Tue 28 Aug 2007
Conspiracy theories and the photo that rocked the boat
Posted by admin under Censorship , Foreign Media , Media , PoliticsLot of theories and counter-theories are flying by regarding the last week’s incidents. We have some news stories that have been shared by the commenters in the blog which points to a conspiracy by the students and teachers led by political parties. While there may certainly be meat to the allegation of conspiracy, we, however, have not seen any news report that did its own investigation and presented evidence to support the theories. Rather, we detect a trend of having a trial by media of the accused people. None of these reporters actually care to interview both the sides in the incident and do their own investigation and in stead quote unnamed sources and allegations without any references or evidence. Also some reports tend to quote goyenda (investigator) sources which are itself a party at the incident. Alarmingly several newspapers are publishing news stories which are exactly identical in nature. At this time of news censorship in Bangladesh, we understand the difficulty in publishing objective news. Without discounting the conspiracy theories put forward by these various reports, we hope we get a balanced picture and a thorough investigative report done by their own reporter by credible print media and at the same time we hope due process is followed in treating the accused. We await an objective report by the enquiry commission of what happened. In the mean time, foreign news reporters are covering this issue. One such report today came out in BBC which interviews all the sides and presents a good overview on the outcry that followed the publication of the much talked about picture.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Actually conspiracy theory and National Security are the talk of the town. Some people have made this thing so lite that
It seems they are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or
Ian Fleming .one thing I am slightly differ with you Asif I think in current scenario
It is very difficult to get both side interviews. I don’t think Current administration of Bangladesh has any wish to
give any true picture to local and international media rather to impose some medieval law of freedom of press. Basically
those incidents remind me the Copernicus versus Ptolemy theory of Astro physics.
Our current administrator has no difference
with the medieval Europe where difference of opinion was buried without caring.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
You have to love the military’s schedule of priorities.
They have on their hands a country in political turmoil, street riots and an increasingly hungry populace… and what do they choose to concentrate on? Some punk on the street who had the temerity to take a potshot at a soldier.
This government is doomed.
August 28th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I am getting many emails from different yahoo- groups recently, about the students’ protest and current situation in Bangladesh.In one such email , a current BUET student has mentioned that the decision to support the students was taken in a DU sydicate meeting. Is that true? If that is true, then why they have arrested only two of those teachers? About the conspiracy theory, I would like to say that all our movements(’52,’69,’71) during Paksitan regime were termed as “conspiracy” by our former rulers.
CTG’s job is to hold a free and fair election, they can take appropiate steps to implement this, drive against corruption is one of them.
But they are taking important decisions about everything, including politics and economy. Advisors of CTG are not elected by the people of Bangladesh so they are not authorized to be the policy makers of our country.Now any question about their action will be termed as “conspiracy”.Another thing I have noticed that USA and world bank are constantly supporting and praising this GOVT,I am sensing a different conspiracy here.
CTG actually don’t know who they are, what they are doing and whom they are working for.Yesterday Mainul Hussein told that this is Military Backed National Govt, today Chief of Army told that this is Caretaker Govt, NOT BACKED by Military!!!
After 36 years of independence, why did we adopt the “Pakistani style” of saving the country? I think Pakistan is the last country that any other country can take lessons from.
August 28th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Pakistan is the first country our military command is taking their “talim” from. Right after takeover they visited Pakistan. DGFI & Masududdin also went separately. They had another visit scheduled. Musharraf has a lot of tips on how to suppress opposition and repress your people.
August 28th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
This is new information for me, so Masud and DGFI have got important tips from Pakistan, I think they have learned fast, what Musharraf has done in several years, CTG has done within 7 months, On next trip they will learn how to build a “RED mosque” !!! That’s all we need now to accomodate those 80 thousands people.
Military has come to restore democracy, Is there any example in history of any country where military has restored democracy?
During awami league and BNP regime, we could write against Jainal Hazari and Bangla Bhai, Now we cannot even do that, this is how democracy has been restored.
August 28th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Re: #4
I agree with Maf Koira Den. Recently, I read “In the Line of Fire”, written by Gen. Musharraf. Surprisingly, I found similarity of comments made by Musharraf and Moeen.
Perhaps, Moeen and Masud “musharraf” kei guru meneche!!!
August 28th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Is the world short of leaders so we have to follow Musharraf? Now I understand why we had army camp in University campus, I heard that in Pakistan, there is no “disturbance” in campus because they have army camps there, we should send some of our professors and students to Pakistan so they can learn how one should accept military rule and be proud of it.
I have a question to all, Military backed GOVT in Pakistan and Bangladesh, are they backed by the same super power?
August 29th, 2007 at 12:50 am
Link to a news story which deals with the subject matter; by Manabzamim, based on interviews:
http://www.manabzamin.net/lead-04.htm
August 29th, 2007 at 2:00 am
The answer to Question #7 is: Yes!
August 29th, 2007 at 5:21 am
1. Is DU an embassy of a foreign country that BD army cannot have camp there?
2. Why police will need permission to enter university? Is it not part of Bangladesh?
3. Whether consipiracy theories are true or false, why the DU students and teachers do not care for existing law of the country? I have heard DR. Anwar Hossain supporting chaos and talking against emergency in TV. Did he forgot he is not above law? How a teacher support destruction?
4. Why students and those who were stoning cars/buring buses do not understand a simple thing. They do not have right to vilolate other people’s right.
5. Are these people responsible for buring properties are Muslims? I sometimes doubt if really 85% Muslims live there or not. Do not they know, they need to answer to Allah for violating rights of others. I think besides technology #1 priority in our education should be “moral values”, in other words, religious teachings.
6. I do not know who gained from this. But is there any doubt students are the loser? When they will realize that this is an idependent country and it is not their duty to lead or start all the “andolons”? How many years they will remain as hostage of politicans?
7. Finally most newspapers has no character. They blindly supported all the anarchy and destruction. They wrote as if Pakistan army attacked DU. Then when govt has forced, they are obeying them blindly. All it matters to them is money and power.
Finally I hope unversities are opened soon and students put their time on study and not on politics. Also I hope DU teachers are forced to put their time on teaching only. Politics should be banned from educational institutions. In 36 years it brought nothing positive.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Further on to the DU incident you may read Farhad Mozhar, Naya Digonto on 28.08.2007.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Boishakhi,
The link that you provided talks about the destruction that followed which has already been covered in this blog. Nothing new there. But I think this thread originally implied the character assassination that is going on in the media by a group. ManabJamin, Amadershomoy, Jugantor, Nayadiganta are all publishing these planted news. Amadershomoy is run by DGFI and it is no new news. Its correspondents are the only one which has access to the Special Court set up. It also gets the managed leaks first. A new trend has now started which is Prothom Alo is now publishing the same planted news 2/3 days after Amadershomoy runs it. Sad day for Bangladeshi media.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
In regard to post #10, point #5, I think it unwise to necessarily equate moral teaching with religious teachings. That sounds like the kind of thing extremists might say to recruit people. I’m not suggesting that the post is doing so, just that while religion should and mostly does encompass good moral teachings, unfortunately, some choose to ignore that and rely on prescribed prayer to get them through their days of hurting other people. We are born into religious backgrounds but very few of us practice religion in the manner prescribed (for better or worse). Similarly, we are born into a world or morals and lack thereof. Whether we choose to practice good morality can sometimes have little to do with our faith.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
“1. Is DU an embassy of a foreign country that BD army cannot have camp there?
2. Why police will need permission to enter university? Is it not part of Bangladesh?”
Not to support violence or any such things. But the public universities are autonomous bodies. It is given to them by the public in 1973 university act. There could be arguments for and against this. But as long as it is there, everyone concerned should respect it. This is more true for the govt. as they are supposed to establish precedence and rule by examples. That’s why when you and I get angry at something, we can go ahead and vandalize cars or kick a police man. But a police man cannot do the same in return because they have to respect their uniform and rule of law.
August 29th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
#13
Where does moral comes from? just asking for knowledge, not questioning you for anything.
August 29th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Thanks Sensible (post #14). I would like to add that by definition, human rights can be violated only by governments, and not by the general public. As regards incidents of killing by ‘crossfire’, I have heard some people argue that these incidents were not at all violation of human rights, because the victims of cross-fire had been violating the ‘human rights’ of the public in the first place and as such their death by crossfire were justified. But this is completely wrong. When Ershad Shikder killed X or Y that was criminal offence, not human rights violation, but when Richil was tortured and murdered while in custody that was indeed an incident of human rights violation.
Another simple example: if a police officer comes home drunk and beats his wife that will be a criminal offence. But if that same officer beats a man on the street while on duty, that will be an incident of human rights violation.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
মানবাধিকারের সার্বজনীন ঘোষণাপত্র
অনুচ্ছেদ-৫ কাউকে নির্যাতন অথবা নিষ্ঠুর, অমানুষিক অথবা অবমাননাকর আচরণ অথবা শাস্তি ভোগে বাধ্য করা চলবে না৷
অনুচ্ছেদ-৬ আইনের সমক্ষে প্রত্যেকেরই সর্বত্র ব্যক্তি হিসেবে স্বীকৃতিলাভের অধিকার রয়েছে৷
অনুচ্ছেদ-৭ আইনের কাছে সকলেরই সমান এবং কোনরূপ বৈষম্য ব্যতিরেকে সকলেরই আইনের দ্বারা সমভাবে রক্ষিত হওয়ার অধিকার রয়েছে৷ এই ঘোষণাপত্রের লঙ্ঘনজনিত বৈষম্য বা এরূপ বৈষম্যের উস্কানির বিরুদ্ধে সমভাবে রক্ষিত হওয়ার অধিকার সকলেরই আছে৷
অনুচ্ছেদ-৯ কাউকে খেয়ালখুশীমত গ্রেফতার, আটক অথবা নির্বাসন করা যাবে না৷
অনুচ্ছেদ-১০ প্রত্যেকেরই তার অধিকার ও দায়িত্বসমূহ এবং তার বিরুদ্ধে আনীত যে কোন ফৌজদারী অভিযোগ নিরূপণের জন্য পূর্ণ সমতার ভিত্তিতে একটি স্বাধীন ও নিরপেক্ষ বিচার-আদালতে ন্যায্যভাবে ও প্রকাশ্যে শুনানী লাভের অধিকার রয়েছে৷
অনুচ্ছেদ-১১
কোন দন্ডযোগ্য অপরাধে অভিযুক্ত হলে প্রত্যেকেরই আত্নপক্ষ সমর্থনের নিশ্চয়তা দেয় এমন গণ-আদালত কর্তৃক আইন অনুযায়ী দোষী সাব্যস্ত না হওয়া পর্যন্ত নির্দোষ বলে বিবেচিত হওয়ার অধিকার রয়েছে৷
কাউকেই কোন কাজ বা ক্রটির জন্য দন্ডযোগ্য অপরাধে দোষী সাবাস্ত করা চলবে না, যদি সংঘটনকালে তা জাতীয় বা আন্তর্জাতিক আইন অনুযায়ী দন্ডযোগ্য অপরাধ বলে গণ্য না হয়ে থাকে৷ আবার দন্ডযোগ্য অপরাধ সংঘটনকালে যতটুকু শাস্তি প্রযোজ্য ছিল তার চেয়ে শাস্তি প্রয়োগ চলবে না৷
অনুচ্ছেদ-১৩
নিজ রাষ্ট্রে সীমানার মধ্যে চলাচল ও বসতি স্থাপনের অধিকার প্রত্যেকেরই রয়েছে৷
প্রত্যেকেরই নিজ দেশসহ যে কোন দেশ ছেড়ে যাওয়ার ও স্বদেশ প্রত্যাবর্তনের অধিকার রয়েছে৷
অনুচ্ছেদ–১৯ প্রত্যেকেরই মতামতের ও মতামত প্রকাশের স্বাধিকার রয়েছে; বিনা হস্তক্ষেপে মতামত পোষণ এবং যে কোন উপায়ে ও রাষ্ট্রীয় সীমানা নির্বিশেষে তথ্য ও মতামত সন্ধান, গ্রহণ ও জ্ঞাত করার স্বাধীনতা এই অধিকারের অন্তর্ভুক্ত৷
অনুচ্ছেদ–২০
প্রত্যেকেরই শান্তিপূর্ণভাবে সম্মিলিত হওয়ার অধিকার রয়েছে৷
অনুচ্ছেদ-২১
প্রত্যক্ষভাবে অথবা অবাধে নির্বাচিত প্রতিনিধিদের মাধ্যমে নিজ দেশের সরকারে অংশগ্রহণের অধিকার প্রত্যেকেরই রয়েছে৷ জনগণের ইচ্ছাই হবে সরকারের ক্ষমতার ভিত্তি; এই ইচ্ছা সর্বজনীন ও সমান ভোটাধিকারের ভিত্তিতে নৈমিত্তিকভাবে এবং প্রকৃত নির্বাচন দ্বারা ব্যক্ত হবে; গোপন ব্যালট অথবা অনুরূপ অবাধ ভোটদান পদ্ধতিতে এরূপ নির্বাচন অনুষ্ঠিত হবে৷
August 29th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
#12 Siraj You expect to see those news in Jonokontho, Doinik Millat, Banglar Bani, Inqilab and Vorer Kagoj who are the hard core supporter of BAL and BNP!!!
August 29th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
#4/#5/#6,
Pak media/blogsophere is full of details about a Musharraf-Benazir deal. From the looks of it, Mushie will become a civilian president, and Benazir the next PM. Sharif has denounced it as a betrayal of democracy and vowed to start a Ramadan campaign.
Perhaps our generals will now learn from Mushie how to stitch up a deal with one of the politicians and diving the opposition. And perhaps our ex prime ministers will take lessons from BB and Sharif on how to make up with generals and save their own neck.
August 30th, 2007 at 1:32 am
SR #16:
” human rights can be violated only by governments, and not by the general public ”
Your definition of human rights is bizarre. heres how , a hindu person applies for a job in private company. The job is denied because he was a hindu. Doesn’t he had his human right for equal opportunity violated? Similarly, a black person goes to a restaurant and gets kicked out because of his color of skin, what about him? In both cases, it wasn’t govt that violated his or her human right.
I think you are relying on very fuzzy logic to put forth your argument. Sorry…..
August 30th, 2007 at 1:47 am
#12 Siraj,
I am not sure if you read the orginial thread thoroughly. I provided the link in response to part of the main thread:
“None of these reporters actually care to interview both the sides in the incident and do their own investigation and instead quote unnamed sources and allegations without any references or evidence.”
The report was based on interviews with the victims and eye witnesses. The other side, the mob, could not be interviewed for obvious reasons.
August 30th, 2007 at 3:03 am
Here is an interesting article that relates to our student activities and other BD issues to NGO activities & donor agenda:
http://axisoflogic.com/cgi-bin/exec/view.pl?archive=150&num=23393
August 30th, 2007 at 4:34 am
SR #16 has started a really good discussion here about something a lot of people needs to understand. Banglarman, good points you raised, but please note that neither the company nor the restaurant will be doing that unless there are laws against that and government agencies actively enforcing those laws. So ultimate responsibility lies with the government, and lack of enforcement/laws is a human rights failure, ie. governments’ failure.
Thank you SR for putting it in such lucid terms.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:46 am
21 Boishakhi,
the original thread seems to be pointing to the consipiracy theories that shows Dr. Anwar Hossain was involved in deep rooted conspiracy and also the character assasination on his name by saying that he is corrupt. I have yet to see an independent report that does not cite “goyenda” source.
18 bdwatcher, If you read the reports carefully, you will be able to see which ones are news and which one is planted. When a supposed report says, “Seeing Army as the last hope for the nation, Dr. Anwar Hossain and his team started to conspire to have these incidents.” As per the report, they also sent those two students to open the umbrella in front of the army men and created the altercation themselves.”
If you don’t find anything wrong with those statements and can call it “news”, I rest my case. I detest most of the news media in Bangladesh and that includes all the partisan hacks as well. Only New Age seems to keep the partisanship at bay.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Thank you AsifY #16 for explaining the point clearly.
Banglarman #20: Like you lots of people fail to see the differece between criminal offence and human rights violation.
Your question: ‘a hindu person applies for a job in private company. The job is denied because he was a hindu. Doesn’t he had his human right for equal opportunity violated?Similarly, a black person goes to a restaurant and gets kicked out because of his color of skin, what about him? In both cases, it wasn’t govt that violated his or her human right.’
Answer: If there is a law in that country regarding discimination on the basis of religion, colour and creed, then the actions of the private company and the restaurant will be unlawful. (But not human rights violation).
If the victims go to the police station for filing lawsuit against the company/restaurant but do not get any cooperation from the law- enforcing agencies then that would be violation of Articles 2 & 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, because:
- A certain race, creed, or group is denied recognition as a “person”. (Articles 2 & 6)
- Different racial or religious groups are not treated as equal. (Article 2)
Now, suppose they succeed to file lawsuits but do not get justice at the courts of law. Then that would also be violation of human rights:
- Victims of abuse are denied an effective judicial remedy. (Article eight)
- Punishments are dealt arbitrarily or unilaterally, without a proper and fair trial. (Article 11)
-Arbitrary interference into personal, or private lives by agents of the state. (Article 12)
Banglarman said: ‘Your definition of human rights is bizarre…I think you are relying on very fuzzy logic to put forth your argument. Sorry…..’
My reply: I would request you to kindly check the definition of the term ‘violation of human rights’ as accepted by the UN, its members, other international organisations, NGOs and human rights organisations including the Amnesty International.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:24 am
I just want to add this:
- ‘Human Rights’ are for ALL.
- But ‘Violation of Human Rights’ can be done only by GOVERNMENTS, not by ALL.
August 30th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Re: 10 (Mr. Mir Layek Ali)
I believe your views are not out of the ordinary and represent many in the government who want to be tough with the goons.
I have no sympathy for the culture of taking out your grievances on the life and property of innocent people who just seemed to be passing by. People have to be held accountable for their behavior and prosecuted according to law.
However, in doing so, one has to distinguish between culpabilities of different players who are involved. For instance, if I merely make a statement against some army personnel who have beaten up students and demand that the army be withdrawn from campus, this by itself is no evidence that I was in favor of riots and destabilization of government.
This attitude of casting a wide net of culpability whenever something untoward happens is problematic. It happened in the past–the BNP government incaracerated and tortured intellectuals because they were supposedly engaged in conspiracy to tarnish Bangladesh’s image. In reality, they were only criticizing the government’s human rights record. Similar things happened during the AL rule, though arguably to a lesser extent.
Therefore, we have to be extra vigilant whenever we see warning bells. The government has reportedly taken two professors of Dhaka University on further remand. These professors apparently reported physical and mental torture to a magistrate, as today’s online daily star news snippets indicate.
I don’t know if there was a conspiracy or not, but things must be in full public view, though a due process. Otherwise, we should be worried.
Just saying that there is a rule of emergency and people should obey the laws or face consequences is not an acceptable argument; this government is on record for saying that their legitimacy comes from public acclaim and free press.
The government should have prosecuted those particular goons who they can identify from pictures as having participated specifically in burning cars, damaging public and private property or inflict injury on law-enforcement personnel. Any evidence of complicity of University professors or political parties could have been brought out in a trial.
Instead, it seems to me that the government and the joint forces are going in with pre-conceived conspiracy theory in mind and trying to shake all the available trees in search of evidence, even with coercion and perhaps torture. This cannot be a fair dispensation of law, regardless of what emergency powers they wield. A government keen on bequeathing a legacy of respect for law and human rights should help by paying more attention to due process.
August 31st, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Check the uncroped version of that army image… it shows why the army dude raised his right hand. The picture loses it’s appeal to some extent because of the brutality of the guy with the wooden stick.
http://www.i-imagehost.com/uploads/a85bf5feda.jpg
September 2nd, 2007 at 2:16 am
Manush #28:
Thanks for your link. The guy with the wooden stick was cropped out to sensationalize the picture and purposely denigrate the BD Army. Obvious bias shown by Daily Star.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:14 pm
If you want to see the pic in full resolation u can visit the link:
http://www.docstrangelove.com/images/duarmy.jpg
You will find another guy in the leftside road with stick.
September 3rd, 2007 at 12:46 am
Is Khaleda Zia getting arrested?
Any news update anyone……
“Senior Correspondent Sumon Mahmud as police arrived early Monday at her cantonment home apparently for arrest, hours after the Anticorruption Commission filed a corruption case against her and her son Arafat Rahman Coco. “Against the BNP, there was a conspiracy in the past. Still there is. I hope BNP leaders and workers stay united,” she told bdnews24.com. “I worked for people all my life. I’m passing the burden of justice to people as well. Please pray for me,” Khaleda told bdnews24.com by phone from home.
September 3rd, 2007 at 1:32 am
Shamokal kind of jumped the gun and reported already that she was arrested. BDnews says that the law enforcers are still in her house.