. This cannot be the role of a national leader. The opposition is actually the 15 crore people of the country. They will select the nation's leadership. They simply need to be made aware and that is the role of Gorbo Bangladesh.
Prof. Shaheda does not want to follow in the footsteps of Hasina and Khaleda's trend of dynastic politics. That is why she had dropped 'Obaid' from her name. She was previously known as Shaheda Obaid. She says, "Obaid sahib's chapter is over. He is no longer living. I do not want anyone saying I am in politics through my husband and so I now use the name Prof. Dr. Shaheda in taking my vision forward."
She says, "I may have sought BNP's nomination, but I was never really in BNP's politics. I was never a member of the party. I even resigned from the office of NAEM DG during the rule of the alliance government."
As for her daughter Shama Obaid's involvement in BNP politics, she says, "She is free to do what she wants. It is up to her to practice whatever politics she wants."
Dr. Shaheda feels that while dynastic politics is a reality and cannot be ruled out, it is not enough for Joy to be Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's grandson or Tarique to be Ziaur Rahman's son. They will have to prove themselves before taking on leadership. She says, "Joy has married abroad. We must remember, Sonia Gandhi has been living in India for 60 years but still could not become Prime Minister. There are thousands of young men and women like Joy and Tarique in the country. We will find the ones among them who are honest, qualified, farsighted patriotic and persons of character."
She continues, "Sheikh Mujib was born in a very ordinary family but became a national leader. Captain Zia became a leader out of his own qualities. So it will not be hard to find a qualified leader. Such a leader will emerge from among us."
Is she herself a qualified leader? She says, "It is not for me to say. If the common people say so, then it is possible. The people are seething with anger within but have no one to protest on their behalf. There is no one to speak the truth. I have taken this risk."
In reply to another question she says, "I am not anti-Jamaat, but I do want the trial of the war criminals. After all, they do not accept the very existence of the country."
Dr. Shaheda feels there are still many leaders and personalities in the country who have done a lot for the country. She says people expect a lot from them. They include Dr. Badruddoza Chowdhury, Suranjit Sengupta, Dr. Kamal Hossain, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Kader Siddiqui, Mir Shawkat Ali, Haider Akbar Khan Rono, Mujaheedul Islam Selim, Prof. Muzaffar Ahmed (NAP), Sultan Mohammed Mansur, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Prof. Muzaffar Ahmed (NAP) and Dr. Muhammed Yunus, among others.
The Gorbo Bangladesh brochure also lists leaders of quality who have passed away but who had made significant contribution to the nation. These departed ones include poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Huq, Moulana Bhasani, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Qamruzzaman, Mansur Ali, Sirajul Alam Khan, Kazi Aref Ahmed, Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui, Abdul Kuddus Makhan and Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. Interestingly, and ironically, there is no mention of BNP leader and Prof. Shaheda's late husband KM Obaidur Rahman who undoubtedly had significant contribution to the nation.
The initiators of Gorbo Bangladesh have close ties with the parties and politicians who took up reformist roles after 1/11. It is apparently from the planning of the organisation and the statement of its leaders that it has all plans to launch itself as a political party in the future.
1.
At a time when Cordova initiative to build an Islamic Centre three blocks away from the 'ground zero' on a privately owned land created a commotion among Americans, at a time Islamic concrete structure like minerattes resembles missiles to many and take legal measures against it, at a time chaste women of Abrahimic faith because of their dress code being harassed and banned from public appearance - west paranoid against Muslims reached its peak that also killed millions of lives, destroyed homes, cities and nations, crippled their economy, natural habitats. At a time few other nations are waiting to be hit and on continuous threat and sanctions. Even at the time when their stooges being Muslim trying to toe their lines and giving Muslims same bad name, books and literature are called 'Jehadi kitab' and innocent faithful are suspected and put under threat and humiliation. Yet the Islam's propagation and spread becoming unstoppable despite
all the machination by the west and their Muslim stooges.
2.
Muslim faithful are in a greater march than ever before. Ramadan is the holy month in the Islamic calendar, its prominence and importance is felt not only in the heart of paranoid west thanks to their basic rights, legal system and constitution, but an ever increasing number of pilgrims visiting the Grand mosques in Makkah and Madina surpasses all previous records. Continuous expansion of the holy Haraams still finding it increasingly difficult to accommodate the daily visitors from all over the world. What is amazing is despite the increased cost and associated difficulties more people are making the effort and Saudi government is on their heightened alert to provide the facilities to the visitors. Often one may thing enough or adequate facilities have not been provided, at the same time looking at the effort and endeavor that is put in place is commendable. During Ramadan and Hajj crowd management is a mammoth tasks and it appears from this year
Ramadan, effort and plans are made more pragmatic and dynamic.
3.
Around 2 million pilgrims and worshipers gather inside and outside the grand mosques in Makkah everyday during Ramadan. Haraam is of four stories including roof top and underground, nearly half of these space is airconditioned, a huge expansion under 50 year plan is underway. A huge open space around the Kaaba all but one side– which is under demolition and reconstruction, is full by all count this year. This year crowd management is given new dimensions with thousands of policemen, scouts and volunteers equipped with new kind of training to smile and patiently guide the crowd. Places are marked clearly for prayers or walk ways, sign posts are placed all around in Arabic and English for the first time. Every two meters policemen are on watch to control and guide the pilgrims. All the walkways or exit/entry points are well guarded and maintained throughout the prayer time so that crowd movements are at ease.
4.
Not only the first time visitors but the frequenter also gets overwhelm seeing the crowd, it is like a sea of people at any time of the day, without seeing it, it is hard to imagine the moving crowd specially after the prayers. Kids and elderly, brown and yellow, black and white, handicapped on wheel chairs all sorts of people and their beaming appearances. Scorching heat or pressing crowd do not stop the circumambulation that resemble the planets or galaxies movements.
5.
These two million fasting pilgrims or worshipers are not only managed to perform their rituals but they are fed as well. All fed by private initiatives. Inside the Haraam except dates and Arabic coffee (qahawa) no other kind of food is allowed, so dates and hot drink is distributed by people who carries them in their hands, lovingly request everyone to accept their humble offering.
Outside the Haraam, different kind of food is offered that may include rice with meat or chicken, biriyani, fruits, yogurt and juices.
Some people offer even tissues to wipe sweat, a woman will hold in her both hands two tissue boxes while making Tawaf (moving around Kaaba) some will hold a plastic bag to collect the used tissues all by themselves. I found one man was using a hand sprayer to spray water to cool down- what an innovative idea to serve. People – men, women are ever ready to offer something that may bring little comfort to the visitors and only to be rewarded by the supreme authority.
Growing number of pilgrims all year round including increasing numbers from China and Russia makes one wonder what could be the reason behind this unstoppable surge of practicing Muslims. I only get emotional seeing such a crowd in and around the grand mosque.
M M Haque
Makkah Mukarrama
------------------------------------
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Eric Margolis
Will there be a major war between China and India? That's the 64,000 rupee question addressed by the highly respected British magazine "The Economist" in a major article in their 21 August issue. The "Economist" warns that the long contested border between the two giant Asian rivals risks sparking future clashes or even a full-scale war.
I know something about this subject, having authored a book about it a decade ago, "War at the Top of the World," that warned of the dangers of a future war between China and India. Today, their combined population has reached a staggering 2.3 billion.
My book was directly inspired by meeting the Dalai Lama. In the mid-1990's, I heard him give a long, very interesting speech on the Indian-Chinese border conflict, which I had studied in depth as a result of my deep interest in the grand strategy of the Himalayas.
The audience that came to hear His Holiness expected to hear a warm, fuzzy talk about the meaning of life. Instead, they were totally bemused by the Dalai Lama's discussion of the Tibetan-Indian border that had been drawn by Imperial Britain with no regard to China.
I was the only person in the audience to understand the subject or to ask questions about it. After, His Holiness took me aside and we talked at length about the contested border, from Ladakh and Kashmir in the West to India's Assam and Northeast Frontier Agency (today Arunachal Pradesh), and Tibet's future.
We also talked for a long time about cats, but that's another story that will be in my next book.
So from my encounter with the Dalai Lama came my first book, "War at the Top of the World" (now in its fourth, revised edition), which also covered then little-known Afghanistan and the endless conflict between India and Pakistan.
In my book, I predicted that the first major crisis of the 21st Century would occur in Afghanistan
When 9/11 occurred soon after 'War" came out, I was swamped by calls from the media to talk about Afghanistan and a certain Osama bin Laden.
"How did you know?" everyone asked me in amazement.
"Because I was watching that part of the world when few others were doing so," came my reply.
In 1962, India moved troops into remote valleys on the eastern Himalayas claimed by China. Beijing proclaimed it would "teach India a lesson."
It certainly did. Marching over the high mountains, Chinese troops quickly outflanked static Indian forces – as they did with American troops in Korea in 1950. The Indians were routed. The People's Liberation Army took much of Arunachal Pradesh, and stood before tea-producing Assam. From there, it was only a short distance to Calcutta.
Satisfied by his "lesson," Chairman Mao ordered his troops to withdraw.
Proud India was humiliated and deeply shocked. Since then, India has built up its forces in the region to over three army corps of 100,000 mountain troops, backed by high-altitude air bases and a network of new roads and supply depots.
The long, poorly demarcated border has been tense ever since. India claims two large chunks of territory in the west held by China: Aksai Chin and a portion of Kashmir given by Pakistan to China. Both are over 15,000 ft altitude. I have explored both frozen wastelands.
On the eastern end of the Indo-Chinese mountain border, known as the McMahon line, China claims most of Indian-held Arunachal Pradesh.
India has only grudgingly accepted China's 1950 takeover of Tibet and has harbored anti- Chinese groups dedicated to liberating the mountain kingdom.
India sees the growing array of Chinese bases in Tibet as an extreme danger. China's air, missile and intelligence bases in Tibet look down on the vast plains of India.
India's leader, Jawaharlal Nehru, once complained of this danger to China's Premier Chou Enlai. Chou laughed and retorted, "if I wanted to destroy India, I would march 100 million Chinese to the edge of the Tibetan plateau and order them to piss downhill. We would wash you into the Indian Ocean."
Tibet controls most of the headwaters of India's great rivers. Delhi has long feared that China may one day dam and divert their waters to China's dry western provinces.
Other serious potential flashpoints exist. India's old foe, Pakistan, with whom it has fought four wars, is China's closet ally. Beijing arms Pakistan and has built up its nuclear arms program. An Indian-Pakistan war over divided Kashmir, or an Indian intervention in a fragmenting Pakistan or Afghanistan, could draw China into the fray. A new port in western Pakistan at Gwadar will give China port rights on the Arabian Sea.
Burma (today Myanmar), on India's troubled eastern flank, which is rent by tribal uprisings, deeply worries Delhi. Strategic Burma is rapidly becoming an important forward Chinese base. A new road links China with Burma, and provides China's navy a badly needed port on the Andaman Sea, an arm of the Indian Ocean.
India believes China is trying to strategically encircle it.
To the west, Pakistan; to the north, Tibet; to the east, Burma. To the south, China is busy cultivating Sri Lanka.
In spite of million man armed forces and nuclear weapons, India feels increasingly threatened by China's rise. The Indians know full well that China expects obedience from its neighbors. Even a small border clash between these two arrogant giants could light the fuse of a broad and very frightening conflict. The scramble for oil and gas offers ample causes of yet more conflict in Central Asia and even the Gulf, where today America's rules supreme.
Such was my prediction a decade ago, and I'm sticking to it.
http://www.ericmargolis.com/political_commentaries/china-and-india--war-of-the-worlds.aspx
