Global Voices » Bangla

Bangladesh: Bloggers March for Murdered Journalist Couple, Demand Justice.

Aparna Ray — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:06:03 +0000

Three months have passed since the murder of the journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and his wife Meherun Runi. Till date, the police have been unsuccessful in discovering any clues or leads that would help them to solve the case. In the early hours of 11th February, 2012, the couple was found brutally murdered in their West Rajabajar apartment in Dhaka. The Bangladesh High Court has expressed dissatisfaction with the progress (or lack of it) of the Detective Branch (DB) of police investigating the murder. The case has since then been transferred to the anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The bodies have already been exhumed for a repeat postmortem. However, till date, there has been little progress in the investigation.

Bloggers have once again taken to the street, demanding justice for the murdered couple. On 11th May, 2012, they organized a protest in front of the public library in Shahbagh, Dhaka. This was their fourth protest gathering. In the video below, bloggers can be seen singing a protest song.

Another video shows bloggers holding a candle light protest, demanding justice in the Sagar-Runi murder case:

In the beginning, the police tried to prevent the protest rally by bloggers by parking their vehicles at the protest site and not giving permission for electricity connection at the venue. Later the bloggers conducted the protest by singing without the use of microphones. Sohel Mahmood informs us [bn] about the day's programme:

নানা বাধা ডিঙিয়ে হয়ে গেলো বাংলাভাষার ব্লগারদের প্রতিবাদী সংগীতের আয়োজন। পুলিশের “কমিশনারের অনুমতি লাগবে” টাইপের বক্তব্য, বিদ্যুতের লাইন টানায় বাধা আর সন্ধ্যার কিছু ভাগে “হঠাৎ বৃষ্টি”। তবে, সব বাধা ডিঙিয়ে প্রতিবাদী এই সংগীতে যোগ দেন ব্লগার, সাংবাদিক, ছাত্র-ছাত্রী আর সাধারণ মানুষ।

Crossing various hurdles, the Bangla bloggers conducted their programme of singing protest songs in public. Comments by the police commissioner that “permissions will be required”, not allowing the required temporary electricity connection at the protest venue, and even sudden rains during part of the evening, nothing could stop the bloggers, journalists, students and ordinary citizens from showing solidarity and participating in singing the protest songs

Police using barricades to prevent journalists from entering the Home Ministry premises. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (15/05/2012)

Demanding the immediate arrest of the murderers of Sagar and Runi, journalist associations announced a gherao program to be held at the Home Ministry premises on 15th May. Bloggers too joined this protest programme. The police cracked down on the protesters. Quite a few photographs of police preventing the protesters from approaching the Home Ministry premises have been uploaded on the We Demand Justice for Sagar-Runi Facebook Page. At the end of the day's event, the next steps and upcoming protest programmes were announced. Among the future protests being planned by journalists and bloggers are the following:

১. ২০ মে থেকে ১৫ জুন পর্যন্ত সবগুলো মিডিয়া হাউসে সভা-সমাবেশ।

২. ৫ জুন জাতীয় সংসদে গিয়ে স্পিকারের কাছে সাগর-রুনি হত্যাকারীদের গ্রেফতার ও বিচার দাবিতে স্মারকলিপি প্রদান।

৩. ২৬ জুন প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কার্যালয় অভিমুখে পদযাত্রা।

৪. এরপরও সাগর-রুনির হত্যাকারীদের গ্রেফতার ও বিচার না করা হলেও দেশের সব সাংবাদিক কর্মবিরতি কর্মসূচি পালন।

1. 20th May to 15th June - Public meetings at all the media houses
2. 5th June - March to the Parliament and submit a memorandum to the Speaker of the House, demanding arrest and trial of the killers of Sagar-Runi
3. 26th June - Protest march towards the Prime Minister's Office.
4. If the administration still fails to deliver justice, all journalists across the country will stop work and undertake a ‘pen down' programme.

Bangladesh: Movie Theaters Are Dying

Rezwan — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:16:27 +0000

Watching movies in theaters was once a favorite pastime for Bengalis. The custom was to go to the movies on the holidays or special days. It was popular culture to follow the fashion and postures of the stars of the new released cinemas.

But cinema-loving Bengalis do not go to movie theaters nowadays and the country's cinema halls are closing one by one, as new shopping malls are being erected in their place. According to reports in the past decade, hundreds of cinema halls have been closed down [bn]. There also used to be approximately 100 cinemas built each year, which has now decreased to 30-40 [bn].

Darashiko blogs on cinema regularly. Here he shares the latest state of the Bangladeshi film industry [bn]:

Shyamoli Cinema Hall is just a memory. A 14-story shopping mall is being built in its place. Image courtesy Wikipedia

The Bangladeshi cinema industry is going through its worst time. In 1990-91 the number of cinema halls were around 1230. But in 2010 the number has decreased to 742. Out of 44 cinema halls in Dhaka 33 are surviving. Huge building were erected in their place. Big names like, Gulistan, Shyamoli, Naz, Lion, Star, Shabistan, Tajmahal cinema etc. went into oblivion. With Lack of quality script and mediocre performance the cinema industry managed releasing of 100 movies per annum. In 2010 the number was 63, one of the lowest in the decade. Its getting much worse. In 2011, in first six months only 19 cinemas were released and only 300 million Taka (US $3.6 million) was invested. Newspaper reports say that this year only 45 films will be produced and the next year it would be only 30.

But why are movie theaters being closed down? Why are audiences not going to movie theaters? Megh Roddur writes [bn] about it:

Of course I want to go to the movie theaters to watch movies. It hurts but the truth is that most of the movies are not of my taste. Why should I watch a movie full of weird costumes and blunt themes. Why should I go and watch repeating stories? Why should I go and watch copycats and gross copypaste movies?

The building behind the sculpture was once the famous Gulistan Cinema Hall. Now its a clothes market. Image by Ranadipam Basu. Used with permission.

A guest blogger at Sachalayatan reminisces about his childhood memories of going to cinemas with family. The blogger blames the film distributors for lack of viewers in movie theaters:

Now we don't watch movies in Theaters with family. I would not blame low quality pictures. I would place the blame on the environment of the movie theaters. There are a few good movies still being produced. Still we cannot go with the family to watch them in this environment.

Lekhajoka Shamim cites three reasons for the demise of this industry:

The low quality of the local cinema, indecent movies and the environment of the movie thater are the causes of lack of movie viewers.

Once the thought of going to movie theaters was an exciting thing. Many had keen interest. Russel Ashraf tells one such story:

Me and my uncle went to see the movie “Aguner Poroshmoni”. We thought that there would be no rush and went a few minutes before the start. But alas, we saw that the queue was extended to the road. What to do! Waited in the queue for the tickets and manged a seat in front of the screen. I could not move my neck for three days in pain.

To save the film industry and bring more viewers in movie theaters, the government decided to remove the ban on Indian cinema (it should be noted that Indian movies have been banned here since 1965). This move attracted sharp criticisms online.

Balaka cinema hall besides Dhaka New market. Image from Wikipedia by Ragib Hasan

Nazrul Islam says in a post in Amrabondhu blog:

Not from the hatred of Hindi language films, the government has to back down from such wretched decision to save a dying industry.।

But there are also those who favor import of movies:

One blogger (Fahmidul Haque) says:

To me its a right of a citizen to be able to watch local and international movies of different tastes. Lets not limit this right with the debate of saving of local industry by stopping the import of Indian movies.

Due to much criticism the government decided to reverse the decision to withdraw ban from the Indian movies.

Kallol Mustafa has specific suggestions on how to revive the local film industry:

We need government institution support, financial responsibility, institutionalization of the industry and mandatory show of international movies (not only Indian) in a week each month in every theater.

Bangladesh: Welcoming Pahela Baisakh

Rezwan — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:52:24 +0000

Tomorrow is Pahela Baisakh (first day of summer, Bengali news year), the favorite festival of the Bengalis. Every year Bengalis celebrate their new year with galore. The first day of the new year is filled with festivities. Wherever there are Bengalis in the world, they celebrate this day with different events.

On this day everybody wears traditional clothes. The girls are draped in Saris and the boys wear Panjabi/Fatua (longer or shorter version of Kurtas). The shopping malls are engaged in brisk business. Especially worth mentioning are the summer collections by fashion houses targeting this day.

AlAmin90 shares what he presented his loved one:

পহেলা বৈশাখের জন্য দিনাকে আমি সাদা-লাল রংয়ের জামদানি কাপড় গিফট করলাম। আর হাতের লাল চুড়ি, মাটির গহনা আর লাল টিপ।

For Pahele Baisakh I gifted Dina a red-white Jamdani Sari. Along with that red churis (glass bangles), ornaments made of clay and red teep (Bindi).

One of the main attractions of Pahela Baisakh celebrations is the Panta-Ilish meal. Many houses prepare special cuisine including Panta Bhat (lightly fermented rice) and Ilish (Hilsha) fish cooked with mustard and green chili. As the demand of Ilish fish soars during Pahela Baisakh the price goes up steeply [bn].

The colorful rally organized by the graphic arts institute. Image courtesy Wikipedia

Every year after the sunrise a colorful rally called Mangal Shovajatra [bn] starts in front of the graphics arts institute of Dhaka University. This rally rolls across many streets of the city and comes back to the institute. The masks and placards of the rally portraits the rural life and the daily affairs of Bengal. Blogger Tung Tang was in one such rally [bn] and tells about it:

চারুকলার ঢুকে প্রথমে চোখে পরবে মাটির সরা তারপর এ আছে মুখোশ বানানোর কাজ। মাটির সরায় কাজ করছে চারুকলার শিক্ষার্থীরা বিভিন্ন রং বিভিন্ন থিম এর। নির্দ্দিষ্ট কোন থিম নেই, তবে বেশির ভাগ সরার ডিজাইন লোকজ সংস্কৃতির গ্রামীণ জীবন এবং আবহমান বাংলা ঐতিহ্যর উপরে। পহেলা বৈশাখের মঙ্গল শোভাযাত্রা যে কয়টি প্রচলিত আইটেম এর মধ্য রয়েছে মুখোশ, সরা আর কিছু প্রাণীর প্রতিলিপি ।

If you go to the graphics arts institute, the first thing you will notice are the clay pots and then you will see people crafting and painting masks. The students of graphics arts institute are painting the clay pots in different themes of colors. There is no fixed theme, but many pots are painted with the rural life and the daily affairs of Bengal. The typical items of the Pahela Baisakh rally are Masks, clay pots and modelling of some animals.

The Bengali new year celebrations started during the Mughal era (15th century). In those days the region had Zamindar system. The peasants used to pay tax to the Zamindars till the last day of spring. On the first day of summer (Pahela Baisakh) the Zamindars used to distribute sweets to the farmers. To celebrate this many festivities used to be arranged, fairs took place. Pahela Baisakh become a part of peoples' lives ever since. Gradually it became more festive and full of enjoyment.

Chayanat's concert at the Ramna Batamul. They are welcoming the new year with songs. Image by Abu Ala. Copyright Demotix.

In Bangladesh, the main celebrations of Pahela Baisakh take place in Dhaka, the capital. Cultural organization Chayanat [bn] arranges new year's concert at the Batamul of Ramna and one of the main feature is the rally of the graphics arts institute. Many people come to this area to celebrate.

Every Bengali has something to share about this day, especially the childhood memories of joining the festivities of Pahela Baisakh. Sheikh Jalil at Sachalayatan reminisces about his childhood memroies of this day:

বৈশাখ এলেই মনে পড়ে বৈশাখী মেলার কথা। গ্রামের হাট-বাজারে বসতো এ মেলা। নাগরদোলায় চলা, লাঠিখেলা দেখা, বায়স্কোপ দেখা, মেলা থেকে মুড়ি-মুড়কি-বাতাসা-সন্দেশ-মিষ্টি কিনে খাওয়া আমার শৈশব বেলার স্মৃতি। বাবা-মা, বড় ভাই-বোনের হাত ধরে মেলায় যেতাম। তারা কিনে দিতেন বাঁশি চরকী, বেলুনসহ আরো কত কী? সাপুড়েদের সাপ খেলা, বানরের খেলা আর ষাঁড়ের লড়াই দেখতাম এ সময়। সত্যিকারে আশেপাশের কয়েকটি গ্রামের মিলনকেন্দ্র ছিল আমাদের বৈশাখী মেলা। হিন্দু-মুসলমান সবাই মিলে আনন্দ-উল্লাস করে বৈশাখের প্রথম কয়েকটা দিন কেটে যেত।

I remember about the Baisakhi fair every summer. It usually took place in the rural bazaars. The Nagordola (ferris wheel), Lathikhela (play with sticks), Bioscope shows, and going home with sweet treats like Muri-Murki-batasha-Sandesh-Sweets are parts of my childhood memories. I used to go to the fairs with my parents and siblings. They used to buy me flutes, Chorki, balloons and what not. The other attractions were snake charming plays, monkey games and bull fights. Our Baisakhi fair was a huge funfair of several villages. Hindu-Muslim alike spent the first days of the summer with merriment.

Those who are abroad and cannot join the Bengali new year festivities regret that. A diaspora blogger writes [bn]:

বৈশাখ মানেই গ্রামহারা শহরহারা দেশ ছাড়া হয়ে বিশ্বের কোন এক ব্যাস্ত নগরীতে বসে শুধুই স্মৃতির জাবর কাটা, টেলিভিশনের পর্দায় রমনার বটমূল আর তরুন তরুনীদের গালে রঙের ছটা দেখা। হায়রে বৈশাখ তুই কি কখনোই শহরে আসবিনা? শহরের সাথে কি তোর চিরকালই আড়ি?

Baisakh means far from the villages, reminiscing in a busy city somewhere in the world, watching ramna Batamul and the paintings on the cheeks of boys and girls on the television screen. Oh Baisakh, won't you ever come to the city?

New years decoration - a little boy with a crown of leaves. Image by Abu Ala. Copyright Demotix

Pahela Baisakh is now celebrated across the classes, although it was only a funfair of the middle income Bengalis. Blogger Ektutells [bn] more about that:

বৈশাখের এ উত্সব, মানুষের সর্বজনীন এ অংশগ্রহণ দুই দশক আগেও এরকম ছিল না। বৈশাখের উৎসব আমেজ, ভালো রান্না আর অনুষ্ঠানমালা সীমাবদ্ধ ছিল মধ্যবিত্ত সংস্কৃতিমনা কিছু মানুষের মধ্যে। ছায়ানটের অনুষ্ঠান হতো বটতলায়। সেখানেও অংশগ্রহণ ছিল সংস্কৃতিকর্মী ও মধ্যবিত্ত একটি শ্রেণীর। গত দুই দশক ধরে বৈশাখ বরণে ব্যাপক পরিবর্তন এসেছে। বৈশাখ বরণের রং মধ্যবিত্তের গণ্ডি পেরিয়ে উচ্চবিত্ত ও নিম্নবিত্তের মানুষের মধ্যেও ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে। বৈশাখের অনুষ্ঠানে বেড়ে চলেছে সর্বশ্রেণীর মানুষের অংশগ্রহণ। […] নিম্নবিত্ত সাধারণ শ্রমজীবী মানুষও বৈশাখের জন্য আলাদা করে রাখছে তার ঘামে উপার্জিত অর্থের একটি অংশ। সাধ্যমত গায়ে তুলছে বৈশাখের পোশাক। ঘুরতে বের হচ্ছে প্রিয়জনের সঙ্গে। মেলা থেকে কিনে আনছে শৌখিন কিছু।

Only two decades ago the Baisakh festivities and the universal celebration were not like this. The programs, festivities and the food culture were confined within some middle class cultural minded people. Chayanat used to arrange their program at Batamul on this day. Only cultural activists and people of middle class were seen there. But a lot has changed in the past two decades. The colors of welcoming summer has spread to the higher and lowers classes of people. Now it has truly become a festival for masses. [..] Even the working class people are saving a budget from their meager income for the Pahela Baisakh festivities. They are buying special clothes for this day, going out with loved ones. They are buying something from the fairs.

There are many programs arranged by different socio-cultural organizations during the whole day. On this day Bangladesh Open Source Network (BDOSN) is campaigning [bn] to portray the culture and tradition of the country in Wikipedia.

Bangladesh is a developing country. Its per capita income is 828 USD [bn]. There are many problems in the country like political disturbances and unemployment. But during Pahela Baisakh everybody forgets that and joins in funfair. Everybody shares the enjoyment and celebrations. S. M. Rahat Khan shares (with picture) the same [bn] at Somewhereinblog.

লাল-সাদা শাড়িতে……পাঞ্জাবিতে…চারদিক এত বর্ণিল…কে বলবে পৃথিবীর একটি গরিব দেশ বাংলাদেশ? কে বলবে নানা কষ্ট আর না পাওয়ার দেশ বাংলাদেশ? সবাই যেন সব ভুলে একটি দিনের জন্য হলেও সুখের স্বর্গে পরিণত করে বাংলাকে…

In red-white Saris.. Panjabis… every place is so colorful.. who will say that Bangladesh is a poor country in the world. Who will say that Bangladesh is a country full of deprivation and pain. Everybody forgets those to make this day a heaven of happiness…

Bangladesh: Eviction of Slum in Dhaka Creates Humanitarian Catastrophe

Rezwan — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:59:49 +0000

On Wednesday (4th of April, 2012) the dwellers of Karail slum, one of the biggest in the Bangladesh capital, were evicted by the authorities to free Gulshan Lake from land grabbers. The inhabitants were given short notice via miking in the previous day, which many might have missed. Thousands of structures including houses and shops were demolished on less than a day's notice at 80-acre land of BTCL in Karail and other slums in Dhaka. A slum dweller claimed that her 4 year old girl has been missing as soon as bulldozers had hit the shanties.

The Incremental House posted a case study on this expansive slum:

The entire settlement is resistance. It is on someone else’s land. Morphologically, it couldn’t be any more different than the surrounding wealthy estates of Gulshan and Banani. The water bounds is. The inhabitants have set up full formal transportation networks of boats to ferry people to and from their jobs.

[..] It is pretty clearly planned, does that make it a space of resistance? Where does it gets it water and electricity from? The boats scrape the water pipes floating in the water. The pipes tap into the main lines in Banani. Someone is controlling it. Electricity is strung over the water, again tapped into the main line.

Here is a short video (uploaded by lizscarff) showing glimpses of coexistence of rich and poor in the surroundings of Karail slum:

In my Bangla blog I wrote [bn] about the background of the eviction:

গত বছর ২০শে সেপ্টেম্বর রাজউক এরকম স্বল্প নোটিসে আরেকটি উচ্ছেদ অভিযান চালায় সেখানে। পুলিশ আর পাড়ার মাস্তানদের দ্বারা ১২০টিরও বেশী পরিবার উচ্ছেদ করা হলেও পরে তারা আবার এসে বাসা করে। গত ২০০৮ সালে প্রথম পিডাব্লিউডি উচ্ছেদের নোটিশ পাঠালে আইন ও শালিস কেন্দ্র পুনর্বাসন ছাড়া উচ্ছেদ মানবাধিকার লঙ্ঘন এই বলে হাইকোর্টে একটি স্টে অর্ডার নেয়। সেই মামলার বিভিন্ন শুনানীতে পুনর্বাসনের কথা বলা হয় তবে গত জানুয়ারীতে হাইকোর্ট সরকারকে আদেশ দেয় দুই মাসের মধ্যে এই বেদখলকৃত জমি উদ্ধার করতে - তবে সেখানে পুনর্বাসনের কোন কথা বলা হয় নি।

Last year on 20th September RAJUK (housing authority) went for another eviction drive giving short notice. Police and local goons forced 120 families out and destroyed their homes but later they came back. In 2008 PWD (Public Works Department) first sent the eviction letter to the slum dwellers. Ain O Shalish Kendro, an NGO advocated for them and obtained a stay order from the court claiming that without rehabilitation such eviction is a violation of human rights. In different stages of that trial the issue of rehabilitation was discussed at various lengths. But last January the court ordered to free those lands from land-grabbers and award the owners (govt agencies) - but there was no mention of any rehabilitation of the existing dwellers.

করাইল এলাকার এইসব ভূমিহীন বস্তিবাসীর ৩০ ভাগ দিনমুজুর, ২০% রিক্সা-ভ্যান চালায়, ১৮% গার্মেন্টস কর্মী ও ১২% ছোট ব্যবসা করে। তাদের মাসিক আয় ২৫০০-৪৫০০ টাকা এবং স্থানীয় মান্তানদের ৮০ স্কয়ার ফিটের ঘর ভাড়া দিতে হয় ৮০০-১২০০ টাকা।

More than 30 percent of the dwellers of Karail Slum are day labourers, 20 percent rickshaw and van-pullers, 18 percent garments workers and 12 percent small traders. An average family earn only BD Taka 2,500-Tk 4,500 ($30-$52) a month and they have to pay local influentials BS Taka 800 - 1200 ($10-$14) for rent of a 80 square foot illegal shanty house.

Residents of ‘Karail Slum’ take part at a human chain to express their demands. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (18/2/2012)

Julkarnain questions [bn] the eviction without any plans to rehabilitate these people:

আমাদের মানবিক বিবেচনা কী দিন দিন হারিয়ে যাচ্ছে? নাকি বিবেচনার গলা টিপে রোবোটিক হয়ে উঠছি প্রতিনিয়ত আমরা? এমনিতেই শহরে প্রচুর ভাসমান লোক এখানে সেখানে বসবাস করে। তার সাথে যদি এরা যুক্ত হয় তাহলে শহরের না কোনও সৌন্দর্য বর্ধন হবে না আইন-শৃংখলা পরিস্থিতির কোনও উন্নয়ন সাধন হবে।

Are we losing our humanity? Or whether we are strangling our power to considerate and are being robotic? The city is filled with landless destitutes. If these people join in the gang of homeless people then the city won't be beautified and the law order situation will deteriorate.

The slum dwellers protested forming a human chain and blocking important roads of the capital creating a chaos in the roads. The traffic was suspended in the Gulshan Mohakhali link road on Wednesday for three hours creating long tails in many roads of the capital.

Twitter users also expressed their opinions.

@nhasan89: I think today is a dark day that will go down in history. The people are being pushed to their absolute limit. #karail #freebangladesh

@EEP_shiree: A devastating eviction in Karail slum on April 4 broke nearly 45,000 houses … what can we do for these urban extreme poor people?

@KorviRakshand: At this moment, thousands of people are homeless and without shelter at the Karail Slum near Banani Lake. http://t.co/LpeAmBnk

Shanty dwellers of Karail Slum take shelter at T&T Colony ground in Gulshan after eviction. Image by Firoz Ahmed (Copyright Demotix 5/4/2012)

@shahanasiddiqui: It's unbelievably dark out - #kaalboishakhi - summer storm. Really worried about the ppl of #karail who are out under the open sky

@mehrabsaurav: Lying in my bed but thinking about the homeless people who were evicted from Karail Slum. I feel helpless, I couldn't be of any help! #Dhaka

@shahanasiddiqui: Hey everyone, @JAAGOFoundation is preparing food for the #karail evictees. help needed with distribution. Pls be there by 12 noon TNT field

@JAAGOFoundation: For the last 36 hours, we have been distributing food to the victims of the Karail Slum Demolition from a small… http://t.co/NarANbkC

Heavy downpour on Friday made the situation worse for the evicted slum dwellers.

India, Bangladesh: Caught In The Cyber War

Rezwan — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:34:47 +0000

A cyber war between Bangladesh and India broke out last month as Bangladeshi hackers defaced Indian border security Force's website in protest of the recent border killings by BSF. When news broke out in Bangladeshi media on February 11, 2012 that Indian hacker groups, Indishell, Hindustan Cyber Army and Indian Cyber Army hacked five Bangladesh government ministry websites in retaliation, their Bangladeshi counterparts, Bangladesh Black Hat Hackers (BBHH), Bangladesh Cyber Army (BCA) and 3xp1r3 Cyber Army (3CA) joined in the frenzy. Between February 11 -14 reports claimed that over 400 Bangladeshi sites were hacked by Indian hackers and thousands of Indian websites were attacked by Bangladeshi hackers and many of them were defaced.

Screenshot courtesy Anup Sadi

Anup Sadi informs:

Bangladeshi hackers started cyber war against India on 8 February, 2012. The hackers declared that the Border Security Force of India must stop border killing at Bangladesh-India border.

Sebastian Murdoch-Gibson reported:

Young hackers affiliated with both the “Black Hat” group and “Bangladesh Cyber Army” have begun attacks on Indian commercial web sites. These hacker groups claim to have hit targets critical to the continuation of Indian commerce. Some of these sites include stock exchanges.

In keeping with the combative language of the hacker community groups, “Indishell” and “India Cyber Army” launched a retaliatory strike on Bangladeshi web sites.

The attacks of Bangladeshi hackers, who are claiming the complete attainment of all objectives, have followed a popular form similar to that employed by “hacktavist” group Anonymous. The hackers have typically defaced web sites, replacing their content with Bangladeshi flags and images of people tortured by Indian border guards.

The news caught much media attention and even a masked hacker was interviewed by a local TV channel. Netizens were also vocal on this issue.

Anarjo Sangeet at Sachalayatan writes [bn]:

সব মিলিয়ে জানতে পারলাম ভারতীয় ১৫ হাজারেরও বেশিসাইট হ্যাক করেছে বাংলাদেশী এবং বাংলাদেশের পক্ষে অন্য দেশের হ্যাকাররা। ভারতীয় হ্যাকারদের দল ইন্ডিশেল বলেছে, রবিবার রাতের মধ্যে বাংলাদেশীদের এই হ্যাকিং বন্ধ না হলে তারা বাংলাদেশের গুরুদ্বপূর্ণ সব ওয়েব সাইট গুঁড়িয়ে দেবে। তাতে অবশ্য বাংলাদেশের হ্যাকাররা থেমে নেই। বরং দেখতে পাচ্ছি ব্লগে-ফেসবুকে সাধারণ ইন্টারনেট ব্যবহারকারীদের প্রয়োজনীয় নির্দেশনা দিয়ে হ্যাকিংয়ে সম্পৃক্ত করছে হ্যাকাররা।

I have learnt that more than 15000 Indian websites were hacked by Bangladeshis and hackers of other countries supported them. The Indian hackers group “Indishell” said if this hacking spree do not stop within next Sunday, they will deface all important websites of Bangladesh. But that did not deter the Bangladeshi hackers. I am seeing that they are increasing force by recruiting more users via blog and facebook giving directions how to hack.

বাংলাদেশের হ্যাকারদের ক্ষোভ এবং আবেগের সততায় কোনো সন্দেহ পোষণ করছি না আমি। বিএসএফ-এর কর্মকাণ্ড ঘৃণ্য তাতে কোনো সন্দেহ নেই। এর প্রতিবাদ করা দরকার। প্রতিবাদ যাঁরা করছেন তাঁদেরকে অভিনন্দন জানাই। বাংলাদেশের হ্যাকারদের কর্মকাণ্ডও প্রতিবাদ। অবশ্যই যৌক্তিক প্রতিবাদ। প্রশ্ন হচ্ছে, প্রতিবাদের পদ্ধতিটি কতটুকু গ্রহনযোগ্য। অথবা যে পদ্ধতিতে প্রতিবাদ করা হচ্ছে তাতে কী ফলাফল আশা করতে পারি আমরা?

I am not questioning the rage of the Bangladeshi hackers or the honesty of their emotions. There is no doubt that the deeds of BSF is reprehensible. We have to protest. I congratulate to those who protested. The deeds by the Bangladeshi hackers are a kind of protest. A logical one. But the question is, whether their method is acceptable. Or the way it is being protested - can it bring any result?

The blogger also says that this incident should be a learning curve for the Bangladeshi government too who needs to beef up cyber security for its government sites.

Screenshot of a message by Indian hackers

Diganta commented [bn] on the above post:

ওয়েবসাইট হ্যাকিং করা সময় নষ্ট ছাড়া আর কিছু বলে মনে হয় না।

Hacking websites is nothing but wastage of time.

Blogger Kowshik warns [bn] that some political elements, especially the religious party Jamaat-e-Islami are using this cyber war to spread their hatred against India. He warned internet users not to fall into their prey.

The hacking spree ended when the law and enforcement agencies of both the countries became active to catch the hackers. Blogger Kawser Alam reports [bn] that on 27th of February a Bangladeshi hackers group had announced in their Facebook group that the war has ended claiming their success in escalating their cause.

Bangladesh: The Plight of the Indigenous People

Rezwan — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:50:46 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage on Indigenous Rights.

In Bangladesh there are more than 45 indigenous tribes (adibashis) [bn] of which 11 reside in the Chittagong hill tracts. The rest are scattered in other parts of the country. Many of them are not faring well. Every day some of them are being subjected to discrimination, oppression and abuse.

A report by Kapeng Foundation and Oxfam [bn] entitled “Human Rights Situation of the Adibashis - 2011″, reveals that last year violent racial clashes related to land disputes resulted in the burning down of 111 indigenous homes. Seven tribal people were killed and 12 houses were ransacked. Eleven tribal women were raped in different incidents and five of them were killed.

Tribal indigenous people of Bangladesh. Image by Anwar Hussain, copyright Demotix (9 August, 2010).

Mithushilak Murmu [bn] commented on the motivation of these attacks:

It seems that our neighbors, the bigger communities are being mobilized by racial thoughts. The father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's secular thinking and non-racial and inclusive perspectives are being blacked out by his successors. The indigenous people are afraid most of the times, they are living in fear.

Malobika Tudo [bn] said:

The tribal children learn their first words in Bangla, which is not their mother tongue. And it seems there is nobody in this country to speak for them.

Ajal Dewan came to Dhaka from Chittagong Hill Tracts for higher studies. He wrote [bn] in the Adibashi Bangla (Indigenous Bengali) blog how he faced problem with his tribal features:

Most of my experiences in this short lived life are bitter. But the most bitter ones include being bullied for my distinctive face and language. The waiter at the restaurant frowns at me and if I sing a song in my own language in the street I face the same consequence. If I sing or recite in Bangla, there is no problem. [It seems] it's a crime to speak in my language.

There is no respite even in university. My classmates think that we savor snakes and frogs as we live on the hills. I have to answer questions all the time on whether we eat cockroaches or sleep in treehouses. […]

Antoni Rema [bn] has similar experiences:

We are bullied [by men] when we walk down the streets. Especially the fair skinned tribal [women] like us are facing this trouble the most. On the streets, we are being frowned upon with nonsense words (like chang, chung), we are being teased, taunted and distracted. Do they know how much it hurts us?

We can get a feeling about the type of repression the tribal people are subjected to from the posts of Ajal Dewan and Antini Rema. This is not only true for the indigenous people of the hills - all tribes of the country have similar stories to tell.

The oppression on them is motivated by mainly the urge to grab and occupy their lands and livelihoods. Journalist Biplob Rahman wrote in an article [bn] after visiting a tribe in the north of Bangladesh:

In recent times the minority Santal tribes of Birganj, Chirir Bandar, Fulbari and Nababganj of Dinajpur Zila have continued to lost their lands to occupiers. Almost 500000 indigenous Santals have virtually no assets after losing everything over the years.

On the other hand Mithushilak Murmu [bn] writes about the plights of the indigenous labors who work in the tea gardens of Sylhet after visiting them:

They get a wage of Taka 30 (35 US Cents) after a day's hard work. In the early morning they start to pluck tea leaves and fill the bamboo buckets and continue till the evening takes them to the factory. […] The price of tea has increased day by day, but their benefits and wages haven't.

The plights of the discriminated, abused and oppressed tribes were deepened by a remark [bn] by the country's foreign minister. Several months ago in a discussion with the delegates of development organizations and diplomats she mentioned “there is no indigenous people in the country“.

In her opinion, because in the past centuries several tribes have come from neighboring countries to settle in the hills of Bangladesh, they should not be termed as indigenous, but tribal minorities. The indigenous tribes reacted strongly to this statement; they took the streets to protest and claim constitutional recognition.

Indigenous people of Bangladesh are demanding constitutional recognition in Dhaka. Image by Abu Ala, copyright Demotix (29/4/2011).

Odong Chakma in a post in Mukto Mona blog depicts how a poster on indigenous people in the Dhaka (Hajrat Shahjalal) International Airport has been altered. A white band has been placed on the caption “smiling indigenous women of Chittagong Hill-Tract” under the picture and it reads now “.. women of Chittagong Hill-Tract”.

The blogger says:

Can you wipe out the indigenous population by wiping the name?

It may be mentioned that although the tribal and Bengali people have lived together for centuries, after the partition of India (in 1947), Muslim settlers came pouring in from India and started to settle in the Chittagong Hill tracts. The confrontations started from there, which became acute when in 1979 the government undertook a program to settle almost half a million people in the indigenous lands.

Ramdaschand Hasda [bn] says in this context:

After living hundreds of years together, the Bengalis and the indigenous people could not be friends.

This post is part of our special coverage on Indigenous Rights.

Bangladesh: Journalist Couple's Murder Case Still Unresolved

Rezwan — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:02:46 +0000

Recently a brutal murder in Bangladesh has shocked the nation and everyone is talking about it. On February 11, 2012, journalists Sagar Sarwar and his wife Meherun Runi were killed in their own apartment in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka. Their five year old son Megh woke up to find them dead and later revealed that he has seen the murderers before. Sarwar was the news editor in Maasranga Television and Meherun Runi was a senior reporter with ATN Bangla TV. Seventeen journalists had been murdered in Bangladesh in the last 16 years [bn] and most of the cases remained unresolved.

It has almost been a month but the police could not arrest the perpetrators. In the meantime some people are fanning the rumor mills because of the delay. the journalist fraternity and the civic society has condemned the failure. There had been protests, human chain and rallies across the country demanding arrest and trial of the murderers.

The Sarwar family. Image by Siam Sawrar Jamil. Copyright Demotix (12/2/2012)

Why the couple were killed remains a mystery even after all these days. The police told the media [bn] that initial investigations revealed that the killers were known to the family and the murder was pre-planned.

Blogger Orpheus at Sachalayatan blog also concurs to the fact that it was planned:

ঘটনা দেখেছি, নিজেও কিছু লিঙ্ক দেখেছি, ঘটনা যতটুকু জানতে পারলাম, তাতে পরিষ্কার বোঝা যাচ্ছে, পূর্বপরিকল্পিত ভাবে প্রথমেই কোনো ভাবে বাসার ভেতরে অবস্থান নিয়েছিলো খুনিরা, আর গ্রীল কাটার পদ্ধতিটা অনেক পুরনো, অনেকগুলো চাঞ্চল্যকর খুনের ঘটনায় খুনিরা দৃষ্টি ঘোরানোর জন্য এই পদ্ধতি ব্যাবহার করেছে, আর বাসায় দুজন প্রাপ্তবয়স্ক মানুষকে খুন করা হলো কিন্তু কোনো অস্বাভাবিক শব্দ হলোনা কিংবা বাচ্চা ছেলেটি জেগে গেলনা এটা একটু গভীরভাবে পর্যবেক্ষণের দরকার, খুনি পূর্বপরিচিত না হলে এগুলো সম্ভব না।[…]

I have read the news, digged a few links. So far I gather that it is clear that the killers went inside the house somehow and they knew well in advance what to do. The broken grill is a long used decoy method, many murderers have used this to forge motive. Why two grown ups were killed and there were no unusual sounds loud enough to wake the kid up need careful scrutiny. If killers were not someone they knew, it would not be possible.

Blogger Naishad [bn] suggested that the police should check the phone calls of the couple made for clues:

সাংবাদিক দম্পতির গত এক মাসের কললিস্টে যত নাম্বার আছে, সেই রাতে কতগুলি সক্রিয় ছিল এবং সেই বাসা অপারেটদের যে সব বিটিএসের অধিনে, সেই রাতে সেসব বিটিএসের থেকে কল করা হয়েছিল কিনা এভাবে এগোলে হয়ত গুরুত্বপূর্ন ক্লু পাওয়া যেতে পারে।

They should look for all the numbers on their call list and check whether they were active on that night and especially were used under the same BTS, where the journalists' home falls. They could find an important clue.

The day after the home minister Sahara Khatun declared that arrests will be made within 48 hours. But the killers were not arrested within the stipulated time. Netizens expressed their dissatisfaction on this. Ashikweblog doubts [bn] whether the killers will be nabbed before 48 days:

অত্যন্ত দুঃখের সাথে বলতে হচ্ছে যে প্রতিশ্রুতি দেয়া ৪৮ ঘন্টার সময়সীমা পার হয়ে গেছে অনেক আগেই। ৪৮ ঘন্টা কি ৪৮ দিন-এ গিয়ে দাঁড়াবে কিনা, এখন তার অপেক্ষা।

I am very sorry to say that the promised 48 hours have ended long ago. Whether the 48 hours will stretch up to 48 days, we are waiting to see.

The anger of the citizens on this killing was further fueled by a comment by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She was speaking in a discussion panel and mentioned that “the government cannot guard every bedroom” [bn]. Mortuza Khaled Milton protested this:

This type of rhetoric is unacceptable. I stress that the government is responsible for what goes on in the state. And if any government cannot ensure that we have to assume that its a failure or its not capable.

Jahangir Alam Akash has similar comments:

নিরাপত্তা কেবল বঙ্গভবন আর গণভবনের নয়, সারাদেশের সকল ভবন মানুষের নিরাপত্তা দেয়ার দায়িত্ব সরকারেরই।

Security is not only meant for the Bangabhaban (President's house) or Ganabhaban (Prime Minister's house). The government should also take the responsibility to secure every building of the state.

The failure to arrest the killers has led to the spread of a rumor filled note in Facebook. Many are taking the note for true. On the other hand many others are terming this as a biased campaign. One blogger thinks that “the failure to keep the government's 48 hour commitment is fueling such rumor”.

Tanbira suggests that foreign investigators should be consulted to overcome the failure to arrest the killers:

অতীতেও অনেক ঘটনায় বিদেশী সাহায্য নেয়া হয়েছে। ভবিষ্যতেও তারা হয়তো অনেক ব্যাপার সমাধানের জন্য বিদেশী এক্সপার্টদের সাহায্য নিবেন, তাহলে এখন নয় কেন?

We have seen the use of foreign help in the past. We will also see such efforts in the future. So why not now?

Journalists and civil society are protesting this brutal killing all over the country. Image by Siam Sarwar Jamil. Copyright Demotix (12/2/2012)

People have expressed concern about the excess of the private TV channels. For example, on the day of the murder the TV reporters questioned the son of the murdered couple over and over [bn]. Every newspaper is running articles on this murder everyday. The court has given 24 hours ultimatum to the secretary of the ministry of information to stop all such baseless reports. However many journalists protested this directive terming this as a kind of censorship. Farzana99 wrote in Somewhereinblog.net:

আশার কথা হলো জনগণ, সাংবাদিক আর মিডিয়ার মুখ বন্ধ করা মাননীয় বিচারপতি এত সহজ নয়। […]। পৃথিবীর বিভিন্ন প্রান্ত থেকে প্রতিবাদ করছে মানুষ। এই প্রতিবাদ হেলায় উড়িয়ে দেবার মতো নয়।

The brighter side of this, my lord, is that it is not so easy to silence the journalists and media. [..] The people are protesting. You cannot ignore these voices.

A human chain has been arranged using a Facebook campaign in front of the UN office in Bonn, Germany to bring this matter to the international level.

Fakir Ilyas thinks that the Sagar-Runi murder can affect the next election:

এটা খুবই দুঃখজনক, দেশের গোয়েন্দা সংস্থার সম্মিলিত প্রয়াস এখন পর্যন্ত সাগর-রুনির খুনিদের রাষ্ট্রের সামনে দাঁড় করাতে পারেনি। কেন পারেনি, এর জবাব রাষ্ট্র নিয়ন্ত্রকদের দিতে হবে। তা না হলে গ্রহণযোগ্যতার প্রশ্ন দেখা দেবে আগামী নির্বাচনে। ক্ষমতাসীনরা এভাবে তাদের জনপ্রিয়তায় ধস নামুক, তা নিশ্চয়ই তারা চাইবেন না।

It is sad that the combined efforts of the intelligence agencies could not find out the killers of Sagar-Runi. Why, it needs to be answered by the government. If not then they will be judged in the next election. The ruling party would not want their popularity rates decline.

Nijhoom Majumdar is worried about his and the common people's security. In a Facebook page titled “We want justice for Sagar and Runi” he comments:

যতটুকু ক্ষমতা রয়েছে ততটুকু ক্ষমতা দিয়ে এই হত্যাকাণ্ডের সুষ্ঠু বিচার চেয়ে যাব। মেঘ [সাগর-রুনির সন্তান] ছেলেটির জন্য আমার বুকটি চৌচির হয়ে যায়। মেঘ এর জায়গায় তো হতে পারত আমার ছেলেটি, রুনির জায়গায় তো হতে পারত আমার স্ত্রী, সাগরের জায়গায় তো হতে পারতাম আমি!!! কই যাব আমরা? কোথায় দাঁড়াব? কার কাছে যাব? এই বাঙলাদেশ কি চেয়েছি আমরা, এমন মৃত্যু উপত্যকা???

I will demand for justice for this murder with all my might. My hurt burns for Megh [the son of Sagar-Runi]. My son could be in place of him, Runi could be my wife, and me, killed like Sagar!!! Where will we go? Where will we stand? To whom should we go? Did we want this Bangladesh, such a death valley???

Bangladesh: Boycotting Indian Products to Protest Brutality at Border

Rezwan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:03:40 +0000

In January 2012, a 12 minute long uncut video of brutality on a Bangladeshi cattle trader by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) (Warning: Graphic content) went viral on the Internet. Originally uploaded by an Indian human rights organization Masum, this video attracted widespread condemnation from Bangladeshis.

According to reports by Human Rights organizations Indian BSF has killed more than 1,000 Bangladeshis in last ten years which has been condemned by international communities.

The Indian media were quick to point fingers [bn] at Pakistan for the release of the video, which spread more fuel to the fire. Himu at Sachalayatan quips [bn]:

কিন্তু আনন্দবাজারের রিপোর্টে বিএসএফের এই মারধরের সমালোচনার কোনো গন্ধ নেই, তার ভিডিও ছড়িয়ে পড়া নিয়েই তাদের যত মাথাব্যথা।

In the Anandabazar report there is no effort to condemn this brutality, they are concerned only how the video got leaked.

Graph showing the number of killings by BSF from March 2009 to February 2012. Image courtesy Dhushor Godhuli

He adds [bn]:

আমাদের দেশের লোককে বিএসএফ এভাবে পেটায় বাংলাদেশীদের ব্যাপারে তাদের সামাজিক ধারণা, প্রশিক্ষণ, নির্দেশনা আর অভিজ্ঞতার ওপর ভর দিয়ে দাঁড়িয়ে। বিএসএফ বাংলাদেশীদের সমপর্যায়ের মানুষ জ্ঞান করে না। পৃথিবীতে বহু বড় দেশের সাথে ছোটো গরীব দেশের সীমান্ত রয়েছে, সেখানে সীমান্ত রক্ষীরা কিশোরদের গুলি করে মারে না, যুবকদের ন্যাংটা করে পিটায় না। এই মার বিএসএফ গরুচালানীদের দিচ্ছে না, এই মার ভারতের আমলাযন্ত্র দিচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ রাষ্ট্রের নাগরিককে। [..] এই পীড়নের পেছনে সবচেয়ে বড় যে চালিকাশক্তি, সেটা যত না ঘৃণা, তারচেয়ে বেশি তাচ্ছিল্য।

The BSF tortures our people standing on the basis of what they think about Bangladeshis socially, their experience, and according to their training and direction. The BSF does not treat Bangladeshis as equal. There are many places in the world where there are borders of a large country with a small one. But their border patrol do not fire on adolescents, torture naked youths. This thrashing is not by BSF to cattle smugglers, but the Indian bureaucracy to the Bangladeshis. [..] The main driving force behind this brutality is not only hatred, but apathy.

Blogger Dhushor Godhuli [bn] talks about an archive where all the atrocities of BSF are being chronicled. The blogger points out that the claims of the number of deaths are different between Indian and Bangladeshi authorities. The actual numbers quoted by the human rights organizations are much higher.

The recent remarks by the BSF chief that the shootings will not stop has created much more anger amongst Bangladeshis. So the netizens have decided to launch a campaign to stop the killings at border. Blogger Himu writes [bn]:

মার্চ ১ হোক আমাদের ভারত বনধের দিন। এই দিন আমরা ভারতের কোনো জিনিস কিনবো না, ভারতের কোনো সেবা নেবো না, ভারতের কোনো চ্যানেল দেখবো না। আগের আটত্রিশ দিন আসুন আমরা এই ডাক ছড়িয়ে দিই, সবাইকে জানাই। পরিচিত সবাইকে বলি, নিজেদের আত্মসম্মানের কথা স্মরণ করিয়ে দিই। আমরা কুকুর নই, আমরা মানুষ। আমাদের মানুষের মর্যাদা দিতে হবে।

Let March 1, 2012, be the day to Boycott India. On this day we will not buy anything Indian, will not use any Indian service, will not watch Indian TV channels. Let us spread the words, let everybody know. Let us remind everybody of their self respect. We are not dogs, but human beings. You have to respect us as human beings.

Image courtesy Oli Syed Mahbub

In another post Himu explains [bn] why the boycott is needed:

এই কর্মসূচি সীমান্তে বাংলাদেশী নাগরিকদের ভারতীয় সীমান্তরক্ষী বাহিনী কর্তৃক নির্বিচার হত্যা ও নির্যাতনের প্রতিবাদ হিসেবে পালিত হচ্ছে।

[..] প্রশ্ন উঠতে পারে, আমরা অল্প কয়েকজন মানুষ এই কর্মসূচি পালন করলে ভারতের কী এসে যাবে? [..] এর উত্তর হচ্ছে, এই বর্জন কর্মসূচিতে আমরা যেন একদিনেই অভীষ্ট লাভের স্বপ্ন না দেখি।[..] এই বর্জন আমাদের হাতে একটি শান্তিপূর্ণ কিন্তু শক্তিশালী অস্ত্র, এর নিয়মিত চর্চা এবং প্রচার আমাদের শক্তিবৃদ্ধি করবে, এবং ভারতের রাজনীতিক ও আমলাযন্ত্রের কাছে ক্রমশ শক্তিশালী বার্তা পৌঁছাবে।

This boycott is being undertaken in protest of the wanton killings and tortures of Indian Border Force on Bangladeshis. [..] Questions may arise, if only some people starts this campaign what impact will it bring to India. [..] The answer is that we don't expect that we will get the result in a day. [..] This boycott is a peaceful but strong tool in our hands. It will gradually send a strong message to the political and bureaucratic powerhouses of India.

Mukti blog does not think that such boycott is really going to work up the Indian businesses enough to lobby the Indian government to discipline BSF. However, the blogger adds:

Hmm, I suppose some folks will still believe that, just as others will continue to believe that Indian foreign policy establishment is always scheming to subjugate Bangladesh. But to the more reality-based-people, I submit that boycotting Indian goods has limited effectiveness beyond symbolism.

And yet, the energy and passion behind this activism shouldn’t be underestimated. This kind of citizens’ activism — initiated by bloggers — can actually make a difference.

Diganta responds in a comment in the above post:

BSF has built up what I can call world’s largest extortion racket. Only way to stop this could be to legalize cattle trade between India and Bangladesh. [..]

Image courtesy Asif Mohiuddin

Blogger Asif Mohiuddinat Somehwhereinblog.net endorses the boycott saying people should join it out of humanity, not nationalist jingoism. He appeals to Indians:

ভারতীয় নাগরিক বন্ধুদের কাছে অনুরোধ জানাচ্ছি, অবিলম্বে মানবতাবিরোধী এইসকল কর্মকান্ড বন্ধ করতে আপনারা সোচ্চার হন। আপনারা আমাদের বুকে গুলি চালাতে আপনার ট্যাক্সের টাকা দেবেন না। আপনাদের সরকারকে বলুন অবিলম্বে এসব বন্ধ করতে। আমরা জানি আপনারা কখনই আপনাদের বিএসএফ এর পৈশাচিক বর্বরতার পক্ষের নন, কিন্তু সেটা পরিষ্কার ভাষায় আমরা শুনতে চাই।

I am appealing to the friendly Indian citizens, please raise your voice to stop these acts against humanity. Kindly do not let your tax money waste bullets on our body. Please ask your government to stop these killings. We know that you are not in favor of these brutality by BSF, but we want to hear it loud and clear.

Bangladesh: The Ethical Dilemma of Using Opportunities

Rezwan — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:46:02 +0000

In developing countries, where bureaucracy, corruption and misinformation thrive, people may create opportunities to cash in from those anomalies. Some consider this as creativity or simply a part of the livelihood and some question about the ethics in using those opportunities.

Bangladeshi blogger Mohammad Golam Nabi [bn] tells such a story:

মুনির ভাই সেই গল্পটা আজকেও বললেন। ডিমান্ড নোট বিক্রির গল্প। গল্পটা মুনির ভাইয়ের ভাষায় এমন:

‘আশির দশকের কথা। আমরা যখন বাংলাদেশ প্রকৌশল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষার্থী, তখন আমাদের একটি বিশেষ বিনোদন ছিল খাওয়াদাওয়া। সেটি চায়নিজ, হাজির বিরিয়ানি বা নীরবের ভাজি-ভর্তা। টিউশনির টাকা, পত্রিকায় লেখার বিল বা বৃত্তির টাকা—অবধারিতভাবে আমাদের গন্তব্য কোনো রেস্টুরেন্ট। হিজ হিজ হুজ হুজ। এসবের মধ্যে আমাদেরই এক বন্ধু ১০০ টাকা জমলে একটি টেলিফোনের জন্য দরখাস্ত করত। যে সময়ের কথা বলছি, তখন বিটিটিবির (এখনকার বিটিসিএল) ফোনের অনেক চাহিদা। তারপর আমরা পাস করে বের হলাম। আমাদের পকেটে সুন্দর কাগজে জীবনবৃত্তান্ত। আর আমাদের ওই বন্ধুর কাছে বেশ কিছু ডিমান্ড নোট (টেলিফোনের বরাদ্দপত্র), ঢাকার বিভিন্ন স্থানের। মতিঝিলে তখন টেলিফোন সংযোগ অনেক টাকায় বিক্রি হয়। আমাদের সেই বন্ধুটি তার কয়েকটি ডিমান্ড নোট বিক্রি করে দিল—তাতে তার জোগাড় হয়ে গেল প্রাথমিক মূলধন। আমাদের ওই বন্ধুটি এখন একটি গ্রুপ অব কোম্পানিজের চেয়ারম্যান! আমাদের সঙ্গে তার পার্থক্য ছিল শুরু থেকেই। নিজে কিছু একটা করবে ভেবেছিল, সে জন্য ছাত্রজীবনে প্রস্তুতি নিয়েছে এবং সম্পূর্ণ নিজের উদ্ভাবনী বুদ্ধিতে ব্যবসার পুঁজি জোগাড় করেছে।’

Phone wires entangled around a ATM signboard in Dhaka. Image from Flickr by Joe Athialy. CC BY-NC 2.0

Brother Munir told the story again, the one about the allotment of Telephone (demand note). The story in his words:

“It was the '80s. When we were students of Bangladesh University of Engineering And Technology, one of our favorite pass-times were eating out, be it Chinese food, Haji's Biriyani or the fried/mashed vegetables at Nirob restaurant. Whenever we friends got some extra money from providing tuition, writing articles for newspapers or scholarship fund, we used to celebrate in a restaurant. Usually everyone paid for themselves. But one of our friends used to (eat little to) save money and whenever he could accumulate Bangladeshi Taka 100, he would apply for a land phone connection. I am talking about the time when there was much scarcity and demand for a new BTTB (now BTCL - the state telecommunication company) land phone connection. Then we graduated and started to carry our bio-datas in our pocket (in the lookout for a job). Our friend had got little extra; a number of demand notes (allotment letters of landphones) from different areas of Dhaka in his possession. Because of huge demand the connections could be sold at a price manifold than the book price, especially in Motijheel area (business district). My friend sold most of the demand notes and could accumulate enough capital for his startup business. he is now the chairman of a conglomerate. The difference between him and us was evident from the beginning. He planned to do something for himself, so he acted accordingly and used his creativity and talent to arrange his first capital.”

But Mohammad Golam Nabi does not endorse this. He writes [bn]:

প্রযুক্তিতে বাংলাদেশ নামের একটি সংগঠন আয়োজন করেছিল ‘আধুনিক পেশাজীবি ও উদ্যেক্তা তৈরি’ শীর্ষক এক মতবিনিময় সভা। মুনির ভাই সেখানেই বলেছিলেন গল্পটি। সেসঙ্গে আমার আপত্তির বিষয়টি। তিনি সত্যিই বলেছেন। আমার আপত্তি আছে। আপত্তির মূল কারণটি হলো একটি অসৎ ও রাষ্ট্রীয় আইন ভঙ্গকে মুনির ভাই প্রমোট করছেন। তার উপর আস্থাশীল বিপুল সংখ্যক ছেলেমেয়ের প্রতি তার যে দায়িত্ব সেটিকে তিনি বিবেচনায় নিচ্ছেন না।

An organization titled ‘Bangladesh in Technology' arranged an workshop titled “preparing modern professionals and entrepreneurs” and brother Munir was telling the story there. And he also mentioned about my objection. Yes I do not endorse such method. I was objecting because brother Munir was promoting a corrupt and unethical idea. Those young people present in the seminar had much faith in him and he ignored that responsibility.

Ethics and Morals: Timeless and Universal? Image from Flickr by Stephen Wu. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

He goes on [bn]:

একজন লোক সৎ কিনা সে কথাটি তখনই বলা যাবে যখন তিনি অসৎ হওয়ার সুযোগ থাকা সত্বেও সৎ থাকেন। যে লোকের ঘুষ খাওয়ার কোন সুযোগ নেই তিনি ঘুষ খান না সেটি উল্লেখ করার মতো বিষয় নয়। তার সততা পরিক্ষীত নয়। অপরাধ ছোট হোক আর বড় হোক অপরাধই। তবে জীবন রক্ষার্থে যখন কেউ অন্যায় করেন সেটি ভিন্ন প্রসঙ্গ।

Whether one person is honest, can be vouched only when he/she could overcome the temptations and opportunities of being dishonest. The person who has no opportunity to be dishonest is not properly tested. So his/her honesty should not be deemed or highlighted. A crime is a crime whether its huge or is insignificant. But only exception is that when people become dishonest to save their lives.

Ethics is all about conducting your life faithfully and honestly, with complete integrity. And Nabi adds that a person should be judged by all the works in his/her life. Not merely with only one feat or one slip from grace.

মানুষের জীবন খণ্ডিত হতে পারে না। একজন মানুষের জন্ম থেকে মৃত্যু পরযন্ত পুরোটাই তার জীবন ও তাকে তার সারাজীবনের কাজের ভিত্তিতেই মূল্যায়ন করতে হবে। [..] একটা মানুষের ভালো থাকাটা সারা জীবনের বিষয়।

Our lives cannot be seen in fragments. One has be judged by all actions from cradle to grave. [..] Being honest and ethical is an issue of a lifetime.

Bangladesh: Government Observation of Facebook Ignites Debate

Aparna Ray — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:12:26 +0000

For a while now, the Bangladeshi authorities have been keeping an eye on the social media space and the country's Facebook users are increasingly finding themselves in the eye of the storm.

When a supposed coup to overthrow the government was scuttled in January this year, it was known that the plotters were using Facebook as one of the tools to mobilize and instigate their supporters. The government was shaken and became ultra-cautious, so much so, that now it seems that any even an off the cuff remark made against the government in a Facebook status update can get a person hauled up, arrested and/or prosecuted.

In one such instance, Bangladeshi citizen Ruhul Amin, a lecturer at the Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka, was sentenced by the country's High Court to a 6 month jail term after he failed to appear in court to face trial regarding his Facebook status update, in which he had allegedly wished death to the Prime Minister. Mr. Amin, who is currently in Australia on a study leave, is now facing sedition charges for his action.

In another incident, a college student was arrested after posting some ‘derogatory comments' about the Prime Minister and her late father, Bangladesh's founding leader - Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. These aforementioned incidents and the resulting government crackdown have created a lot of heated debate, both online and offline.

Remix from Bryant Arnold

In the comment section of the news article on Ruhul Amin, which was posted on blog.bdnews [bn], Mukhosh Pora Sadhu wrote:

আমাদের দেশের রাজনীতেবিদের প্রতি সাধারণ মানুষের যে প্রচন্ড ক্ষোভ তারই বহি:প্রকাশ এটা। অনেকেই তা গণমাধ্যমে প্রকাশ করতে পারেন না । কিন্তু বর্তমানে “ফেইসবুক” অলিখিত অত্যন্ত শক্তিশালী গণমাধ্যমে পরিনত হচ্ছে। এর কারণ আমাদের সংবাদ পত্রের “হলুদ সাংবাদিকতা”

This is an outward expression of the extreme anger that the common people are feeling towards our country’s politicians. They are not able to express these sentiments in the mainstream media. However, Facebook is now becoming an informal but powerful medium of expression. The reason for this is the yellow journalism practiced by mainstream newspapers.

On Sonar Bangla blog, Hassan expressed his concern [bn]:

ফেসবুকে স্ট্যাটাসও দেওয়া যাবেনা- এ কোন সময়ে আমরা? কারাগারে বন্দী আজ মত প্রকাশের অধিকার…বর্তমান বিশ্বে সামাজিক যোগাযোগের পাশাপাশি মতামত প্রকাশ, জনমত গঠন ও গনতান্ত্রিক আন্দোলনের ক্ষেত্রেও ফেসবুকের ভূমিকা অনুস্বীকার্য। তার প্রমাণ সাম্প্রতিক মিশর ও মধ্যপ্রাচ্যের আন্দোলন। যতই দেয়ালে পিঠ ঠেকে যাক না কেন - মাননীয় প্রধানমন্ত্রীর বিষয়ে বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের সম্মানিত শিক্ষকের স্ট্যাটাসটি এরকম না হলেই শোভন হত। তবে অশোভন বক্তব্য তো আমাদের জাতীয় দূর্বলতায় পরিনত হয়েছে। তবে একজন সরকারের বিরুদ্ধে কিছু বললেই তার বিরুদ্ধে লেগে যেতে হব এমন করাটাও ঠিক না।

Now we cannot even give a Facebook status update. In which age are we living? Freedom of expression has been incarcerated… In today's world, the role of Facebook, not only as a medium of social networking but also as a medium for expressing opinions, mobilization and democratic protests is undeniable - the events in Egypt and the Arab Spring being a case in point. I agree, whatever may have been the extenuating circumstance, it was quite unbecoming for an university lecturer to write such a status update regarding the Prime Minister. Making such unbecoming statements seems to have become our national weakness. However, the moment someone says something against the government, it is also not right to get after him in this manner.

On CUETblog, Ayan commented [bn]:

স্ট্যাটাস দিবেন ভেবে চিন্তে, নইলে পুলিশে ধরপে!

Be careful about what you write on your Facebook status, else the police will catch you!

However, not everyone was supportive of the accused. Some of the bloggers were strongly critical of the nature of the status updates, especially since they were made by a responsible citizen - an university lecturer, in the case of Ruhul Amin.

On the blog.bdnews article mentioned above, Mosharof commented [bn]:

এইসব শিক্ষক দের কাছ থেকে ছাত্ররা কী শিখবে? এরা ছাত্র দের ঘুষ, দুর্নীতি, যাবতীয় খারাপ কাজ শিখায়।

What will students learn from teachers like these? They teach their students bad things like corruption, bribery etc.

Mahtab stated [bn]:

শেখ হাসিনাকে কেউ পছন্দ না ই করতে পারেন সেটা তার বাক্তিগত ব্যপার কিন্ত হাসিনা যে চেয়ার বা পদ এ বসে আছেন সেই পদের তো সন্মান আছে। এই সাধারণ বিষয় যিনি বুঝেন না তিনি তো প্রাইমারী স্কুল এর শিক্ষক হবার ই যোগ্যতা রাখেন না। তিনি কী করে বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় এর শিক্ষক হন। স্টুপিড।

Someone may not like Sheikh Hasina - that is his or her personal matter. However, the (Prime Ministerial) chair occupied by her deserves respect. A person who is unable to appreciate this simple matter does not even deserve to be a primary school teacher, let alone being an university lecturer. Stupid.

There appears to be some confusion among bloggers with respect to Ruhul Amin's 6month jail sentence. Bloggers like Meghbandhu understood the sentence to be punishment [bn] for his Facebook status and commented:

সত্যি অবাক লাগে এ কেমন দেশে বাস করি? যেখানে আমেরিকার প্রেসিডেন্ট বুশ'কে জুতা মেরে তেমন কোন সাজাই পায়নি ইরাকের সেই বিখ্যাত সাংবাদিক, সেখানে শুধুমাত্র ফেসবুক স্ট্যাটাস দেয়ার কারনে এই অবস্থা।!!!

It really amazes me when I think, what kind of a country do we live in? Over there, that famous Iraqi journalist did not suffer any punishment even after throwing a shoe at the then President Bush and here a mere Facebook status is having such a consequence!

However, others like Hassan Kalboishakhi were quick to correct them and clarify:

ওনার সাস্তি হয়েছে ফেসবুকে মৃত্যুকামনার জন্য নয়। মৃত্যুকামনা মামলায় উনি সরি বললেই মাফ পেয়ে যেতেন। আদালত কে অবজ্ঞা করার কারনে ওনার এই শাস্তি।

His (jail) sentence is not because of his Facebook status wishing death (of the Prime Minister). For that, he could have simply apologized and gotten away. His punishment is for contempt of court

After the sentencing of Ruhul Amin for contempt of court, everyone is eagerly waiting to see what will be the court's final verdict in the actual Facebook status case. The trial is being seen as a very important roadmap for freedom of speech in Bangladesh. The current government had promised its citizens a Digital Bangladesh. However, many feel that this verdict stands to threaten both freedom of expression and the dream of a Digital Bangladesh. As for Ruhul Amin, he says that he is “too frightened to use Facebook anymore“.

In a related incident, the authorities recently foiled a mobilization attempt by a Facebook group Blue Band Call - a youth based group who wish to be “agents of change” in the country's political process. While authorities claimed that the group had not taken the requisite permissions to hold the public program, the group claimed otherwise.

Upal Bangladesh reported the incident in the Projanmo forum and commented [bn]:

সরকার মনে হয় আজকাল সবকিছুতেই “ভূত” দেখা শুরু করেছে

Looks like the government is seeing “ghosts” everywhere (is a bundle of nerves)

The government on it's part is taking no chances. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced the formation of a special cell to monitor cyber activities in the country, round the clock. It will be interesting to see how this latest move pans out in the coming days.

Bangladesh: Titas is the Name of a Murdered River

Rezwan — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:18:40 +0000

The Titas River is a trans-boundary river of south-eastern Bangladesh and it is more known to the Bengalis by a famous novel and a movie titled “A river named Titas“, which depicts the life of the fishermen on its bank.

River Titas, which is the source of livelihood for many people, is now endangered. In Ashuganj town of the Brahmanbaria District of Bangladesh a long diversion road has been hurriedly built through the Titas river and its tributaries and canals obstructing its flow in many parts.

Local media reports that it was done to facilitate transhipment of Indian goods on heavy vehicles as the existing roads and bridges are damaged and cannot bear the load of these huge carriers. Netizens are outraged by the developments.

A road through Titas river. Image courtesy Sharat Chowdhury

Here is a picture of the same place taken on 2008.

Mahfuzur Rahman Manik reports [bn]:

সম্প্রতি সামাজিক যোগাযোগের ওয়েবসাইটগুলোয় (ব্লগ, ফেসবুক) একটা ভিডিওর ব্যাপক ছড়াছড়ি। তেমন কিছু নয়, একুশে টিভিতে প্রচারিত সংবাদের ভিডিও। ‘ট্রানজিট’ নিয়ে প্রচারিত তিন পর্বের এক পর্ব। সেখানে উঠে এসেছে আখাউড়া ও ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়ার সংযোগস্থলে তিতাস নদী দ্বিখণ্ডিত হওয়ার করুণ কাহিনী। ভারতকে ট্রানজিট সুবিধা দেয়ার নামে তিতাসের মাঝখানে রাস্তা বানিয়ে কীভাবে তাকে মেরে ফেলা হচ্ছে তার প্রমাণ ভিডিওটি। যারা কখনো তিতাস দেখেননি কিংবা নদী বরাবর কীভাবে রাস্তা বানানো হলো তা দেখার কৌতূহল থেকেও অনেক ইন্টারনেট ব্যবহারকারী এতে ঢুঁ মেরেছেন।

Recently the social networking sites (Blog, Facebook) are flooded with a video. Nothing extra-ordinary, but a a news report on Ekushey TV. Its the first episode of the three part fetaure on “transit”. the video is the proof how a road was built dividing Titas river and killing it in the name of providing transit facility. Many internet users are watching this video, especially those who have never seen Titas or those, who are simply interested to see how a road can be built dividing a river.

একুশে টেলিভিশন প্রচারিত সংবাদটি বলছে, তিতাস নদীর ওপর বাঁধ দেয়ায় চারপাশের লাখ লাখ হেক্টর জমিতে ফসল উত্পাদনের ওপর বিশাল প্রভাব পড়ছে। এ নদীর ওপর নির্ভর করে যারা জীবিকা নির্বাহ করেন, তাদের জীবনে এসেছে অনিশ্চয়তা। বিশেষ করে জেলেদের অবস্থা খারাপ। সেখানকার মানুষ ঘরে ফসল তুলতে পারেন না। হাজার হাজার হেক্টর জমি তলিয়ে গেছে পানিতে। পরিবেশ বিপর্যয় তো রয়েছেই।

The Ekushey TV report divulges that the cultivation in the surrounding thousands of hectares of land has already been effected. Those who depends on this river for their livelihood face an uncertain future. Especially the fate of the fishermen are doomed. Thousands of hectares of cultivated fields have been submerged and many crops are damaged. The environmental damage is enormous.

Blogger Kallol Mostafa went to the site and reported [bn]:

ভারতের ত্রিপুরার পালাটানায় ৭২৬ মেগাওয়াট ক্ষমতার একটি বিদ্যুৎ প্রকল্পের প্রয়োজনীয় ভারী যন্ত্রপাতি ৯৬টি ওভার ডাইমেন্সনাল কার্গো’র (ওডিসি) মাধ্যমে পরিবহনের জন্য ৩০ নভেম্বর ২০১০ এ ভারত ও বাংলাদেশের মধ্যে একটি সমঝোতা স্মারক স্বাক্ষরিত হয়। [..] আশুগঞ্জ বন্দর আর আশুগঞ্জ থেকে আখাউড়া সড়ক পথ ওডিসি পরিবহনের অনুপযুক্ত হওয়ায় বন্দর উন্নয়ন, ৪৯ কিমি রাস্তা মেরামত ও ১৮ মিটার পর্যন্ত প্রশস্ত করার জন্য ভারত এককালীন ২৫.৫০ কোটি টাকা প্রদান করবে বলে ঠিক হয়। [..] এই রাস্তায় তিতাস নদী ও বিভিন্ন খালের উপর যেসব ব্রীজ ও কালভার্ট রয়েছে সেগুলো এত ভারী কার্গোর ভার বহনের সক্ষম নয়। তাই রাস্তা মেরামত ও প্রশস্ত করণের পাশাপাশি ভারতের আসাম বেঙ্গল কেরিয়ার বা এবিসি ইন্ডিয়াকে দ্বায়িত্ব দেয়া হলো ব্রীজ ও কালভার্টগুলোর পাশ দিয়ে “বিকল্প রাস্তা” তৈরী করার।

A memorandum of understanding was signed on November 30, 2011 to provide transit facility to 96 over-dimensional cargoes (ODCs) which will carry heavy machinery for a 726 Megawatt power plant in Trpura, India. [..] It was decided that India will pay 255 million Bangladeshi Taka to upgrade 49 kms of road by making them 18 meter wide. However, the bridges and culverts on these roads are not able to carry the heavy loads of these ODCs. So besides up-gradation of the road, the Asam Bengal Carrier (ABC) company was awarded a contract to build alternative roads besides those bridges and culverts.

A makeshift road near the culvert on a canal of Titas river. Image by Niloy Das. Courtesy Dinmojur Blog

The whole article has been shared many times in social networks. Kallol also shares [bn] his frustrations and anger:

দুনিয়ার আর কোন দেশের শাসক শ্রেণী এইভাবে নিজ দেশের নদী-খালের মাঝখান দিয়ে বাধ নির্মাণ করে আরেক দেশের মালামাল পরিবহনের ব্যবস্থা করেছে বলে আমাদের জানা নাই।

I am not aware of any other country who has diverted its rivers and canals with dams and built roads through them to facilitate transit of goods of a neighboring country.

Some bloggers took an initiative to carry out a visit to the site. A Facebook event [bn] was created.

Kowshik provides [bn] the scope of the visit:

আমাদের রাজনীতি নেই, আমরা রাজনীতি বুঝি না - কিন্তু সব গেলো সব গেলো বলে আহাজারি করতে পারি! সেই আহাজারীর মাত্রা আরেকটু বাড়াতে আগামী ৩০শে ডিসেম্বর তিতাসের খণ্ডিত বুকে গিয়ে জানতে চাই সেখানকার মানুষদের কি মতামত!

We have no political intention, we don't understand politics but we can cry for our loss. To extend that cry to another level we want to go to the divided Titas and ask for local people's opinions.

Kowshik also provided frequent updates [bn] of the bloggers' initiatives.

Here is a three part videocast showing interviews of bloggers and locals:

(Part 1: Featuring Ali Asif Galib [bn])

(Part 2: Featuring Sharat Chowdhury [bn])

(Part 3: Featuring Ali Mahmed [bn])

Blogger Sharat Chowdhury shares his experience [bn] of actually being there:

আমরা দেখি নদীর বুক চিড়ে রাস্তা বানানো হয়েছে। ট্রানজিটের রাস্তা। আমাদের নতজানুতার পথ। এই পথ দেখে আমাদের কষ্ট হয়, ঘৃণা হয়, অবিশ্বাস গাঢ় হয় সরকারের বিবেচনা বোধ আর সদিচ্ছার প্রতি।

We see that roads have been built dividing the river. The roads for transit, the road to our submissiveness. Our heart aches seeing this road, we loath. Our mistrust on the government deepens.

Sharat adds:

এই মুহুর্তে প্রতিবাদ প্রতিরোধ ছাড়া আর কোন পথ নেই। ব্লগাররা কাজ করতে পারেন স্থানীয় অপনিয়ন লিডার হিসেবে। কেবল রাজধানী-কেন্দ্রীক আন্দোলনের বদলে আমরা এমনও দেখতে পারি যে ব্রাম্মণবাড়ীয়া, আশুগঞ্জের ব্লগাররা প্রতিবাদ জানিয়েছেন স্থানীয় প্রশাসনকে। অবহিত করেছেন স্থানীয় মানুষদের। সংগঠিত করেছেন। এটা আমাদের করতেই হবে।

Now we have no options except protesting the road constructions. Not only the capital centric protests, we would like to see that the local bloggers are protesting to the local government. We would like to see them organize locals and making them aware. We have to do it.

Bangladesh: A Bold Protest Against Dowry

Rezwan — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:00:21 +0000

For centuries dowry has been part of the social system in many parts of the world and in developing countries it is seen as a financial burden for the bride's family. In several South Asian countries it has been prohibited by law in the past century, but dowry is still widely and illegally practiced.

Each year we hear about dowry-related domestic violence which may end up in the killing of wives by some husbands. A recent protest against dowry is being much discusses and lauded in the social networks in Bangladesh.

11/11/11 was chosen as the dream wedding date of the bride Farzana Yasmin, who works in an insurance company, and the bridegroom Shawkat Ali Khan Hiron, who is a head master of a government primary school. The wedding duly took place last Friday [bn], but during the reception Farzana's in-laws demanded a TV set, refrigerator, motorbike and a few more things as ‘gifts' from the bride's family in presence of the guests.

The bride was stunned to see that her new husband was voicing support for their demands and sent ripples across the country by divorcing him right at the wedding. The relatives of the bridegroom tried to solve the dispute into the night but Farzana stuck to her word.

The bridegroom later wrote in a Facebook status that the truth is that his marriage ended and he apologized to the guests. He also claimed that he did not ask for a dowry. He then launched a smear campaign [bn] against the bride on Facebook. Netizens widely protested this and the hate filled posts were later removed.

Farzana explained:

Dowry has become a cancer of society. I've read in newspapers about it and have always wondered why this happens. [..] When it happened right before my eyes, something happened inside me. I felt like speaking up against it and doing something about it…. [..] Maybe I haven't changed the lives of ten people, but I want people to take the lesson that girls can do something.

She asked that if she, being an educated girl cannot take this decision, who can?

Here is a video of an interview [bn] she gave to local media (uploaded by Priyochannel).

Unheard Voice blog posts translations from the interview:

So what if I got divorced? I don’t need it. I can live by myself. I can never build a home with a man like this… Girls think once you get married you can never leave. They make comments like, how could she get divorced. Why should I live inside a hell when I know it is… We speak against dowry, but it still happens. If I don’t protest now, another five women will not protest against this… You see all these protests, rallies, but it still continues. This society continues to be ruled by men. How could a teacher ask for dowry? What will society learn from a teacher like that? And he is a government teacher. And government talks against dowry. These people need to be punished, they need to be socially ostracized. I am proud to say I walked out, even though I was dressed as bride.

Farzana at the interview. Image courtesy Kowshik

Kowshik was there during the interview and wrote about it in BDNews24.com blog [bn]

তার যুগান্তকারী ঘটনা শুনছি। ফারজানাকে দেখে সজাগ হতে হয়। এমন সাহসী সিদ্ধান্ত ক’জন নিতে পেরেছেন? যৌতুকের দাবী মেটাতে গিয়ে নির্যাতনের শিকারের ঘটনা আমরা অহরহ শুনি। কিন্তু এভাবে ঘুরে দাঁড়াবার দৃষ্টান্ত বিরল।

Listening to her remarkable story. One has to be amazed by her deeds. How many people can take such a brave decision? We hear about domestic violence related to dowry all the time. But such bold stand is a rare phenomenon.

Kowshik's post attracted many comments. Gias Uddin Bhuiyan congratulated her and said:

তিনি যে এই সাহসী পদক্ষেপটি নিয়েছেন তা প্রতিটি ঘরে ঘরে প্রতিটি মানুষের মনে রাখা উচিত এবং সকলের জীবনে তার প্রতিফলন ঘটানো উচিত। শুধু তাকে বাহবা দিলেই দায়িত্ব শেষ হবে না।

Every person in every home should remember this bold step taken by her and the lesson should be applied in our lives. The responsibility doesn't end only by congratulating her.

Pankaj Chowdhury said:

ফারজানা তোমাকে অনেক অনেক ধন্যবাদ। তুমি দেখিয়ে দিয়েছ মেয়েরা বাজারের পন্য নয়। মেয়েরাও মানুষ তাদেরও স্বাধীনতা আছে।

Farzana, many thanks to you. You have shown that women are not products at markets. They are also human beings and they are independent.

Muktadir S. Hossain comments on an article in the Daily Star:

This is just the beginning. For all those beggars who look for dowry, this is a warning.

Manzor H. sarkar writes:

My full admiration for this girl's guts and courage and her decisive refusal to the compliance with this century-old stupid tradition or practice of dowry in our sub-continent. She fully realised what type of marriage was going to be installed. It looked like more to a sale deed rather than a bond of matrimony based on mutual trust and love.

The reality is that Farzana is just one odd amongst millions of women who have to live through the ordeals of dowry. When will society wake up?

South Asia: Celebrating the 7 Billionth Child

Rezwan — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:12:32 +0000

On the 31 October, 2011, the earth welcomed a newborn child named Oishi. Her birth in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka carried a special message - she is the 7 billionth child of the world.

The Editor.net reports:

The 7 billionth child of the world is here in Dhaka. The lucky parents of the child are Mohsin Hossain and Tonni Hossain. They had hoped for a boy child as their third child. And this 3rd child is the 7 billionth child (symbolic) of the world.

The beautiful girl child was born on 12:01 AM at the early hours in Azimpur Maternity and Child Care Hospital.

It is difficult to identify exactly which child is the 7 billionth one, so a symbolic celebration is happening around the world. UNFPA selected Oishi to carry the honor in Bangladesh.

The website adds:

This birth was celebrated publicly - with cake and candles. The hospital was crowded with people who gathered to catch a glimpse of the child. Sponsored by the 7 billion action program, this program was a publicity event.

Posha Pakhi at group blog Somewhereinblog.net carried the news with a post titled “The 7 billionth child was born in Dhaka“. The post attracted many comments:

Journo opined [bn]:

Welcome the the 7 billionth child from Bangladesh. Hope she will live as an enlightened person.

Mithapur wished the child and questioned the justification of selecting her and mentioned jokingly [bn]:

One question: How did they calculate that she is the 7 billionth

If the line would read -

The world's 7 billion (instead of billionth) children born in Dhaka

It can happen one day, isn't it?

Atiq cannot tell the difference between 7 billion and 7 billion plus one:

I don't understand all the fuss between 7 billion and 7 billion plus one numbers. Why so much discussion on this? Everybody is born with a number everyday.

My prayers for every one of them.

Although the world cheers at Oishi's birth, it did not cheer her parents much. Because Oishi is a girl child. Her parents wanted a boy this time [bn] (the first two are girls).

Sri lankan mother Danushika Perera cuddling her newly born baby. Image by Rohan Karunarathne. Copyright Demotix (31/10/2011)

Not only in Bangladesh, similar celebrations took place in many countries of the world. In Sri Lanka UNFPA celebrated the birth of Muthumani, the girl child of Ishara Madushanka and Danushika Dilani Perera.

Similarly in India Plan International celebrated the birth of Nargis as the 7 billionth child of the world.

LiveIndia.Com reports [Hi]:

In Lucknow, the capital of Uttarpradesh state in India, a baby girl named Nargis was the symbolic seven billionth child to be born during the early ours of Monday. She was named as Nargis.

Although the growing number of world population has been seen as a wake up call for the world, Muthumani, Oishi and Nargis give us the message that the girl-children should not be neglected in the future.

Bangladesh: Occupy Dhaka, Joining the Movement Against the 1%

Rezwan — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:32:59 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.

Occupy Wall Street, the peaceful protest against financial corruption and capitalism that started last month in New York City's financial capital, has already spread in many countries of the world. People have joined under the motto: “We are the 99% who will not tolerate the greed and corruption of the remaining 1%.” And the statement is also being resonated in some streets of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

In a photo essay in Demotix Safin Ahmed reports about a protest in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street Movement in Dhaka on October 19, 2011 :

The People Solidarity Movement from Bangladesh gives solidarity to the global occupy Wall Street movement by holding a protest.

Activists chant and wave placards and banners supporting the global movement against the banks, and corruption. Image By Safin Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (19/10/2011)

Blogger Rasel Parvez writes [bn] about the need of such protest and asserts that the movement should be non-violent:

আমাদের জীবনযাপনে রাষ্ট্রের আরও সক্রিয় আন্তরিক অংশগ্রহনের দাবীতে আমাদের একমত হতে হবে। আমরা ৯৯% মানুষ রাষ্ট্রের ক্রমাগত উদাসীনতা, উপেক্ষায় বিক্ষুব্ধ এবং আমাদের ভেতরে এই অভাববোধ বিষয়ে সচেতনতা জন্মেছে এটা নিশ্চিত করতে হবে।

একই সাথে সহিংসতা এড়িয়ে চলতে হবে। অকুপাই ওয়ালস্ট্রীটের অবস্থানে অংশগ্রহনকারীদের সবচেয়ে বড় সম্পদ তাদের শৃঙ্খলাবোধ, গত ১ মাসেও তারা সহিংসতা দেখান নি।

We have to agree on the fact that the government should be more active and earnest in ensuring our livelihoods. We, the 99%, are outraged by the the long negligence and ignorance by the state and we are now building awareness.

We have to avert violence. The greatest asset of the occupy wall street movement is their discipline, they have not resorted to violence in the past month.

Soon more organizations joined the cause and planned a “Occupy Dhaka” [bn] movement on October 22, 2011 at Teacher and Student Center (TSC) square inside Dhaka University Campus which was promulgated using Facebook and Twitter.

The Poster for We Are 99% (Occupy Dhaka)

Renowned teacher, economist and activist Anu Muhammad urged everybody [bn] to join the protests to take back Bangladesh:

Click image to view the leaflet in Bangla

দেশে দেশে একই শ্লোগান দিয়ে মানুষ উঠে আসছে রাস্তায়। শ্লোগানের মূল কথা দুটো; একটি, নিজের পরিচয় ঘোষণা: ‘আমরা ৯৯%’। আরেকটি, আন্দোলনের লক্ষ্য ঘোষণা: ‘দখল কর….’! কি দখল? দখল ক্ষমতার কেন্দ্র, দখল নিজের দেশ, দখল নিজের জীবন। প্রকৃত অর্থে নিজের জীবন, সম্পদ ও দেশ দখল করেছে শতকরা ১ ভাগ লুটেরা, দখলদার, যুদ্ধবাজ সন্ত্রাসী। লক্ষ্য এসব দখলমুক্ত করা। কেননা দেয়ালে পিঠ ঠেকে গেছে।[..]

ক্ষমতার কেন্দ্র অটুট রেখে সরকারের বদলে কিছুই বদল হবে না। এটা যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের শিক্ষা, এটা বাংলাদেশের শিক্ষা। মানুষ এখন তাই দখল করতে চাচ্ছে ক্ষমতার কেন্দ্র। বাংলাদেশেও মানুষকে বাঁচতে হলে, নতুন ভবিষ্যৎ নির্মাণ করতে হলে, দ্বিজোটীয় বিভাজনের ঘোরে লুটেরা, দখলদার সন্ত্রাসী শতকরা ১ ভাগের যে শৃঙ্খল, তা থেকে মুক্ত হতে গেলে এই মেরুকরণকেই নতুন রাজনীতির কেন্দ্রে আনতে হবে। বাংলাদেশে এই লড়াই নতুন নয়, জনগণের শতভাগ মালিকানায় দেশ ও তার সম্পদ প্রতিষ্ঠার চলমান লড়াইয়ের অন্তর্গত শ্লোগানই হল: আমরা ৯৯%, দখলমুক্ত কর বাংলাদেশ।

A placard. Image by Kowshik Ahmed. Used with permission.

In every nation people are coming out in the streets chanting the same words. The slogan has two parts; one, identify ourselves: ‘We are 99%'. The other part; set the goal of the movement: ‘Occupy..' Occupy what? Occupy the center of power, occupy your own country, occupy your own lives. In reality your lives, natural resources and country are being controlled by 1% looters, acquirers and war mongers. Our goal is to free those because we are pressed back at the wall.

Changing the government keeping the power centers intact will not change anything. This is the learning from the US, This is the learning from Bangladesh, too. So people want to occupy the center of power. If the Bangladeshis want to live, build a new future, get themselves free from the two feuding, corrupt and occupier political alliances then they have to re-polarize the politics. This struggle in Bangladesh is not new, if the citizens want that their country and the resources will be controlled by them then the slogan of the movement is applicable to them: We are the 99%, free Bangladesh from occupation.

Kowshik Ahmed posts pictures of the protests in BDNews24blog and in a Facebook Album. He also posts a video showing the rally.

Bloggers and online activists expressing solidarity at TSC. Image by Kowshik Ahmed. Used with permission.

An anonymous blogger at Sachalayatan describes about today's protest in Dhaka:

হাজার হাজার মানুষ ওয়ালস্ট্রিটে অবস্থান নিয়েছে কর্পোরেট তন্ত্রের প্রতিবাদে। আজ শনিবার ঢাকায় টিএসসিতে সেই আন্দোলনের সাথে সংহতি জানিয়ে একত্রিত হয়েছিলেন কয়েকশ উচ্চকন্ঠ মানুষ। [..] আজ বামধারার রাজনীতিকরা এই প্রতিবাদের সামনের সারিতে আছেন। কিন্তু এই জায়গাটা এমনকি তাদেরও না। এই জায়গাটা আমাদের। আমরা যারা বিকল্প ধারার মিডিয়াতে- ব্লগে, ফেসবুকে সচেতন হয়ে উঠছি ক্রমশ, সেই আমাদের। বাম মানুষগুলোর সাথে, তাদের পুরো দৃষ্টিভঙ্গির সাথে সহমত না হবার পরেও, সেই সচেতনতার ছাপ তাদের মধ্যে দেখতে পেয়ে, আজ আমরা ‘অকুপাই বাংলাদেশ' এর সাথে সংহতি জানাচ্ছি।

এই প্রতিবাদগুলো, এই স্লোগান আর মিছিল সফল হবে কী হবে না আমার জানা নাই। ফেসবুকের ওয়ালপোস্টে আর ব্লগিঙে গতি পেতে থাকা এই নতুন প্রজন্মের আন্দোলন আগামিকাল বা পরশু সাফল্য নিয়ে আসবে কি না জানা নাই। কিন্তু একটা বিশ্বাস আছে। একদিন, ঘুমিয়ে থাকা মানুষেরা জেগে উঠবে। একদিন সবাই রাস্তায় নেমে আসবে। একদিন ১% মানুষের হাতের পুতুল হবার বদলে, ৯৯% মানুষ নিজেদের মতে চলবে। সেই দিন জেগে উঠে তারা দেখবে, তাদের আগে আমরা ছিলাম। আমাদের উপর দায়িত্ব, তারা জেগে ওঠা পর্যন্ত এই প্রতিবাদ সামনে এগিয়ে নিয়ে যাওয়া।

Thousands of people gathered in Wall Street to protest against Corporatism. Today Saturday a few hundreds of vocal Bangladeshi citizens expressed solidarity with that protest. [..] Today the left leaning politicians are in the fore front of this protest. But this place is not even theirs. This place is ours. This place is for those who are becoming aware by sharing the news and expressing themselves using the alternative media - blogs and Facebook. We do not share the ideology of the left, but we see the awareness in them. So we are with them in solidarity with the “Occupy Bangladesh” movement.

We cannot tell whether these protests, these slogans and rallies will be successful. We do not know whether this movement of the new generation generating Godspeed by posting in Facebook or blogs will bring success in the coming days. But we believe in one thing. One day, the sleeping citizens will be awake. One day everybody will be in the streets. One day, instead of being a puppet of the 1%, the 99% will be on their own. That day they will rise and realize that we were before them. Our responsibility is to carry this movement till they wake up.

This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.

Bangladesh: Beheading of 8 Bangladeshi Workers in Saudi Arabia Sparks Rage

Rezwan — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:39:08 +0000

Nothing can justify a capital crime, but capital punishment cannot ensure a cure or deterrent for such crimes. Bangladeshis were shocked to learn that eight Bangladeshi migrant workers were beheaded in public in Saudi Arabia on 7 October, 2011, under Qisas (an eye for an eye) law for being involved in robbing a warehouse and killing a security guard, Hussein Saeed Mohammed Adulkhaleq, an Egyption national. Three other Bangladeshis were sentenced to prison terms and flogging.

As videos of similar Saudi beheadings [Warning: Graphic content] were widely circulated in social networks, netizens were enraged about this horrific punishment questioning about the process of the trial and the role of the Bangladesh Government in ensuring these poor migrant workers' rights.

Zahid Masudul Abedin writes [bn]:

কিছু ব্যতিক্রম বাদ দিলে প্রায় সব দেশেই হত্যার শাস্তি মৃত্যুদণ্ড। আমাদের দেশেও তাই। কিন্তু এই মৃত্যুদণ্ডটাও যে কত ভয়ঙ্কর ভাবে কার্যকর করা যায় তারই যেন একটা উদাহরণ জনসমক্ষে শিরশ্ছেদ। বুঝলাম আইনের সঠিক প্রয়োগ করা উচিত কিন্তু এই মধ্যযুগীয় বর্বরতা কি এই যুগে ত্যাগ করা যায় না?

Almost every nation in the world exercises capital punishment. Our country also belongs to the group. But how brutallly the execution of punishment can be is evident from this type of public beheading. I understand that the law must be properly implemented, but can't we refrain from this kind of beastliness from the middle ages?

Mosaddik Uzzal questions [bn]:

ফাঁসি রহিত করা হোক এমন আইন আমরা চাইনা। কেননা এই মৃত্যু দণ্ড ব্যবস্থা না থাকলে সমাজে অপরাধের সংখ্যা বেড়ে যাবে। তাই বলে ১ জন কে হত্যার জন্য ৮ জন কেন জীবন দিল? এই কেমন আইন?

We are not against capital punishment, because this may increase the rate of crime in the community. But why eight people had to die for one person's death? What kind of law is this?

Niaz Murshed Chowdhury [bn] has some points to ponder:

এ দৃশ্য সৌদি আরবে এতটাই হরহামেশা ঘটে থাকে যে এটা তাদের কাছে কোন প্রতিক্রিয়া সৃষ্টি করে না। বরং সৌদি নীতি নির্ধারকরা যুক্তি দেখায় এভাবে প্রকাশ্যে শিরশ্ছেদ তথা “আল্লাহর আইন” বাস্তবায়ন মানুষকে সাবধানী করে। এটা সমাজে অপরাধ প্রবণতা কমায়। এই একই যুক্তি গত চব্বিশ ঘণ্টায় ইন্টারনেটে দেয়া মতামতের কল্যাণে বহু মানুষের কাছ থেকে জানতে পারলাম। অনেকেই এটাকে বর্বরতা নয় বরং সমাজ থেকে অপরাধ কমানোর কার্যকরী একটা উপায় বলে মনে করেন। সব কথাই শুনলাম, সব কথাই বুঝলাম। কিন্তু এটা বুঝলাম না, ১৪শ বছর আগে করা এই “আল্লাহর আইন” কেন এখনও সৌদি সমাজ থেকে হত্যার মত অপরাধ বিলুপ্ত করতে পারলো না? কেন ২০০৭ সনে ১৫৮ জন এবং ২০০৮ সনে ১০৮ জনকে শিরশ্ছেদ করতে হলো? ১৪শ বছর কি “আল্লাহর আইন”-এর জন্যে যথেষ্ট ছিল না সমাজ থেকে এ ধরনের অপরাধ বিলুপ্ত করতে?

These (horrific) scenes are so ubiquitous in Saudi Arabia that they do not create any reactions among the Saudis. Rather the policy makers vouch for this punishment saying that implementing “God's Law” warns people, makes them careful. It reduces crime in the society. I have read the same kind of logic in many internet postings. Many believe that this is not barbarism, rather an effective tool to reduce crime in the society. I have read and understood all this, but could not fathom why the “Gods Law” initiated 1,400 years ago could not eradicate capital crimes like killing from the Saudi communities? Why they had to behead 158 persons in 2007 and 108 people in 2008? Was not 1400 years enough for the “Gods Law” to eradicate these kinds of crimes?

According to news reports [bn] the Bangladesh government had tried through diplomatic channel since 2007 to seek pardon for the eight Bangladeshis. Even the president of Bangladesh wrote a letter to the Saudi King asking for forgiveness. The Saudi foreign office replied that only the victim's family can forgive the perpetrators. The Bangladesh government did seek forgiveness from the victim's family in Egypt but they refused.

Swadesh Roy writes in the Times Of Assam:

The persons who were beheaded, their trial were basically far from international standard. All proceedings were in Arabic. Accused persons could not understand it. The court did not arrange any system to help the accused understand it. Besides, most defendants had no defense lawyer. Eventually, for the language barrier and lack of any help from the lawyer, they could not defend themselves. So, it is not a trial of any international standard, it is actually a mock trial.

Niaz mentions that confession through tortures and framed cases are regular affairs in such mock trials. He also quotes from the Amnesty report:

The Egyptian man was killed during a clash between the Bangladeshi workers and a group of men who allegedly were stealing electric cable from a building complex where the Bangladeshis worked.

He asks why the media is ignoring these “group of men” and why they had been absent in the trial process?

And of course there are some people who are more equal than others. Niaz mentions the hypocrisy existing in the Saudi Law presenting the case of William Sampson, who survived such capital punishment because he was a British national. Sampson wrote in the Guardian:

Finally released in August 2003, after 964 days of solitary confinement, torture and dehumanising terror, I harbour no illusions about what saved me: my passport. …Meanwhile, of course, Saudi's poor migrant workers from Somalia, Bangladesh, the Philippines or Pakistan are virtually doomed if they face a capital charge.

Manob O Manobota [bn] has this to say to the King of Saudi Arabia:

আপনি কি জানেন, এ অভিযুক্তরা সবাই তাদের মনের কথা আপনার বিচারকদের কাছে জানাতে পেরেছিল নাকি রায়টি একতরফা হয়েছিল?

Do you know whether these convicted did have the liberty and means to tell the truth to your judges or the verdict was made without due process?

Pushpita [bn] questions the Bangladeshi government:

কিছু কি করা যেতোনা. এই অসহায় শ্রমিকদের জন্য? কারো কি কোন দায়িত্ব ছিলনা?

Couldn't anything be done for them? Did not anybody have any responsibility?

It may be noted here that Indonesia has banned the sending of maids to Saudi Arabia after a migrant worker from West Java was beheaded in that country for killing her employer, who abused her.

Unheard Voice points out that there are many more Bangladeshis waiting to be beheaded:

These men didn’t have any power, money, influence. They hold green colored passports that have very little international leverage and they work and live under conditions just above slaves. When they die, they are easily replaced and forgotten. 16 more are waiting in line to take the 8’s place.

Rubana Haque is in grief seeing the silence of the world:

Strangely, the world seems unsure and divided on the concept of peace. On one hand, three outstanding women have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their contribution to the non-violent movement in their countries: Liberia and Yemen, and on the other hand, eight of us have just been beheaded in the most violent manner in Saudi Arabia.

While Saudi Arabia seeks to secure justice through capital punishment in its soil, the Nobel committee has commended these three women for strategically voicing out their protest. Point is, when will the world wake up to shun the violent governments and when shall we all stand united on the idea of peace, the chimera of our modern times?