Bangladesh heading for 'silent famine', say experts
Source: Indian Muslims
By IANS
Dhaka : Hit thrice by disaster this year, Bangladesh could be heading for a "silent famine", economists and politicians have said, echoing the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) assessment that this is the "worst year" for the country since it became free in 1971.
Cyclone Sidr, which hit the country on Nov 15, could have a cumulative effect after two rounds of floods, taking a severe toll on crops, and threatening agriculture and income-generating activities, experts interviewed by the New Age daily said.
Those who stopped short of predicting a famine, also draw a grim picture of the economy of this disaster-prone nation that depends heavily on foreign aid.
"A silent famine is just round the corner. It's a big challenge to import food and a bigger challenge to empower the affected people with purchasing capacity after giving food aid," economist Mahbub Ullah told the New Age newspaper.
ADB's country director Hua Du Monday termed the country's situation "the most critical one after independence in 1971".
Ruling out the possibility of a famine, however, she said that there should be a huge stress on food security.
"I have studied Bangladesh for several decades since its independence, but I have never sensed such difficulties as the country is going to face this year," she said.
Endorsing Hua's suggestion that the farmers be provided inputs to enable them to recoup the losses caused by the cyclone and floods, Bangladeshi experts said these must include housing material.
Politicians warned that there might be a severe food crisis in the country, particularly in the Sidr-affected southern part, unless an adequate quantity of food grain was immediately imported and distributed.
Matia Chowdhury, a former agriculture and food minister and Awami League leader, said a food crisis could not be averted if the government failed to import food grain as per the demand through both public and private initiatives.
"Surely there will be a food crisis although I do not want to use the word famine. The development partners (foreign donors) should not do their job just by making comments. They should extend their helping hands as well," she said.
Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a joint secretary-general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said: "A food crisis is imminent because there is shortage of fertilisers and other inputs after the damage caused by the calamities."
He accused the government of having "double standards" as politicians were being barred from taking part in the relief activities. This might lead to failure to give the people a sense of direction in coping with the calamity.
Rashed Khan Menon, president of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, agreed with Hua's observations on the state of the economy. He said: "We too believe that the country is facing a dangerous situation."
The Communist Party of Bangladesh's general secretary, Mujahidul Islam Selim, accused the ADB and other lending agencies of "damaging the economy and causing the current stagflation".
"It is true that the country is suffering from a severe crisis but Hua Du did not mention that they (international lenders) were also responsible for the economic situation," Selim said.
Selim blamed part of the crisis on the "wrong policies of the World Bank and IMF."
Friday, November 30, 2007
From Bangladesh to California: the digital gap widens?
Opinion: from Bangladesh to California: the digital gap widens?
Source: The Editors Webblog
November 29, 2007
Media coverage of cyclone Sidr, which devastated Bangladesh, left hundreds of thousands homeless and killed at least 3,100, has been extensive, as is now the tradition in cases of major natural catastrophes. However, in comparison to coverage of the recent Californian wildfires, one can also wonder whether the differences in coverage of these two events can be representative of the digital gap widening.
In addition to the official death count, the Guardian reported that about 1,700 people are missing and over 28,000 were injured by the storm. According to the Disaster Management Ministry, 458,000 houses have been destroyed and another 665,000 have been partially damaged.
Statistically, the death and damage toll of Sidr far outweighs the – also tragic – destruction caused by the Californian wildfires.
Yet arguably, the news ‘lifespan’ of the Bangladesh disaster has been relatively short for many broadcasters and news networks in Europe and Northern America.
During the Californian wildfires, most US news outlets promptly established and developed techy features and hyperlocal tools to service the population. The Los Angeles Times even chose to cover the fires in blog-like fashion, posting short briefs on its homepage, even a few notes, to keep people up to date. News sites all over produced interactive maps that depicted the evolution of the situation and such. Slideshows, video, multimedia coverage were the norm.
But in the case of the cyclone in Bangladesh, it seems ‘western’ media coverage got little more than some sensational footage initially, and most of the subsequent coverage skimmed the surface. There were little efforts to depict the situation with the same precision, timeliness, and tech-savvy features that were used for the California wildfires.
This can be explained by two things, among other reasons (apart from issues about the editing and prioritization of news):
- the audience that would most benefit from that type of specific information, mostly in Bangladesh, might not have access to these digital outlets.
- The media teams, whether local or international, might not have the equipment and resources needed to produce that information.
Both reasons would point to the widening of the digital gap between a country like the US and one like Bangladesh.
However, ‘new media’ forms have also grown roots in Bangladesh. It is bloggers who made some of the strongest calls both to the international community and local inhabitants to help and collaborate.
The blogging platform Somewherein launched an SMS-based campaign to enable Bangladeshis to donate money: for every SMS sent (which costs 2 BDT), Somewherein and its fellow sponsors will add an amount to the donation, based on the number of sponsors, which will go to the Save the Children Cyclone Relief fund.
Yet it will take more than bloggers to promote relief in the country. If traditional media don’t – or can’t – put up the type of precise, incisive, and simply informative coverage they did for the wildfires, then public opinion will remain relatively unmoved.
If you have more information or insight about this issue, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment.
Source: Guardian – Media Channel
Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on November 29, 2007 at 01:32 PM
Source: The Editors Webblog
November 29, 2007
Media coverage of cyclone Sidr, which devastated Bangladesh, left hundreds of thousands homeless and killed at least 3,100, has been extensive, as is now the tradition in cases of major natural catastrophes. However, in comparison to coverage of the recent Californian wildfires, one can also wonder whether the differences in coverage of these two events can be representative of the digital gap widening.
In addition to the official death count, the Guardian reported that about 1,700 people are missing and over 28,000 were injured by the storm. According to the Disaster Management Ministry, 458,000 houses have been destroyed and another 665,000 have been partially damaged.
Statistically, the death and damage toll of Sidr far outweighs the – also tragic – destruction caused by the Californian wildfires.
Yet arguably, the news ‘lifespan’ of the Bangladesh disaster has been relatively short for many broadcasters and news networks in Europe and Northern America.
During the Californian wildfires, most US news outlets promptly established and developed techy features and hyperlocal tools to service the population. The Los Angeles Times even chose to cover the fires in blog-like fashion, posting short briefs on its homepage, even a few notes, to keep people up to date. News sites all over produced interactive maps that depicted the evolution of the situation and such. Slideshows, video, multimedia coverage were the norm.
But in the case of the cyclone in Bangladesh, it seems ‘western’ media coverage got little more than some sensational footage initially, and most of the subsequent coverage skimmed the surface. There were little efforts to depict the situation with the same precision, timeliness, and tech-savvy features that were used for the California wildfires.
This can be explained by two things, among other reasons (apart from issues about the editing and prioritization of news):
- the audience that would most benefit from that type of specific information, mostly in Bangladesh, might not have access to these digital outlets.
- The media teams, whether local or international, might not have the equipment and resources needed to produce that information.
Both reasons would point to the widening of the digital gap between a country like the US and one like Bangladesh.
However, ‘new media’ forms have also grown roots in Bangladesh. It is bloggers who made some of the strongest calls both to the international community and local inhabitants to help and collaborate.
The blogging platform Somewherein launched an SMS-based campaign to enable Bangladeshis to donate money: for every SMS sent (which costs 2 BDT), Somewherein and its fellow sponsors will add an amount to the donation, based on the number of sponsors, which will go to the Save the Children Cyclone Relief fund.
Yet it will take more than bloggers to promote relief in the country. If traditional media don’t – or can’t – put up the type of precise, incisive, and simply informative coverage they did for the wildfires, then public opinion will remain relatively unmoved.
If you have more information or insight about this issue, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment.
Source: Guardian – Media Channel
Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on November 29, 2007 at 01:32 PM
Madam Bovary and the secret kite
দ্য ডেইলী ব্ল্যাক বেইরী প্রকাশের পর অনেকের কাছ থেকে পাওয়া অনুপ্রেরণা আমাকে আরও একটি ইংরেজী গল্প লিখার সাহস যুগিয়েছে। গল্পটি লেখার পর আমার সুহৃদ বন্ধুদের জন্য তুলে দিলাম এখানে।
আপনাদের মূল্যবান মন্তব্য আমার পাথেয়।
আপনাদের মূল্যবান মন্তব্য আমার পাথেয়।
- মাসকাওয়াথ আহসান,
Madam Bovary and the secret kite
This time Madam Bovary tried hard to be blindly monogamic and persistent in her holy persuade. Really, it doesn't matter how many times she fell in love at first sight, had a crush at a nexalite, felteuphoric around handsome university professors, sat through pot-wine romance with her British boss or finally played a hitchhiking game with Arjuna.Madam Bovary, being the intense person that she is, has had a long list of admirers. And so was her enormously long hobby: kiting through colourful days and nights.
I never question her romantic ardours and nose-top sinking myths. She is always blue without a man: a man she wants to love or be loved by, to admire or be admired by.
When I saw Madam Bovary at the Bonn railway station in a khajura posture with a Casanova by her side, I instantly felt they were made for each other. With glittering eyes and courtship dreams when they suddenly left Yadav Ji's daughter's wedding reception I prayedheartily for their all-out happiness on earth.But this Madam Bovary is actually as confused as that Madam Bovary;constantly taking off and putting on her wedding ring that reminds her of her pundit husband. It's not a theory but although pundits can attract girls, they can hardly sustain their charms. Perhaps pundits can't flirt or feel comfortable in discos. The Madam Bovarys of this world can only visit Guimet museums with them and share the essence of the Frankfurt school of thought or at best go biking and swimming.
What this Madam Bovary needed is perhaps an all-in-one like the Arjunaof Mahabharata. Arjuna, by nature a James Bond of mythical times, canhit the eye of a fish with his arrow without failing to win the paragon of beauty, Droupadi. James Bond's attraction lies in not holding his trophy for long but distributing it amongst his in-group.More like Ocean's Eleven co-operative robbery style. Arjuna shares the glory of Droupadi with his four brothers, Nakul, Sahadev, Vim and Judhisthir. So the Droupadi-Bovary story has a lovable Nakul, cute Sahadev, trustworthy Judhisthir and the unfaithful Arjuna.
Arjuna is practically a capitalist, so theoretically a womanizer. I often saw Nakul drive her to Amsterdam for grass, Sahadev shed emotional tears in sympathy and give laptop warmth. But it's Vim who could be the best husband to this soft, charming, love-torn Droupadi Bovary. Judhisthir as all know could only be expected to give fatherlyaffection. For Madam Bovary the sole worth-achieving target left was Arjuna.
Let's add allusions and a little complication to the story. There's a huge debate over Ram Mandir and Babri Mosque catastrophe. Now hadthere been an Arjuna Mandir and a Babri Mosque one after the other, chaos would not have stood a chance. The Arjuna of our story is full of Mughal chivalry that desires subjugation of his Bibi behind layered curtains. Bibi placed on a regal pedestal curtained off fromchilman-style mujra. Madam Droupadi could not take this chauvinistic hegemony, and took upon herself the task of toppling Arjuna's arrogantchariot: Begum Sahiba should be informed of his mischieves. Life could not go on all tipsy topsy. Madam Bovary, lying on Nakul's voluntary lap looked at the full moon, mindlessly haunted by the zeal of lycanthropic revenge She called up to consult Lahory Kurratul Bai, who had been recently elevated to Begum Kurra Baerth by a fishing German lovebird. Kurra Bai was quite familiar with the conservative Muslim Bibi types and their possessiveness of their mujra-seeking husbands. Upon Kurra Bai'ssuggestion Madam Bovary invited her British boss Lucifera for a palace conspiracy over pot-wine moonlit dinner.Droupadi Bovary spent the night onvincing Lucifera and herself of Arjuna's untold heartless escapades. "Honey, why are you wasting time. Get in touch with Arjuna's tyrant princess and tell her about his black activities."
Nakul used to be the pigeon-carrier of Arjuna's love letters, secretly maintaining a log book throughout. And yes, Madam Bovary had been flying kites for 32 years. She didn't mind cutting off a few strings at a whim. But one kite she preserved till the last."I can show my last kite to the angry princess anytime and bring Tsunami into Arjuna's island of faith."Madam Bovary, instead of following the elegant Mahabharata theme, opted for Star Plus-style soap climax. One thing she had not bargained for was the princess' cool demeanor.
"I let my prince fly from time to time, so that I can keep his soul with me. It may sound old-fashioned but if truth be told, a soul can never be polygamic."Faced with this unexpectedness, Droupadi recovered her elegance. Soap endings are really not her style. At once she went back to the intense canvas of Mahabharata. God bless you, Madam.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Bangladesh Faces Political Storm
After Cyclone, Bangladesh Faces Political Storm
Source: The New York Times
By SOMINI SENGUPTA
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Nov. 24 — The political storm that preceded nature’s latest assault on this country still swirls overhead.
Nearly a year into an army-backed state of emergency, basic freedoms remain suspended, a sweeping anticorruption drive has stuffed the jails with some of Bangladesh’s most influential business leaders and politicians, and a fragile economy is tottering under the pressure of floods at home and rising oil prices abroad.
The soaring cost of food is potentially the most explosive challenge facing the military-backed government that has run this country since Jan. 11, when, after debilitating political protests, scheduled elections were scrapped and emergency law was imposed. Climbing inflation was compounded by an unusually harsh monsoon, which destroyed food crops along the flood plains in July.
Then, the Nov. 15 cyclone destroyed acres of rice paddy, ruined the shrimp farms that dot the southern coast, and, according to the World Food Program, left roughly 2.3 million people in need of urgent food aid.
Storm relief is now the government’s most pressing test, including averting famine and disease outbreaks, and ensuring that aid distribution is perceived to be fair and without corruption. The government estimates that six million people were affected by the storm.
“This is going to be the real defining challenge for them,” Rehman Sobhan, the chairman of the Center for Policy Dialogue, an independent research group based in Dhaka, said of the administration. “A huge effort is going to be required.”
Bangladesh is among the world’s poorest nations, with a Muslim-majority population of more than 140 million and nearly half of its youngest children suffering from malnutrition. Polls indicate that even before the cyclone, confidence in the caretaker government was declining.
The way the ordinary Bangladeshi is being pinched every day was on stark display the other day in a working-class quarter of Dhaka called Begunbari, a crowded warren of tenements amid the roar of factories that supply cheap clothes for sale abroad, including in the United States.
Abdul Aziz, 63, a security guard who was buying vegetables at the local market, quietly confessed that even with three grown daughters working in the garment industry, his family was finding it harder to put enough food on the table. On this afternoon, he bought half as many winter beans as he had hoped to and one small head of cauliflower instead of two. Those purchases, along with the staple rice and lentils, would have to feed his family of seven. “We will make do,” he said. “Everyone will have a little bit.”
A tailor who serves the neighborhood said his business had plummeted from about 50 orders a day to barely a couple. Few can afford new clothes when the basics — onions, oil, cauliflower — have become so much costlier.
Firoza Begum, the wife of a civil servant, said the government had failed to curb food prices, even as she gave it credit for cracking down on graft.
“They have caught some corrupt people — we can see that,” she said. “But we also want them to reduce prices of our daily needs, so we can somehow manage our households.”
She said that she had all but given up buying milk and meat for her family because they were too expensive.
In her neighborhood, Election Commission workers were going door to door this afternoon taking names and addresses so they could compile a fresh list of those eligible to vote. Fakhruddin Ahmed, the civilian leader of the country’s military-backed caretaker administration, has promised national elections by the end of 2008.
But exactly how soon elections will take place and under what circumstances, remain mysteries, considering that several major politicians are in jail or in exile. The leaders of the two top political parties, Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and Sheik Hasina Wazed of the Awami League, are in custody on various graft and extortion charges. Whether they will be allowed to take part in the election is anyone’s guess.
Under emergency rule, the press is prohibited from publishing anything deemed “provocative” and political activity is banned, including demonstrations. Holding a political meeting outdoors is punishable by up to five years in prison.
The restrictions were loosened slightly in September when indoor political meetings were allowed to resume, but only with permission from the police and with no more than 50 people in attendance.
According to a monthly public perception survey by a consortium of civil society organizations called the Election Working Group, the share of Bangladeshis who expressed high confidence in the caretaker government fell between March and September, while the share of those who had low confidence sharply increased. This was true of respondents from “ordinary” and “elite” socioeconomic groups.
In the latest survey, conducted in face-to-face interviews in late September, the rising price of essential commodities was identified as the biggest concern, and even as the government got good marks for cracking down on corruption, respondents were divided about whether the government had any bearing on their daily lives: 42 percent of them said they were “better off” but about the same percentage said they were “worse off or that there has been no change in their personal situation.”
The government’s anticorruption crusade continues to be seen as a turning point for Bangladesh, which has consistently ranked at the bottom of the annual Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.
Bank accounts have been frozen. Luxury cars have been impounded by the state, or hidden indoors by their owners for fear they will be taken. Nearly 100 prominent politicians and business people have been taken in for questioning, and an unknown number of people have been detained without charge, which is legal under the new emergency laws. A little more than a dozen have been convicted by anticorruption courts, and how quickly, or fairly, the other cases will be tried is unclear.
If entrenched corruption was seen as damaging the economy, the crackdown has also sent shocks through the private sector. The government appears to be retreating from its initial wide sweep and has in recent months, released some detainees.
“Informally, the government wants some sort of reassurance for the business community that they will be allowed to function,” said Akbar Ali Khan, a retired senior government official. He declined to grade the government’s overall performance (criticizing the government is now a punishable offense) except to say that it was vital for the government to prepare for elections and restore business leaders’ confidence in the country.
“The economic problems are very serious and acute,” he said. “These will have to be addressed with more vigor.”
Abdul Awal Mintoo, the chairman and chief executive of Multimode Group, was among the most prominent millionaires taken into custody in May on a vague charge of destabilizing the government, then released six months later. Mr. Mintoo said that while he was in custody he was interrogated less about his own assets than about what evidence he could furnish against Ms. Hasina, the Awami League leader and a former prime minister with whom Mr. Mintoo was friendly.
A naturalized United States citizen, Mr. Mintoo returned to his native Bangladesh 27 years ago and established a number of businesses, from dealing in agricultural seeds to real estate. He estimates his assets in Bangladesh to be $30 million.
Mr. Mintoo, 58, insists that he did not bribe anyone in government in exchange for contracts. But he concedes that he did what he says everyone else has long had to do in this country: grease the wheels of politics and government to get basic things done, including installing a telephone line and getting imported machine parts out of customs. If that were the grounds for his arrest, he said, then “50 million people, every adult male” should be arrested.
“It’s aimless what they’re doing,” he said of the government in an interview, and added that he planned to divest himself of his investments in the country slowly. “I’m not sure how this will end up. I don’t want to take a risk and live in uncertainty.”
“If you take blood out of the arteries,” he added, “it just paralyzes.”
The only charge remaining pending against Mr. Mintoo accuses him of extorting about $700 from a private citizen. Mr. Mintoo laughed at the charge, saying it was too paltry a sum for him to demand of anyone.
Source: The New York Times
By SOMINI SENGUPTA
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Nov. 24 — The political storm that preceded nature’s latest assault on this country still swirls overhead.
Nearly a year into an army-backed state of emergency, basic freedoms remain suspended, a sweeping anticorruption drive has stuffed the jails with some of Bangladesh’s most influential business leaders and politicians, and a fragile economy is tottering under the pressure of floods at home and rising oil prices abroad.
The soaring cost of food is potentially the most explosive challenge facing the military-backed government that has run this country since Jan. 11, when, after debilitating political protests, scheduled elections were scrapped and emergency law was imposed. Climbing inflation was compounded by an unusually harsh monsoon, which destroyed food crops along the flood plains in July.
Then, the Nov. 15 cyclone destroyed acres of rice paddy, ruined the shrimp farms that dot the southern coast, and, according to the World Food Program, left roughly 2.3 million people in need of urgent food aid.
Storm relief is now the government’s most pressing test, including averting famine and disease outbreaks, and ensuring that aid distribution is perceived to be fair and without corruption. The government estimates that six million people were affected by the storm.
“This is going to be the real defining challenge for them,” Rehman Sobhan, the chairman of the Center for Policy Dialogue, an independent research group based in Dhaka, said of the administration. “A huge effort is going to be required.”
Bangladesh is among the world’s poorest nations, with a Muslim-majority population of more than 140 million and nearly half of its youngest children suffering from malnutrition. Polls indicate that even before the cyclone, confidence in the caretaker government was declining.
The way the ordinary Bangladeshi is being pinched every day was on stark display the other day in a working-class quarter of Dhaka called Begunbari, a crowded warren of tenements amid the roar of factories that supply cheap clothes for sale abroad, including in the United States.
Abdul Aziz, 63, a security guard who was buying vegetables at the local market, quietly confessed that even with three grown daughters working in the garment industry, his family was finding it harder to put enough food on the table. On this afternoon, he bought half as many winter beans as he had hoped to and one small head of cauliflower instead of two. Those purchases, along with the staple rice and lentils, would have to feed his family of seven. “We will make do,” he said. “Everyone will have a little bit.”
A tailor who serves the neighborhood said his business had plummeted from about 50 orders a day to barely a couple. Few can afford new clothes when the basics — onions, oil, cauliflower — have become so much costlier.
Firoza Begum, the wife of a civil servant, said the government had failed to curb food prices, even as she gave it credit for cracking down on graft.
“They have caught some corrupt people — we can see that,” she said. “But we also want them to reduce prices of our daily needs, so we can somehow manage our households.”
She said that she had all but given up buying milk and meat for her family because they were too expensive.
In her neighborhood, Election Commission workers were going door to door this afternoon taking names and addresses so they could compile a fresh list of those eligible to vote. Fakhruddin Ahmed, the civilian leader of the country’s military-backed caretaker administration, has promised national elections by the end of 2008.
But exactly how soon elections will take place and under what circumstances, remain mysteries, considering that several major politicians are in jail or in exile. The leaders of the two top political parties, Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and Sheik Hasina Wazed of the Awami League, are in custody on various graft and extortion charges. Whether they will be allowed to take part in the election is anyone’s guess.
Under emergency rule, the press is prohibited from publishing anything deemed “provocative” and political activity is banned, including demonstrations. Holding a political meeting outdoors is punishable by up to five years in prison.
The restrictions were loosened slightly in September when indoor political meetings were allowed to resume, but only with permission from the police and with no more than 50 people in attendance.
According to a monthly public perception survey by a consortium of civil society organizations called the Election Working Group, the share of Bangladeshis who expressed high confidence in the caretaker government fell between March and September, while the share of those who had low confidence sharply increased. This was true of respondents from “ordinary” and “elite” socioeconomic groups.
In the latest survey, conducted in face-to-face interviews in late September, the rising price of essential commodities was identified as the biggest concern, and even as the government got good marks for cracking down on corruption, respondents were divided about whether the government had any bearing on their daily lives: 42 percent of them said they were “better off” but about the same percentage said they were “worse off or that there has been no change in their personal situation.”
The government’s anticorruption crusade continues to be seen as a turning point for Bangladesh, which has consistently ranked at the bottom of the annual Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.
Bank accounts have been frozen. Luxury cars have been impounded by the state, or hidden indoors by their owners for fear they will be taken. Nearly 100 prominent politicians and business people have been taken in for questioning, and an unknown number of people have been detained without charge, which is legal under the new emergency laws. A little more than a dozen have been convicted by anticorruption courts, and how quickly, or fairly, the other cases will be tried is unclear.
If entrenched corruption was seen as damaging the economy, the crackdown has also sent shocks through the private sector. The government appears to be retreating from its initial wide sweep and has in recent months, released some detainees.
“Informally, the government wants some sort of reassurance for the business community that they will be allowed to function,” said Akbar Ali Khan, a retired senior government official. He declined to grade the government’s overall performance (criticizing the government is now a punishable offense) except to say that it was vital for the government to prepare for elections and restore business leaders’ confidence in the country.
“The economic problems are very serious and acute,” he said. “These will have to be addressed with more vigor.”
Abdul Awal Mintoo, the chairman and chief executive of Multimode Group, was among the most prominent millionaires taken into custody in May on a vague charge of destabilizing the government, then released six months later. Mr. Mintoo said that while he was in custody he was interrogated less about his own assets than about what evidence he could furnish against Ms. Hasina, the Awami League leader and a former prime minister with whom Mr. Mintoo was friendly.
A naturalized United States citizen, Mr. Mintoo returned to his native Bangladesh 27 years ago and established a number of businesses, from dealing in agricultural seeds to real estate. He estimates his assets in Bangladesh to be $30 million.
Mr. Mintoo, 58, insists that he did not bribe anyone in government in exchange for contracts. But he concedes that he did what he says everyone else has long had to do in this country: grease the wheels of politics and government to get basic things done, including installing a telephone line and getting imported machine parts out of customs. If that were the grounds for his arrest, he said, then “50 million people, every adult male” should be arrested.
“It’s aimless what they’re doing,” he said of the government in an interview, and added that he planned to divest himself of his investments in the country slowly. “I’m not sure how this will end up. I don’t want to take a risk and live in uncertainty.”
“If you take blood out of the arteries,” he added, “it just paralyzes.”
The only charge remaining pending against Mr. Mintoo accuses him of extorting about $700 from a private citizen. Mr. Mintoo laughed at the charge, saying it was too paltry a sum for him to demand of anyone.
পাকিস্তানই এখন পাকিস্তানের বৈরীপক্ষ
পাকিস্তানই এখন পাকিস্তানের বৈরীপক্ষ
অনিরুদ্ধ আহমেদ
এক
পাকিস্তানকে একটি ব্যর্থ রাষ্ট্র হিসেবে অভিহিত করলে বোধ হয় ভুল বলা হবে না। টেলিভিশনের মিনি পর্দায় দেশটির সামরিক রাষ্ট্রপতি জেনারেল পারভেজ মুশাররফের হতাশ চেহারা দেখেই মনে হচ্ছিল, পাকিস্তান এক দারুণ দুর্দিন অতিক্রম করছে । তিনি যে হতাশা প্রকাশ করেছেন , জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণার পর তাঁর ভাষণে, সেটি যে কোন দেশের ক্ষমতাসীন রাষ্ট্রপতির জন্যে লজ্জার বিষয়। কিন্তু বাস্তবতা কেবল স্বপ্ন নয়, বলা যায় দুঃস্বপ্নের চেয়ে ও কঠিন বিষয়। এই বাস্তবতা উপলব্ধির জন্যে সেখানে জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণার কারণে গণতন্ত্র খর্ব হয়েছে বলে যাঁরা সোচ্চার হয়েছেন কিংবা অনুচ্চারিত প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছেন, তাঁদের সর্ব প্রথম সেই ভ্রান্ত আদর্শ থেকে বেরিয়ে আসতে হবে, যেখানে ধর্ম ও রাজনীতির মধ্যে একটা সমীকরণ সাধন করা হয়েছে এবং একটিকে অপরের পরিপূরক হিসেবে দেখা হয়েছে। পাকিস্তানের প্রায়োগিক সমস্যার অন্তরালে রয়েছে একটি তাত্বিক সমস্যা। রাষ্ট্রটির সংজ্ঞা নির্ধারণে সজ্ঞানে যে ভ্রান্তির আশ্রয় নিয়েছিলেন পাক প্রতিষ্ঠাতা মোহাম্মদ আলী জিন্না, তারই প্রতিক্রিয়ায় পাকিস্তানের রাষ্ট্রিক অস্তিত্ব ক্ষুন্ন হয়েছে বার বার। অবশ্য পরবর্তী ঐতিহাসিকরা এটি প্রমাণ করেছেন যে জিন্না নিজেই ইসলামি শাসন ব্যবস্থায় বিশ্বাস করতেন না এবং তাঁর সাম্প্রদায়িক ভেদবুদ্ধিটুকু তিনি কাজে লাগিয়েছিলেন তাঁর রাজনৈতিক স্বার্থের কারণে । পরম পরিহাসের কথা এই যে গণতন্ত্রের চেয়ে পাকিস্তান রাষ্ট্রটির অস্তিত্ব রাই যে বড় কথা সে কথা স্বীকার করেছেন পাকিস্তানের সাবেক প্রধানমন্ত্রী নেওয়াজ শরীফ ও। বিলম্বে হলেও শরীফের এই উপলব্ধি বাস্তবসম্মত। তবে নেওয়াজ শরীফ সম্ভবত ভুলে গেছেন যে বিপুল সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠ ভোটে নির্বাচিত এই ব্যক্তি ও তাঁর দল ক্ষমতাচ্যুত হবার আগে, দেশের সর্বোচ্চ আদালতে আক্রমণ চালিয়েছিলেন তাঁর রাজনৈতিক সাঙ্গপাঙ্গদের নিয়ে । এবার ও সামরিক বাহিনীর সমর্থনপুষ্ট জেনারেল মুশাররফ আদালতের টুটি চেপে ধরলেন সম্ভবত এই আশঙ্কায় যে ঊর্দি পরা অবস্থায় তাঁর নির্বাচন শেষ পর্যন্ত আদালত অবৈধ ঘোষণা করবে।
দূর্ভাগ্যের কথা এই যে পাকিস্তানে আদালতের রায় যখনই ক্ষমতাসীনদের বিরুদ্ধে গেছে কিংবা যাবার সম্ভাবনা হয়েছে তখনই আদালত ও বিচারক সেখানে আক্রান্ত হয়েছেন, আইনকে তাঁর নিজস্ব গতিতে চলতে দেওয়া হয়নি। এবারের জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণা যাকে বেনজির প্রথমে সামরিক শাসন জারি এবং পরে মুশাররফের "দ্বিতীয় অভূত্থান" বলে অভিহিত করেছেন তার একটি প্রধান টার্গেট হচ্ছে এই আইনের শাসনকে বৃদ্ধাঙ্গুলি প্রদর্শন করা। পাকিস্তানে বহুবার জরুরী অবস্থা আরোপ করা হয়েছে, সেই ১৯৫৮ সালে ইস্কান্দার মির্জার সময় থেকে কিন্তু কখনই সেখানকার বিচার ব্যবস্থা ও বিচারকদের এ রকম অবমাননা করা হয়নি যেমনটি এবার করা হলো। পাকিস্তনে আইনের শাসনের প্রতি প্রশাসকদের এই অনীহা এমন এক সময়ে প্রদর্শিত হলো, যখন স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশে প্রশাসনিক বিভাগ থেকে বিচার বিভাগের স্বাধীনতা অর্জনের মতো একটি ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনা ঘটে গেল এবং তা ও জরুরী অবস্থার আওতার মধ্যেই। বাঙালিরা এ ব্যাপারে সহজেই গর্বিত বোধ করতে পারেন যে ১৯৭১ সালের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের মাধ্যমে, আমাদের জনগোষ্ঠির মধ্যে এমন এক সচেতনতা সৃষ্টি হয়েছে যা নানান প্রতিকুলতার মধ্যেও আমাদের গণতান্ত্রিক দাবী থেকে বিচ্যূত করতে পারেনি। আর বাংলাদেশে বিচার বিভাগের যে স্বাধীনতা এসছে তা মূলত এই গণতান্ত্রিক চেতনার কারণেই।
দুই
পাকিস্তানে এই গণতান্ত্রিক মূল্যবোধের অভাব আমরা লক্ষ্য করেছি একেবারে গোড়া থেকে। দেশটির প্রতিষ্ঠাতা, যাঁর উল্টো দিকে দৌঁড়ানোর ঘটনাকে দীর্ঘ দিন আমাদের ছোট বেলায় জিন্নার বুদ্ধিমত্তার পরিচয় হিসেবে পাঠ্যপুস্তকে পড়ানো হয়েছিল, তিনি যে বাস্তবেও গোটা দেশকে উল্টো দিকে নিয়ে যাচ্ছিলেন সে কথা বোঝা গিয়েছিল সেই ১৯৪৭-৪৮ এ ও। যদি ও ভারত বিভাজনের জন্যে জিন্নার মতো নেহরু ও দায়ী এবং তদানীন্তন ভারতে হিন্দু সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠতার অহম বোধ এর সঙ্গে মুসলিম সংখ্যালঘিষ্ঠতার হীনমন্যতা বোধ একত্রিত হয়ে ভারতকে বিভাজন করেছিল কিন্তু একেবারে গোড়া থেকে মি জিন্না যে ভাবে পাকিস্তানে বাঙালি নেতাদের খর্ব করেছিলেন, বাংলা ভাষাকে করেছিলেন অবমূল্যায়িত এবং নিজে পাকিস্তানের প্রধানমন্ত্রীত্ব গ্রহণ না করে দেশের গভর্ণর জেনারেল পদ গ্রহণ করেছিলেন, আইন পরিষদে বাঙালিদের বক্তব্যকে সম্পুর্ণ অগ্রাহ্য করেছিলেন, তাতে জিন্না তাঁর পশ্চিমে শেখা গণতন্ত্র ও মুক্তির মনোভাবকে প্রকারান্তরে জলাঞ্জলি দিয়েছিলেন ক্ষুদ্র ব্যক্তি বা গোষ্ঠি স্বার্থে। এর পর পাকিস্তানে একের পর এক গণতন্ত্র লঙ্ঘিত হয়েছে, ১৯৭১ সাল এই লঙ্ঘনের এক চরম দৃষ্টান্ত আমরা লক্ষ্য করি যেখানে একটি জাতিসত্বাকে অবদমনের জন্যে পাকিস্তানি শাসকরা কি ধরণের নিপীড়ন চালিয়েছিল তার ইতিহাস সকলেরই জানা। কিন্তু ১৯৭১ এ‘ই থেমে যায়নি পাকিস্তানে গণতন্ত্রের বিরুদ্ধে ষড়যন্ত্র । জিয়াউল হকের মতা গ্রহণ, জুলফিকার আলী ভুট্ট্রোর ফাঁসি, বেনজির ও নেওয়াজ শরীফের দূর্নীতিগ্রস্হ কথিত গণতন্ত্র এবং বিমানের ভেতরে বসে মুশাররফের নাটকীয় অভূত্থান।
তিন
পাকিস্তানে এখন সব চেয়ে বড় সমস্যা হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে সেই উগ্রপন্থিরা যারা পাকিস্তানে তালেবানী ধরণের কট্টর শারিয়া আইনের বাস্তবায়ন চায়। যে ইসলামের দোহাই দিয়ে পাকিস্তান বার বার তার অস্তিত্ব প্রমাণের চেষ্টা করেছে, কী কাশ্মীরে, কী বাংলাদেশে, সেই ইসলামি শাসন ব্যবস্থা প্রতিষ্ঠার দাবীই এখন পাকিস্তানের জন্যে আত্মঘাতী হয়ে উঠেছে, পাকিস্তানের অস্তিত্ব এখন চ্যালেঞ্জের মুখে। যে আদর্শের বাহ্যিক ঘোষণা পাকিস্তানের জন্মের মূল কারণ সেই আদর্শের প্রায়োগিক রূপায়ন যে দেশটির মৃত্যুর কারণ ও হতে পারে সে কথা ক্রমশই পরিস্কার হয়ে উঠছে। মুশাররফ তাঁর ভাষণে আত্মঘাতী সন্ত্রাসী আক্রমণের কথা যেমন বলেছেন, তেমনি বলেছেন পাকিস্তানের নিজেরই আত্মহননের আশঙ্কার কথা। যে ফ্রাঙ্কেস্টাইনকে পাকিস্তান লালন করেছে, কখনও ভারতের বিরুদ্ধে, কখনো প্রতিবেশী আফগানিস্তানের বিরুদ্ধে, সেটি এখন এমন এক শক্তিতে পরিণত হচ্ছে যে তা গোটা পাকিস্তানকেই গিলে ফেলতে পারে। মুশাররফের জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণা কেবল মাত্র এক ধরণের প্রবঞ্চনাই বটে কারণ ইসলামি জঙ্গিদের দমন করার ব্যাপারে তাঁর কোন পদপেই সফল হয়নি তেমন একটা। আসলে সেই প্রচেষ্টার কতখানি আন্তরিক সে নিয়ে অবশ্যই প্রশ্ন আছে বিস্তর । যে উগ্রপন্থিদের শায়েস্তা করার প্রত্যয় প্রকাশ করে মুশাররফ পাকিস্তানের গণতান্ত্রিক ভবিষ্যতকে গৌন করে তুললেন সেই মৌলবাদী জঙ্গিদের বিরুদ্ধে তাঁর জরুরী অবস্থার প্রতিক্রিয়া আদৌ হয়েছে কী না সে নিয়ে সন্দেহ । বরঞ্চ জঙ্গিবাদের যুৎসই অজুহাত দিয়ে একদিকে তিনি পশ্চিমের মনোরঞ্জন করছেন, আরেকদিকে নিজের দেশের গণতান্ত্রিক শক্তিকে দূর্বলতর করে তুলছেন । আর এর ফলে পাকিস্তানে গণতন্ত্রবিরোধী উগ্র শক্তিই মাথাচাড়া দিয়ে উঠছে। সে জন্যেই ল্য করি যে মুশাররফের জরুরী অবস্থায়, যাদের বিরুদ্ধে নিপীড়ন চালানো হচ্ছে তারা কিন্তু বোমা বন্দুক বহনকারী কোন সন্ত্রাসী শক্তি নয় ; তারা সেই সুশীল সমাজের অংশ যারা যুক্তি দিয়ে শক্তিকে খর্ব করে। সে জন্যেই যখন টেলিভিশনের পর্দায় দেখি যে সাদা পোশাকধারী মুশাররফের পেটুয়াবাহিনী চ্যাঙ্গদোলা করে, আইনবিদদের নিয়ে যাচ্ছে কারা-যানের দিকে , তখন বুঝতে আর কারও বাকী থাকে না যে মুশাররফের উদ্বেগ ও উৎকন্ঠা আসলে কাদের বিরুদ্ধে ? কিন্তু জেনারেল মুশাররফ এ কথা জানেন নিশ্চয়ই যে এই সব উদার মনস্ক ব্যক্তি পাকিস্তানের শত্র“ নন, তাঁরা চান পাকিস্তান মোল্লাতন্ত্রের কবল থেকে বেরিয়ে এসে একটি আধুনিক যুক্তিবাদী সমাজের অংশ হোক। স্থায়ী ভাইরাসের মতো ভারত বিরোধীতার যে জিগির পাকিস্তানকে ভেতর থেকে দূর্বল করেছে বার বার তা থেকে পাকিস্তানের মুক্তি ঘটুক বিশ্বায়নের এই সময়টাতে। মুশাররফ নিজেও ভারতের সঙ্গে বন্ধুত্বের তত্ব কথা কপচিয়েছেন বার বার কিন্তু প্রকৃত অর্থে মনে হয় যেন তিনি ও সেই ইসলামি মৌলবাদীদের প্রতিনিধিত্ব করছেন যারা পাকিস্তানকে তালেবান রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত করার জন্যে জিহাদি মনোবৃত্তি নিয়ে প্রস্তুত হয়ে আছেন। বস্তুত মুশাররফ যে অভ্যন্তরীণ এবং বহির্দেশীয় চাপের মুখে আছেন সে কথা বলাই বাহুল্য । আল কায়দা ও তালেবান খেদানোর যে ব্রত তিনি পশ্চিমে প্রকাশ করেছেন তার পুর্ব শর্ত হিসেবে দেশে যে গণতান্ত্রিক শক্তির বিকাশের প্রয়োজন রয়েছে, তাকে তিনি আবার রুদ্ধ করছেন। গৃহস্থকে বলছেন সাবধান থাকতে, চোরকে বলছেন চুরি করতে। জেনারেল মুশাররফের এই দ্বৈত ভুমিকা তাঁর বিশ্বাসযোগ্যতাকে যেমন কমিয়ে এনেছে, তেমনি পাকিস্তান আধুনিক বিশ্বের জন্যে কতখানি বিশ্ব¯ত্ব হতে পারবে সেটা ও এখন প্রশ্নসাপে হয়ে পড়েছে। মুশাররফের আনুগত্য কি একটি গণতান্ত্রিক সমাজ গঠনের পেছনে, নাকি মতায় টিকে থাকার জন্যে জঙ্গিদের সঙ্গে আপোষ করার দিকে, সে জিজ্ঞাসা ও সকলের।
চার
পাকিস্তানের জন্যে ভাগ্যের এমনই পরিহাস যে ইসলামি প্রজাতন্ত্রের সৈন্যরা এখন প্রাণ দিচ্ছে ইসলামি আদর্শ কায়েমের জন্যে যারা জিহাদ করছে, তাদেরই হাতে। এটাকে আত্মহনন ছাড়া আর কী বা বলা যায়। কিন্তু কে সৃষ্টি করলো এই বিপুল শক্তিশালি ফ্রাঙ্কেস্টাইন। বস্তুত এর তাত্বিক সমর্থন বরার্বই ছিল পাকিস্তানে ধর্ম ভিত্তিক, ভারত বিরোধী রাজনৈতিক আদর্শের মধ্যেই কিন্তু এর প্রত্য প্রকাশ ঘটে জিয়াউল হকের আমলে মুজাহিদ সৃষ্টির মাধ্যমে যারা তদনীন্তন সোভিয়েট ইউনিয়নের কবল থেকে আফগানিস্তানকে মুক্ত করাতে এক ধরণের "জিহাদ" এ অংশ গ্রহণ করে। যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের ও প্রত্যক্ষ সমর্থন ছিল এই মুজাহিদ সৃষ্টির পেছনে, সোভিয়েট ইউনিয়নের বিরোধীতার জন্যে ঐ প্রায় শিক্ষার আলো থেকে বঞ্চিত আফগানিস্তানে ইসলামের জিগির তুলে এই মুজাহিদরা সোভিয়েট ইউনিয়নকে বিতাড়িত করতে সফল হয় বটে কিন্তু আফগানিস্তানসহ ঐ অঞ্চলের একটা স্থায়ী ঘাঁটি হয়ে যায় দ্রুত। মুজাহিদ, তালেবান ও আল ক্বায়দার সংমিশ্রণে যে শক্তিশালী ইসলামি জঙ্গিবাদের জন্ম হয় তা গোটা বিশ্বের শান্তিপ্রিয় মানুষের জন্যে হয়ে ওঠে এক বড় চ্যালেঞ্জ। পাকিস্তানও নিজের স্বার্থে এই কট্টর ইসলাম পন্থিদের লালন করে, গোপনে ভারতীয় কাশ্মিরে আক্রমণের জন্যে এই সব মুজাহিদদের ব্যবহার ও করেছে পাকিস্তানের সরকার। ভারতে একাধিক জঙ্গি হামলার জন্যে দায়ী এই সব ইসলামি পন্থি উগ্র সংগঠনগুলো যারা পাকিস্তানের আদর্শের মধ্য দিয়ে তাদের মানসিক খাদ্য গ্রহণ করেছে এবং ক্রমশই পরিপুষ্ট হয়েছে সেই খাদ্যে । মুশাররফের জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণায়, সেই পরিস্থিতিতে আদৌ কোন পরিবর্তন আসবে বলে মনে হচ্ছে না। এই সমস্যার কোন শান্তিপূর্ণ সমাধান আদৌ সম্ভব বলে মনে হয় না। এর প্রধান কারণ পাকিস্তানের সেনাবাহিনী এবং তার গোয়েন্দা সংস্থার মধ্যে যে ইসলামি উগ্রবাদ বিরাজ করছে তাকে, মুশাররফের সদিচ্ছা থাকলেও, বিতাড়িত করা সম্ভব নয়। পাকিস্তান যে এই জঙ্গিবাদকে কেবল মাত্র ভারত ও বাংলাদেশে তাদের গোয়েন্দা সংস্থার মাধ্যমে পাচার করেছে তাই-ই নয়, নিজেদের দেশেও কথিত শারিয়া আইন প্রণয়নের প্রচেষ্টায় এখনও সংগ্রাম করছে। মুশাররফ এই মৌলবাদিদের মোকাবিলায় ব্যর্থ হচ্ছেন । হুদুদ আইন রদ করতে তিনি খানিকটা সফল হয়েছেন কিন্তু পাকিস্তানের মাদ্রসাগুলো তাদের অর্থায়নের সুত্র জানানোর ব্যাপারে পাকিস্তান সরকারের নির্দেশ অমান্য করেছে। রাজধানী ইসলামাবাদের লাল মসজিদই বলুন , আর সোয়াত উপত্যকায় মাওলানা ফয়জুল্লাহর অনুগামিদের কথাই বলুন, সব ক্ষেত্রেই বিপুল রক্তপাত ঘটেছে, পাকিস্তানি সেনাদের এমন হত্যাকান্ড, বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের সময় ছাড়া আর কখনই ঘটেনি।
পাঁচ
অনুমান করা যায় পাকিস্তানের সেনাবাহিনী এই ইস্যুতে আলম্বিক বিভাজিত। একটি বৃহৎ অংশই যারা কট্টর ইসলামের প্রতি অনুগত তারা এক পর্যায়ে এই তালেবান সমর্থকদের হত্যা করতে অপরাগতা প্রকাশ করতে পারে এবং তখন সেটা হবে পাকিস্তানের জন্যে সত্যি সত্যি আত্মঘাতী। যদি পাকিস্তানের প্রশাসন ব্যবস্থা তালেবানদের হাতে চলে যায় , তা হলে পারমানবিক অস্ত্র সমৃদ্ধ এই রাষ্ট্রের মৌলবাদীরা ইরানের চেয়েও ভয়াবহ হবে বিশ্বের জন্যে। এই উপলব্ধিতে সম্ভবত যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের একজন জনপ্রিয় প্রেসিডেন্ট মনোনয়ন প্রার্থি বারাক ওবামা আগে পাকিস্তানকে নিয়ন্ত্রণ করার কথা বলেছেন। কথাটি খুব তিক্ত হলেও সত্যি। কারণ পাকিস্তানের উগ্র জঙ্গি শক্তির হাতে ঐ মরানাস্ত্র চলে গেলে গেলে তা বিশ্বের জন্যে দূর্যোগ বয়ে নিয়ে আসতে পারে। তবে পাকিস্তানের সেনাবাহিনীর অপর অংশ, যারা মুশাররফের প্রতি অনুগত এখনও, তারা এতখানি কট্টরপন্থি নয় তবে বলাই বাহুল্য তারা ও গণতান্ত্রিক শক্তির উত্থান বিরোধী। তারা মুশাররফের মতোই নিয়ন্ত্রন নিজেদের হাতে রেখে, উগ্রপন্থিদের প্রতি নরম গরম আচরণ চালিয়ে যেতে চায়। এই ব্যবস্থা যে আদৌ দীর্ঘস্থায়ী হবে, এখনকার উগ্রবাদী লক্ষণ দেখে তা মনে হয় না।
পাকিস্তানে রাজনৈতিক শুণ্যতা, সেনাবাহিনীর বিভাজন, পারমানবিক অস্ত্র প্রসারের আশঙ্কা এ সব কিছু পাকিস্তানকে কেবল দণি এশিয়া নয়, বিশ্বের একটি দুর্বৃত্ত রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত করতে পারে। যদিও এ জন্যে পাকিস্তানের সাধারণ জনগোষ্ঠি, সেখানকার প্রগতিশীল সুশীল সমাজ দায়ী নন কিন্তু তাঁরা ও এই উগ্র শক্তির হাতে বন্দী হয়ে যেতে পারেন। পাকিস্তানের সুশীল সমাজের সব চেয়ে বড় সমস্যা হলো, একদিকে গণতন্ত্রের পক্ষে লড়াইয়ে তাঁদের সামরিক বাহিনীর ক্ষোভের শিকার হতে হয়, অন্য দিকে উগ্র ইসলামপন্থিদের বর্ধিষ্ণু শক্তি তাদের জন্যে চ্যালেঞ্জে হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। কিন্তু এ সব সত্বেও এই সুশীল সমাজকেই জেগে উঠতে হবে, প্রগতিশীল রাজনৈতিক শক্তিকে ও সুশীল সমাজের সঙ্গে একাত্ম হয়ে পাকিস্তানের জীর্ণ পুরাতন, সাম্প্রদায়িক ভেদবুদ্ধি জনিত আদর্শকে পরিত্যাগ করে এক ধরণের বিপ্লব সাধন করতে হবে। পাকিস্তানের বর্তমান রাষ্ট্রিক কাঠামোতে এই পরিবর্তন সাধন সম্ভব কি না সেটা বলা মুস্কিল তবে হয়ত এ জন্যে পাকিস্তানকে গোটা দক্ষিণ অঞ্চলের প্রেক্ষাপটে নিজেকে স্থাপন করতে হবে । কারণ তিক্ত হলেও সত্য যে পাকিস্তান যে ইসলামিক আদর্শের ভিত্তিতে সৃষ্টি হয়েছিল বলে প্রচার করা হয়, সেই সব আদর্শেরই বাস্তবায়ন চাইছে এই উগ্রপন্থিরা। অতএব পাকিস্তানের বৈরীপক্ষ এখন পাকিস্তান নিজেই। গত ষাট বছরে পাকিস্তান পিছিয়েছে অনেকখানি। মি জিন্নার ইসলামি প্রজাতন্ত্রের সঙ্গে আজকের ইসলামি প্রজাতন্ত্রের পার্থক্য অনেক । এখন বোধ হয় প্রয়োজন একটি অসাম্প্রদায়িক আধুনিক পাকিস্তানের কিন্তু সেটা তো সোনার পাথরবাটিই কেবল ।
ইমেইল ঠিকানা : aauniruddho@gmail.com
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অনিরুদ্ধ আহমেদ
এক
পাকিস্তানকে একটি ব্যর্থ রাষ্ট্র হিসেবে অভিহিত করলে বোধ হয় ভুল বলা হবে না। টেলিভিশনের মিনি পর্দায় দেশটির সামরিক রাষ্ট্রপতি জেনারেল পারভেজ মুশাররফের হতাশ চেহারা দেখেই মনে হচ্ছিল, পাকিস্তান এক দারুণ দুর্দিন অতিক্রম করছে । তিনি যে হতাশা প্রকাশ করেছেন , জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণার পর তাঁর ভাষণে, সেটি যে কোন দেশের ক্ষমতাসীন রাষ্ট্রপতির জন্যে লজ্জার বিষয়। কিন্তু বাস্তবতা কেবল স্বপ্ন নয়, বলা যায় দুঃস্বপ্নের চেয়ে ও কঠিন বিষয়। এই বাস্তবতা উপলব্ধির জন্যে সেখানে জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণার কারণে গণতন্ত্র খর্ব হয়েছে বলে যাঁরা সোচ্চার হয়েছেন কিংবা অনুচ্চারিত প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছেন, তাঁদের সর্ব প্রথম সেই ভ্রান্ত আদর্শ থেকে বেরিয়ে আসতে হবে, যেখানে ধর্ম ও রাজনীতির মধ্যে একটা সমীকরণ সাধন করা হয়েছে এবং একটিকে অপরের পরিপূরক হিসেবে দেখা হয়েছে। পাকিস্তানের প্রায়োগিক সমস্যার অন্তরালে রয়েছে একটি তাত্বিক সমস্যা। রাষ্ট্রটির সংজ্ঞা নির্ধারণে সজ্ঞানে যে ভ্রান্তির আশ্রয় নিয়েছিলেন পাক প্রতিষ্ঠাতা মোহাম্মদ আলী জিন্না, তারই প্রতিক্রিয়ায় পাকিস্তানের রাষ্ট্রিক অস্তিত্ব ক্ষুন্ন হয়েছে বার বার। অবশ্য পরবর্তী ঐতিহাসিকরা এটি প্রমাণ করেছেন যে জিন্না নিজেই ইসলামি শাসন ব্যবস্থায় বিশ্বাস করতেন না এবং তাঁর সাম্প্রদায়িক ভেদবুদ্ধিটুকু তিনি কাজে লাগিয়েছিলেন তাঁর রাজনৈতিক স্বার্থের কারণে । পরম পরিহাসের কথা এই যে গণতন্ত্রের চেয়ে পাকিস্তান রাষ্ট্রটির অস্তিত্ব রাই যে বড় কথা সে কথা স্বীকার করেছেন পাকিস্তানের সাবেক প্রধানমন্ত্রী নেওয়াজ শরীফ ও। বিলম্বে হলেও শরীফের এই উপলব্ধি বাস্তবসম্মত। তবে নেওয়াজ শরীফ সম্ভবত ভুলে গেছেন যে বিপুল সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠ ভোটে নির্বাচিত এই ব্যক্তি ও তাঁর দল ক্ষমতাচ্যুত হবার আগে, দেশের সর্বোচ্চ আদালতে আক্রমণ চালিয়েছিলেন তাঁর রাজনৈতিক সাঙ্গপাঙ্গদের নিয়ে । এবার ও সামরিক বাহিনীর সমর্থনপুষ্ট জেনারেল মুশাররফ আদালতের টুটি চেপে ধরলেন সম্ভবত এই আশঙ্কায় যে ঊর্দি পরা অবস্থায় তাঁর নির্বাচন শেষ পর্যন্ত আদালত অবৈধ ঘোষণা করবে।
দূর্ভাগ্যের কথা এই যে পাকিস্তানে আদালতের রায় যখনই ক্ষমতাসীনদের বিরুদ্ধে গেছে কিংবা যাবার সম্ভাবনা হয়েছে তখনই আদালত ও বিচারক সেখানে আক্রান্ত হয়েছেন, আইনকে তাঁর নিজস্ব গতিতে চলতে দেওয়া হয়নি। এবারের জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণা যাকে বেনজির প্রথমে সামরিক শাসন জারি এবং পরে মুশাররফের "দ্বিতীয় অভূত্থান" বলে অভিহিত করেছেন তার একটি প্রধান টার্গেট হচ্ছে এই আইনের শাসনকে বৃদ্ধাঙ্গুলি প্রদর্শন করা। পাকিস্তানে বহুবার জরুরী অবস্থা আরোপ করা হয়েছে, সেই ১৯৫৮ সালে ইস্কান্দার মির্জার সময় থেকে কিন্তু কখনই সেখানকার বিচার ব্যবস্থা ও বিচারকদের এ রকম অবমাননা করা হয়নি যেমনটি এবার করা হলো। পাকিস্তনে আইনের শাসনের প্রতি প্রশাসকদের এই অনীহা এমন এক সময়ে প্রদর্শিত হলো, যখন স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশে প্রশাসনিক বিভাগ থেকে বিচার বিভাগের স্বাধীনতা অর্জনের মতো একটি ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনা ঘটে গেল এবং তা ও জরুরী অবস্থার আওতার মধ্যেই। বাঙালিরা এ ব্যাপারে সহজেই গর্বিত বোধ করতে পারেন যে ১৯৭১ সালের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের মাধ্যমে, আমাদের জনগোষ্ঠির মধ্যে এমন এক সচেতনতা সৃষ্টি হয়েছে যা নানান প্রতিকুলতার মধ্যেও আমাদের গণতান্ত্রিক দাবী থেকে বিচ্যূত করতে পারেনি। আর বাংলাদেশে বিচার বিভাগের যে স্বাধীনতা এসছে তা মূলত এই গণতান্ত্রিক চেতনার কারণেই।
দুই
পাকিস্তানে এই গণতান্ত্রিক মূল্যবোধের অভাব আমরা লক্ষ্য করেছি একেবারে গোড়া থেকে। দেশটির প্রতিষ্ঠাতা, যাঁর উল্টো দিকে দৌঁড়ানোর ঘটনাকে দীর্ঘ দিন আমাদের ছোট বেলায় জিন্নার বুদ্ধিমত্তার পরিচয় হিসেবে পাঠ্যপুস্তকে পড়ানো হয়েছিল, তিনি যে বাস্তবেও গোটা দেশকে উল্টো দিকে নিয়ে যাচ্ছিলেন সে কথা বোঝা গিয়েছিল সেই ১৯৪৭-৪৮ এ ও। যদি ও ভারত বিভাজনের জন্যে জিন্নার মতো নেহরু ও দায়ী এবং তদানীন্তন ভারতে হিন্দু সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠতার অহম বোধ এর সঙ্গে মুসলিম সংখ্যালঘিষ্ঠতার হীনমন্যতা বোধ একত্রিত হয়ে ভারতকে বিভাজন করেছিল কিন্তু একেবারে গোড়া থেকে মি জিন্না যে ভাবে পাকিস্তানে বাঙালি নেতাদের খর্ব করেছিলেন, বাংলা ভাষাকে করেছিলেন অবমূল্যায়িত এবং নিজে পাকিস্তানের প্রধানমন্ত্রীত্ব গ্রহণ না করে দেশের গভর্ণর জেনারেল পদ গ্রহণ করেছিলেন, আইন পরিষদে বাঙালিদের বক্তব্যকে সম্পুর্ণ অগ্রাহ্য করেছিলেন, তাতে জিন্না তাঁর পশ্চিমে শেখা গণতন্ত্র ও মুক্তির মনোভাবকে প্রকারান্তরে জলাঞ্জলি দিয়েছিলেন ক্ষুদ্র ব্যক্তি বা গোষ্ঠি স্বার্থে। এর পর পাকিস্তানে একের পর এক গণতন্ত্র লঙ্ঘিত হয়েছে, ১৯৭১ সাল এই লঙ্ঘনের এক চরম দৃষ্টান্ত আমরা লক্ষ্য করি যেখানে একটি জাতিসত্বাকে অবদমনের জন্যে পাকিস্তানি শাসকরা কি ধরণের নিপীড়ন চালিয়েছিল তার ইতিহাস সকলেরই জানা। কিন্তু ১৯৭১ এ‘ই থেমে যায়নি পাকিস্তানে গণতন্ত্রের বিরুদ্ধে ষড়যন্ত্র । জিয়াউল হকের মতা গ্রহণ, জুলফিকার আলী ভুট্ট্রোর ফাঁসি, বেনজির ও নেওয়াজ শরীফের দূর্নীতিগ্রস্হ কথিত গণতন্ত্র এবং বিমানের ভেতরে বসে মুশাররফের নাটকীয় অভূত্থান।
তিন
পাকিস্তানে এখন সব চেয়ে বড় সমস্যা হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে সেই উগ্রপন্থিরা যারা পাকিস্তানে তালেবানী ধরণের কট্টর শারিয়া আইনের বাস্তবায়ন চায়। যে ইসলামের দোহাই দিয়ে পাকিস্তান বার বার তার অস্তিত্ব প্রমাণের চেষ্টা করেছে, কী কাশ্মীরে, কী বাংলাদেশে, সেই ইসলামি শাসন ব্যবস্থা প্রতিষ্ঠার দাবীই এখন পাকিস্তানের জন্যে আত্মঘাতী হয়ে উঠেছে, পাকিস্তানের অস্তিত্ব এখন চ্যালেঞ্জের মুখে। যে আদর্শের বাহ্যিক ঘোষণা পাকিস্তানের জন্মের মূল কারণ সেই আদর্শের প্রায়োগিক রূপায়ন যে দেশটির মৃত্যুর কারণ ও হতে পারে সে কথা ক্রমশই পরিস্কার হয়ে উঠছে। মুশাররফ তাঁর ভাষণে আত্মঘাতী সন্ত্রাসী আক্রমণের কথা যেমন বলেছেন, তেমনি বলেছেন পাকিস্তানের নিজেরই আত্মহননের আশঙ্কার কথা। যে ফ্রাঙ্কেস্টাইনকে পাকিস্তান লালন করেছে, কখনও ভারতের বিরুদ্ধে, কখনো প্রতিবেশী আফগানিস্তানের বিরুদ্ধে, সেটি এখন এমন এক শক্তিতে পরিণত হচ্ছে যে তা গোটা পাকিস্তানকেই গিলে ফেলতে পারে। মুশাররফের জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণা কেবল মাত্র এক ধরণের প্রবঞ্চনাই বটে কারণ ইসলামি জঙ্গিদের দমন করার ব্যাপারে তাঁর কোন পদপেই সফল হয়নি তেমন একটা। আসলে সেই প্রচেষ্টার কতখানি আন্তরিক সে নিয়ে অবশ্যই প্রশ্ন আছে বিস্তর । যে উগ্রপন্থিদের শায়েস্তা করার প্রত্যয় প্রকাশ করে মুশাররফ পাকিস্তানের গণতান্ত্রিক ভবিষ্যতকে গৌন করে তুললেন সেই মৌলবাদী জঙ্গিদের বিরুদ্ধে তাঁর জরুরী অবস্থার প্রতিক্রিয়া আদৌ হয়েছে কী না সে নিয়ে সন্দেহ । বরঞ্চ জঙ্গিবাদের যুৎসই অজুহাত দিয়ে একদিকে তিনি পশ্চিমের মনোরঞ্জন করছেন, আরেকদিকে নিজের দেশের গণতান্ত্রিক শক্তিকে দূর্বলতর করে তুলছেন । আর এর ফলে পাকিস্তানে গণতন্ত্রবিরোধী উগ্র শক্তিই মাথাচাড়া দিয়ে উঠছে। সে জন্যেই ল্য করি যে মুশাররফের জরুরী অবস্থায়, যাদের বিরুদ্ধে নিপীড়ন চালানো হচ্ছে তারা কিন্তু বোমা বন্দুক বহনকারী কোন সন্ত্রাসী শক্তি নয় ; তারা সেই সুশীল সমাজের অংশ যারা যুক্তি দিয়ে শক্তিকে খর্ব করে। সে জন্যেই যখন টেলিভিশনের পর্দায় দেখি যে সাদা পোশাকধারী মুশাররফের পেটুয়াবাহিনী চ্যাঙ্গদোলা করে, আইনবিদদের নিয়ে যাচ্ছে কারা-যানের দিকে , তখন বুঝতে আর কারও বাকী থাকে না যে মুশাররফের উদ্বেগ ও উৎকন্ঠা আসলে কাদের বিরুদ্ধে ? কিন্তু জেনারেল মুশাররফ এ কথা জানেন নিশ্চয়ই যে এই সব উদার মনস্ক ব্যক্তি পাকিস্তানের শত্র“ নন, তাঁরা চান পাকিস্তান মোল্লাতন্ত্রের কবল থেকে বেরিয়ে এসে একটি আধুনিক যুক্তিবাদী সমাজের অংশ হোক। স্থায়ী ভাইরাসের মতো ভারত বিরোধীতার যে জিগির পাকিস্তানকে ভেতর থেকে দূর্বল করেছে বার বার তা থেকে পাকিস্তানের মুক্তি ঘটুক বিশ্বায়নের এই সময়টাতে। মুশাররফ নিজেও ভারতের সঙ্গে বন্ধুত্বের তত্ব কথা কপচিয়েছেন বার বার কিন্তু প্রকৃত অর্থে মনে হয় যেন তিনি ও সেই ইসলামি মৌলবাদীদের প্রতিনিধিত্ব করছেন যারা পাকিস্তানকে তালেবান রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত করার জন্যে জিহাদি মনোবৃত্তি নিয়ে প্রস্তুত হয়ে আছেন। বস্তুত মুশাররফ যে অভ্যন্তরীণ এবং বহির্দেশীয় চাপের মুখে আছেন সে কথা বলাই বাহুল্য । আল কায়দা ও তালেবান খেদানোর যে ব্রত তিনি পশ্চিমে প্রকাশ করেছেন তার পুর্ব শর্ত হিসেবে দেশে যে গণতান্ত্রিক শক্তির বিকাশের প্রয়োজন রয়েছে, তাকে তিনি আবার রুদ্ধ করছেন। গৃহস্থকে বলছেন সাবধান থাকতে, চোরকে বলছেন চুরি করতে। জেনারেল মুশাররফের এই দ্বৈত ভুমিকা তাঁর বিশ্বাসযোগ্যতাকে যেমন কমিয়ে এনেছে, তেমনি পাকিস্তান আধুনিক বিশ্বের জন্যে কতখানি বিশ্ব¯ত্ব হতে পারবে সেটা ও এখন প্রশ্নসাপে হয়ে পড়েছে। মুশাররফের আনুগত্য কি একটি গণতান্ত্রিক সমাজ গঠনের পেছনে, নাকি মতায় টিকে থাকার জন্যে জঙ্গিদের সঙ্গে আপোষ করার দিকে, সে জিজ্ঞাসা ও সকলের।
চার
পাকিস্তানের জন্যে ভাগ্যের এমনই পরিহাস যে ইসলামি প্রজাতন্ত্রের সৈন্যরা এখন প্রাণ দিচ্ছে ইসলামি আদর্শ কায়েমের জন্যে যারা জিহাদ করছে, তাদেরই হাতে। এটাকে আত্মহনন ছাড়া আর কী বা বলা যায়। কিন্তু কে সৃষ্টি করলো এই বিপুল শক্তিশালি ফ্রাঙ্কেস্টাইন। বস্তুত এর তাত্বিক সমর্থন বরার্বই ছিল পাকিস্তানে ধর্ম ভিত্তিক, ভারত বিরোধী রাজনৈতিক আদর্শের মধ্যেই কিন্তু এর প্রত্য প্রকাশ ঘটে জিয়াউল হকের আমলে মুজাহিদ সৃষ্টির মাধ্যমে যারা তদনীন্তন সোভিয়েট ইউনিয়নের কবল থেকে আফগানিস্তানকে মুক্ত করাতে এক ধরণের "জিহাদ" এ অংশ গ্রহণ করে। যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের ও প্রত্যক্ষ সমর্থন ছিল এই মুজাহিদ সৃষ্টির পেছনে, সোভিয়েট ইউনিয়নের বিরোধীতার জন্যে ঐ প্রায় শিক্ষার আলো থেকে বঞ্চিত আফগানিস্তানে ইসলামের জিগির তুলে এই মুজাহিদরা সোভিয়েট ইউনিয়নকে বিতাড়িত করতে সফল হয় বটে কিন্তু আফগানিস্তানসহ ঐ অঞ্চলের একটা স্থায়ী ঘাঁটি হয়ে যায় দ্রুত। মুজাহিদ, তালেবান ও আল ক্বায়দার সংমিশ্রণে যে শক্তিশালী ইসলামি জঙ্গিবাদের জন্ম হয় তা গোটা বিশ্বের শান্তিপ্রিয় মানুষের জন্যে হয়ে ওঠে এক বড় চ্যালেঞ্জ। পাকিস্তানও নিজের স্বার্থে এই কট্টর ইসলাম পন্থিদের লালন করে, গোপনে ভারতীয় কাশ্মিরে আক্রমণের জন্যে এই সব মুজাহিদদের ব্যবহার ও করেছে পাকিস্তানের সরকার। ভারতে একাধিক জঙ্গি হামলার জন্যে দায়ী এই সব ইসলামি পন্থি উগ্র সংগঠনগুলো যারা পাকিস্তানের আদর্শের মধ্য দিয়ে তাদের মানসিক খাদ্য গ্রহণ করেছে এবং ক্রমশই পরিপুষ্ট হয়েছে সেই খাদ্যে । মুশাররফের জরুরী অবস্থা ঘোষণায়, সেই পরিস্থিতিতে আদৌ কোন পরিবর্তন আসবে বলে মনে হচ্ছে না। এই সমস্যার কোন শান্তিপূর্ণ সমাধান আদৌ সম্ভব বলে মনে হয় না। এর প্রধান কারণ পাকিস্তানের সেনাবাহিনী এবং তার গোয়েন্দা সংস্থার মধ্যে যে ইসলামি উগ্রবাদ বিরাজ করছে তাকে, মুশাররফের সদিচ্ছা থাকলেও, বিতাড়িত করা সম্ভব নয়। পাকিস্তান যে এই জঙ্গিবাদকে কেবল মাত্র ভারত ও বাংলাদেশে তাদের গোয়েন্দা সংস্থার মাধ্যমে পাচার করেছে তাই-ই নয়, নিজেদের দেশেও কথিত শারিয়া আইন প্রণয়নের প্রচেষ্টায় এখনও সংগ্রাম করছে। মুশাররফ এই মৌলবাদিদের মোকাবিলায় ব্যর্থ হচ্ছেন । হুদুদ আইন রদ করতে তিনি খানিকটা সফল হয়েছেন কিন্তু পাকিস্তানের মাদ্রসাগুলো তাদের অর্থায়নের সুত্র জানানোর ব্যাপারে পাকিস্তান সরকারের নির্দেশ অমান্য করেছে। রাজধানী ইসলামাবাদের লাল মসজিদই বলুন , আর সোয়াত উপত্যকায় মাওলানা ফয়জুল্লাহর অনুগামিদের কথাই বলুন, সব ক্ষেত্রেই বিপুল রক্তপাত ঘটেছে, পাকিস্তানি সেনাদের এমন হত্যাকান্ড, বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের সময় ছাড়া আর কখনই ঘটেনি।
পাঁচ
অনুমান করা যায় পাকিস্তানের সেনাবাহিনী এই ইস্যুতে আলম্বিক বিভাজিত। একটি বৃহৎ অংশই যারা কট্টর ইসলামের প্রতি অনুগত তারা এক পর্যায়ে এই তালেবান সমর্থকদের হত্যা করতে অপরাগতা প্রকাশ করতে পারে এবং তখন সেটা হবে পাকিস্তানের জন্যে সত্যি সত্যি আত্মঘাতী। যদি পাকিস্তানের প্রশাসন ব্যবস্থা তালেবানদের হাতে চলে যায় , তা হলে পারমানবিক অস্ত্র সমৃদ্ধ এই রাষ্ট্রের মৌলবাদীরা ইরানের চেয়েও ভয়াবহ হবে বিশ্বের জন্যে। এই উপলব্ধিতে সম্ভবত যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের একজন জনপ্রিয় প্রেসিডেন্ট মনোনয়ন প্রার্থি বারাক ওবামা আগে পাকিস্তানকে নিয়ন্ত্রণ করার কথা বলেছেন। কথাটি খুব তিক্ত হলেও সত্যি। কারণ পাকিস্তানের উগ্র জঙ্গি শক্তির হাতে ঐ মরানাস্ত্র চলে গেলে গেলে তা বিশ্বের জন্যে দূর্যোগ বয়ে নিয়ে আসতে পারে। তবে পাকিস্তানের সেনাবাহিনীর অপর অংশ, যারা মুশাররফের প্রতি অনুগত এখনও, তারা এতখানি কট্টরপন্থি নয় তবে বলাই বাহুল্য তারা ও গণতান্ত্রিক শক্তির উত্থান বিরোধী। তারা মুশাররফের মতোই নিয়ন্ত্রন নিজেদের হাতে রেখে, উগ্রপন্থিদের প্রতি নরম গরম আচরণ চালিয়ে যেতে চায়। এই ব্যবস্থা যে আদৌ দীর্ঘস্থায়ী হবে, এখনকার উগ্রবাদী লক্ষণ দেখে তা মনে হয় না।
পাকিস্তানে রাজনৈতিক শুণ্যতা, সেনাবাহিনীর বিভাজন, পারমানবিক অস্ত্র প্রসারের আশঙ্কা এ সব কিছু পাকিস্তানকে কেবল দণি এশিয়া নয়, বিশ্বের একটি দুর্বৃত্ত রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত করতে পারে। যদিও এ জন্যে পাকিস্তানের সাধারণ জনগোষ্ঠি, সেখানকার প্রগতিশীল সুশীল সমাজ দায়ী নন কিন্তু তাঁরা ও এই উগ্র শক্তির হাতে বন্দী হয়ে যেতে পারেন। পাকিস্তানের সুশীল সমাজের সব চেয়ে বড় সমস্যা হলো, একদিকে গণতন্ত্রের পক্ষে লড়াইয়ে তাঁদের সামরিক বাহিনীর ক্ষোভের শিকার হতে হয়, অন্য দিকে উগ্র ইসলামপন্থিদের বর্ধিষ্ণু শক্তি তাদের জন্যে চ্যালেঞ্জে হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। কিন্তু এ সব সত্বেও এই সুশীল সমাজকেই জেগে উঠতে হবে, প্রগতিশীল রাজনৈতিক শক্তিকে ও সুশীল সমাজের সঙ্গে একাত্ম হয়ে পাকিস্তানের জীর্ণ পুরাতন, সাম্প্রদায়িক ভেদবুদ্ধি জনিত আদর্শকে পরিত্যাগ করে এক ধরণের বিপ্লব সাধন করতে হবে। পাকিস্তানের বর্তমান রাষ্ট্রিক কাঠামোতে এই পরিবর্তন সাধন সম্ভব কি না সেটা বলা মুস্কিল তবে হয়ত এ জন্যে পাকিস্তানকে গোটা দক্ষিণ অঞ্চলের প্রেক্ষাপটে নিজেকে স্থাপন করতে হবে । কারণ তিক্ত হলেও সত্য যে পাকিস্তান যে ইসলামিক আদর্শের ভিত্তিতে সৃষ্টি হয়েছিল বলে প্রচার করা হয়, সেই সব আদর্শেরই বাস্তবায়ন চাইছে এই উগ্রপন্থিরা। অতএব পাকিস্তানের বৈরীপক্ষ এখন পাকিস্তান নিজেই। গত ষাট বছরে পাকিস্তান পিছিয়েছে অনেকখানি। মি জিন্নার ইসলামি প্রজাতন্ত্রের সঙ্গে আজকের ইসলামি প্রজাতন্ত্রের পার্থক্য অনেক । এখন বোধ হয় প্রয়োজন একটি অসাম্প্রদায়িক আধুনিক পাকিস্তানের কিন্তু সেটা তো সোনার পাথরবাটিই কেবল ।
ইমেইল ঠিকানা : aauniruddho@gmail.com
এই লেখাটি সমকাল ‘এর ১৫ই নভেম্বর ২০০৭ সালের সংখ্যায় প্রকাশিত।
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Save the Children of Cyclone Sidr
Please watch this CNN's video footage to find how Sidr is impacting children in the devastated area of southern Bangladesh. Courtesy of: Save the Children UK
Combating Sharia With Islamic Tools
By Jamie Glazov
FrontPageMagazine.com 11/20/2007
FP: Hasan Mahmud, welcome to Frontpage Interview.
Mahmud: Thank you and Salam to all.
FP: You are a Muslim and not a very great fan of Sharia. Tell us why.
Mahmud: Because as a Muslim I want good for all humanity and because I have seen what Sharia contains and does to our women and non-Muslims. Human rights are more divine than scriptures and are not negotiable even in the name of God. Human rights are not to pass the test of scriptures; it is scriptures that have to pass the litmus test of human rights. Sharia fails there miserably, Muslim women are primary victims of Sharia, how can I be its fan? After all, people’s faith, life, right and dignity are not anybody’s toy to play with.
Examples of laws prove what Sharia actually is. Here is one from Law #344 of Codified Islamic Law Vol 1 – “Witness for a husband is not a condition to divorce his wife”. This law violates Sura Twalak verse 2 of the Qur’an that instructs to keep two witnesses of divorce. Another example is Law #914 C from Codified Islamic Law Vol 3 - Head of Islamic State cannot be charged for Hudood cases (murder, theft, robbery, adultery, drinking etc.). The same law is in Hanafi Law page 188 too. As a Muslim how can I not protest this is violation of justice? Can you imagine more than three thousand raped women were in prison for “illicit sex” for ten to fifteen years by Pakistan’s Hudood (Sharia) Ordinance #7 of 1979 amended by Law #20 of 1980 that says proof of adultery and (emphasis mine) rape is confession of the accused or eye-witness of four male adult Muslims (the women could not prove rapes by this “proof”)?
Can you imagine an Iranian woman appealing to the Sharia court to order her husband to beat her not everyday but once a week? Can you imagine many minor raped girls are publicly beaten by shoes and whips in Bangladesh by decree of informal Sharia Courts? Can you imagine hundreds of such cruelty is regularly reported in Muslim world but not a single of the world’s top Sharia-Bolsheviks is known to protest effectively? It is shocking to see tons of such unjust laws established as Allah’s Law.
It is shocking to see most of Sharia-supporters never read the laws and most of Sharia-leaders speak and write of justice but never show the laws. There was never any empirical study on the impact of Sharia on non-Muslims and Muslim women (more than half of world-Muslims), nor were they consulted to frame these laws. There is not a single female Sharia-Imam in Muslim history. The result was predictable. Sharia emerged not as a benign law book but malignant inspiration of creating a global Islami State which is diametrically opposite to the Islamic faith system. The West must realize any Sharia-supporter not only has to believe in a global Islamic state but also try for it. Supported by powerful, resourceful and cunning players it conquered most of Muslim-majority countries and now poses the deadliest cultural threat human civilization ever faced. The now defunct Canadian Sharia Court was its pinnacle of success in West. How many Americans know that the blueprint of American Sharia Court was created as early as in 1991by TAM (The American Muslims)?
Lest we forget the speed of a caravan is the speed of its weakest camel. Muslims will never progress if Muslims women don’t. On the other hand human civilization cannot progress if Muslims don’t.
FP: Can you talk a bit about Divine Law and Islamic State.
Mahmud: There is no “divine law” to run states. There are six thousand plus laws in Shafi’i Sharia, a similar number in Hanafi Sharia, about fifteen hundred in three volumes of Codified Islamic Law. But the Qur’an has only five or arguably seven social laws. The Hadises give us another few dozens, that’s it. Then where do the thousands of other laws came from? Surely from non-divine sources. Now, if you drop a drop of milk in a pond can you call it a pond of milk? Actually Sharia Laws were derived from at least eleven sources; of
those ten are human and worldly sources.
The presence of at least five major sets of Sharia laws conclusively proves they are not divine because God is one. Many Sharia laws are not only different from each other but also contradictory. Look at this - Maliki law punishes pregnant widows or unmarried women to death for illicit sex. So Amina Lawal Kurami in Nigeria and Zafran Bibi in Pakistan were sentenced to death for adultery by lower courts. But when international pressure mounted the supreme courts acquitted both of them by applying Hanafi law that says pregnancy is not proof enough for adultery. So, death in one law and complete acquittal in the other for the same “crime”! What type of divinity is this?
About an Islamic State it is enough to say that Islam’s business is not to create an “Islamic State” but a “State of Islam” (peace). The very concept of “Islamic State” is simply anti-Qur’anic - look at Ana’m 107:- “We made thee (The Prophet) not one to watch over their doings, nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs”. One of the main legacies of “Islamic Khelafat” is rampant killing of Muslims by Muslims, conspiracy, betrayal, power-struggle, war, battle, assassination, revolt, counter-revolt, harassing scholars and scientists and solid patriarchy. We have documents of Sharia court of Alexandria and Istanbul (Shikayat-E Dafteri) of past “Islamic States” – it is heartbreaking to see how “Islamic States” tortured Muslim women in the name of “Allah’s Law”. You can imagine the condition of nonMuslims therein. Human rights in present “Islamic States” is not encouraging either. Sadly, in the names of “Islamic State”, “Allah’s Law”, “Islamic Justice”, “Complete Code of Life” etc we Muslims are made to live in an unreal romantic world that costs us heavily. And most often we are driven by hate, not love. You should see the syllabus of Pakistan schools and even Al Azhar University. The amount of hate to nonMuslims taught to our kids in present “Islamic States” is dangerous.
FP: The violence in Muslim societies has deep roots in Islamic scriptures. Hindus, Jews and Christians have come out of their scriptural violence. Their methods have obviously not worked for Muslims. Why?
Mahmud: The violence of suicide-bombing, beheading, the present form of Jihad etc. occupies the world’s media and mind. But the systemic cold violence (that hardly sheds blood) of scripture destroys more human lives. See, the Atharbaveda of Sonaton religion still contains "verses" of burning widows alive with dead husbands; the Old Testament chapter Deuteronomy still contains verses of terrible violence. As it will be self-betraying to say the Qur’an does not have violent verses, as we don’t have to be apologetic for that, as the Qur’an addressed real life and as there was violence in reality, the Qur’an encouraged past Muslims by particular violent verses that are absolutely irrelevant today. I firmly believe that as none can answer all questions of any religion we must stop questioning if a path to peace is available and established. About violent verses we apply the magic word that lead us to peace today - “Matter of Past”, period.
Our path of coming out of scriptural violence is different due to many complex reasons including changed global environment, past legacy, colonial effect, issues like Palestine-Israel, Middle Eastern kings, Middle East policy of the West, failed secular democracy in almost all Muslim majority countries, profuse finance to establish Sharia in Muslim world, pretty successful lobbywork in the West (specially in Europe) to penetrate Sharia, etc. Our failure is Himalayan when we legitimize wife-beating “with tooth brush”. But some Western irresponsible media-people and writers are no less on the other side. What we need is criticism to correct, not to punish. Fanning the fire may be enjoyable but there is danger in it.
The personal behavior of the Prophet is erroneously included as essential and eternal part of Islam. Unfortunately lots of violence is recorded in Hadises (Prophet’s Examples). As it takes more to lead people by message of love, many clergies take the easier route of using hateful Hadises to control the Muslim mass who are ignorant but emotional, poor but honest and illiterate but simple. Surprisingly, there is a Sharia law that says a Muslim becomes apostate if s/he denies any of the Hadises. Then the law of death to apostates is to follow. It is extremely difficult to break this taboo. We try to educate Muslims of their right to totally or partially accept or discard any book other than the Qur’an and still remain Muslims.
The most difficult hurdle is our Sharia-leaders. When we struggled against the Canadian Sharia Court they called us apostates. While we are trying to come out of scriptural violence the father of modern political Islam Maolana Mawdudi proposes that creating Hindu-State in India is permissible even if Muslims are ill-treated, war-prisoners can be killed or “given in somebody else’s possession by sale….handed over individual Muslims as slaves” and sex with war-captives is permissible (Munir Commission Report page 225, Tafhimul Quran 47:4 and Chapter 4, p. 340). When we claim the Qur’an is against slavery the chief Saudi educationist says slavery is “an integral part of Islam” and we know nothing about Islam (WorldNet daily 10 Nov 2003). These are resourceful and powerful people – you may imagine what our kids are learning from such leaders of Sharia-Islam.
FP: What way do you see out of these chains that Islam is imprisoned by some Muslim leaders? Can it be done with Islamic tools?
Mahmud: Yes, indeed. With Islamic documents and case-history we can undo many Sharia Laws. Creating one single crack on Sharia in believers’ minds is the first step and we can do it with Islamic tools. Humankind is basically curious. When Muslims will find out the rest, Political Islam will be crippled. This is a battle of ideas, guns and cannons will make it only worse. Lest we forget man never committed cruelty so completely and so cheerfully as when he did it to please his god – (Pascal). Historically god’s soldiers never listened to call of humanity; they worship through violence.
So, to be acceptable to Muslim-mass an Islamic tool has no substitute. A scholar is no scholar if he reads a thousand books but cannot harvest human welfare from them. We do have lots of Islamic scholars who developed the Islamic method of coming out of violence. Unless that is done Muslims in particular and humankind in general will continue to suffer in this respect. We can discuss it more effectively with detailed Islamic mechanism and dynamics with a Sharia-leader. We tried a lot but they don’t come. The palace of Sharia can be smashed by one single stroke of Sura Anam 48:-“We send the messengers only to give good news and to warn”. We have great Islamic tool to refute Sharia-documents and prove that Islam is a personal religion; separation of religion from state-machine is its essence.
FP: Your brave and noble struggle in fighting against Sharia has obviously come at a great personal cost. Can you talk a bit about it? How much have you had to fear for your personal safety?
Mahmud: I am only trying to encourage human rights in Muslim society by Islamic tools. My book, drama and movie on Sharia are doing well. Honestly, I don’t care much about my safety – what has to be done has to be done. We are in a mess today because maybe our forefathers cared for their safety a little too much. Yes, Muslim Canadian Congress received many threats. When we were struggling against the Canadian Sharia Court I also received personal threats from the world’s most powerful Sharia-supporters - the Canadian Intelligence has a file on it. When I discussed it with my wife she told me “You are doing the right thing – don’t submit to any threat
no matter what”. Isn’t it superb from a busy professional who maintains Islamic Hijab, member of mosque and was a voluntary teacher of Islamic school? Honestly, I don’t care much about my safety – what has to be done has to be done for our next generations. We are in a mess today because maybe our forefathers cared for their safety a little too much.
FP: Hasan Mahmud, thank you for joining us.
Mahmud: Thanks and Salam to all.
Jamie Glazov is Frontpage Magazine's managing editor. He holds a Ph.D. in History with a specialty in U.S. and Canadian foreign policy. He edited and wrote the introduction to David Horowitz’s Left Illusions. He is also the co-editor (with David Horowitz) of The Hate America Left and the author of Canadian Policy Toward Khrushchev’s Soviet Union (McGill-Queens University Press, 2002) and 15 Tips on How to be a Good Leftist. To see his previous symposiums, interviews and articles Click Here. Email him at jglazov@rogers.com.
Cyclone Sidr News Update
Please join us to look through the news coverage on Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh for last 24 hours. These headlines and the contents reflect the wide range of world reactions from the most sensitive to the least sensitive one.
- ABC News: U.S. Aid Arrives in Bangladesh (Video)
- ABC Australia: Desperate struggle for survival
- BBC: Bangladesh makes fresh aid plea and Video link
- Bloomberg: UN grants aid to Bangladesh
- CBS News: Trail of Destruction (Photo feature)
- CNN: Bangladesh appeals for more aid and Video link
- Global Voices: Bangla blogs seek aid for cyclone Sidr
- International Herald Tribune: In Bangladesh: Picking through Pieces
- Khaleej Times: Reach out to Bangladesh (editorial)
- Los Angeles Times: Banding together for Bangladesh
- Newsweek: Challenges for Aid groups
- The Times: Bangladesh begs world for more help
- Time: How Bangladesh survived a cyclone
- Washington Post: Tales of tragedy and horror
- Google: Latest news on Cyclone Sidr
UN OCHA Press Release on Bangladesh
Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Date: 20 Nov 2007
Published: ReliefWeb
Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr OCHA Situation Report No. 5
This situation report is based on information received from the Bangladesh Disaster Management Information Centre, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office Bangladesh, the Disaster Emergency Response Group (DER), UN Agencies, UN OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and media sources.
I. Situation in Bangladesh
1. Cyclone Sidr (Category IV) hit Bangladesh on the evening of 15 November. The cyclone struck offshore islands at 1830 hours and made landfall across the southern coast from Cox's Bazaar in the east toward the Satkhira districts in the west at 2030 hours local time, with wind speeds of up to 240 kilometres per hour. The storm caused extensive damage to the southern districts as it moved north across central Bangladesh.
2. More than 4 million people in 28 southern districts are now known to have been directly affected by the cyclonic storms. As of 20 November, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official reports indicated an increasing death toll of 3,447 people, with a further 2,062 missing and 6,611 injured. The GoB estimates that over 300,511 homes were destroyed and a further 626,088 houses were partially damaged. An estimated 870,000 acres of crops were damaged. Extensive damage to roads and public buildings is also evident, including 792 educational institutions destroyed and another 4,393 partially damaged. The worst affected areas include Bagerhat, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Gopalgonj, Jhalkhati, Khulna, Mandaripur, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Satkhira and Shariatpur districts.
3. A series of assessments are currently underway and more detailed information on the scale of the needs is expected to be made available in the coming days. The Disaster Emergency and Response (DER) group coordinated the pre-positioning of UN agencies and NGOs in affected areas in advance of the cyclone, allowing initial assessment data to be made available in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
4. On the basis of early assessment data, priority needs include food, clean water supply, diarrhoea treatment and shelter assistance. The longer term perspective requires rehabilitation of livelihoods, infrastructure, health and educational services and increased shelter capacity.
II. National Response in Bangladesh
5. To date, the Chief Government Adviser has allocated 100 million taka for relief and house construction in 11 districts. The Deputy Commissioners are procuring and collecting sufficient amount of dry food to respond to the current situation. The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) has allocated 4,000 metric tonnes of rice, 7,500 tents, 18,000 blankets and 30 million taka as gratuitous relief grants, to date. A special fund was established allocating 350 million taka for housing construction grants. 13,000 bundles of corrugated iron sheets are ready for immediate distribution. 732 medical teams are working in the affected areas. The Bangladesh Armed Forces Division deployed several aircrafts and a number of helicopters. Six Bangladesh Navy ships are conducting rescue, evacuation, relief and reconnaissance operations in the worst storm affected areas. While more roads are opened, the military continues to bring relief items to the affected people by planes, boats and helicopters.
6. The Government of Bangladesh held the Disaster and Emergency Response group (DER) meetings on 15 November and 18 November. The next DER meeting will be held on 22 November.
7. The Government of Bangladesh's early warning and preparedness systems were activated prior to the cyclone making landfall, which greatly reduced the humanitarian impact of this disaster. Preparedness measures included the evacuation of approximately 3.2 million people. Alarms were raised and relief and rescue items were stockpiled.
III. International Response in Bangladesh
8. The United Nations, IFRC, and NGOs, including Save the Children, World Vision International, CARE, Caritas, OXFAM, Islamic Relief, ACT, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Muslim Aid, CONCERN, Plan and ActionAid continue to provide support to the Government of Bangladesh through extensive emergency response mechanisms, including mobilizing in-country staff and pre-positioned relief stocks across southern Bangladesh.
9. Reports from the UN needs assessments of the storm-affected area is expected on 21 November. On 19 November, UN Heads of Agencies visited the worst affected districts to assess the situation. They met assessment and relief teams and confirmed that relief is reaching the farthest corners of the affected area. They also noted that material damage was severe and varied between regions, nevertheless there were indications of small-scale economic recovery.
10. The United Nations is distributing 208 tonnes of high-energy biscuits to assist an estimated 850,000 cyclone affected people. 240,000 packets of water purifying powder are reaching 48,000 families. Shelter materials (thick polyesters) will also be distributed to 18,000 households whose houses were destroyed by the storms. Partners are currently distributing dry food (flattened rice and molasses) to 70,000 affected families. Medical officers have been made available to assist Government response, including 4 for coordinating central response. USD 50,000 was made available for water and supplies and transportation. More relief will be made available following initial determination of needs.
11. The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator released an initial allocation of USD 8.75 million from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) for projects in Agriculture, Child Protection, Food, Nutrition and Water and Sanitation on 21 November. A second round of allocations is in-process for activities in Heath and Shelter.
12. On 16 November, IFRC launched a preliminary emergency appeal for USD 3.5 million to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society to assist 235,000 beneficiaries for a period of 9 months.
13. The following countries have pledged assistance to the relief effort so far: Australia (USD 2.7 million); Czech Republic (USD 81,000); Estonia (USD 46,000); France (USD 730,000); Germany (USD 1 million); India (USD 1 million); Ireland (USD 720,461); Spain (USD 1 million); United Kingdom (USD 5.2 million); United States of America (USD 5 million). The USA also contributed USD 100,000 in initial emergency assistance.
14. The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) has pledged USD 9.2 million to the Cyclone Sidr emergency response.
15. Caritas Spain contributed USD 288,184 for emergency aid to the affected disaster population.
16. For updated information on financial contributions, please refer to the OCHA Financial Tracking System website. Donors are encouraged to verify this table and inform FTS of corrections/additions/values to this table.
17. This situation report, together with further information regarding on-going emergencies, is also available on the Reliefweb.
For detailed information please contact:
OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
Ms. Eliane Provó Kluit
Tel. +66819129854
Email : provokluit@un.org
Desk Officers:
(NY)Ms. Kendra CleggMr. Jean Verheyden
Tel. +1 646 416 1140
Email: clegg@un.org
(GVA)Mr. Jean Verheyden
Tel: + 41 79 509 8116
Email: verheyden@un.org
Press contact
(NY)Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. + 1 917 367 5126
(GVA)Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. + 41 22 917 2653
Date: 20 Nov 2007
Published: ReliefWeb
Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr OCHA Situation Report No. 5
This situation report is based on information received from the Bangladesh Disaster Management Information Centre, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office Bangladesh, the Disaster Emergency Response Group (DER), UN Agencies, UN OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and media sources.
I. Situation in Bangladesh
1. Cyclone Sidr (Category IV) hit Bangladesh on the evening of 15 November. The cyclone struck offshore islands at 1830 hours and made landfall across the southern coast from Cox's Bazaar in the east toward the Satkhira districts in the west at 2030 hours local time, with wind speeds of up to 240 kilometres per hour. The storm caused extensive damage to the southern districts as it moved north across central Bangladesh.
2. More than 4 million people in 28 southern districts are now known to have been directly affected by the cyclonic storms. As of 20 November, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) official reports indicated an increasing death toll of 3,447 people, with a further 2,062 missing and 6,611 injured. The GoB estimates that over 300,511 homes were destroyed and a further 626,088 houses were partially damaged. An estimated 870,000 acres of crops were damaged. Extensive damage to roads and public buildings is also evident, including 792 educational institutions destroyed and another 4,393 partially damaged. The worst affected areas include Bagerhat, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Gopalgonj, Jhalkhati, Khulna, Mandaripur, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Satkhira and Shariatpur districts.
3. A series of assessments are currently underway and more detailed information on the scale of the needs is expected to be made available in the coming days. The Disaster Emergency and Response (DER) group coordinated the pre-positioning of UN agencies and NGOs in affected areas in advance of the cyclone, allowing initial assessment data to be made available in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
4. On the basis of early assessment data, priority needs include food, clean water supply, diarrhoea treatment and shelter assistance. The longer term perspective requires rehabilitation of livelihoods, infrastructure, health and educational services and increased shelter capacity.
II. National Response in Bangladesh
5. To date, the Chief Government Adviser has allocated 100 million taka for relief and house construction in 11 districts. The Deputy Commissioners are procuring and collecting sufficient amount of dry food to respond to the current situation. The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) has allocated 4,000 metric tonnes of rice, 7,500 tents, 18,000 blankets and 30 million taka as gratuitous relief grants, to date. A special fund was established allocating 350 million taka for housing construction grants. 13,000 bundles of corrugated iron sheets are ready for immediate distribution. 732 medical teams are working in the affected areas. The Bangladesh Armed Forces Division deployed several aircrafts and a number of helicopters. Six Bangladesh Navy ships are conducting rescue, evacuation, relief and reconnaissance operations in the worst storm affected areas. While more roads are opened, the military continues to bring relief items to the affected people by planes, boats and helicopters.
6. The Government of Bangladesh held the Disaster and Emergency Response group (DER) meetings on 15 November and 18 November. The next DER meeting will be held on 22 November.
7. The Government of Bangladesh's early warning and preparedness systems were activated prior to the cyclone making landfall, which greatly reduced the humanitarian impact of this disaster. Preparedness measures included the evacuation of approximately 3.2 million people. Alarms were raised and relief and rescue items were stockpiled.
III. International Response in Bangladesh
8. The United Nations, IFRC, and NGOs, including Save the Children, World Vision International, CARE, Caritas, OXFAM, Islamic Relief, ACT, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Muslim Aid, CONCERN, Plan and ActionAid continue to provide support to the Government of Bangladesh through extensive emergency response mechanisms, including mobilizing in-country staff and pre-positioned relief stocks across southern Bangladesh.
9. Reports from the UN needs assessments of the storm-affected area is expected on 21 November. On 19 November, UN Heads of Agencies visited the worst affected districts to assess the situation. They met assessment and relief teams and confirmed that relief is reaching the farthest corners of the affected area. They also noted that material damage was severe and varied between regions, nevertheless there were indications of small-scale economic recovery.
10. The United Nations is distributing 208 tonnes of high-energy biscuits to assist an estimated 850,000 cyclone affected people. 240,000 packets of water purifying powder are reaching 48,000 families. Shelter materials (thick polyesters) will also be distributed to 18,000 households whose houses were destroyed by the storms. Partners are currently distributing dry food (flattened rice and molasses) to 70,000 affected families. Medical officers have been made available to assist Government response, including 4 for coordinating central response. USD 50,000 was made available for water and supplies and transportation. More relief will be made available following initial determination of needs.
11. The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator released an initial allocation of USD 8.75 million from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) for projects in Agriculture, Child Protection, Food, Nutrition and Water and Sanitation on 21 November. A second round of allocations is in-process for activities in Heath and Shelter.
12. On 16 November, IFRC launched a preliminary emergency appeal for USD 3.5 million to support the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society to assist 235,000 beneficiaries for a period of 9 months.
13. The following countries have pledged assistance to the relief effort so far: Australia (USD 2.7 million); Czech Republic (USD 81,000); Estonia (USD 46,000); France (USD 730,000); Germany (USD 1 million); India (USD 1 million); Ireland (USD 720,461); Spain (USD 1 million); United Kingdom (USD 5.2 million); United States of America (USD 5 million). The USA also contributed USD 100,000 in initial emergency assistance.
14. The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) has pledged USD 9.2 million to the Cyclone Sidr emergency response.
15. Caritas Spain contributed USD 288,184 for emergency aid to the affected disaster population.
16. For updated information on financial contributions, please refer to the OCHA Financial Tracking System website. Donors are encouraged to verify this table and inform FTS of corrections/additions/values to this table.
17. This situation report, together with further information regarding on-going emergencies, is also available on the Reliefweb.
For detailed information please contact:
OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
Ms. Eliane Provó Kluit
Tel. +66819129854
Email : provokluit@un.org
Desk Officers:
(NY)Ms. Kendra CleggMr. Jean Verheyden
Tel. +1 646 416 1140
Email: clegg@un.org
(GVA)Mr. Jean Verheyden
Tel: + 41 79 509 8116
Email: verheyden@un.org
Press contact
(NY)Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. + 1 917 367 5126
(GVA)Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. + 41 22 917 2653
No talks with politicians
Tapan rules out relief talks with politicians
Wed, Nov 21st, 2007 12:32 am BdST
DHAKA, Nov 20 (bdnews24.com) – Disaster management adviser Tapan Chowdhury and lieutenant general Masud Uddin Chowdhury Tuesday ruled out the need for any meeting with politicians to face the aftermath of cyclone Sidr.
"Businessmen are able to reach commodities direct to cyclone victims. That's why we held a meeting with them. But there is no need to sit with the politicians," Tapan told reporters after a meeting with business leaders at the food and disaster management ministry.
Masud Uddin, the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, who also attended the meeting, said: "I don't think it's necessary to sit with politicians for relief operations."
But both said there was no bar on politicians to join forces with relief operations for the Sidr survivors.
Tapan called upon all, including the politicians, to come forward to work together to help the victims.
"It is the responsibility of politicians to stand by people in times of a crisis," he said.
The meeting was designed to chart out ways to cope with the aftermath of the Nov 15 cyclone that affected about 40,000 people in different districts.
Wed, Nov 21st, 2007 12:32 am BdST
DHAKA, Nov 20 (bdnews24.com) – Disaster management adviser Tapan Chowdhury and lieutenant general Masud Uddin Chowdhury Tuesday ruled out the need for any meeting with politicians to face the aftermath of cyclone Sidr.
"Businessmen are able to reach commodities direct to cyclone victims. That's why we held a meeting with them. But there is no need to sit with the politicians," Tapan told reporters after a meeting with business leaders at the food and disaster management ministry.
Masud Uddin, the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, who also attended the meeting, said: "I don't think it's necessary to sit with politicians for relief operations."
But both said there was no bar on politicians to join forces with relief operations for the Sidr survivors.
Tapan called upon all, including the politicians, to come forward to work together to help the victims.
"It is the responsibility of politicians to stand by people in times of a crisis," he said.
The meeting was designed to chart out ways to cope with the aftermath of the Nov 15 cyclone that affected about 40,000 people in different districts.
A News Commentary for the Commonwealth Members
The Commonwealth Summit is going to take place in Uganda on November 23rd. The Summit will feature how a group of 53 member nations is faring in the most challenging world environment. It represents one third of the World Population who still lives in the dire needs with a grim prospect. The Commonwealth is being challenged once again to prove its relevance in the changing world affair where member nations feature the most disadvantaged people of the world in hunger, poverty, inequality and political instability. Read the following column from Uganda:
The poorest of the poor live in the Commowealth!
Source: The New Vision
Publication date: Tuesday, 20th November, 2007
By: Opiyo Oloya
TOMORROW, the who-is-who of the commonwealth will start arriving in Kampala for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) starting Friday through Sunday.
The three-day event will bring members of the 53-member organisation ranging from the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru (pop. 13,000) to giant India with a whopping population of 1.1 billion people. There will be smiles everywhere, handshakes, beautiful speeches, wining and dining as Uganda plays the perfect host.
There will also undoubtedly be some declarations toward doing more to improve the lot of the collective two billion- plus people represented at this conference. The real issues, however, will be politely skirted around to maintain the bonhomie of the occasion.
Firstly, there is the problem of the widening economic and social gap between developing and developed countries. Since the organisation was founded in 1931, only four members, namely the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have moved forward to established exuberant economies to support higher standards of living for their citizens. South Africa, the fifth original member has lagged behind the other four in development.
Today, the per capita income for the average South African is $5,390 per annum (still better than most members of the commonwealth) compared to $36,000 for Canada and $40,000 for Britain. The disparity between the poor and the rich members of the commonwealth is exacerbated by the preferential trade agreements that the latter groups continue to strike with other non-members of the commonwealth.
Canada has North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and the United States, and is keenly pursuing expanding trade with China. Instead of looking for closer economic ties with the poor members of the commonwealth, Britain has its European brethren to do business with. Australia has the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to trade with and does not have to worry about the lot of poor commonwealth countries in Africa.
In fact, the bulk of extremely poor people roaming the earth today live within the commonwealth member nations, where the notion of economic independence is something dreamed about but remains forever illusive due partly to circumstances beyond their control. Bangladesh, for example, has just suffered the devastating blow from Cyclone Sidr which has devastated a vast swath of coastal areas of the impoverished nation and killed at least 2,000 people. Any talk of progress for these victims is mere hyperbole—they are living real misery in real time.
But poor governance has also kept the majority of commonwealth nations from moving toward economic prosperity. Think here of Zimbabwe once touted as the economic showcase for Africa, now reduced to a leprous outsider that everyone avoids. As Mugabe marches to his own drums, deluded in the belief that he is somehow making progress for his people, it is ironic that one of the major points of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration of the 1991 CHOGM in Zimbabwe loftily stated: “we believe in the liberty of the individual under the law, in equal rights for all citizens regardless of gender, race, colour, creed or political belief, and in the individual’s inalienable right to participate by means of free and democratic political processes in framing the society in which he or she lives.” Really? In any event, this is not just about Zimbabwe.
This is about the not so beautiful people who populate each of the commonwealth countries, the marginalised people that the conference will not talk about, the ones who have been rejected by the world around them, will toil on, oblivious that there is a gathering on their behalf somewhere in Africa. Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper, for example, will strike a rich pose among the other leaders, looking smug as the leader of one of the most stable democracies in the world. Yet, what he will not admit, and his handlers will never allow anyone to question is his government’s commitments to fighting poverty back home in Canada.
Here in Toronto, for instance, as the winter sets in, the homeless people sleep uneasily on the frozen streets. When Mark Warner the Conservative candidate in Toronto Centre dared to talk about the poor in Toronto, he was tossed out of the ruling party several weeks ago.
The real question is, if Harper’s party is not keen to talk about poverty at home, why should the prime minister be serious about tackling poverty in less fortunate places far away in Africa? For that matter, why should Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard care about the dying in northern Uganda when he has practically ignored anything to do with his country’s aboriginals, leaving them to wallow in their miseries because according to him, they deserve nothing?
Indeed, host President Yoweri Museveni, speaking to young delegates last week, nailed the essence of the problem when he said: “We want all the countries of the Commonwealth to transit from third world to first world. We do not want third world countries in the Commonwealth. That means that, the wealth is not common.”
Unfortunately, the beautiful people of the commonwealth will not be interested in this kind of talk. Instead, they will find something else to talk about, like how General Pervez Musharraf is destroying Pakistan. There will be plenty of posturing as nations take sides to make an example of Pakistan. All the while, none of the developed nations will want to talk about opening up markets for developing nations to sell their products or to export technology that would be relevant for development. Then the time will come to disperse, and everyone will congratulate Uganda for being such wonderful host while quickly forgetting what the host said about taking Third World out of the commonwealth—and why should they remember it?
This, after all, is the commonwealth where your wealth is mine and my wealth is mine alone.
Opiyo.oloya@sympatico.ca
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Cyclone Sidr News Coverage
We're monitoring the news coverage of Cyclone Sidr and the relief and rehabilitation works that are undergoing.
- PBS news reports,
"The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the Islamic equivalent of the Red Cross, warned that the death toll could rise to 10,000 once rescuers reach outlying islands, according to the Associated Press...International aid organizations promised initial packages of $25 million during a meeting with Bangladeshi agencies Monday, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that several million dollars were available from the U.N.'s emergency response funds, reported the AP.
Other governments have offered assistance, including Britain -- $5 million, the European Union -- $2.2 million, the United States -- $2.1 million, France -- $730,000, Germany -- $730,000, and the Philippines said it would send a medical team. About 3 million survivors, who were evacuated from low-lying areas or had their homes destroyed in the massive storm, were in need of government help..."
- Listen to the Bangladesh's Ambassador in Washington, DC Mr. Humayun Kabir's interview at PBS News Hour
- Telegraph: Death Toll Hits 15, 000
- NBC Nightly News:
Extent of Bangladesh disaster emerges - National Public Radio: Sidr leaves thousands dead
- CNN's News Video: Survivors grieve
- BBC News Video: Aid Battle for Bangladesh
Monday, November 19, 2007
Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh
Click the picture to see a slide show on Cyclone Sidr's destruction in Bangladesh
Watch CNN's Coverage:
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Help Bangladesh
Watch MSNBC report
Cyclone Sidr has devastated Bangladesh. The number of deaths is growing. Millions have been displaced. Bangladesh is racing against time to help the millions of victims. Look at the devastation of the Sidr Victims in Pictures presented by BBC. You can also click here to watch BBC's video coverage on Sidr's devastation. BDnews24 is updating the rescue efforts in Bangladesh. Come forward to help the Sidr victims in Bangladesh. We have provided a contact list at the end for you. Please Help Bangladesh to reach Sidr Victims. Let’s Humanity wins once again.
BDnews reports,
Cyclone Sidr has devastated Bangladesh. The number of deaths is growing. Millions have been displaced. Bangladesh is racing against time to help the millions of victims. Look at the devastation of the Sidr Victims in Pictures presented by BBC. You can also click here to watch BBC's video coverage on Sidr's devastation. BDnews24 is updating the rescue efforts in Bangladesh. Come forward to help the Sidr victims in Bangladesh. We have provided a contact list at the end for you. Please Help Bangladesh to reach Sidr Victims. Let’s Humanity wins once again.
BDnews reports,
Grieving survivors and rescuers picked through the rubble left in the wake of a super cyclone that battered Bangladesh as the death toll surpassed 2,200 Sunday and a government official declared the disaster "a national calamity". Mohammad Abdur Rob, chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, said the overall death toll from the cyclone could reach 10,000. "Based on our experience in the past and reports from the scene I would guess the death toll may be as high as 10,000," he told reporters.Help Bangladesh Victims:
Bangladesh officials also expected the death toll to rise as the search for hundreds of people missing after Thursday night's storm intensified. According to the latest tally released by the disaster management ministry, the death toll from the super cyclone reached 2,217. Local officials in affected areas say the death toll given by the ministry is far below the real numbers. "Some 2,000 people have died in my area alone," said Anwar Panchayet, chairman of Southkhali, in the district of Bagerhat.
Military ships and helicopters were trying to reach thousands of people believed stranded on islands in the Bay of Bengal and in coastal areas still cut off by the devastating storm. A huge effort was underway to get food, drinking water and shelter to tens of thousands affected by the storm, the worst to hit disaster-prone Bangladesh since 1991 when nearly 143,000 people died.
- Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
- Chief Adviser’s Relief and Welfare Fund
- Donating money from the USA
- Control Room of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management
- Reach the nearest Bangladesh Embassy
- Care Bangladesh
- InterAction
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: On line Donation Form
- Oxfam
- Save the Children
- UN Humanitarian Action
- World Vision
Friday, November 16, 2007
Police Protection for the BNP Faction
The fairness and neutrality goes down as the army backed Caretaker government (CTG) in Bangladesh takes side with one faction. The CTG has no business to provide shelter for factional groups and follow the footprints of the previous military governments to favor one political group over the others. This news shows how the army backed CTG wants to redesign the political landscape. If they have no vested interest in this party sheltering business, they should have left it alone. Read the following news from Reuters:
Rebel politicians get police protection in Bangladesh
Wed Nov 14, 2007
DHAKA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A rebel faction of one of Bangladesh's main political groups entered the central offices of their party under heavy police guard on Wednesday, signalling a major change in the country's political landscape.
The offices of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of detained former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia had been locked since January when the army-backed interim government took charge and banned all political activity.
Witnesses said police cordoned off the BNP headquarters in Dhaka to allow reformists to enter the building.
The BNP rebel faction, led by Khaleda's former finance minister Saifur Rahman and ex-commerce minister Hafizuddin Ahmed, has been invited by the Election Commission (EC) to talks on Nov. 22 to prepare for delayed elections.
An election planned for Jan. 22 was cancelled at the start of the year following months of violence.
Khaleda demanded the EC invitation to Hafizuddin's group be withdrawn, threatening legal action against the commission if it is not.
While a response from the EC is still awaited, the authorities reopened the BNP office to the rebels, who call themselves reformists.
Witnesses said the newly emerged top dissidents in Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) entered its central office at Dhaka's Naya Paltan area under heavy police guard.
Reporters at the scene said police also took up positions on roads and alleys around the BNP office, fearing that Khaleda loyalists, led by ousted BNP secretary-general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, might storm the office.
"We are here to keep order and see that no violence occurs," said one police officer.
Khaleda has been in jail since early September facing charges of corruption and abuse of power. Her bitter rival Sheikh Hasina, another former prime minister and chief of the Awami League, has also been in prison since July, awaiting possible trial for similar charges.
The interim authority, headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, says it remains firmly committed to hold a free and fair election before end of next year.
(Reporting by Anis Ahmed; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
Rebel politicians get police protection in Bangladesh
Wed Nov 14, 2007
DHAKA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A rebel faction of one of Bangladesh's main political groups entered the central offices of their party under heavy police guard on Wednesday, signalling a major change in the country's political landscape.
The offices of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of detained former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia had been locked since January when the army-backed interim government took charge and banned all political activity.
Witnesses said police cordoned off the BNP headquarters in Dhaka to allow reformists to enter the building.
The BNP rebel faction, led by Khaleda's former finance minister Saifur Rahman and ex-commerce minister Hafizuddin Ahmed, has been invited by the Election Commission (EC) to talks on Nov. 22 to prepare for delayed elections.
An election planned for Jan. 22 was cancelled at the start of the year following months of violence.
Khaleda demanded the EC invitation to Hafizuddin's group be withdrawn, threatening legal action against the commission if it is not.
While a response from the EC is still awaited, the authorities reopened the BNP office to the rebels, who call themselves reformists.
Witnesses said the newly emerged top dissidents in Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) entered its central office at Dhaka's Naya Paltan area under heavy police guard.
Reporters at the scene said police also took up positions on roads and alleys around the BNP office, fearing that Khaleda loyalists, led by ousted BNP secretary-general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, might storm the office.
"We are here to keep order and see that no violence occurs," said one police officer.
Khaleda has been in jail since early September facing charges of corruption and abuse of power. Her bitter rival Sheikh Hasina, another former prime minister and chief of the Awami League, has also been in prison since July, awaiting possible trial for similar charges.
The interim authority, headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, says it remains firmly committed to hold a free and fair election before end of next year.
(Reporting by Anis Ahmed; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
European Commission on Human Rights in Bangladesh
European Commission to seek govt’s clarification on HR issues
Raheed Ejaz
Source: New Age
November 15, 2007
The European Commission may ask the government to make its position clear on a number of human rights issues that are a matter of concern for the West.The commission is set to raise the issues of their concern at a joint commission meeting scheduled in Dhaka on November 20-21, diplomatic sources told New Age on Wednesday.
The European diplomats have question marks over some cases of rights abuse, including custodial deaths and maltreatment of under-trial prisoners. ‘Such issues will be discussed,’ an envoy said. However, a foreign ministry official pointed out that the European Commission would ‘understandably’ not be much vocal about the governance issues like it did in earlier years; instead human rights issues might come up prominently in this year’s meeting.
Issues in two other segments — social development and trade and economic development — apart from human rights and good governance are included in the agenda of the two-day sub-group level meeting of the European Commission-Bangladesh joint commission. ‘They are more or less satisfied with the state of governance, especially the improvement made since the present caretaker government took office,’ the foreign ministry official said, referring to measures such as strengthening of Anti-Corruption Commission, separation of the judiciary from the executive and crackdown on corruption.
The EC officials might inquire about ‘detailed picture’ of the cases of human rights violation. ‘We are not convinced about the way detainees are being treated in custody, especially the death of Cholesh Richil [a Santal community leader],’ said a diplomat of a European country.
In a resolution on September 6, 2007, members of the European Parliament voiced concerns over the interim government’s actions including ‘the disproportionate response of the military and the police’ against the student protests and also questioned the arrest and justification for detention of two former prime ministers — Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
Helen Campbell, a senior official of the Asia directorate of the EC headquarters in Brussels, is expected to lead the EC team in the talks. The home side will be led by three joint secretary-level officials of law ministry, commerce ministry and Planning Commission.
Raheed Ejaz
Source: New Age
November 15, 2007
The European Commission may ask the government to make its position clear on a number of human rights issues that are a matter of concern for the West.The commission is set to raise the issues of their concern at a joint commission meeting scheduled in Dhaka on November 20-21, diplomatic sources told New Age on Wednesday.
The European diplomats have question marks over some cases of rights abuse, including custodial deaths and maltreatment of under-trial prisoners. ‘Such issues will be discussed,’ an envoy said. However, a foreign ministry official pointed out that the European Commission would ‘understandably’ not be much vocal about the governance issues like it did in earlier years; instead human rights issues might come up prominently in this year’s meeting.
Issues in two other segments — social development and trade and economic development — apart from human rights and good governance are included in the agenda of the two-day sub-group level meeting of the European Commission-Bangladesh joint commission. ‘They are more or less satisfied with the state of governance, especially the improvement made since the present caretaker government took office,’ the foreign ministry official said, referring to measures such as strengthening of Anti-Corruption Commission, separation of the judiciary from the executive and crackdown on corruption.
The EC officials might inquire about ‘detailed picture’ of the cases of human rights violation. ‘We are not convinced about the way detainees are being treated in custody, especially the death of Cholesh Richil [a Santal community leader],’ said a diplomat of a European country.
In a resolution on September 6, 2007, members of the European Parliament voiced concerns over the interim government’s actions including ‘the disproportionate response of the military and the police’ against the student protests and also questioned the arrest and justification for detention of two former prime ministers — Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
Helen Campbell, a senior official of the Asia directorate of the EC headquarters in Brussels, is expected to lead the EC team in the talks. The home side will be led by three joint secretary-level officials of law ministry, commerce ministry and Planning Commission.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Dr. Ahmed Ziauddin on War Crime
Source: VOA Bangla
Listen the interview (Bangla)
In an interview with VOA Bangla Service, Dr. Ahmed Ziauddin, an expert on International Law and Director for Center for Bangladesh Genocide Studies in Belgium said that the government of Bangladesh should take initiatives for the trial of the War Criminals of Bangladesh.
Dr. Ziauddin, a lawyer, said that there are provisions both in Bangladeshi law as well as International law to bring the perpetrators of war crime to justice.
Dr. Ziauddin refutes the claim made by General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the Islamic fundamentalist parties accused of committing war crimes in Bangladesh that there was no war criminals in Bangladesh. He says that people who either committed the crime or assisted in carrying on the crime or were apathetic in resisting it deserve to be brought to justice.
Dr. Ziauddin said while he welcomes Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed’s recent comments that if cases were filed and crimes were proven against the war criminals of 1971, government will not deter to punish, he also feels that it is the duty of the government to initiate the cases and take initiatives in punishing the criminals. He also said that parties who exploit religion for political reasons should not be allowed to participate in Election and Bangladesh Election Commission should bar them from getting registered as political parties.
Listen the interview (Bangla)
|
In an interview with VOA Bangla Service, Dr. Ahmed Ziauddin, an expert on International Law and Director for Center for Bangladesh Genocide Studies in Belgium said that the government of Bangladesh should take initiatives for the trial of the War Criminals of Bangladesh.
Dr. Ziauddin, a lawyer, said that there are provisions both in Bangladeshi law as well as International law to bring the perpetrators of war crime to justice.
Dr. Ziauddin refutes the claim made by General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the Islamic fundamentalist parties accused of committing war crimes in Bangladesh that there was no war criminals in Bangladesh. He says that people who either committed the crime or assisted in carrying on the crime or were apathetic in resisting it deserve to be brought to justice.
Dr. Ziauddin said while he welcomes Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed’s recent comments that if cases were filed and crimes were proven against the war criminals of 1971, government will not deter to punish, he also feels that it is the duty of the government to initiate the cases and take initiatives in punishing the criminals. He also said that parties who exploit religion for political reasons should not be allowed to participate in Election and Bangladesh Election Commission should bar them from getting registered as political parties.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
A Pakistan without General Musharraf
Will the Bangladesh Army learn from General Musharraf at least by looking at the picture?
Read the blog Micropakistan's posting on "A Pakistan without Musharraf"
Detain and Deport Jamaat Chief Nizami
PRESS RELEASE
BRITISH HOME SECRETARY ASKED TO DETAIN AND
DEPORT JAMAAT CHIEF NIZAMI
A group of Barristers and community activists today (12.11.2007) sent a notice to British Home Secretary Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith to cancel Mr. Nizami’s UK visa, detain and remove him from United Kingdom, because his presence in UK was not conducive to public good, for his alleged promotion of terrorism, involvement in killings and for his active participation in “propagating, instigating, planning and supervising crimes that resulted in killings of millions of unarmed civilians in 1971 in Bangladesh.”
Mr. Nizami is currently visiting UK. The petitioners referred to Mr. Nizami’s alleged involvement as President of Islami Chattra Shangha and head of notorious Para-military organization, the Al-Badar, in Crime of Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes and other international crimes during Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
The notice also referred to cases filed against Mr. Nizami regarding his alleged involvement in August 21. 2004 grenade attacks on Awami League rally, his attempt to divert attention to potential threats of Islamic terrorists in Bangladesh by characterizing such reports on terrorists as “media’s creation” and killing of Worker Party activist on October 28, 2006.
Referring specific provisions of law, the notice pointed out failures of the British government to take into account, while issuing visa, facts that Mr. Nizami has been charged in Bangladesh with a criminal offence, his involvement or suspected involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide, alleged support or encouragements of terrorist activities, for expressing views shielding terrorist activities.
The petitioners reminded the Home Secretary of UK Government policy to detain or deport a suspected War Criminal to ensure public safety. It mentioned that Mr. Nizami’s presence in UK “is a danger to public” and his visa is revoked forthwith and he is detained for public safety. The petitioners further mentioned that Mr. Nizami could be prosecuted under Geneva Convention and or under the UK’s relevant War Crimes Act.
The notice was signed, amongst others, by Barrister Chowdhury Hafizur Rahman, Barrister Showgatul Anwar Khan, Barrister M. Mazedul Islam, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Milton, Barrister Abul Kalam Chowdhury and Journalist Mr. Prashanto B. Barua.
London, November 12, 2007
For further information please contact:
Chowdhury Hafizur Rahman:
18 Goodmayes Road, Ilford, Essex IG3 9UN, United Kingdom
Tel: 0044 07931643223(m) email: lawlibertylife@aol.com.
12 Academics Jailed and Tortured in Bangladesh
Source: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Action Alerts
12 Academics Jailed and Tortured in Bangladesh
FACTS OF THE CASE:
The American Society of Plant Biologists urges immediate action on behalf of plant biologist Dr. Anwar Hossain and 11 of his prominent academic colleagues at the University of Dhaka and Rajshahi University, Bangladesh (see list below). These professors were arrested and jailed in August 2007 and remain in custody to this day. The arrests were made by a Joint Task Force under the direction of the Director General Forces Intelligence (DGFI), the central intelligence agency of the Bangladeshi armed services, in connection with student protests, and the arrested academics have not been charged with any crime.
On August 20, 2007 at a soccer game at Dhaka University a group of soldiers complained that several students were obstructing their view, and they began thrashing the students. Almost immediately large numbers of students turned on the soldiers. There was a riot. It spread to other campuses in the city and within a day to other campuses across the country. Many students were injured and imprisoned—one was killed. Meanwhile, the Dhaka University Teacher’s Association (DUTA), led by its General Secretary, the aforementioned Dr. Hossain, attempted to calm the situation. Indeed, faculty officers of DUTA met on August 23, 2007 with senior members of the DGFI and offered their cooperation. That night at 12:15AM, teams led by DGFI officers entered the campus apartments of Dr. Hossain and three other senior Dhaka University faculty members, each of whom was taken from their families and imprisoned. There is strong evidence that these professors and their arrested colleagues from Rajshahi University were tortured for several days, and they are still being held in prison with minimal access to family, attorneys, and medical care. Several articles published in the Bangladeshi and American press provide additional details about the arrests and the events that precipitated them.
See, for example:
Article 1 Aug. 21, 2007
Article 2 Aug. 22, 2007
Article 3 Aug. 22, 2007
Article 4 Aug. 25, 2007
Article 5 Aug. 28, 2007
Article 6 Nov. 2, 2007
A more personal account – that of Dr. Hossain’s son, Sanjeeb, who witnessed his father’s arrest – is available here:
In addition to the 12 professors, an unknown number of students from both universities have also been arrested, and concern for their well-being is growing as well. Indeed, on September 4, 2007 Secretary General Irene Khan of Amnesty International, in a letter to Bangladesh’s leader, Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, called for authorities to ensure that all human rights violations reported in the context of recent student unrest be thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice. Khan further stated that use of excessive force, as well as reports of torture and ill treatment of detainees while being interrogated by military intelligence personnel are matters of deep concern. Moreover, the detainees’ denial of access to lawyers and family members is in clear violation of international human rights standards.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D - MA) in a letter of October 26, 2007 to M. Humayun Kabir, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Washington, D.C., urged the Bangladeshi government to release the 12 professors and any students who have also been detained for political reasons. Sen. Kennedy further stated that “holding these twelve men without charge and for political reasons is a major assault on the integrity and independence of the academic community of your nation and calls into question your government's commitment to human rights and the rule of law.”
Take immediate action:
Send or fax letters urging the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Hossain, his eleven faculty colleagues, and any detained students to:
- Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed, Chief Advisor
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Tejgaon, Dhaka, Banglades
Fax: 880-2-811-3244 or 3243
- His Excellency M. Humayun Kabir
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Embassy of Bangladesh
3510 International Drive, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Fax: (202) 244-7830 or 2771
- General Moeen U Ahmed, Chief of Staff
Bangladesh Army
Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Your letters might also echo Amnesty International’s call for the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure that all violations reported in the context of these events on August 20, 2007 and shortly thereafter are investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice. And you might further wish to express your concern regarding the use of to ture during the detention of these professors and students.
Detained Academics
Professor Anwar Hossain, Dean, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dhaka University
Professor Harunor-Rashid, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science, Dhaka University
Professor Sadrul Amin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Departmentof English, Dhaka University
Professor Neem Chandra Bhoumik, Department of Applied Physics, Dhaka University
Professor Saidur Rahman Khan, Former Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University
Professor Abdus Sobhan, Department of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, Rajshahi University
Professor Moloy Kumar Bhowmik, Department of Management, Rajshahi University
Professor Abdullah Al Mamun, Department of English and Department of Mass Communications, Rajshahi University
Professor Selim Reza Newton, Department of Mass Communications, Rajshahi University
Professor Dulal Chandra Biswas, Department of Mass Communications, Rajshahi University
Professor Sabbir Sattar Tapu, Department of Geology and Mining, Rajshahi University
Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal, Department of Geology and Mining, Rajshahi University
This Action Alert was posted by the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program on behalf of the The American Society of Plant Biologists.
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