tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87455972017-12-03T14:24:17.120+06:00
The Bangladesh Poet of Impropriety
(C)This site contains the almost complete literary works, inclusive of commentaries, articles, Blogs, columns, poems, debates and interviews of the Bangladesh based anti-establishment radical thinker, columnist and Jazz musician Maqsoodul Haque (Mac).All articles in the site are meant for public dessimination, however seek email permission from machaque@gmail.com the author for republishing rights. Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.comBlogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-25736944944897870542017-12-03T14:23:00.003+06:002017-12-03T14:24:17.161+06:00
The Quest for Identity: The Assam Poetry Festival – Season 1
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Mac</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 115%;">Haque</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Nothing makes me more home sick, more nostalgic than the thought of visiting Assam. Trapped as it is by a providence of birth in Bangladesh (in 1957), born to proud Assamese Muslim parents who immigrated in 1952 to East Pakistan from Borholla and Jorhat, my life has been an endless limbo when it came to the question of identity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I was born a citizen of Pakistan and after 1971 by default became a citizen of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, yet I was raised as an innocent Assamese child by my parents with a ‘cursed sense of simplicity’, with strict regimen in the practice of the Assamese language at home, and appreciation of its rich culture and heritage, with songs and <i>Bihu</i>festivities and its observance within the tight knit communities in Bangladesh from <i>ujoni Asom </i>or upper Assam<i>. </i>I had every reason to hold my head high with pride. The greatest gift that I have inherited from my parents is an ability to speak the purest of Assamese in the <i>Sibsagar-Jorhat </i>dialect which leaves many, especially in Assam awe-struck! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Yet in my impressionable childhood when it came to visiting Assam they were rare and in-between occurrences and would happen during my winter vacations from school or during the weddings of any of my maternal uncles or aunts – who were in the dozens! In Assam my earliest recollections is getting thoroughly spoilt with gifts that were heaped on me, playing mischievous games and pranks with my cousins who were over fifty in number, the visit to my parental <b>Gorajan Tea Estate</b> in Borholla on a horse driven buggy, and the incessant travels to Jorhat Town, Dibrugarh Tezpur, Guwahati, Furkating, and several more. The greatest treat in my visit to Assam would be the family picnics or the <i>shikars </i>or hunts organized by my uncles. It was with a sense of pride that I would hold in my hand the array of family owned 12 bore shotguns, the .22 bore rifles and of course the ‘pride of the aristocracy’ the Browning Citori double barreled guns. My parents never permitted me to shoot a gun without an elder overseeing me – nor did they permit me to shoot and kill animals, so my joining the <i>shikars </i>&nbsp;was mainly for the fun of it all and overnight camping and the occasional pigeon that I would defy my Dad’s instruction and shoot anyway.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">However two things about Assam continued to attract me like a magnet and perhaps still does, its natural beauty and its people – who I have no hesitation to state are perhaps the finest, gentle, humorous &nbsp;and polite folks I have met anywhere in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">That said, to come back to present times and the reason for this piece, my return to Assam on the 3<sup>rd</sup> of November 2017 ostensibly for the <b>Assam Poetry Festival, Season 1</b>, has a background that would be a shame not mentioning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Being a recluse by choice, the isolation in my life took a three sixty degree shift in 1996 with the advent of the Internet and in 2007 with me joining Facebook. While I connected with a lot of new friends and many fans given my chequered musical career and public intellectual life in Bangladesh as a poet, as well as a radical columnist of nearly forty years, the chance to catch up with many Assamese in Assam proper as well as the vast diaspora made me more and more interested into the political events in Assam as they were unfolding with devastating consequences back ‘home’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Being a lifelong pacifist the spectre of violence as Assam asserted its right to equality, democracy and freedom and fair play in the dealing with the Republic of India, did NOT leave me a mute spectator. I consumed as much information’s on the tragedy that saw thousands of my brothers and sisters being killed, hundred raped and houses and property destroyed and found it no different to the catastrophe Bangladesh faced during its Liberation War in 1971. What I found most shocking was the Indian Republic and its Army the benefactors of Bangladesh in its Liberation War, were pursuing the same policies of atrocities on its own people in Assam as did our barbarous Pakistani enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5H6psL2MeG8/WiOwIjA7ilI/AAAAAAAADdA/Z1B3xMi-2ToDvbyuayNwF3z3iSAKq4dlwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5H6psL2MeG8/WiOwIjA7ilI/AAAAAAAADdA/Z1B3xMi-2ToDvbyuayNwF3z3iSAKq4dlwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0911.jpg" width="480" /></span></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>At the press briefing held at the central office of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in Guwahati, Assam</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Left to living in a country so close yet far from ‘home’ I had to deal with devastating mental trauma, shock and streams of tears. And not unsurprisingly by the spring of 1993 I extended in private my moral and intellectual support to the <b>United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)</b>who were spearheading the independence of Assam both through its armed and political wings. There were many names in the struggle that ensued and one that enamored me the most was that of Shri<b>Aurobindo Rajkhowa</b> the Chairman of ULFA for his communiqués which I monitored and circulated in various websites that were in curt, terse and very impeccable English. &nbsp;In 2016 I added<b> Mrs. Kaberi Kochari Rajkonwar</b> on Facebook for I instantly recognized from many profile pictures was the spouse of Shri.Rajkhowa. Therein began a relationship between the two of us bordering on respect and mutual admiration as she became more and aware of my poetic talents having </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnYXMnsCXQo/WiOvRVJE19I/AAAAAAAADc4/xXUQhr5dmtw7S5MD51wjT7lP_89-ckyvQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnYXMnsCXQo/WiOvRVJE19I/AAAAAAAADc4/xXUQhr5dmtw7S5MD51wjT7lP_89-ckyvQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0909.jpg" width="640" /></span></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>With Shri Anup Chetia the General Secretary of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) at the central office in Guwahati, Assam</b><br />monitored many of my academic and poetic events in Bangladesh as well as books publications online.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">And then it was towards the end of December 2016 that she sent me a message and wanted to know if I and another Bangladesh poet would be interested to join in the Assam Poetry Festival – Season 1 - a grand union of poets from Assam and the region which is scheduled to be held sometime early October 2017. I couldn’t miss the chance to visit Assam again and readily agreed. What followed were several telephone conversations and many names from Bangladesh were shared – eventually by mid-July we agreed on the eminent English language Poet<b> Nadeem Rahman</b> to accompany me to the festival, this being his first ever trip to Assam. However the devastating floods in Assam of August meant the festivals were postponed until November 4<sup>th</sup>, 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> 2017 and both of us readied ourselves for the occasion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Arriving in Guwahati we were received by an enthusiastic bunch of poetry lovers and organizers of the festival who escorted us to the hotel. Within half an hour we checked in to our rooms and awaited the arrival of Mrs. Rajkonwar. Within the hours several more poets from Kolkata and elsewhere arrived and we exchanged pleasantries. Soon Mrs.Rajkonwar arrived and in her own demure ways extended us a warm welcome to the festival. After an hour of discussions about the festival and our role in the same – she left promising that the next day i.e. the 4<sup>th</sup>of November would be a fun filled event, with very positive vibes from all attendees and the gathering. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yp21I_vXDBE/WiOx9_RasLI/AAAAAAAADdM/qky0OWB7pJM7q0rou_U4xTPTd-CQjTh2QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="726" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yp21I_vXDBE/WiOx9_RasLI/AAAAAAAADdM/qky0OWB7pJM7q0rou_U4xTPTd-CQjTh2QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0908.jpg" width="484" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Poster of my band Maqsood O' dHAKA's concert organised by Rupantor and Asom Jatiyo Nyas two sister organisations of ULFA together with Friends of Bangladesh, Assam Chapter</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">On the 4<sup>th</sup> of November 2017, Poet Nadeem Rahman left for the festival ahead of me as I had to go to the ULFA office for a press briefing preceding a concert that my band <b>Maqsood O’ dHAKA</b>was going to be performing in Guwahati on the 7<sup>th</sup> of November 2017.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">About the ULFA; with regards to the future of Assam, they are now split into two main bodies, one an open political platform, with the political wing under Chairman Shri. Aurobindo Rajkhowa and General Secretary <b>Shri</b>. <b>Anup Chetia</b> given the leaderships decision after its release from Bangladeshi jails and custody, to enter peace talks with Delhi, which the armed wing led by Commander in Chief of ULFA <b>Shri. Paresh Asom</b> has refused to join. In their current setup it now appears that ULFA is pursuing a ‘carrot and stick’ policy with the armed wing acting as a strong deterrent against the ongoing Indian Government policy of repression and atrocities as well as economic subjugation and will pursue the same as avowed until total Independence for Assam is achieved. Within this complex makeup Assam edges along in its glorious struggle and bid for freedom from the yoke of Indian oppression. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n92pSaL3wRM/WiOyuDQnj4I/AAAAAAAADdU/JzJqjvlVXFIg85BQQpw8q35vofGMqOrwgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n92pSaL3wRM/WiOyuDQnj4I/AAAAAAAADdU/JzJqjvlVXFIg85BQQpw8q35vofGMqOrwgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0905.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>At the Assam Poetry Festival - Season 1 at Guwahati, Assam Front Seat Left to Right: Shri Aurobindo Rajkhowa Chairman of ULFA, S hri Anup Chetia, General Secretary of ULFA and Self, Rear Standing : Mrs. Kaberi Kochari Rajkonwar and extreme right K. Sarma, Academic and Author from Guwahati</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></span></div><div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I arrived at the Poetry Festival venue by mid-afternoon and was warmly received by Mrs. Rajkonwar, with gifts of traditional Assamese <i>japi, gamusa </i>and paper flowers (so as not to destroy natural flowers - an environment friendly decision and one we should replicate in Bangladesh) and already the poetry sessions were on. What interspersed and was very obvious to the gathering and participants was the spirit of Independence that the Assamese intelligentsia, civil society and the general masses of Assam aspired for.</span></div><div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3uDFQT5xOg/WiOzlQnJitI/AAAAAAAADdg/inZhIfuElE01u88bBgVebhNjuj0i-gJTACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3uDFQT5xOg/WiOzlQnJitI/AAAAAAAADdg/inZhIfuElE01u88bBgVebhNjuj0i-gJTACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0906.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>At the closing ceremony of the Assam Poetry Festival - Season one - I am on extreme right with Shri Aurobindo Rajkhowa, Chairman ULFA and General Secretary Shri Anup Chetia</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What in its long battles of over three decades of guerrilla warfare against the Indian&nbsp; establishment the ULFA had not being able to gain – the poetry festival and the concert with me and my band were show cases of how the ‘new ULFA’ aims at capitalizing on the power and strength of its new strategy - cultural warfare. On its agenda are peoples-to-peoples contact, interactions with neighbors -even with Bangladesh- as all the while the vexed question of Bangladeshi migrants and the National Registration of Citizens (report due on 31<sup>st</sup> December 2017) hangs as a Damocles sword on its future; the intensity and the passions exhibited in the deliberations simply could not be overlooked. Like I mentioned in my presentation <i>–‘winning the war is going to take long – yet winning the peace will take much longer, we have a clear example of that in Bangladesh’</i>. I am sure no one in the gatherings disagreed for I presented the perfect model of what ‘crisis of identity’ can bring about.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">When it comes to the question of identity – I have one too many to contend with. For instance, as if born a Pakistani, later becoming a Bangladeshi with Assamese roots was not enough – in modern Bangladesh I have to today contend politically with being a ‘<i>Bengali’</i> i.e. a supporter of the ruling <b>Awami League </b>or ‘<i>Bangladeshi’</i> a&nbsp; citizen aligned to the <b>Bangladesh Nationalist Party- Jamaat E Islam</b>i right wing Islamist fundamentalist nexus. Making things worse was my decision to give up on my Islamic ‘Muslim’ identity in 1988 and relating to the agnostic teaching and philosophies of the <b>Sage Fakir Lalon Shah</b> of Seuria, Kushtia in Bangladesh and ‘reverting’ to the Baul belief system and way of life ! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The deliberations on 5<sup>th</sup> of November 2017 was intense with poets from West Bengal, Bangladesh and Assam reciting poetry and making fiery speech on freedom of expression, democracy, and Independence of Assam. I joined in making my points and insisting that while illegal migration from Bangladesh to Assam has happened in the past; over the last ten given with the economic boom that Bangladesh has witnessed there is now absolutely no question of Bangladeshis migrating to Assam or for that matter anywhere else in India. Also in its current foreign policy Bangladesh discourages both migration and infiltration as has been witnessed in its resistance to the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in recent days. My points seem to have touched a nerve in many well meaning people in Assam.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></span></div><div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The concluding day of the festival on 6<sup>th</sup> November 2017 was a red letter day for me, because for the very first time I was to meet the Chairman of ULFA Shri. Aurobindo Rajkhowa. He not only recognized me instantly but gave me a warm hug and felicitated me for my contribution in Bangladesh to ULFA and the Independence of Assam. Later we shared the same stage at the festival where he spoke in length about the Assamese peoples struggle for self determination and Independence of Assam, breaking into a song by<b> Dr. Bhupen Hazarika </b>which mesmerized the audience. When it was time for Anup Chetia to speak, he mentioned briefly about meeting me while in hiding in Bangladesh in 1996 and regretted that because of our contacts I was jailed in Bangladesh in the winter of 1999 and that we met at the Dhaka Central Jail. I was touched by his simple gesture of gratitude for my role in supporting the ULFA and its fight for Independence,&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Life can have many tragedies, but the tragedy that beguiles all is the tragedy of identity. Assam is no exception to the rule, and until true Independence is achieved, the conflicts will continue. The only healing balm is Culture with all its positive connotations – the harbingers of change, of bounties and importantly PEACE that has eluded Assam for centuries! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">PEACE is not an absence of war, but an end to threats of war, to conditions that make war inevitable. Those conditions are far from being mended in Assam.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Joi Ai Asom!&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b>Dhaka 21<sup>st</sup> November 2017 </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.newagebd.net/article/28855/index.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Link</span></a></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><br /></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-28142947603735747102016-11-21T14:54:00.001+06:002016-11-21T15:01:00.339+06:00
Of Hypocrisy, bideshis and the Mind Mafia
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;">Notes: Last night (19th November 2016) &nbsp;at the Dhaka LiT Fest panel discussion #FightingWords_poetry_through_dissent it looks like I upset a lot of people by saying 'we are a hypocritical nation'. Friends thought since most of the audience has never read my English poems or heard any of my Bengalee songs - it would be better if I could explain myself. Thank to them - a 'poem' was born this morning !</span>!</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Of Hypocrisy, <i>bideshis </i>and the Mind Mafia</span></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">by Mac Haque</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I didn't have to say we are a ‘corrupt nation’</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">- for the <i>bideshis </i>have proved the point many times over</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and told that to us on our face</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and we have shamelessly gulped it</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">- because it was the truth…..or am I wrong again ?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I didn't say we are a blood thirsty ‘<i>jihadi </i>nation’</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">- or accuse ourselves of closet fundamentalism</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">cause the <i>bideshis </i>again have proved that point</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and made a signed sealed and delivered case</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">thanks to the unholy occurrence at holey artisan -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">but never forget</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">it was our own 'English educated' kin that</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">slaughtered them and here we are</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">reciting 'our <i>bideshi</i>' poems?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Because you have lost your human identity</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">you indulge in the ‘politics of identity’</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and all you are left with</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">is to gulp secularism forced down your throat</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">because that’s the essence of a hypocritical nation</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">where you willingly accept a hypocritical system</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">that votes your hypocritical leaders to power</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and you and I shed hypocritical facebook tears</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">on the Santhals being shot, their land burnt and grabbed</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">about Sanatan Temples and Buddhist pagodas being desecrated</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">about Chakma women being raped</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">of my friend&nbsp;<b><a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dhaka-terror-attack-victim-ishrat-facebook-not-wearing-hijab-2892237/" target="_blank">Ishrat Akhond</a></b> preferring death over forced Muslim prayers!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Shockingly the villains aren’t always</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">our known or sworn enemies the <i>mollahs&nbsp;</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">but the 'people of the people of the people of the people'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">who you continue to vote for more power</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">as if there is no available option?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I’d rather not talk about nepotism but parochialism</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">for one way or the other your thought processes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">are trapped in the time warp of your peasant ancestors</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">who today – you hate – because you think</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">you have moved on in life</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">thanks to your hypocrisy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">of the 90 percent of ‘them’</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">as opposed to</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">the urbane pseudo sophisticated</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">that constitutes less than 10 percent of our population</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and that’s ‘us’?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">All I know is your living God is the Mind Mafia that remains ever so 'powerful'!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Back in nineteen ninety six</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">the hypocrite in us refused to listen to the improper pOET</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">when he first cried wolf (in a Bangla song)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">about the impending '<i>mollah </i>invasion'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Back in nineteen ninety six</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">there wasn't no Al Qaeda, ISIS or JMB</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and all the pOET did was forecast (not 'predict')</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">the unfair weather that we are enveloped</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">since two thousand and thirteen</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and the mess we are in now</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">- was a forecast - a loud warning was sent</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">.....but then the poet said things</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">your pretty hypocritical ears did not want to hear</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I was termed a provocateur,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">a 'no good' human being, a mad man -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">because as hypocrites</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">we pretend in our so-called ‘sanity’</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">it is actually our un-sanity</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">that is our dominant nature?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Your hard souls neither listen to music nor have the time for poetry</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Far from the point, hypocrisy for the nation</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">is now a genetic problem</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">We cannot easily shed off the coat of</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">fascism, communalism, xenophobia we wear</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">and all the hypocrisies in the name of religion.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I provoked by saying</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">‘the atheist debate isn’t new.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">a belief in Bangladeshi politicians</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">equates to a disbelief in God.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">......If there is atheism in Bangladesh this is it’</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">And I was told off in ‘propah Bangla’</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">By a <i>bidesh </i>born <i>shodeshi </i>patriot</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">how much I have belittled my nation</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">by saying ‘unpleasant things’</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">about our ‘own people’</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">in front of bideshis (foreigners)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">WHAT HYPOCRISY?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">How frail is patriotism</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">How frail are we as a nation</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">that a public exercise</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">to the democratic right of free speech</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Is thwarted - not by the government</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">but by the Mind Mafia controlled people</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Of this sorry nation?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I am staying away from stronger words like racism and fascism,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Breath easy folks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">We are at war with the Mind Mafia</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The going isn’t going to be easy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">If you are going to slumber or even sleep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">It’s the job of the Improper pOeT to provoke</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">To wake you up</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">To make you think</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Impropriety is in my genes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I am offering no apology!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nw7qP8hyvlU/WDK2KerwSnI/AAAAAAAADQY/gcRaH3DNw0cZQiD8A_R_HTH7CbWGLnnzACLcB/s1600/Jah%2BBauliana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nw7qP8hyvlU/WDK2KerwSnI/AAAAAAAADQY/gcRaH3DNw0cZQiD8A_R_HTH7CbWGLnnzACLcB/s320/Jah%2BBauliana.jpg" width="155" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b>Pallabi, 20th November 2016</b><br /><br /></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-36032198630399446452016-01-21T16:00:00.000+06:002016-01-21T16:00:35.709+06:00
মিস্টার চ্যাটার্জির মদের দোকান
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bb_MnQpxNEM/VqCrWA4F0jI/AAAAAAAAC34/0oSMVf6d_K4/s1600/phone%2Bchat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bb_MnQpxNEM/VqCrWA4F0jI/AAAAAAAAC34/0oSMVf6d_K4/s200/phone%2Bchat1.jpg" width="183" /></a><br /><b><br /></b><b>মাকুসুদুল হক&nbsp;</b><br /><br />কলকাতার ধরমতলায় &nbsp;মিস্টার চ্যাটার্জি মদের দোকান| প্রতিদিনের রুটিন মোটামুটি একিরকম | চ্যাটার্জি &nbsp;দোকান বন্ধ করে রাত ৯টায় বাড়ির উদ্দেশ্যে রওনা দেন | ঘন্টা খানিক লাগে বাড়ি পৌছাতে | রাত ১১:৩০টার আগেই ডিনার শেষ করে ১২টা নাগাদ ঘুমিয়ে পরেন &nbsp;| আবার ভোর ৬টাই ঘুম থেকে উঠেই সকাল ৮:৩০ দোকানে পৌছে ১০ টা সময় &nbsp;দোকান খুলে বসেন - আবার শুরু হয় তার মদের ব্যবসা |<br /><br />রেগুলার কাস্টমার মিস্টার ব্যানার্জি &nbsp;কম বেশি প্রতিদিনই &nbsp;চ্যাটার্জির &nbsp;দোকান থেকে মদ কিনে নিয়ে যান | খুবই কম কথা বলেন | কখনই মদ বাকিতে কেনেন না - সেরকম রিকোয়েস্টও কোনদিন করেননি | মাতাল অবস্থায় তাকে কখনো দেখা যায় না | মাঝে মধ্যে চ্যাটার্জির সাথে হাই হ্যালো গুড মর্নিং বা গুড ইভনিং হলেও দীর্ঘ কথাবার্তা বা আড্ডা দুজনের কখনো হয়না | স্ত্রেইত ফরওয়ার্ড কাস্টমার-সেলার রিলেশনশিপ |<br />তবে সেই রাতটা &nbsp;ছিল একটু ব্যতিক্রম | চ্যাটার্জি ঘুমোতে যাবেন - ঠিক তখনি সেই পুরনো আমলের ঝাক্কাস সাইজএর টেলিফোন (আজকের 'ল্যান্ড ফোন') ক্রিং ক্রিং ক্রিং বেজেই চললো | খানিকটা বিরক্ত হয়েই চ্যাটার্জি ফোন ধরলেন |ও পাশের কন্ঠটা পরিচিত মনে হচ্ছিলো <br /><br />'হ্যালো চ্যাটার্জি বলছ &nbsp;?'<br /><br />'ইয়েস - কে বলছেন?'<br /><br />'চ্যাটার্জি আমি ব্যানার্জি '<br /><br />'আরে দাদা - একি সৌভাগ্য - এ রাতে আমাকে মনে পড়লো যে ?.....' এরই মধ্যে ২-৩ মিনিট এটা সেটা খোশ গপ্প চললো - 'আসলে দুজনই এত ব্যস্ত থাকি - সেরকম কথায় হয় না'..ইত্যাদি ইত্যাদি ..তার &nbsp;পর<br /><br />'চ্যাটার্জী এবার মূল প্রসঙ্গে আশি - আচ্ছা আগামীকাল কটাই তোমার মদের দোকানটা খুলছে বলোতো?'<br /><br />'দাদা টেন এ এম - সকাল দশটা'<br /><br />'ও কে &nbsp;থ্যান্ক ইউ সো মাছ চ্যাটার্জী - এই রাতে তোমাকে বদার করার জন্য খুবই দুক্ষিত - গুড নাইট'... বলে ব্যানার্জি টেলিফোন রেখে দিল<br /><br />'এত রাতেকে ফোন কে দিয়েছিল গো?' - জানতে ছেলেন মিসেস চ্যাটার্জী<br /><br />'আমার একজন রেগুলার কাস্টমার - মিস্টার ব্যানার্জি - খুবই অমায়িক ভদ্রলোক'<br /><br />'এটা কি বলো? অমায়িক ভদ্রলোক এই রাতে কি কল করে? '<br /><br />'না..উনি আসলেই খুব ভালো মানুষ - সকালে কটাই &nbsp;দোকান খুলবে জানতে চেল - মনে হয় দুপুরে উনার কোনো পার্টি ফার্টি আছে - মদ লাগবে' &nbsp; <br /><br />'শেষ রাতে কোনো ভদ্রলোক ফোন করে না বুঝলে - করে মাতালরা ......ভদ্রলোক ....হুহঃ'<br /><br />একই ছাদের নিচে বহু বছর বাস করলেও, একই খাটে ঘুমালেও মি আর মিসেস চ্যাটার্জির কেমন জানি একটা দুরত্ব | খুব কমই দুজন 'কাছাকাছি' ঘুমান |<br />'বিক্ষিপ্ত ঘটনা' ছাড়া দুজন কখনো একে অপরের চোখেও তাকান না |<br /><br />তবে সেরাতে মিসেস চ্যাটার্জী যে কোনো কারণেই হোক মি চ্যাটার্জি কে 'অচমকা হামলা' করে বসলো|অনুমানিক রাত ১টায় … দুজনার 'কুস্তি' শুরু হবার প্রারম্ভে কিছু 'প্রয়োজনীয় প্রস্তুতি' চলছে ... আর &nbsp;ঠিক তখনি..... আবার সজোরে সেই বেহায়া টেলিফোন শুরু হলো &nbsp;ক্রিং ক্রিং ক্রিং ক্রিং..... <br /><br />'হ্যালো চ্যাটার্জি আমি ব্যানার্জি &nbsp;বলছি - সরি টু &nbsp;বদার ইউ এগেইন ....আচ্ছা আগামীকাল সকাল কটাই জানি তোমার &nbsp;মদের দোকান খুলবে বললা ?'<br /><br />এ যাত্রা চ্যাটার্জী একটু বিরক্ত সরেই বললনে 'সকাল ১০টা.... টেন এ আম দাদা - &nbsp;মদ ফদ যা লগে চলে এসেন এবং নিয়ে যেয়েন - ও কে?'<br /><br />'ও কে থানক ইউ এগেইন' বলে ব্যানার্জি ফোন রেখে দিলেন<br /><br />সে রাতের মিস্টার আর মিসেস চ্যাতের্জ্র 'মধুময় কুস্তি' আর হলো না | বিরক্ত হয়ে পাশ ফিরে মিসেস চ্যাটার্জি ঘুমিয়ে পড়লেন ...মিস্টার চ্যাটার্জি এপাশ ওপাশ কিছুক্ষণ গড়াগড়ি করে নাক ডাকা শুরু করলেন |<br /><br />তখন ভোর ৪টা.... &nbsp;ওই একই &nbsp;ক্রিং ক্রিং ক্রিং ক্রিং ক্রিং ...বেজেই চললো... মিস্টার চ্যাটার্জি ফোন ধরেই বুঝলেন আবারও 'সেই ব্যানার্জি বেটা'...<br /><br />'চ্যাটার্জি তোমাকে আবার একটু বিরক্ত করছি - আচ্ছা তোমার মদের দোকানটা তো সকাল ১০ টায় খুলবে, এবার বলো তো....... বন্ধ হবে কটাই?" &nbsp; &nbsp;<br />&nbsp;চ্যাটার্জি আর ধৈর্য্য ধরে রাখতে পারল না - শুরু করলো খিস্তি<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bb_MnQpxNEM/VqCrWA4F0jI/AAAAAAAAC34/0oSMVf6d_K4/s1600/phone%2Bchat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>'আচ্ছা মশাই আপনাকে তো আমি একজন ভদ্রলোক মনে করতাম - আজ আপনি এ কি শুরু করলেন বলুন তো? এই রাত বিরাতে একই প্রশ্ন কটাই দোকান খুলবে কটাই দোকান বন্ধ হবে করেই যাচ্ছেন - আপনার কি কোনো কান্ডজ্ঞান নেই, যে এ সময় মানুষ ঘুমায়..আপনি কি পাগল হয়ে গেলেন....?'<br /><br />'এই চ্যাটার্জি প্লিজ তুমি আমাকে ভুল বুঝছ,... রাগ কর না প্লিজ..আমার কথা একটু শোনো'<br /><br />'কি আর নতুন কথা শুনাবেন মশাই - একই বাজে কথা বকে যাচ্ছেন আর বকে যাচ্ছেন....'<br /><br />'প্লিজ একটু থাম..শান্ত হও'<br /><br />চ্যাটার্জি মাথা এতটা গরম যে সেই আর কোনো মতেই &nbsp;থামছে না...৫ থেকে ৭ মিনিট অবিরাম খিস্তি চললো…..তারপর একটু হাফিয়ে উঠে শান্ত হলেন<br /><br />এ সুযোগটাই নিলেন ব্যানার্জি <br /><br /><b><i>'শোনো চ্যাটার্জি….. তুমি আমাকে খামোখা ভুল বুঝছ ...বিষয়টা হলো...গতকাল রাতে তুমি যখন তোমার মদের দোকানটা বন্ধ করেছিলে ...আমি তোমার দোকানের ভেতরেই ছিলাম......এবং সেখান &nbsp;থেকে বসেই &nbsp;আমি মদ খাচ্ছি.....আর তোমাকে ফোন দিচ্ছি’ &nbsp;</i></b><br />&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><br /><div><br /></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-86035897848242022612016-01-07T18:18:00.000+06:002016-01-10T18:20:54.113+06:00
তোতা পীরের 'মাজার'
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQeAJ8vsYCI/VpJL2rL0B0I/AAAAAAAAC3U/reszEycF5gM/s1600/totapir2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQeAJ8vsYCI/VpJL2rL0B0I/AAAAAAAAC3U/reszEycF5gM/s200/totapir2.png" width="198" /></a><br /><b><br /></b><b>মাকসুদুল হক&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">সাচ্চা পীর হুজুরের লাখো আশেকান ও মুরিদান - আসে শতশত মাইল দূর থেকে | একদিন এক মুরিদ তার ৪ বছরের ছেলে তোতা মিয়াকে হুজুরকে দিয়ে দিলো | তারা আর পারছে না | তাদের দারিদ্র আর অর্থ কষ্টের কথা শুনে হুজুর নিজেরে কাছে ছেলেটাকে রেখে দিলো|&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">১৮ বছর কেটে যাবার পর তোতা মিয়া হুজুরের কাছে কেঁদে কেটে বায়না করলো 'হুজুর এতো দিনে আপনার কাছে কিছুই চাই নাই... একটা জিনিস চাবো - দেবেন ?'&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'বলেই দেখ ?'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'বাবা মা কে একবার দেখে আসি - সেই যে রেখে গেলো আর উনারা এলো না - আমার মন খুব কাঁদছে' বলেই অঝোরে কান্না&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">হুজুর সম্মতি দিলেন| তোতা বাড়িতে যাবার সকল প্রস্তুতি শুরু করে দিলো | যাবার সময় ঘনিয়ে এলো | যাবার দিন হুজুর প্রশ্ন করলো</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'যাবি কি করে?'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'পায়ে হেটে হুজুর'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'তুই পাগল নাকি &nbsp;- ১০০ মাইল দুরে তোর্ বাড়ি - মরুভূমির পথ - তুই তো মারা যাবি ' বলে একটা স্বাস্থ্যবান গাধা উপহার দিয়ে বললো</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'যা তোকে কিছুই এই অব্দি দেই নাই - এই গাধাটা দিলাম - ওটাতেই চরে যা - ১ বছর পর ফিরে আসিস .....কেমন?'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">লাখো শুকরিয়া জানিয়ে সাচ্চা পির হুজুরকে কদমবুচি করে তোতা মিয়া গাধায় চরে চললো মা বাবার গ্রামের দিকে | ধুধু মরুভূমির পথ - পারি দিতে যথেষ্ট বেগ পেতে হচ্ছে তবু তোতা মিয়া চলছে আর চলছে | বুকের ভেতরে প্রচন্ড উল্লাস - আনন্দ ধরে রাখতে পারছে না | যাত্রার ৪ দিনের মাথায় ঘটে গেলো 'প্রচন্ড দুর্ঘটনা'..... ধপাস করে গাধাটা পরে গেলো..... আর তারপরে মৃত্যু |&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">তোতা মিয়ার কান্না আর থামে না | তার কান্না মা বাবা কে দেখতে পাবে না, বা নিজেও এই মরুভূমিতে মরে যেতে পারে সে কারণে মোটেও না | তার অবিরত কান্না শুধু এইটুকু ভেবে যে সাচ্চা পীর হুজুর জীবনে এই এক গাধা ছাড়া তাকে কিছুই দেননি - আর এই গাধাটা কি না মরে গেলো?&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">তোতা মিয়া কেঁদেই চললো....কিছু খেতে পারে না - কারো সাথে দু:খে কথাও বলার ক্ষমতা হারিয়ে ফেলেছে ইতিমধ্যে |&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ওদিকে মরা গাধাটার পচন শুরু হয়েছে - দুর্ঘন্ধের ঠেলায় আশ পাশের লোক ছুটে আসে - তোতা মিয়া কে সান্তনা দেই, অনেক প্রশ্ন করে - সে কোনো কিছুই উত্তর দিতে পারে না - কেবল কান্না |&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">এক অত্যন্ত দয়ালু ব্যক্তি গাধাটাকে কবর দেয়ার ব্যবস্থা করে দিলো | আশপাশ দিয়ে কিছু পাথর দিয়ে কবরটা চাপা দেয়ার ব্যবস্থাও হলো | তোতা মিয়ার তবুও কান্না থামে না | দিন যায় রাত আসে লোকজন দেখে একটা কবরের পাশে একটা ছেলে কাঁদছে..এ এক বিচিত্র চিত্র যা আগে কেউ দেখেনি&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">আরো কিছু দয়ালু লোক আশ পাশ থেকে আরো পাথর এনে কবর শক্ত করে - কেউ কেউ মোমবাতি আর আগর বাতি দেয়া শুরু করে - কেউ গোলাপ জল....এক বছর যেতে না যেতে মোটামটি ভালো সাইজের ইমারত দালান তৈরী হয়ে যায় - এবং লোকজনের সমাগম শুরু হয় - তার সাথে দোওয়া, দরুদ, জিকির ইত্যাদি|&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">২ বছরের মাথায় ইমারত দালান টি ১০ গুন বড়ো হয়ে গেলো আর লোকজনের জিয়ায়ারত সহ মনের ইচ্ছার 'মান্নত' ও পূরণ হওয়া শুরু হলো.... মাশাল্লাহ ! লোকজন ইমারত দালানটিকে বিভিন্ন সুরা, আয়াত, দোওয়া, হাদিসের বর্ণনা ইত্যাদি সহ নাম ফলক সেটে দেয় ....'তোতা পীরের মাজার'| ৩ বছরের মাথায় তোতা মিয়ার আশেক ও মুরিদান ১০ লক্ষ পার হয়ে যায়...সবি আল্লাহর ইচ্ছায় ......&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ওদিকে সাচ্চা পীর হুজুর খুবই চিন্তিত দুটি বিষয় নিয়ে | প্রথমে তোতা মিয়া যে গেলো ১ বছরেরে জন্য - তা ৩ বছর হয়ে গেলো তার কোনো খবর নেই কেনো? দ্বিতীয় বিষয় হলো তার মাজারে লোকজন আসা কমতে কমতে একেবারে থেমে গেছে কেনো ?&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">চতুর্দিকে খোজ খবর নেবার পর হুজুর জানতে পেলেন আরেক মাজার ঠিক মাঝ পথে উঠেছে যা উনার মাজারের থেকেও অনকে বেশি 'গরম' এবং শুধু তাই নয় - অসম্ভব কুদরতি ঝারফুক দিয়ে 'অলৌকিক চিকিত্সা' অনেকেই সুষ্ট সবল হয়ে উঠেছে | যে যা মনের ইচ্ছার পূরণের মান্নত করছে তাও পাচ্ছে - কেও আর অত দুরেরে সাচ্চা পীরের মাজারে যেতে মোটেও আগ্রহী নয় | সাচ্চা পীর এই সকল সংবাদ পেয়ে খুবই বিচলিত হয়ে উঠলেন | নিজে গিয়ে স্বচক্ষে দেখার ইচ্ছা প্রকাশ করলেন আর ঠিক তার পরদিন ছুটলেন এই নতুন 'মাজারের' উদ্দেশ্যে | গিয়ে অবাক বিশ্বয়ে দেখে তার অত্যন্ত প্রিয়পাত্র তোতা মিয়া - এই বিশাল 'মাজারের' মধ্যমনি |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">সাচ্চা পীরকে হঠাথ দেখে তোতা মিয়া চমকে উঠে পায়ে লুটে পরে.... সেই কান্না আর কান্না আর কান্না - আর কেবল ৪টি বাক্য ...'হুজুর আমাকে মাফ করেন' | সাচ্চা পীর সারাদিন চেষ্টা করে তোতা মিয়ার কান্না থামাতে পারছে না - মাঝেমাঝে তার মুর্ছাও হচ্ছে - কি মুসিবত ! ইতিমধ্যে তোতা মিয়ার নব্য মুরিদগণ 'পীরের পীর' এর হঠাত আগমনে বিশাল এক নৈশ খানা পিনার ব্যবস্থা করলো | সন্ধার পর তোতা মিয়া একটু স্বাভাবিক হওয়া শুরু করলো | রাতে সাচ্চা পীর তোতা মিয়াকে বুকের কাছে টেনে নিয়ে বললো ...'যা তুই আমাকে সঠিক ভাবে বল এই মাজারটা কি করে হলো | তোকে কেবল মাফ আমি করছি না - তুই যদি ১০টা বা তার বেশি খুন ও করে থাকিস - তাও মাফ...হলো ? '</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">তোতা মিয়া ঢোক গিলতে গিলতে সম্পূর্ণ ঘটনা পুঙ্খানুপুঙ্খ বর্ণনা করলো প্রায় ২ ঘন্টা ধরে| সাচ্চা পির হুজুর একেবারে নিরব| তোতা মিয়াকে কিছুই বলে না | ভয় আর আতঙ্কে তার সময় কাটছে - ফজরের আজান পড়লো | সাচ্চা পীর নামাজ আদায় করলেন - তোতা মিয়া তার ধারে কাছেও ভিরলো না | নামাজ শেষ করে সাচ্চা পীর হুজুর দন্ত খিল্লাল করতে করতে তোতা মিয়ার মুখের দিকে তাকালো অনেক ক্ষন | তারপর বুকে জাপটে তোতা মিয়াকে ধরলো এবং মাজারের দিকে ইশারা করে বললো -&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>'সাবাস বেটা .....তোর্ সবি ঠিক আছে .....আমার ওখানে যেটা আছে - ওটা এই গাধাটার বাপ' :)</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-18721257709275284252015-09-16T07:21:00.002+06:002015-09-16T07:21:28.418+06:00
Interview : মনই জীবনের কথা বলে : মাকসুদ
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>মনকে ভীষণ গুরুত্ব দেন তিনি। বিশ্বাস করেন মনই মানুষের সবকিছুকে নিয়ন্ত্রণ করে। মন খারাপ হলে নিরব থাকেন। ধ্যানে থাকেন। রেগে যান, হতাশ হন কেউ মিথ্যা কথা বললে। পেছনের জীবন নিয়ে কখনও আফসোসে ভোগেন না। আগামীর দিকে তাঁর চোখ। তিনি মাকসুদুল হক। ব্যান্ড স্টার এই তারকার মুখোমুখি হয়েছেন ওমর শাহেদ। ছবি তুলেছেন মোহাম্মদ হানজালা</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11EsksK9P-U/VfjBOw02MkI/AAAAAAAACxI/9HWzKH7iflA/s1600/mk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11EsksK9P-U/VfjBOw02MkI/AAAAAAAACxI/9HWzKH7iflA/s400/mk2.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : কেমন আছেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : ভালো।</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : কেন ভালো আছেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : সবসময় ভালো থাকি। এজন্য ভালো আছি।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : ভালো থাকাটা জরুরী?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : অবশ্যই।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : কেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : ভালো না থাকলে খারাপ এসে ঘাড়ের উপর চেপে বসে। তাই খারাপ সিচুয়েশনেও ভালো থাকতে হয়। সবকিছুর সঙ্গে মন জড়িত। মন দেহকে পরিচালনা করে এবং দেহ মনকে পরিচালিত করে। কে কাকে করে এটা সবসময় বিতর্কের বিষয়। কিন্তু আমার ধারণা, মনই সবকিছু। মনই তার জীবনের কথা বলে। মনটা যেন সুস্থ থাকে, সবল থাকে, ভালো থাকে এবং আনন্দে থাকে- তার কোন বিকল্প নেই।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : ভালো থাকতে হলে কোন কোন বিষয়ের দিকে খেয়াল রাখতে হয়?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : প্রথমতঃ নিজের সঙ্গে নিজের সততা- ‘ইউ হ্যাভ টু বি অনেষ্ট উইথ ইউরসেলফ’। পারিপার্শিক সমস্যা নেই, এমন কোন মানুষও পৃথিবীতে নেই। দুই ধরনের লোকের কোন সমস্যা নেই। একটা হলো শিশুর কোন সমস্যা নেই। আরেকটি হলো সম্পুর্ণ উন্মাদ লোকের কোন সমস্যা নেই। কিন্তু তারা বাদে সবারই সমস্যা আছে। সমস্যার ভেতরেই সমাধান আছে, সমস্যার বাইরে না। সবচেয়ে জরুরী হলো, সমস্যাকে চিহ্নিত করা এবং সেগুলোকে যুক্তি দিয়ে শেষ করা। সমস্যা হয়েছে, সেটাকে যুক্তি দিয়ে, নিজের ভালো বুদ্ধি দিয়ে পেরিয়ে আসা। সেখানেই মানুষের সার্থকতা। যারা সমস্যাকে ওভারকাম করতে পারে তারাই সাকসেসফুল হয়। এটা আমার একটা সিম্পল হিসেব।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : সমস্যাকে কিভাবে সমাধান করতে হবে? আর এটা কেন জরুরী?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : ওই যে আমি গান বলেছি, আগামী শুধু আসবে আজকের বেঁচে থাকায়। আগামী তো শেষ। আগামী যদি দেখা যেত, ঈশ্বর তাহলে আমাদের মাথার পেছনে দুটো চোখ দিতেন। উনি তো সেটা দেননি। প্রতিটি দিন কেন, প্রতিটি মুহুর্তে সবসময় ঈশ্বর আমাদের মধ্যে আশা দেন, আশার বাণী দেন। সেই আশার বাণীটা হলো আগামী। আগামীটার জন্য আমাদের সবসময় পজেটিভ থাকতে হবে। সবসময় ভালো থাকতে হবে। আগামী নির্ণয় করবে আমার ভবিষ্যতটা কী হবে? পেছনে যা ফেলে এসেছি, সেগুলোর জন্য বারে বারেই পেছনে পড়ে থাকার কোন অর্থ হয় না। প্রত্যেকটা মুহুর্তকে নতুন করে বোঝার আছে, প্রত্যেকটা মুহূর্ত ইম্পর্টেন্ট। সেই মুহূর্তগুলোকে কিভাবে নিজের কাজে লাগাতে পারি সেটাই হলো আমাদের কাজ। পেছনের ঘটনাগুলো হলো আমাদের অভিজ্ঞতা। পেছনের ঘটনাগুলো কি কারণে আমার জীবনে খারাপ হিসেবে এসেছিল? কি কারণে মনের অবস্থা খারাপ হয়েছিল? – সেগুলোর যদি সবসময় একটা সৎ বিশ্লেষণ করি, তাহলে ভবিষ্যতে সে ভুলগুলো আর করতে পারি না। একটি জিনিষ খুব স্পষ্ট- একজন মানুষ একটি ভুল একবারের জায়গায় &nbsp;যদি দুবার করে সেটা গ্রহনযোগ্য। কিন্তু তৃতীয়বার করাটা বোকামি, চতুর্থবার করলে বুঝতে হবে তার শোধরানোর ইচ্ছেই নেই। অর্থাৎ মানুষ যদি তার নিজের দোষগুলোকে স্বীকার না করে এবং সবসময় মনে করে, ‘আমিই রাইট’ তাহলে তো সমস্যা। সে ঐ সমস্যা থেকে বেরুতে পারবে না। এগুলো মানুষের ক্যারেক্টারে চলে আসে।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : মন খারাপ হয় না?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : অনেক হয়।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : তখন কি করেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : মন খারাপ হলে যে কাজটি করার সবচেয়ে বেশি চেষ্টা করি- যত নিরব থাকা যায়। একেবারে ধ্যানে থাকি। বসে ধ্যান করতে হবে এমন কোনো ষয় আছে বলে আমার মনে হয় না। যে অবস্থায় থাকি- কাজকর্মের ভেতরে, বাসায়, বইয়ের ভেতরে, একাকীত্বে মন খারাপকে হ্যান্ডেল করি। মন যখনখারাপ হয়, আমি খারাপ হতে দেই। কত আর তুমি খারাপ হবে মন? মন খারাপেরও শেষ আছে, মন ভালোরও শেষ আছে। মাঝামাঝি থাকারটাই হলো আনন্দ।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : মন ভালো কিংবা খারাপ, দুঃখ-কষ্ট, রাগ-হিংসা- এগুলোকে কিভাবে দেখেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : এগুলো আমাদের বেসিক স্বভাব-চরিত্রের ভেতরে অন্তর্ভুক্ত। তবে কত পার্সেন্ট সেটা নির্ণয় করতে হয়। খারাপ রোগ, শোক, দুঃখ এগুলো যদি আমাকে কাতর করে ফেলে তাহলে কিন্তু আমি ফাংশন করতে পারবো না। রেলওয়ের যেমন বগি হয়, তেমনি এগুলোকে আমি জীবনের বগিতে ফেলে রাখি। আচ্ছা রাগটা উঠেছে, কতক্ষণ রাগ থাকবে? খুব বেশি হলে ১০ মিনিটের বেশি রাগ করে থাকতে পারি না। দিনকে দিন একটি লোক যে রাগ করে থাকে, অভিমান করে থাকে- এটা আমার পক্ষে সম্ভব না। এগুলো ওভারকাম করতে চাই এবং করিও।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : কি কারণে রেগে যান?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : স্পেসিফিক কতগুলো কারণে। মিথ্যা সহ্য করতে পারি না। নিজেও মিথ্যা বলি না। কেউ যদি মিথ্যা বলে, তিলকে তাল করে, অসত্যকে সত্য বলে স্টাবলিস্ট করতে চায় এবং সেজন্য ইচ্ছে করে যুক্তি-তর্ক করে, সে রকম সিচুয়েশন মেনে নিতে পারি না। মানুষের অহংকার মানতে পারি না। কারণ নিজে অহংকারী নই। সুতরাং অহংকার যার ভেতরে বেশি, যার ভেতরে মিথ্যা বেশি; এই যুগটাই তো মিথ্যার উপরে চলছে; হয়তো বাসায় ঘুমিয়ে আছি। কিন্তু বলছি পথে আছি- এই মিথ্যাগুলো; মিথ্যা নিতে পারি না। মিথ্যা খুব হতাশ করে। হতাশ হলে রেগে যাই।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : রাগ দমিয়ে রাখার চেষ্টা করেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : রাগ তো অবশ্যই দমিয়ে রাখতেই হবে। এটা অনগোয়িং প্রসেস। রাগ তো হবেই। ২৪ ঘন্টার মধ্যে যদি মানুষ ১৬ ঘন্টা জেগে থাকে, তার রাগ হবে না- এটা খুব অস্বাভাবিক। দিনে একবার না একবার রাগ হবে। কিন্তু আসল কথা হচ্ছে রাগের মাত্রাটা কতটুকু? চিৎকার, চ্যাঁচামেচি করবো? হাত তুলবো? কাউকে গালি দিবো? না, অতটা রাগ করি না।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : রাগ নিয়ন্ত্রণ দরকার?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : খুবই বেশি।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : কিভাবে দরকার? পরামর্শটা কি?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : ব্যক্তিগতভাবে প্রণয়াণম, ইয়োগা করি। তাতে একধরণের শিথিল মেন্টালিটিতে আছি। ঘুমও কম হয়। এত বেশি এনার্জি, এত রিলাক্স থাকি যে, চারঘন্টা বা পাঁচঘন্টা ঘুমই যথেষ্ট। আমি মনে করি, আমারা এক্সারসাইজ করি, মাসল নিয়ে চিন্তা করি; দেহ নিয়ে চিন্তা করি, বডি ফিটনেস কেমন সেটা য়ে চিন্তা করি, একবারও চিন্তা করি না মানসিক স্বস্তি আছে কিনা। যোগ এখানে একটি ডিফরেন্ট ইমাজিনেশন; যোগ ব্যায়াম না; যোগ হলো যোগাযোগ। যোগ হলো বিয়োগের উল্টোটা। এই যে আপনি বিশ্ব ব্রহ্মাণ্ডে আছেন, এই যে কসমিক এনার্জির ভেতরে আছে, এই এনার্জির ভেতরে আপনাকে থাকতে হবে এবং সবকিছুর আপনি একটি অংশ- মাটি, বাতাস, প্রকৃতি। সে বারবার রিমাইন্ড দেবে এবং বারে বারে সে জায়গায় নিয়ে আসবে। যোগ শরীরের সব অঙ্গ ত্যঙ্গকে ব্যায়াম করায়। যেটা আমরা স্বভাবত করি না। শুধু মাসল নিয়ে ব্যস্ত থাকি, ফিগার নিয়ে ব্যস্ত থাকি। আমাদের বুকের পাটা কত বড় সেটা হিসাব করতে থাকি। শাহরুখ খান হতে পারলাম না সালমান সেটা হিসাব করতে থাকি। কিন্তু যোগ সেটা না। যোগ অভ্যন্তরীণ এবং সবসময়কার।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : কি কাজ করতে সবচেয়ে বেশি ভালো লাগে?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : আমি একটু ফিলসফিক্যাল। ধ্যানে থাকতে পছন্দ করি। একটা সুন্দর চিন্তা নিয়ে ঘন্টার পর ঘন্টা থাকি। এটাই সবচেয়ে আনন্দের। সাধারণত সৃষ্টিশীল চিন্তা। সমগ্র মানুষের ভালো কি করে করা যায়- এ ধরনের চিন্তা খুব আনন্দ দেয়।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ছবিঃ মোহাম্মদ হানজালা</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : ভেতরে তো হিংসা আছে?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : একেবারে নেই তা বলবো না। কিন্তু হিংসা সাধারণত করি না। যদি বলি হিংসা নেই, তাহলে তো আমি মানুষ না। মানুষের ভেতরে হিংসা থাকাটাই স্বাভাবিক। কিন্তু পারসেন্টেজটা একেবারেই কম। ও করছে, তার থেকে ভালো কিভাবে করতে পারি, এই পজিটিভ চেষ্টাটা আমার আছে।</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : মানসিক ভাবে কখনো অসুস্থ হয়েছেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : হয়েছি।</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : তখন কি করেছেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : মানসিক ভাবে যখন অসুস্থ হয়েছি আমাকে একবার ক্লিনিকে নিয়ে যাওয়া হয়েছিল। ফিয়ার সাইকোসিস যেটা বলে, সেটা হয়েছিল। প্রায় মাস দেড়েক ফাংশনাল ছিলাম না। এ দেশে সমস্যা হলো, মানুষ যখন মানসিকভাবে অসুস্থ হয়, তখন তাকে পাগল বলা হয় এবং পাগল শব্দটা একটা সামাজিক অপরাধ। তবে আমি মনে করি, আইনস্টাইন থেকে শুরু করে বিশ্বের এমন কোনো বড় মানুষ নেই, যারা নতুন কিছু করতে গিয়েছেন, পাগল বলা হয়নি। আরো মনে রাখতে হবে, কোনো লোকই হান্ডেড পারসেন্ট মেন্টালি ফিট না। যে বলবে আমি মানসিক ভাবে ১০০ ভাগ সুস্থ সে আসলেই পাগল। ওই যে আমরা রাগ করলে বলি- তখন আমি পাগল হয়ে গিয়েছিলাম, সেটা ঠিক আছে। কিন্তু সেটা যদি দিনে আট ঘন্টা বা দশ ঘন্টা বা তার চেয়েও বেশি থাকে, তার জন্য ট্রিটমেন্ট আছে এবং সে চিকিৎসা বাংলাদেশে এখন হাতের নাগালে।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : স্বপ্ন দেখেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : দেখি।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : ঘুমের মধ্যে দেখেন নাকি স্বপ্ন তৈরি করেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : ঘুমে দেখি। আর এমনি তো নিজের মনে একটা স্বপ্ন থাকে।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;"><b>ওই যে আমি গান বলেছি, আগামী শুধু আসবে আজকের বেঁচে থাকায়। আগামী তো শেষ। আগামী যদি দেখা যেত, ঈশ্বর তাহলে আমাদের মাথার পেছনেদুটোচোখ দিতেন। উনি তো সেটা দেননি। প্রতিটি দিন কেন, প্রতিটি মুহুর্তে সবসময় ঈশ্বর আমাদের মধ্যে আশা দেন, আশার বাণী দেন। সেই আশার বাণীটা হলো আগামী। আগামীটার জন্য আমাদের সবসময় পজেটিভ থাকতে হবে। সবসময় ভালো থাকতে হবে। আগামী নির্ণয় করবে আমার ভবিষ্যতটা কী হবে? পেছনে যা ফেলে এসেছি, সেগুলোর জন্য বারে বারেই পেছনে পড়ে থাকার কোন অর্থ হয় না। প্রত্যেকটা মুহুর্তকে নতুন করে বোঝার আছে, প্রত্যেকটা মুহূর্ত ইম্পর্টেন্ট। সেই মুহূর্তগুলোকে কিভাবে নিজের কাজে লাগাতে পারি সেটাই হলো আমাদের কাজ।</b></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : ঘুমে কি ধরনের স্বপ্ন দেখেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : স্পেসিফিক্যালি বলা ডিফিক্যাল্ট। খুব পজেটিভ স্বপ্ন দেখেছি। ভয় পাওয়া বা হতাশ হওয়ার মতো স্বপ্ন দেখিনি। মৃত লোকদের দেখি। বাবাকে দেখি,চাচাকে দেখি। মরহুমা স্ত্রীকেও দেখি। মৃত লোককে দেখি। বাট নট রেগুলার। স্বপ্নে কোন ম্যাসেজ দেওয়া হলে সেটি রাখার চেষ্টা করি। ব্যাপারটির একটিউদাহরণ দেই- আমার চুল লম্বা ছিল। গোঁফ ছিল। ১৯৮৭ সালে বাবা মারা গেলেন। ‘৯২তে তাঁকে স্বপ্ন দেখলাম। রসিকতা করে বললেন, ‘তুই মোচটা কেটে ফেল। আর নয়। আর মোচ রাখিস না।’ উনি মোচ রাখতেন না। এই আমি তখন থেকে ক্লিন সেভ। এটা ভালো না মন্দ জানি না। তবে বাবার কথা রাখলাম।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : নিজে ভালো থাকার জন্য অনেক কিছু করি। কিন্তু অন্যরা যাতে আপনাকে ভালোবাসে, ভালো বলে, তাদের ভালো লাগে- সেজন্য কতটা সচেতন?মাকসুদ : আমি মানুষটা চেষ্টা করি সবার সঙ্গে ভালো থাকার। এটা আমার ক্যারেক্টার। আমি সবার কাছে হেল্পফুল, মানুষকে সময় দেই। এক্সেস দেই। আলাদা করে ভালো থাকতে হবে, সে চেষ্টা করি না। আমি যা সেটা যদি কেউ মেনে নেয়, ওয়েল এন্ড গুড। অনেকে হয়তো নাও মানতে পারে। হয়তো মুখের উপর বলে দেওয়াটা নাও মানাতে পারে। তাতে আমার কিছু আসে যায় না। আমি আমার বেসিক ক্যারেক্টার তো চেঞ্জ করতে পারবো না। এটা নিয়েই আমার জন্ম।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : কাউকে প্রবলভাবে ভালোবাসেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : ভালোবাসতে তো হবেই। তার উপরে আমি শিল্পী। আমার ভালোবাসার পরিধিটা বিশাল।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : আপনার প্রফেশনে আপনিতো একজন সফল মানুষ। আপনি কি মনে করেন অন্য প্রফেশনেও আপনি সফল হতে পারতেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : সফলতা-ব্যর্থতা নিয়ে কখনো খুব একটা চিন্তা করি না। আমি কাজের মানুষ, শুধু কাজ করি। যত রকম কাজের সুযোগ পাই, করি।সিনসিয়ারলি করি। এটা নিয়ে আমার একটা সুনাম আছে যে, মাকসুদ ভাইকে যদি কোন কাজ দেওয়া হয়, তিনি সেটা মনোযোগ দিয়ে, ভালোভাবে করেন। এই সিনসিয়ারিটির যদি দাম দেয় তাহলে ভালো। আর না দিলেও আমার কিছু আসে যায় না। সফল না বিফল এটা নিয়ে কখনো ভাবি না।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : নিজের কাছে মানুষ হিসেবে কেমন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : খুব একটা ভালো মানুষ না (হাসি)। ভালো মানুষ বা সাকসেসফুল মানুষের সংজ্ঞা যদি হয় টাকা, প্রভাব, প্রতিপত্তি; সে সংজ্ঞায় মোটেও পড়ি না।সুতরাং আমাদের সমাজ ভালো মানুষের যে সংজ্ঞাটা দেয়, সে সংজ্ঞার ভেতরে আমি পড়ি না। চেষ্টা করি সবার সঙ্গে ভালো থাকার। বিশেষ করে একেবারে নিকট আত্মীয়-স্বজন, বউ-বাচ্চা, বন্ধু বান্ধব। যারা সংস্পর্শে আসে চেষ্টা করি টু মেক দেম ফিল ইমপরটেন্ট। কাউকে ছোট চোখে দেখি না। সে একটা বাউল হোক, সে গরীব মানুষ হোক। সবাইকে সম্মান দেই। এতে যদি আমি ভালো মানুষ তো ভালো মানুষ, জানি না। তবে মানুষের ভালোবাসা অনেক পাই। এতে কোন সন্দেহ নেই।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : যে কোন সফলতার পেছনে মানসিক সুস্থ্যতা বা মানসিক স্বাস্থ্য ভালো থাকাটা খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। আপনার জীবনে এটার প্রভাব কতটুকু? ভয়ংকর উত্থান পতনের ভেতর দিয়ে আপনি গিয়েছেন।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : একটা মাত্র জীবন। প্রত্যেকটা মুহূর্ত শিক্ষণীয়। মানসিকভাবে যখন অসুস্থ থেকেছি, দুই বছর, তিন বছর- যাই হোক না কেন, কম আর বেশি; এখান থেকে তো শিক্ষা পেয়েছি। সেটাই কাজে লাগিয়েছি। একেবারে আকাশ পর্যন্ত উঠেছি, মাটিতেও পড়েছি। একবার না, এটা সবাই জানেন, অনেকবার। এই উত্থান-পতনের ভেতরেও মানুষের একটি ডিগনিটি আছে, সেলফ রেসপেক্ট আছে। মানুষ জানে, আমি আমার সেলফ রেসপেক্ট কখনো হারাইনি। এই বেসিক ক্যারেক্টারটি চেঞ্জ করিনি।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">মখ : জীবনের শেষ প্রান্তে নিজকে কোথায় দেখতে চান বা জীবন যখন শুরু করেছিলেন কখনো কি ভেবেছিলেন একদিন মাকসুদ হয়ে উঠবেন?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">মাকসুদ : একটি স্বপ্ন ছিল। জানতাম একটি জায়গায় যেতে পারবো। আমি সত্যিই জানতাম। যেটার কোন বৈজ্ঞানিক ব্যাখ্যা দেওয়া মুশকিল। কিন্তু কোনজায়গায় যাব সেটা জানতাম এবং সেজন্যই কিন্তু আমি কাজগুলো করেছি। এখনো সেই আমার মধ্যে আছে। যে জেনেছি এবং নিজেকে নিয়ে যা ভেবেছি তার অধিকাংশই পেয়েছি। সবাই পেতে চায়। কিন্তু আমার তো দেবার অনেক আছে। যেটা দেবার আছে সমাজ, আমার দেশ, আমাদের মানুষ তা নিতে পারেনি। তার ১০ ভাগও সমাজ নিতে পারেনি। আমার দুঃখ শুধু ওই জায়গায়। বামবা থেকে শুরু করে সবক্ষেত্রে কখনোই ব্যক্তি মাকসুদের কথা চিন্তা করিনি। সবসময় সমষ্টির কথা ভেবেছি। ব্যান্ডসঙ্গীতে, সামাজিক ক্ষেত্রে, বাউলদের ক্ষেত্রে, লেখালেখির ক্ষেত্রে, কবিতার ক্ষেত্রে; আমার কোন লেখাই কিন্তু আমার কেন্দ্রিক না। আমি মাকসুদুল হক, আমাকে ১০ জন চেনে দ্যাটস গুড এনাফ। আমি সবার কাছে গ্রহণযোগ্য পাত্র না এবং আমার অফুরন্ত ভান্ডার আছে, তার ১০ পার্সেন্টও আমি দিতে পারিনি। আমার আর পাওয়ার কিছু নেই। আমার দেবার ইচ্ছে, দিতে চাই। কোথায় যাব জানি না, তবে দিতে দিতেই বিলীন হয়ে যাব।</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;"><b>মানসিক ভাবে যখন অসুস্থ হয়েছি আমাকে একবার ক্লিনিকে নিয়ে যাওয়া হয়েছিল। ফিয়ার সাইকোসিস যেটা বলে, সেটা হয়েছিল। প্রায় মাস দেড়েক ফাংশনাল ছিলাম না। এ দেশে সমস্যা হলো, মানুষ যখন মানসিকভাবে অসুস্থ হয়, তখন তাকে পাগল বলা হয় এবং পাগল শব্দটা একটা সামাজিক অপরাধ। তবে আমি মনে করি, আইনস্টাইন থেকে শুরু করে বিশ্বের এমন কোনো বড় মানুষ নেই, যারা নতুন কিছু করতে গিয়েছেন, পাগল বলা হয়নি। আরো মনে রাখতে হবে, কোনো লোকই হান্ডেড পারসেন্ট মেন্টালি ফিট না। যে বলবে আমি মানসিক ভাবে ১০০ ভাগ সুস্থ সে আসলেই পাগল।</b></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://www.monerkhabor.com/celebrity-mind/2015/09/15/2508" target="_blank">Link</a></b></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-78879011809837968572015-02-07T12:18:00.001+06:002015-02-07T12:18:18.926+06:00
The Bangladesh Poet of Impropriety: 42nd I-Day Message: Overthrow Corrupt Political System
The Bangladesh Poet of Impropriety: 42nd I-Day Message: Overthrow Corrupt Political System : The silence of citizens is understandable for murder merchants have maneuvered and positioned themselves today with an aura of menacing respectability. Death is simply not the extinguishing of life. Death is numbing and deafening of our senses even as we live. Death is the beginning of life’s wheel being slowed down on terms that are dictated by the powers unknown to us, and ones who have uncannily decided to ‘act God’. Thus to expect each and every Bengali to be a ‘brave revolutionary’ is sheer stupidity! Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-12575073293607609802014-09-05T02:15:00.004+06:002014-09-05T02:15:54.469+06:00
'জিহাদ বাংলাদেশ' এবং 'ইজতিহাদ' সম্পর্কে
আমার মনে হয় এই মুহর্তে আমাদের সব চাইতে জরুরি ভিত্তেতে যেটা দরকার তা হলো এই সকল ওয়াহাবী/সালাফি/শরীয়তি ইসলাম পসন্দ আলেম উলেমা মল্লাহ্দের সাথে একটা প্রকাশ্য সম্ভব হলে টেলিভিশন এর মাধ্যমে 'বাহাস' বা 'ইজিতিহাদ' তথা যুক্তিতর্কে বসা | অনেক যুগ অনেক কাল পেড়িয়ে গেছে উনাদের এক তরফা ভুয়া ইসলাম এর মন্ত্র গিলতে গিলতে | অনেক বাজে কথা ওয়াজ মহফিলে, মসজিদে বলা হয় যা সব এক তরফা 'বয়ান' যেন সয়ং আল্লাহ নিজেই কথা বলছেন | কোনো রকম পাল্টা প্রশ্ন করা, আলেমদের কে নাকি 'বেইজ্জতি' করা| সেটা 'হারাম' উনাদের ভাষ্য মতে | এমনকি রাসুলাল্লাহ কে নিয়ে এদের মিথ্যা অধিকংশ হাদিস আমরা মেনে নিয়েছি সত্য বলে | আজকের দন্ড 'প্রকৃত ইসলাম' ও 'পোশাক ধারী মোসলমানের' দন্ড | যতই চেষ্টা করেন কোনো লাভ নেই কারণ আদতে আমরা ধর্ম সংক্রান্ত কোনো আলাপ 'স্পর্শকাতর' এর সিল দিয়ে বাক্সবন্দী করে রেখেছি স্বাধীনতার পর থেকে | 'প্রগতিশীল' আওয়ামী লিগ বলেন, 'মৌলবাদী' বিএনপি বলেন, জামাত বলেন আর হেফাজাত, আল কাইদা বা আইসিস বলেন - সবাই তো ওই একই ওয়াহাবী/সালাফি/শরীয়তি ইসলামের ধারক বাহক এবং প্রতিপালক! কি ভাবে ওদের সাথে লড়বেন যখন প্রকৃত ইসলাম, খেটে খাওয়া মেহনতি মানুষের, দরিদ্র মানুষের মোহাম্মদী ইসলাম সম্পর্কে বিন্দু মাত্র জ্ঞান বা ধারণা নেই আপনাদের?   Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-29737568801122314912013-09-06T09:55:00.001+06:002013-09-06T11:24:04.122+06:00
Abdur Rahman Boyati and the legacy of the body clocks last seconds
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d681fnrmpH0/UilRJ3sDF8I/AAAAAAAACHo/cX8J-HtbTH8/s1600/arb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d681fnrmpH0/UilRJ3sDF8I/AAAAAAAACHo/cX8J-HtbTH8/s400/arb.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GingerNoCheckStart"></span>ABDUR RAHMAN BOYATI - 1939 - 2013</span></b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></span></b><br /><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Hasib Zakaria ©</span></span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bae20f12-d9be-4947-b567-30c039382a49" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="69ab9123-706e-48e4-913b-ce3ecc6ec029" grcontextid="by:0">by</span> Mac Haque</span></strong></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><strong>‘</strong><strong>Throw some food our way, not flowers at our corpse.’&nbsp;</strong><strong>-&nbsp;</strong></em><strong>Kuddus Boyati</strong></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the legendary&nbsp;<strong>Abdur Rahman Boyati</strong>&nbsp;made his transition on August 19, 2013 the loss to the nation was not <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="deea8007-409a-4717-ace6-60f183fca505" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3c91c1bc-2b01-4926-8071-30f1b5b6eb09" grcontextid="of:0">of</span> a ‘star’ but a galaxy disappearing from the heaven above. &nbsp;<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="95b16f5e-64f5-4201-a217-175f2b09318f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8853ce2c-425f-4d9f-b861-39a1bacbf493" grcontextid="Paralysed:0">Paralysed</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f0d976d9-2371-4b91-a577-0cdf09af4a54" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8853ce2c-425f-4d9f-b861-39a1bacbf493" grcontextid="with:1">with</span> a cerebral stroke on September 17, 2003 and unable to sing, for nearly ten years the legend survived on contributions from all sections of our society. Yet when it was time to bid our final adieu to the man who represented Bangladesh in many an international event, gaining admiration and respect for his raw and pristine artistry, the picture that was repetitive and revolting was his apparent state of economic hardship. Revolting, for the media and social networks more than focusing on his music or his art or the man that was Rahman Boyati, went on an overdrive of shallow and hypocritical crocodile tears.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Images of musical icons living and dying for what they believe in and the art they practice scrupulously at great sacrifices to their societal or even familial needs and wants – is neither new nor surprising. However, what does merit open discussion is the word&nbsp;<em>‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c8ecd6c1-b04e-4434-8678-f15523da4b6b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8063e08e-a076-4940-867d-0b7a09e92b24" grcontextid="dustho:0">dustho</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0daa773c-57a6-4ebc-a048-8df2fb90d51d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8063e08e-a076-4940-867d-0b7a09e92b24" grcontextid="shilpi:1">shilpi</span>’</em>&nbsp;which popularly may mean ‘destitute artist’ – yet in colloquial Bangla, also means a performer who is a pauper! In both cases the term is abusive, strips <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0698779d-eeee-4104-a550-9a0d58243d18" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5d7f5f97-9c87-464e-9722-bb9ead60db56" grcontextid="off:0">off</span> dignity and is an insult to someone who has contributed enormously to culture by sticking true to our roots – our origin.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While music as an institution has traditionally received wide appreciation and fondness among people, and is a business of unimaginable magnitude, yet when it comes to state’s recognition, the government’s apathy is numbing. That the death of Rahman Boyati is no less the death of a heritage dignitary, a Bangladesh Ambassador of our majority rural citizenry was selectively expunged from public memory. Economically disadvantaged singers and musicians have time and again been meted with the same treatment before or after their deaths. Nothing can be more shameful.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a ministry of cultural affairs &nbsp;that apparently has a fund for ‘destitute artist’, meaning the mindset has taken it for granted that a musical artist is destined to die pauper and such funds can, or will be used to make the government look like a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="789a77f6-24b8-40fc-8a7e-c9a1314d761d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ba550ede-7858-4e65-bb4d-c72a809d92e0" grcontextid="tokenistic:0">tokenistic</span> do-gooder! However, is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d39dc8a2-a6b4-48cc-a592-0baf56bff929" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ca052a29-0c9c-4044-8904-adde30822587" grcontextid="fund:0">fund</span> and cash doles the only available option to ensure music and musicians will survive? &nbsp;Sadly it is not, for more than money, it is our abject insensitivity at not creating enough space for musicians is ultimately where death knell for the arts rings loud.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Musicians more than money are denied the opportunity they deserve whether that is in the media or LIVE performances. Corporate exploitation and overkills of the arts chooses merely to tag and piggyback upon an artist’s ‘image’ and ‘popularity’ profiles to sell its product. When Rahman Boyati died, the hushed shock that enveloped everyone was ‘he never received any state <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a4b20475-d2b5-4587-b399-adc204c22ebf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="57912805-de1a-4ca3-98fc-c26a1e0ac4c2" grcontextid="honour:0">honour</span>’. But what state <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="eb399a15-550c-44fc-9828-9bbc8b06b55f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1980c533-3a2c-4e14-8b45-63c240c5c1c7" grcontextid="honour:0">honour</span> are we talking about here?</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The biggest ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="847b5e8b-9a3b-46e2-8afa-6d60a72d5b55" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f79d9ade-dc75-46f2-ac4d-8665eb268ab0" grcontextid="honour:0">honour</span>’ that anyone involved with the arts can hope for is the&nbsp;<em>Ekushey Padak</em>. However, it is just not given to a recipient solely based on his or her merits and talents, but more so with how ‘otherwise talented’ they are in building political and media ‘connections’, and in their social networking amongst culture vultures and touts closest to the administration.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For someone as simple and naïve as Rahman Boyati, it was unthinkable to stoop so low, and it is a sheer tragedy that very few heritage artists have so far received the award. In the case of Rahman Boyati as is being speculated, a belated award may only serve the purpose of a nation’s afterthought to ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="765836e7-6f94-49df-b461-15877fffb2e0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="704065ef-1141-43eb-b70d-848634fe422e" grcontextid="honour:0">honour</span>’ a legend. But when it comes to taking stock of how Rahman Boyati ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cffbcae7-5a22-496c-9447-de922dcc99d3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ec33f642-f6ae-4b8e-80b4-fe4d1c52645b" grcontextid="honoured:0">honoured</span>’ Bangladesh all his life without asking for anything in return; a mere award that hangs in his <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0eaec5e1-c162-4027-b1d2-b0d7850bdd4e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ec33f642-f6ae-4b8e-80b4-fe4d1c52645b" grcontextid="home desolate:1">home desolate</span> in his absence and a few <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ca060666-b6c4-4e79-b048-3ba0cd1e331d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ec33f642-f6ae-4b8e-80b4-fe4d1c52645b" grcontextid="lakh:2">lakh</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0606cf12-3ce3-4985-acc0-707e4023e568" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ec33f642-f6ae-4b8e-80b4-fe4d1c52645b" grcontextid="takas:3">takas</span> paid to his beneficiaries can only be considered <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4717cfd7-9d0a-4c37-88ea-e76ef50fcce3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ec33f642-f6ae-4b8e-80b4-fe4d1c52645b" grcontextid="tokenistic:4">tokenistic</span> bordering on depravity – no different than the ‘pauper’ tag we as a nation seem ready to mouth at any given opportunity.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we at all have to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6b779513-9e35-4ab6-97a0-3603f944dd33" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="145e241c-1581-4f5c-b1dc-dbb59ce1acb1" grcontextid="honour:0">honour</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="da14646e-ee88-4e52-aa97-1becd7e09bed" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="145e241c-1581-4f5c-b1dc-dbb59ce1acb1" grcontextid="likes:1">likes</span> of Rahman Boyati and other heritage icons and luminaries, we need to have a thorough and undiluted understanding of our rural traditions.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6989beed-a8e1-4257-8b29-529817afd90c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="34b34365-952b-45e0-ac32-a0f024460bb9" grcontextid="Boyatis:0">Boyatis</span> musically and philosophically are in the same genre as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8f0a99c8-5cf3-4779-ac7a-039446b85806" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="34b34365-952b-45e0-ac32-a0f024460bb9" grcontextid="Bauls:1">Bauls</span>. Whereas in the case of the latter it evolved in the erstwhile Nadiya district of pre-partition Bengal now comprising Kustia, Meherpur, Jhenidah, Chuadanga <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="61a60dca-b0ec-4de0-a24a-de54e1ac46cf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bb01ab3c-027f-4402-add2-578c5558df9e" grcontextid="etc:0">etc</span> the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ee763184-1901-4e9f-8556-423b75e6d7ca" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bb01ab3c-027f-4402-add2-578c5558df9e" grcontextid="Boyatis:1">Boyatis</span> were predominantly concentrated in and around Dhaka district extending further until Faridpur and Manikganj. &nbsp;However the geographical locale of the Boyati tradition is today expansive. Indeed wherever there are Bengali speakers, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="93720fc4-e556-4154-87c2-5cff23adc591" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4b8ba348-ce46-4620-a490-63b7316571e7" grcontextid="Boyatis:0">Boyatis</span> are inevitably present offering not only a cultural, but importantly a spiritual service. Other than the length and breadth of Bangladesh, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e582fdc9-aee6-4bd1-bfb6-dc33e7c17aca" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5444769c-6df4-4169-9656-3c2bd58d3158" grcontextid="Boyatis:0">Boyatis</span> reaffirm the tradition all the way from West Bengal to London!</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The advent of the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="29dc3ff0-c87f-479e-be0e-e3138243f0fc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9e06ff77-c61f-44c8-ae9c-a49cdb5e3821" grcontextid="Boyatis:0">Boyatis</span> can be traced back to the earliest Sufis who arrived in Dhaka some 700 years ago. Concentrated in the Azimpur locality the relics of the&nbsp;<em>Dayera Sharif</em>&nbsp;still in existence stands as a testament and silent reminder of the Sufi influence in our culture, with the Boyatis among others, the earliest exponents of the music, philosophy and legacy of Saints buried in its premise.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The word Boyati on the other hand etymologically means someone who has taken ‘<em><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="45344b50-0945-42f2-8d1c-d749e70cae37" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5948e851-5673-4fd1-9768-42c06c35e075" grcontextid="bayat:0">bayat</span></em>’ or ‘<em><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9e3afc86-57e1-4b82-afee-7a32eb66ee93" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5948e851-5673-4fd1-9768-42c06c35e075" grcontextid="diksha:1">diksha</span></em>’ (initiation) imparted <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c8625f30-eca8-4957-a3bc-a896d4312ac5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5948e851-5673-4fd1-9768-42c06c35e075" grcontextid="on:2">on</span> them by their&nbsp;<em>Guru/Murshid</em>. It is a lifelong oath and a pledge of secrecy for committed dedication to serve toiling humanity. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7fe19873-bef2-4905-9180-f49249b79e08" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c0420c93-ba09-4b00-b991-08a34fd33f5d" grcontextid="Boyatis:0">Boyatis</span> like <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="46bbb59c-affb-435c-973a-483da5a85d52" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c0420c93-ba09-4b00-b991-08a34fd33f5d" grcontextid="Bauls:1">Bauls</span> believe in the primacy of a&nbsp;<em>Guru/Murshid</em>&nbsp;and remain for a considerable period of time under such a person’s tutelage. They are usually followers of the&nbsp;<em>Chistia&nbsp;</em>and&nbsp;<em>Qadriya <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="724310c8-a4b4-4a09-822f-12547563ee4f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="691c32ac-1e1f-497c-b745-e59725cd658e" grcontextid="tarikat:0">tarikat</span></em>&nbsp;of Sufi orders.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The word also implies a direct relationship to Islamic history of the&nbsp;<em>Ahl-al Bayt&nbsp;</em><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ec5e870d-686a-4538-9075-e9bc2b28d8e4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a53d3cd7-c4e2-4d65-9c09-a2dfbe1f40ea" grcontextid="i.e:0">i.e</span> the spiritual descendants of&nbsp;<strong>Prophet</strong><strong> Muhammad (pbuh)</strong>&nbsp;who carried forward the mystically esoteric and exoteric messages encoded within the Quran. The&nbsp;<em>Ahl-al Bayt&nbsp;</em>or ‘people of the mantle’ <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8e512c29-a9dc-4b79-a5d4-c11209aab8f7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1147f2e4-930d-40e8-958b-38c8d44c69e9" grcontextid="encapsulates:0">encapsulates</span> the Prophet himself, his cousin and son-in-law&nbsp;<strong>Ali</strong>, daughter&nbsp;<strong>Fatima</strong>, and grandsons&nbsp;<strong>Hasan&nbsp;</strong>and&nbsp;<strong>Hussain</strong>, i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4d7107e9-ceda-423a-9515-a43b0fd4327d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ca9cbb44-02d9-4f68-8cbe-e6616f0678bd" grcontextid="the:0">the</span> purported &nbsp;<em><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a69075bc-3e5c-4c0a-a6e0-e61949d9cce4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ca9cbb44-02d9-4f68-8cbe-e6616f0678bd" grcontextid="pak:1">pak</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f237569e-8999-4238-bc00-367197668c7c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ca9cbb44-02d9-4f68-8cbe-e6616f0678bd" grcontextid="panjtan:2">panjtan</span></em>&nbsp;(the exalted five) as in Sufi spirituality.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1ee98640-514e-4d24-9260-0d789092a5d2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3cf12321-693b-4991-b717-de7e68c519f1" grcontextid="Boyatis:0">Boyatis</span> therefore depend on&nbsp;<em><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="06ef5ba3-b616-49ff-81a5-6a71410efcac" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3cf12321-693b-4991-b717-de7e68c519f1" grcontextid="shirzanama:1">shirzanama</span>&nbsp;</em>for their music and spiritual teaching and guidance. These are well recorded and agreed upon <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a5b70875-ef2f-4fca-af95-6c5f3a3a1086" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c79d9d32-5b25-4ba6-9dee-a2f3651a1856" grcontextid="hagiographical:0">hagiographical</span> flowcharts that tracks back the original message/s conveyed as ‘lip to ear wisdom’, via a chain of transmissions of innumerable&nbsp;<em>Gurus/Murshids</em>&nbsp;all the way to the fountainheads of the four known and popular <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4d1a5efa-8133-42f1-ada8-042f3d786e89" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c79d9d32-5b25-4ba6-9dee-a2f3651a1856" grcontextid="tarikats:1">tarikats</span> :&nbsp;<em>Chistia, Qadriya, Mujadediya and Nakshabandiya&nbsp;</em>– and even further to the secret teachings of the original&nbsp;<em>Ahl-al Bayt</em>.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cc3ad357-286c-4714-a8cc-5804a6bb9d15" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3d94a83b-e55e-4a00-9dfe-517841792405" grcontextid="Boyati:0">Boyati</span> is also someone who performs&nbsp;<em><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="41e00e01-ff68-4009-96fb-91d95cea3602" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3d94a83b-e55e-4a00-9dfe-517841792405" grcontextid="bayan:1">bayan</span>&nbsp;</em>or explanation of the Holy Scriptures, or a canvasser in today’s terminology, maybe even an evangelist. They are bards and minstrels, and as Islamic history records stayed true to tradition in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5c77fcee-cc16-4b52-840b-790f39a4da6e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5acd1414-9617-4f3c-933f-f58e866857f2" grcontextid="face:0">face</span> of&nbsp;<em>Wahabi/Shariat</em>i demagogic bigotry that has all too often derailed the course of life and living in South Asia. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d0ec8efb-b0a7-445c-baf8-e881c237e740" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a41159f6-b4da-44db-b4ae-fdebb70b12b6" grcontextid="Boyatis:0">Boyatis</span> represents a resistance to orthodoxy and religious bigotry and like the Bauls/Fakirs and Sahajiya’s have likewise faced oppression and societal <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d5f92b66-8baf-4de3-9177-7334fae4abdd" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a41159f6-b4da-44db-b4ae-fdebb70b12b6" grcontextid="ostracisation:1">ostracisation</span>.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rahman Boyati was already a musical phenomenon even before the independence of Bangladesh. Around 1973-74 he had regular performances in the state owned&nbsp;<strong>Bangladesh Television</strong>&nbsp;(BTV) and his sonorous rendition of the perplexing song&nbsp;<em>‘Deho Ghori’</em>&nbsp; (The Body Clock) that covers everything from human anatomy, physiology, neurology, embryology, the central nervous system and sexuality, among others, made him a household name not only in the rural backwaters but also among the urban middle class and elite enthusiast.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0f8fef5e-5f62-48b8-bd86-a2bb461db9af" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0f95a519-b846-4254-b224-a1f536642616" grcontextid="likes:0">likes</span> of mainstream performer&nbsp;<strong>Fakir Alamgir&nbsp;</strong>and the late&nbsp;<strong>Feroze Shai&nbsp;</strong>started covering the song with their respective bands from 1975, Rahman Boyati and the song together become a national spiritual icon.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were good reasons for the song to have the impact in the broader spectrum as there were important parameters to be considered. Contrary to popular misconception, the lyrics were not penned by Rahman Boyati. In the initial rendition the ‘signature line’ was appended with his&nbsp;<em>Guru/Murshid’s</em>&nbsp;name <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e8673931-35db-4616-922e-fecc0ed54bfa" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cbdee787-46c3-4d98-bd76-ad632755a467" grcontextid="ie:0">ie</span>&nbsp;<strong>Alauddin Boyati</strong>. No one knows for certain who the original song writer was and it may have well been conveyed to Alauddin by his immediate&nbsp;<em>Guru/Murshid</em>, their predecessors and so forth.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The beauty of the oral tradition that Rahman Boyati explained to me is the name of the<em>&nbsp;‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="45a823d0-664f-418a-b734-a804cc1caaef" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dc7f750b-89b5-4fc3-bf21-f5f94a64642a" grcontextid="podo:0">podo</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ec9b9536-61e4-46b2-af5f-7f97ef017610" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dc7f750b-89b5-4fc3-bf21-f5f94a64642a" grcontextid="korta:1">korta</span>’</em>&nbsp;(poet/lyricist) is unimportant. It is to maintain continuity of the encrypted message/s that has to be kept alive and organic, is the foremost criteria. Therefore in&nbsp;<em>‘Deho Ghori’</em>&nbsp;Rahman Boyati &nbsp;not only maintained continuity of what his Guru<em>/Murshid</em>&nbsp;imparted upon him, but set forth a new trajectory for later day transmissions by enthusiasts, which in 1995 I had the supreme <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="edfde667-3eab-433d-83e4-131ce72951d2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ed170ccb-d5dc-45db-b4fa-4964ce3021a9" grcontextid="honour:0">honour</span> and privilege to carry forward.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was&nbsp;<strong>Mustafizur Rahman</strong>&nbsp;then general manager of BTV, who commissioned my erstwhile band Feedback to create a fusion version of the song<em>&nbsp;‘Deho Ghori’&nbsp;</em>together with Rahman Boyati for an Eid day special show of the magazine program ‘<em>Subhechha</em>’. The famed debater<strong>&nbsp;Abdun Noor Tushar</strong>&nbsp;was to make his debut as a show host. Feroze Mahmud was the producer, and he <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0d43413e-9091-42d3-8f91-6f0bf6665c49" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d40135d8-fbc3-4541-84f8-2c2862738d9a" grcontextid="organised:0">organised</span> Rahman Boyati to come over to BTV and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="79d42af9-2b38-4027-8380-564610c165bf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d40135d8-fbc3-4541-84f8-2c2862738d9a" grcontextid="handover:1">handover</span> a scratch of the song on a cassette recorder.&nbsp;<strong><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f862b66e-44f2-48e1-8c21-33f51ccbc376" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d1c85c51-78a8-4445-b9e7-9123f7109ede" grcontextid="Pearo:0">Pearo</span> Khan</strong>&nbsp;on behalf of the band went over, recorded the song and wrote down the lyrics, which was abridged from the original given allocated time slots issues in BTV for music airing.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What set into motion was a marathon 72 hours as&nbsp;<strong>FeedBack</strong>&nbsp;doggedly worked on the song, argued endlessly about tone and tonalities – and in the end <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dee501a7-fa74-4992-a1a6-e68490e3bdc9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4ec99502-f5a8-4dc6-b383-b7bd53c493e8" grcontextid="were:0">were</span> ready to bring in Rahman Boyati to Soundgarden studio to dub his voice. It was to be my first meeting with someone who was no less a ‘star’ than&nbsp;<strong>Michael Jackson</strong>&nbsp;in rural Bangladesh and I therefore spent a sleepless night in anticipation!</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rahman Bhai turned out to be larger than life and joined in spontaneously to sing. It did not matter to him that the song was set to a club beat and his impromptu dancing while recording had us <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dc2deddd-59e1-4b69-86a1-dc70a95944b1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1781fb30-1a00-400d-8158-f9d249a1b8a2" grcontextid="energised:0">energised</span>. He smiled and laughed all the way through and even volunteered to source a Baul children’s choir to join in the sing-a-long portions.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two days later, we all packed a bus and set out to Gazipur where a video was shot. On Eid day when the song and video (available at http://tinyurl.com/feedback-boyati) was televised, the outpouring of appreciation and adulation for both Rahman Boyati and FeedBack was awe inspiring. In three weeks time a one song album was launched (the first of its kind in the history of Bangladesh music) and sold over 30,000 audio cassette copies on the first day alone!</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My association with Rahman Boyati and the Baul/Boyati tradition increased as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7cadcb0e-13f0-49cf-b943-f55b3ea4ac3f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="64e9e70c-342e-4b65-b902-9c43a0c80359" grcontextid="days:0">days</span> wore on.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If there was one overriding characteristic of Rahman Boyati it was his simplicity to a fault persona. Always appreciative of the work I was doing, one of the fondest moments I have with him was when he thanked me for creating a totally new breed of fans.<em>&nbsp;‘I feel so proud when young boys and girls wearing jeans, tee-shirts and caps worn backwards come and shake my hand. They wouldn’t have heard my music or known anything about me, if it wasn’t for FeedBack,’&nbsp;</em>he told me chewing his trademark <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="21349510-7948-43f1-b851-670eeb044343" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1872bf0c-8e87-41ba-9ee6-12e854c47676" grcontextid="paan:0">paan</span> (betel leaf) one afternoon.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The legacy of Rahman Boyati will live on for as long as we take some time to explore the earth we walk on, instead of the imaginary sky we float upon or the ‘stars’ we aspire to become. There are thousands of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c67f26a3-2b3e-484b-ab9a-872bc3d4fc62" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="04770d4e-d38f-4506-8fae-8038788927ff" grcontextid="Boyatis:0">Boyatis</span> around us, and unless we create the space for them to perform, give them the respect they truly deserve, the tradition and all that we hold precious will die out eventually. That in a roundabout way would be <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a5ae9a08-f210-4b34-83d5-83aa88bcffcb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="57d7008b-2c41-4cc4-9c26-73b74ef29a5f" grcontextid="death:0">death</span> to whatever has been precious and valuable for our very existence.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Age Xtra, Friday, 6th September 2013</span></strong></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://newagebd.com/supliment.php?sid=270&amp;id=1907" target="_blank">Link</a></strong></span></div><div><span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span><br /></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-73800436432262971622013-08-26T10:12:00.000+06:002013-09-06T10:22:42.288+06:00
Polls 2013 - Of power, pain, princes and poli-tricks
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3IkMHRwMep8/UilYUKlIpLI/AAAAAAAACH4/xGKrztl6nDc/s1600/prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3IkMHRwMep8/UilYUKlIpLI/AAAAAAAACH4/xGKrztl6nDc/s400/prince.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c5f71337-ed71-494f-8ae2-a1e5062c6759" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="19d32b3a-0c76-4197-a4ce-605f3ec058c3" grcontextid="by:0">by</span> Mac Haque&nbsp;</span></strong></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>''And in what fairy tale would John ever be any sane person’s idea of Prince Charming anyway? He was the opposite of charming. More like Prince Terrifying.''</em>&nbsp;Meg Cabot, Abandon</span></strong></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE onset of Eid-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a1b42dfa-37e4-4074-97b3-66810769a312" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a5a54b44-b368-446a-928b-d8f7f0be66d5" grcontextid="ul:0">ul</span>-Fitr holidays saw Bangladesh struggling to rediscover a semblance of normalcy, which had eluded it from the beginning of the year. For the average citizens, trapped and held hostage between demeaning polemics and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d513fe93-b20c-478c-8710-c6c4ee674819" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="34eecbfa-40ca-4cf0-a5cc-bc6c7ce1952a" grcontextid="arrogance:0">arrogance</span> of the two mainstream political parties, the mighty ideals of democracy that all free nations aspire for has been laid waste. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f1b394f1-e11d-4edf-81ab-0e37ae4f9cd6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5a97f87f-2a70-4f98-87f3-a4b2ec154dba" grcontextid="Time:0">Time</span> has come to a standstill as our politicians have stalled our minds to make any sense of the ‘what next’.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those ‘what <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4fce7924-107d-4b0b-9933-dc5f2da44b1f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4bcf7bd4-6c02-408b-96f4-9fdad7fccf2d" grcontextid="next’s’:0">next’s’</span> have led to a proliferation of ‘what <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="07233f20-56e9-4c6f-b5fb-9470b36ffe50" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4bcf7bd4-6c02-408b-96f4-9fdad7fccf2d" grcontextid="ifs’:1">ifs’</span> and all we can do for now is breathe heavily in anticipation; hearts asunder, we wonder whether it is any more fashionable to talk about reason. That an absence of reason equals to anarchist insanity is not even being considered in these unreasonable times.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are forced to gulp nothing more than fear pills about threats of more violence and loss of lives and limbs. The visually violent faces of politicians we see on television or the unfriendly speeches we have to endure cannot make for comforting imaginations when we mull over the prospects of elections 2013.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every passing day confronts us with further uncertainties, and there are no assurances or indicators available anywhere to suggest that the loss of opportunities, loss of businesses, and the ultimate trial of our patience and sanity this year will be recompensed in the foreseeable future. Regardless of whether we vote and usher in the Awami League or the Bangladesh Nationalist Party with their respective allies to government in 2014, there seems to be no chance for peace ever to return.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And all of our continuous <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6434d6aa-4b33-49a6-a25e-a91a98af6337" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f0855977-3350-4f58-8fb8-1664f31177b9" grcontextid="pains:0">pains</span>, insults and ignominies are because we cherish ‘democracy’, which, in the Bangladesh perspective, has historically been no more than a battle of two families that have personal squabbles and scores to sort out, have one-upmanship as their only means to an end. Overindulgence in innuendoes and profanity-filled diatribes in public to force upon the people their mentally convoluted mandate and undermining ‘will’ in the end leaves no one with any inclination that our politician’s intentions are anything but to serve the interest of the people.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As if in a theatre of the absurd, even at the best of times, our politicians remind us of ‘pain’ and how more painful our fate and fortune ought to be, just to remember, like the original sin, the ‘original pain’!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take for example the prime minister’s comments, published in New Age on August 19, during her much-heralded press conference about the dismal power situation that the AL government has succeeded in taking a tight rein on.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While the prime minister surely deserves accolades for the improvements made during her tenure, her statement that she deliberately switches off power for two hours daily and will increase it further so that ‘people can understand (remember) the pain of going without power’ sends very abrasive signals. More than a public display of her tendency to go overboard whenever she is surrounded by cronies, it also suggests arbitrariness of the highest order.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What has gone unnoticed is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a5588e14-ec54-49a6-b4fb-afcef4909d5b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="34d734d7-c5e0-4731-8a5b-4d6716bd233c" grcontextid="improvement:0">improvement</span> to the power situation is not exactly a ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4c932d6c-a6d8-4355-9112-5eb257b208ba" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="34d734d7-c5e0-4731-8a5b-4d6716bd233c" grcontextid="favour:1">favour</span>’ granted by the prime minister to the people but a duty she is obliged to perform in keeping with her much-touted dream of ‘digital Bangladesh’. Electricity is not exactly provided free to the citizens at large, yet amongst the phalanx of journalists present during the conference no one questioned or even challenged the revenue losses to the national exchequer for the hours power is switched off because of her whims and fancy.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If it is the loss of votes the Awami League should be worried about, the prime minister’s utterances were subversive in nature, an open admission of abuse of power and fundamentally a violation of her oath of office, and may have easily cost her over a million votes on the day alone. In addition, this punishing ‘pain’ on the people, simply because a huge proportion of our population supports the BNP, is pushing her luck to the brink.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prime minister should have remembered that despite all the great deeds of her government, the Bengali race tends to sway in the direction the ‘wind is blowing’. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="438d51d5-9186-4dec-b647-658cea5b6de6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="475ed307-bfa8-49e1-8f97-c4a44264d7f5" grcontextid="Favourable:0">Favourable</span> wind ironically is yet to strike the sails of the ‘boat’ she concurrently navigates. Despite all her and the Awami League’s ‘great achievements’ in five years, the party should not forget the Bengali adage&nbsp;<em>‘Ek mon doodh noshto kortey ek fota lebu jothesto’</em>&nbsp;(a drop of lime is enough to destroy gallons of milk). The BNP does not have to struggle too hard to win. More sour words from the prime minister aimed at the people are enough to guarantee the Awami League’s suicidal defeat.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a different note, our politicians have started believing that citizens at large have turned both deaf and mute, or complete jackasses. With constant barrages of warnings about ‘unconstitutional forces’ or individuals who will usurp power at the first given opportunity, they have craftily launched a ‘charm offensive’ that we accept by default ‘unconstitutional leaders’ that both parties are propping up as the nation’s potent saviours as our ‘take it or leave it choice’?&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the love of God, can someone please tell me who ‘prince’ Tareque and ‘prince’ Joy are to lecture us anything at all on politics and statecraft? Are they elected leaders? Given an even playing field as opposed to the abject advantage of their pedigree, will they ever stand a chance to be elected by the people?</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The propping into ‘national limelight’ of these two inconsequential ‘prince wannabes’ displays the political frailty, vulnerability and bankruptcy of both the Awami League and the BNP. It tends to reinforce the public perception that, whilst we continue to pay high prices in our pursuit of the elusive golden deer — democracy, the mainstream parties are anything but democratic. Indeed, what is on offer is a dynastic continuity, meaning Bangladeshis will have to keep tolerating that its land is no more than a fiefdom.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As far as ‘prince’ Tareque’s track records are concerned, the nation has had a taste of his abuse of power and interference in the functioning of the previous BNP government. It is his alternative source of power, the bastion of his cronies and sycophants, termed the ‘young Turks’, in Hawa Bhaban that caused the electoral disaster for the BNP in the last polls and maybe even the consequent 1/11. While public memory in Bangladesh is traditionally short, to imagine that the nation has forgotten the episodes of the past or have forgiven him completely may be basking in a fool’s paradise.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">‘Prince’ Joy, on the other hand, emerged out of nowhere ahead of Eid holidays and proceeded on a rampage of ‘killjoy’ comments! Despite his American university degrees and a&nbsp;<em>bideshi&nbsp;</em>wife to boost his image among the ‘peasantry’, when it comes to pettiness, his incoherence and indulgence in poli-trickery led many not only to be surprised but also deeply shocked. When it comes to ‘sophisticated bumpkin-ness’, there is not too much of a difference in his demeanour that sets him apart from his newly sworn nemesis — ‘prince’ Tareque.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The media in combi with the BNP, however, had a field day making mincemeat when he muttered unintelligibly about having access to ‘information’ that confirms the Awami League would have a thumping victory in elections 2013. What actually transpired was ‘prince’ Joy used something akin to Gallup Polls outsourced to some of his buddies, as a guiding parameter to his ‘prophetic comment’. That the ‘information’ itself could have been doctored to please him is where he failed to make any matured judgement.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That aside, the social network images of his mother (the prime minister) cooking in the kitchen for his birthday did nothing to boost his image; on the contrary, it may have projected him as a pampered ‘mama’s darling’.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, what is very baffling is the public perception in general that the BNP will sweep into power. The success of the party in routing the Awami League in five city corporation elections may have buoyed their confidence, yet their rabidly growing ‘overconfidence’ about the people’s likely mandate is worrying and raises some pertinent questions:&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Assuming that the BNP accedes to the AL intransigence on the caretaker government issue and wins a decisive majority in parliament, bringing them back to power, will the next elections then be held under the BNP government? If yes, would the Awami League be ready to accept the same and contest the next elections under the BNP?</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. If the BNP comes to power, will it be possible for it to go along with the excess baggage they have accumulated over the past five years in the shape of the extreme right-wing Hefajat-e-Islami or even the remnants of Jamaat-e-Islami? Specifically, will they accept the 13-point demand of Hefajat and other such groups in the lunatic fringe?&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Assuming that the Awami League loses and is back in parliament as the opposition, does it mean the war crimes tribunal will be dismantled and all convicted criminals set free? Will the continuation of whatever has been of common good to the citizens in the AL tenure of five years be torpedoed?</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Assuming that point 1 becomes a reality, does it mean that the Awami League has gotten so bankrupt (or ‘rotten’ to quote Khaleda Zia) as a political party that there is absolutely no chance of it ‘ever’ coming back to power?</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While we mull over the above ‘what if’ hypothesis, the most important points for the citizens to consider is the following:&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. In the event of a BNP victory and capture of state power ‘democratically’, what guarantees do the citizens have that the Awami League will give a respite to street agitations, murder mayhems, human rights abuse, attacks on minorities and women as well as unending calls for hartal?&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. What assurances do we, as voters, have that tit-for-tat regime of violence and uncertainties that has been part and parcel of our so-called ‘political culture’ will end for good?</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For now, there are unfortunately no convincing answers.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The BNP’s agenda for the polls is to merely trash the Awami League’s achievements and focus on what it sees as ‘corruption, arbitrary conduct, violence, human rights abuse’ and the much misused propaganda of ‘attack on Islamist and their construed faith and belief by atheist in the government’. That the BNP cannot absolve itself from the same exact evils and the same allegations is one that bedevils the national psyche.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likewise, the Awami League’s agenda for the polls is only to talk about its achievements, and how the nation will face the prospects of ‘militancy, bomb attacks and rehabilitation of war criminals and Taibanisation’, if the BNP wins — an old and rehashed piece of trash that does nothing more than to appease the US and its allies in the non-existent war on terror! Other than a continuation of one fear psychosis or the other, the Awami League or the BNP has nothing tangible as such on offer.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the above scenarios, it is not the politicians but the citizens who in the end will be the perfect and ultimate losers. Whether or not the election will be held at all is speculative, yet if within the ongoing chaos a ‘respectable poll’ does come through, what will be interesting to look out for is no party having a clear majority to form a government. A ‘hung parliament’ will hopefully usher in a ‘political culture’ where the Awami League and the BNP will be left with no option but to battle it out on the parliament floor — and not on the streets, not at the cost of innocent citizens. Outdating either ‘decisive’ or ‘brutal majority’ seems to be the only answer for the time being.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I welcome the prospects — as a hung parliament will ensure that the people, the citizens will be spared the ‘pain’ of being hanged by politicians repeatedly!</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Age Op Ed Monday 26th August 2013</span></strong></div><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-08-26&amp;nid=62559" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Link</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-78689279464970779842013-08-05T15:15:00.001+06:002013-08-05T15:17:42.067+06:00
জীবনে একবার দেখা হেমায়েত উল্লাহ আওরঙ্গ
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nez2b-kXjIg/Uf9shKjSn4I/AAAAAAAACGc/BhdLWDWxPvQ/s1600/aurongo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nez2b-kXjIg/Uf9shKjSn4I/AAAAAAAACGc/BhdLWDWxPvQ/s400/aurongo.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="GingerNoCheckStart"></span>মাকসুদুল হক&nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">১৯৮৯ এর এক দুপুর | দিলকুশায় আমার অফিসে কাজের ঝামেলায় আছি,এর ভেতর এক কলিগ এসে বললো, ৭জন ছেলে এসেছে আমার সাথে দেখা করতে | জানতে চেলাম কি বিষয় | বললো ফিডব্যাক কে কৃষি কলেজে একটা কনসার্ট এ আমন্ত্রণ জানাতে চায় ছাত্র লিগ | ফিডব্যাকের গায়ক ছাড়া ব্যবসায়িক লেনদেন আমি করতাম তাই ওদের হ্যালো বলে বসতে বললাম আর ১৫ মিনিট পর কাজ সেরে বিস্তারিত খোজখবর নিলাম |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">সবি ঠিক লাগলো তবে টাকা এত কম যে আমাদের সন্মানী তো দুরের কথা, সাউন্ড সিস্তামের ভাড়াও তাতে কভার হবেনা| ছেলেগুলো প্রায় কান্নার কাছাকাছি - হাত ধরে বলে 'মাকসুদ ভাই একটু ট্রাই করেন' | আমি পরদিন যোগাযোগ করতে বলে সন্ধায় দলনেতা বাবু কে এলভিস ষ্টুডিওতে বিষয়টা জানালাম | বাজেটের অবস্থা বেগতিক - বাবু এক কথায় বললো 'দোস্তো ইম্পসিবেল - না বলে দেও কারণ এত কম টাকায় ছাত্র লীগের কনসার্ট করলে অন্য সংগঠনদের না করতে পারবা না' | কথার যৌক্তিকতা ছাড়াও ফিডব্যাক তখন যন্ত্রপাতির কেনার ঋণে জর্জরিত| তার উপর পলিটিকাল শো - মারামারি লেগেই থাকে |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">পরদিন শুক্রবার | বাসায় এলভিস ষ্টুডিওর সত্তাধিকারী জাহাঙ্গীর আমাকে ফোনে করে জানালো - একজন আওরঙ্গ নামের লোক আমাকে খুজছে | জাহাঙ্গীরের গলায় খুবই আতঙ্কের ছাপ, বললো 'দোস্তো এইটা ওই 'ভয়ানক সন্ত্রাসী' আওরঙ্গ মনে হচ্ছে, সাবধানে বিষয় তা হ্যান্ডেল করিস' | আমি বললাম 'ধুর ...আওরঙ্গর নাম ভাঙিয়ে অনেকেই চাঁদাবাজি করছে - আওরঙ্গ তো কলকাতায় গাঢাকা দিয়ে আছে অনেকদিন হলো' |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">জবাবে জাহাঙ্গীর বললো, 'আমি শুনসি সে নাকি গোপনে দেশে ফিরেছে - সো তুই যা করিস ক্যার্ফুলি করিস আর মাথা ঠান্ডা রাখিস'| আমি বিষয়টা ভুলে গেলাম বললে ভুল হবে - পাত্তাই দিলাম না |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">এর পরেরদিন সকাল ৯:৩০ অফিস পৌছে দেখি ওই ৭টা ছেলে লাউঞ্জে বসে আছে | সালাম ঠুকে একজন এসে বললো 'বস - লিদেরের চিরকুটটা পরেন' | একটু হতবাক হয়েই হাতে নিলাম - অত্যন্ত সুন্দর হাতের লেখা একটা চিরকুট :</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>"আমার সুপ্রিয় গায়ক মাকসুদ,&nbsp;</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>ছেলদের সাথে তুমি কষ্ট করে চলে আসো ভাই..একটু চা নাস্তা করে যাও|&nbsp;</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>ইতি তোমার&nbsp;</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>আওরঙ্গ দা "</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ভয়ে কেমন জানি দেহে একটা কাপুনি অনুভব করলাম | কতোনা এই 'ভয়ংকর সন্ত্রাসীর' কথা শুনেছি, পত্রিকায় পরেছি - আর আজ উনি আমাকে 'চা নাস্তার' আমন্ত্রণ দিচ্ছে ?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">জানতে চেলাম 'কোথায় যেতে হবে - উনি তো এখনো আত্মগোপন অবস্থা আছেন তাই না' - ছেলে গুলো মাথা নিচ করে নিরুত্তর রইলো | ওদের আস্বস্ত করতে বললাম 'ভাই আমি উনার সাথে দেখা করতে ভয় পাচ্ছি না - কিন্তু উনারে তো করা নজরদারির উপর ঈরশাদ সরকার রেখেছে নিশ্চয়? আমি এরেস্ট হলে গান বাজনা চাকরি আমার কিন্তু সব শেষ - সন্ত্রাসীর খাতায় ও আমার নাম উঠবে' |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ছেলেটা কন্ফিদেন্ত্লি বললো - 'লিডার কোথায় আছেন এইটা তো বলা নিষেদ তবে ইনশাল্লাহ আপনার কোনো সমস্যা হবে না - আমরা আছি আপনার সাথে' |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ভিশন রকম দোটানায় পরে গেলাম ....আমার পেট বললো .... 'না যাব না', কিন্তু মুখ বললো - 'চলো যাই' | বেরুনোর আগে বাবুকে ফোন করে বিষয়টা জানালাম | বাবু চিন্তায় পরে গেলো | বললো 'ও মাই গড - দি গাই ইজ ফর রিয়াল'? আমি বললাম 'ইয়েস'! উত্তরে বাবু বললো, 'ম্যাক - বেস্ট অফ লাক - তুমি ফিরেই আমাকে কল দিও এন্ড বি কেয়ারফুল ' |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ছেলেগুলা কে আমি বললাম আমার গাড়িতে উঠতে | জবাবে ওরা বললো 'বস আপনার ড্রাইভারকে বলেন গাড়ি নিয়ে আমাদের ফলো করুক, আপনি আমাদের সাথে উঠেন, আপনার নিরাপত্তার দায়িত্ব আমাদের' |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">তাই হলো | আমি বেবি টেক্সীতে উঠলাম - আমার দুপাশে কোমরে অস্ত্রধারী দুই যুবক | সামনে পেছনে আরো ২ টা বেবি টেক্সী - মত ৯-১০ জন আমাকে এসকর্ট করে নিয়ে যাচ্ছে আওরঙ্গদার কাছে | কিন্তু কোথায় যাচ্ছি ত়া কেউ কিছুই বলছে না | আমিও আর চাপাচাপি করলাম না |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">কিছুক্ষণ পরে দেখি ধানমন্ডির ৩২ নম্বর বঙ্গবন্ধুর বাস ভবনের সামনে আমরা উপস্থিত| এক টানে বেবি টেক্সী ঢুকলো বাসার বাউন্ডারির ভেতর | আমাকে একটা রুম এ বসিয়ে ছেলেরা চলে গেলো |একা - এই প্রথম আমার জীবনে আমি বঙ্গবন্ধুর বাসায় | তখনও তা মিউজিয়াম হয়ে উঠেনি | কেমন জানি ভুতরে পরিবেশ - ওয়াল এ ঝুলছে ৭ই মার্চ এর ছবি | মনটা খুবই ভারী হয়ে উঠলো | এর ভেতরে ছেলেরা আসে, উকি দিয়ে চলে যাই - আর বলে 'বস একটু থাকেন - লিডার আসছেন অল্পক্ষণের ভেতরে' | বসেই থাকলাম একা - তারপর হঠাত ছেলেরা এসে - ভেতরে আরেকটা রুমে নিয়ে আমাকে বসালো | জানালা সব বন্ধ - টিউব লাইট জলছে |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">১০ মিনিটের মাথায় সাদা পাঞ্জাবি পাজামা পরা অবিকল একেবারে বাংলা সিনেমার নায়ক উজ্জল ভাই মতো দেখতে এক লোক এসে হাত বাড়িয়ে বললো 'মাকসুদ আমি তোমার আওরঙ্গদা ' | হাতে হাত রাখতেই বুকে জড়িয়ে ধরে বললো 'কেমন আছ ভাই? তোমার নাম, ডাক গান আমি সবি জেনেছি ও শুনেছি ইতোমধ্যে' | এটা সেটা অনেক কিছুই আলাপ করলাম - আর ৩২ নম্বর উনি আছেন একথা অকপটে জানালেন - তবে সব সময় থাকেন না | 'টিকটিকির উত্পাত বেশি দেখলে অন্যত্র সরে যাই মাঝেমাঝে' - বলে মৃদু হাসলেন |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">সিংগারা, চা ও পেস্ট্রি খেলাম এবং দুপুরে খেয়ে যাবার জন্য জোর অনুরোধ করলেন | অফিস পালিয়ে দেখা করতে এসেছি বলাতে বললো, 'আচ্ছা ঠিক আছে' | ছেলেদের রুম থেকে বেরিয়ে যাবার ইশারা করে - দরজা বন্ধ করলেন |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">এপর পকেট থেকে একটা খাম বের করে আমার হাতে চাপিয়ে দিয়ে বললো, 'ভাই সংগঠন তোমার, দেশ তোমার আর আমি তোমার বড়ভাই - বড্ড বিপদে আছি যা তুমি ভালো জানো | টাকা পয়সা একেবারে নাই কিন্তু কৃষি কলেজ এর পর্ষদের নির্বাচনে আমাদের জয় শুনিশিত - তবে ছাত্রদের একটাই ডিমান্ড - ওরা ফিডব্যাক কে চায় প্রজেকশন সন্ধার মিটিঙে | ভাই এটা প্রেস্টিজ ইসু, তুমি বুঝতে পারছ আশা করি | তোমাদের যেই সন্মানী আমি ত়া দিতে পারবো না - কিন্তু আমাকে হেল্প করো - আমি কেবলি তোমাদের বড় ভাই না - আমি একজন মুক্তিযোদ্ধা তোমাকে রিকোয়েস্ট করছি' |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">চোখের দিকে চোখ রেখে এমন ভাবে 'প্লিজ' বললেন যে আমি এক কথাই রাজি হয়ে গেলাম | আবার জড়িয়ে ধরে ছেলেদের বললো 'আমি বলসিলাম না মাকসুদ আমার কথা রাখবে' | চতুরদিকে ছেলেদের আনন্দের যেন বন্যা বয়ে গেলো, হাততালি এবং 'থানক ইউ বস' বলতে বলতে - আবার একই কায়দায় বেবি টেক্সিতে আমাকে অফিসে পৌছানো হলো |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">পরদিন রোববার - কনসার্ট শেষ হবার পর আওরঙ্গ দার সাথে দেখা করতে যাবার কথা ছিলো| তবে উনি সেদিন দুপুর থেকে আবার গাঢাকা দিয়েছেন এই খবর পেলাম | এর পর আর আওরঙ্গদার সাথে দেখা হলো না |</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">হেমায়েত উল্লাহ আওরঙ্গ গত শনিবার এক মর্মান্তিকসড়ক দুর্ঘটনায় মুন্সীগঞ্জে মারা যান | ইন্নালিলাহে.......রজেঊন</div><span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-23655205709033258232013-08-03T11:18:00.000+06:002013-08-03T11:26:43.658+06:00
জামাতের নিবন্ধন বাতিল, আল্লাহ নিবন্ধন প্রসঙ্গে এবং 'এসলাম'
মাকসুদুল হক       ১. আল্লাহ 'সাত আসমান' থেকে উড়াল দিয়ে এসে পৃথিবীতে অবতরণ করে নিজের পরিচয় মানুষের কাছে দেননি - দেবেনো না | মানুষ এই শব্দ আবিষ্কার করেছে - মানুষের কল্যানে তা ব্যবহার হচ্ছে এবং হবে | যারা মানুষের ভেতরে আল্লাহর রূপ দেখেনা, যারা আশরাফুল মাকলুকাত কে, তাকে চেনেন না বা চেনার কোনো ইচ্ছা রাখেনা তাদের নিজের অস্তিত্তই বিলীন | নিজের অস্তিত্বের ভেতরে যার আল্লাহ নেই - সে নিজে প্রকৃতির যেকোনো জীব/জন্তু থেকে কোনো ভাবেই পৃথক না| মোদ্দা কথা ওরা মানুষ না      ২. তাই 'কাগুজি আল্লাহ', কাগজে 'নিবন্ধিত আল্লাহ' কে তারা 'আল্লাহ' মানে এবং তা আছে কিনা, সেটা টেলিস্কোপ দিয়ে খুঁজে বেড়ায় - এ ছাড়া তাদের আর অন্য কোনো 'ধান্দা' নেই | ঘুম থেকে উঠে তারা আল্লাহকে অন্তর থেকে স্মরণ করেনা, তারা সচক্ষে দেখতে চায় আল্লাহ কথায় আছে বা নেই - দেখতে চায় সংবিধানে আল্লাহ ঠিক মতো বহাল তাবিয়াতে আছেন তো?        "এই দিল কোরানটি না বুঝিয়া আয়াত কোরান পরে কোনো লাভ হবেনা"  ফকির লালন শাহ        ৩. 'নিরাকার আল্লাহকে' তারা মসজিদের ভেতরে 'আকার' দেয়.....'আল্লাহু' লেখে, গলায় সেই একই 'আল্লাহু' তারা স্বর্ণ অলংকার বানিয়ে 'মুসলমান' সাজে | শেরেক যদি কেউ করে থাকে এই জামাত/হেফাজত পন্থী নব্য 'মুসলমানগণ' রা তা করে | তবে আমরা যারা নিজেরদের 'পবিত্র ধর্ম নিরপেক্ষ' বলে মনে করি বা 'sacred sanctified secularism' এ বিশ্বাস করি - আমরা কি আসলেই পাপ/গুনাহ মুক্ত?      ৪. বাংলাদেশের মূল ইসলাম, অর্থাত খেটে খাওয়া মানুষের 'মুহাম্মাদী ইসলাম' থেকে এই রাজনৈতিক ধান্দাবাজি ইসলামের যে কতটা পার্থক্য তা এর আগে এতো পরিষ্কার আর কখনই হয়নি| মূল কথা হচ্ছে যেটা আমরা 'মূলধারার ইসলাম' (mainstream Islam) বলছি তা কেবল জামাত/হেফাজতরা একাই পালন করছে আর আমরা করছি না - এটা একটা দাহা মিথ্যা কথা|      ৫. যে ইসলাম আমরা প্রাকটিস করছি যা টিভি, রেডিও, পত্রিকা সহ ফেসবুকে বহুল প্রচার পাচ্ছে,যা আওয়ামী লিগ, বিএনপি সহ সবকটা রাজনৈতিক দলেরে 'ইসলাম' এসব একই ওয়াহাবী/শরিয়াতি 'এসলাম' এর ধারাবাহিকতার 'এসলাম' | রাসুলাল্লাহর মৃত্যুর ৩০ বছরের পর এই 'রাজকীয় এসলাম' এর জন্ম এবং তা কেবলি ধর্নাধ্য, মানুষের 'এসলাম'| রাসুলাল্লাহর বংশধর্দের জবাই করার সময় যাদের বুক একটুও কাপেনি - তাদেরই এই 'এসলাম' | এই ভয়াবহ সত্য কথাটি আমরা বেমালুম ভুলে গিয়েছি |     ৬. জামাতের নিবন্ধন বাতিল করেন, জামাত/হেফাজতকে নিষিদ্ধ করেন - তা খুবই ভালো কথা | তবে ইসলাম যে ১৫০০ বছরে ৭২টা 'ফির্কা' তে ভাগ হয়ে গেছে, খন্ড বিখন্ড হয়ে গেছে - আমরা আসলেই কোন ইসলাম, কোন আল্লাহকে মানি, কাকে উপাসনা/ইবাদত করি সেটাও ভেবে দেখার সময় চলে এসেছে| জামাত/হেফাজাত কে নিষিদ্ধ করবেন কিন্তু তাদের 'এসলাম' কে আমরা নিজের ধান্দা ফিকিরের জন্য ব্যবহার করবো - এই গোমরাহী আল্লাহ যে মেনে নেবেন, আমার তা খুবই সন্দেহ |      ৬. শেষ কথা : 'আল্লাহ তে পূর্ণ ইমান' ১৯৭১ এ পাকিস্তানের সংবিধানেও ছিলো, কিন্তু তাতে কি মুসলমান সহ অন্য ধর্মবিলোম্বিদের মুসলমান দ্বারা নিধন থেমে ছিলো? ধর্ষণ থেমে ছিলো ? একইভাবে বাংলাদেশের সংবিধানে 'আল্লাহতে পূর্ণ ইমান' লেখা থাকলেই যে আমরা সবাই ১০০ ভাগ হালাল মুসলমান হয়ে যাবো, 'আল্লাহর' নামে, 'এসলাম' এর নাম খুন ধর্ষণ আর হবেনা - এই গ্যারান্টি কে দেবে?    Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-73529415186861540452013-07-26T09:58:00.001+06:002013-07-26T09:58:26.266+06:00
Hefazat and the high art of lying
<div dir="ltr"><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/935083_10152114687259569_1167460377_n.jpg"><span style="line-height:23.636363983154297px"><b><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br> </font></b></span></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><b style="line-height:23.636363983154297px"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">by</span> Maqsoodul Haque - Mac</font></b><br> </p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><i><span style="line-height:115%">"The only thing worse than a liar is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">a</span> liar that&#39;s also a hypocrite</span></i></b><b><span style="line-height:115%">!" Tennessee Williams</span></b></font></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">We have reached close to a point of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">no</span> return in our political shadow boxing and hence the mainstream parties have <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">decided</span> to hire sidekicks to keep us entertained, as the going has gotten <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">clearly</span> rough. These sidekicks in the form of Hefazat on the other hand have conveniently <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">taken</span> on the subject of Islam, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">knowingly</span> fully well its implications; i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">our</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">general</span> citizenry is averse to discuss or debate this in public. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">It is not because citizens do not <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">want</span> to, but its selective anathema on the subject stems more from ignorance as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> the history of political Islam, as well as the flimsiest knowledge about the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">strength</span> of <i>Sufi</i> Islam, the dominant strains in our culture that has <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">been</span> in existence for over 400 years, with records of fighting bigotry and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">intolerance</span>. It has therefore helped bigots to stamp the word 'sensitive' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">before</span> the subject, and by default, has made them the 'sole authority of Islam' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">in</span> the public perception.</font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">We have therefore been thrust into <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">frustrating</span> and predictably inconclusive debates <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">on</span> God and our respective <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">iman</span></i> (<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">faith</span>/belief) and who is or isn't a 'better Muslim' forgetting quite placidly, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">that</span> it is not Allah that will come in to run things for us, bring in order <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">from</span> anarchy, or sort the mess we are in; but us humans.  Never ever, has our polity and propriety <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">combined</span> been dragged down to a level lower than what we are now witness to. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">The recent disgusting video from the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Hefazat</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">supremo</span> Ahmad Shafi of Hathazari has kept us thoroughly titillated, and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">what</span> is obvious is more than our politics, secular values, women or even our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">culture</span>, it is Islam in Bangladesh that has been maligned in more ways than we <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">may</span> imagine. If there has been any damage done thus far, it has been <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> Muslims <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">who</span> for centuries have lived in peace and amity in this country, despite <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">fact</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">that</span> ultra-conservative strains among some religious groups have been <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">omnipresent</span>. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">If we need to assign <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">blames</span>, first we <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">have</span> to point fingers at sections of our morally bankrupt politicians that have <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">moved</span> us out of the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">ambit</span> of discussing ways and means as how the nation can prosper, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">as</span> other than divisions they have nothing else to offer. That done, we also need <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> point many more fingers back at ourselves for permitting our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">commons</span> sense <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> take leave, and in the process create further fodder for disquiet in the <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">desh</span></i>. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">For reasons ominous and best known <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> powers that be, Hefazat an inconsequential group on the lunatic fringe is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">being</span> primed to center stage of our attention as one among 'powerful factors' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">that</span> caused the debacle of the ruling Awami League (AL) in the recent City Corporation elections. However, is that the truth, or is Hefazat just another expendable '<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">bogeyman</span>' that is being used not only by the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) but also by the AL in the run up to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Polls</span> 2013? Is this to create an aura <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">of</span> a force much 'larger and powerful' than both and one we have to perforce <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">align</span> ourselves with .<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">.</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">or</span> else? </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">In both cases, a reality check brings <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">into</span> forefront massive errors of our collective judgment. We have been conned <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">into</span> believing that Hefazat with all pretensions of being 'defenders of Islam' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">will</span> make a change to our political landscape and in turn, the fate, 'faith' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">and</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">fortune</span> of Bangladesh is a lie of the highest order. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Hefazat</span> is surely not <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> last word for Islam in Bangladesh, nor is there any truth to the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">ruse</span> of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">their</span> 'massive support' all across the length and breadth of the country. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Evidently, there is a sinister pattern <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">emerging</span> this <i>Ramadhan</i> in Afghanistan and Pakistan <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">where</span> unheard of clerics <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">are</span> handing out vitriolic <i>fatwas</i> (edicts or decrees) targeting women and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">ones</span> their respective governments are shockingly acquiescing to. No different <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">is</span> the case of Bangladesh. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:115%">Taking a cue from an article 'Spare <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> faith' in New Age Xtra of </span><a href="http://newagebd.com/supliment.php?sid=258&amp;id=1844"><span style="line-height:115%">19<sup><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">th</span></sup> July 2013</span></a><span style="line-height:115%">, the writer states <i>"The point is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">that</span> there are 65,000 <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">quomi</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span> in the country and their reach is all <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">over</span> the country. Their institutions are growing by the day and more and more <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">children</span> are getting into these <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span> as they provide food, lodging and Islamic education all at the same time" - </i>yet the most important points <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">were</span> missed out as these are presumptions, and not ones based on facts or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">ground</span> realities.  </span></font></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Firstly, is there any convincing <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">evidence</span> that Hefazat's perverted zero-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">centricity</span> and misogynist mindset 'reach', <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> each and every one of the above 65,000 <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span></i>? NO they do not, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">for</span> this is a case of fear psychosis driven stereotypical profiling by our city <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">based</span> elite about <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span>. </i>It is in our criminal ignorance in not <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">knowing</span> the workings of these institutions that in the end leads to monsters <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">like</span> Hefazat to multiply. Also, our failure to see through the web of lies and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">falsities</span> these elements have traditionally woven around us, are ironically ones <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">we</span> do not take lessons from. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Secondly, what is the demography of <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">quomi</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span>? </i>The figure <i>'</i>65,000' is purely speculative (read lie) and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">not</span> based on any hard evidence or field<i>work </i>whatsoever, neither are any data <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">available</span> as to the numbers of actual students in these institutions. Thus <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">for</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">argument</span> sake, if we add in 200 people on average (i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">direct</span> beneficiaries/stake <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">holders</span> of the <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">quomi</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassah</span> </i>system<i>)</i> and multiply that by 65,000 <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span></i> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">we</span> reach numbers not exceeding 13 million. This in effect is too <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">paltry</span> a figure for any serious demographic judgment when we consider the total <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">population</span> of Bangladesh currently at 160 million people!</font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">The bottom line is , Hefazat despite <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">all</span> our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">fear</span> psychosis has no clouts whatsoever as a political or even social <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">movement</span> and despite the 'paramount importance' showered on them by sections of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> media, in the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">hungama</span> everybody seems to have overlooked the financing methodology <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">of</span> this obscurantist entity, that has suddenly become the 'talk of the nation'. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">The pertinent question is; who pays <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">for</span> the upkeep of children in <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">quomi</span></i> <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span></i>? The answer to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">that</span> is the <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">quomi</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span></i> in themselves do not pay a damn thing. If <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">anybody</span> does, it is us, the communities i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> 'Islam sensitized' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">overwhelming part</span> of the citizenry, who support them to the hilt, and are its ultimate <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">patrons</span>. Quite simply stated, <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">quomi</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span></i> unlike <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">aliya</span></i> <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span></i> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">are</span> not supported/financed by the Government. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Opportunities and danger both present <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">itself</span> in the scenario. The danger is in unsolicited funding by vested interest <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">in</span> connivance with political elements make them a potent yet 'inexpensive <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">force</span>' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">for</span> rise in Islamist militancy and its twin, nihilism. The post-80's influx of Saudi <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">petro-dollars</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">has actually seen</span> the upsurge of the phenomenon, the rest is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">history</span>. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">The opportunities are; we as communities, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> contributors and patrons, can demand greater change in the <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassah</span></i> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">curriculum</span>, as well as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">embed</span> awareness building mechanisms that can lead on to negating <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">and</span> marginalizing the likes of Ahmad Shafi. We can also demand public accountability <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">and</span> transparency as to how the money we donate to <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span></i> are spent. If Hefazat claims, it is a force that respects 'democracy', they should have absolutely <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">no</span> problems in accepting the above proposal!</font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">The irony nonetheless is despite the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">communities</span> overwhelming support in cash or kind to the <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">quomi</span></i> <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span> </i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">for</span> as long as we can remember<i>, </i>what at all has been <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">their</span> '<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">productive</span>' output? Ahmad Shafi <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">demonizes</span> women working in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">garments</span> factories, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">considers</span> them 'lecherous adulteresses' simply because they have to work <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">anywhere</span> between 12 to 14 hours to feed their children and families, and has <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">clearly</span> spelt out women as the 'nastiest things' that Allah has created. Yet have <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">any</span> of us <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">enquired</span> about Shafi or his cohort's actual 'contribution' to the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">national</span> economy, the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">exchequer</span>, to our prosperity and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">wellbeing</span>? Nothing <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">whatsoever</span> - in fact they have lived all along on freebees, turned slothful and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">his</span> idle mind and those of his cohorts have no doubt become the 'devils <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">workshop</span>' and advocate. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Put plainly, the first breach of trust <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">on</span> part of Hefazat to Allah and the nation is by being so supremely ungrateful <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> their patrons, and in the same token the sin in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">demonizing</span> women, our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">mothers</span> and sisters <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">who</span> the Qur'an commands <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">us</span> deserve our unqualified respect <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">and</span> honor. By mobilizing vulnerable children who we pay for support and upkeep <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">in</span> these <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">madrassahs</span></i> for 'march of <i>Iman'</i> and bringing them to Dhaka NOT for a show of force against an 'atheist Government' voted in by a 'brute <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">majority</span>', but threatening us with insane violence, based on their scurrilous <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">misinterpretation</span> of Islam, has proved beyond reasonable doubts that <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">their</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">intentions</span> were anything but peaceful. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Clearly, Hefazat wants to reduce Bangladesh to economic and moral bankruptcy.  All that they wanted to project themselves was <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">a</span> 'menacing threat' which may have earned them accolades from an unenlightened <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">few</span>, but overall condemned  by the vast <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">majority</span> as unworthy of either respect or hospitality, regardless of their <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Alem</span></i> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">status</span>. </font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">In addition, what about their lies? Here <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">is</span> a list worth considering:</font></span></p> <blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><span style="line-height:115%">Lie # 1:</span></b><span style="line-height:115%"> <i>Hefazat was born as a '<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">spontaneous</span> rejection' to the Shahbag 'atheist movement':</i> the truth - it <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">was</span> born as a B team of the Jamaat-e-Islami/BNP axis to create indirect pressure <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">on</span> the International War Crimes Tribunal and scuttle the ongoing trial of war <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">criminals</span> of 1971. By eulogizing that anyone disagreeing with them is an '<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">atheist</span>', their 'our way or the highway' analogy fell through over time, not <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">without</span> thereby creating unrealistic and unnecessary fissures in our society, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">that</span> will take a much longer time to heal and seal.</span></font></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><span style="line-height:115%">Lie # 2:</span></b><span style="line-height:115%"> <i>The hundreds upon thousands who 'marched' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">into</span> Dhaka during the siege program <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">on</span> 4<sup><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">th</span></sup> April '13 did so 'spontaneously'</i>: <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> truth – billions of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">takas</span> were pumped in for the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">mobilisation</span> by vested <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">interest</span>, Free Masonic enterprises fermented with black money and usury,  thus disparaging the ideals of Islam and the words <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">of</span> the Qur'an. </span></font></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><span style="line-height:115%">Lie # 3:<i> </i></span></b><i><span style="line-height:115%">Hefazat is a non-political spiritual '<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">movement</span> of the people' with Ahmad Shafi as the head:</span></i><span style="line-height:115%"> the truth is Hefazat's real politico-spiritual-philosophical '<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">ideologue</span>' has since been identified as a former atheist and leftist <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">intellectual</span>, with strong leanings to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">JeI/BNP</span> who in recent days has veered <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">sharply</span> to the far right 'core of believers'. As early as 2011-12 he had <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">predicted</span> in TV talks shows about the 'rise of a force unseen and one worthy of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">our</span> fear' and mixing it with Marxist jargons of 'class war' to make his point. Yet it was not a prophecy nor a forecast, but one he had  been conniving for <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">long</span> supported by <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">intelligence</span> operatives,  some well known <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">as</span> double even triple 'agents', close to several corridors of power.</span></font></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><span style="line-height:115%">Lie # 4: </span></b><i><span style="line-height:115%">The AL Government in its crackdown on <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Shapla</span> Square <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">on</span> 5<sup><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">th</span></sup> May '13 killed 2500 Hefazat supporters and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">transported</span> the corpses by truck to India for disposal</span></i><span style="line-height:115%">:<b> </b>the truth is the claims were <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">so</span> bizarre and unsubstantiated, that international human rights bodies who in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> early days bought the story and chastised the Government, at a later stage (while <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">not</span> exonerating the AL) acknowledged its mistake and censured Hefazat for 'manipulating <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">figures</span> with gross exaggeration'.</span></font></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><span style="line-height:115%">Lie # 5: </span></b><i><span style="line-height:115%">Hefazat's 13 point charter of demand <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">is</span> not 'anti-women' nor against garments workers:</span></i><span style="line-height:115%"> the truth has been corroborated <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">convincingly</span> in the video of Ahmad Shafi that sent shock waves and went viral <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">three</span> weeks ago. This despite the fact that scores of JeI/BNP 'intellectuals' including <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> extreme-left-turn-extreme right turncoat as well as his wife, had penned <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">reams</span> of pro-Hefazat article and its supposed 'pro-women' policies. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Their</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">silence</span> since the video has been deafening!</span></font></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><span style="line-height:115%">Lie # 6:  </span></b><i><span style="line-height:115%">The Government to 'humiliate' Shafi doctored the video in an <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">apparent</span> 'media</span></i><span style="line-height:115%"> coup': <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> truth became evident in the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">force</span> of public scrutiny on the one hand, as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">well</span> as the hostile reactions of a supremely uncouth and foul-mouthed BNP <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">women</span> MP in parliament. It however speaks volumes about Hefazat's fragility and cultural <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">inadequacy</span> that it was left with no option but solicit a 'women' in a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">failed</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">attempt</span> to protect its own sullied reputation. When <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">public demands</span> for Hefazat to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">produce</span> the 'un-doctored video' peaked following the furor ..<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">…</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> set was <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">stage</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">for</span> the last, if not the least of their lies…. </span></font></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><span style="line-height:115%">Lie # 7: </span></b><i><span style="line-height:115%">The video was addressed and catered <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> a 'village audience'</span></i><span style="line-height:115%">: the truth that evolved from the statement is Hefazat and Shafi are <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">pathological</span> liars, hypocrites and have dangerous double standards, human <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">traits</span> that the Qur'an terms <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">munafik</span></i>, i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">a</span> person who pretends to be a Muslim but in the heart is not one. </span></font></p><p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">As more dangers loom <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">in</span> the horizon <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">for</span> the nation, it is entirely left to us as who to believe. Is it going to be <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">the</span> AL Government, BNP, Jamaat or Hefazat? The truth is nowhere in between, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">neither</span> will it ever be black or white, but then if it is going to be Allah who <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">we</span> believe will decide for us, it is best that we leave everything to His judgment <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">instead</span> of entrusting  our resolve behind <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">farcical</span> and violent 'Godmen' or pretentious clerics <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">who</span> we in our ignorance have <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">permitted</span> to proliferate. </font></span></p></blockquote> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">That Islam does not permit a clergy <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">or</span> any human intermediaries in our 'ultimate relationship' with the Creator <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">must</span> not be forgotten. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Hefazat</span> needs to be damned and eradicated. The strength <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">and</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">resilience</span> of our culture, 'secular' or otherwise and our faith in Allah should <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">be</span> good enough for the job.</font></span></p> <p class="" style="text-align:justify"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></p> <p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:14.399999618530273px;line-height:20px"><strong><font face="verdana, sans-serif">New Age Xtra Friday 26th July 2013</font></strong></p><p style="margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:14.399999618530273px;line-height:20px"> <strong><a href="http://newagebd.com/supliment.php?sid=260&amp;id=1861"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Link</font></a></strong></p> </div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-86117565357773328942013-07-18T12:06:00.002+06:002013-07-18T12:06:47.609+06:00
Secrets of sawm, and our gluttonous depravity
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7jUmGrfzvQM/UeeEHOr2gbI/AAAAAAAACDc/5QjuSAVrivg/s1600/sawm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7jUmGrfzvQM/UeeEHOr2gbI/AAAAAAAACDc/5QjuSAVrivg/s400/sawm.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="949fc11e-3ab0-4376-aaef-0a0ff16b4e37" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5716ef07-e895-4a39-b4e6-19c6f979c787" grcontextid="by:0">by</span> Mac Haque&nbsp;</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>"Be honest about what you do not know, modest about what you do,</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Stick with what you know today, the tried and true, is the best for you"&nbsp;</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Anon</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">RAMADAN, the month for practicing <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3c1b916f-a346-40f2-973a-75597dba5110" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a013d5e7-44a0-4ee5-918b-b9bc1fe5420a" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i>(<i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="26f4455b-4bff-468b-9583-6ec440520c5a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a013d5e7-44a0-4ee5-918b-b9bc1fe5420a" grcontextid="seyam:1">seyam</span> </i>in Bengali) or abstinence and restraint <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="25ed89ff-19cc-4d23-b9ea-380152a161f5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a013d5e7-44a0-4ee5-918b-b9bc1fe5420a" grcontextid="has commenced:2">has commenced</span>. As many of us go on a diurnal fast <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5c1e545b-9fe0-4061-82ea-feaaeac96c3b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8107a0e4-ca2d-40d8-919c-6cbb1822552e" grcontextid="routines:0">routines</span> that last fourteen hours or more, depending on which part of the world we live, the stereotypical understanding among Muslims is: it is the month of compassion and benevolence showered on us by Allah and only appropriate that we ‘please’ the Creator by all means possible.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, other than fasting, the list of rituals we go through are quite extensive. Pre-dawn <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0092a5f9-e985-4ab4-aaef-4ac246e18bcb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9c504eb4-294f-4015-808d-7a32225d2d76" grcontextid="sehri:0">sehri</span></i>, prayers all five, recite the Qur’an and the special <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="804d0664-7968-47c9-a02a-7e2c9673759b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9c504eb4-294f-4015-808d-7a32225d2d76" grcontextid="taraweeh:1">taraweeh</span> </i>prayers at night. In between, just at dusk the sumptuous <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dc298dd5-3743-4073-b137-cf055b0921cc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="60a17013-d712-40b5-abc7-4e4808f73a98" grcontextid="iftar:0">iftar</span> </i>when we formally break our fast. The concept of fasting and abstinence, other than ‘pleasing’ the Creator, in general perception is also about ‘feeling the pangs of the poor’.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, fasting is not an anomalous phenomenon, and there are hardly any religions, or belief systems in the world that does not include it as an incorporated rite of faith. In Buddhism it is a ‘penitential discipline’ not limited to particular days or months, but an ongoing act of faith that has far-reaching significance than those that meet the eye. Some monks for instance fast not for days, but months surviving just on water!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is believed that in fasting, humans reach a level of meditative transcendence that is otherwise impossible to attain. That in turn leads to contemplative bliss and ‘sparks’ a nearness to the infinite Creator — the Supreme Being. Scientifically stated, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b6355719-d8e6-4f86-99e2-4e06797e18e9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="fe09f945-5eff-4b1f-81ea-7b0b025faa76" grcontextid="wilful:0">wilful</span> yet systematic starvation does more to provoke metabolic reactions in our system that helps us gain insight into avenues of ‘access control’ — and a new beginning in a life full of discoveries. Those discoveries, however, are not limited to our physical being, but are also mind-specific.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fasting, if done with the right intention and earnestness, changes our mindset. Its effect on the brain has, therefore, manifold importance, and practices of ascetics and mystics dating back thousands of years only reaffirm the same. For Muslims, <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="42c2a015-ba55-4252-bbb8-6b744eb37c75" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="810f9aab-a8df-48c3-843b-410c3835bf20" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i>is an ascetic practice that is virtuous and, other than cleansing the system, is in theory meant for believers to rise above human pettiness and intolerance — in other words, to attain ‘God consciousness’ or <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1f74de82-8582-4cc3-bd4e-ae9f2d681cba" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="810f9aab-a8df-48c3-843b-410c3835bf20" grcontextid="taqwa:1">taqwa</span></i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ramadan is the month when the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), yet little is known about his contemplative, meditative or penitential practices in seclusion at Mount Hira. We may, therefore, surmise that the practice of <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e72b14cc-a4c9-4319-8b39-bad9f849d2e9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6baed155-d50b-4285-a66d-428b896c5946" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i>passed on to us some 1,500 years ago is a snapshot of the extensive physical and mental conditioning that the prophet endured in the scorching hot, barren and impassable deserts of Arabia.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His proximity to the archangel Gabriel came because of his penance that prepared him to handle the burden and preaching the complete message from God — meant not just for Muslims, indeed for all humanity. Yet fasting was nothing new. For all monotheistic prophets from Abraham, Moses, Jesus and their respective followers, fasting and other rites of penance <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="93bc46d3-2629-474d-add2-eb6ca7f31072" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e04a68e9-d455-4dbd-9ea1-1e211da40526" grcontextid="was:0">was</span> an integral and, in fact, overriding aspect of faith. Preceding them, fasting was common even in pagan rites and rituals.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The baffling question is why? Why should a group of men and women starve themselves for the abject purpose of ‘pleasing’ such a difficult to explain or define entity called ‘God’? In addition, what are the immediate evidences available to validate that the act of ‘pleasing God’ benefits us in any way? Also, what conclusive proof do we at all have that ‘Allah is pleased’ after a month spent literally on a ‘hunger strike’?&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without the need for implied, overt or covert <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c5e46583-c3fe-47a0-acef-4214a637ce86" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b379dd73-83ec-413d-b4e0-9fb19090d326" grcontextid="pontification:0">pontification</span>, researching lofty volumes of religious books, theological texts, or running to the nearest <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="09bf4131-7ed0-4948-b906-b11a09529af5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b379dd73-83ec-413d-b4e0-9fb19090d326" grcontextid="hujur:1">hujur</span> </i>or <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f6d0aa33-0eb2-4b92-bb88-74d22de73d23" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b379dd73-83ec-413d-b4e0-9fb19090d326" grcontextid="pir:2">pir</span> sahib</i> for clearer understanding, if we can simply put the faculty of our common sense to appropriate use — the answers are closer at hand. While we are doing that, it may actually be a good idea to dispel the thought of ‘pleasing God’ and start looking at more human and ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ec1eefe9-4187-4e03-9c06-a6c56d23b4b3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="390ac772-f38f-43b0-9456-e430eada5173" grcontextid="humane:0">humane</span>’ answers.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since the Qur’an was revealed for the guidance and benefit of mankind, the emphasis is surely on humans, <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="46bab51a-40bc-4140-88bd-da4adfb2e60a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8f0a4072-f7d5-47c0-a10b-a377b0588d74" grcontextid="ashraful:0">ashraful</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d601b398-5ba2-42de-8776-1145dfd69976" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8f0a4072-f7d5-47c0-a10b-a377b0588d74" grcontextid="makhlukat:1">makhlukat</span> </i>or closely meaning the ‘best of His creation’. What is of no benefit to man cannot be the focus, criteria or prerogative of any religion whatsoever and there are precisely three things that are undoubtedly ‘acts of God’ in our existence.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly our birth (<i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="553022fe-204f-4ecb-83c4-4d8f7d752271" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="643b85ad-56da-4472-9487-c9f1bef519a3" grcontextid="hayat:0">hayat</span></i>) or the times we live, secondly <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0a2fccda-4151-4ea6-a89a-91510150afa3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="643b85ad-56da-4472-9487-c9f1bef519a3" grcontextid="death:1">death</span> (<i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="90f8297a-02cb-48e4-8c81-9e57e891b5ab" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="643b85ad-56da-4472-9487-c9f1bef519a3" grcontextid="mauwt:2">mauwt</span></i>) and third sustenance (<i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8f9ce101-0371-4cef-a1dd-68b1b365b373" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="643b85ad-56da-4472-9487-c9f1bef519a3" grcontextid="rizik:3">rizik</span></i>) — and life, as we know it, revolves around these unfathomable realities. These realities are again ‘time critical’, yet it is a time that is beyond the calculative faculty of man. It is the third element, i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="988b2cca-08b2-4433-af1e-9f7a88222ab0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0dd4a614-efb1-44c5-ac5a-3ce105bc4a45" grcontextid="sustenance:0">sustenance</span> or how a square meal will be placed on the table for us and our families, and under what circumstances shall we be fed, is an equation that has of course to be worked out by humans.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We may well place our open mouth faced skywards and pray all day long, but the truth is Allah is unlikely to drop a morsel of food from ‘heaven up high’, regardless of whether we are saints or sinners. Human have to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="77892605-3f6b-463d-9f2c-592fd27b3753" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e6b87120-8f8d-4c9e-9352-c4e6f360c47d" grcontextid="labour:0">labour</span> for food both physically and mentally, and call it work, call it <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ee9108fe-f86a-441b-b59e-e65ce1251e13" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e6b87120-8f8d-4c9e-9352-c4e6f360c47d" grcontextid="profession:1">profession</span>, the exact ratio as to how much <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="47fed432-a3d7-4115-98ef-6f92284f3ea5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e6b87120-8f8d-4c9e-9352-c4e6f360c47d" grcontextid="labour:2">labour</span> will result in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f6c94ef1-9fd1-450b-8dcf-e1ca01e8992e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e6b87120-8f8d-4c9e-9352-c4e6f360c47d" grcontextid="amount:3">amount</span> of sustenance is unknown to us.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, it is in this one explicit duty to Allah that we have failed Him, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="11bad4fc-0d4a-4566-b297-a6767e8c9907" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8b007cb6-0785-4cf3-8aa8-c5f055558c4f" grcontextid="i.e.to:0">i.e.to</span> guarantee sustenance for mankind. The issue at the end of the day is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="af156a49-5f00-4d42-ab1d-2f17d8b3107c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ec8d0c6b-3b5b-4173-be6d-fdacd9279dfa" grcontextid="food:0">food</span>, and hence we have been condemned to our penance and punishments, as quite clearly all our depravities began here, when we decided to deny others what was ‘common property’.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine the first humans on planet earth; let us put aside the gender-biased tautology associated with who came first, Adam or Eve, and instead ask ourselves who or what gave them sustenance. Did the earliest of humans purchase food? No they did not, because quite simply there was no ‘well stocked’ departmental or convenience store available anywhere in the near vicinity!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Planet earth as a biological laboratory had more than enough to sustain life during the times of the first humans, as much as it is today. The Creator’s food chain was created evenly to balance out sustenance for every living creation; animals, plants, insect, beast as well as humans. Yet, somewhere down the line, things went terribly wrong. Whether it was an act of God, i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="509b631d-f8f3-4076-95b9-f8bf9b638a0b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ff88fcdd-5eed-41c2-8f41-740222703bf4" grcontextid="natural:0">natural</span> extremity such as drought, flood, storms or pestilence, the balance of the food chain was severely challenged and compromised.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What makes us the ‘best creation’ of Allah is that He blessed us with ‘consciousness’, the understanding of right from wrong, the difference between moral and immoral, the uniqueness of being fair as opposed to being unfair, the propriety in being just from what is unjust — for these are the quintessential and compassionate traits of the Creator, that of ‘reason’ passed on to us.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the difference between man and beast is also very thin, and ironically, it was man that acquired territorial traits of beasts and not vice versa. Creativity too is one of the most important blessings on man from the Creator. Man used its creative faculty and acquired skills in agriculture, in hunting down animals, but on the flip side also went on to make food a ‘commodity’ for profit.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It resulted in the God-given natural food chain to be stretched thin, and whether it was hoarding by criminal intent or sheer bad luck, food shortages and hunger threatened humanity. Yet animals, plant life, insects and others continued to thrive and still do. The foreboding yet humiliating realization we have <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="795e242c-2b46-427d-a875-e71316b8830e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2c2d998c-c5f6-4d46-9af9-4da6433c7f32" grcontextid="is:0">is</span> human’s are the only species on planet earth that have to ‘buy’ food. When that happened, the terms ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ entered mankind’s vocabulary.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A reminder: food like air and water came <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e77206d2-4c2a-4570-ad0e-57f45172da84" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="60a74d53-f265-43aa-943d-fbe0b85bb0fc" grcontextid="free to mankind:0">free to mankind</span> from the Creator.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today in these so-called ‘enlightened times’, we talk about ending the ‘vicious cycle of poverty’ and therefore <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="83a893b9-9dcf-4cd0-952e-bfb50cb9748a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a474c82c-569a-4439-8980-46e81e361038" grcontextid="patronisingly:0">patronisingly</span> extend ‘credit to the poor’, while some of us even want to ‘condemn poverty to museums’ without considering that by so doing, we only demonstrate the depraved poverty of our own souls. We ourselves are responsible for our own fate — in that our Creator is neither vindictive nor evil. In our ritualistic attempts at ‘pleasing’ the Creator the attributes of benevolence, compassion and mercy eludes us.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Man therefore is man’s biggest enemy and extending ‘credit’ as a birthright or even ‘human right’ to end poverty is not only a farcical supposition but also an affront to human dignity. ‘Credit’ is not charity and credits are extended today to as a lien to the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b10ba0b5-c64f-47ae-8138-343140c8e5c2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9486d890-637f-4544-9d89-d00db7a125d5" grcontextid="marginalised:0">marginalised</span>, as a means to an end, as a tool of commerce, which leads to lewd profiteering and exploitation that spirals up to <u>usury</u> that no known religion or belief system on earth permits.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what are the lofty ideals of Ramadan and the practice of <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="59279158-be16-4a64-bd6b-3a178faddeb5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4ee23565-aab9-4c98-9b07-b1ace83dc240" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i>that Muslims are supposed to aspire <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a34e2ceb-8b7b-4d86-83bc-e308be17a43c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4ee23565-aab9-4c98-9b07-b1ace83dc240" grcontextid="for:1">for</span>? Is it merely going to be fasting all day that ends with gluttonous binging on food in the early evenings until night? If it is the ‘pang of the poor’ we are supposed to feel, do the so-called ‘poor’ have the luxury of indulgence of a kind we the ‘well-to-do’ or affluent most arrogantly tend to believe is an act of faith that ‘pleases’ our Creator?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our so-called ‘religious sentiments’ are more easily ‘bruised’ than our human sentiments when rational questions are asked. Islam condones blind faith and superstitions, yet there is no denying that very few who indulge in the penultimate rites of penance <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7b49c33d-5386-4b49-b7d5-75b412d665ed" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ef9e7ef7-835f-408a-98ec-8372f6cc1974" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i>have even the faintest notion about its significance. All we get to read in newspapers, and all we get to see in discussions by <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="04b58fe8-d3cf-4889-917c-27c00c6f1d11" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0168457d-66f6-4f6e-a881-d94d2d66cf8e" grcontextid="alems:0">alems</span> </i>and <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d7677135-1d6d-41df-922c-afd108c3930f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0168457d-66f6-4f6e-a881-d94d2d66cf8e" grcontextid="ulemas:1">ulemas</span> </i>on television are about the dos and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3a5c6003-152a-405e-ba17-c7e92b34e827" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0168457d-66f6-4f6e-a881-d94d2d66cf8e" grcontextid="don’ts:2">don’ts</span> of rituals that have anything at all to do with Islam or the injunctions of the Qur’an.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is all about finding excuses about how not <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e63cb1eb-dfe9-4666-8b46-2bf23f9548fd" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3b9260a6-1187-411a-9077-dd7a1778ecb8" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> fast, about health implications and complications, or as bizarre as whether or not, whether we can break wind in public, whether it is permissible to copulate with one’s partner during the month <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="08e89c93-0332-465d-b52b-d9d1bcc85c22" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3b9260a6-1187-411a-9077-dd7a1778ecb8" grcontextid="etc:1">etc</span>, etc. In fact, our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="77d2940b-20ff-4fd7-833a-f7d920a55847" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="88654935-a66a-429a-9501-c5504a0cd75b" grcontextid="enquiries:0">enquiries</span>, and even well-meaning curiosities, are meant to address anything and everything that is sickeningly carnal, as opposed to the spiritual. And it is here that we commit our gravest sin during the month of Ramadan. It is the display of our wanton greed that leads to consumerism and avarice of an unimaginable magnitude is the crux of our dilemma and we have no business to blame Allah for the same.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ideally, <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1352346b-6d83-426d-a54d-d3bce16d0017" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d01979da-6816-4f9e-9c66-11bdce128edf" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5f0892c9-ae72-4533-894f-78b2b2d07014" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d01979da-6816-4f9e-9c66-11bdce128edf" grcontextid="is meant:1">is meant</span> to bring back the balance of the food chain which man has indeed compromised and reduced to a farce. It is corrective penance for mankind’s first collective crime against humanity and one that continues, and has therefore been deemed mandatory on Muslims for one month of the year. If billions of Muslims <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3b9b7f78-e51a-43ac-b969-27cea20ab8a4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f6c3fee2-3e2d-47bc-afb8-23d573816b29" grcontextid="realised:0">realised</span> for once while fasting that more than ‘pleasing’ the Creator, it is a simple act meant for the welfare of mankind — of humanity, I think many of our shortcomings on faith and religion would have been addressed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fasting if there is any way at all we may ‘please’ our Creator, is to understand that the savings on food, due to our fasting and penance will lead on to food being stockpiled somewhere else on earth or ‘food security’ as we know it today. That in turn will guarantee that deserving humankind, whether they are Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhist, Christians, whether they are theist or ‘atheist’ may live without the pangs of hunger, without any man-made famine.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus, if there is anything at all that ‘pleases’ the Creator — it is in the continuation and survival of the human species. The Qur’an (5:32) states unequivocally <i>‘killing one human is killing of all humanity’</i>; therefore, in annihilation or killing, nothing can compare with one who is killed for want of food, or ‘starved to death’ as we call it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not only abstinence in food that results in <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="92cba158-794e-485f-aa98-493ab964d863" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d3ef5369-184b-4218-96d3-6b4a2c374e81" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i>becoming a complete cycle, the lofty ideals of restraints <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1604df0f-7622-4224-95db-9e7004c22379" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d3ef5369-184b-4218-96d3-6b4a2c374e81" grcontextid="is:1">is</span> correlative and comes in forcefully. Simply put, <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f1e79981-93bd-4e69-bc33-6ae0d5f15b49" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0921c11f-4557-4f9f-806a-4cdce883d1a5" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i>exemplifies the earnestness in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3a269e09-0b66-4e33-a416-9268a8caa340" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0921c11f-4557-4f9f-806a-4cdce883d1a5" grcontextid="practice:1">practice</span> of ‘see no evil, hear no evil and commit no evil’. All three injunctions are addressed to control not just of our ‘carnal desires’ as is the popular misconception, but also put a check to greed, and the most hazardous of all, gluttony. It is perverse <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="64f54eb3-d5f0-42b5-b252-bdbd85c821b1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="12c40f49-3e74-4ff2-9aa7-98f839731df9" grcontextid="overconsumption:0">overconsumption</span> of food that creates the initial conditions of greed to seep into our beings. What happens thereafter is a vicious cycle that turns to envy, lust and corruption.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For instance, much as <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5f357e48-558d-45e3-ae76-21477b47bcb7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cfe4a635-463b-41a0-9aa0-c1f044bfd74e" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fb9ae926-288b-4645-a317-bb94893eec44" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cfe4a635-463b-41a0-9aa0-c1f044bfd74e" grcontextid="emphasises:1">emphasises</span> on fasting, if we just take a stock of the amount of food we consume during <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="940a8aa5-d30f-46ae-b846-3ad4f334aada" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cfe4a635-463b-41a0-9aa0-c1f044bfd74e" grcontextid="iftar:2">iftar</span>, (even those lavish ‘parties’ sanctioned by the government and the opposition) the food and money we waste is more than enough indicator to the state of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="19dd1796-8a95-470b-8851-1ec22a037f67" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cfe4a635-463b-41a0-9aa0-c1f044bfd74e" grcontextid="institutionalised:3">institutionalised</span> vulgar corporeal ‘zombies in faith’ that we have been reduced to.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is only in our desire to go on unrestrained food binges during Ramadan that results in price of food to skyrocket. It is evidently the sole reason as our demand for food actually outstrips supplies during the month, which is otherwise not the case in the eleven months that we do not fast! In fact, more than contributing to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8e539ce7-ac38-4289-a57b-c96a736fdc70" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ab566dff-074c-4fc8-b666-5094a3046804" grcontextid="food chain:0">food chain</span>, we create more diabolical pressures, which indeed leads on to more food shortages. Ideally, <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8336a029-ce4c-45b6-a5e7-bc292a34db05" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dec909b4-3789-4245-8abf-816c379a1edd" grcontextid="sawm:0">sawm</span> </i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="72b675c5-45ce-4157-9504-36d19a51f33c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dec909b4-3789-4245-8abf-816c379a1edd" grcontextid="is meant:1">is meant</span> to bring back the balance of the food chain which man has indeed compromised and reduced to a farce, and not the other way around.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of the above happening in a month that we are supposed to be ‘feeling the pangs of the poor’ is not only laughable, but is indicative of the innate ‘hypocrisy of modesty’ we indulge in while <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="89c65d5e-ac59-410c-a91c-118af451ddcb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6324f1ff-4729-4bcc-8422-55994c0b177f" grcontextid="practising:0">practising</span> <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="867e729d-5a3a-4a4e-9258-1bcec088f9af" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6324f1ff-4729-4bcc-8422-55994c0b177f" grcontextid="sawm:1">sawm</span></i>. We quite shamelessly do the opposite of what we are directed by Allah to acquire. The virtues of modesty, of being able to survive and to do with the bare minimum, are lessons from Islam we conveniently forget.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The idea of ‘pleasing’ the Creator is a notorious misnomer for in reality we aim to please our olfactory and sensual desires, which translates to nothing more than greed, lascivious conducts by individuals, foul mouthing and a wanton display of the superiority of our social status. All of this contributes to downright demeaning the ideals of the piety, plurality, restraint and tolerance that Islam teaches us. The objective of attaining <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f3d5c813-fec6-4b8e-a0ab-1068a460008f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bcaca20c-ab93-41a0-9d0f-df978731955b" grcontextid="taqwa:0">taqwa</span> </i>therefore is narrowed and boxed-in to meaningless and insensitive cultural rituals, which have absolutely no connections with Allah, the Qur’an or Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moreover, how more ruthless we are in our pursuit of ‘pleasing’ the Creator is all the more demonstrated during the maniacal shopping spree we jump into in the last days of Ramadan. Anywhere else in the ‘infidel West’ or even in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="65d86fbe-4cd8-439f-8e52-0bfdc56b734d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e1c7c51f-8816-4256-a9d1-d086a46b21ae" grcontextid="neighbouring:0">neighbouring</span> ‘Hindu India’ whether it is Christmas, Easter or Puja the discounts offered at retail shops and departmental stores before any major religious festival is heart rendering. These are perhaps the only times in the year, when ‘Godless profiteering’ is never the foundation of any commercial transaction.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet it is quite the reverse in Bangladesh. Like price of food, everything else quadruples. The latest ‘Eid fashion’ will compel or cajole you to buy dresses and accessories at insane prices and yet none <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b370a99c-b8c6-44c6-bbbe-265b06a17af9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ac729e12-2783-49b7-a5f3-3f08562552b6" grcontextid="seems:0">seems</span> to object or even think once that its neither dresses, nor our caps, nor the Essence of Arabia <i>attar</i>, or our flashy sandals that ‘pleases’ Allah. If there is anything at all that Allah will be ‘pleased’ and will judge us, it is in our intentions.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let our intentions therefore be pristine and pure.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With that, here is wishing everybody a rewarding Ramadan. Happy fasting and sensible feasting <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="21606954-894a-45d7-95e3-de9952d67123" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4ee4a188-13f9-4b1e-bfc6-25e5f06c9c17" grcontextid="please:0">please</span>!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>New Age Op-Ed Thursday 18th July 2013</b></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-07-18&amp;nid=57387#.Ued0gdJHJFY" target="_blank">Link</a></b></span></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-29858713658498837762013-07-15T07:39:00.001+06:002013-07-15T07:41:34.122+06:00
PAPER: The Baul Movement and legacy of Fakir Lalon Shah
Abstract:              The social, academic and intellectual construct given to the  Baul  movement  of Bengal for centuries have been attempts by the elite status quo to box-in the music, lifestyle and philosophy of Fakirs, Sadhus and Sages of our time, thereby limiting them to easily explainable parameters and expected norms, practices of spirituality.  Baul  philosophy is however unique in that it challenges these constructs in the epochal tangents setting it apart from other ‘religions’ or beliefs. Our dominant heritage culture, especially those  practised  by the  marginalised  majority, the construed ‘subalterns’ has therefore traditionally been in conflict and at odds with the city centers.              The objective of this essay is to give readers a concise yet coherent understanding  to  the basis of the Baul creed, its history, philosophy, complex spirituality and lofty ideals. It also aims to present us an opportunity to appreciate why the teachings of Fakir Lalon Shah  has become  so pertinent in present day Bangladesh which is beset with sectarian strife of an unimaginable magnitude, and perhaps lessons we may inculcate to the way forward.                 Download or read full paper at this   link       Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-39553269328788259252013-07-13T20:54:00.004+06:002013-07-13T20:54:42.583+06:00
আল্লাহ আলেক: সবার 'ধর্মীয় অনুভূতির' প্রতি শ্রদ্ধা রেখেই বলছি........
১. 'সিয়াম সাধনার মাস ' - তবে সবার ভেতরে 'খাই খাই' রব দেখে, দোকানের ভেজাল খাদ্যর গন্ধ সুঙ্গে, মানুষের সেই দোকান গুলোতে উপচেপড়া ভিড়, পয়সা খরচের হিরিক, 'ইফতার পার্টি' দাওয়াট, 'আপনি রোজা করছেন তো?' প্রশ্নবানে জর্জরিত হয়ে ভাবছি :  'রোজা রাখা' কি কেবলি সৃষ্টিকর্তাকে 'সন্তুষ্ট' করার উদ্দেশে ?      ২. না ! সিয়াম/রোজার সাথে সৃষ্টিকর্তার আদৌ কোনো সম্পর্ক আছে কি না, বা থাকতে পারে কি না, তা আমার গভীর সন্দেহ | সকল ধর্মেই কম বেশি সিয়াম/উপসনার চর্চা আছে এবং এর মূল কারণ: 'মানুষ' সহ সৃষ্টিকর্তা সকল প্রাণীর জন্য যথেষ্ট ভাবে খাদ্য ও পানীয় সদা প্রস্তুত রেখেছেন ও রাখবেন | তবে এক মানুষ জাতি ছাড়া, অন্য কোনো প্রানীকে 'পয়শা খরচ' করে খাদ্য/পানীয়ে ক্রয় করতে হয়না | তবে এটাও হবার কথা ছিলনা | প্রকৃতির খাদ্য ভান্ডারে (natural food chain) মানুষের কোনো কমতি ছিল না - আগামীতেও তার কমতি হবেনা | আমাদের সৃষ্টিকর্তা নির্দয় নন |     ৩. তবে যেদিন মানুষ লোভে পড়ে খাদ্যকে 'পণ্য' বানালো, সেদিন থেকেই খাদ্য অভাব, দারিদ্রতা আমাদের উপর ছেয়ে বসলো | সৃষ্টি হলো মানুষের স্তর বিভেদ - ধনী, দরিদ্র, হতদরিদ্র ইত্যাদি | সিয়াম/উপাসনার মূল লক্ষ্য ও উদ্দেশ্য এক বেলা আমরা যদি না খেয়ে থাকি তা কেবলি 'সঞ্চয়' - নিজের জন্য না - মানুষ জাতির জন্য | অর্থাৎ প্রকৃতির খাদ্য ভান্ডারে ধারাবাহিকতার (continuation) সাথে নিজেদের একত্র করারমূল লক্ষ্য ও এক ক্ষুদ্র প্রয়াস | সেই প্রয়াসে মানুষ জাতি ছাড়া অন্য কেউ ভাগীদার না, হতেও পারেনা |     ৪. রমজান মাসে কোটি কোটি মুসলমানগণ সিয়ান সাধনার থাকার মর্মঅর্থ হলো - পৃথিবীর অন্য কোনো প্রান্তে কোটি কোটি মানুষ সেই সঞ্চয় দ্বারা উপকৃত হবে, ও খেয়ে বেছে থাকবে | তারা মুসলিম, কি হিন্দু, কি বৌধ্য, কি ইহুদি, কি খ্রিস্থান কি আস্তিক বা 'নাস্তিক', তা মানুষের বিবেচ্য নয় | আমাদের কর্তব্য মানুষজাতি কে বাঁচিয়ে রাখা, এবং যদিও সৃষ্টিকর্তা সব কিছুই ভালো জানেন, ও বোঝেন - উনি কোনভাবেই মানুষ জাতির 'দুশমন' না | মানুষ জাতির বড় দুশমন - মানুষ নিজেই |      ৫. তাই যারা সিয়াম/রোজা করছেন তাদের কাছে একটা অনুরোধ, সিয়াম/উপাসনা সম্পর্কে ভালো করে জানুন | যদি অন্যদিনের তুলনায় আপনারা ইফতারে বেশি খাচ্ছেন, অতিরিক্ত খরচ করছেন, মানুষ দেখানোর জৌলুসে, 'সাচ্চা মুসলিম' সাজার ব্যর্থ চেষ্টাই লিপ্ত হচ্ছেন, মনে রাখবেন, ভোগবিলাস/ভুরি ভোজন কেবলি পাপ/গুনাহ নয় - এসকল কুকর্ম মানবতা বিরোধী অপরাধ | প্রকৃতির নিয়ম কঠিন | প্রকৃতি আমাদের এই মানব সহনভুতি বিবর্জিত 'ধর্ম চর্চা' কোনো ভাবেই ক্ষমা করবে না | প্রকৃতি প্রকৃতির নিয়মেই নিষ্টুর প্রতিশোধ নেবে |     সকলের সিয়াম সাধনা সার্থক হোক - পৃথিবীর সকল প্রাণী সুখে থাকুক |    Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-76982199608029597902013-07-12T10:03:00.002+06:002013-07-12T10:05:56.576+06:00
The corporate usurpation of cultural icons - Part 1
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7TAvaE0Xug/Ud9_B3lSgcI/AAAAAAAACDE/_B2Oxt1Dm94/s1600/shaheedminar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7TAvaE0Xug/Ud9_B3lSgcI/AAAAAAAACDE/_B2Oxt1Dm94/s400/shaheedminar.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b92d2eda-582b-42f2-99fd-483ae3c384fd" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="83255b0d-7ec3-45ce-8296-4d6dc376b2c1" grcontextid="by:0"><span class="GingerNoCheckStart"></span>by</span> Mac Haque</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>‘Cultural icons do what brands strive to do: to be imprinted in our consciousness. Icons are irreplaceable, incomparable and timeless, whereas many brands are commonplace, inconsistent and indistinguishable. Brands can learn a lot <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="77a4df82-e4ea-45fc-900c-8c32be7347be" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="aa1c479b-1ce1-49e9-9d26-1f31c3120b46" grcontextid="from:0">from</span> cultural icons.’</i> Harvest, Lessons from Cultural Icons</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In any discussion on culture, we narrow it down by common understanding to regimes confined to specifically fine art forms, its components, proponents or their visible exponents in our social and national life. While the broader definition of culture could easily overlap each other and get mired by definitions alone, culture as we know or identify with immediately, is no more than the dynamic interactions of our sixth senses.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The human species, unexplainable and intangible sixth sense in turn creates the stimuli as how we instantly identify, accept or reject ideas <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fd21314e-2ddc-4591-b8f5-c1d950a940db" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ef0fb3cc-25e3-4d02-a55c-c90e2c369b6f" grcontextid="and concepts that in:0">and concepts that in</span> most cases are construct of the human mind. Other than our physical beings, humans since the dawn of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8c20f8e0-46dd-48bf-82e0-45ae40a1fe25" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2f5501d0-4462-498c-becd-953510405ee1" grcontextid="civilisation:0">civilisation</span> have been provoked, made passionate, and have also artificially induced urges, whereby it craved and capitulated to a yearning for things that may or may not have had any number values assigned whatsoever.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet when it comes to our national cultural life, many of these cravings and product of the emotion or intellect are often invaluable, priceless and precious. What therefore is identified as cultural icons in ideas or concept is; no individual or a community owns them, in fact proprietorship of such icons are owned by the public at large, the citizens of a country and to a large degree by the state, who in today’s world shoulder the gravest of responsibilities in protecting them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is a matter of great pride is when it comes to conflict of interest; on national cultural icons, there is usually none. It is the beauty of joint ownership <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2dcc2d84-16a9-4038-89ac-c86734b969a0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="868f72f8-c269-477c-a551-5c446fa83902" grcontextid="by:0">by</span> all, of such icons, the commonalities of our instant appreciation that gratifies our senses of well being and makes culture such a delectable ‘commodity’ as such.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Historically, patrons of culture – specifically those of the fine arts were hemmed in from three strata of our society, the nobility, the communities and the common man - with all contributing to nurturing its appreciation, growth and promotion. With the dawn of modern nation states, governments in turn took on and enlarged the scope, field, participation and development of culture and its many varied components.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The support <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3153d363-5498-444e-b81b-173c4f9313f7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4c06d071-c219-47bb-822d-2047805f3d9c" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> culture leads on to aesthetic developments of individuals or groups of citizens, who then as a matter of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dc507fd5-73e1-4c27-b52c-bcbeb73b17d0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4c06d071-c219-47bb-822d-2047805f3d9c" grcontextid="praxis:1">praxis</span> acquire a higher level of creative output in getting things done or are <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f3fa01c9-d93f-449d-a317-148fe3b52624" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4c06d071-c219-47bb-822d-2047805f3d9c" grcontextid="organised:2">organised</span> and executed, in precise, acceptable terms of reference of the masses expectations. The acquiring of talents for precision delivery of ideas in high order and sophistication is the ultimate and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fe9a2f59-69a4-4ec9-864d-319a7cd338fd" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="693beb8f-d5cb-481b-a75d-3dd6955c0e01" grcontextid="indispensible regime:0">indispensible regime</span> of cultural exercises of any kind.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Bengal, until the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, it was the nobility, the Maharajas, Kings, Emperors and feudal landlords that supported and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1afe02b0-5148-4a1d-aba0-26325d5eafa7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f9854382-8c49-4324-80cd-2d4db99005b2" grcontextid="patronised:0">patronised</span> the fine arts and the components were expansive. From music, dancing, painting, drama and dramatics, literature, poetry, astrology, cosmology, agriculture, history and its recording, sculpture, to tapestry and architecture as much as food, recipes, drinks and cuisines – the list is long. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What we have comprehensibly and collectively acquired in our beings, over the centuries is a contextual record of how culture has helped us acquire and expand our common sense of belonging and pride – and what is termed our value system or <b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="29684cc2-15b2-4925-8521-2e2b1e3ea972" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="158ce818-dd20-4cdf-9d14-2d83818d5cd6" grcontextid="mulyobodh:0">mulyobodh</span> </i></b>in Bangla. Those values in numbers were not limited as doles or a one-off cash handouts to a particular cultural component, but were distributed across <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="60573bf5-f5a8-4081-9169-e1b0ba313a3a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e9cda077-65b6-4aec-9514-7b4d804d0d56" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> skilled people in the field for generations, and who went on to become seasoned professionals thereafter. They were largesse offered to artists, musicians, artisans <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3f359e05-2ba7-4312-9966-114209af86b0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6bf502b1-c131-4a71-b46a-2310ecbdc4fe" grcontextid="etc:0">etc</span> cash grants, stipends, scholarships, land, cash and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="22661ce4-ab34-4137-84fa-d6d54777fcdb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6bf502b1-c131-4a71-b46a-2310ecbdc4fe" grcontextid="jewellery:1">jewellery</span> and outright purchase of artwork, holding of concerts and recitals at palaces as well as fairs and exhibitions where artwork could be bought and sold.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The nobility and emerging elite class in turn made culture a religious discipline by encouraging contributions in promoting and constructing opulent Temples, Mosques and Minarets, Shrines, Khankas, Monasteries, Pagodas, magnificent buildings and by commissioning statues, artworks, and welfare of pilgrims <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2ea7188d-a595-467e-a65a-7f2c8f0a971b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f1d1fa9f-ca9d-4ead-8e29-22e4115eb9da" grcontextid="etc:0">etc</span> thereby leaving a firm physical imprint of ways and means as how culture ought to be promoted, practiced and preserved for posterity. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="70eee2db-d5cd-4069-a880-90923d6c587f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="be40c30b-7937-4d9d-8ba3-a858c4cbe68a" grcontextid="Culture:0">Culture</span> soon evolved into a social byproduct and not one merely guided by rituals, but <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1a4e74dc-b26f-42cb-99cb-ed1ad36b132d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="be40c30b-7937-4d9d-8ba3-a858c4cbe68a" grcontextid="importantly:1">importantly</span> in the preservation of values in society. Moral and ethical values or <b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="413f8a12-2a58-4e95-a3d9-9575a2a4be30" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="92e8a8d9-61d3-48eb-9a87-a8ad9bc9d34d" grcontextid="noitik:0">noitik</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e15c208c-09b0-41df-9257-48ec7d22161f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="92e8a8d9-61d3-48eb-9a87-a8ad9bc9d34d" grcontextid="mulyobodh:1">mulyobodh</span></i></b> evolved in our culture and took firm roots.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The outreach of the nobility and elite promotion of culture resulted in its reflection and replication down to the communities and the common man, who in turn promoted and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="401a5199-c59c-44a4-9fdd-1dfaf3b0c443" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5c6cee1c-813e-46c7-a64f-e76939b9ddcf" grcontextid="patronised:0">patronised</span> cultural regimes as well. Events having <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4991a9b4-0146-4460-82a9-e0edb34cdaef" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b450b0fd-7f25-432b-83dc-dd9814340f56" grcontextid="socio:0">socio</span>-religious-cultural and even commercial significance such as Pujas, Melas, Shadhu Shongo, Kirtan, Baul, Murshidi, Ma’arefoti, Jari, Shari music, funding of libraries, schools, Madrassahs, Makhtabs, to exhibitions, became part of the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9420cd0a-829f-4ec4-969d-c524511f439b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b450b0fd-7f25-432b-83dc-dd9814340f56" grcontextid="communities:1">communities</span> cultural value system or <b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d848876f-c9b8-4dad-8418-9afe7b6dd081" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b450b0fd-7f25-432b-83dc-dd9814340f56" grcontextid="shamajik:2">shamajik</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ae3f2ca1-5eb8-44b7-a8e2-bf11de4718ad" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b450b0fd-7f25-432b-83dc-dd9814340f56" grcontextid="mulyobodh:3">mulyobodh</span></i></b> which went on to fashion socially acceptable <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7879ae51-bfc8-4373-b95a-72131cccc393" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b450b0fd-7f25-432b-83dc-dd9814340f56" grcontextid="behavioural:4">behavioural</span> patterns, where ethics and aesthetics both played a significant part.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Local functions, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a825314a-856a-4af0-ba22-9c05e8ee0f59" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ac360996-3173-478d-83c4-5a1e1626a619" grcontextid="neighbourhood:0">neighbourhood</span> talent contest, publications, stipends and scholarship became part of a community supported cultural activities and this led to newer avenues of cultural phenomenon’s and components being added specifically from our vast folklore – and the transformation and acceptance of the dominant heritage culture was completed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, it is the richness and diversity of our culture that also contributed to our own doom, and the advent of the early colonialist to the soil of South Asia, whether they be Portuguese, French or the British, it was our culture with its immense potentialities that <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="79e8d973-550d-4ca6-8d36-f15a3c300ddf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9590063b-6bb1-49e0-a94e-4629cfe19fe3" grcontextid="enamoured:0">enamoured</span> them, that later turned to greed. From initial curiosity and later its real, intended or imagined promotion and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ccef4d54-6adf-4759-94cc-f49157306798" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3c07ef23-dcb5-418a-95c4-9f6476adaf94" grcontextid="patronisation:0">patronisation</span> to outright loot and plunder of cultural commodities and icons, history teaches us how dangerous it is, if preservation and conservation routines are not included into the regimes of culture or for that matter even ‘cultural policing’.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While we go about promoting culture, do we even have the flimsiest of knowledge as how culture can be usurped and what contextual historical records available have repeatedly taught us or have left many a disappointing examples? If we trace back the history of Dhaka muslin for instance, a fabric that evolved around the 9th Century in Bangladesh, we may be able to focus on how and why we lost this most precious cultural commodity of a kind unknown anywhere in the world.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Greeks are slated to be among the first to trade in muslin and by the time the British arrived in our soil, after praising and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a154349e-9cd8-4b09-88ba-7dbc76cafc80" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="28daf3fb-918a-401e-8b74-d0d010781f2c" grcontextid="eulogising:0">eulogising</span> the fabric for decades on how Persian and European nobility purchased them in ‘price of gold’ and its multiple use i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4eec60c5-059c-4835-a88f-3f5634cd49f4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2024f6e0-0e0d-4c7b-bb3e-3950a32f669c" grcontextid="funnel:0">funnel</span> for decanting wine vessels, separating mush from any fruit, and cheese making, &nbsp;beekeeping, to use in defusing lights at theatres, or still photography as well as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="77bcaa5e-79c1-4708-84e7-d2200aada575" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2024f6e0-0e0d-4c7b-bb3e-3950a32f669c" grcontextid="stopping:1">stopping</span> bleeding during neurosurgery – it set about a destruction of this priceless cultural icon by criminally amputating the fingers of the finest Dhaka muslin weavers!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the plain reason for such horrific cultural crimes was the British wanted to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="09818080-2796-4427-81b3-53c2c9ffa1a9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="db7d6776-d948-4d55-a159-26fb2ebfd227" grcontextid="popularise:0">popularise</span> and promote Manchester – then churning out machine made yarns and fabrics at a fraction of the cost of muslins. Mahatma Gandhi’s insistence of weaving and wearing <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="57be41d7-f251-4ec8-bcc7-d35f8ff7e6af" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a2a4c457-4185-4e78-a9a6-b148e5bafa2f" grcontextid="handlooms:0">handlooms</span> fabrics set the tone and standards of cultural resistance to the British as much as that of Independence after nearly 200 years of domination. It also heralded the dawn of the Industrial age, and warning bells were sounded on the ultimate demise of cultural commodities that evolved, or were developed over centuries by our own people. The impending threats to traditional knowledge and the culture they represent <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5e9bdeed-9147-4c4f-a73c-8a37eb011587" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6ab048d5-4028-453a-94b0-0daf20fa47cc" grcontextid="was:0">was</span> never, ever so pronounced.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a continuation of cultural icon’s usurpation and pilferage; by the time the British left the soils of India, most of what we have treasured including the Kohinoor diamond (originally from mines in Andhra Pradesh) or the Peacock Throne of the Mughals were looted and taken to Britain as ‘spoils of war’ where it remains as even today, sitting shamelessly on <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1e6b6dcb-4af0-438a-bbc1-8c337627dabd" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="eb6f2fc1-54cc-4d47-b7fa-b0c8943b4eee" grcontextid="the pretty:0">the pretty</span> head and throne of the Queen of England.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whatever may have been our historical millstones to cultural aspirations, there is no denying that we Bengalis as a race have always been at the forefront of major cultural renaissances in South Asia. The Bengali’s natural creative instinct is not only sophisticated and of very high order, they have been aptly and repeatedly demonstrated in all our major political struggles, resistance and the revolutions, which we have been pitted into for centuries. An idyllic race that produces poets, philosophers, artisans and musicians, Bengal has always been the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b2cc8135-94df-476d-83b9-72576127cfde" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3fbae9fe-1e2d-4f9c-85e9-9127d2eea15c" grcontextid="defacto:0">defacto</span> cultural capital of South Asia, a hub that bridged the expanse to Europe and Persia in the West as well as to South East Asia in its heydays.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite all of the above, the cause <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5e97619d-3255-4a69-9c2f-35ef2093a105" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5def5b18-e5e8-44bc-b855-be33c4f46f8d" grcontextid="for:0">for</span> our culture often being brutally compromised is our racially self-degrading penchant and ‘love’ for anything foreign – and/or foreigners, and a frustratingly <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="eb626a65-07e5-48bf-9db6-1fd66254aebc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5def5b18-e5e8-44bc-b855-be33c4f46f8d" grcontextid="paralysed:1">paralysed</span> inability to understand the fine and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="04de6fca-fd94-40c8-b590-b8bc555bc211" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5def5b18-e5e8-44bc-b855-be33c4f46f8d" grcontextid="thin line:2">thin line</span> that cuts through culture and commerce. When it comes to marketing ourselves, we have only heralded disasters.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Least <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8f895614-67ab-4c8e-930f-edd5a5b16db5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="313240bc-a960-4ad7-a7f6-5d0a8ec41bc8" grcontextid="recognised:0">recognised</span> yet highly relevant is the point that <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9061552d-79f1-4ba5-9a69-ab1dba163c16" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="313240bc-a960-4ad7-a7f6-5d0a8ec41bc8" grcontextid="be:1">be</span> it the French, British or even the Pakistani <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="404b987e-38a7-4c86-b86a-98103a70aa6c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="313240bc-a960-4ad7-a7f6-5d0a8ec41bc8" grcontextid="colonisers:2">colonisers</span>, their first thrust at <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a7f84f71-dd69-4445-8b64-ae590d315e9f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="313240bc-a960-4ad7-a7f6-5d0a8ec41bc8" grcontextid="occupation:3">occupation</span> of our land and eventually the reasons for our misfortune is their entry were for innocuous reasons – trade and commerce. &nbsp;Bengalis have traditionally been good sellers of produce, they were never marketeers, consequently it never evolved as a ‘mercantile race’, and there has always been a serious paucity of good business Managers too, yet an abundance of clerks and lowly intermediaries – agents and brokers.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">History therefore records and reveals the inherent naivety of our ancestors, encouraged the occupiers to take away much more than what was merely tangible. The agenda for cultural hegemonies of outsiders was never <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="135c607b-f715-4160-a242-17c729003561" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="530ab1f5-708e-4e76-86d5-bc9dc44e9de2" grcontextid="recognised:0">recognised</span> or understood and one seriously doubts, whether we do so now.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The independence of Bangladesh in 1971 was just not the culmination of a political struggle against oppression by our then Pakistani masters, but precisely a cultural struggle of a dimension that is rare, almost non-existent in the history of the world. The Pakistanis pursued the policy of divide and rule of the British in its oppressive policies, in the loot and plunder, and those attempts at divisions were essentially to thwart the historical march and strides of our culture.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, it was the Bengali language, which rubbed Mohammad Ali Jinnah the wrong way, and in arrogantly demanding that Urdu be declared the national language of Pakistan, he argued that Urdu was necessary for forging national unity among the Muslim population of Pakistan. Ironically, Jinnah <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d0e7b674-df77-4ccd-9156-d8ca520529b0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cb5f13df-fc60-4fbe-bb18-211c29311ed7" grcontextid="himself:0">himself</span> could neither speak Urdu, nor was there a shred of evidence available that he was a scrupulously practicing Muslim!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What was uncorked thereafter were double genies, the first led to the Language Movement in 1952 that eventually saw the demise of the geographical absurdity, East Pakistan and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6e963267-e025-42f6-a6ea-5558955af03a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="40293e25-70bc-45f9-858b-3d49fc431ba0" grcontextid="birth:0">birth</span> of a new nation Bangladesh, in 1971, the first of its kind in South Asia after the British inevitable departure from South Asia, in 1947.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="982843ca-5cf7-48e5-9715-1dc4c76c14de" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="021b97df-d10d-44cc-8dc1-103c027b4c6a" grcontextid="genie:0">genie</span> was that of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="901e8f62-0ea2-4770-adad-3d22c82816e2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="021b97df-d10d-44cc-8dc1-103c027b4c6a" grcontextid="communalism:1">communalism</span>, a British invention and until their arrival in India, a mindset that was unknown and unthinkable in our culture. 1971 proved the strength of Bangladesh’s culture in somewhat stemming and ebbing the flow of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f2b6b47d-1d6f-4178-9a62-d42727b2308b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d425db21-4107-4a05-92ba-158f60bb1cf2" grcontextid="communalism:0">communalism</span> and sectarian hatred.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What needs to be understood is the 1952 Language Movement incorporated and introduced by default, two specific cultural components into our national life. The first was the immortal song <b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="40a96794-f86c-4032-8d8d-e472e2e1da0c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0212c5b9-157a-4eee-8799-57d1ae01fb61" grcontextid="amar:0">amar</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f86a1fc6-fd89-41af-af59-6e7d654b5bd7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0212c5b9-157a-4eee-8799-57d1ae01fb61" grcontextid="bhai:1">bhai</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2fe1628c-92f0-4e5f-860e-c2b553a4cd77" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0212c5b9-157a-4eee-8799-57d1ae01fb61" grcontextid="er:2">er</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9e568dca-7b73-4918-a8d4-5f1aee788ee7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0212c5b9-157a-4eee-8799-57d1ae01fb61" grcontextid="roktey:3">roktey</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bad341a0-29c3-4f80-9c95-0f8916e7781a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0212c5b9-157a-4eee-8799-57d1ae01fb61" grcontextid="rangano:4">rangano</span> Ekushey February, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f77d003a-54f6-4e35-821a-69669c29d45f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0212c5b9-157a-4eee-8799-57d1ae01fb61" grcontextid="ami ki bhulite pari:5">ami ki bhulite pari</span> </i></b>(my brother's blood drenched day 21st February, can I ever forget) which reverberated across the length and breadth of the fertile delta and still does so sixty one years later – was the intangible aspect <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="91dcc41f-057f-40a1-a99f-961910cc1092" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0212c5b9-157a-4eee-8799-57d1ae01fb61" grcontextid="to:6">to</span> the movement. It is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8aa3e335-22be-4e9b-8291-4d35403b9ac2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0b2895ea-30a6-4188-8d32-1b5a68943950" grcontextid="unconceivable:0">unconceivable</span> to imagine Ekushey in the Bengali psyche without the song.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second was the emplacement of a tangible aspect to the movement. The Shaheed Minar – a secular Minaret to the Martyrs – and the formal induction of the first of many cultural icons into the heart of Bangladesh was completed.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>...to be continued</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>New Age XTRA, Friday 17th July 2013</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/supliment.php?sid=256&amp;id=1834" target="_blank">Link&nbsp;</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span><br /></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-42498132440349362352013-06-28T20:41:00.000+06:002013-06-28T20:41:14.050+06:00
The Cultural Dimensions to Shahbag – Part 4
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOpGo5FPj5A/Uc2f4sGVdKI/AAAAAAAACCk/Q_xJWdnZrYU/s400/shahbag+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOpGo5FPj5A/Uc2f4sGVdKI/AAAAAAAACCk/Q_xJWdnZrYU/s320/shahbag+4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a2042a8c-fbf3-4540-9e8b-54761110f8ff" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="177a634b-4524-44d7-b834-8ea048a48066" grcontextid="by:0">by</span> Mac Haque</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>“The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.”</i> Che Guevara</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If there is a cultural malaise that has afflicted the Bengali race historically it is ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a2724dcd-f23d-4b7a-adca-a8af2b9143a9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3bac41eb-d924-4af5-9ac1-b00433bcab26" grcontextid="hujoog:0">hujoog</span>’ or whims, and quite freakishly this sets the tone for whatever we do whenever something excites us, or makes us passionate. Before we know it we jump headlong or copy, just about anything that anybody else around is doing. Call it parochial behavior, or call it replication – we love to be in the middle of a ‘scene’ that everybody else around us is acting out whether rightly or wrongly is not considered important, until the chips are woefully down.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To many this seems like the egregious ‘go-getting Bengali spirit’, yet when we assess the damages, such behaviors do to us as a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="32ab81f1-7f37-4112-89ac-8d75fe99aef2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a9fecdbe-4979-4c66-acf3-80d432c05396" grcontextid="people:0">people</span>, as a nation, the net losses outweighs the gains that we may have thought was well within our ready reach. And so it was in the case of the Shahbag movement.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Between February and March of 2013, everyone without exception turned into ‘born again freedom fighters’ and those that chose not to identify with the aspirations of Shahbag, became neo-Razakars or ‘traitors/collaborators’. Like <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1e3bac95-cf63-45de-8ffd-f77300691266" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="38645191-494b-41d0-be5b-262c94bcc403" grcontextid="bee:0">bee</span> to honey, people of all shades of opinion and social stature thronged to Shahbag, the new Mecca of patriotism, hope, freedom, independence – of the good times on the horizon, aspirations blah blah blah.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, by <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="08efd3c4-f3cc-45f9-ae12-ba9aca8ed93d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2a0c2ec0-fd43-4474-8ab0-61d740e2d3f0" grcontextid="5th:0">5th</span> of April when Hefazot staked a claim to the confusion by adding in the much vexed ‘atheist’ <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8674f1cc-eefc-4015-a1b8-ff6c3345eca8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2a0c2ec0-fd43-4474-8ab0-61d740e2d3f0" grcontextid="masala:1">masala</span>, undeniably there was an avalanche of support for them as well. Everybody became ‘born again Muslims’ – almost overnight, with emphasis <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="016fe5cc-a376-43c4-86c3-7257f678f498" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="796caca0-8ddc-4d7b-abd7-e8fc563279fb" grcontextid="of:0">of</span> how ‘important’ Islam is for our national survival, and debates on how ‘insensitive’ we have always been <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="622fc781-0036-4693-99de-fe07c3117532" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="796caca0-8ddc-4d7b-abd7-e8fc563279fb" grcontextid="to:1">to</span> the Qoumi Madrasa system or the plight of Huzurs in general!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet in another stark seesaw of fortunes, by <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="27bc2bea-c2d9-4555-b1a1-4ba30af46f98" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dd9c1b1c-23a3-4ab9-a040-ee8cb323d0c1" grcontextid="6th:0">6th</span> of May, when Hefazot was on the receiving end of the Government stick and its vested money agenda direly exposed – the shift of sides veered between the ‘pro-liberation diehards’ thumbs up approval to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c6cebb07-e600-49c8-bf78-5d28873ad640" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dd9c1b1c-23a3-4ab9-a040-ee8cb323d0c1" grcontextid="the tough:1">the tough</span> crackdowns or the ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0b0e899f-57fc-4141-a656-652f55607606" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dd9c1b1c-23a3-4ab9-a040-ee8cb323d0c1" grcontextid="jihadist:2">jihadist</span> wannabes’ cornered to a dazed, shocked and confused state of inaction.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In between the general mass, the aam <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0de9f10a-75e9-4a31-b807-feef428ea40d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ca1ddf6b-3d7b-4120-bbb4-7a9e17ffc13b" grcontextid="jonota:0">jonota</span> or ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3742b86b-26a6-40bf-b915-3697bbdfb150" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ca1ddf6b-3d7b-4120-bbb4-7a9e17ffc13b" grcontextid="mango:1">mango</span> people’, were least pushed, for neither patriotism nor religion could ever guarantee them a square meal a day at the least. This is a reality check we haven’t even half considered. The national limbo had started in right earnest. Our identity crisis was taxed and brutalized beyond its known and well-charted orbit.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whatever may have been the gains of Shahbag, quickly turned very sour as and when the real overt and covert political actions maneuvering commenced and as a result directly affected the thrust of the movement. Weeks of non-stop <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="71d51d20-127c-420e-8e7d-258beaa94a23" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a89cd350-64a1-496d-b887-89b5fb20ccee" grcontextid="sloganeering:0">sloganeering</span> festivities (read party time) was evidently coming to an end, and the movement by default had acquired some trappings of 1971 that by consensus did not go down well with the general citizenry. They exposed deadly fault lines.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first one was the time warp mentality that evidently demonstrated the Shahbag leadership alienation from the people and the throbbing pulse of the ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2bb7ad7a-e0d9-4db8-9c64-5e290a93fa77" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6ac2c434-9ac6-43df-baed-6f537de30761" grcontextid="now:0">now</span> generation’. On the flip side, for those in the mid-forties generation these were reminiscent of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8dee8f0a-6e2c-49fb-8f7d-0960e1e13735" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2ee3ab7c-a99b-4b3d-b1f3-06aa44eb7735" grcontextid="times:0">times</span> post 16th December 1971.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was an abundance of laptops and android devices beaming in tributes to the movement, but a real shortage of critiques/criticism or any real voice of affirmative dissent or wisdom in sight. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="19410b09-bfb8-4f66-917e-72567926b568" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e2e63fb7-6f34-4143-b374-8183c0d2527a" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> made no efforts in fomenting a democratic debate culture from within, and the leadership remained hostages to ‘statements’ which on examination, never always projected the mandate of the people, but was plain authoritarian (read dictatorial) in many <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8ca0b728-b03f-4ee5-bb5d-7be14f15f8ad" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e2e63fb7-6f34-4143-b374-8183c0d2527a" grcontextid="respect:1">respect</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Much the same, as the Shahbag leadership jockeyed for its own space in the national limelight, elements within the movement set out on demolition derby’s which chose blatant personal attacks on just about anybody they felt weren’t kosher enough for the rigors of the Gonojagoron Moncho.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tirades were launched through Blogs, Facebook and Twitter on individuals, with language bordering on profane and ridiculous. A chaos of unimaginable magnitude was triggered, and Shahbag became just about anybody’s overheated imaginations call. These may have looked like expressions of free speech, but tragically, it also belied the extremely perverse and narrow-minded nature of many within the closest circles of the Shahbag leadership. Sure enough, it soon boomeranged and whittled down to attacks against many in the leadership itself, and the downward spiral to Shahbag which was taking a mean beating anyway, soon became pronounced with bells of division sounding loud. The enemy was therefore quick to capitalize on the same.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Rana Plaza tragedy in Savar on 24th April was a blessing in disguise for Shahbag as there was a conspicuous yet <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8a0575c0-25a3-424e-963a-1d8a9e3e4d07" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="33a5c916-9c15-4af8-8710-f023041027d0" grcontextid="distinct split:0">distinct split</span> within the leadership and Blogs and Facebook slanders in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="42916227-620c-4d29-9fbe-840de15df61c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="33a5c916-9c15-4af8-8710-f023041027d0" grcontextid="name:1">name</span> were <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6a225660-90b7-4f58-8ed9-073304063872" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="33a5c916-9c15-4af8-8710-f023041027d0" grcontextid="percolating:2">percolating</span> with rapidity. Everything from corruption, to character assassination was at its peak. That apart, Shahbag was beginning to be the victim of its own success. Savar in fact put a stop to it.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If Blogs or Bloggers at all ‘led’ the movement, as time wore on, subsequent writings in Blogs, press interviews or even TV <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="10cd741c-d725-4ca0-b708-0ca9d9cf8d91" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="830ae096-4989-47bc-a34c-6d76c61e50f4" grcontextid="talks:0">talks</span> shows did not make the leadership look any prettier. Ego and arrogance in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b66ab69d-17a3-49ac-ac02-b5c944c70dc2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e3ddc49c-5335-471f-9e9c-21e5d9850ee6" grcontextid="combi:0">combi</span> appeared to be the undertone of Shahbag in the public perception.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="73111e05-6a67-42cb-82ee-16f506879c57" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="506bf033-349b-41ec-9df5-c0f2ad22c816" grcontextid="observance:0">observance</span> of special days bears a huge significance in the cultural and political space of Bangladesh. Therefore, when the Language Martyrs Day was observed on 21st February 2013, one had hoped that Shahbag would also pay tribute to the martyrs of the BDR Mutiny of 2009.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet 25th February passed by Shahbag without even a mention – and the silence either from the crowd assembled or its leadership was deafening. To imagine that the martyrdom of 57 patriotic men in uniform could be deliberately ignored sent disturbing signals to the Cantonments that Shahbag was a suspect movement and therefore untrustworthy. Thus, any possibilities of the armed forces offering its support or understanding to Shahbag was scuttled.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ecd2e059-06ae-42ff-a006-18fcd9504102" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f1e5cd91-64e5-4236-b9c8-ee0318f2aa1b" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> continued to shift away from its initial priorities, that of a national movement to a highly politicized AL backed shenanigan. Clearly, anything that embarrasses the Government of the day was ignored and this in turn created more dissensions not only among citizens, but also within the rank and files of Shahbag.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the revolutionaries that they were, to their official or unofficial calls <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="508bb977-9e5b-4f72-b8bb-ce04c601b846" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5fcb8a08-a58b-4f9e-ae11-851c1cdcd578" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> ‘boycott’ or declare ‘unwanted’ from Shahbag individuals whose only crime may have been criticism or critique of the movement- sent across fear signals that was quite unnecessary. The movement <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8ab5879d-3980-415f-99ad-4c89fd63ba94" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6791d73c-8351-4acc-a3b9-62ca1a727897" grcontextid="was beginning:0">was beginning</span> to show signs of a new trait in its conduct in public; bellicosity.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From a peaceful movement it went on to create <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="543c49df-615e-42b3-a79e-2e85fc57e803" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b48511ee-642f-417c-a422-890bdfc5230e" grcontextid="newer:0">newer</span> enemies, when it could have done well to consolidate on its gains and reach out to those that have as a matter of political principal opposed anything to do with the Awami League, or its version of Liberation War 1971.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greatly affected too was the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="37ae5e3e-6287-40af-ab03-2292a7236eb2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a0f94a44-a5be-40bc-b3dc-7af33b2e9521" grcontextid="worldview:0">worldview</span> of Shahbag. Pakistan that was the enemy in 1971 remained as much in 2013 as the post-war propaganda had insinuated and there was nothing new to be <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5ee5de16-efb0-4a1e-a005-3c6efd907b6f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="336eaeb2-8014-4f11-97e8-2f6ce7b7125a" grcontextid="learnt:0">learnt</span>. The Shahbag warriors for instance were completely unaware of the civil society movements within <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="54c79077-b4a6-437e-9202-01f70bbca2b7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b4365952-c869-4ffc-bcac-6c2ed48b713f" grcontextid="Pakistan especially:0">Pakistan especially</span> amongst its youth and intelligentsia whose demands for their own Army’s trial for genocide, or an unconditional apology be offered <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="192d4dd3-0f42-495c-92f3-780069d37b18" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b4365952-c869-4ffc-bcac-6c2ed48b713f" grcontextid="to:1">to</span> Bangladesh for events of 1971.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus, when support to Shahbag came from Pakistan, legacy issues opened up like a can of worms. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="035b77f2-2907-4b16-81ba-55c2249d3c69" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="846da366-7d6d-4f4b-96ba-2d714275d548" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> displayed no sagacity towards the old enemy, yet were perfectly comfortable with India and never ever in the course of the movement did anyone hear one anti-Indian slogan. There were also no questions raised as to India’s merciless killing of innocent Bangladeshi civilians in the border areas, nor was its role post 1971 to swamp our culture or its meddling in many a domestic matter ever came up for scrutiny or criticisms.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indian hegemony or talks of it surprisingly made one a ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="85f508cc-f21b-46d9-94ad-4249e4806f85" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d3c1b475-1d65-49d2-b93e-3c51fd7271c9" grcontextid="razakar:0">razakar</span>’, and this in turn led Shahbag to be typically identified as one among many Indian external intelligence service RAW sponsored ‘movement’ that Bangladesh had witnessed in 42 years. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was also noticeable how much Shahbag steered clear out of being vocally anti-US or for that matter anti-West. Craftily hinged into the movement was an understanding that as long as the nemesis of 1971 i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="76941faa-8300-468e-9ccb-8b5156eda3e3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7d7668b8-bbd7-40e5-97dd-cf6dda207df6" grcontextid="real:0">real</span> or imagined <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a92f7624-34f0-4589-b705-945e12120c4e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7d7668b8-bbd7-40e5-97dd-cf6dda207df6" grcontextid="razakars:1">razakars</span>, collaborators, traitors and Pakistan or ‘Pakistani minded’ were the target of attacks, things would be alright.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As unipolar as the world maybe in 2013, that it was global bipolarity in 1971 which was the ultimate catalyst for the birth of Bangladesh had not quite rubbed into the psyche of Shahbag. Making things worse was the parochialism up on display, and as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3010bf80-f617-408d-9151-e0b7463ccd5b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="68c63735-8172-4670-aa4d-a06456be2c9e" grcontextid="days:0">days</span> wore on Shahbag was beginning to take on the aura of the mean village headman’s mentality.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As much as I have <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="42677068-5e39-49eb-81cd-f9f79abf2bb7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="97dd8d30-72f5-4bb3-a9c2-92cd2e552208" grcontextid="being:0">being</span> arguing about the pros and cons of Shahbag in the previous three series of this essay, a reality check nonetheless gleans in the following:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it is Shahbag Gonojagoron Mancha or Hefazot, let us be clear that while both movements have been diametrically opposed or pitted as a reaction to the other, the overemphasizing reality is they started out as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="74488889-174a-4a65-93c3-45be35a29a95" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="23ff1189-ca8f-40c7-b82e-b29a2538dece" grcontextid="defiance:0">defiance</span> to the established order of the day.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bad governance, bad politics, corruption, nepotism and importantly a betrayal of trust of the people by political oligarchs propped by stooges and in recent times <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3f52e8a4-24c3-4f34-85d4-cc7cea234191" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7676f584-f095-45eb-922d-3fa8b56c9685" grcontextid="conmen:0">conmen</span> - has been the perpetual bones of contentions in Bangladesh.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In between the justice delivery system has been compromised and up for scrutiny, and the grossly interfering omnipotent politicians, a fallback to the myopic mindset of the sixties in millennium context has blunted every possibility of the will of the people to prevail. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="26e2da13-e771-4d2a-a5c9-8ac91b283f31" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9599fbff-47d2-43d7-a555-cd088f1b5120" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> despite all its shortfalls, failures and immaturity, did have successes that were significant. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly, the people’s war cry ‘Joy Bangla’ or ‘victory <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2f7ae370-8dfe-4a20-8f9c-ad7a1d18ba67" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="15c8dcb2-7268-4fb2-a6f8-21d839049a0f" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> Bengal’ in 1971 that was usurped by the Awami League post independence for political expediency has once again been reclaimed by the people of Bangladesh. The AL’s feeble attempts to reintroduce ‘Joy Bangabandhu’ at Shahbag was challenged as other than a handful, the vast majority refused to scream back the glory of the founding father in unison!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likewise ‘Mukti Juddher Chetona’ or the ‘spirit of Liberation War’ thus far the ‘prime property’ of the AL, its sycophants and culture vultures was also reclaimed by the people. In fact, Shahbag showed the way and had it not been for the upsurge of 5th February 2013, it is very unlikely that we would have seen many of the convictions in recent times from the War Crimes Tribunal.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Contrary to what has been insinuated for long, Shahbag in no way pressurized the ICT. Indeed, in a roundabout way it strengthened and empowered it to the extent that politicians or vested interests could neither interfere, pressurize or decide upon the fate of the war criminals of 1971.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bogey of ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="437fa829-5380-40b6-b8be-afddbe53caa5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7967781f-8c58-4833-82ee-6491081886a8" grcontextid="razakar:0">razakar</span>’ that AL had propagated in 42 years were blown to smithereens. It became all the obvious that it was the politicians that has kept the issue alive to thrive on chaos. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0033fbc7-1e71-401e-8944-519e1a710ec7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c1a60c67-cf04-4bfa-ad2b-470e9ce2fa09" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> exposed for the first time that collaborators from 1971 within the AL and society had taken <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="22a18d4c-2e9d-4556-b8cd-36ab44049baa" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c1a60c67-cf04-4bfa-ad2b-470e9ce2fa09" grcontextid="centre:1">centre</span> stage in 2013, with money and political influences of unbelievable proportions. It pointed out and laid bare the reality that the existing political order has to go. The death knell for deeply partisan politics had been sounded.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What then is the future of Gonojagoron Moncho Shahbag? It is hard to say if this will be limited to a movement against war criminals. Assuming the possibilities that all of them will face capital punishment– while some may be even set free - recent public contact drive by the leadership of Shahbag makes it’s obviously ripe for it to form a political party. &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That said, Shahbag as a movement of the youth, for the youth and by the youth of Bangladesh, who had in no way been participants or witness to the Liberation War of 1971 is in itself a potent force that history will not in any way pass <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="90133c04-b226-4e0b-8d15-d577e21696e5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9ec3c5fb-3680-480f-af6f-946e57aa1667" grcontextid="itself:0">itself</span> by. Like a phoenix, Shahbag is destined to rise again for it is not in any token a ‘spent force’.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However for those that have unnecessarily belittled Shahbag, let this be known, that Shahbag represents changed times and underlines the establishments growing distance with the youth force of Bangladesh. Our political establishment has been loath to the power of the youth. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8dd1b0f9-b767-4b5e-9bdd-d4f16843b2a4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="be45de22-8c22-49d7-8126-5ebcf9e92853" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> in a final estimation is the last ray of hope of changes that is bound to happen, sooner than later.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When push comes to shove as it surely will be, the shape, character and mandate of Shahbag will no longer be ‘peaceful’ or pacifist. Since a war has been declared <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d4a7c300-4c3f-498a-b279-37b9586add9e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="44181e29-bf79-49a3-ae12-3788fe58ce86" grcontextid="on:0">on</span> the nation by evil forces and vested interest in 2013, when Shahbag reawakens it will be armed to the teeth.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The change it will usher in will see the demise of most of our opportunistic political <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="98e930e9-b4e4-4310-be13-7df58bc67f98" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="30410325-9282-4233-b958-1c86b4cd5e40" grcontextid="forces:0">forces</span>, and lead to a Bangladesh for which millions laid down their lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.......<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="647f230e-6b15-4de2-9589-9a5e83b4fbff" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="82c0cfea-3b84-4ba9-8649-16ea0e70ca4e" grcontextid=".:0">.</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f317b39e-98f5-4e58-a31b-d73a1f770bd9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="82c0cfea-3b84-4ba9-8649-16ea0e70ca4e" grcontextid="concluded:1">concluded</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Age Xtra - Friday 28th June 2013</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/supliment.php?sid=251&amp;id=1803" target="_blank">Link:</a></b>&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://tpoi.blogspot.com/2013/05/new-age-xtra-cultural-dimensions-to.html#links" target="_blank">Link to Part 1</a></b>:&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://tpoi.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-cultural-dimensions-to-shahbagh.html#links" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Link to Part 2:</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://tpoi.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-cultural-dimensions-to-shahbag-part_14.html#links" target="_blank">Link to Part 3:</a></b>&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-18197350529036614912013-06-14T21:30:00.000+06:002013-06-22T21:31:05.143+06:00
The cultural dimensions to Shahbag – Part 3
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6iUyT31qVgc/UcXCGKFPs7I/AAAAAAAAB_g/HayHOfDykiM/s1600/shabag4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6iUyT31qVgc/UcXCGKFPs7I/AAAAAAAAB_g/HayHOfDykiM/s400/shabag4.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cb773746-d06f-4e2c-af0d-3ce123327393" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="612f87ec-e6aa-48be-89e4-df5ad286d1bf" grcontextid="Maqsoodul:0"><b>Maqsoodul</b></span><b> Haque</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>“When nothing goes right, you have to face forward and take it on head first.” </i>Kyo Shirodaira</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Culturally the onset of winter until the last chilly days of the season has always been ideal times <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9ef47f88-ca71-4009-9aab-7c15929a62b4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6112771a-e461-4e3b-b730-f57d1f1062a9" grcontextid="for:0">for</span> protest in Bangladesh. The dates that immediately activate many a patriotic feelings among Bengalis such as 21st February 1952, 25th March and 16th December 1971 are just a few to remember, and for the Shahbag protestors the month of February was therefore a blessing in disguise. The timing of the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a67740c3-8473-423c-8c4d-f07a540ef848" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bae496f2-f19a-414a-9e5f-ace0cc704d21" grcontextid="Qader:0">Qader</span> Mollah verdict i.e. 5th February 2013 was significant in that it provided the perfect stimuli for millions to besiege Shahbag – and helped in many ways for the weather was ‘just <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3c58a02b-00e0-40c8-981b-f92efcb6e771" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1a9d9165-d5b5-4361-bc5c-7608b22c3f1a" grcontextid="right:0">right</span>’!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Initial skepticisms about the fate of Shahbag were marked and many doubted that it would not last beyond a few days. The large crowd participation was thought to be because of the omnipresent February, a month that ushered in the great Bengali language <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d5bb43ed-6369-4658-833b-b18da65b0f63" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="46b552c6-d0ff-4c5c-9dff-6e8e47063c89" grcontextid="renaissance:0">renaissance</span> in 1952. The month sees millions visiting the suburb of Dhaka for the Ekushey Book Fair, the Shaheed Minar and Shahbag transforms itself into the hub of ‘cultural Bangladesh’ and the many showcases it has to offer.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dae70fd0-0d79-4a55-9cfa-ee7707cb1be5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="152ee226-b197-454c-afb5-335770f418c6" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> has always excited passions of secular, liberal and progressive Bengalis because the Dhaka University, the Academy of Fine Arts and many a historical edifice &nbsp;sits in its midst. There are hundreds of artist and artwork, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fc9566f3-d96b-4f67-a4f5-ee8c2deeba30" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7d5b5def-eddc-4d2c-90f6-b66d1cface00" grcontextid="sculptors:0">sculptors</span> and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="426babd1-e618-434f-b925-c7d8f33fe8c8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7d5b5def-eddc-4d2c-90f6-b66d1cface00" grcontextid="make shift:1">make shift</span> stages where musicians perform, and overall there is always an air of calm yet ebullient festivity present, all year round.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not to overlook, it has always been considered a safe and sanitized sanctuary for ‘arty types’ of all <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="70327af1-5088-439c-880c-d843c9cf59bb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f5bbf4ca-71b7-4d23-82f5-31ab842ddc3f" grcontextid="kind:0">kind</span>, and generally Shahbag protest of the past have never been taken seriously &nbsp;as ‘activism’ stayed limited to within <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6b689c23-dd20-4a67-bbd1-6aa454a5528c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f5bbf4ca-71b7-4d23-82f5-31ab842ddc3f" grcontextid="few hundred yards:1">few hundred yards</span> of the venue. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite its dubious reputation, Shahbag has also been the focal point of most <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cb1b1355-0630-4eb6-8d07-62df23adec0a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="68b66eca-bf2a-4328-9502-b35209210c57" grcontextid="student:0">student</span> led political movements, and the very area where thousands were killed from the 50s until the new millennium. Whenever the nation needed blood, the first to shed it was Shahbag or its immediate vicinity. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bbface64-1d97-499c-b4f2-6a2a1a434f5f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3c2911e9-9999-42dc-a5ae-3221915b2a40" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> has ironically represented both gory and glory.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, much as topography or cultural fair weather has contributed to Shahbag, the success or failure of any mass movement in Bangladesh has always depended on two crucial aspects. Firstly effective communication/s and secondly a responsible leader or a leadership that is transparent, accountable and importantly has the charisma, unbridled talent and capacity to take major decisions which interprets itself as voice of the movement.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bangladesh’s political culture has become so very predictable, that it does not take long for anybody to figure out the eventual outcome of any movement. General anathema or outright disgust for politics of the like we have been witness to, in no way encourages anyone to be hopeful or even positive.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, globalization and the ills it represents may not be the coolest number among the idealist young in Bangladesh, yet global ideals, for change, for non-violent resistance/revolution have never been rejected either. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6c62c095-d01b-4ac9-9372-e9f88e88a5e9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="edda1e64-0809-4b8a-b5b7-e34ef836098f" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> in 2013 other than War Crimes Trial, acquired an aura that had global implications of the marginalized – the 99 percent.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It had all exponential ingredients of the anti-capitalist Occupy Movements of North America, Europe or elsewhere in the West, at its foci, and a very rare opportunity presented itself to be replicated in Bangladesh.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For instance, no one can quite remember one singular movement in Bangladesh that was launched spontaneously and resulted in people not only taking to the street – but staunchly occupying and squatting overnight at a particular place, and specifically without women dispersing within ‘decent hours’ or feeling ashamed or insecure to be in the company of known and unknown male numbers.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clearly, a ‘midnight curfew’ of the sort that the 60s or 70s generation grew up with, was in no way going to deter women from staying out from the comforts of their homes or dormitories, when the issue was the Liberation War and the Trial of War Criminals of 1971.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This in itself represented changed times that sent cultural <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6fcbd189-775f-4f33-bb74-4ca57d9ac5a5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="372ddcf4-febb-40ae-928c-01a914bb2faf" grcontextid="shockwaves:0">shockwaves</span> down the spines of Bangladesh society. It was a confirmation that despite the misuse of the bizarre coinages such as ‘moderate Muslim’ or ‘conservative Bengali’, the Bengali middle class has moved miles away from what these heady constructs which in essence was no more, than tools for exploitation by the status quo had meant for decades. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The permissiveness of the millennium <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e72c30bd-a8d8-4f7e-a493-1e7b2e4ada1a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4f6df6fc-4d10-494a-aac0-05e3a1937231" grcontextid="young:0">young</span>, the open display of affection among sexes and liberated values, where men and women sat together, held hands and marched side-by-side and chanted slogans was in no way a &nbsp;‘fashion statement’, but a shift in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a9ecd5d0-8727-4a98-be67-973784764a9d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4f6df6fc-4d10-494a-aac0-05e3a1937231" grcontextid="social dynamics:1">social &nbsp;dynamics</span> that could simply not be gauged.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Opposition BNP <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0d60e82c-5a06-4444-8fc9-cc53718995e4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="52723e9c-4e2e-43d4-9d5d-1e47a10eb634" grcontextid="prematurely questioning:0">prematurely questioning</span> the phenomenon as &nbsp;‘degenerated morality of youth in Shahbag’ &nbsp;is indicative of its cultural myopia and inadequacies – or for that matter Hefazat demanding a ban on ‘free mixing of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3b789fd0-7420-49f8-b5a5-84b7f1a44755" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="52723e9c-4e2e-43d4-9d5d-1e47a10eb634" grcontextid="sexes’:1">sexes’</span> in the subsequent days was only an extension of the initial culture shock.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In both cases, the last vestige of conservatives had been bruised, and more affronts and counterattacks were thus imminent. Ironically, what was not bargained for is the reaction of so-called liberal and AL backed secular behemoths, who have for long been considered the ‘think-tanks’ or ‘voice of conscience’ of the anti-War Criminal Movement.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In April 2013, none less than the famed Hasnat Abul Hye’s, fictional short story in a ‘progressive’ vernacular daily, stoked a flame that surprised many. It is yet unknown what prompted the writer to humiliate the Shahbag slogan leader Lucky Akhter in his story, but the innuendoes and insinuations hinted at, were not only shocking, the mentality of the much respected writer was exposed as ‘gross’ vulgar and patriarchal’.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The daily under pressure from <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ed826f06-a019-40cc-a51c-70b538f65728" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="14113048-c2d2-4738-bc71-245a3b1b49ff" grcontextid="women:0">women</span> rights group pulled out the story from its online version and offered an apology, yet the damage was done, and mistrust of the establishment and its various <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3fc8a45f-3e06-451f-808a-3e979ac4aefc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="14113048-c2d2-4738-bc71-245a3b1b49ff" grcontextid="front:1">front</span> were brutalized in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b385f7f2-5e3f-4b9d-8a35-f759d51d36d2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="14113048-c2d2-4738-bc71-245a3b1b49ff" grcontextid="subsequent protest:2">subsequent protest</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The time had arrived to confirm that the young of Bangladesh were in no way different to those – anywhere in the world. This was to be the affirmation of a penultimate political statement and one our political or cultural elite on both <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3a4910f1-7af0-4d87-8b2a-18217001233f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="24d8bc2d-1e4f-4847-8f68-e7613c1aaeb7" grcontextid="side:0">side</span> of the fence, were most unprepared to cope with mentally. This was a solid and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b81c62c8-6780-4d84-bed0-2a66bf93aeaf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b99b8e6b-c3b7-47fc-baf8-c827d9a5e2e0" grcontextid="glaring indicator:0">glaring indicator</span> that a quiet revolution as far as sexuality was concerned has already happened, without the status quo or the political establishment even realizing it.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The alienation of our political leaders and disgusting ‘moral policing’ on the pulse of the young, the throbs of the youth heartbeat had never been more glaring and acute, then <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e9ef5ffe-63df-4948-a102-59a4077e517a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="458eda00-6c61-4df8-b0a5-78627acbe3b3" grcontextid="now:0">now</span>. No longer was ‘women’s right’ going to be a charade played up on select days of the year, nor was it going to be a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="14e1cd44-8dd3-48eb-a685-bb12cf095188" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3042678b-f1a5-4052-9e59-f85fec777287" grcontextid="patronization:0">patronization</span> of the many NGOs ‘road map’ that wishes to chart and determine the fate and future of women in Bangladesh.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Women were in 2013 leading the bull charge of the movement in Shahbag and overnight the likes of the slogan leader Lucky Akhter became the most photographed <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c5d7c1bd-0fca-4bc4-ad8b-2e85981a0f4d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="441d5b90-5350-4a59-a861-1916c8fe5e6e" grcontextid="face:0">face</span> of the movement. After Hefazat attacked Shahbag on 5th April, images of menacing stick wielding women in procession with males, was a clear signal of the radicalization of the Bangladesh women in general.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, communication became the biggest adversary of Shahbag in this era of connectivity. Within two weeks of the movement going viral and its outreach, overflowing to nooks and corners of Bangladesh as well as globally, trouble was brewing.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the historical three minutes of silence in remembrance of the martyrs of 1971 or the flag hoisting and patriotic song programs at schools and other educational institutions as requested by Shahbag that was lapped up with great fervor, the days following the death of the Blogger Rajib Haider would bring the movement at loggerheads in massive communication failures after the other.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Language Martyrs Day, the 21st of February, Shahbag in the general perception was being viewed as an ‘Awami League drama’ and all positive attributes of the movement had been wasted. The shameless and open infiltration and later penetration of the AL ‘culture vultures’ the Sammilito Sansgkritik Jote (Combined Cultural Front, SSJ) and several self proclaimed ‘cultural activists’ who are AL Members of the Parliament – did not in any way contribute to increase the profile of Shahbag activists.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">‘Culture’ as defined by SSJ has always bordered on the parochial and fascist as well as the organization well known reputation as ‘assets’ of a regional intelligence service have always made them suspect in the public eye. The usurpation by SSJ therefore made it only obvious for the Shahbag leadership to abide by its <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f209c101-d779-4261-b71b-72439d7f1d88" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="605f52d4-2e51-4885-8fb7-1e87b176e236" grcontextid="diktats:0">diktats</span>, and this in turn created further <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d1189351-d422-40e1-b841-dbf1b188d905" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="605f52d4-2e51-4885-8fb7-1e87b176e236" grcontextid="downslides:1">downslides</span> in the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="78122d81-8207-461c-870a-7b2b7c10d2f7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="605f52d4-2e51-4885-8fb7-1e87b176e236" grcontextid="movements:2">movements</span> credibility and provided enough ammo for the Jamaat e Islami (JeI ) to increase and further consolidate its attacks.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1de64b73-baaf-4bde-b467-f4bd8658d89d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b806c42a-6e77-40a8-bb16-b12f9feaa174" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> by the time was hit either by intent or default, of acquiring the language of the ruling AL and whether they be in the political rhetoric’s of the leadership or the impertinent and arrogant (read rude) statements by many of the Bloggers, started leaving a rather sour taste in everybody’s mouth and they were not without reasons.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was obvious that it was no longer the Bloggers, but the SSJ <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="eed0436f-ad79-418d-a52f-951eefb1f07a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8bb3a404-d231-4ed0-91e7-b18171e62414" grcontextid="supremo’s:0">supremo’s</span> who were obviously in charge and command, and given the heat of the moment, the Shahbag leadership were reduced to measly fronts that mouthed the highly politicized messages of SSJ and its beneficiary the AL. The ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="871f6e40-d594-4b33-9cc9-06f87109a8c9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="644b20d0-4e32-4f67-9f8c-471ea589e98b" grcontextid="boro:0">boro</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9fbe6d41-dc61-46fe-a49f-56f3ae6e7caf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="644b20d0-4e32-4f67-9f8c-471ea589e98b" grcontextid="bhai:1">bhai</span>’ (elder brother) cult of freedom fighters within SSJ, had a field day projecting itself as ‘covert leaders’ of a movement, which they did nothing to activate in the first place.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, all that the anti-AL left leaning student organizations could do was watch in disbelief, for while being in full support they had maintained a discreet and stoic distance from Shahbag as they did not want to pollute <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="661b2747-bf9d-4b4d-8171-7bfab0f7a3ad" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="79b6d444-f1e6-41c2-8492-357a0eac5395" grcontextid="its:0">its</span> neutral pro-people characteristic. &nbsp;Yet here was AL’s ‘culture vultures’ that had not only seized a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ca355e39-f36c-45fd-8356-9b86d0e0b62b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="efa1f552-c8ae-4346-a79f-64a676fa7c32" grcontextid="perfectly:0">perfectly</span> pro-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="42806059-7cd6-4d14-84b5-10968a2bbf52" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="efa1f552-c8ae-4346-a79f-64a676fa7c32" grcontextid="peoples:1">peoples</span> movement, but had scuttled it from within and were now scavenging it to its bare bones.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d364baa6-a402-4703-afcf-bbe504908ba7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="78b58ba0-bbac-40d3-a52c-ebb3cfd40e2d" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> was both paralyzed to resist these onslaughts and were naïve to even think that the people, the mass, who were the catalyst <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d8ee5ab8-645a-4527-9a68-4258b8d9bcc8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="78b58ba0-bbac-40d3-a52c-ebb3cfd40e2d" grcontextid="to:1">to</span> the mass movement will either accept, appreciate or even ‘understand’ the SSJ’s inroads. &nbsp;The decline of Shahbag had commenced in earnest. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other than demanding punishment of War Criminals and a ban on the communal and extremist politics of Jamaate-E-Islami (JeI) – Shahbag at the prodding of SSJ enlarged upon their demands, which included banning many organizations and institutions supported by <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="43755e40-d86a-4fd8-884b-e11859667d92" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0834cd6a-f895-4b68-a540-ba7f6f34f4b1" grcontextid="JeI:0">JeI</span>. Clearly newer battle lines were drawn and ones Shahbag had neither the capacity, nor the resources to confront. When big money interest such as the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2feaa43a-4373-411e-95da-7493d88b89ba" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="006f264f-5745-44c2-b46a-4303e4dbaa3a" grcontextid="Islami:0">Islami</span> Bank went on the receiving ends of Shahbag’s onslaught, the reprisal was deadly.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Very little was known up until that point, as to the financial clout and influence of the bank, and/or its penetration into political, social or cultural life of Bangladesh. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f304f31e-3581-40dc-96b3-98b7d3794d42" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1664b9e9-469b-40ea-80f3-3b17aeb5a1b2" grcontextid="Confusing also:0">Confusing also</span> was the spectacle of an advertisement <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2dca0c7b-50fb-466b-82e0-e163799422fe" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1664b9e9-469b-40ea-80f3-3b17aeb5a1b2" grcontextid="moguls:1">moguls</span> dilly-dallying and interfering in Shahbag, when essentially the gentleman is well known as the advertising and marketing agent for the Islami Bank!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b33e3468-9f4f-4e48-98ae-8fcee0528861" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bfbfbff5-0dcb-49bb-83ea-7610cd4af6c7" grcontextid="Shahbag:0">Shahbag</span> had by the time become the victim of institutionalized hypocrisy of SSJ and the blatantly unpatriotic interest they serve. When it comes to easy money, that many a ‘patriot’ had sold out their soul to the devil years ago, was an uneasy but <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="153d22a5-e63c-4785-96dc-8763585cbf4d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d692f9e0-ed49-4a25-bd38-764d62eb7add" grcontextid="fatal wakeup call:0">fatal wakeup call</span> for Shahbag.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By March 2013, when hit hard by JeI’s ‘atheist’ propaganda and numbers of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6f05d923-4a36-4230-bafd-3d21aab262b1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2197563c-9026-4c80-b87e-ea588f89616f" grcontextid="protestors:0">protestors</span> dwindled in Shahbag from hundred to only dozens, SSJ had firmly overtaken the movement and activism was limited to mass demonstrations in places such as Mirpur, Uttara or Ashulia.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Shahbag activists proposed sit-in at Chittagong was openly resisted by Hefazot with a bomb attack a day before the rally, the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6ef575a2-f54c-478b-9ad9-b4c45818d578" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="30191163-8472-441e-be88-bcc74296521d" grcontextid="Governments:0">Governments</span> cancellation of the program and police later stopping and turning away the entire <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="58d3a28e-e392-4b98-b0ff-d35d903fd22b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="30191163-8472-441e-be88-bcc74296521d" grcontextid="Shahbag:1">Shahbag</span> leadership from Comilla dealt a decisive blow to the movement.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The chances of Shahbag Gonojagoron Movement going national <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d74ea57a-523c-4979-816a-5cc2be319f66" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="81711051-1720-4ed6-93a4-a1608e769a4e" grcontextid="was thwarted:0">was thwarted</span> and tragically never took off.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cultural components as dictated from Shahbag however did not in any indicate progress or the buoyancy that has evolved in Bangladesh since the late 90s. Projections of the Shahbag ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e7ea3f2c-9d7d-4e8a-806d-1ad56b99aa82" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9c38cfd3-be07-454b-91af-618cc40ee6b1" grcontextid="mul:0">mul</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0e339ee0-ef8f-411b-a6fc-527f53a55bb0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9c38cfd3-be07-454b-91af-618cc40ee6b1" grcontextid="moncho:1">moncho</span>’ (<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="30916c40-645a-402f-8fea-bafbe4f2bd47" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9c38cfd3-be07-454b-91af-618cc40ee6b1" grcontextid="centre:2">centre</span> stage) limited to only days and night of slogan mongering with a single <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2d101b3a-3c34-4736-86f4-6ab704a80170" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9c38cfd3-be07-454b-91af-618cc40ee6b1" grcontextid="hand held:3">hand held</span> crude megaphone (a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1e27d656-8e49-414e-966f-8305ed226888" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9c38cfd3-be07-454b-91af-618cc40ee6b1" grcontextid="relics:4">relics</span> of the 50s) began to bore and tire participants and activist alike.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Antics of some organizers and so-called Bloggers with some having no record of ever writing a single Blog entry meant, a sense of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="53cabc2c-71d5-4668-b8a0-dd2ad3ecf26b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dab8e60d-1a99-47b7-b8e3-24f67ad9e584" grcontextid="exclusivist:0">exclusivist</span> elitism had demonstrably permeated Shahbag. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When over forty rocks bands volunteered to join Shahbag <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="81363eda-5da1-41b2-ba01-5464af94b461" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="48e7f4a1-02fc-4bdc-97a1-630d377638c0" grcontextid="to make:0">to make</span> a stand and in turn bring back the crowd, the proposal was brutally shot down. Clearly the parochial SSJ leadership wanted no demonstrable influence of progressive youth power that rock music and its millions of fan base in Bangladesh represents.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SSJ’s vulnerability was exposed as that in effect would have created an avenue for enlarging the movement that was diametrically opposed to the fossilized and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="70bf12ef-7867-4447-8fae-e196d6ee5b40" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ee5bfde6-656b-4946-a7a1-5a9407f74d8e" grcontextid="crude mentality:0">crude mentality</span> of the SSJ and make it difficult to contain <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5b5a410d-b3e9-4e75-97b4-9b4c27548a3b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ee5bfde6-656b-4946-a7a1-5a9407f74d8e" grcontextid="apolitical:1">apolitical</span> anti-establishment thought processes; that is the hallmark of rock music in Bangladesh.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With or without the help of other cultural components, the death knell for Shahbag was not <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5e8972a0-90b2-4bcd-afde-6b2d7e977161" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="fc5b44ad-fd88-4396-8553-5db12cadba33" grcontextid="pounded:0">pounded</span> upon by the enemy, but by so-called patriots and big headed former ‘freedom fighters’ of the SSJ. The adage ‘patriotism is the last vestige of scoundrels’ was never, ever so apparent.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="355f2b68-ceeb-434e-a2f0-12d7f98cac7c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3d9b2cf8-cb2a-4fa8-8d8d-5e71506f8b50" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> be continued……………&nbsp;</i></u></b></span></div><br /></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-66144307881333410292013-06-07T11:06:00.000+06:002013-06-07T11:06:06.762+06:00
Of rut, rot and media meddlers
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qqo-_L3E5sM/UbFn4NxVHZI/AAAAAAAAB-0/_bzbDa1L28s/s1600/idiot.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qqo-_L3E5sM/UbFn4NxVHZI/AAAAAAAAB-0/_bzbDa1L28s/s320/idiot.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f9b23bc0-a452-497a-baf5-930131ca9feb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1ddccca7-b1db-416e-b8f1-1f8a44d68de4" grcontextid="by:0">by</span>&nbsp;Maqsoodul Haque</b> &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike, than those who think differently."&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;Friedrich Nietzsche&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A CLASSIC day of our life in recent times is a firm indicator of the rut that has set <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c8ca2187-87f2-458a-a1b3-86f298ede899" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0b865863-d5ce-482c-92aa-a86056c31a1a" grcontextid="in to:0">in to</span> our living. As we switch on the television ritualistically early in the morning, all we get to see is the repeat of high-voltage talk shows of the previous evening. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hosts/hostesses or participants not only speak to each other in very high pitch, but also scream when discussing some political issue of the day or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a97e5f88-dd4b-4eed-8e52-c4ad81b96999" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d1e96e15-827c-4cdc-98fb-af90f7af5864" grcontextid="other:0">other</span>. To put down an ‘opponent’ not with <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="95d9ec39-30e6-47ba-9d9f-66b8806634e6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b226bafd-6c9b-4615-9c00-226ad73f6089" grcontextid="contents:0">contents</span> but with polemics and illogical partisan views carry marks for the panel. They could well be termed verbal wrestling matches. &nbsp;As far as the tone, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="75f69c68-b2c5-4963-b60c-3c995ba1ec15" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="31beaef9-f075-4158-9f33-ddfc28d3af67" grcontextid="tune:0">tune</span> and thrust of these talk shows, the unrestrained yet antiquated excitement <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="627ddd42-cd63-465a-83f0-aca707a4be29" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="31beaef9-f075-4158-9f33-ddfc28d3af67" grcontextid="equates:1">equates</span> the voices of football or cricket commentators of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e496c7f7-a7dc-4b0a-803b-21d17b3632ae" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="31beaef9-f075-4158-9f33-ddfc28d3af67" grcontextid="yore:2">yore</span>: yet here we are using the same focused energy in discussing issues like murder, corruption, death, tragedies and whatever else we have. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sobriety in our psyche has now taken a permanent holiday as we go marching into the ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="113c149f-86b7-495b-9726-134b7ae8a7b9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="989696fd-90a1-47da-b591-2254ccc5e001" grcontextid="civilised:0">civilised</span> world’, digital or analogue is a separate issue here. &nbsp;What are the content and composition of these talk shows and how much do they really add up to our practice of free speech, and are these really democratic?&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look at the panel discussants and the hosts/hostesses and we have some ready answers. They are specifically filled with politicians and journalist, or an occasional ‘expert’. &nbsp; Very rarely will one come across average level-headed citizens who are offered the opportunity to speak their mind. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is also not uncommon to see the same stale faces of participants on multiple channels all around the week. As if this nation is devoid of any talent, talk shows are therefore nothing more than the domain of the derelict select or elect few — not by the people but by the media meddlers and the various vested stakeholders they represent. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And why is that so? &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simply because our media while masquerading as the fourth estate is an inherent part of the vicious and exploitative status quo they say they resist.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus, they have decided uncompromisingly that this fraud on the people and at the expense of the people must continue on ‘known’ and identifiable turfs. &nbsp; There can be no uncertain or unfamiliar faces on offer, when matters <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fcc35c28-bde4-4c83-bfa2-96a7491c0d0b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7ac97f70-1ac9-45f3-b53b-f99270d6cced" grcontextid="are debated:0">are debated</span> on live TV; so, it has all got to be within the<b><i> ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e5cda2c9-46e0-49f7-9e11-ffc392185c98" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7ac97f70-1ac9-45f3-b53b-f99270d6cced" grcontextid="amar:1">amar</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="27e80f5f-7e06-42ae-b6a4-770875c0bc88" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7ac97f70-1ac9-45f3-b53b-f99270d6cced" grcontextid="loke:2">loke</span>, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="afce9a73-3f80-492b-9e33-39d7626613ca" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7ac97f70-1ac9-45f3-b53b-f99270d6cced" grcontextid="tomar:3">tomar</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f276ffd7-8591-4b3b-ba95-30a342c0fadb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7ac97f70-1ac9-45f3-b53b-f99270d6cced" grcontextid="loke:4">loke</span>’</i></b> (my men, your men), scratch each other’s back parameter of judgement.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, very predictably, it has got to be only <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fcd9415b-e2ee-4fd5-bc7d-d56757408ed1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="19d1cf34-d3bf-4e35-8f3b-67134597ddcf" grcontextid="grey:0">grey</span>-haired intellectuals and journalists who seem to have the brain/brawn and oratory skills and the necessary credentials to rescue us from our plight. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, journalists who have spent the better part of a day writing for or against the same politicians, end up face to face in the evening for sipping cups of tea, and in the end game leave us all the more hapless and dejected.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What happens <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d28305b2-cd3a-462e-81b5-0c08b15210a8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="09e9c18a-9890-4cbe-9360-b3ad5f481ac5" grcontextid="among:0">among</span> these elements before the cameras <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="32213f4f-ce43-4eb7-bd1f-323347640363" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="09e9c18a-9890-4cbe-9360-b3ad5f481ac5" grcontextid="starts:1">starts</span> whirring, or during commercial breaks is best not discussed in public, but there is no denying that these staged games have started to lose all its appeal. &nbsp; Among talk-show host and guests, it is the cult the ‘all knowing’ that has laid siege to our imagination, but where they fail bitterly is to deliver the goods, for quite simply they have arrived at the scene not as any <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="baccfdf7-7002-499b-8fcb-35764ab652a4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="729d2a36-0152-449d-bc30-d4129ff2801b" grcontextid="saviours:0">saviours</span> of the nation but as unsolicited ‘advice givers’ — read entertainers. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly there are no takers, so all we get is a classic dose of Bengali ‘time pass’. What we call ‘talk shows’ today is no more than engaged debates that our forefathers would indulge in the past. Those were ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f0128832-7fac-4709-9cff-b7ff2902358e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="87454586-20a6-4314-a3f8-d2ba28b77242" grcontextid="adda:0">adda</span>’ or gossip sessions, and the ever-argumentative Bengali race perhaps leads the world in, you guessed right, ‘gossiping’! &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Devoid of anything worthwhile or of intrinsic value, thanks to our ever sliding <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="285cf86d-2003-45fa-bfbe-ab23cee3e188" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="388408f8-987e-4173-b629-9203e44ee6b4" grcontextid="sense:0">sense</span> of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d4da59dc-9f7f-4f30-8805-a67d95af6614" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="388408f8-987e-4173-b629-9203e44ee6b4" grcontextid="aesthetics:1">aesthetics</span> proportions, politics for now is the only entertainment that is beamed directly to our living or bedrooms, yet how these bruising battles, blatant lies, slanders, character assassination and unadulterated bad <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cd36dbc1-d865-4bb9-9a8b-213442702bf1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="388408f8-987e-4173-b629-9203e44ee6b4" grcontextid="behaviours:2">behaviours</span>, coupled with extremely poor taste, are shaping the psyche of the nation is not being talked about, at least not on talk shows. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take for example; the ‘very serious issue’ being discussed at the moment concerns one Mr Tarique Rahman. Everybody’s attention seems to be riveted on how ‘honest’ or ‘corrupt’ this individual is/was. There are also endless write-ups and debates raging in newspapers.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What got the ball rolling <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6616f403-5c58-4b08-bff0-c2b4f9a1b608" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9f7f91d6-f546-463e-b8e4-894b6ebdc462" grcontextid="is:0">is</span> the shock when the government decided to ask the Interpol to bring him back to Bangladesh to face graft charges, which is the ‘on-surface’ issue. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet, as the screaming pitches <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b650632a-7e06-4cb4-a45d-97a7fbf2e5aa" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a7a46603-a1af-4bca-9cf7-6d042a5b650a" grcontextid="nauseously:0">nauseously</span>, the ‘underlying issue’ apparently works out <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3ed9045b-e660-4ab2-85d2-f642fa0ad153" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a7a46603-a1af-4bca-9cf7-6d042a5b650a" grcontextid="to:1">to</span> his writing a ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="965cf76c-5d13-46ed-a33c-8dc820ff7303" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a7a46603-a1af-4bca-9cf7-6d042a5b650a" grcontextid="muchleka:2">muchleka</span>’ or an undertaking bond never to indulge in ‘politics’ for an unspecified period. This undertaking, which is not even worth the paper it was signed on, was extracted out of him subsequent to his release from military bash up — towards the fag end of the ‘caretaker’ government’s tenure. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, all we know about this gentleman is: he has been recovering in London for nearly five years and maintaining a rather low profile, for clearly his health doesn’t seem to permit him much movement. &nbsp; The above is all that can be assessed as far as the treatment meted to him by the then government at a period in our history when all politicians were bearing the brunt of military boots, and were on the run, abandoning the same people that had voted them to power. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ruling Awami League government, since it was swept to power in 2009, has done well in cleansing the word ‘corrupt’ that was ‘tarnished’ on their names by the military. Effectively it ‘varnished’ in ‘honesty’, through court actions, yet did nothing to those of its ‘enemy’, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who we may note were <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6c792ab2-a557-4cd1-b783-49f881f10b7b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c6266597-acda-4ed4-9e95-06e384c45692" grcontextid="equally:0">equally</span>, if not more, corrupt. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, it is left to be seen as and when the BNP is elected back to power how ‘magnanimous’ they will be to their enemy — the Awami League. For now, we can take a comfortable front seat and relax as the <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="68bf1e75-64f3-4f72-aeba-f1b5a0f09b7e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3423be8c-2a16-4012-85be-93e6f5611543" grcontextid="tamasha:0">tamasha</span> </i>unfolds in front of our eyes! &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, what has not been questioned by any quarter is the recent statement made by a BNP leader where he chastised the government for its inquest on Tarique saying ‘he is the future prime minister of Bangladesh’. Really? Are the people of Bangladesh idiots? &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is Tarique even remotely an elected leader of his party? What guarantees do we have that he will serve the people of Bangladesh simply because he is a leader by default? In the years that he has been in the corridors of power, what has been Tariq Rahman’s one ‘all defining commendable role’ that makes him such a sure-shot prime ministerial candidate? &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How long shall we sit back and accept that dynastic ties and family lineage are the only prerequisite to become a ‘leader’ of the people? It again boils down to our political-business mafia combine’s long history of propelling siblings of the tested and failed back to power. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their modus operandi is simple. All they do is hire sycophants whose only job is to heap a million praise on their subject in public, hold <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="06deff3f-6440-4ef1-b17a-5437a882c3ac" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="376687cb-5804-4884-8408-a50315ea5e25" grcontextid="ridiculous birthday party:0">ridiculous birthday party</span> of the ‘leader’, observe the ‘august’ date he was released from prison through <i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ef730163-7abc-4864-a7f7-292f60cb329f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="376687cb-5804-4884-8408-a50315ea5e25" grcontextid="doa:1">doa</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0e68c32c-beeb-42fe-a107-ebae344e32c4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="376687cb-5804-4884-8408-a50315ea5e25" grcontextid="mehfils:2">mehfils</span></i> (prayer sessions), as well as erect larger than life cardboard <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="95b4b257-75d2-4e35-be38-bd0ec588a691" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="376687cb-5804-4884-8408-a50315ea5e25" grcontextid="cut-outs:3">cut-outs</span> or flashy posters of the likes of Tariq Rahman holding a very delicate finger to his princely chin to demonstrate his supposed appeal and possibilities as a ‘leader’. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e7da0d17-3fc1-4368-99e9-c60b04db95f1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b9fa2459-3ee2-44c7-ba75-b17aabbed264" grcontextid="again:0">again</span> the media who in turn are active collaborators that wants a return of leadership by default or reestablishment of a parochial dynasty to usurp the fate of the nation. The bankruptcy of conscience of all political parties and their media manipulators has never been more evident than now. Yet, it seems despite all our democratic pretensions, it is the media that has waylaid the aspirations of the people and will perhaps do so in the days to come. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we return to the Hefajat episodes of recent days, although the mullahs <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0e39f3c4-5784-4cb2-be80-ff9a0e34a165" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="81ff82d9-f452-41c5-859b-2851bb0428da" grcontextid="beat:0">beat</span> a hasty retreat after the government crackdown on May 6, the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="77cd07b9-ac59-4e76-9577-a58ac3fe9ced" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="81ff82d9-f452-41c5-859b-2851bb0428da" grcontextid="organisation:1">organisation</span> is still being venomously supported by many an intellectual in talk shows to effectively give the impression that it is still a ‘potent force’. &nbsp; When it’s general secretary Junaid Babunagri was released from prison hospital suffering the effects of ‘torture’ by the police as claimed by both Hefajat and the BNP, or ‘ill health’ as defined by the government, it is entirely left to us the citizens, as to which version we may believe or disbelieve. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But to think that stalwarts of the BNP had to rush to hospital just as the seriously ailing man was being released and then threatening the nation of ‘consequences’ if he dies, only goes to show how little these politicians care or understand about the sensitivity of the people, even their own allies<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6d8c5d8d-96f5-4af0-85a7-d2c666b64ea2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ff0de5d8-7860-439b-b7c6-90e3d7203c3b" grcontextid=".:0">.</span>It is not the living that counts for our politicians or even us anymore, but corpses - and we will go to any barbaric extent to ‘grab’ one, as long as it is not our own corpse that is on offer.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the same BNP that talked about ‘genocide’ and even held a <i>‘Gayebane <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a8dc44e5-5a0e-4918-9d95-9ef10424f527" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6c214968-1b6f-49bf-aaa0-bd845b313f29" grcontextid="namaaz:0">namaaz</span> e <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3429eaf3-6121-4932-977a-b2bb3b7d375a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6c214968-1b6f-49bf-aaa0-bd845b313f29" grcontextid="janaza:1">janaza</span></i>’ (funeral prayer in absence of dead bodies) attended by most of its senior leaders <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="17985463-5ba6-4fdb-a428-b4c5cbc471f0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6c214968-1b6f-49bf-aaa0-bd845b313f29" grcontextid="for:2">for</span> the ‘2,500 Hefazat activists’ who were apparently ‘killed’ by security forces at Shapla Chottor. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="db593a46-96f1-4db5-803d-9e43adb64473" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6c0771c3-23c0-45f3-b73b-9c7c6574de8d" grcontextid="Motijheel:0">Motijheel</span> on 6th May and most print media buttressed those claims for it suited their immediate agenda.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The New Age report of June 3 demolishes the claim of the government of eleven </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c0724fc0-72f7-4c6f-badb-65535601b1d1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d670bc62-3a5d-49e9-b6e2-b1b9e212843f" grcontextid="death:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">death</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, and states that the actual numbers may be between twenty four to thirty and while it may yet be speculative it certainly takes the wind out of the Hefajat/BNP’s propaganda sails, which caused many a local and international human rights </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d20b1968-b1d2-4922-8dc5-bc822dc100fb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d670bc62-3a5d-49e9-b6e2-b1b9e212843f" grcontextid="group:1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">group</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to nail down the Awami League government. &nbsp; That said, we are not merely talking about numbers of dead bodies any more.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0431569e-d950-4cb5-b1c5-225fb4abc6e5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="21a10f9f-4b86-4de0-9822-77360de7220d" grcontextid="Any death by:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any death by</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> use of deadly force is abominable. The question for the hour has three specific parts: &nbsp; Firstly, how and </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="47353d04-ed94-49d1-a43c-b1f8f7d80062" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="833fb0c3-23c1-41fd-ad50-c82f184da5a5" grcontextid="wherefrom:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wherefrom</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> did the Hefajat/BNP come up with these ridiculous figures, which they claimed would be made available to the public once they are voted back to ‘power’? Why can’t we have the details now? &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Secondly, how come this issue of the number of dead bodies in Motijheel has ever so conveniently disappeared from public debates and TV talk shows? &nbsp; Thirdly, has anyone noticed how the word ‘Islam’ has also vanished after the Hefajat prefix? How is it that none, not even the most virulent of Hefajat supporters and its apologist intellectuals on TV talk shows, has come forward to correct this or demand that it better be uttered ‘the way it was or …</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="87c7582c-7aa7-4851-85ec-32383bb2e155" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9a53dc22-0960-4abf-9ffb-3cfb08ef8da4" grcontextid=".:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">else’? &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And isn’t it also time for some of us to make a case about our very precious ‘religious sentiments’ being hurt by an </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c7d75afb-0a4a-4ec9-a7ce-27fe95b4672c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c85e2aba-a91d-48a4-ab6e-3e017ca10ad8" grcontextid="organisation:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">organisation</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> that claimed it was the ‘</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3b4ab4e0-1fec-4a5f-bf95-ea869c55bb20" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c85e2aba-a91d-48a4-ab6e-3e017ca10ad8" grcontextid="saviour:1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">saviour</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">’ of our religion and the faith of majority Muslims, yet has today dropped the name of Islam altogether? Isn’t the government equally to blame for allowing a bunch of conceited mullahs that appeared out of </span><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3ed3b98d-321b-4fd1-a240-ec20d40ab4b2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7067c08a-9915-4c04-83a7-e6628f9bab1b" grcontextid="quomi:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">quomi</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ff024aa0-9bbb-4d8e-b25d-22855a2100a8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7067c08a-9915-4c04-83a7-e6628f9bab1b" grcontextid="madrassahs:1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">madrassahs</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to ‘misuse Islam’ and its good name? &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The truth is that, closer to election time, we are being fed a barrage of garbage that our ruling-class politicians are not even half serious about. Their only seriousness is grabbing power one way or the other, and it makes sense to use the media to make perfect dunces out of all of us.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, we are left with no options but to gulp all the baits that come our way, while our politicians make merry at our stupidity. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The home minister has for now been exonerated from his demonic and possibly inebriated suggestion that BNP workers shook Rana Plaza hard enough for it to collapse. He is back in the limelight with a bang, for banning political processions and rallies.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It looks for now that a ‘democratic rally may be permitted’, but has to be guaranteed as ‘violence free’. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, who on earth can come up with such a guarantee when time and again we have seen that it is politicians and their low-life moronic thugs who provoke and perpetrate violent incidents that then leads on to </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f34a462a-bc8c-42fa-9609-ecb17e5a35dc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4075c9c6-d3a4-4cc7-b144-569ed7a31c22" grcontextid="hartals:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hartals</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> — and the roulette of deceit continues? &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no end to the dramas we have witnessed and will continue to witness; for, the fact is we are an entertainment starved </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="78231e4f-333c-4405-a5e8-67b09964e935" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4940da79-6452-4203-9e9e-1f4699a6430f" grcontextid="nations:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nations</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, where comedians masquerading as politicians continue to dish out what we want, and do so in extremely poor taste.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet when it comes to fooling the people, they are a class in themselves and should be awarded with </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6732a883-0c42-42dc-aa95-25da2a7f423f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="58085114-581a-47cb-b243-e91cdcc5019c" grcontextid="the biggest:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the biggest</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> medal available anywhere. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Signing off, does anyone recall Savar and our media-driven salivating and frothing at the mouth hysteria when over a thousand corpses were pulled out of the rubbles? &nbsp; Hello! Where is Savar today? Have we even spared a thought for the thousands that survived? How many media </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="00cb2bc9-24ba-48c6-accb-48f7ba2c1750" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1cd81d97-8d3b-4ebc-833e-b849b876e7b6" grcontextid="organisations:0" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">organisations</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> have done any follow-up as to how the families are faring today? Do they still get to eat a decent meal now that the breadwinner is dead? &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>New Age Op-Ed Friday 7th June 2013&nbsp;</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-06-07&amp;nid=51905#.UbDS2edHJFY" target="_blank">Link</a></b></span></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-75830385208695971062013-05-31T08:51:00.001+06:002013-05-31T08:56:37.753+06:00
The Cultural Dimensions to Shahbagh – Part 2
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="397379_10151972798629569_849436990_n.jpg (220×142)" height="258" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/397379_10151972798629569_849436990_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GingerNoCheckStart"></span>by</span> Maqsoodul Haque – Mac</span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>'Capital punishment is society's final assertion that it will not forgive.'</i> Martin Luther King</b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The volatile and demeaning 'atheist' debate was one that no one protesting against the war criminals of 1971 at Shahbagh were mentally prepared to encounter, and thus when vile insinuations were made, it led to shock and an overall sense of panic. Never ever in the innumerable cultural struggles of Bangladesh has one word, one term ever been used with the sort of 'effective viciousness' than what we witnessed in 2013.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More so, it was done unabashedly on a wide brushed premise, meaning not only those that were leading the movement, but anyone seen anywhere near the venue of the protest, or ones that had made their public or remotely private allegiance to Shahbagh was condemned 'atheist'. This was a morass that would prove hard for Shahbagh to wriggle out of easily.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The notion that an unsubstantiated word or its mere usage in public could deter anyone away from the Shahbagh movement is flawed, yet the Jamaat-E-Islami (JeI) devilishly upped the ante by adding more spice by demanding 'death sentence' for 'atheist bloggers'. That was not all; its ally the mainstream opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) trumpeted and provoked this further, by declaring Shahbagh activists as 'atheist and young people with questionable moral character'.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Predictably, the JeI/BNP <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">combine</span> had made up its mind to destroy Shahbagh <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">with</span> means fair and foul, and the opening salvos were not limited to verbosities, but were unrolled with deadly intent. The killing of blogger Rajib Haider on February 15, 2013 by Islamic bigots and the subsequent open support of the BNP to JeI's propaganda reaffirming the deceased supposed 'atheist' credentials, and later <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">hartals</span>, led to several developments that had far reaching consequences.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It revealed for the first time that the BNP had veered away from its known centrist political positioning and moved <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">callously</span> to the extreme far right. The political lines of division were hemmed-in and culturally, citizens again got bogged down on uncertain turfs of 'sensitivity'. Siding with Shahbagh would mean being branded 'atheist', while agreeing with <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">JeI/BNP</span> would not make anyone look any more 'Muslim' then they already are. The hackneyed and debilitating 'politics of identity' once again took <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">centre</span> stage. For the Shahbagh movement these developments were bound to have far-reaching consequences, and ones that will no doubt, go on to shape the national cultural thought process in the years to come.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To the nuts and bolts: by criminalizing the word 'atheist' and then interjecting that the Bloggers had 'insulted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and denigrated the Qu'ran' and demanding the capital punishment likewise, the JeI scored a superlative propaganda victory. Strategically the JeI duo <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">entendre</span> equated 'crimes' of the bloggers, as 'no less', than those of the criminals involved in the genocides of 1971. This meant that the Liberation War and the emergence of Bangladesh as a nation was treacherously trivialized and sidelined with fecund falsities, albeit with a slight difference.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1971 the enemy was 'Hindus', in 2013, geopolitical realities somehow made it necessary for the JeI not to excite or bin the minority community, for the 'powerful <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">neighbour</span>' <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">India</span> would have none of it, and so the term 'atheist' conveniently fitted the bill. For a nation reeling on dosages of both secular and Islamist 'fundamentalist' propaganda for 42 years, the term 'atheist' thus was an unexpected bolt from the blue, leaving many discomfited. When a vernacular daily culled, select yet very disturbing articles, passages and quips from some of the blogs in question, hatred for Shahbagh spread like wildfire.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The damage was done, and allegiance to Shahbagh became a hazardous proposition and one that had a huge risk factor; that of losing limbs or life. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Shahbagh</span> was certainly stymied, but never ever moved out of the public debate domains.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the ill thought out reactions by Shahbagh to the 'atheist' propaganda was pathetically quixotic and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">potently</span> embarrassing. It was a public <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">relation</span> disaster of Himalayan proportions, and if 'damage control' was the intent, it completely backfired. Overnight, all events at Shahbagh began with recitations from the Qu'ran and other religious text, and the leadership finding itself in a quandary, went all out soliciting 'public support' from Alems, Ulemas, Mashayekhs &nbsp;and Maulanas (including one who leads an Eid congregation prayer of over 100,000 Muslims).</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These dubious efforts at sweet talking the clergy and attempts at <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">kosherisation</span> of the movement, led to endless satire and barbs from JeI in social Media. &nbsp;Questioning the Iman (resolve/faith in Allah) the Shahbagh protestors earned a new sobriquet - 'Shah-Bagh'!&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The unrestrained and calculated opposition to Shahbagh led to further erosion of its popularity and credibility, and the crowd turnout every evening started thinning in an unprecedented manner. From a cultural movement with political undertones demanding capital punishment, it moved sharply to that of a theological conflict of dangerous proportions, with the 1971 slogan of 'Islam is in danger' making an ominous comeback.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The seesaw of Shahbagh's fortune saw its first casualty with the AL Government which piggybacked on the movement because it served its partisan agenda, imminently distancing itself. The pro-Government <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">medias</span>, reduced their presence from 24/7 coverage to occasional reporting's. Men in Che Guevara T-Shirt and beret, and women with heavy makeovers posing for Facebook profile pictures, or the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">medias</span> probing cameras were nowhere to be seen. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Shahbagh</span> overnight became a 'un-cool' venue for elitist revolutionary wannabes! <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Shahbagh</span> activists were beginning to look like abandoned orphans, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">than</span> the rebels who had challenged the status quo weeks ago, heralding a much-desired change in the peoples mindsets.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon anti-Shahbagh public debates raged leaving the protestors continuously cornered. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">JeI</span> used all capacities at its disposal to tire out the protestors. The activist's defense rarely made national news, and was limited to slinging profanity filled 'battles' on Facebook and other social <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">medias</span>, which rages on as I write. &nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are however specific issues here which went unaddressed:</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no denying that many among the Shahbagh leaders were atheist, and the movements faced its first crisis specifically through 'guilt by association', as well as explicit denials of the allegations by activists. This primarily belied their honesty and sincerity of purpose, leaving them open to scrutiny of supporters and sympathizers.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Together, their extremely weak defense, inadequate knowledge of grass root culture, religion, theology or political Islam made the Shahbagh leadership look like amateurs in the public eye. The proverbial 'heat' was on and there was to be no respite. With the government choosing to ignore their sets of demands – including a ban on JeI, the disappointment, dissensions and conflict within Shahbagh surfaced and escalated with a faction going on fast unto death strike.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The core point here is the erosion of support to Shahbagh amply demonstrates that while our culture is liberal and has a wide degree of tolerance to many belief systems in its midst; it never had a huge appetite for atheism. Thus, when the 'atheist' label was wholesale tagged to Shahbagh, the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">blowback</span> was predictably inevitable. Complicating the equation, Shahbagh made no efforts at distancing itself from a handful of atheist in their midst, giving the movement a bad name, and one that was unnecessary.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That said, whether Bangladesh has the space for agnostics or atheist in its populace is a debate for a later date. However if disbelief in God constitutes 'atheism', in Buddhism (thought to be the oldest religion in Bangladesh), where the concept of 'God' as understood by theist or monotheist is non-existent, the word 'atheism' needs to be defined by authorities, and its criminal abuse prevented as forcefully as possible. Anything short of that, will lead to a cultural catastrophe in Bangladesh and Shahbagh was an indicator, as how close we were <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> it.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it comes to 'hurting religious sentiments' &nbsp;it wasn't the bloggers in question that were responsible, but the planned provocation by a couple of vernacular dailies funded by vested interest, who lifted materials off these blogs and made them public, that prompted bloody riots in the streets. The dailies were not sued by anyone, not even by the government for spreading incendiary hate.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Considerable political capital had to be made through <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">confusion</span>, and by distracting the public's intense concentration away from war crimes trial on <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">part</span> of the JeI/BNP on the one hand, on the other, paving an opportunity for the government of the day to undertake draconian measures on law enforcement matters was successfully completed. Those measures were initiated not just to punish JeI/BNP – but in effect jackknife and compromise public liberty space, with the façade of 'democracy' remaining on track, and on course!</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Part of the misunderstood legacy of Shahbagh and the criticisms/opposition it faced other than those explained above, is the movement was conceived on a huge paradox. While it called itself a 'non-violent movement', its demands for the capital punishment <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> War Criminals of 1971 did not gel well with its implied pacifist agenda. &nbsp;For Shahbagh activists in Europe and North America it was a hard sell proposition. That the western media completely ignored a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">peoples</span> uprising no less significant than Tahrir Square in Cairo, was because demands for capital punishment could never be explained to anybody's satisfaction.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, Shahbagh simply had no other options available than taking a hard line, given the political <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">establishments</span> role in the last 42 years to delay and derail the War Crimes Trial process. The crimes of 1971 had to remain focused and in the public eye at all times, and demands for capital punishment was the only weapon available within <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">purview</span> of existing laws, to ensure that justice was delivered. Demanding the death penalty is after all legitimate in Bangladesh.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As far as transparency and code of conduct of the International War Crimes Tribunal is concerned, it was never free of controversy in as much as any other court set up anywhere in the world for similar crimes. Yet, regardless of critics and conspiracy theories abounding in Bangladesh, it is no secret that JeI has any dearth of funding, and for long sought counsel of expensive criminal lawyers in the UK and the US.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hence, big money and dangerous power play would no doubt lead to a protracted trial process with stakeholders of different shades within and outside the government, as well as shady vested interest having a fair run of the mill – is not unexpected, as newer developments will indicate.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The uniqueness of Shahbagh weighed heavily, as it was cultural motivation of the young, with relentless days and nights spent <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">sloganeering</span>, that created a bulwark of popular passion and a resistance that opened up a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">pandora</span> box of surprises!</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deceptive elements of 42 years were unmasked at a scale hitherto unseen. From politicians, businessmen, intellectuals, cultural activist, clergy, government functionaries, freedom fighters <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">etc</span> the list is long and continues to grow. The Shahbagh movement saw a bewildering array of characters previously hiding behind one façade or the other, being exposed and chastised as 'national enemies'.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">days</span> wore on, more confirmations came in as evidence, as these elements unable to fathom the cultural dimensions to Shahbagh started losing their credibility every time they opened their mouth in public. &nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our political Mafia for long had never looked at any opposition worthy of being taken seriously. Our political culture had embraced the 'strange bedfellows' proposition to the extent that any initiative to hold war crimes trials have been marked with buffoonery that has been disgraceful to the victims of 1971, as well as to their families.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For far too long the young of Bangladesh have been ignored, and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">grey</span> haired intellectuals or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">fossilsed</span> politicians have relentlessly lied and cheated on issues of national aspirations. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">Shahbagh</span> is just not a cultural movement. It is a generational revolt that commenced on 5th February 2013, and one unlikely to end in the short run. On the long run, any efforts at scuttling the movement by any quarter will lead on to an explosion, like of which we are unprepared as a nation to cope with.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">…</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct">to</span> be continued</span></i></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Age, Shock &amp; Awe Talk</span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday, 31st May 2013</span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/supliment.php?sid=242&amp;id=1747"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Link</span></a></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To read Part 1 of this essay click on this <b><a href="http://tpoi.blogspot.com/2013/05/new-age-xtra-cultural-dimensions-to.html#links">link</a></b> :&nbsp;</span></div></div><span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-77513495369849194772013-05-29T02:30:00.000+06:002013-05-29T02:30:00.523+06:00
Of terrorism and the US Ambassador
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PIA2mTJP5Y/UaUQKon_HaI/AAAAAAAAB-k/XlrY3ttcWZA/s1600/lungi+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PIA2mTJP5Y/UaUQKon_HaI/AAAAAAAAB-k/XlrY3ttcWZA/s400/lungi+us.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7fa928dc-8f41-46d0-af61-5bfb660b4637" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="82a3807f-3ad4-4404-a6c6-35fada45fd19" grcontextid="by:0">by</span> Mac Haque</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>If deterrence is the avowed principle of civil conduct, the US should take the lead in helping Bangladesh eliminate ‘democratic terrorist’ and dismantle their playing field. Stripped off their known source of evil power, the US ambassador will then not have to expend too much energy convincing our politicians to sit together for decent talks. Simply put, the US idea of firing <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="085ce306-4b48-484b-9bfe-9a81867e15d1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2d093c73-72c5-4b43-a0c4-40ca69e8a7ba" grcontextid="canons:0">canons</span> to disperse imaginary flies is too hazardous a proposition for Bangladesh to undertake, writes Mac Haque</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>"Americans no longer fight to keep their shores safe,</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Just to keep the jobs going <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3774141b-78ae-4288-a524-7e0f2700463c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="be46e763-b400-40c8-9a21-fb466c889e9d" grcontextid="in:0">in</span> the arms making <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b79787f9-1256-4aff-a6d7-deecfbce9f82" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="be46e763-b400-40c8-9a21-fb466c889e9d" grcontextid="work place:1">work place</span>.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Then they pretend to be gripped by some sort of political reflex,</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>But all they’re doing is paying dues to the Military Industrial Complex."</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gil-Scott Heron (1949-2011),&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Working for Peace, 1994</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE word ‘terrorism’ strikes a fear deep into our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="10b67965-d508-4862-96c0-66694ab81912" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="999d489c-7a4e-42ea-aedf-3bb3315d45a9" grcontextid="heart:0">heart</span> and whenever it is uttered, by responsible officials of the United States government in its heavily unipolar role as a world policeman, the perceived ‘threat’ to us here in Bangladesh does get all the more pronounced.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so it was on <a href="http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-05-17&amp;nid=49419#.UZbg4aJHKAw" target="_blank">May 17 that a New Age report</a> quoted the US ambassador Dan W Mozena as saying&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘This [terrorism] is our shared enemy, one which confronts us, all of us around the world who cherish freedom and democracy… Bangladesh is developing a capacity to create a whole of government response to increase the effectiveness in fighting terrorism.’</i></span></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the surface, it seems perfectly all right for Bangladesh to go for effective capacity building of its men in uniform, even better if this is paid for by a superpower such as the US. It means our fighting force have <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8a7f9882-7635-434a-8617-df55f362b366" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b1014532-ea06-483a-bb97-c4452f2a2af4" grcontextid="first world expertise:0">first world expertise</span>, weapons, logistics and equipments in place to handle any exigencies that may come along, with or without warning.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet, on the flip side, it merits a deeper thought whether ‘terrorism’ as defined by the US at all exists in Bangladesh? Is a first world solution desirable for problems in a third world country like Bangladesh? Culturally, is the Bengali race game to Rambo-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f558b2e1-fe1d-4c86-ba57-5d671579273d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f820003d-ec0c-4cfa-b24a-29273cfabc71" grcontextid="esque:0">esque</span> trigger-happy, heavily-armed members of law enforcement, who, at taxpayers’ expense, can be misused to brutally suppress its people and the same spirit of ‘freedom and democracy’ that the US ‘cherishes’?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fundamentally, what is ‘terrorism’ that the US defines, understands or even ‘fights’, and what does it imply when it is called a ‘shared problem’?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The answer for now to all of the above is ‘we do not know’!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The definition of ‘terrorism’, a relic of the Bushonian ‘war on terror’, has two all encompassing parameters in US foreign policies, unrolled since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly, the all-powerful ‘invisible enemy’ has been al-Qaeda. Yet, after years of ‘fighting’ them and then the elimination by US Special Forces of its <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="30544ada-e294-4502-82d1-cbe9406573b3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d29c1f5e-50d8-48e6-b9c2-979881837eab" grcontextid="supremo:0">supremo</span> Osama Bin Laden, in Pakistan in May 2011, we are being led to believe that ‘resurgent ghosts’ have the infinite global capacity to hit back.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The US appears for now to be our credible <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7fc3116c-8448-4299-92cc-c14f8fe47b8c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="de6bf129-66be-4374-a281-37eab4cfbeee" grcontextid="saviour:0">saviour</span>, and have the ‘requisite skills’ to bail us out on terms that suits them. Sure enough, like Hollywood, it will, of course, be the US that will come to save the world ‘at the very last minute’!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Secondly, as the US helps corrupt and foot-licking governments such as Bangladesh build its ‘terrorist fighting capabilities’, it consciously avoids the term Islamic or Muslim as a prefix before the word ‘terrorism’, for good reasons.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It does not like to be perceived as an ‘enemy of Islam’ and for Bangladesh which it branded post 2001 with a ridiculously <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fab9d599-2f10-466f-b21d-361911c92545" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a1c6f989-e88e-40a9-8658-910cb3c59944" grcontextid="patronising:0">patronising</span> term ‘moderate Muslim country’, the inference is that it is a ‘maybe’ situation; ideally a hunch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That done, it creates the perfect opportunity to subtly hammer in the fear psychosis that ‘extremist Muslim <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dda934c2-712b-4703-841d-afc1410a7370" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3971a871-75a8-4191-92ba-61d9af27f7e9" grcontextid="maybes’:0">maybes’</span> are lurking excessively close for our comfort. That Islam is Islam and there is simply no space for ‘terrorism’ in the religion has been jettisoned from the popular imagination for now.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The odd lessons from the closing years of the last century tells us, it is the US that creates these ‘terrorist Muslims’ in the first place and then goes out hunting them down. The footprint of such groups is spread out all the way from the occupied West Bank in West Asia to Afghanistan and Pakistan.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Eastern Europe, it has been much of the same; however, in Bangladesh while the story ‘may be’ identical, reality checks reveal perceivably sinister agendas of stakeholders that harp upon the US-induced fear psychosis for profits.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example, if we make a comparison of trans-national or even ‘global terrorist groups’ to those in Bangladesh, the sanest deduction would be; we have none worth the mention that is a threat either to the state or the public. The images or evidence of heavily armed men in outfits like Hezbollah, Taliban or Lashkar-e-Taiba, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="44627281-4e5c-49d5-8646-63cab92f2dd4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="448e3282-ba19-4b41-bf78-1ed3281aa3e6" grcontextid="etc:0">etc</span>, has not been seen — not even for once — and all ‘terrorist incidents’ that we get to read about or see on TV are laughable.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We get a fair dose of ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5a904b25-e979-407b-a9c4-ac99f9800e9d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5decc7c1-0eba-48d1-ae8e-b69b9955ad1a" grcontextid="jihadi:0">jihadi</span>’ arrest stories, but what do our law enforcements present as factual evidence? Columns in newspapers are printed laced with lies about ‘captured terrorist camps’ where the arsenal <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="17e4e93a-fea5-473b-b578-a05f199d2ba5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="38807ca8-a69c-4fcc-b005-6fb6f20e3992" grcontextid="are:0">are</span> no more than ‘dummy rifles’, machetes, daggers, knives, batteries, flashlights, and ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c1c7ae7d-dad0-4981-8bfe-fda1f18a17c8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="38807ca8-a69c-4fcc-b005-6fb6f20e3992" grcontextid="jihadi:1">jihadi</span>’ materials and books, etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes ‘bomb making materials’ are noticeable in seizure lists, but then these ‘dangerous materials’ are available anywhere in most grocery, commercial chemicals or hardware shops.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Essentially, ‘terrorism’ in Bangladesh on the US scheme of things is a hoax of unbelievable proportions and has a legacy tag. It is true that there were many Bangladeshi volunteers in the two Afghan conflicts, the first between 1979 and 1989 against the Soviet invasion, and the second against the US invasion in 2001 that is yet ongoing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the actual numbers of Bangladeshi volunteers to both ‘jihads’ have always been grossly exaggerated and there are no records whatsoever of any of them being in active combat, or of anyone being killed in action.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bengali volunteers to Afghanistan fought no ‘jihad’. They were menial support staff <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0b25e79c-0a83-4bf5-8799-aa986ab1417d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="97e2a2fa-3a65-41b2-969b-1783a066490c" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> war efforts and their roles were limited to that of cooks, butlers, toilet cleaners, porters, messengers, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="edba907b-229b-4b3c-a2e0-e81728a426e1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="97e2a2fa-3a65-41b2-969b-1783a066490c" grcontextid="etc:1">etc</span>, no different from poor Bengalis that go to West Asia to earn hard cash.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, the propaganda of apparently ‘battle hardened Afghan war veterans’ poised to threaten a ‘bloody jihad’ in Bangladesh is used by rogue elements within our own intelligence services to keep the US interested, and its funds for covert activities to flow freely.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The headline <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="314e4762-d66f-47b4-9721-563a278fcecf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e89def7a-67a4-40af-8ac4-b9ded643b03a" grcontextid="screaming:0">screaming</span> ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="03607b8e-fc14-43ba-ae89-0340db60c62d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e89def7a-67a4-40af-8ac4-b9ded643b03a" grcontextid="jihadis’:1">jihadis’</span> of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh is a focal point for our clearer understanding. The precursor to the JMB was Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh, formed in 1998 allegedly with government and intelligence services largesse, to create a buffer with the aim of curtailing Naxalite (Maoist) insurgencies in northern Bangladesh.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By 2005 the monster was allowed to grow to an extent that in August the outfit carried out a ‘terrorist attack’ when 500 ‘bombs’ went off simultaneously in 300 locations all across Bangladesh.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, as far as the synchronicity of the attacks is concerned, it hardly became obvious in the days that followed, that it could have been done without an intelligence agency overseeing of the same.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were only two fatalities, yet security analysts have always been <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f024897b-7806-410e-8144-8022137c0295" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="86763d3e-1337-48e4-a10a-841fa2dd95c5" grcontextid="sceptical:0">sceptical</span> about the size, shape and effectiveness of these ‘bombs’. In reality, they were ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fc019378-4cd9-440b-bf90-e5568cb12b65" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9e5f9935-c7e4-4f0d-bd28-efc71c06cefd" grcontextid="potkas’:0">potkas’</span> or firecrackers, and much more ‘powerful’ explosives go off in the US during 4th of July celebrations!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The background to the rise of the JMB and the ‘bomb attacks’ is sordid, yet interesting. After being in a denial mode of any ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e434c84e-56df-4cc6-ad5e-f11a27f231b5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="fed9eb39-2272-4cc7-85b0-bcd00bf24f3f" grcontextid="jihadi:0">jihadi</span> threats’ for years since it was installed in power in 2001, the then government of Bangladesh Nationalist Party capitulated to US whims and officially joined in the ‘war on terror’. ‘Jihad’ entered our vocabulary and it was amazing to see the spin doctoring that the media <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3382f5bd-fb4d-4846-8a38-f67f55af26eb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="691ca041-4440-45bb-a9db-13e6ed87bc5d" grcontextid="was lasciviously indulging:0">was lasciviously indulging</span> in.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were several important developments before the BNP’s change of tack and position on the ‘war on terror’. By the end of 2003, top political functionaries of the government and the intelligence services were making frequent trips to the US, and it is possible that a curt ‘get <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="abfb0be9-428c-4487-8ac8-2a05574b5260" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d8bf1d20-6d1f-4fee-902a-014bfec283ea" grcontextid="em:0">em</span> bombs <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1bc36e02-1c4b-4b89-ba37-78d35add0eea" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d8bf1d20-6d1f-4fee-902a-014bfec283ea" grcontextid="goin:1">goin</span>, and jihad slogans up and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="87d0277b-a47b-4844-8797-a53817d2a14c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d8bf1d20-6d1f-4fee-902a-014bfec283ea" grcontextid="runnin:2">runnin</span>’ instruction was whispered.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sure enough, ‘jihad’ phobia drowned out <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0ff7cf70-954f-4baf-9ff4-286229b84cf1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="25a6236b-1940-4c11-8934-53213c2bde53" grcontextid="calls:0">calls</span> and pleas for reason. Enough greenbacks were on offer, and coming from the United States of Arrogance, very few would have the guts to refuse.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bangladesh apparently needed ‘fighting capabilities’ for this shady, shadowy ‘enemy’ and top line weapons, surveillance and communication devices had to be sourced. That our military does a commendable job in UN peacekeeping missions anywhere in the world was selectively deleted from public memory and pressures also mounted on the BNP government <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="39577ada-d5c4-43eb-b188-76665fd4d8de" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f3cab0f6-efa2-4680-88b1-062cbcb59b60" grcontextid="from:0">from</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b0b1a74e-f25e-4d5f-8bcc-b50a00727ed4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f3cab0f6-efa2-4680-88b1-062cbcb59b60" grcontextid="neighbouring:1">neighbouring</span> India.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With Jamaat-e-Islami as a coalition partner, things weren’t easy because India wanted a greater role in South Asia in the US-led ‘war on terror’. The greens could not be refused for too long and neither was the greedy BNP government willing to share it with others, so another hoax on massive proportions was perpetrated.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It happened on all fools day of April 2004.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like pages from a John <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f4e81b27-0378-4e35-9b7a-764c0389a2a8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="041121b1-0487-4cfc-9ba3-3ae295f0a63f" grcontextid="le:0">le</span> Carré novel, phantom ships carrying deadly weapons and explosives that could fill ten trucks floated into the Chittagong Port mysteriously and were discharging their wares, when <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="799d01d8-6379-40f8-b994-cea87429e546" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="041121b1-0487-4cfc-9ba3-3ae295f0a63f" grcontextid="alarm bells:1">alarm bells</span> went off. It was to be the biggest haul of sophisticated weapons in the history of Bangladesh, and the array on display was of a like that was never seen before, not even by the thoroughly baffled men in uniform.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speculations ran rife that the consignment was either smuggled into Bangladesh by Islamic ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d980ad92-46ea-405c-b23a-67770f27112f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6046cb2f-f02b-40e3-8d17-041b0a52ffa3" grcontextid="jihadist:0">jihadist</span>’ or on the way to Northeast India. Specifically, the name of the insurgent group United Liberation Front of Asom featured as the prime recipient. Both allegations greatly embarrassed the BNP as it exposed ‘cat out of the bag’ that the BNP supported ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4bf6b589-e9a1-455e-b3ad-af336a0041a8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a43f0fcc-ed82-448d-b17d-8e0ba5ac3d7d" grcontextid="jihadi:0">jihadi</span>’ militants and Indian insurgents in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0aa05c0b-01af-44a1-b848-08d6489930e4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a43f0fcc-ed82-448d-b17d-8e0ba5ac3d7d" grcontextid="combi:1">combi</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In court, as of today, the latter, i.e. ULFA, is the prime accused, yet it seems improbable that an insurgent group would take such a massive risk in transporting weapons and explosives without being detected. In all possibilities, it was corrupt and rogue elements within the Bangladesh intelligence services that purchased the weapons from the international black market.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The origins of the weapons were a mix of Chinese and European, yet some intelligence reports at the time nailed this as being shipped from Belgium. The US surprisingly made no ‘big <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="33a1d033-587f-48e9-b211-329dcdd815de" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ccdc1a49-6408-40dc-ba8c-964346a04aa3" grcontextid="noise:0">noise</span>’ about the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a90ff25c-4d04-4eb7-9dce-0673e9013aa5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ccdc1a49-6408-40dc-ba8c-964346a04aa3" grcontextid="haul:1">haul</span>, nor was it ever considered a likely ‘villain’.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ultimate beneficiaries of the weapons and explosive were the newly formed US-trained anti-terrorist force, the ‘elite’ Rapid Action Battalion. Pointer: RAB <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0ac5865d-5fd6-4fd3-af3a-3a5a593d9b82" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f712c09f-b0d8-4295-b7b1-5962d755d047" grcontextid="was:0">was</span> officially formed just a week before the haul, and were armed to the teeth and ready for action just two weeks after the haul!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The less said about how the RAB was later used in violating citizens’ liberty and human rights, the better, and under Indo-US pressure, the JMB was dismantled by the force, and the ‘jihad leaders’ arrested. However, in the many years, none of JMB’s supposed ‘100,000 heavily armed cadre’ were ever arrested, although occasionally the media <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="871add07-8f78-4545-a4ba-23d842ab0f06" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ff951d96-83d5-4cc4-a3a0-cf8a0967668d" grcontextid="does write:0">does write</span> stories about them ‘regrouping’ and imminent attacks.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The execution of the JMB ‘leaders’ by the military-installed, US-backed caretaker government in 2007 put to rest any further speculation on this ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="89a69dd8-d1e8-4448-b971-058a2f97f2a3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="69417015-c3ed-4d4a-aa1d-3e513345ddf4" grcontextid="jihadi:0">jihadi</span>’ outfit. It would have been nice to hear their part of the story had they <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5db734df-a428-4d52-9cf2-1b0b2f51faad" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="94c3a11b-f5e5-46d0-aa86-9efa5f72f1fc" grcontextid="been produced:0">been produced</span> before the media, a demand they pleaded immediately after their arrest, but one that was succinctly denied to them.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Concisely, the rise of JMB and their ‘terrorist attacks’ was nothing more than ‘false flag attacks’ in security parlance.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That brings us to the question; what is ‘terrorism’ in the Bangladesh parameter of reality?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">‘Terrorism’ in Bangladesh has traditionally been used by all ‘democratic’ parties whenever it vies for power. There are endless small bomb attacks, killing of law enforcers, arson and mayhems where the citizens have to pay the ultimate price in life and limbs, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="21c82fb0-b936-4f85-beca-51b5e001f446" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="106648d4-5b8b-4068-af13-e5b0c01e1fd7" grcontextid="in:0">in</span> losses of job opportunities. The list is formidably long.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, as ‘democratic’ as our parties or leaders may pretend to be, they covertly fund and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="96751d44-5e20-40f0-b69b-52530db50417" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="22315c76-2e7c-4fcf-bd1b-d9f5b87c6124" grcontextid="patronise:0">patronise</span> professional agitators, yet nationwide the number of ‘democratic terrorist’ will not exceed a thousand individuals at the most. If Bangladesh has at all to restore a semblance of decency and propriety, US actions at ‘building fighting capabilities’ should be <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8be7003d-3a8b-4669-a70d-7265db76d42f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d9ce5e3c-ef2f-46e3-acde-19f9dd7dd0e2" grcontextid="readdressed:0">readdressed</span> in fighting these ‘terrorist’ elements — and not the ones implied in their ‘war on terror’.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fundamentally, the Islamist or al-Qaeda imitators pose no immediate risk or threat whatsoever because the base of our secular culture rooted in Sufi Islam, and our experience <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d7667f8d-621d-4719-b4bb-1dcd108b8443" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c7d0de65-f3d4-4af6-b5ac-4e02cba29d76" grcontextid="at:0">at</span> ‘fighting’ Islamic terrorist and bigots is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, our cultural resistance to bigotry of any form has a history of over 400 years, and one the US may be <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dcf6065b-0ed1-432d-bec7-f6cb68b65b50" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="87d140a7-35e5-4938-858e-631bec523eda" grcontextid="conveniently:0">conveniently</span> or blissfully unaware of, as it malevolently propels stooges to ultimate power to sell killing machines produced by its military-industrial complex.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The real danger to all that is happening in Bangladesh is reflected in issues of recent times.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Propelling Taliban wannabes in the shape of Hefajat have been ascribed to US ‘assets’ working closely to dangerously <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c1f2c49e-16ff-4b5a-ac4c-a3c0aa3c07e8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3293f15a-5fe1-43b0-b6a8-343ca63bbcae" grcontextid="destabilise:0">destabilise</span> Bangladesh and put to test its secular and liberal credentials. If true, this is most regrettable for essentially groups like <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bbcbfcf5-8d46-417d-9c89-8837dce18974" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="30cf4be1-053d-46ea-963e-f8a76622ad1e" grcontextid="Hefajat border:0">Hefajat border</span> on the insane fringe, and neither have the popular democratic mandate of the people, nor are they socially or even religiously a remotely acceptable entity.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That Bangladesh can and will use brute force in evicting these unwanted elements as witnessed, from a city square on May 5, is no indicator <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a3fa3857-81cf-4d42-9e9d-03c95a5b3f53" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="548d8834-010c-457d-884b-66e06e9df4f5" grcontextid="or:0">or</span> success of US ‘capacity building’, but the demonstration of the people’s resolve at zero-tolerance for bigoted <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="146f4237-8c41-4752-8e5a-282d41a893e2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="548d8834-010c-457d-884b-66e06e9df4f5" grcontextid="adventurisms:1">adventurisms</span> of any form.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, the US more than helping Bangladesh develop ‘terrorist fighting capabilities’ should improve upon their own inadequate cultural capacities, and importantly take lessons on Islam as in Bangladesh. It is not exactly the cup of tea dished out by the media and is markedly dissimilar from the Islam of Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan or Pakistan.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If deterrence is the avowed principle of civil conduct, the US should take the lead in helping Bangladesh eliminate ‘democratic terrorist’ and dismantle their playing field. Stripped off their known source of evil power, the US ambassador will then not have to expend too much energy convincing our politicians to sit together for decent talks.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simply put, the US idea of firing <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="737b2249-fcd9-4a90-9d92-0e6e817dc27d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6d449bff-dbb5-42a2-b74b-12484ee564e5" grcontextid="canons:0">canons</span> to disperse imaginary flies is too hazardous a proposition for Bangladesh to undertake.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>New Age Sub Editorial Wednesday, 29th May 2013</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-05-29&amp;nid=50748#.UaTzYdJHJFY" target="_blank">Link</a></b></span></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-75600356975280482702013-05-17T01:03:00.001+06:002013-05-17T01:09:38.885+06:00
The Cultural Dimensions to Shahbagh – Part 1
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/260351_10151943375564569_39320184_n.jpg" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><span class="" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9a2d0670-a9ba-483b-ac79-43d77bb983dd" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="db7aa27a-c22d-4a94-aec5-050fba0f373b" grcontextid="by:0">by</span>&nbsp;Mac Haque</span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'</i></b> <b>–Margaret Mead</b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a little over one hundred days that the protest in Shahbagh commenced and in the intervening, the movement has had its fair share of bouquets and brickbats, in fact more of the latter than the former. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0936cde1-b570-443c-8943-b3ee3ce35ea4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5287a5dc-7041-401b-83f9-69aff4287d1b" grcontextid="Shahbagh:0">Shahbagh</span> nonetheless represents a significant cultural statement in the history of Bangladesh and will be studied closely for times to come.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite all the partisan politics that has no doubt sullied the movement's image and made it lose its initial appeal and credibility, history will record the mass movement for its sheer uniqueness in encapsulating a civilian resistance strategy and non-violent uprising of the people. &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What started out as an expression of collective contempt on the Qader Mollah verdict of 5th February 2013, became a phenomenon that morphed and gripped our imagination in ways we had not witnessed in our forty-two years as a nation.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was the actors that made all the difference, and that in itself was a pleasant surprise. The young with no direct connections to 1971, and who were born years after the momentous period in our history, were among the first to cry foul, and took to the streets to demand that the War Criminals be given stiffer penalties, which by implication meant capital punishment or, the death penalty.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The leniency displayed by the International War Crimes Tribunal (ICT) verdict of a life sentence to Mollah, shocked not only the 'youthful' protestors, but also the nation as a whole. Divided as the nation may have been due to intense political <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="22019bcf-8e7d-46d9-9832-1f7c0df8af8b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6c158dcc-92f0-4b58-b0fc-d68d1f113693" grcontextid="polarisations:0">polarisations</span> of forty-two years, on this one i.e. War Crimes of 1971 and punishments, there was no visible crack evident in the unity and resolve of the citizenry, the majority.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, whether or not, capital punishment was broadly acceptable was up for conjectures and debates.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cultural call that the War Criminals had eluded us and lived within our midst for long, together with the haunting memories of martyrs meant; justice was not merely to be 'demanded', but guaranteed - and the only safeguard available was mass people's participation.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, post the verdict on February 5, the first frantic calls urging people to take to the streets were made aggressively on social networks and citizen's forum by vanguard activists, who constituted common denominators. This was also a very loud and clear signal that people had lost all their faith and trust on politicians.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8b02252b-9ca6-49be-8890-8408bde52a03" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="360b8963-bce0-4df8-bdcd-43cdfb90e30d" grcontextid="sceptics:0">sceptics</span> on the other hand, it appeared as another 'human chain' effort in the offing, which amounted to no more than a handful of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d8dd6d9e-b6b0-44b3-81e0-276a6409f4cd" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="360b8963-bce0-4df8-bdcd-43cdfb90e30d" grcontextid="protestors:1">protestors</span> lining up for photo-opportunities outside the perimeters of Press Club, and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e558b9bd-1134-48bd-8a1c-c8c10796dc9d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="360b8963-bce0-4df8-bdcd-43cdfb90e30d" grcontextid="ones:2">ones</span> we see almost regularly in newspapers every day!&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the reaction to this particular call was awe inspiring and unprecedented for several reasons. Firstly, the call was not made by any political party or 'leaders' worth the salt. Secondly, the nation had suffered enough of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="78261380-80f7-4dab-a7af-e973507c7b46" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="738096ee-9a54-48f1-8aef-73d23d8a9ecb" grcontextid="destabilisations:0">destabilisations</span> whenever it attempted with any sincerity to address the issue of the 'original sins' beguiling the nation. This was a breath of fresh air in a long time with hope and a potent ingredient.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tough actions from the people <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6c890f11-e35c-42b5-9b3d-4b6cc1fba4d1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d16b0a5a-d6f5-4526-b77f-7290bb196d38" grcontextid="themselves:0">themselves</span> were therefore the only way to push aside sections of our corrupt politicians, greedy elite and vested interest – and pave the way for the will of the people to prevail and Shahbagh was born with citizens in thousands besieging it.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That 'will' in effect meant the movement had to by default, acquire an apolitical status of credibility, no easy bargain as subsequent events unfolding saw political parties and vested interest <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d6fef151-898e-4e15-8aa1-eb604f8f14a2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bbda7741-55e2-467e-bea6-e0265e23d806" grcontextid="piggy-backing:0">piggy-backing</span> not to take the movement forward, but to dent and scuttle it from within – in the classic Bengali panache for treachery.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those that suffered the horrors of 1971, there have been consistent demands for a rigid stand, which of course no political party had the temerity to express. People's hatred for the war criminals multiplied; many had been rehabilitated into society and some even went on to become powerful Government functionaries using many a cunning ruse, and exploiting our deep divide.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The unease and reluctance of politicians <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e008a4ac-3830-48e1-8251-01368b4a4fa8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="016c6658-78a0-4893-be1f-67798e27f130" grcontextid="to try:0">to try</span> the war criminals had an overriding package of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bfc93185-e66f-46d9-8990-50a42d8299c7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="016c6658-78a0-4893-be1f-67798e27f130" grcontextid="scare:1">scare</span>. The criminals belonged to the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) party, and as in 1971, they used religion in their agenda whenever the 'vexed issue' appeared in the public domain. No political party aligned with secular ideals could in any way stand up to the bigots, who had the capacity to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c0c5424d-5621-40a0-842d-0d993186cde5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7ba6477f-f276-4070-90c9-6145aae1c7fd" grcontextid="mould:0">mould</span> public opinion with blatant and deadly scare tactics.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the centrist BNP meanwhile allied with the JeI and formed a Government in 2001, the divide was complete, with turfs of liberal and secular leaning parties, and those of the centrist and far right clearly delineated.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, take it or leave it, it was the Awami League (AL) and its Leftist secular allies that has always been stridently vocal on the issue of War Crimes, even though their consistency and seriousness wobbled many a times, given political expediencies. A classic example of this is the AL/BNP and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d4136cb6-fa79-4808-8c57-b6bbf6275e10" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="67020787-490f-4291-863b-df5756fd3c31" grcontextid="JeI:0">JeI</span> were a joint alliance in the agitations that overthrew the military dictator General Ershad in 1990! And again, Al-Jamaat alliance against <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="72a54dfc-2212-4c36-b797-319fe23990c1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ebe2ab6d-c316-43e5-aeaa-54b59dff3e37" grcontextid="BNP government:0">BNP government</span> for securing Constitutional provision for <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4d92d558-a2bf-41fd-9e51-912a3c38b447" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ebe2ab6d-c316-43e5-aeaa-54b59dff3e37" grcontextid="non-party caretaker government:1">non-party caretaker government</span> in the early 1990s.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, it was the promise by AL to try war criminals that led to its massive landslide victory in polls 2009. Riding on a crest of support, they snatched a 'brutal majority' and that was all because of active participation of young, first time voters, the likes of which are now besieging Shahbagh.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e1a4878d-157d-47f1-b5fe-47e4e9cb57a7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="832de073-1c65-4ea0-bc4f-cb999ec9cf44" grcontextid="Shahbagh:0">Shahbagh</span> was therefore unique for the young had touched upon a very sensitive nerve of the nation at a particularly important juncture in our history. While the ICT was erected and got fully functional with one verdict already in its cap, the Qader Mollah verdict led to mass speculations that elements within the Awami League had sold out to the nemesis of 1971.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those suspicions were not without reasons. That black money and muscles fuel politics in Bangladesh was no longer a 'secret'.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c3b2b09b-f9dc-4398-a52a-98a930c579cc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d93ce419-e283-4840-858d-312575b58646" grcontextid="Shahbagh:0">Shahbagh</span> on the one hand was an anti-Government protest against a well-entrenched and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1ce690b2-5224-4eb5-8231-a92ddcbf3d1b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d93ce419-e283-4840-858d-312575b58646" grcontextid="publicised:1">publicised</span> pro-Government agenda, yet on the other, it was an expression of resentment to the slipshod manner of the ICT's conduct, and the citizen's revolt therefore surprised not only the Awami League, but also the Opposition BNP and its allies JeI.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was therefore predictable that the BNP/JeI combined would go ballistic in their accusation that Shahbagh was an 'AL drama' to influence and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="699721df-5ec8-47ee-ba67-2ce78669b7e9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="23cb1ef3-70f6-4e02-b30e-e67162d9c0ca" grcontextid="pressurise:0">pressurise</span> the ICT. Those hiccups were inevitable because demands for War Crimes Trials in so many years have always been shunted to the sidelines with political polemics that have come and gone with 'changed times' and/or prerogatives of those who have been in or out of power.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, even as the many student fronts of the AL and leftist political parties marched upon Shahbagh on February 5, they <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="eb5c68ad-d000-4d5b-9f2d-1aaaa92dbcb1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9f5cf3b0-ccf2-42ad-80f1-1861da8a0944" grcontextid="realised:0">realised</span> in no time that the demography of the 'new protestors' were unique, and one hitherto unseen.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good senses prevailed, and with all political banners quickly folded, the movement went 'pro-people' and viral. Common people, and that did not mean only students who have traditionally been at <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2fce572a-5e34-457d-85dd-d6828e52676f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="73456910-a248-40df-9efb-12f09876e3ce" grcontextid="front lines:0">front lines</span> of any socio-political movement in Bangladesh, but the cross section of the citizenry thronged Shahbagh to chant slogans and stayed there until they were heard.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The subsequent days were rapturous with TV channels beaming non-stop happenings at the hastily erected Gonojagoron Mancha (mass awakening stage) as much as print media went overdrive in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e72051b7-fdd6-4075-bb76-3c5cc7c23af4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="525e6f24-f00a-4ab6-977e-59681d9d3f12" grcontextid="eulogising:0">eulogising</span> the young, the inspired, and the intelligent who have taken a defiant stand on the status quo of the day, with the seriousness it deserved.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The days following February 5, seemed a déjà <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2c90962a-83cb-470d-890c-75e7b18fae94" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f5496230-f177-450a-b5fc-f6180a6b36a0" grcontextid="vu:0">vu</span> and the return of 1971 in 2013. Together <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="763d322f-23c7-455f-8f12-8a0c02bce0b2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="68fd5070-3692-433e-b124-8b98372f2589" grcontextid="with outpouring of support:0">with outpouring of support</span> from the Bengali diaspora mainly in Europe, North America and Australia, it was only a matter of time that Shahbagh went global.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The nation for far too long had suffered the pangs and tribulations of 1971, yet the popular culture never gave up, repeating the message of the Liberation War over and over again.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The archive <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7e61fb90-34ad-4b89-9f9a-51534fe905e2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d7ecd182-7ff9-4ade-b3af-e6d14c46f79f" grcontextid="for:0">for</span> materials on 1971 is stupendous. Books, movies, documentaries, poems, songs and music as also reflections in folkloric, Mukti Juddher Chetona or 'spirit of the liberation war' is a phenomenon that was always represented in the popular culture and captured faithfully.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Images of Mukti Bahini guerrillas, their heroic exploits as much as stories of those that suffered, the martyrs and their families, the maimed warriors, the Birangana's or war heroines i.e. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="16d6720e-e450-4f54-bdac-5c5a52808989" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="11beb4a0-bf34-4a6c-bfec-e33c556f27a6" grcontextid="women:0">women</span> who were raped by the Pakistan Army were constantly beamed to the nation's conscience.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were also enough dosages of repugnant AL partisan propaganda materials on 1971, as also the War Criminals themselves kept up a constant barrage of blatant lies so that by the time 2013 came, the generation besieging Shahbagh has no dearth of ready reference materials, on opposing, and contradictory views.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They learnt the difference between black and white, and knew what to accept or reject in their '<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0b74b56a-0284-408d-b454-3f7ffae9f0d8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5ae9bda1-b4f6-4888-bc1d-82d19533c6f0" grcontextid="grey:0">grey</span>' faculties and that was helped by the advent of the internet and its availability on <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ddff234c-0384-4864-b46b-f2e52bd3eddf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5ae9bda1-b4f6-4888-bc1d-82d19533c6f0" grcontextid="fingertips:1">fingertips</span>. It further <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5960300e-d2b9-4ae6-9fbe-adf17526a134" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="526ceb0f-6199-4ad4-9dcd-d5ef86fcdc55" grcontextid="complimented:0">complimented</span> the protestor's efforts, as they did not have to go looking for versions dished out by retrograde intellectuals living in ivory towers to come to their respective conclusions or make their own judgments.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By sieving information from the disinformation maze, and beating the trail of facts versus fictions they took <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2918f3d9-b2c2-42e9-acf9-11c8d8e9168e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1ab459e6-5357-44e9-8b19-e168958fcfda" grcontextid="on:0">on</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cb37ec2f-05c8-4413-ac91-3c83ab19c92c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1ab459e6-5357-44e9-8b19-e168958fcfda" grcontextid="centre:1">centre</span> stage of the popular imagination with alacrity, and the knowledge that cultural conflicts of the past had taken an overtly partisan <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4f4b640c-080a-4938-b659-493321026ab1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1ab459e6-5357-44e9-8b19-e168958fcfda" grcontextid="colour:2">colour</span> and contributed hugely to political <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="24271f06-28fe-4489-9bb6-4877b7f1eea5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1ab459e6-5357-44e9-8b19-e168958fcfda" grcontextid="polarisation:3">polarisation</span>.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't as if Shahbagh was unaware to past events. Quite on the contrary, among the young for many years, allegiance to any mainstream politics had already become 'unfashionable'. They were conscious that those <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="84e98cbd-b9d5-4880-936a-635b362fb327" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c6cc1981-3be6-49ac-81ed-4b63850de794" grcontextid="polarisations:0">polarisations</span> were deliberately employed to drive a wedge and confuse people, post 1990, when <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5cf64bb6-25c2-4549-8007-ce561d3db4b0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c6cc1981-3be6-49ac-81ed-4b63850de794" grcontextid="electoral system:1">electoral system</span> returned to Bangladesh after years of military dictatorship.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aside, they were keenly aware that the records of the Awami League Government post the liberation war was in no way free of blemishes. Months before the assassination of the country's founding President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his attempts at installing a one party Government on the Soviet <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="84e220d0-f579-43be-96c1-c05d233b07c5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1f095ede-7e36-41fe-bdea-7c9d5a7fdc7e" grcontextid="mould:0">mould</span>, backfired and is thought to be one among many reasons that led to his murder.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, from 1972 to 1990, eighteen years is what Bangladesh lost in its strides and autocracy in all its forms made an appearance. Cultural aspirations meanwhile took a severe beating, and over time, resurgent Islamism <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6c6b9a4f-28a4-4433-87a6-246941f85fd5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a8cdec93-c40d-43b2-9ad1-473bc6ef219f" grcontextid="reminiscent:0">reminiscent</span> of 1971, now laced with Taliban ideals that Bangladesh was not ready to deal with, made a menacing comeback.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to 2013; it is not as if the Shahbagh protesters were unaware of the challenges they have taken <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="59379d5c-e4cf-466b-ae1f-1616f571e94b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ff99e359-d94a-45f5-8201-99cfbe2efa76" grcontextid="on:0">on</span> hand, yet in their first push to make a grand stand on War Criminals of 1971 and their 'millennium twin ally' - bigotry and Islamic fanaticism, was not only a resounding success, they had also managed to bring the spirit of the liberation war to the front stage of popular debate.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was only a matter of time that sections of our corrupt power elite would be bruised badly, and launch a vicious <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c87e254d-3d4f-4ad5-b8c9-7a5023b4f8f1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="da8805a5-5ea5-4fe5-915b-cc8abbe7a10e" grcontextid="counter attack:0">counter attack</span>. Those attacks were eminently forthcoming for the Shahbagh protestors may have been loaded with emotions and the 'spirit of liberation', however when it came to actual leadership, they had none.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In what was the most suicidal aspect of the Shahbagh movement, very little thought was given to the hastily assembled leadership, which was then passed on as a move by 'Bloggers and Online Activist's'.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was potent trouble brewing and coming their way, and given the exuberance of the moment, the composition of the leadership was up for a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="be96f063-4db8-4d7a-8e51-0cf338ba68ac" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="301ccb9f-5f71-4707-84f4-e2b76337fa7f" grcontextid="challenges:0">challenges</span> and scrutiny that neither the activists, nor the people of Bangladesh had any mental preparation to cope with. &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After years of struggle between liberal secularist and Islamic bigots, with fortunes dipping and rising <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5fb4abb8-d824-46b1-99ee-f978facddd20" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="174b5a1b-9906-45f2-b9bd-171cab2c0923" grcontextid="in:0">in</span> the process many a time, Shahbagh in 2013 revealed a completely new battle line, one between Muslims and so-called 'atheist'.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This in turn shifted the entire focus away from the War Crimes Trial, to that of theology, with damning consequences. The first <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b93f9fec-5bf8-4803-a7b6-933365faf415" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="eec75af2-2bef-4f62-b7e8-c51d7287b865" grcontextid="spoke:0">spoke</span> was shoved into the wheels of the Shahbagh movement, and all we could do was wait and debate.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8aa80017-99fa-4a40-b0a5-9dc415e037c6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="43ea5a89-3492-433f-9be7-b56a09c4da3d" grcontextid="…:0">…</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f4ebcec1-3800-4fa5-9a46-58db4e217204" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="43ea5a89-3492-433f-9be7-b56a09c4da3d" grcontextid="to:1">to</span> be continued</span></i></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://newagebd.com/supliment.php?sid=236&amp;id=1704" target="_blank">Link</a>&nbsp;</span></b></div></div><span class=""></span></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-3590688956331129182013-05-10T01:31:00.001+06:002013-05-14T12:01:40.293+06:00
Of 05/05, Hefajat demography and a brain-dead nation
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/431807_10151929964874569_1180261155_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/431807_10151929964874569_1180261155_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><b style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="874ff26f-69f5-4185-81bc-18a8d6da4458" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4ce3ae6b-ac1b-4087-ba4a-6279cbdbf76e" grcontextid="by:0">by</span>&nbsp;Mac&nbsp;Haque&nbsp;</span></b></span></b></div><b style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><b style="line-height: 18pt;"></b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="line-height: 18pt;"><b style="line-height: 18pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Please be kind to yourself, do not get lost in hate filled pastures, for <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a7854af0-0537-4a2f-92d3-03bb2fb198ce" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bdcbac7f-ba87-4e79-a614-60128192b3fb" grcontextid="you:0">you</span> were chosen to lead by examples and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c43ed48b-9001-4ffc-950c-4fd293d686d6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bdcbac7f-ba87-4e79-a614-60128192b3fb" grcontextid="creed:1">creed</span>&nbsp;"&nbsp;Shams Monower, A <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="474a37db-9424-45ea-85e5-fc468e4a5a7b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="141c0d2a-17bd-44e4-b073-a7e0def37f13" grcontextid="shooting:0">shooting</span> star leaps to Oblivion, 2006</span></i></b></b></div><b style="line-height: 18pt;"></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">I DO not know if this is a time to rejoice or a time to cry. I do not know if </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2bf731c4-fd34-4cbf-90f6-a8fbbd489827" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="865f4214-8d1a-4c55-b8cf-b1a64d3092dd" grcontextid="this:0" style="line-height: 18pt;">this</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> is a time for soul searching, to introspect, or a time to sit back and </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a01ecac3-b638-484b-8b98-4ae4c275ba9b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9f6317ff-5b82-472c-a7fc-984120a45228" grcontextid="take:0" style="line-height: 18pt;">take</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> everything that is happening around us, on its ‘face value’, harden my </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b4189a57-fa73-4619-961d-ec1e79190c8c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5d03381c-08fb-4d10-81f0-8c2cb0d0b928" grcontextid="heart:0" style="line-height: 18pt;">heart</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;">, pray and say that a devastating storm has passed. I do not know if there </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1845014a-a19d-429b-9455-90c64bf63395" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bb77bafc-9449-43aa-a6e6-41478a77dcb3" grcontextid="is:0" style="line-height: 18pt;">is</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> one sensitive or compassionate nerve left in my system to comprehend whether </span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6384703e-43ab-4aeb-b847-39f489c6b9a7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d29b9b3a-2e49-4173-bd84-434150060605" grcontextid="what:0" style="line-height: 18pt;">what</span><span style="line-height: 18pt;"> has passed us by was merely an aberration or a nightmare that we escaped.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All I know is every wakeful day in Bangladesh we have to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="47660890-ff04-4fde-bab5-5a5cddbf91f0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0298d41a-31a5-4107-b9c2-ffa9537fdc5c" grcontextid="deal:0">deal</span> with deadly demons that have made murders, injuries and devastations no <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4dbe9dc7-3544-4dd0-a0a6-87f7b9146555" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="407cda84-538b-4b09-9861-fb8e6efe09c5" grcontextid="more:0">more</span> than another spectator <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="68647a7d-0a66-4457-9182-fc61787cc628" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="407cda84-538b-4b09-9861-fb8e6efe09c5" grcontextid="sports:1">sports</span>. Our common senses have never ever taken <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="de002fb7-a10a-4e80-a587-2fafb5a3abc5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="211113eb-35c2-44b7-971a-5a1ef0935e8b" grcontextid="such:0">such</span> a serious dip. For now, nonsense and nuisance are the only <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="047632ab-99ba-4610-a080-5243ee579be6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="051504e9-e655-4814-a8aa-fd7e2e8152a9" grcontextid="senses:0">senses</span> worth <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9fa24d39-994a-4898-a8e8-a85a29a47777" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="01e30280-2a7c-49e1-b06e-eb6e0e8ca484" grcontextid="anything:0">anything</span>!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like all sports, the last results, the last numbers, the ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ea90749e-4249-4ba5-a700-8fd49daf31ae" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ef02a1f9-27eb-4106-ad69-dd3c34edbc73" grcontextid="breaking:0">breaking</span> news’ are more important, and we have now acquired a macabre taste of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="811db1f1-d61c-4a6c-91fe-9ea7d6b7ea4e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="90147faa-0167-4c82-b8ab-71e2ad704e14" grcontextid="launching:0">launching</span> post <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="67234847-5ccf-48cf-aeab-51260a147234" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="90147faa-0167-4c82-b8ab-71e2ad704e14" grcontextid="mortems:1">mortems</span>, discussing the ‘finer points of the game’ of deadly <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d417144f-5289-452f-bad3-580ffc956f6b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a471aec0-d7d6-49a7-9e9e-256ec5dc42fb" grcontextid="events:0">events</span> around our lives as nonchalantly as we would, a game of soccer or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fa6a6f1e-8ccf-4572-97a9-215c87a6983d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="76ba86e8-d9a2-4ff8-aa1f-806c8504d4b8" grcontextid="cricket:0">cricket</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chess, a brain-game, is unfashionable in a nation that has <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="908fe2f6-9792-42b9-878e-c572404d97d4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="12dc472b-0755-4486-885e-f8c43e348965" grcontextid="taken:0">taken</span> a new penchant for blood sports and that too with 24/7 LIVE TV coverage. Like gladiators, we are checkmated slaves to the ‘powers that be’ and we are <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e2b5da66-bc85-4dbf-91ff-3e8c146c4a56" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="14f3b2aa-f70e-4bd3-ac8e-831b8bc276ae" grcontextid="condemned:0">condemned</span> to kill to survive, simply because slaves are slaves, and have no <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e0140aad-7b54-4acd-9cd3-6504a889a93f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="24ea0ca7-6994-4d67-9f75-086faaab132e" grcontextid="other:0">other</span> choice.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are live fodder to cater to the savagely vulgar taste <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b92b0074-4ecd-4cae-ba71-bb7fb92f9697" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1727688f-3c4f-41d4-bf5a-df3b403868f8" grcontextid="buds:0">buds</span> of the status quo, where demands for corpses, outstrips those of life and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="be0f8be5-11c6-49af-bfdb-855a972abe39" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5b9443f7-ae86-470e-b3d7-13dfdd55fb78" grcontextid="living:0">living</span>. Destruction of property of small businesses, which ultimately leads to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1033350e-f54c-4053-8696-d5d342e48286" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e68b6910-9393-4ea5-bc0d-e36f28dfe54e" grcontextid="death:0">death</span> of thousands, and happens invisibly, without our knowing, is secondary — <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1cfdd5ef-9ae0-4782-84e7-73b8f1fc7a51" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b538f976-b84f-4e23-8320-2d59b0bceb18" grcontextid="in:0">in</span> fact of no consequence whatsoever.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If there is any hero right now, they are corpses, real or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8981b490-988a-459d-beb9-653de0713622" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="26d5cf34-ee47-49d8-8da8-a03fbc407c12" grcontextid="imagined:0">imagined</span>. If there is anything un-really real, this is it!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am not at all surprised that we created the demon in the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="81e6dfef-ab0c-458b-9983-6de47a489aeb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="facc91fc-4ef1-497a-95c7-280fe7842f4a" grcontextid="first:0">first</span> place, let it linger until it became a full-blown monster. Now it has <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a1cad09f-1c57-48d7-8ec0-19673fd71580" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="931e5029-333f-4e35-aad2-ec60ad6c83aa" grcontextid="gone:0">gone</span> berserk. I suspect there is going to be no easy solution, no convincing ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bed45197-57f6-46d8-901b-80c63419e072" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="eec3c842-cfe4-4d99-9fe8-447aa0b16a86" grcontextid="formula:0">formula</span>’ by intellectuals or the neo-barbarians among some midnight talk-show <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e640041e-294f-4ee4-b380-800adb30e75f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0bf18382-2f78-4fe8-9a9b-f47b6fc94e5e" grcontextid="hosts:0">hosts</span> and guests, which is likely to ease us out of our traumatic <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d656f9a3-4e97-4583-802b-c72d9fc0d52d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="05d8ff8b-3a18-4c8d-9c0f-d5dffb4cad13" grcontextid="affliction:0">affliction</span>.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bangladesh today has the classic symptoms and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="248bb6a1-ab3d-4472-9a69-1ab82c0cd59a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="97318371-2a3d-4cad-8fea-1c9f32e1ae4b" grcontextid="makings:0">makings</span> of a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ae10865f-e300-414f-9054-725f7f22b1c8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="47956613-8400-496b-b9ad-1571a1211b59" grcontextid="brain-dead:0">brain-dead</span> nation. Those that are ‘alive and functioning’ have precious little <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fc4813a4-c892-4ad6-853e-e87b31a89591" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="47d24855-2e76-44e0-832e-acafc055426e" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> offer <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7536f201-8c9b-4a13-a4bf-e2175b1333e5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="47d24855-2e76-44e0-832e-acafc055426e" grcontextid="for:1">for</span> they have willingly or unwillingly sold their brains, brawn and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c8a2f235-430b-4e16-adde-e65c7f2389af" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="66d7de5d-9488-4a89-a0e9-9abb077fa847" grcontextid="souls:0">souls</span>, to all interests, save those of the nation, of the people. Our fate is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="35977deb-6944-424b-b061-31e709db52b6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="40413bbe-c5aa-48c6-a7e1-bdb0806e12c3" grcontextid="sealed:0">sealed</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have decided to accept that sinning within our souls is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="665d870d-3b66-45d2-aadd-d685b3b1eec3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1e866ff8-dcf3-4861-bcdf-a3042afe4126" grcontextid="an:0">an</span> expiation exercise. Salvation for this nation is a distant mirage — and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d76b757d-e950-400c-9bfa-b4431266378e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1b320e32-4ce1-4644-aba1-a85f27d7c215" grcontextid="one:0">one</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="94ce113f-d1af-4b91-9cd9-8f6a83d19e27" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4c356b9f-9362-487b-bcfd-c5fec58f3035" grcontextid="we:0">we</span> will be forced, much against our wishes, to chase until the end, until <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a3beaaf6-c102-4ba1-b524-b579a54f05c2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4c356b9f-9362-487b-bcfd-c5fec58f3035" grcontextid="the:1">the</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9b2cd6e8-852c-4930-a054-dbfd3a89d136" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bcbec919-1ba5-4e49-863e-1464daf76305" grcontextid="final:0">final</span> dusk, to our predictable doom.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is not going to be any need for <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7467709f-b18f-4de5-a126-a4243b8308d2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f8292bdd-b596-40e6-9ea2-54e7d0b1d314" grcontextid="wakeup:0">wakeup</span> calls, angry <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e13c995c-3d07-4d85-8bfd-6f4b6140735d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e904d2e9-5008-495c-9176-6ca3d3b2d6d6" grcontextid="write:0">write</span>-ups on pages of newspapers, or any attempts at self-correction, because <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7d62201d-518c-487d-9bc0-ba929511a31d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2df4fed9-2af2-47c2-87a0-f487db352657" grcontextid="we:0">we</span> have lost our coordinates, our bearings, to the extent that the word <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="33402f87-1f08-409e-854d-bf46418f916b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3103f245-1d3b-43ef-af7d-7cef75e7d9f3" grcontextid="incorrigible:0">incorrigible</span> has become a misnomer, a blatant farce in our national psyche.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have never been a bloodthirsty Awami League sycophant, or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c778ae00-257c-4281-9cbf-078830efff60" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="72930703-b172-4223-a1b5-d77aa3e46580" grcontextid="a:0">a</span> BNP/Jamaat corpse-mongering brigand, yet after 05/05, I thought long and hard <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="21fa63bc-a8d4-43c6-958e-ab6b5751d53d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4347a854-c7a4-4b86-a7c7-25c2d106ef3c" grcontextid="and:0">and</span> ‘out of the box’ and I have given my think a ‘neutral’ benefit of the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="62075443-1e1a-4d24-be81-c823d4893457" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dacd4814-b840-4b50-b127-8f97fb8dece0" grcontextid="doubt:0">doubt</span>. Knowing well that it is only infants and the insane that are capable of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8baede2b-f422-4363-b222-7ec13c3406a3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9fc7f6a1-7684-4f9f-a4c9-1f83fce55c1c" grcontextid="being:0">being</span> neutral, this is the least I can do to be perceived as ‘credible’ in our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="65dc7135-748c-4059-96da-aa993b9b121f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="df789aea-8782-4efc-8d89-7880dd3cc527" grcontextid="incredibly:0">incredibly</span> hypocritical existence.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all have our respective bias, and use those biases <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a9858517-8967-4508-a4c5-64e4002ee977" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4c3cee6c-326a-49e4-83b1-51c6de679bfe" grcontextid="to:0">to</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2e6bb84a-8fdd-4bff-a794-20acd33adf34" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b7fd3312-8c68-46e1-88a3-313ad4484276" grcontextid="cloud:0">cloud</span> our judgement. The balance of justice wavers when providence intervenes <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="41bbda0f-7f88-4883-a370-2b1d07b4afa3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0e5dfffa-1757-4665-8ad9-090c2a34e3bd" grcontextid="and:0">and</span> human hands shiver more than they can remain firm, and in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cd0314f5-9e66-4024-ae84-3eb4a51967b1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0e5dfffa-1757-4665-8ad9-090c2a34e3bd" grcontextid="grip:1">grip</span>. That is <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="240d49ac-d7e2-4c9b-bcba-9a5a43ebfa0a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ac1e181d-1563-499f-b09d-bc0aad88c51e" grcontextid="being:0">being</span> human, that is why none of us can claim to be perfect in an imperfect <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="303c3401-3127-4c97-9185-cdcd57d39099" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bd128d2c-838f-42f7-aa96-d33b15aea183" grcontextid="world:0">world</span>. It is only when calamity faces us that we go&nbsp;<i>‘what iffy’</i>&nbsp;to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="43247bfa-942a-4ac7-a014-000f5237ab80" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="546db1f5-3e14-40c8-a521-459d8312ced5" grcontextid="find:0">find</span> answers, and so did I.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought ‘what if’ it was the BNP in power today. Would <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1fae5061-d34d-4a06-9535-5d621c7f55c8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="84a84e97-854d-4104-a295-441e530d7ef1" grcontextid="they:0">they</span> have stood by and did nothing if hundreds upon thousands of mullahs and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7cc0130a-2442-4b46-a38a-b376138f9ee3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b931b6f2-2105-4850-b6eb-a336c1ee79ac" grcontextid="madrassah:0">madrassah</span> students who live on the charity of the majority, had run <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="fd93c0e5-9cb2-4fcf-9ca4-bb505952546f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b931b6f2-2105-4850-b6eb-a336c1ee79ac" grcontextid="riots:1">riots</span> in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="569ed57e-1590-4c49-b987-980a848cd757" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e2498660-b106-490e-92cb-ae76707c63ca" grcontextid="the:0">the</span> capital, pillaged and looted, attacked security forces and threatened the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ec5576d4-7be8-418c-9484-9aa934837808" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="56db1f17-eb00-45b7-ac32-b8bc47c8f7c4" grcontextid="government:0">government</span> and in turn all that is plural, all that has been our hard-fought <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0e71fde5-5323-457b-945b-ffd00d499516" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="074a9c3f-4f1b-4cfb-b465-4c82c1c0cbf5" grcontextid="gains:0">gains</span> as an independent nation?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would they have permitted a non-political entity that <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="323c4d8e-5531-4a4d-84c7-7168505b685f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0180c65b-39ad-4c86-af91-b8eb149b0f9d" grcontextid="on:0">on</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="64338fef-3ba5-4d48-b5e3-2c8f094af3ad" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2de12225-813c-45d1-b8fe-6426dc457f2b" grcontextid="surface:0">surface</span> claim to have ‘no ambitions to seize power’ to become ever so powerful <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a6ee6863-5c10-4b6d-979d-ed41003d9b78" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="aed5084c-b6b5-4e98-9205-5d7fcf069d82" grcontextid="that:0">that</span> they have the luxury of our undivided attention as a nation given <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="024d4e1a-7154-4c94-8f1f-888187031258" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="aed5084c-b6b5-4e98-9205-5d7fcf069d82" grcontextid="their:1">their</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e2b2baac-c52b-4551-a256-1ee5ac377502" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="eb1aab5a-19d6-4b7a-a32b-3e789fb5e10f" grcontextid="frightening:0">frightening</span> demeanor? Would they stand for provocations when a minority on the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d159b560-ba3b-42a5-93af-9cf872cd7df3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c1479f33-ec1d-4deb-b879-58de9ed74337" grcontextid="lunatic:0">lunatic</span> fringe <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="96825867-37d6-49e1-b8bd-75126f545698" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c1479f33-ec1d-4deb-b879-58de9ed74337" grcontextid="harp:1">harp</span> hate to the extent that each citizen feels vulnerable and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cc468d2b-3942-4ebd-8a70-1a6c966bd63b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="db846465-daf0-4422-ad3d-a987011c3449" grcontextid="threatened:0">threatened</span>? Any answers there?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I looked at the threats to us, to our civility by <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="92e8eefb-8cd6-4495-837d-0af0487ae777" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="aec8cac5-9cd1-43f3-ba4a-d4e9bae9bed0" grcontextid="sheer:0">sheer</span> ‘overwhelming numbers’ who we were told would be ‘easy ammo’ to unseat <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4be8dfa1-48b7-4218-80f9-6b16b89c2c3d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4b1902b2-9709-4d6c-9cfb-d56928eb90d2" grcontextid="not:0">not</span> only the government, but <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="eca9f1d9-3b98-423c-8479-41aca2923ed2" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4b1902b2-9709-4d6c-9cfb-d56928eb90d2" grcontextid="us:1">us</span> the citizens, from our zones of tolerance, from <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="08e0c231-74df-47d0-b18b-8ad0d513e392" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="088320de-e172-417b-955b-62bb4622a6da" grcontextid="our:0">our</span> rich culture, from our traditions of centuries, that has resisted bigotry <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="61c6c8bf-6149-428e-b276-2f0562a40dcc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="75caa45b-9a37-4ca0-b89e-b7bc35cc0898" grcontextid="in:0">in</span> all its forms.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, no one can ever say with any degree of certainty the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b7682aa1-32b3-4a4f-b91d-249578a4ae02" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9d77cf0f-7cde-45ba-9aec-d1687e9539b7" grcontextid="actual:0">actual</span> numbers of ‘male only skull caps’ in Shapla <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="18bdc668-cb40-4971-8195-d44c48d5cc84" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9d77cf0f-7cde-45ba-9aec-d1687e9539b7" grcontextid="Chattar:1">Chattar</span> on 05/05. Any <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="35358399-a3a1-4ef8-8be2-7c1df668d3ee" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2a8e2a65-1c58-45b1-a3c6-d87c3037994b" grcontextid="estimate:0">estimate</span> is good enough, and speculations ran between thousands <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c0c07185-754a-4f24-babd-b5796e45ce5e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2a8e2a65-1c58-45b1-a3c6-d87c3037994b" grcontextid="to:1">to</span> ‘hundreds of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="59371e7a-f9b3-4c92-845e-011b7d2c308b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e1e34beb-6dba-4fdc-ba02-0c3094241719" grcontextid="thousands’:0">thousands’</span> to the one hundred thousand unknowns who the government has <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="511e9363-cd41-4882-92b7-1e16f10fbebc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="85a03dea-a44a-44ea-a9cd-277358b37f38" grcontextid="officially:0">officially</span> sued for murder mayhems, arson and much more.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fair enough, I will be more generous than our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b080727a-2742-46c8-b476-e103c13522b6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5a6e80ce-9e11-4292-a220-be8b79eb8a86" grcontextid="pauperised:0">pauperised</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="48bd5eb9-cee7-4fc8-873c-28f02bf5d16a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4e3963cb-be61-4dfe-b94d-8850a967f3d2" grcontextid="media:0">media</span> or other stakeholders have ever been. Let us be ‘large-hearted’ and say <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="56ff1607-665a-471f-8fd0-f80235c1d852" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f514d9c3-9592-4ac9-90e9-bc914c3c92d4" grcontextid="it:0">it</span> was half a million, or 5 <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bdc32c66-28d7-422f-8c37-ace119d00e39" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f514d9c3-9592-4ac9-90e9-bc914c3c92d4" grcontextid="lakh:1">lakh</span> of these so-called ‘defenders/<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4f6acbd7-584f-4e8d-b7d7-a7871c5114f3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f514d9c3-9592-4ac9-90e9-bc914c3c92d4" grcontextid="saviours:2">saviours</span> of Islam’, who congregated to tell us how wrong we are as far as our understanding <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5e394ba9-715e-443a-aa42-152d04a72b9b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="eeb62f51-5453-4d64-a31d-b74859c60062" grcontextid="of:0">of</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3ddf1a1d-64e4-4a11-9990-e17865420378" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="eeb62f51-5453-4d64-a31d-b74859c60062" grcontextid="religion:1">religion</span> of our forefathers is concerned.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were face-to-face with the ‘ultimate role models of Islam’, so salute and Salaam to the heroic&nbsp;<b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c38bba4f-9a17-4f45-8b27-04c4d8e4d5ae" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8a98bf72-2e38-4caa-bd7b-6ec874e34221" grcontextid="jihadists:0">jihadists</span></i></b>, our venerated&nbsp;<b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5bf9a1d9-c43c-4acc-b702-9b9ee7098f83" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8a98bf72-2e38-4caa-bd7b-6ec874e34221" grcontextid="hujurs:1">hujurs</span>,&nbsp;<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="74f340af-3e60-45f4-b474-364e93ab1524" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8a98bf72-2e38-4caa-bd7b-6ec874e34221" grcontextid="alems:2">alems</span>,&nbsp;<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6ab8ead9-4c0c-4d3d-a36e-ca764b9a61d3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8a98bf72-2e38-4caa-bd7b-6ec874e34221" grcontextid="allamas:3">allamas</span>,&nbsp;<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="902fca0e-cb35-4a7c-ac66-19d53f6c02ec" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8a98bf72-2e38-4caa-bd7b-6ec874e34221" grcontextid="ulemas:4">ulemas</span>&nbsp;</i></b>and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1c406706-c703-4611-9f06-3e6e8a316f2f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1cbc5701-972a-488c-8693-7fa22d011f93" grcontextid="who:0">who</span> else do we have!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Question: nationally, what is the Hefajat demography?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Answer: put in an average of five individuals to half a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="251d1a92-d0ec-4add-a4bc-5913fb5b3efa" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c6b17180-4455-45c5-8843-718cdc0db630" grcontextid="million:0">million</span>, meaning their immediate families, support base, and ‘fan club’ even <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cc50a6c1-a55b-4643-be25-b4bdbc4f8633" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="caa578b0-cd21-4370-a91d-d6e8b0fb8cee" grcontextid="among:0">among</span> the scared, the confused, as also elite ‘neo-Muslims’ with plastic spinal <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4b3e6b84-3597-4562-89a1-6295723d6ed0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="10ad693b-d032-495d-b7e9-f936b3333549" grcontextid="columns:0">columns</span>. We are talking about 2.5 million citizens bearing this sickening and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f3d6b03e-fc6e-448a-8096-314dee3514d0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="83922bc4-f29c-49e0-9064-630b3a4b41e7" grcontextid="convoluted:0">convoluted</span> mindset, as opposed to a population of 160 million. Are our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a2911e2c-a011-4090-9af1-7412b406adfb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e2b5d228-262c-48eb-a0ab-03f7eed2572c" grcontextid="politicians:0">politicians</span> joking?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what are the ‘grave issues’ here that have gone awry <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="383fbbe7-8c4f-47e6-b524-2b6937741941" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2c11beab-96d8-4ebd-8234-94288ac3a5a9" grcontextid="and:0">and</span> out of control? If I have read right, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f8f4b83d-454e-46bc-b398-a3c2509257cf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="32ef6621-6b02-43bc-ae62-ae4ed375973c" grcontextid="heard:0">heard</span> right and seen right, it is no <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7bf8643c-1708-4c4f-a617-d3a125995642" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="760bd499-9e4e-4344-b6da-59397bf0fe0e" grcontextid="more:0">more</span> than<i> ‘atheist bloggers who have insulted the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cffeb873-004d-44fa-a1da-c627174d5c64" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7287c7eb-5689-45f1-ade5-f5019653463c" grcontextid="have:0">have</span> denigrated the Qur’an’ a</i>nd the incendiary ire is apparently so powerful <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="60dcc087-5203-487e-b94c-d8ba1ecf5dd3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8fef50c3-d05c-4244-9ea9-4c5054cc1669" grcontextid="that:0">that</span> anyone who disagrees with their ‘protest’ must die?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without trivializing the allegations in any way, is this <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="73ddbee5-1371-4bab-9aaa-f164eb960938" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="34898536-1628-4170-bc82-27d255c95ca2" grcontextid="the:0">the</span> first time that we have seen the same lynch mob out on the streets, burning <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="646ae5e8-e2ed-4151-89d0-0ff0ce8429f4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3bfd4316-aeb7-4f92-a45e-d7580686dfa3" grcontextid="and:0">and</span> killing to ‘defend the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="619c4787-2c5e-46df-9ec3-8fce272b1553" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3bfd4316-aeb7-4f92-a45e-d7580686dfa3" grcontextid="honour:1">honour</span>’ of our Prophet who died 1,500 years back? Have we forgotten about the YouTube movie last year by a US filmmaker that <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="06d89f4f-dd1d-43af-9a52-91f745f396db" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="fa5c5dd7-99b8-4d1c-8927-1d978e7a4430" grcontextid="caused:0">caused</span> unprecedented violence and death in Dhaka?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is there any guarantee that yet another perceived, real or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9118d44d-c2a4-486e-b933-40b6e644b065" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ed8e8cc0-a3ce-4c9a-86d2-0434cb5240da" grcontextid="imagined:0">imagined</span> ‘insult’ to the Prophet somewhere in Shangri La or in Timbaktu or God <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="04e129f8-dff5-4754-bbff-ba70c3e05836" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a9519e20-0082-4204-a03e-5cb066832bed" grcontextid="knows:0">knows</span> where else will not lead to more orgies of violence and death in our streets? No, we have no answers because we have not studied the mind of the bigots, or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="336cd6b2-9d16-4833-a7c9-bcd8adec1059" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cd0c44b4-451a-4a16-a4ea-907987e9dd9f" grcontextid="the:0">the</span> culture they live in, so how can we ever have a resistance strategy?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can we ever expect from a culture where there is no <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="593198c1-3fc4-4389-adc3-0e6eb9879c3d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6e1d8cbb-bb97-4391-8660-67aa17474ab2" grcontextid="space:0">space</span> for any entertainment or recreation, not even sports? What can we expect <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1d636b7c-c037-4713-aaf7-46f3542b83a3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="baf45578-8aff-4f54-a410-f8e1c3c94205" grcontextid="from:0">from</span> children who are mostly orphans, or those parents who are so poor that <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cd65df8e-4249-4572-86a0-e67a9b514bfa" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b0bcbc19-8c48-4ebf-9bb9-de72cc15f134" grcontextid="they:0">they</span> are left with no other choice, but <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="23b807f2-1eed-4330-b337-79960e3dffe9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b0bcbc19-8c48-4ebf-9bb9-de72cc15f134" grcontextid="to send:1">to send</span> their children to spend time in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a4ef088b-f1da-4668-a854-5f88f6836031" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="6504ccd4-3076-439b-88e6-21ed1fca2768" grcontextid="a:0">a</span> hell - hole, harsh prison like conditions, where there is no TV or radio, no <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8d3875f7-f24c-49c0-8e06-6083646158ec" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a0eed6ba-e428-4afc-a136-d0a8ae55b9d4" grcontextid="newspaper:0">newspaper</span>, no Internet, and importantly no real-time interaction with any other <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="42bb4e05-0348-4c05-9218-a46ab31f15a4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="83ead3c2-d98a-4006-b5cb-a3f768a4262c" grcontextid="members:0">members</span> of society?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fundamentally, what can you expect of children whose ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a9b8f76d-7eb4-4bae-b1c3-760cec2538da" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="db39619d-3afd-40b0-9efe-b5f237521275" grcontextid="custodians’:0">custodians’</span> themselves are abusive, who use <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ee1a62fc-06d3-4e03-a106-f0d539370e61" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="db39619d-3afd-40b0-9efe-b5f237521275" grcontextid="cane:1">cane</span> and whips mercilessly on <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="55a6ff58-6d0d-477f-80d7-7ff7a01048f0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="34a523bb-c0c2-4761-83d2-24433d44557b" grcontextid="their:0">their</span> charges? How many of our pompous human rights activists have ever <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e2088788-216b-4bf8-8fe5-1e7847312eea" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="38705c34-cdfd-4225-a4bb-097d16dcdd00" grcontextid="investigated:0">investigated</span> these allegations that have appeared in the media many times over, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="57a54a3b-c3a2-4bc9-93a9-829646424639" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4fd70ea1-fbd6-4f35-b540-59976484f172" grcontextid="or:0">or</span> have spoken to the children in question?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When will we ever have a phenomenon called ‘children’s <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="87b9f5f6-c3ce-4250-9046-d0f0b543374c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7a59e41c-8add-4966-be6e-9493978d550e" grcontextid="rights’:0">rights’</span> as an active ingredient in our culture? Or, shall we limit them to photo-opportunity&nbsp;<b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="40343cee-73f2-447a-80f8-71fa6f6dfb3c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="28ecfdab-f225-4746-b4cf-06e0762a5552" grcontextid="dibash:0">dibash</span>&nbsp;</i></b>or days of the year, when <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="03e3b0eb-54e5-4b23-a9e4-da25bee3e200" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3ae7d988-e55a-481e-8fc0-219d5b92fd3d" grcontextid="donor:0">donor</span> <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="535edc6b-b61c-42c9-b86a-71fdf594eb4e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3ae7d988-e55a-481e-8fc0-219d5b92fd3d" grcontextid="doles:1">doles</span> are available?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then pause and read the other side of the coin, the ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ff997028-d1b4-4779-abb1-420f1f3fc691" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c336d7fa-82df-482e-9f98-651cd542bb36" grcontextid="custodians’:0">custodians’</span> masquerading as <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="806c95e5-df8b-4b7e-9b01-2439646f31bc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c336d7fa-82df-482e-9f98-651cd542bb36" grcontextid="madrassah:1">madrassah</span> teachers,&nbsp;<b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bb3bfebd-416b-464a-9c18-f0ee489210dc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c336d7fa-82df-482e-9f98-651cd542bb36" grcontextid="alems:2">alems</span>&nbsp;</i></b>and&nbsp;<b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4f21b9ba-6628-4426-ba64-35cb9eada5da" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c336d7fa-82df-482e-9f98-651cd542bb36" grcontextid="ulemas:3">ulemas</span></i></b>, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="227097b7-247b-40cc-8ef1-5d8f990f9eed" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="43c177ff-936b-4d54-896d-7f48fb6574a4" grcontextid="the:0">the</span> hate-filled people we saw at Motijheel and who for centuries, have been ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="55e1dc7f-f9fe-4d97-be1d-05c90dea99c5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8436430e-7b2c-4ab1-a0d6-75eab4197f89" grcontextid="groomed:0">groomed</span>’ by misogynist Deobandi schools, brainwashed with Wahabi inspired <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dc3b7734-3986-4789-9890-95bcb6f82e5c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="725f0a7b-ddbd-4c35-b7a0-d4a67f6594e9" grcontextid="Maududi:0">Maududi</span>-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5e76d391-4b53-4200-bfde-a5600e6da30f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="725f0a7b-ddbd-4c35-b7a0-d4a67f6594e9" grcontextid="ite:1">ite</span>&nbsp;<b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="054b3ae5-76ee-4ce5-b9aa-67a81dcc8a6a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="725f0a7b-ddbd-4c35-b7a0-d4a67f6594e9" grcontextid="kital:2">kital</span>&nbsp;</i></b>(slaughter) ideals and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e70ce7ea-f64f-4502-ade3-376799e96408" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="725f0a7b-ddbd-4c35-b7a0-d4a67f6594e9" grcontextid="diktats:3">diktats</span> and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6685cdb0-f43f-46de-a9f2-6d2ea16fa1e6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3ffb5f34-5fe6-4d82-bd14-a8a27356f7be" grcontextid="spurious:0">spurious</span> Hadith influenced individuals. We also witnessed the ‘millions’ <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d05bf334-5d03-4d82-8784-822c64dad031" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e4b4c1fc-ca84-40c2-ac25-03280ef01a78" grcontextid="they:0">they</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a841cffc-4943-4201-aaa0-516837c9c6ce" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="13ca1cad-ac89-431b-ac07-7e4f1f6d338b" grcontextid="in:0">in</span> turn went on to ‘create’ with the same <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c3823a52-125c-48ba-8add-57574d3d81fc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="13ca1cad-ac89-431b-ac07-7e4f1f6d338b" grcontextid="dice:1">dice</span> of convoluted imagination and ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0c6709ce-1c00-4dac-82ca-89fd1667cdc1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0f3a9e49-1f66-4eba-bc18-abffcd84d256" grcontextid="intellect:0">intellect</span>’ as their own. And what has been our contribution?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regardless of our ‘political affiliations’, the billions of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4dae4d6f-d651-4b0f-83d4-dacdc733de9c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ae17310a-9b32-4601-b055-c73dc2d3e5e3" grcontextid="takas:0">takas</span> we collectively donate each year just by selling cow hides in the Eid-<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d19a9483-7a07-41f3-9f90-2e1626aab203" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="22251e4b-2f1e-4929-a4f2-741c719ceecf" grcontextid="ul:0">ul</span>-Azha festivities are supposed to be used for the upkeep of orphans and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="424139a1-7100-45ed-bfda-c2c7b54a83b7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="182e800f-f867-46b0-b2d3-34193642b777" grcontextid="children:0">children</span> in these&nbsp;<b><i>Quomi&nbsp;<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a0009a2d-76d8-4b43-8674-c49fcb499034" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="182e800f-f867-46b0-b2d3-34193642b777" grcontextid="madrassahs:1">madrassahs</span></i></b>. And, what do the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="114efd4e-0d12-4a7a-9cbd-2e9b7e760d2a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="27dacaec-1795-4f2f-832d-6f9317d64358" grcontextid="inmates:0">inmates</span> get in return?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We get to see the likes of Allama Shafi riding insanely <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8e3d3497-6a81-48b3-bf7b-b45b67ffcd55" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2a2cee52-664e-4f2f-b546-2bab718a7798" grcontextid="expensive:0">expensive</span> SUVs and helicopters, while his half-fed ‘supporters’ are coaxed and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="82a48d66-67ac-4d4d-b950-6629744dd8f3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="167a2f46-04f5-4dda-b583-8e4e458e682e" grcontextid="threatened:0">threatened</span> to join his murderous jihad on fellow Muslims, are made to endure a ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="68f39bad-789d-486c-87ef-0c599ce0d406" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d853ccfe-a6ac-4dd7-9663-664fdc8fb518" grcontextid="long:0">long</span> march’ to Dhaka? How more corrupt and vulgar can these fake ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="df3bd0a2-bd05-40f9-a7a1-4082597a8d02" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9a4658ff-8915-4358-b678-c7fd43a8fb96" grcontextid="god:0">god</span> men’ be? How long shall we be in fear of these so-called ‘apolitical theologians’ that <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="77b14595-97f4-4e17-bc5e-3f0255cb394d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a0abcc58-5ef8-441d-b4b6-8184a853ce76" grcontextid="are:0">are</span> no different from sections of our corrupt politicians?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And after a day spent haranguing the ‘faithful’ with <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f95da243-e184-4664-816d-2199e2bc89ac" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a0b76127-9f57-45bf-af5c-76fbf8947c38" grcontextid="screams:0">screams</span> of&nbsp;<b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cb426189-88b2-4985-89b7-b06a1abb032d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a0b76127-9f57-45bf-af5c-76fbf8947c38" grcontextid="imaner lorai:1">imaner lorai</span></i></b>&nbsp;(fight/resolve of faith) where <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="60b0e8e6-46b5-498c-9545-3a11ae568c9b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4426e75b-2da0-4ab1-bad3-d20daadfe9a4" grcontextid="they:0">they</span> promise in public view and that of the world, never to leave their ground, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1b8db336-c432-4ad2-a52e-d3b6000aa22b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a585471a-a372-4e98-ad28-bb3e52974b6a" grcontextid="never:0">never</span> to return home if their demands are not met, to sacrifice their blood, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="780a384d-8cc8-4f23-a7c8-18d03ba9f6cf" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a585471a-a372-4e98-ad28-bb3e52974b6a" grcontextid="to:1">to</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="936c1780-d944-4dfc-8f11-1e4184f78373" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="60ec4748-ea6e-4f6d-8564-0c0fb2dd04fa" grcontextid="become:0">become</span> immortal&nbsp;<b><i>shaheeds&nbsp;</i></b>(martyrs) — and all it takes <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d3685f3a-85c8-4f09-bfbd-18d40a3b841e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dda0b21c-4ea6-4592-8274-84ef12c8c282" grcontextid="is:0">is</span> 17 minutes of security forces action, for the ‘millions’ to flee, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1edcabdc-401b-4e5c-adbe-5d634edc6fea" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dda0b21c-4ea6-4592-8274-84ef12c8c282" grcontextid="to:1">to</span><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="582dc193-18ee-4df5-84e5-5e2cbab98aa5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b45cd0d9-5a84-4dd2-9fa7-b2ead4b34bbd" grcontextid="literally:0">literally</span> disappear into thin air.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not to forget, the first ones to decamp leaving followers <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3a95c139-f8f6-49e5-b66e-917e472f689a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1f373704-8c99-4609-b193-7ce2d10beb4c" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> face the overwhelming might and wrath of the state are the leaders <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="994ea875-d7a2-47d4-8de3-cbdbb35c4f03" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d9e4e6de-a610-40bb-9aff-027aad5c20d3" grcontextid="themselves:0">themselves</span>. So fragile and dithering is their&nbsp;<b><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d4249383-bb18-4c72-8e22-9f784dd75bc7" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b9beaaba-60c0-4463-a7de-fec99f64d84a" grcontextid="iman:0">iman</span>&nbsp;</i></b>and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c398a96c-67f9-4827-bd6f-f87f24b0c976" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a21ef485-330c-442f-9407-57720fb5047a" grcontextid="so:0">so</span> huge is their arrogance fed by impunity that the tolerant citizenry, who had <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8ed2c275-4641-410d-9d5d-0085ca917796" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c0bd3cc9-5861-4e61-a83f-753d77d6832b" grcontextid="given:0">given</span> them a compassionate welcome to the nation’s capital just four weeks ago, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a9111b4b-1367-47a5-97e4-f69906617294" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="56e49e5a-8831-4def-bc55-b36f104b3f91" grcontextid="just:0">just</span> for them to be given a democratic right to be heard, to be understood, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="333772c1-a893-43cc-a167-bddb234469e1" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="608695bc-b444-4935-b2bb-e7430c705dc6" grcontextid="were:0">were</span> left aghast, dumbfounded and shell-shocked.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even before the smell of cordite evaporated, even before we <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="a4019f98-ed1b-4acc-85de-d37ef378f47b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c41bab78-f16d-4b66-94f5-a10f0a3dd71a" grcontextid="could:0">could</span> take stock of fatalities, of the damages, we came face-to-face with a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="36ed1977-e5e4-449a-9143-e0104b99ea77" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c22a592a-57eb-4a7d-9e31-d607bbe36857" grcontextid="spectacle:0">spectacle</span> like of which we have never seen before. The first photographs of the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c5103f24-5aa6-42ed-9899-53d4419ebcca" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="206501e9-3c9b-4919-892d-33b95296f159" grcontextid="death:0">death</span> and destruction bypassed the horrors of burnt Qur’ans that left millions <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1ebff836-a903-4b8a-9fff-f6f843a6fd53" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c9ad40da-a876-417b-9ec4-0201d0afe41d" grcontextid="in:0">in</span> tears all across Bangladesh. Yet the first condemnations to burning of the ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="238cc59b-796a-4330-bdd1-fb20295dfffc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="337ec086-8c38-4bd9-98f4-1740f58582f6" grcontextid="holy:0">holy</span> book’ did not come from the ‘defenders/<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="39a074a1-5f13-444e-939a-c506ae76ec5f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="337ec086-8c38-4bd9-98f4-1740f58582f6" grcontextid="saviours:1">saviours</span> of Islam’ but ordinary <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="491fd420-4810-45a5-afdf-0ceabd8f9096" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a9d0ee32-142e-4416-9697-8473a93c83c2" grcontextid="citizens:0">citizens</span>, many of whom easily fit the stereotype of either secular or even ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="40ea1677-3926-47a5-bb20-1ad6d24561f3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="087daf0d-d65d-4a5c-bfc3-c0b2a25ddab5" grcontextid="atheist:0">atheist</span>’.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, I am at a loss for words, why at all this <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c7240f26-917e-461b-a5f9-e38502db3ac6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="df67e3d7-ac8d-4bf7-9263-a2bee0ef5e10" grcontextid="pandemonium:0">pandemonium</span> over the Quran?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The penultimate issue is we use the ‘holy book’ for no other <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bc218a32-7fe8-46e4-b228-929b1012e9a4" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dbd602f6-80d4-437d-b10d-e8a6ee82def9" grcontextid="purpose:0">purpose</span> but to drop a quick quote to friends, or an occasional recitation of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b09c886c-0056-4604-a4b1-eb10b229ba34" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="20462acd-f058-492b-a79c-f2d7b0561d6a" grcontextid="words:0">words</span> we do not understand. And at other times, we do quite the opposite to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b554d164-32ec-4d79-8e29-e2c1ec55ea46" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ecdbe083-d4ce-4d05-95f1-6a5dd3fedfe6" grcontextid="what:0">what</span> the book asks us to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, for people who only care about the Qur’an being <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="78e58493-ffa9-488b-8806-ac979a1dda70" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="02994806-4493-45f4-8cbd-75e440cb89ac" grcontextid="a:0">a</span> ‘paper <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6fe9ede0-d1f5-47b2-b68e-c4affe3de7ff" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="02994806-4493-45f4-8cbd-75e440cb89ac" grcontextid="book:1">book</span>’ and not one they use for any other purpose but to appear ‘holy <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ab2fe362-9d48-45be-bfaf-a84d8e1a2963" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b4892d49-4d8f-4feb-a0a8-1ae8931b671c" grcontextid="and:0">and</span> religious’ and since we don’t live by the words of the Qur’an and merely <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="95ab92ea-dd04-427c-a7a3-b869463bb7bb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f24599e7-1232-4fc8-b889-4fb2b63532a2" grcontextid="use:0">use</span> it as a political tool of oppression, if there is at all a ‘curse of Allah’, the recent state of the nation is an apt example.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the biggest curse we took on our mantles on 05/05 is we <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="82352db2-7b93-4e03-86d8-de90d865f020" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ac65a7d2-e6d6-4e6a-9536-61347c29478f" grcontextid="let:0">let</span> the Hefajat ‘supreme leader’ scot-free, back to his safe sanctuary in <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="08b78c04-30eb-4f53-b783-e74c71584fac" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="89923b2f-ff98-48ed-8e8b-07195e163934" grcontextid="Hathazari:0">Hathazari</span>, yet didn’t think twice about shaming and humiliating innocent <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d1b7045e-2e7f-4aba-9374-e4beb988c05d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ebcc6f30-8702-40c7-9bcb-68d26f7a90eb" grcontextid="madrassah:0">madrassah</span> children, forcing them to sit and twist their own ears as a ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="82021679-d4e3-4105-98dd-57703543b883" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d6f1ca2e-0a6e-4952-8aaf-131e096772e3" grcontextid="punishment:0">punishment</span>’ while camera persons clicked away in glee. How more cruel and <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2785ec6f-e574-474d-bb27-bf6fd76262c6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="555e172e-8298-498a-b32c-1d45296419e3" grcontextid="insensitive:0">insensitive</span> can we be?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have we forgotten that they are no older than our own <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3f7f0b6e-835d-47c9-8f2e-9c0ccf93c655" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d9de0212-2100-4626-aa5a-43090e31c010" grcontextid="children:0">children</span> are, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="94de59d0-a1ee-4202-b1d6-b3dac853e0e0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d9de0212-2100-4626-aa5a-43090e31c010" grcontextid="were:1">were</span> per force taken to Dhaka by their ‘custodians’ with promises <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="37607ad4-8d58-4931-8a6d-b634d067aa3f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1fed4d37-0589-4cd1-bcac-5444f92a2549" grcontextid="to:0">to</span> ‘defend the Prophet’s <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f49ddcd8-6f40-4cd2-a345-2cb29823efb3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1fed4d37-0589-4cd1-bcac-5444f92a2549" grcontextid="honour:1">honour</span>, Islam and the Qur’an’? Have we not given the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="883f33fb-ce96-4c81-bf97-9abf2016736d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c0a0dc2d-ea4a-4915-b9fc-628704008fe9" grcontextid="security:0">security</span> forces that are in uniform on public money the open <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="48691547-2cfb-42be-aa04-ca1567a96279" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c0a0dc2d-ea4a-4915-b9fc-628704008fe9" grcontextid="licence:1">licence</span> to do <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6fd69c48-6020-44db-9401-3cb9b47bed1c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ed1f5d86-d13e-40d8-8da4-33be9ab3de85" grcontextid="similar:0">similar</span> shaming and humiliation in public to our children as well?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br /><div style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">Hungry and tired, traumatized by events, abandoned to fate <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b64c49b6-087b-43f2-9ffc-9f95edf6921c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3c6e1078-77b9-4613-8726-df01a27c6fa1" grcontextid="by:0">by</span> their ‘custodians’, these children didn’t even know the location of the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9af87857-2d51-4d5a-b4c7-4cf5ea10ee00" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1a22f6de-4f77-48a0-b394-b7a25edac34f" grcontextid="nearest:0">nearest</span> bus stations, didn’t have a&nbsp;</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><i><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c2b03c26-17cc-43e4-8b36-e3f9c6b9785a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1a22f6de-4f77-48a0-b394-b7a25edac34f" grcontextid="poisha:1">poisha</span>&nbsp;</i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">in their <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4159ba90-b9c0-4c47-9b9e-a11462e02ced" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="06484b3a-33a3-48b0-8e59-68f8fa422c40" grcontextid="pockets:0">pockets</span> when it all ended, and as ‘non-lethal’ as the security forces <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7d06f709-0060-489e-9819-f5c9783e18d8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="88f8559c-246d-4c9b-b799-73ae0c30e24d" grcontextid="operations:0">operations</span> may have been, if there is a hell on earth, they had the first taste <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ddbac49d-003d-4de3-8032-e212b30dd237" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8c8576d6-c7c2-4d0f-b4d0-c24f4a007b7d" grcontextid="of:0">of</span> it LIVE and brutal, with cameras rolling, one that will live on in our <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="008fd391-98df-4ea3-9913-0f194ffe0a03" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="76913eb0-5c11-4295-bd9f-2bda6a5c8a8a" grcontextid="memories:0">memories</span> too, for as long as we live.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">Those images left none of us who have been fighting the bigots for decades any <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b8cb8838-df38-42a0-aad5-b1ef5eca799e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5d4742b3-8c12-4304-94c0-4997ac6cfb4d" grcontextid="elated:0">elated</span>. Indeed, we have been left asking ourselves: ’what if the tables turn, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e91ce42f-ce4b-48aa-a67e-92cd640674de" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5dbcfead-decd-4192-9b6d-cf31b4be8151" grcontextid="how:0">how</span> more sensitively will they deal with us?’</span></div><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then came the ‘missing corpses’ drama and the less said <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bb54fde8-220d-4983-8310-26af9049ad76" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2528b6a9-a7cb-4366-b098-06f1049cf381" grcontextid="the:0">the</span> better. To imagine that 2,500 corpses disappeared into thin air is like the Bermuda Triangle ‘miraculously’ shifting its global coordinates and making a ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7f067c96-5c1b-4a6f-ade0-8de7c0e7124c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="38b02a8b-a2ed-4622-9090-0b42b1de417d" grcontextid="rare:0">rare</span> appearance’ at Motijheel. The other possibilities are the ‘millions’ we <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e9063c6f-bed7-4f66-b994-46579d7bfad9" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cec75db2-794c-4af1-a6f0-e37cc32621a3" grcontextid="saw:0">saw</span> thronging Shapla Square were not humans but djinns!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To end, a rewind to the first line, I do not know if this <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3923f127-0dfe-4d19-b415-89bfef1cade6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="2005fb03-8e7a-4c74-8a59-dc267c00ac18" grcontextid="is:0">is</span> a time to rejoice or a time to cry. I do not know if I am dead, or ‘<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e5e27a4d-72e2-4852-a15a-16cc0b4ea11b" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b2589c5f-896e-4dd9-a89c-cfc95819ef6b" grcontextid="practically:0">practically</span> dead’ as a New Age report on the May 8 quoted doctors as saying of <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="880e421c-ef4e-4977-9ee3-ef177b6b7abd" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9ef4f776-8510-466b-985a-646b83930939" grcontextid="some:0">some</span> ‘victims’, or am I completely dead?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I let the question float on Facebook and this answer from a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="722337be-c254-4e8b-9c38-c0921149ee37" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d47ad072-8abc-41aa-90da-8e424a7696d3" grcontextid="friend:0">friend</span> sums it up in totality:<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"DEAD are those who have left the world forever, “Practically <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="782869ad-0799-4b94-b8fc-23a430409d96" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="efdad776-c302-4fa5-ba45-fec6f4e83565" grcontextid="dead:0">dead</span>” are those imagined to be dead by the BNP and the <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3ae5158a-6163-47ad-ae84-a959601f0e68" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="efdad776-c302-4fa5-ba45-fec6f4e83565" grcontextid="like:1">like</span>, “Completely Dead” <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5676e0f7-b2f0-4a32-9c8b-3c5385a84035" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cee5c105-3775-49df-80c4-7f76fea9bb52" grcontextid="are:0">are</span> those who walked away alive from Motijheel and the leader who was given&nbsp;“<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="3e27080b-a58b-4c7a-9646-d6c26bd50ae8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cee5c105-3775-49df-80c4-7f76fea9bb52" grcontextid="jamai:1">jamai</span>&nbsp;<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4cd4e1c8-088a-48e8-8483-9cc4d49360db" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="cee5c105-3775-49df-80c4-7f76fea9bb52" grcontextid="ador:2">ador</span>”&nbsp;(son-in-law <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="bb89c4b8-75be-4379-bead-7c4a09f67b60" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="b584b5e6-12c3-4424-9bdd-23f5cfe7125a" grcontextid="affection:0">affection</span>) and flown off to Chittagong."<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">I do not know if this is a good time for black&nbsp;<span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="adad81dc-dc03-46aa-a971-87f41eddc4db" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="7d07d58b-9a95-44cb-bfa9-e424253ae7f5" grcontextid="humour:0">humour</span>.</span></div><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Age Op-Ed Friday, 10th May 2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div><b style="line-height: 18pt;"></b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="line-height: 18pt;"><b style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-05-10&amp;nid=48630#.UYv3T6JHLp8">Link</a></span></b></b></div><b style="line-height: 18pt;"></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-65476268400825548062013-05-03T02:41:00.001+06:002013-05-03T03:36:01.434+06:00
Savar: Number games and the elitist enigma of deceit
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;"><span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9a4a53aa-3b13-48f9-b096-692093ebdb33" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9a149fcc-2c07-49c2-addb-ee3804f3a773" grcontextid="by:0"><span class="GingerNoCheckStart"></span>by</span></span>&nbsp;Mac Haque</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0wFfcVXWnk/UYLZNsvequI/AAAAAAAAB90/ia6Zjm1MxsI/s1600/savar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0wFfcVXWnk/UYLZNsvequI/AAAAAAAAB90/ia6Zjm1MxsI/s400/savar2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>'The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, pride and arrogance.' – Samuel Butler</i></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The issue is not merely about a building named Rana Plaza with faulty structures that caved-in killing near 400 people, it is all about arrogance. It is this unrestrained criminality that leads to display of inherently vulgar mindsets and the knee jerk reactions of the power that be; in this case, the government of the day – which was so obvious, and so very predictable. However, in its entirety Savar leaves none of us looking any prettier either.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In flippancy and <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="baaf5045-7258-4206-a020-14ee863c932f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8e1144e2-99c8-4834-b785-e23b2652230d" grcontextid="trivialisation:0">trivialisation</span></span> (another by-product of arrogance), Savar came up as a dark comedy churned out at the expense of the <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ccb6617a-e5ab-434d-872d-9fa015f67156" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="8e1144e2-99c8-4834-b785-e23b2652230d" grcontextid="marginalised:1">marginalised</span></span>, the poor, the vulnerable. Tragically an ever ready audience is available at all times, ever so sure to enjoy a good laugh on the poor, and about the poor. Never ever, have we been exposed to more irresponsibility, insensitivity and inefficiency of the state machinery as in the case of Savar? On the flip side, never ever have our own frailties been more exposed nor our wanton deceit in form of patron <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="58925683-b2fd-4801-8021-a6b1b383f852" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d55c69a6-11ce-40ad-a00e-ea9f82d450fd" grcontextid="isation:0">isation</span></span>, sweet talks and crocodile tears been more explicitly repulsive as now.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Much as our elite would pretend that such episodes are ones that is expected, and possibly the incurred 'occupational hazards' that comes <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ec891245-e5eb-495e-898e-f76e2c073244" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="bec1dc83-2953-4bd9-8638-cb7d1e97e0ac" grcontextid="with:0">with</span></span> feel good buzzwords such as 'development, progress and economic well being', the fact that an Awami League activist of Savar owned the building is not a mere chink that has political overtones. It is a case of deliberate and culpable mass murder that was permitted to happen in the public eye. &nbsp;Yet by the look of things, there are good chances of this being buried, together with the nameless victims, in the rubbles of our conscience – if we have one left at all. The case just does not rest here.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In the government intentions, the worryingly egregious and irresponsible utterances by no less than the home minister who found an opposition 'plot' in the building caving in due to 'severe shaking of the structure by pro-<span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="72f3674b-67f5-491d-9d06-ff6539bfaf08" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dc851376-54b2-45c9-abe9-5687850e2c47" grcontextid="hartal:0">hartal</span></span> activists', is equal to slamming our common sense very hard into the concrete columns that came crashing down, and yet leaving <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2e7af503-f0cf-45c5-a7ad-cdd681d67dd5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="dc851376-54b2-45c9-abe9-5687850e2c47" grcontextid="our:1">our</span></span> face beautifully intact? I wonder why the opposition BNP having such fearful demonic monsters in its 'payroll' has been yet unable to 'shake off' the Awami League government in so many years!&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In the blatant disinformation melee, the bell that has sounded loud and clear, is the poor, the <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1d9c5383-ede6-4381-b017-6bef8e65dbe6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="d1c0bd35-8525-49f9-9459-1276009f68a6" grcontextid="marginalised:0">marginalised</span></span>, the downtrodden of Bangladesh are only numbers – and ones that are expendable. In lying, in deceit we have created a <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7fa76efc-7eea-4d82-b969-f6f300655f71" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="caa9dd70-a250-49d4-b914-39d27a29349c" grcontextid="desensitised:0">desensitised</span></span> cult of elitist and just to say that the government or the 'powers' indulges in the same, is a blatant error of judgment. &nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We are collectively guilty; and like it or not, we are all indirect accomplices to the same mass murders that we <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8de1400a-0163-440d-af54-7ad4e3cf2977" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ff178cab-1c8c-4c07-9ae6-0d776cb98123" grcontextid="are condemning:0">are condemning</span></span> today. Elitisms in our case, has nothing to do with respective and 'respectable' figures in bank accounts or in fat purses. It is a fast germinating, nearly endemic fetish that all of us aspire for, with wanton and reckless abandon. It fuels our greed. It makes us who we are.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">To imagine that 'garment factory owners' are the richest people in Bangladesh, ride the most expensive of cars brought off the blood of the poor, yet over the decades have not even cared to provide for a disaster management infrastructure, tells us what greed is and can be. &nbsp;BGMEA is a convoluted cartel of murderers, worse than the Cosa Nostra. &nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Since we have never addressed these issues, never ever cared, what did we do in meantime to placate citizen's ire? Yes… called for a day of national mourning, where we ritualistically placed the national flag at half-mast, but our televisions boomed the elitist 'good life' all day long. Savar was a passing show of how distant and alien from reality we have become.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Take for example more than seventy <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="4f91730a-15f7-4e1a-b718-98610421f54a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="42fdc60c-ac9c-47bb-b7c1-766b3fc0eac7" grcontextid="per cent:0">per cent</span></span> of those that perished in the worst recorded case in the world of a building collapse, were women. The same women, who have to toil endless hours in sweatshops that masquerade as 'garments industries', where 'cheap <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2f52e89a-3040-4597-8f48-17b5bf9937f8" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5d48e48c-ccd5-4d29-bd52-2c602f0f42c6" grcontextid="labour:0">labour</span></span>' simply doesn't even amount to near subsistence wages, they are denied their pay packets in due time and especially during Eid festivals, their despair is heart rendering.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The same women, who have to work under unimaginably harsh conditions, are forbidden the use of their cell phones to check up on their children back home, or respond to emergencies. As if that is not enough, tales of exploitation and sexual harassment are rampant, as much as the random <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d8eae29a-3170-4f4a-8eae-04f71a100467" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ea4051ec-af05-46d2-993c-09a329cd298d" grcontextid="victimisation:0">victimisation</span></span>, disappearance, killing, jailing and torture of those that protest these conditions. Unfortunately, never ever do these stories make 'news' in our otherwise vibrant, chic and slick media, and the ones that do are often <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5cffc834-3cb3-4b36-b83b-1a543603aaae" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0d0fda83-13ff-432f-9ddc-3f32a2add01f" grcontextid="side-lined:0">side-lined</span></span> or obliterated by political pressure – you guessed right, of the 'elite'.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It is not the first time such a calamity has hit Bangladesh, neither will it be the last, but what needs to be dealt with in all seriousness are the very <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="d3233ea2-339a-46ef-b30e-7fd0003276b3" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f931ab2b-a0a0-42ce-847c-19ea541c5ce3" grcontextid="tokenistic:0">tokenistic</span></span> protests, the tribal <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="e5a9bef4-e963-4b92-93b2-e0a043f7c908" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f931ab2b-a0a0-42ce-847c-19ea541c5ce3" grcontextid="behaviour:1">behaviour</span></span> in enraged Facebook statuses and social networks that in reality means nothing at all to the victims of these recurring tragedies. It only reveals the same elitist trappings that have ensnared us, the same feel-good retinue that will end faster than it even began, and up until the next tragedy hits us – things will stand dead still, as they usually do.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Agreed, that life has an intense way of cajoling us back to our old habits, however instead of <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="cc9337c7-7bf9-4a9d-89a7-2dff5280a102" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ad9edda8-e64e-499a-87e8-6b499d2842de" grcontextid="criticising:0">criticising</span></span> the government, our politicians and the endless other stakeholders we wish to pin down heavily upon, we fail to take the trouble of finding out whether we care a hoot about the <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ef961fe1-459f-45fc-a116-b74d8a036cec" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ad9edda8-e64e-499a-87e8-6b499d2842de" grcontextid="marginalised:1">marginalised</span></span>, the poor &nbsp;– just not those working in <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6e6f919e-1f21-4ff0-814c-d9c8b56b1b91" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="ad9edda8-e64e-499a-87e8-6b499d2842de" grcontextid="garments:2">garments</span></span> factories – but overall? &nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The plain answer – NO WE DO NOT.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In better times, those who take on the struggle of the poor, the <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="b5f0b71e-952a-448d-832d-82c797d0e4d6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="68856c4b-cf46-464c-b151-2788b055f705" grcontextid="marginalised:0">marginalised</span></span> are labelled and <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c8dbf49a-30d5-48f1-96f7-4d013bf39152" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="68856c4b-cf46-464c-b151-2788b055f705" grcontextid="brutalised:1">brutalised</span></span> as 'communist' and 'useless leftist'. Workers' rights rally rarely gets a crowd worth reckoning and those that speak up for the poor are never considered by the elite as 'cool and sexy'!&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And when tragedies strike, whether they are building <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="f13305d0-f8ca-40d0-b7a9-aa09027b725a" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="4d93f29c-8a20-4de3-bb38-690545dc81cd" grcontextid="collapses:0">collapses</span></span>, fire incidents or even ferry sinking which takes huge tolls in human lives, all we do these days is SCREAM on Facebook, not because the whole world is listening, but more importantly we want ourselves to be heard, to the tack of our elitist friends and foes, that 'we were not sitting idle' – that we were part of the BIG NOISE huh… clap, clap.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">So, what did we do?</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We flashed around grotesquely disturbing images of the dead and injured – and that in essence is our first sin. Every death has its dignity, and we have only added up to the indignity that fate has conspired to rob them off. Would we do similar things to our own kind? &nbsp;<span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="12df5665-6104-4def-b398-075f0b37b19f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="58917ef8-ecbe-4f7c-9f84-30a2d2bffa1c" grcontextid="Nah:0">Nah</span></span>… that would be so 'improper and unrefined'.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We made appeals for blood donation – and each soul on Facebook did a great job – to the point that blood bags in excess of fatalities were received. By nightfall when it became clear that the state machinery was unprepared and unequipped; basic things like torches, rubber gloves, <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7a486733-a40f-4535-99ec-4bc9fdc69ece" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c17d4845-c70c-4703-b240-2010fcd7206e" grcontextid="hexoblades:0">hexoblades</span></span>, charger lights, oxygen cylinders <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="293b8f9d-5f6f-49b0-b02c-09fd957b7fba" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c17d4845-c70c-4703-b240-2010fcd7206e" grcontextid="etc:1">etc</span></span> were needed – a deluge of appeals for such essentials were made, and by the end of it all, a whole lot more will be <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="c2f4a65d-3a77-42bc-923c-227ee37a7009" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c17d4845-c70c-4703-b240-2010fcd7206e" grcontextid="in:2">in</span></span> hand, than what was needed in the first place.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">There were also generous and genuine efforts at feeding and sheltering the victims, the injured but as of now; there are no demonstrable efforts for long-term help or citizen's initiative to the effect. We do not know at all about the hundred upon thousands that will go hungry for years, because the sole bread earner was killed. <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="ab99cf27-9795-45ea-890d-c1de25d51e1e" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5304abd4-1b7a-47ef-9f11-8e1a42ad55e5" grcontextid="Tokenistic:0">Tokenistic</span></span> we have been, and <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="5ddfa00e-ff22-4e3d-a39c-4e3a43d6ef43" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="5304abd4-1b7a-47ef-9f11-8e1a42ad55e5" grcontextid="tokenistic:1">tokenistic</span></span> we will remain, to satiate our ego and wait for the dark clouds to pass.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">However, where we have failed thus far in the battle of our conscience is to look at the larger issue of calamities, which not even the most advanced countries in the world with the best disaster management <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6e7e9090-65e8-43ea-ab72-b7329dcbb9f6" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c4fb83ba-24f8-4b45-a237-d03e49a5854e" grcontextid="programmes:0">programmes</span></span> are ever 'fully' prepared to cope with. 'What after Savar' – is a question we have not been asking – at least not now, and since bad luck hasn't paid us a cruel visit we bask in some comforts for a while – don't we? We are fortunate because we are alive, but please do look around folks!&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The hard-core issue is greed. Savar was the result of land grabbing and construction of an eight-storied building where six stories were approved. The greed came from renting out more space for <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6873417f-ccbe-4dc6-b394-4b03fae77712" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0acb9f0c-070a-458a-92e1-a661cd5b2446" grcontextid="garments:0">garments</span></span> factories where the poor <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="8c3ff824-1188-4334-82f1-9fac0e331592" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="0acb9f0c-070a-458a-92e1-a661cd5b2446" grcontextid="worked:1">worked</span></span>. The same greed is replicated faithfully, just not in Dhaka but all across Bangladesh, in domestic flats, apartments and condominiums as well as ugly Malls and Plazas. When I scan the skylines in my <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="51c64065-448f-431d-9fa4-82a0a3b1b9fb" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c3520f72-3580-46d9-938a-f006fcc7c409" grcontextid="neighbourhood:0">neighbourhood</span></span>, I can see dozens of illegally erected <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0b4d8592-957d-4790-9747-5ad9adf52e9f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="c3520f72-3580-46d9-938a-f006fcc7c409" grcontextid="eight:1">eight</span></span>-storied building – as I am sure many readers would do the same in theirs.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Lax building laws, wholesale corruption and the fact that Bangladesh is in an earthquake prone zone, does not make <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7b77e531-d170-4038-96dd-b87cc5c1da8f" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a8c95c7a-f136-44a9-be07-c94f3dee4e73" grcontextid="prospects:0">prospects</span></span> of our survival in a calamity any easier than it did in Savar. Add to that the next to <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="1996252c-4cfd-4ecc-852b-65ddcd90214c" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="1cf3641f-e14d-4d2f-953f-ea87e0e36724" grcontextid="primitive disaster response mechanism:0">primitive disaster response mechanism</span></span> we saw LIVE from Savar. Even with the Army <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="9f561875-2275-45b2-8d8f-da8c335017a0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="372cc4d8-e147-47c4-9fd6-3ca5a8c13c14" grcontextid="coming:0">coming</span></span> in aid, it was left to the sheer dexterity of locals, nameless heroes who battled the odds and rescued survivors, mostly with their bare hands.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We live in comfort of our multi-storied apartments and lecture the world about how unsafe it is for the 'poor' working in <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="2c4dae37-8944-4fa6-b488-52b16f24fedc" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="9b84684d-8938-4a2e-8be6-52b4901fb531" grcontextid="garments:0">garments</span></span> factories. Have we ever thought about the glaring 'poverty' in our likely fate?&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">What if an earthquake <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="6b8d6f81-710b-4227-8be7-1bed488c1202" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="f173e661-b28e-48ea-9d3d-9509c1fb845f" grcontextid="at:0">at</span></span> 7 on the Richter scale strikes for a minute? How many of our pretty apartments and even prettier residents within will survive? When our buildings come crashing down on us, how many of us on Facebook will be around to make screaming status updates or appeals for blood, equipment and the entire juggernaut to activate itself, to rescue us?&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine an earthquake and the entire Dhaka city flattened. Who will be on ground to rescue us? The 'poor', the '<span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="dacb6124-e3aa-43a1-9409-0310ca758bc5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3589c489-1882-46a9-9310-bc135792b9a2" grcontextid="rickshawalas':0">rickshawalas'</span></span>, the 'housemaid and her family', the 'street <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="381c2219-de2c-4ad3-8ef9-f8a2c2f661d0" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3589c489-1882-46a9-9310-bc135792b9a2" grcontextid="darwan:1">darwan</span></span>' or those living in the 'smelly <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0c4a36d3-08e7-4aa5-b9c4-608b1b23eb68" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="3589c489-1882-46a9-9310-bc135792b9a2" grcontextid="bastis':2">bastis'</span></span> – any other choices worth reckoning? Is there at all any hope that the government, the politicians or any of our pretentious elite will be around to save our lives?&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">By some, will of providence, will itself will act as a catalyst to wash away our sins of thinking of the poor, the <span class=""><span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="7299c1b0-df3a-45a5-803f-b72b7c6780c5" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="e8577295-05ed-4e62-818e-06c8d1c5a516" grcontextid="marginalised:0">marginalised</span></span> and downtrodden as creations of a lesser God. Fate will conspire to eradicate our greed that breeds elitism. Let us pray that we wake up to our senses and make a human effort at destroying the 'elite gene' from within our beings – forever, for it is only natural in nature's nature to be unmerciful.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Amen!&nbsp;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shock &amp; Awe: <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct" ginger_sofatware_markguid="0bebf5f6-437c-4e75-8e53-dedee3591a8d" ginger_sofatware_uiphraseguid="a46c9808-3e99-415f-8e06-068f37592adb" grcontextid="NewAge:0">NewAge</span> Xtra, Friday, 3rd May 2013</b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/supliment.php?sid=230&amp;id=1662">Link</a></b></span></div></div><span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745597.post-6993503777195963282013-05-01T02:14:00.000+06:002013-05-01T02:14:05.331+06:00
Of ‘compassionate corruption’ and the Khayrat-isation of Savar
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWZTCRudvCM/UYAlUgX6mYI/AAAAAAAAB9E/RciBqLhgZA8/s1600/savar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWZTCRudvCM/UYAlUgX6mYI/AAAAAAAAB9E/RciBqLhgZA8/s400/savar.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>“April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.” T.S.Eliot, The Waste Land, 1922</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>by Mac Haque</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE weather on the morning of April 29, when, technically and effectively, the rescue operations at Savar were called off, was gloomy and seeded with dark clouds. This is the Bengali month of Baishakh and the weather is unpredictable at best this time of the year, but my news feeds on Facebook and Twitter gave me no encouragement to feel or even think ‘positive’. There are clear ominous signs that the weather determining the fate of this nation is headed for a massive storm and, as Bob Dylan once said, ‘you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.’</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hot April winds as of now are blowing to let us know that while the great and resilient Bengali race may be prepared to handle and cope with natural extremities, we are woefully inadequate and completely unprepared to handle disasters, made and manufactured by man — our own kind. We are after all our own biggest &nbsp;enemy.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The morning newspapers had the same agonising stories that we have been following almost non-stop for hours on television. The stories of the dead, the dying, the anguish of the ones trapped yet sending feeble signals for help, the helplessness of the rescuers, the smell of rotting corpses, of the heroines and heroes who beat the odds to rescue victims.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The stories of volunteers in thousands who have gone out of their way, sometimes in frenzied over-exuberance, in what may be termed one of the most extraordinary times in our history. I guess we did all we could and did so admirably well with our own feeble resources to handle a disaster, for which the average citizens had no mental preparation, not even any premonition, although the telltale signs were strong all along.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As days wear on, weary and dejected, we are fast approaching a time, when we, the citizens of Bangladesh, will slip into collective depression, for news that comes our way bodes only but evil. Since February of this year, there has not been a single day that the corrupt section of our politicians and the greedy section of our businessmen have given us any respite from the ugliness and sins of their souls. The devilry of the politico/business mafia that went into the making of Savar and one that gripped our and the world’s attention for the better part of a week, the hurt line, the fault lines, the criticism lines, the political blame game lines were not only stretched to the seams, they have in fact snapped at weird ends. The biggest casualty here is imagination. We have been led to believe that anarchic insanity is our only solution, almost a predetermined fate.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the planned chaos, it was only natural that every television commentator, talk show-offs have become ‘experts’ at something or the other as how things could be done better, done ‘differently’. Every Facebook user has become overnight volunteers, relief workers, construction engineers, doctors, nurses, paramedics and displayed variety of real, unreal and surreal ‘talents’ which otherwise we were not aware of.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether or not they were ‘completely engaged’ with Savar is a different story, the fact that there was so much of unsolicited ideas up on offer is in itself ‘history’ in the history of shared ideas of Bangladesh! Yet, surprises, very few of these ideas have come up with tangible solutions. The Bengali penchant for adda or gossips, and excessive hoo-haa together with the pressing of hujoogi or whimsical panic buttons went viral even before the first victims were pulled out of the rubbles.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And one couldn’t help but notice the beeline many opportunists and fortune seekers were making, and my gaze was transfixed on the bunch of horrific scamsters making ‘appeals for funds’ to aid the Savar victims on social networks. People we don’t even know personally were sending in emails and Facebook ‘appeals’ and while some may have been genuine, there were others that left me thinking exactly how the money will be spent on the victims, and what about accountability.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was particularly noticeable from some appeals made by rich kids of private universities out to ‘save our poor brothers and sisters’ as well as Bangladeshis living in North America, under camouflage of various expatriate ‘welfare’ societies — but the tone, objective and purpose of their appeals didn’t seem ‘appealing’ or convincing at all! Therefore, after consulting some of my lawyer friends, I put this open question up in my status update on Saturday, April 27:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With all due respect to everybody’s sentiments and true and noble intentions, I would like to know if the laws of Bangladesh permit all of us to make appeals (on social networks) and collect funds for the distressed. I gather that anybody can make a direct/personal donation to any victim of a disaster at any time, however, soliciting funds by any individual or group that does not have a licence to operate as a bona fide charity in Bangladesh is illegal.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was right as far as my insistence that the laws of the lands be respected, come what may. But I was wrong for I did not realise that the moral fabric of our society has by now been completely stripped naked. When it comes to aid or charity work, it seems that the ‘anything and everything goes’ formula is still the active parameters of our value judgement. Our disdainful refusal to abide by the law is in fact no different from the criminals who caused the miseries in Savar. ‘Two wrongs have never made one right’ is for now the jargons of idiots like me.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ultimately, everything in Bangladesh is weighed, viewed and considered by and only with ‘money’. I do not believe that poverty is beautiful, or that every Bangladeshi is a chor or thief. However, when it comes to charity and the way we go about, the standardised ideals and the ideas we play with, and have come to believe even as default as ‘acceptable’, is indeed the crux of our deepest crisis.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greed, injustice, arrogance and unaccountably — the four most dangerous curses that have not only led to Savar, but the entire gamut of life and living in Bangladesh are the real ‘heroes’ today.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our mindsets regretfully always looks at the ‘meat’, in the numbers up for play, in the takas we are willing discharge from our pockets without asking how the money will be spent. The ‘bones’ of contentions start here as well, and as far as dealing with public perceptions about charity, we tend to make a huge mess, for ultimately when disasters strike, we are left helpless and the only way we think we can ‘help’ is by either donating cash handouts or make ‘appeals’ for the same to others.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is paap mochon in Bengali, meaning cleansing of our sins, and we do so for never ever even by mistake do we try to understand the pangs of the poor, go and live with them, have a meal with them, or even share their sorrows in good times and tidings. In situations like Savar it is a prickly pang in our conscience that provokes and traumatises us to ‘act’ — and we do it not for the poor, but for ourselves. It is nothing more than a feel-good psychologically-therapeutic exercise.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, if one does not oblige or agree with the ‘appealers’, well in that case too bad. You will be drowned with cursing of being ‘miserly, heartless brute’, who is ignorant about the ‘plight of the poor’. True, we often follow our hearts and not the law, but the problem is heartless thieves also exploit our ‘hearts’ in times of crisis without our knowing it. And as a friend on Facebook remarked, ‘some do break our hearts and some steal them. So we make careful judgement’ — perhaps such a time is now, to judge without being judgmental, agree that corruption and construed compassion are first cousins if not identical twins?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then there is all this tall talks about religion; for, it is only when disaster strikes, and we are caught with our pants down, that we suddenly turn ‘holy’. However, if we are to look at the lofty ideals of Islam where essentially individual poverty is not tolerated then we must take a more critical and careful look at one of its essential pillars, Zakat doesn’t mean ‘charity’, as is in the popular Wahabi mullah-driven misconception, nor does it mean ‘alms’ at any rate. It means ‘sacrifice’ and with it comes social responsibility. The responsibility to ensure that our time, actions as also wealth does not go unaccounted for; for, neither wastage nor excess of any kind is acceptable and both are sins. Financially able Muslims are encouraged to offer the mandatory zakat to a ‘deserving individual’ who is economically disadvantaged, and the idea is to guarantee that the person who has received the same is effectively in a position to offer the same support to someone else subsequently.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This implies that other than the cash or kind we offer, we also have a conditional responsibility to help and assist the distressed for a longer rehabilitation — in other words, offer part of our valuable time for welfare. This is to ensure that the vicious cycle of poverty is broken and no one is left without necessities to make a living and take care of their immediate family at the outset.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, the Islamic ideals of khayrat or alms are specific. On a day-to-day basis, one does and will come across people in deep financial distress. The hungry, homeless and ones without clothes, elderly men and children, diseased people who are unable to do anything but live on handouts of the affluent, rich — or whatever you wish to call yourself. These are people for whom we use the politically incorrect term ‘beggars’ as they have no other means to draw our attention, but to ask, plead for help — and alms are therefore due to them as they deserve it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One may feed these destitute who we are not likely to meet again, donate some money from our pockets, regardless of coins or notes, so that he/she will not have to go without a meal on a specific day or days. We may then go about our business that we have done our duty not to God, but to humanity and indirectly atoned for our collective sins.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, in the case of Savar, the appeals for money on social networks are all unfortunately falling within the category of khayrat, which is downright condemnable. The prime reason for that is the victims of Savar or their families weren’t ‘beggars’, neither have they, individually or as a body, made any appeal anywhere asking for any donation — whether cash or kind.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were perfectly dignified individuals, who worked and toiled in these death-traps, without complaining, without asking for either our favour or our pity. They have been nameless and faceless entities in our lives, and simply because a building has come crashing down on them, what legal or moral right do we have to go asking for khayrat or go begging on their behalf? Who has given us the right to denigrate these marginalised yet self-respecting humans — God?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The filth in our soul has taken such a terrible toll on all of us that all that has been praiseworthy in our upbringings, all that is humane has somehow evaporated from our beings. For instance, our sensibilities were challenged when we also had to bear witness to the charnel saga of merriment that a national vernacular newspaper dished out via a hugely hyped yet sordid ‘star night’ even as dead bodies lay trapped, many not even buried.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When confronted and challenged by outraged citizens, their defence was equally bizarre. They claim that they have ‘managed’ to raise Tk 52 lakh as funds for helping the Savar victims.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again, a question to the dim-witted national newspaper: How often have you cared about workers’ rights for so many years? How often have you done anything praiseworthy for the ‘poor’? And why now and what for? Is money and pompous show of wealth going to be our only criteria for ‘help’ — the only parameter of our compassion?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Essentially, what is happening today is we are overlooking the corruption, the greed, the callousness that caused Savar in the first place, and building yet another edifice to a set of greedy demons masquerading as ‘donors’. It’s like bribing the policemen when you are caught breaking a traffic law, instead of paying a fine.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And on the sickening political fronts to Savar, it was interesting to note two subsequent developments.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first was by BNP’s Moudud Ahmed who went public to state that each and every victim will be provided with the princely compensation of Tk 20 lakh, with the catch — if ‘his party is voted to power’! Social networks pulverised this:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Excellent idea, sir. How about paying it right now if your intentions are so pure. Or do you intend to come to power and loot money from the people, to pay the people back?"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other glaring incident was the pretentious defenders of Islam – a Free Masonic organisation with the suspect name of Hefajat-ul-Islam.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The messages bordering on profane absurdity was that Savar apparently was the consequence of the ‘bod-doa’, literally ‘bad prayers’ or ‘curse’, of the ‘venerated master’, for the government’s failure to accede to their 13 insane demands, foremost of which is banning women from work.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How more dangerously pathetic can politics and religion combined be is something that leaves all of us baffled. Also, where in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is there one instance of him seeking ‘bad prayers’ or cursing his followers, his Ummah?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we fall into morass of excrements because of our unrestrained greed that breeds everything from corruption to bigotry, from shoe thieves to pick pockets in mosques to scamsters on social networks making a killing out of the miseries of Savar victims, to garments manufacturers et al – if at all there will be anyone that can do us ‘hefajat’ or defend us, let us hope and pray that it is one, the all in all, Almighty Allah!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>New Age Op Ed Wednesday 1st May 2013</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-05-01&amp;nid=47768#.UYAHvKJHK7c" target="_blank">Link</a></b></span></div></div> Mac Haquehttps://plus.google.com/106647558888760398963noreply@blogger.com0