URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: Cyber attack against Bangladeshi human rights defender Jahangir Alam Akash UA-BA-ISSUES: Right to personal property, right to intellectual property, right to privacy, safety of human rights defendersDear Friends, GHRD regrets to inform you about the cyber attack against Jahangir Alam Akash, Bangladeshi Journalist and Editor of Euro Bangla. The email account of Jahangir Alam Akash has been hacked by unknown perpetrators, who are also sending out false messages in his name asking all his national and international contacts for money.The cyber attack took place on the 2nd March, 2011, two days after his publication of the article “Open challenge to Bangladesh government”. The article discusses his torture at the hands of Bangladeshi government authorities and the publication of his new book Pain, which deals with issues of human rights, the rule of law, torture and extra-judicial killings and the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh.The false message claims that Akash is in the UK on a programme, where he lost his wallet, money and cell phone, and that he requires 1,250 GBP in order to pay his hotel bill and leave the country. The message further states: “I’ve been to the embassy and Police, but they are not responding to the matter effectively, I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with, I will return the money back to you as soon as i return, let me know if you can be of any help?
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I don’t have a phone where I can be reached. I am so confused right now.”Jahangir Alam Akash has been an outspoken human rights activist, disclosing the human rights violations perpetrated by the RAB in Bangladesh for which he was brutally tortured in 2007. He has lived in exile in fear of retaliation ever since. However, Akash has never been in the United Kingdom in his entire life.It is particularily worrying that the perpetrators have obtained sensitive and private information about Mr Akash and his whereabouts.The motivation behind the attack may be to extract sensitive information as well as to undermine his reputation.TAKE ACTIONThe hackers are currently controlling his account: [email protected] and in addition they created a new email account: [email protected] from which they are sending the messages. All communications to these email addresses are discouraged.Jahangir Alam Akash can be reached at: [email protected] MORE INFORMATION GO TO EUROBANGLA:Circulate this announcement to your networks in order to avoid any damage due to this false message!Thank you.Global Human Rights Defence Urgent Appeals DeskLaan van Meerdervoort 702517 AN The HagueThe Netherlands+31(0)0+31(0)[email protected].
An Easter Monday cricket match on a village green in rural England is to be web streamed as a possible world first. Social media consultant John Popham came up with the idea to film the match in Wray, the first wifi hotspot village in Lancashire, after being inspire by two tweets, he explains on his website. There were two tweets which really inspired this.
Euro Bangla is an online newspaper on press freedom, peace, democracy, minority-indigenous and human rights. Euro Bangla is now publishing in English. Euro Bangla web address is Suddenly from this afternoon we couldn’t visit/open this site, but why we don’t know. Euro Bangla has published a special report on torturing-killing of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bangladesh. It was the last update.
We would like to invite you please write your thinking in Eoro Bangla. We do believe freedom of speech. So we would like to uphold the freedom of speech. It is our top priority. It also working against all kinds of torture and extra judicially killings. The Euro Bangla wants to do an objective and neutral journalism. We would like to work for better world where would be harmony, peace, democracy and of course human rights.Please send your opinion, write up and report on humanistic angel to this e-mail [email protected] uploaded report in Euro Bangla:-By Jahangir Alam Akash:The State Minister for Home Affairs and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh openly support the extrajudicial killings, despite the fact that Bangladesh signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention against Torture.
Not only that, the constitution of Bangladesh also safeguards the right to life.The government of Bangladesh has been violating the constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights since 2004. Euro Bangla wouldn’t published in Bengali language. From now Euro Bangla would be published in English. But not from today.
Now we are under processing to publish in English. It takes some days to develop the system. We would like to apologize to our valuable readers, writers and the well wishers for our new decision. Euro Bangla want to do effective of our struggling for the press freedom, democracy, peace and of course human rights in the international community. Hope all cooperation and support we would get from you. We always fighting for the minority-indigenous rights, women-children rights, freedom of speech, freedom of liberty-life, democracy, peace and human rights.
We promised to uphold the human rights. We don’t have any particular political views. But we are very much secular. We opposed all kinds of extremism, death penalty, religious militancy, extra judicial killings, racism, discrimination etc.
By Jahangir Alam Akash, At least five journalist have been killed under the present Awami League led grand alliance government in Bangladesh. The killed journalist are Fotehe Osmani, Shafiqul Islam Mithu, Nurul Islam Rana, F Ahsan and Abdul Hannan. Journalist F M Masum have tortured by RAB.!94 people have been killed in extra judicially during this government. Many other over 400 journalists have been persecuted by various ways in this present regime.This government have suspended You Tube in March, 2009. On 27 April, 2010 they have shut dawn a private TV Channel 1.
On 29 May, 2010 this government has banned a powerful social media Face Book. So where is the press freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of thinking and write to life? How they build Bangladesh as digitally?The long autocratic government was just ended. I was then a college student. In the remote northern area of Bangladesh, Panchagarh, I worked as a trainee-journalist in Dainik (daily) Bangla. In its office I came to know the patriot journalist Mr.
Shamsur Rahman Cable Bhai. 16 July is his death-anniversary. In this day in 2000, miscreants killed him by bullet. He was then in Jessore, as Staff Correspondent of daily Janakantha. He was the living store of terror, politics, socialism and all other informations. The days in the lives of Bangladesh Journalists come and go, months go New Year appears after the old but the trial for Journalist-murder does not happen.
The head of another patriot journalist Manik Shaha was blown away with bomb-attack! Even today the bloody picture of him, I can clearly remember!
Free media is far cry; the life of a journalist is not secured.Without democracy, independence can’t be enjoyed, human rights is also then absent. In this world of disunity and illegalities, journalists are facing more risks. Journalist-killing-oppression in this restless world of war and terror is nothing new. 30 journalists have been killed including a writer (Dr. Humayun Azad) in last 17 years. In last year 324 journalists were tortured by the ruling party cadres and law enforcers.But gradually the call for freedom of press or for free media is going to be loud worldwide. Crossing the media this call has reached in the greater part of the society of citizens.
Reason is that without the free media, democracy is helpless. Media and democracy is completing each other. In South Asia then, the risk of journalism is extreme. In Bangladesh, the journalists are facing incessantly the cruel supervisory of the government with state tortures and harassments.The responsibility of the media is to lead the people to the path of truths with true reports. They are always in favour the oppressed, deprived, poor’s, victims of torture and persecutions. They fight for the establishment of rule of law, introduction of true democracy in state machineries and political system. From their professional duties and responsibilities, they are working amidst innumerable risks, threats and humiliations.
In Bangladesh, two private TV Chanel have been closed by the government. If any news on corruption, nepotism, political terror, tender-frauds, and forceful occupations of properties are published, the concerned journalist is now to pay! He is to face the consequences!As Journalist reports on the peoples’ wants, expectations and problems and on their reasons, they write about the corruptions and misuse of powers by the persons in power and in administration. So they are the direct targets of the law-enforcing authorities who are the backbones of the corrupt politicians and administrative officers. Ekushey TV and CSB News are two examples. They were very popular. Government on various please and tricks have closed the both Channels.
Through intervention of the court, Ekushey TV has again been on broadcast. One latest example of torture on Journalist in Bangladesh is Biplob of Daily Shomokal, representative in Gafargaon, Mymensingh. His hands and feet were broken. A retired Army Officer who is now MP of AL has provoked directly to torture him, as reported in the Newspaper. We don’t know the end of the event. In Dhaka Uttara, a young Reporter of a Community based Newspaper; Sujan was killed on last 3 July.
Few days back in Rajshahi, the Reporter of daily Star, Anowar Ali was wounded by terrorists attack. During the Emergency, apart from this writer, the Daily Star Journalist Tasneem Khalil was persecuted. In Sylhet, Bandorban, Nilphamari and many other places, Journalists were harassed through forged cases during the Emergency.After 15 August 1975 with the murder of Sk. Mujibur Rahman, Military Government began to sit like a heavy stone on the people of Bangladesh. Through many movements, sacrifices, in 1990 the long reign of Army was ended, the pigeon of the democracy was free again.
In 1991, BNP, founded by General Ziaur Rahman obtained the power through election. After coming to the power, BNP demolished all journalist-organisations. From the Newspapers and News Agencies and Media of the government, the Journalists who were not liked by BNP, they were evicted in mass. Without giving any termination-benefit, BNP government fired the then Daily Bangla editor Towab Khan, the then executive editor of weeklly Bichitra, Shahariar Kabir and other 12 senior journalists.In 2002 to make a documentary Film for BBC Chanel-4, foreign Journalist Jaiba Malik and Bruno Sorentino came to Bangladesh. BNP government arrested these two British and Italian journalists, and Shahariar Kabir, Salim Samad and Pricila Raj of Bangladesh.
On the fake charges of Bomb-attack event in a Cinema Hall in Mymensingh, the BSS Journalist Enamul Hoq Choudhury and prominent columnist and historian Professor Muntasir Mamun were arrested. While in custody during the BNP government, the journalists were brutally tortured.At the end of April 2009 miscreants has threatened Shamim Parvez Khan, Dhamrai Correspondent of Daily Sangbad to kill his life. He took a courageous role to save the innocent people of the area from the forges cases. The vested interested circle was perturbed. In spite of GD entry in police station, the terrorists was not arrested. Shamim Al-Amin of Daily Shomokal in Gafargaon, Mymensingh was attacked in this time. His hands and feet were fractured.
Attacks were made by the cadres of the Retd. MP Captain and Giasuddin Ahmed.On 16 April 2006 during a Cricket Test Match of Bangladesh and Australia, on a frivolous incident, the Police led by the then DC Ali Akbar, engaged for the security attacked on the Journalists. On 29 May 2006 in Kushthia the then Govt. MPs let loose their cadres and on the attack, prominent Journalist, Editor of Bangladesh Observer, Mr. Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, President of BFJU, was severely wounded. I could still see in my mind the bloody face of him.
Terrorists cadres were not punished.Journalism is my profession, addiction and the total projection of my life. With my investigative journalism as I have tried to do something for the welfare of the people, that was the reason of the disaster of my life. I have always done ‘non-partisan’ reporting. I never thought of to be the victim of state-terrorism myself. About the oppressions and tortures I have reported and had no pretentions that they would act on my life as Boomerang, I shall be the victim of similar molestations. My life is at the door of destruction, insurity and insecurity now.
I don’t know these uncertainties would ever end. Because the social stagnation of our country is only deteriorating, we are proceeding towards an uncivilised-barbar society. The growing extinctive powers are engulfing the entire country. Although we know, thousands of oppressions and threats cannot check the tide of the people. An idealist can’ be forced to give up his principles.
No state terrors can extinguish the light of the truth. So the truth-hunters and pen-fighters journalists of Bangladesh can never be intimidated. The system of our justice is full of persecutions and oppressions. So people have taken the facts of crossfire and encounters, introduced by the state, very naturally (with exceptions).
In general they don’t protest on the activities of Police, RAB or Army. Society is silent even though persons are killed under the custodies of police and RAB. Government has legalise (accept) these misdeeds. There is impunity also.
The role of media is also controversial. They just report on the Press release on crossfires. Of course there is few who courageously report the truth and then fell into troubles!The conscious of the nation are the Journalists. They help the upliftments of the country. But the tortures of RAB on have reached in peak during the Emergency: A bright example is I, myself.
Another brave journalist, Shahariar Kabir, during the BNP-Jamat qualition government was indescribably tortured by RAB. He is a human rights personality, an eminent columnist. With wounds in his body he is now living.
I have faced the same situation but we want that such barbarisms are not repeated with any Journalist anymore.Murders and persecutions of the Journalists: Manik Saha, well-known Journalist of Daily Sangbad, New Age, correspondent of now closed Ekushey TV-Chanel was killed with heinous attack of terrorists bombs on 15 January 2004 around 1-15 p.m. Such a brutal murder of a Journalist is almost unparallel. In whole country, this killing was protested, a huge reactions occurred.
But till today the murderers are out of legal-catch. On 2 March 2004, the part time Journalist of daily New Age, Abdul Latif Nabil of Keraniganj was slaughtered and killed. His wife had a lover, Nirjon Mustakin and he with his friends Shahidul Islam Pappu and the wife, Konok together had planned to kill Nabil as he earlier opposed her breach of marriage. They were all arrested.On 27 June 2004 Khulna Pressclub President Humayun Kabir Balu, Editor Dainik Jonmobhumi was killed by terrorist bombing in Khulna. In the same year on 21 August, at night the daily Ajker Kagoj-Correspondent and Upozilla Chattra Dal General Secretary Kamal Hossain of Manikchari, Khagrachori was kidnapped from his house and slaughtered. In the same year on 2 October at late night, Diponkor Chakraborty (59), Executive Editor of Durjoy Bangla, Bogra and Vice-President BFUJ was killed by the terrorists by the side of his house in Sanyalpara, Sherpur. The killers have chopped him with axe.
On 14 October 2004 in the evening, in Katabon, Dhaka, terrorists entered into the office of daily Newspaper, Asian Express and shot and killed Shaheed Anowar Appolo (35). Appolo was the Executive Editor of the Asian Express, known from a visiting card from his pocket. It happened due to a conflict with contractory business.On 5 February 2005 in Khula Press club with bomb attacks Sk Belaluddin, Khulna Bureau Chief of daily Sangram was killed and 4 other Journalists were injured. At Comilla, on 29 May 2005, at midnight, Muhammad Gholam Mahfuz (38), Editor and Publisher of Daily Muktokantho of Comilla was slaughtered and killed by the terrorists. The Correspondent of daily Shomokal in Faridpur, Gautam Das, Correspondent of daily Runner in Jessore, Gholam Majed, Harun-ar-Rashid of Khulna, Humayun Kabir Balu of daily Jonmobhumi, Manik Saha of daily Sangbad, Jalaluddin of Rangamati, Mir Ilyas Hossain Dilip of Jhinaidoho, Sk. Belaluddin of daily Sangbad, Nohor Ali, Shukur Ali Hossain, Ahsan Ali of Narayanganj, Faruk Ahmed of Moulavibajar, of Nilsagar, Nilphamari Muhammad Kamruzzaman, S.M. Alauddin of Satkhira, Samsur Rahman Kebol of daily Jonokantho, Jessore, Saiful Alam Mukul were all killed by the terrorists.
Whether any criminal of the murders of Journalists, Writers, Intellectuals and Humanrights-workers has been punished, we don’t know. During the qualition government, on purely political grounds, prominent columnist Professor Muntasir Mamun, Journalist Shahariar Kabir, Enamul Hoq Choudhury was victims of state terrorism. Eminent Journalists Iqbal Sobhan Choudhury, Alhaj Zahirul Hoq were molested. Persecuted was Journalist Prabir Shikdar, Tipu Sultan. In the last 15 years, 23 Journalists were killed in Bangladesh.
From Dhaka Uttara published, community based fortnightly Muktomon’s Journalist Nurul Kabir Sujan was killed by the terrorists. The last victim of Journalist-killing in Bangladesh is Sujon.Much discussed Journalist-killings: Journalist Manik Saha, Shamsur Rahman Kebol, Humayun Kabir Balu, Diponkor Chakravarty, Goutam Das, and Harun-ar-Rashid Khokan. Saiful Alam Mukul, Sk. During the army-controlled Emergency interim government the oppressed Journalists: Editor daily Janakantha and Publisher Freedom Fighter, Atikullah Khan Masud, Tasnim Khalil, Cartoonist Arifur Rahman etc. Following the events in DU and RU, the prominent dramatist and columnist Malay Bhowmic was the victim of vicious tortures. No real culprits of these crimes have been tried.
As per the report of private organisation, ‘Odhikar’, in the time of the present government from last January to 30 June, 2009, 41 Journalists are victims of oppressions. Five of them were physically assaulted due to their reports. 38 Journaists were threatened in this period.These incidences are not new.
During Emergency, Journalist were taken to Army Camp and tortured physically. Whether the Journalist-community could effectively demand justice for the persecutions of their colleagues, it is also a big question of today! Journalists are divided and the politicalisations of them, absence of proper administration and effective democracy, opportunism, parity, media towards the capital of the riches and other reasons have worked as obstacles for the justice of journalists-murder and tortures. As Journalists and citizens of the country, we want to say clearly neither a politician, nor a Journalist, nor a citizen, nor from other professions must not be tortured under custody of law and order.
On behalf of the Journailists Community, this is our demand and expectation.All accused, criminals and the persons related to them must be brought into books and tried. Till today no effective enquiry and trial has been done.Without an ideological change of the society, the Freedom of Press in Bangladesh is a Golden deer. Corrupts in every government have the upper hands. With black money, new riches are buying the Media gradually.
Emergency government has controlled media through proclamations. Media is under the ownerships of black-money holders. They have no ideals without inception. Primarily Journalists are facing the obvious self-censorships. Surrounding the government ads, hundreds of Newspapers are born in the country. How many of them do anything for social welfare? Advertisement is a big weapon of the government to control the media.
The multinational companies are controlling media through ads. Crisis in profession is also an obstacle for the Freedom of Press in Bangladesh.Another problem is the absence of true definitions of ‚contempt to Court’ and ‚defamation’.
Recently the contempt to Court was raised against the Publisher-Editor of dainik Prothom Alo. What report is ‚contempt to Court’, which is not, is not clearly defined anywhere. This is a risk for the journalists. Above all, in Bangladesh there is no ‚National Codes of Broadcast’.
Giving explanations and maladministration, disunity amongst Journalists, political divisions and ´because of the eco-social-political structures, Journalists-persecutions are not ended. If any journalist is killed or mishandled, there is no trial. So the criminals are encouraged.The remedies are blocked in the fixed ideas of the people. They think Justice has gone to ashtray! It must be broken through the mass unity of the patriots. If we can go up of the mere interests of politics, personal or groups, then through peoples-uprisings, the problems of state and society can be solved.
The culture of the absence of justice and impunity’ is so deeply rooted that after the brutal killings of the colleague, we are to go to the street with slogan, ‘we don’t get justice so we don’t want it.’ We wish a change of this situation.Good news are that the Emergency government has framed ‚the Community-Radio-Codes’, Human rights Commission has been formed. The present government with the implementation of ‚Right to Information-Act’ has enabled Media a step ahead to its Freedom, experts believe. But only Acts do not act. These are to be materialised through free-executions. New Information Minister has said, ‚the cases against the journalists will be withdrawn.’ It is very good.
But one thing must be clear: For example, one Journalist X who has done really crimes. Will his case be withdrawn also? We want to say distinctly as a responsible citizen, no, all cases should not be withdrawn. The forged cases filed for harassments should only be withdrawn. Otherwise the rule of law would be hampered.
My dear golden Bangladesh please take my love and regards from Europe. I have been living since last one year as an exile in Europe. Today is 29 May, 2010. Exactly on this day in 2009 I was arrived in Deutschland. And on 28 May, 2009 I was compelled to leave my homeland for the safety of my life. ( )I don’t know how are the people of my loving Bangladesh now, really!
I Hope, everything is all right there. The government has been banned a strong social media Face book in Bangladesh. Another TV station Channel 1 also shut down by the government. After my leaving of the country, at least five journalists have been killed (including Fothe Osmani and S I Mithu). Many other have been persecuted (one of them is F M Masum). From abroad, I feel very much pain in my heart for them.I miss my working place Rajshahi, colleagues, friends, family members, journalism in Bangladesh, teachers & journalists (like dear Malay Bhowmic, Hasan Azizul Huq, Sanat Kumar Saha, SM Abu Bakor, AAMS Arefin Siddique, Muniruzzaman, Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Sohrab Hasan, Ahmed Jobaer etc ) as well as the beautiful and loving Bangladesh.
I also miss my Rajshahi press club, the daily Sangbad, my friend William, young journalist friend Sumon and many others who are working in the fields of journalism and human rights. And also I miss my oppressed and voiceless people from my work area (Rajshahi region).Hope, one day, peace will come there with prosperity, happiness and real democracy. In my exile life, I have security, peace but not the happiness. I hope also that, all the discrimination, corruptions, extra judicial killings, militancy-oppressions on the minority-indigenous, would be ended. My further hope is that, the trial of war criminals would be finished as per international norms and the real criminals of the war would be punished. Please pray for us.
The editor of “EURO BANGLA” & “THE HUMAN RIGHTS TODAY”, journalist Jahangir Alam Akash have written two new books in English. The books are “Struggle for Peace” and “Away from Home”. In the Independence Day of Bangladesh 26 March, 2010 these books have published from Adarsha publication of Bangladesh.
We would like to share about the books of Akash. The subject of these books are press freedom, minority oppression, politics, extra judicial killings, Islamic militancy, extra judicial killings, torture and the human rights in Bangladesh.
Now the books are available in Germany.“AWAY FROM HOME”Flairs: The thought for the society haunts him always. He sees man above religion and colour. In favour of the people, truth, and justice and with the professional mentality for social welfare, he has grown up.
Akash is a professional and non-communal Journalist with a mind of free thoughts. To clean the society garbage and darkness, he himself was compelled to get out of the country. Though in exile, he thinks and feels for his country all the moments. This Journalist, in each article of this book, ‘Away from Home’, has told us about a ‘Golden Bangladesh’ where the communal harmony would be a bright example of fraternity.Preface: The reasons of coming out of the motherland may be manifold but the pain is the same. An immigrant, a student, a businessman or a tourist leaves his country. Except the first, others go back. Which might be the cause to be fugitive, the life abroad is definitely a melancholy.
After the initial surprises and curiosities are gone the motherland appears from behind. The pain begins.In my over 33 years of living abroad, I came across to hundreds of my countrymen in Germany. With few exceptions, all of them were frustrated young from 80’s and between 20 to 30 years. The main driving force behind their crossing the Pacific Ocean to find an opportunity to earn money in the first world.After the liberation of Bangladesh, the young generation from teenagers, found the mother country in total political turmoil and chaos. There were no perspective and hope.
The country was instable and famine was knocking at the door.After I entered into the then West Germany in 1978, the number of Bengalis were not even 2-3 hundred but within next 4-5 years it grew 10 times! It was a 100 meters’ Sprint, distance small but the runner must hurry as fast as he can! We sought here political Asylum and after having the so-called ‚temporary-stay’, searched out a job, either as dishwasher or lo-level labours in factories or cleaners. Next 3/4 years, earning money as much as possible and then the inevitable rejection of the case. Now either going back to the country or finding out a new country to earn again! Many have crossed Atlantic for USA-Canada. Most of them were scattered in different neighboring countries in Europe.
The ages and faces were different but desire was the same. At any cost to stay and as much as possible to earn.Three decades have gone. Now I find here almost no contemporary of mine. In the meantime, hundreds from my known circle have left Germany, either for another country or have gone back to Bangladesh. About 3/4 thousands are here with normal stay-permits, citizenships with family. We have now here 3rd generation of the immigrants.Were they all Asylum-seekers like me?
No there are some exceptions. One of them is Jahangi Alam Akash, a journalist of Bangladesh. He is here since last year. He is living in Hamburg with a scholarship of Hamburg Foundation.
The foundation has arranged his one year stay in Germany as a relaxation and cure from the persecutions, tortures, imprisonments in Bangladesh during BNP-Jammat Government and Interim Government (2001-2008). His profession was his enemy.
What he has done, why he has risked his life in Bangladesh, the readers will be aware of it after they have read this book. Akash is now out of the country, return to motherland is most uncertain.
He is trying to find out a permanent shelter in Europe with his wife and about 3-years son.Akash is no economic refugee like hundreds of us but he is homeless now. His works for human rights and investigating journalism all sorts of lawlessness in our country have driven him out of the country and he is now looking for a second homeland.
The editor of “EURO BANGLA” & “THE HUMAN RIGHTS TODAY”, journalist Jahangir Alam Akash have written two new books in English. The books are “Struggle for Peace” and “Away from Home”.
In the Independence Day of Bangladesh 26 March, 2010 these books have published from Adarsha publication of Bangladesh. We would like to share about the books of Akash. The subject of these books are press freedom, minority oppression, politics, extra judicial killings, Islamic militancy, extra judicial killings, torture and the human rights in Bangladesh. Now the books are available in Germany. Flairs: It is now 38 years that Bangladesh is an independent country. But the rule of law, honest administration and the culture of democracy are still far cry!
Common people are searching peace. Militancy, extra judiciary murders, maladministration, party-attribution, terror, corruption are closing the path of progress. Religious and indigenous minority killings-oppressions are hindrances to the amity. The murders of Journalists are robbing the opportunity of free Reporting’s. All these current problems and crisis are well depicted through the pen of Journalist Akash. This young writer is a courageous soldier of peace and democracy. ‘Struggle for peace’ is a reflection of Bangladesh-reality.
The international community will definitely get a transparent picture of Bangladesh in the book.Preface: Possibly the struggle for peace is the oldest struggle of mankind! Sometimes it seems to me that it is like a searching of a black cat in a dark room where there is no cat at all!
Yet we do not (should not) abandon the try! In the modern chaotic world, it is a hope which can still render us the meaning of life.Who wants to live in a society where there is no justice, rule of law, fellow-feelings?
But more than 155 millions of our countrymen in Bangladesh have been living under such precarious circumstances and many of them have not given up the struggle, struggle for peace. Jahangir Alam Akash is one of them. With his 20 years of professional journalism, he has been fighting for human rights with his innumerable reports on state-terror, killings extra judiciary, corruptions. As the hundreds of rivers of Bangladesh, we have endless evils throughout the country. ‘No single person can be found in Bangladesh, who was not a victim of corruption at least once in his life!’ Akash has written in this book.
It is like the air, it is everywhere but unseen and only to be felt.Is there any formula of peace? I do not know.
But the majority poor people of Bangladesh only expect daily 3 times food and a sound sleep at night, possibly that is peace for them. Unfortunately, this very tiny hope could not be yet materialised by any government after about 40 years of the liberation.From his head to feet, Akash is a dedicated journalist, no doubt. He took unthinkable risks to gather information’s. His investigative and truth-searching reports are thrilling as well as tragic! While translating, I myself sometimes could not believe my eyes. Truth is really stranger than fiction. Reality may be sometimes very hard but it is known only when a courageous journalist like Akash brings the unpleasant truths but bare realities in front of our eyes.I don’t know, if any day, like the mysterious city, ‘Shangrilla’, we would find peace for us, for our country and for the world!
Freud has said, ‚who does not dream, he is lifeless!’ If it is true, why we shall not dream about peace? In our daily lives, from all directions, disappointments, deprivations, pains, injustice, poverty haunt us. We know, only peace can be the best remedy but where is it? Shangrilla is in the remote mountains in Tibet. But nobody could yet locate peace or find a formula of it!
There is one Nobel-Prize for Peace. Every year, one time, the Nobel-Committee makes the world aware about peace but in true sense, all the prize-holders (almost 100 so far) could not give us any hint of peace, temporary or permanent. They have got the prizes and we have only seen their Photos in Newspapers. Even one from Bangladesh has got it. Was it a help for us to achieve peace?Akash is now stateless. He was compelled to leave his country. For one year, he has been living here in Germany.
He does not know where his next shelter is. He is trying to find and I hope he will get one, for him and for his family.But he has not given up his dream.
He is a reporter and human rights-worker. He believes, with these two weapons, if he can’t win peace, at least he can show us a way for us. So his ‚Struggle for Peace’ will be continued. This book is a clear sign.I hope, it will encourage the reader to dream for peace.Abdullah al-HarunMarch 2010-03-14Neu-Isenburg, GermanyContext: Peace, people’s government, real democracy and the rule of law are all golden-deer in Bangladesh. The religious fanaticism, innumerable superstitions, lack of education, poverty, corruption, immorality, have now strongly established the criminality everywhere.
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Disunity, unfairness, oppression, torture, killing-murder, terror, activities of the communal fundamentalists have crashed the people on the ground! Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians live here. People of all religions unitedly have fought for the independence of Bangladesh and shed blood. With enormous sacrifices under the leadership of Banganondhu (late) Sk. Mujibur Rahman, The nation got one nice secular constitution.After only 4 years after the independence of Bangladesh, father of the nation, Sk Mujibar Rahman, was killed brutally with most of his family members.
Through a planned way the following governments of General Ziaur Rahman and General H.M. Ershad have amended, revised and changed many times the original constitution of Bangladesh and have made it almost a farce! Islam was declared as the ‚State-Religion’. Although Bangladesh has people from four religions!
But such a radical change of the former secular Constitution was a heinous dishonour to the holy constitution! Through these measures religious fanaticism and communalism were given a state Contour. In the name of Islam the religious fundamental militancy has become now the greatest problem of Bangladesh. It is about now about 38 years after the independence, but the war criminals of Al- badr, Al- Shams, Rajakars and the murderers who were directly related with the genocide during the struggle for independence have not yet been put into the trial. The Political Party, Jamaat Islam is regularly igniting the fire of communalism in the name of Islam. Communal-politics is not banned in the country. State-terror like killings extra-judicial is going on without end.
All devouring corruption is the greatest obstacle for the fulfilment of the basic rights of the people. The afflictions of religious minorities are a day to day affair.In the society, a privileged class is making mountains with money. On the other side, majority people, not less than 95%, are becoming poorer every day. Religious minorities and the indigenously people are deprived of constitutional rights. Including the father of the nation, hundreds of politicians, journalists, lawyers, judges, members and common people have been killed. Different state-controlled armed cadres have created an extreme fearful and inhuman situation by their killings of innocent people, tortures and oppressions.
Within 38 years of independence, the country was under the military rulers for long 17 years. People were pushed to the dark-wild-administration and its persecutions. Torture-murders and planned genocide, crime and the incidences of the militancy are never enquired properly and effectively.
Of course after the event, government announces for enquiry and committees are also formed. ‚Whoever is the criminal, he would be definitely punished’, such promises are heard from the top level of the government or from the concerned authorities repeatedly with arrogance. But they are never materialised. Shortly speaking, there is no ‘explanation’ in the country. In the history of human-civilisation, the self confessed killers who have committed utmost heinous murders are saved from the state level and any possibility to put them into trial is closed. Judges feel agony to perform their duties.
The culture of the ‚absence of justice’ is increasing the criminal tendency day by day. All the state organs have been criminalised. The endless greed of making money of the upper class people are pushing the 70-80% common people towards the lowest level of poverty. By the most of political parties, specially the two big, Awami league and BNP have no headache for democracy. So the democracy in the state level is now beyond every possibility!Fundamental militancy in the name of Islam is growing rapidly. Women-Children-tortures, giving of fake religious decrees (Fatwa of Islam), meanness, and religious fanaticism are expanding. Raids with Bomb and Grenades, suicidal-conspiracies, envy and malice, scrambles are in extremity.
Brotherhood, mutual delight, solidarity, love and respect are being lost. Everywhere the humanity is hindered. Differences, dissimilarities between persons are growing.
Kindness and humanity are decreasing and on the other side, selfishness and mercantile mentality are growing on an electric-speed! Every day million of peoples are hungry and so to say almost naked due to lack of clothings.
Each year through flood, draught, dearth and tempest-cyclone millions of people suffer. Because of the change of river-flows, everyday innumerable people are losing their all possessions.
The five basic rights to have food, cloth, education, treatment and dwelling are totally unknown to the vast majority of the people. Each year innumerable persons die on diseases and without treatments. Millions of children have no access to schools, but ‚Child-labour’ is everywhere! Women-Children-smuggles, rapes are very common matter in Bangladesh. Besides, there are labour-discriminations. For similar works as men, women get less remuneration. Crime and criminals are ‘pardoned’ by state and it is a big obstacle for the establishment of rule of Law in Bangladesh.
A general statistics depicts that from 2004 till today, more than 1,500 persons were killed extra judiciary, through so-called ‘crossfire’, ‘encounter’ or in the name of ‘exchange of fires’. After the killing of father of the nation, the culture of impuning crimes has started. It is still going on, eve under the present new government.My PublicationsFrom February 2008 to April 2009, I have published four books on Islamic militancy, murders extra judiciary, state-terror and torture and bomb-grenade charges.They are: ‘15 hours in total Darkness’, ‘Extra judicial killings and Revenge’, Militant-Godfathers and other Issues’ and ‘From Udichi to Pilkhana’.
With few exceptions, in general Peoples-media actually nourish the interests of politicians and capitalists. In one case at least, the media of Bangladesh is quite blind. This is the ‘killings extra judicial’ by the state-army. After 38 years of independence, the tribal people have no constitutional-recognition.
At least 1,50000 Indigenous children are deprived of education. Apart from this, about 27 lacs children of the coutry have no right for education. Still now the black law, ‚Land-vested-law’ is existing. Religious minorities and indigenous people are being persecuted.
Although from the independence struggle for the country to all democratic-progressive movements, their roles are very much significant.The murders and tortures of religious minority and indigenous people and other oppressions are never redressed. As a result, one after another brutal incidences are happening. Criminals are encouraged!
You can buy ballot papers in the name of democracy. Only during election, common people have some attentions. After election is over, nobody takes care of the voters. An unequal and unfair society can’t exist longer. To establish peace, democracy, justice and fair-administration, the total change of the state-structure is needed.
For this a distinct political commitment and its effective successful materialisation are badly required. Without this, only Internet and digital technology can’t bring any development for the majority of the people.
In true sense to establish in Bangladesh, people’s welfare, peace and digital, we need the change of total system and a new structure.I have already finished another manuscript in Bengali, ‚Tortures on religious and tribal minorities in post independent Bangladesh’. Because of the constant threats from the Islamic militancy, one particular political- criminal clique and special state-force, I was compelled to leave the country. From the four published books and the 5th unpublished one, I have taken an attempt for an assimilation of an English-edition.
Those who are helping in this effort, I thank them all. This is a book on events and convened information. I hope this book will be a document of the incidences of Bangladesh, past and present.
From the book “Struggle for Peace”.
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March 2023
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