Unheard Voices

Independent young lawyears speak up. These days it is hard to find a newspaper story on lawyears who are without any party affiliation. Here is a new group that emerged who are not with any Ainjibi parishad and are relatively young. These are the voices that can change Bangladesh.

Today, the entire fabric of our society is under imminent threat, subject to repeated attacks and being rent asunder by extremist forces bent on imposing their totalitarian and intolerant views upon the entire population. Constitutionalism, rule of law and each and every organ of the State, i.e. the legislature, the judiciary and the executive, are under direct physical attack.

In this context, we call upon those in the current administration committed to keeping alive the values of tolerance and pluralism, and to halting the relentless spate of violence through bombings and killings, to take immediate steps to distance themselves from all religious extremists including the Jamaat-e-Islami and to authorize independent impartial and effective investigations into the various incidents of bombing to date.

The administrative machinery of the State must take immediate and effective measures to ensure the security of the citizens of the country, and at this moment especially of the judiciary, lawyers and all those involved in the delivery of justice, regardless of political or other affiliations. Our affiliation, duty and loyalty today must be first and foremost to the State and citizens of Bangladesh.

Full Statement here

A Historic Perspective from the Post-War Generation

M Arman sent us this article and it is indeed a very thorough and objective analysis on the rise of extremism in Bangladesh. A lot of this will be known to all. But read through it and a complete picture will emerge on how slowly but steadily we have come to where we are today.

Thanks Arman. We need more young people like you to speak up.

Here is the complete write up

Here we go again

Is the Prime Minister listening?

Late Update:
Video Update Warning: very graphic

Maybe one day, instead of pointing the finger of blame at each other, our leaders will work together towards real, constructive approaches to tackling issues of national importance - giving us a safe and happy home.

Will this help at all?

Nov 29, Daily Star Editorial excerpt: “After all that the extremists have done in the recent months, it would no longer be wise for the government and the opposition to play any blame game which only creates pportunities for the forces of intolerance to cause damage to the nation, but to face them head on.”

To that, I just want to add “……..face them head on, together, united”.

As China reports today that bird flu virus in human have mutated, we our raising our red flag and sending out this alert for immediate attention as Bangladesh is alarmingly unprepared to handle this crisis. Millions of people are at risk of dying.
Full alert is here.

The Reuters’ resource page for Bird Flu.

Nov 22, ‘05 The New York Times Editorial by Zahin Hasan:
Avian Flu: Why the chicken virus crossed the border.

Nov 27, ‘05: “Bangladesh takes step to prevent bird flu outbreak.” - is this sufficient?

How the world is preparing.

From the UN FAO newsroom archives: Countries along migratory routes of wild birds should be on alert - emergency preparedness essential.

Are WE ready?

Nov 28, ‘05: A housewife’s innovation has changed the lives of 80 poor families in Kechhuadubi village in Magura Sadar upazila. Every year thousands of mats made from meley (a cane-like plant) plant find their way to adjoining districts of Jhenidah, Kushtia, Razbari, Faridpur and even to Dhaka, the villagers benefiting from the innovation.

Nov 29, ‘05: Shamima Khatun, a winner of Global Microentrepreneurship Awards in Bangladesh, attend the UN gala Tuesday in New York. A wholesaler of vegetables, Shamima has been adjudged the winner of the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” organised by Citigroup Foundation, and UN Capital Development Fund. Shamima represented Bangladesh at the closing ceremony of the International Year of Microcredit.

These are but a few of the recent inspiring examples in the news of how entrepreneurship and innovation can better address poverty and destitution than handouts.

The media by giving excessive coverage of militants are in fact contributing to the rise of religious militancy in the country, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Matiur Rahman Nizami said in an interview with private TV channel ATN Bangla. Full news coverage here.

Mahfuz Anam writes today, “At last the mystery of the sudden, dramatic and vicious rise of religious extremism has been ‘revealed’, and that also by no less a person than the Ameer of Jamaat himself. Guess who the real culprit is — but, of course the media. And who, in the media, is the vilest of them all? You guessed it right again. It is The Daily Star.”
Read the full commentary for details.

Nov 29, 2005: Jamaat statement in response to Nov 27 Daily Star Editor Commentary.

While the authority is busy blaming the media, “Certain Middle East-based international non-governmental organisations operating in the country are still untouched despite months-old intelligence confirmation of their financing the Islamist militant outfits.” -Nov 26, The Daily Star.

Nov 27, ‘05: Editorial - Terror financing by NGOs

And top associates of known militants are released only hours after arrest - Nov 28,2005, The Daily Star.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government are preparing to meet this weekend in Malta, and one of the issues they will be discussing is how to bridge the so-called digital divide - the gap between those in the industrialised world who have access to information technology, and those in the developing world who do not. According to a BBC Report, Bangladesh has already taken a commendable step in the right direction with our “telephone ladies”. Thanks to innovative finance, Bangladesh’s villages are joining the digital age.

Will Bangladesh be an international trendsetter by harnessing technology to aid the poor?

Earlier this year, in mid July, Iqbal Quadir, founder of Grameen Phone, spoke at the TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Global conference and said, “The only way we can depend on each other is if we connect with each other. Connectivity leads to dependability which leads to specialisation and then productivity.”

More recent endeavors include work on Internet Connectivity in rural Bangladesh. Will Bangladesh ride the $100 laptop per child bandwagon? Already the use of computers and technology in rural schools is slowly gaining ground.

Innovative application of technology in rural Bangladesh does not stop there though - bridging the gap in informational access has applications even in the “fight against corruption” at a grassroots level.

In the health sector, harnessing technology has led to the ambitious projects of Telemedicine and doctors’ education through CD-ROMs.

One cause for concern is that sluggish pace in project implementation might mean technology will move on before the required infrastructure can be put in place, for example in the case of the proposed national wireless internet network.

Nov 28, 2005: Bill Gates to visit Dhaka, Dec 9,10.. The Daily Star reports, “Gates might call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia during his brief stay in Dhaka, and is likely to discuss how Bangladesh could collaborate with Microsoft in bridging the digital divide in the country.”

“During the industrial revolution, our country was left behind. This doesn’t have to happen again.”: Minister, Science and ICT Ministry, at the inauguration of the five-day SoftExpo 2005 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

BBC reports: The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party has expelled an MP who accused the government of backing the rise of Islamic militants. Read the Daily Star news here.

Comments in response.

Comments, dated Nov 19, 2005.

Nov 26: The Opposition speaks on this topic

Another voice?

“Militancy - the burning issue of the moment”

Nov 27: Undeterred and vocal?

Nov 28: Editorial in The Daily Star

Will we continue to be able to hear these voices of dissent?

The Asian Centre for Human Rights reports in its ACHR REVIEW: “Bangladesh: Judges under the attacks of the Jihadis”. Click here to access the full report.

excerpt:
“Since the August 17th bombing, the judges have come under serious attacks from the Jihadis. Between 17 August and 20 November 2005, four persons including two senior assistant judges Sohel Ahmed of Sadar Upazila Court and judge Jagannath Parey of Nalchhiti Upazila Court were killed in the direct attacks on the judges; six other judges and lawyers were attacked; and 13 judges received death threats.”

No signs of stopping yet: Nov 29, 2005, 3 more Judges receive death threats, Mymensingh Press Club to be blown up in 15 days.

Yet security is yet to be stepped up for Judges.

The BBC has conducted one of the most comprehensive surveys ever undertaken in Bangladesh.

The Pulse of Bangladesh Survey questioned 5,000 ordinary people from all over the country, including both city and rural areas to find out how Bangladeshis see themselves and their country.

74% of Bangladeshis surveyed declared that they are happy with their life today, 97% stated that religion is very important and for 72% spending time with family is the most popular leisure time activity.

National pride is universally felt, with 96% being proud to be Bangladeshi and 69% preferring to be recognised as Bangladeshi over religious or other affiliations. Most admired were the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.

A photo essay based on this survey: Text - Alastair Lawson, - Farjana Khan Godhuly

Startling admission from Bangladesh Police today

A forgotten war hero
Death anniversary of Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman again passes off unnoticed: No memorial built
Rajat Kanti Goswami, Moulvibazar

As in the past, the 35th death anniversary of Bir Shrestha Sepoy Hamidur Rahman passed off unnoticed this year also, without any programme by any organisation.
There was none to recollect the galantry of the great freedom fighter at Dhalai in Moulvibazar, where he laid down his life on October 28, 1971, fighting for independence.

Even after 34 years of his death, there is no monument built to honour the hero.

Hamidur Rahman was born in Dumuria village in 24-Pargana district in West Bengal in 1944. His family later settled at Khalishpur village in Khulna.

Hamidur joined the then East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) in late 1970. After the crackdown by the Pakistani occupation forces, the young man left EPR and joined the Liberation War.

Hamidur Rahman was awarded the highest state honour Bir Shrestha for his gallantry during the Liberation War but nothing was done to preserve his memory after the war.

In 1992, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) erected a memorial plaque at Dhalai BoP (border outpost).

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs took up a project to build a monument at Dhalai in memory of Hamidur Rahman. Seventy-four decimal lands were acquired from Dhalai Tea Garden for the project. Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman laid the foundation of the monument on April 30, 2003.

But since then there has been no further step to implement the project.

Web Link

It had to happen some day. It happened yesterday. We are getting into uncharted territory here. Next year — the election year — is going to be an interesting one.
More on this from Salam Dhaka

THE DAILY STAR - Editorial
A bright face of Bangladesh
Shamima’s success one of many awaiting recognitions
Shamima, once a poor woman from a remote village in Satkhira district, has done her bit to brighten the image of the country. She has been adjudged the most creative small entrepreneur in a world-wide competition organised by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). Shamima is now attending a special ceremony organised for the small entrepreneurs at the UN headquarters in New York.

The success story of the enterprising woman should convince us that poverty is not an irreversible phenomenon, and also that the right kind of ventures can change the lots of the poor in a very perceptible way. Shamima had started with a paltry amount of money, but is now a proud owner of an establishment where 20 people are employed.

The achievements of Shamima are significant for a number of reasons. It is an example of what a rural woman can achieve if she gets the necessary financial support. Integration of women in the development process is a goal that economists attach great importance to, and nothing can be more effective in this respect than creation of self employment opportunities for the rural women. In Shamima’s case, it worked wonders and for others it will at least ensure a reasonably decent life.

It is welcome news that at least 50 per cent of the rural poor have been brought under the micro-credit programmes in the country. If this trend continues, poverty alleviation will not remain an elusive goal for us in the coming years.

Shamima has demonstrated commendable innovativeness and the ability to diversify her businesses. This could be an object lesson for the small entrepreneurs looking for a breakthrough in their respective fields.

The recognition that Shamima has won from the UNCDF is also a recognition of the tremendous contribution that women are making to our national economy. There is no doubt that the target of economic emancipation of the masses cannot be achieved until things change for the better at the grassroots level. Shamima is a symbol of hope for the millions of poor struggling to ward off the challenge of poverty. She has shown the path.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/11/08/d51108020129.htm
http://thedailystar.net/2005/11/10/d51110012419p.htm