[mukto-mona] Fw: Pages from the distant past: An appeal from the heart to Dean Zafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University [Originally written in early 2000 for News from Bangladesh]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Jamal Hasan <poplu@hotmail.com>
To:
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 4:03 PM
Subject: Pages from the distant past: An appeal from the heart to Dean Zafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University [Originally written in early 2000 for News from Bangladesh]

Dr. Zafar Iqbal recently apologized to the young activists at the Shahbagh Chattar. Today I am apologizing to Dr. Iqbal for my appeal to him twelve years ago. - Jamal Hasan
 
 
 
 
 
http://www.virtualbangladesh.com/commentary/zafar.html
 

An appeal from the heart to Dean Zafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University By Jamal Hasan Dear Dr. Zafar Iqbal: I am writing this open letter to you as a last resort to get you out of a quagmire, which is worsening as the days go by. After lots of soul searching, I am taking advantage of a bold and dynamic Internet journal, News from Bangladesh (NFB) to get my points across. It was probably eight or nine years ago, you were living in New Jersey while I was located in the Sunshine state called Florida. You and I were working for the common cause with a similar philosophical grooming. The New York-based monthlies, Voice of Bangladesh' and Parichoy' were the two platforms where you and I could express our hopes and frustrations. Our close-knit literary circle was aspiring to achieve something very big. We were upholding the cause of Bangladesh Liberation Struggle then. When Shaheed Janani (mother of the martyr) Jahanara Imam started to organize her movement in USA, you turned out to be a bright star in the collective struggle. You were not involved in Awami League politics in post-liberation days. Rather, you were one of the staunchest critics of Awami League's misrule in 1972-1974 period. Nevertheless, you realized the need for forging a broad coalition with the ex-Awami Leaguers and others to revive and strengthen the then dormant spirit of 1971. I recall you and many other unsung heroes were directly involved in energizing the last vestiges of Ekattur'er politics' in the US frontier. The ever-growing frontier was instrumental in sending an attorney from this part of the world to Bangladesh. Of course, you do remember later that legal eagle attended the People's Trial' of Golam Azam and his cohorts. Before his departure to Bangladesh, at the last moment you needed to construct a working paper on Bangladesh Genocide in English text. I recall, I provided you with some of my earlier essays on the topic. Your love for our motherland knows no bounds and it seemed to be much stronger than many of us. Most of us do not ever dream of sacrificing the comforts of living in a developed society. That includes secularists to ultra-orthodox Islamists. When most of the developing countries were suffering from the proliferation of Brain Drain, you were of the opinion to follow the path of rare reverse migration. Like your older brother, writer Humayun Ahmed, you thought of going back and resettling in Bangladesh. Your shiny academic credential that is catchy in the demanding technology-related job markets (the highest degree from Princeton), your high-paying job at Bell Core and the nice house in New Jersey failed to pull you to hold you down here in America. Conversely, for many of us USA is gradually becoming less of a foreign entity. You wrote me once that it gave you a very depressing thought whenever you foresaw you would spend the rest of your life in an alien land. In the early nineties, you were thinking of going back to your roots. At that time, you were also quite encouraging my idea of organizing an US Congressional Hearing on Bangladesh Genocide. I was elated to find that Shaheed Janani thought the idea bore enough merit. Like me, you were convinced that such hearing could exert tremendous impact globally and definitely, that could put sustainable pressure on the Razakar-dominated Khaleda Zia administration. Our recently formed pro-Muktijuddho (Liberation War) e-Group, Bangla_Nuremberg' appeared as a vibrant political force on the horizon. Thanks to Internet-based technology. The Nuremberg members rather smoothly networked with like-minded people all around the world. From Amnesty International representative to the Legal Scholar on Bangladesh Genocide issues, we could bring diversified political forces under the same umbrella. And we did just that. This is ushering in a new type of movement, which is quite unique in our culture. Nobody is going for photo opportunity, and each contribution to the movement from any part of the world is equally respected. Our main motto is: Larger objective is more important than self aggrandizement. You would be heartened to know that the Bangla_Nuremberg' activists have already approached Bangladesh government that acknowledged its presence as a strong pro-Muktijuddho lobby overseas. Many of them also reached different branches of US and UK governments, and are continuously lobbying to achieve its goals. In US society, time and again, relics of dark past do reappear. The old divide of the tragic civil war has not gone away totally. Till today, there is pro-confederacy (which the African-Americans perceive as pro-slavery) public opinion visible in some parts of the country. The recent Confederacy Flag controversy of South Carolina brings back the burning issue today. The African-Americans from all across the nation are heading toward South Carolina to show their distaste for hoisting of Confederate Flag in the state capital. Needless to say, a significant number of white South Carolinians have sympathy for the Confederates and the Flag. Old habit does not die easily, isn't that true! In Sylhet, where you teach, the old anti-71 sentiments have just resurfaced after all these years. Thus, whether it is South Carolina or Sylhet, the reactionary forces would succumb to old ideas and habits. Let me now bring into the fore the Shahjalal University dormitory-naming controversy. While presumably a great majority of the Bangladeshis would like to retain the Shaheed Janani's name as part of Shahjalal University (considering 85% Bangladeshis want a War Crime Trial), a significant percentage of the local residents are showing a different opinion. What we are seeing is a simple matter leading to a volatile situation. An undesired polarization is evolving rapidly that could be detrimental to the greater interest of the country. Dr. Iqbal, events are deteriorating fast. We have to look at the bigger picture. Wouldn't you agree with me that at this moment it is more important to bring the issues of Bangladesh Genocide and the Trial of the War Criminals into the limelight? I am quite sure if the Shaheed Janani were alive today, she would urge everybody to stop this charade. The Bangladesh government would do a big blunder if it fails to respect the wishes of local community. In fact, inadvertently the Hasina Administration is helping the Razakar-tainted opposition forces to give them more political mileage in this issue than they deserve. You may agree with me the present administration could be last resort that could give a minimum support in broader issue of Bangladesh Genocide. God forbid, if Golam Azam's friends like Khaleda Zia and Ershad come to power, we cannot expect any cooperation from the Bangladesh administration in sending any killers of 1971 to the docket whether it is in Bangladesh or abroad. It came to my knowledge that unknown miscreants firebombed your house in Sylhet. Also, some known political activists with ties to the opposition camp have threatened you in an open public forum. Dr. Iqbal, now is the time to reconsider your priorities. Do you remember what have I said to you in 1994? I told you that someday you might be included in the Black List of the killers and collaborators of 1971. At the time, I was not sure that my warning would turn out to be such prophetic. Today, the fate and destiny made you the 'Eye of the Storm.' My final request to you is at this very moment the time and situation are not favorable for you to continue your job as Dean of the Shahjalal University. I believed it then and am confidently saying this now, "It is possible to serve our native land from abroad." Please consider my request seriously. Leave your current position at Shahjalal University and come back to America. Your talent and expertise are crucial to the creative research at the corporation that you left behind. You can pick up the pieces and move forward. Dr. Zafar Iqbal, America needs you, and we need you too. Your arrival to USA would give our movement a new jolt and a momentum. Let our voice be heard in US Capitol and 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue. From here, we can do things for mother Bangladesh that might seem to be unattainable over there back home. Finally, I am hoping you definitely would agree with me, if we conquer America, we could conquer the whole world. Sincerely, Jamal Hasan, Your pal from the distant past at the US Capital

An appeal from the heart to Dean Zafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University By Jamal Hasan Dear Dr. Zafar Iqbal: I am writing this open letter to you as a last resort to get you out of a quagmire, which is worsening as the days go by. After lots of soul searching, I am taking advantage of a bold and dynamic Internet journal, News from Bangladesh (NFB) to get my points across. It was probably eight or nine years ago, you were living in New Jersey while I was located in the Sunshine state called Florida. You and I were working for the common cause with a similar philosophical grooming. The New York-based monthlies, Voice of Bangladesh' and Parichoy' were the two platforms where you and I could express our hopes and frustrations. Our close-knit literary circle was aspiring to achieve something very big. We were upholding the cause of Bangladesh Liberation Struggle then. When Shaheed Janani (mother of the martyr) Jahanara Imam started to organize her movement in USA, you turned out to be a bright star in the collective struggle. You were not involved in Awami League politics in post-liberation days. Rather, you were one of the staunchest critics of Awami League's misrule in 1972-1974 period. Nevertheless, you realized the need for forging a broad coalition with the ex-Awami Leaguers and others to revive and strengthen the then dormant spirit of 1971. I recall you and many other unsung heroes were directly involved in energizing the last vestiges of Ekattur'er politics' in the US frontier. The ever-growing frontier was instrumental in sending an attorney from this part of the world to Bangladesh. Of course, you do remember later that legal eagle attended the People's Trial' of Golam Azam and his cohorts. Before his departure to Bangladesh, at the last moment you needed to construct a working paper on Bangladesh Genocide in English text. I recall, I provided you with some of my earlier essays on the topic. Your love for our motherland knows no bounds and it seemed to be much stronger than many of us. Most of us do not ever dream of sacrificing the comforts of living in a developed society. That includes secularists to ultra-orthodox Islamists. When most of the developing countries were suffering from the proliferation of Brain Drain, you were of the opinion to follow the path of rare reverse migration. Like your older brother, writer Humayun Ahmed, you thought of going back and resettling in Bangladesh. Your shiny academic credential that is catchy in the demanding technology-related job markets (the highest degree from Princeton), your high-paying job at Bell Core and the nice house in New Jersey failed to pull you to hold you down here in America. Conversely, for many of us USA is gradually becoming less of a foreign entity. You wrote me once that it gave you a very depressing thought whenever you foresaw you would spend the rest of your life in an alien land. In the early nineties, you were thinking of going back to your roots. At that time, you were also quite encouraging my idea of organizing an US Congressional Hearing on Bangladesh Genocide. I was elated to find that Shaheed Janani thought the idea bore enough merit. Like me, you were convinced that such hearing could exert tremendous impact globally and definitely, that could put sustainable pressure on the Razakar-dominated Khaleda Zia administration. Our recently formed pro-Muktijuddho (Liberation War) e-Group, Bangla_Nuremberg' appeared as a vibrant political force on the horizon. Thanks to Internet-based technology. The Nuremberg members rather smoothly networked with like-minded people all around the world. From Amnesty International representative to the Legal Scholar on Bangladesh Genocide issues, we could bring diversified political forces under the same umbrella. And we did just that. This is ushering in a new type of movement, which is quite unique in our culture. Nobody is going for photo opportunity, and each contribution to the movement from any part of the world is equally respected. Our main motto is: Larger objective is more important than self aggrandizement. You would be heartened to know that the Bangla_Nuremberg' activists have already approached Bangladesh government that acknowledged its presence as a strong pro-Muktijuddho lobby overseas. Many of them also reached different branches of US and UK governments, and are continuously lobbying to achieve its goals. In US society, time and again, relics of dark past do reappear. The old divide of the tragic civil war has not gone away totally. Till today, there is pro-confederacy (which the African-Americans perceive as pro-slavery) public opinion visible in some parts of the country. The recent Confederacy Flag controversy of South Carolina brings back the burning issue today. The African-Americans from all across the nation are heading toward South Carolina to show their distaste for hoisting of Confederate Flag in the state capital. Needless to say, a significant number of white South Carolinians have sympathy for the Confederates and the Flag. Old habit does not die easily, isn't that true! In Sylhet, where you teach, the old anti-71 sentiments have just resurfaced after all these years. Thus, whether it is South Carolina or Sylhet, the reactionary forces would succumb to old ideas and habits. Let me now bring into the fore the Shahjalal University dormitory-naming controversy. While presumably a great majority of the Bangladeshis would like to retain the Shaheed Janani's name as part of Shahjalal University (considering 85% Bangladeshis want a War Crime Trial), a significant percentage of the local residents are showing a different opinion. What we are seeing is a simple matter leading to a volatile situation. An undesired polarization is evolving rapidly that could be detrimental to the greater interest of the country. Dr. Iqbal, events are deteriorating fast. We have to look at the bigger picture. Wouldn't you agree with me that at this moment it is more important to bring the issues of Bangladesh Genocide and the Trial of the War Criminals into the limelight? I am quite sure if the Shaheed Janani were alive today, she would urge everybody to stop this charade. The Bangladesh government would do a big blunder if it fails to respect the wishes of local community. In fact, inadvertently the Hasina Administration is helping the Razakar-tainted opposition forces to give them more political mileage in this issue than they deserve. You may agree with me the present administration could be last resort that could give a minimum support in broader issue of Bangladesh Genocide. God forbid, if Golam Azam's friends like Khaleda Zia and Ershad come to power, we cannot expect any cooperation from the Bangladesh administration in sending any killers of 1971 to the docket whether it is in Bangladesh or abroad. It came to my knowledge that unknown miscreants firebombed your house in Sylhet. Also, some known political activists with ties to the opposition camp have threatened you in an open public forum. Dr. Iqbal, now is the time to reconsider your priorities. Do you remember what have I said to you in 1994? I told you that someday you might be included in the Black List of the killers and collaborators of 1971. At the time, I was not sure that my warning would turn out to be such prophetic. Today, the fate and destiny made you the 'Eye of the Storm.' My final request to you is at this very moment the time and situation are not favorable for you to continue your job as Dean of the Shahjalal University. I believed it then and am confidently saying this now, "It is possible to serve our native land from abroad." Please consider my request seriously. Leave your current position at Shahjalal University and come back to America. Your talent and expertise are crucial to the creative research at the corporation that you left behind. You can pick up the pieces and move forward. Dr. Zafar Iqbal, America needs you, and we need you too. Your arrival to USA would give our movement a new jolt and a momentum. Let our voice be heard in US Capitol and 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue. From here, we can do things for mother Bangladesh that might seem to be unattainable over there back home. Finally, I am hoping you definitely would agree with me, if we conquer America, we could conquer the whole world. Sincerely, Jamal Hasan, Your pal from the distant past at the US Capital

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