Friday, September 21, 2007
Bangladesh Cartoonist Arrested
Are we seeing a Bangladesh version of Dutch cartoon fiasco? Recently a cartoon at weekly Alpin magazine of Daily Prothom-Alo raised protests among the bigots and Muslim fundamentalists of Bangladesh.
Daily prothom Alo swiftly withdrew the issue and apologized for the cartoon. I am not sure whether that was needed, but this should have been enough for those who may have been offended.
However an alarming news just came . Bangladesh Government has arrested the cartoonist Mr Arifur Rahman.
This arrest raises serious concern about continued patronization of the religious zealots, fundamentalists and bigots by the successive governments in Bangladesh.
A cartoonist should be sensitive about sensitive religious issues and should try not to hurt peoples’ feelings. However, if a mistake is made, a promt withdrawl and apology should suffice.
The arrest of the cartoonist tantamounts to very easy giving in to the demands of bigots. And if the bigots can lodge such an easy victory, why they would not be more aggressive tomorrow in their demands. e.g. What if the same group start demanding closing of all the restaurant during ramadan daytime and then asking all women to wear hizab in public? Isn’t the government opening a floodgate, a very dangerous floodgate?
We have seen this government as very heavy handed in dealing with centrist politicians. Very powerful personalities have been jailed for months without charge. Senior politicians getting 30 something years jail term with silly allegations.
Where is this uncompromising, headstrong attitude towards Islamic bigots?
We are seeing a systematic destruction of center right. Can’t we see that anihilation of center right will push all towards far right?
And with the arrest of cartoonist Arifur rahman, meet our Mr. Far Right.
[Cross-posted at rumiahmed.wordpress.com]
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Minneapolis bridge collapses, 7 deaths reported
[This post is regularly updated.]
Source: http://trivuz.com/index.php?q=node/133
SAN FRANCSICO (MarketWatch) --
A bridge spanning the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed Wednesday evening, sending cars into the water and killing at least three people, according to media reports.
The Interstate 35W bridge near the city center collapsed during the evening rush hour, reports said.
Three fatalities have been confirmed so far as a result of the collapse, according to a report on CNN. Some survivors were seen being carried up the riverbank, and there are estimates that some 20 to 30 people have been injured, the report said.
CNN reported that a police officer on the scene said he had "seen as many as seven people dead."
At least eight cars and a truck plunged into the river and onto the land below, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Web site.
Multiple trauma victims were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, the Star Tribune reported, adding that repair work has been underway on the 40-year-old bridge's surface.
As of 7 p.m. local time, the Minnesota State Patrol said the cause of the collapse remained undetermined, the Star Tribune reported. Many of the drivers on the bridge may have been trying to get to a Minnesota Twins baseball game that was scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m., the report said.
Don Stickney, assistant director of city information service Minneapolis 311, told CNN that the "general maintenance" work underway on the bridge likely restricted some lanes from traffic. However, Stickney said, it nonetheless "would have been the busiest time of the day."
news soruce: google news
picture courtesy: komotv.com
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Source: http://trivuz.com/index.php?q=node/133
-Click
here to watch LIVE coverage from ABC affililate KSTP
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here to watch LIVE coverage from CNN
SAN FRANCSICO (MarketWatch) --
A bridge spanning the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed Wednesday evening, sending cars into the water and killing at least three people, according to media reports.
The Interstate 35W bridge near the city center collapsed during the evening rush hour, reports said.
Three fatalities have been confirmed so far as a result of the collapse, according to a report on CNN. Some survivors were seen being carried up the riverbank, and there are estimates that some 20 to 30 people have been injured, the report said.
CNN reported that a police officer on the scene said he had "seen as many as seven people dead."
At least eight cars and a truck plunged into the river and onto the land below, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Web site.
Multiple trauma victims were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, the Star Tribune reported, adding that repair work has been underway on the 40-year-old bridge's surface.
As of 7 p.m. local time, the Minnesota State Patrol said the cause of the collapse remained undetermined, the Star Tribune reported. Many of the drivers on the bridge may have been trying to get to a Minnesota Twins baseball game that was scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m., the report said.
Don Stickney, assistant director of city information service Minneapolis 311, told CNN that the "general maintenance" work underway on the bridge likely restricted some lanes from traffic. However, Stickney said, it nonetheless "would have been the busiest time of the day."
news soruce: google news
picture courtesy: komotv.com
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September 18th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Dpwriter Tazreena just has had a write up published called the politics of fear today at New Age. This is exactly what she was talking about.
http://dpwrters.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/the-politcs-of-fear/
….Today, as a nation, are we afraid? The response is a resounding ‘yes’… Our fears reflect the concerns of our own physical safety and our desperate attempts not to lose the status quo that gives us protection. We fear death, torture, being disappeared, being silenced. We fear the loss of hope. These fears accentuate our powerlessness, and in their extreme form can lead to the erosion of any form of social solidarity
….that is the success of the culture of fear—to create an environment where the risk of loss stultifies any possibilities of gain. Its success lies in the destruction of hope, and hope is the nemesis of those who attempt to challenge fear to bring about change. While fear disempowers those in the receiving end, however, it does not promise permanent fortification to those who exercise its hold over it. To employ terror is to allow some of it to seep in into one’s own armour and the actions that follow to consolidate power only serve to institutionalise fear within one’s own ranks. This is no premonition, nor a prediction. It is, bluntly stated, the dynamics of the politics of fear in action.
September 18th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
This is also readable to get an idea of the cartoon fiasco.
http://www.e-bangladesh.org
September 18th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Not only Arifur Rahman was sent to the gallows, Motiur Rahman conveniently sacked Sumanta Aslam to save his back.
Arif Jebatik has a brilliant piece in Bangla on the real character of Matiur Rahman and other intellects of this country who cries out for Freedom of expression, freedom of speech.
Here is the cartoon
Boy, what is your name?
- My name is Babu.
* It is customary to mention Muhammad before the name
* What is your father’s name?
- Muhammad Abu
* What’s this in your lap?
- Muhammad cat
Bangla Blogosphere’s take on this:
“Arifur Rahman achieved many awards for his cartoon. This time for a innocuous cartoon he was made victim of self proclaimed defenders of religious feelings. Now a days satire cartoonists are prone to these kinds of attacks. But this is happening in this dire time when we are crying that we are being more tolerant, claiming all piece is embedded in this religion. The Alpin issue has been banned and the editor was suspended.
How strange are our realizations. After the August 22 revolution the Government has become so narrow in their views that a mere cat has instilled fear in them.”
September 18th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
We are living in the midst of suffocating fear. The boot is grinding down deeper and deeper and people are choking, choking.
Today everyone I talked to, was outraged at the cartoonist arrest. But no one dares say a word. What if Joint Forces take me away. What if they beat the living shit out of me. People are scared scared scared.
We live in the Republic of Fear.
September 18th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
..And so continues “akaimma” government’s “badaimma” governance.
How lame and sad that we have to endure such meaningless arrests. I am sure that the CTG will soon release Mr Arifur Rahman and show some indication of diverting their policies from such insane behaviors.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
‘A cartoonist should be sensitive about sensitive religious issues and should try not to hurt peoples’ feelings.’
I’ld agree with this if he were doing it against an already victimised minority - i.e. like in the case of the Danish cartoons where Muslims have already a pretty rough time.
But in Bangladeshs’ case its just ridiculous - a cartoonists’ very job is to be satirical, if he can’t do that he may as well hang himself
..and we might all do the same of ourselves..
for what is life without freedom??
September 18th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
The international media obliges as well.
How beautiful !!
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/18/asia/AS-GEN-Bngladesh-Cartoon-Controversy.php
September 18th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
The fear factor has slowly creeped into our minds. And it is slowly but surely encroaching upon freedom of speech.
The very concept of a secular Bangladesh recieved a major jolt in 1975 when Islamic fundamentalist elements within the army killed Sheikh Mujib and changed the course of the nation with help from the US and their Arab allies. Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise and the Jamaat-e-Islami has very shrewdly has been winning fo the time being the losing battle for the secularists. Jamaat, for mysterious reasons has been touched by the military goverment.
Booming population, irresponsible reproductive habits and in its wake stark poverty are fuelling the the raging noxious flames of the fanatics.
This ominous phenomenon is hurting our freedom of speech and democratic values.
This military government has been rude and ruthless to academicians and journalists alike while letting the Islamic fascists go scot-free.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
To answer Rumi’s question, this is also a must read
http://www.drishtpat.org/blog/2007/09/18/exit-the-tiger-inter-the-dragon
to see how field is getting used by the extreme right when the center right is getting elliminated.
Where does does a BNP supporter vote when there is no BNP? More likely Jamat, then Awami League.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Annu
I do dream of the utopian feedom you pointed to, believe me.
But once a while sensitivity becomes part of practicality and a reality check.
It is because, small such things gives bigots opportunity to come down hard on progressive secular outlets.
So, although I vouch for the reasonable self restrain, I chersih the life with freedom you mention.
September 18th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
What sensitivity are you talking about Rumibhai, what sensitivity when its the majority population??
How can I remain a ‘progressive secular outlet’, if I’m not allowed to be so??
September 18th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
khelafat andolon, i mean thats so 1919, get with the beat guys.
Anyway, more interestingly. The more secular leaning BNP remnants (because it is a confused beast), or the centre right (much more cuddly sounding) should organise their ideas and people into something better than a ‘we are not the awami league’ posture and have patience because they do not have much chance of ruling between 2008-13.
Maybe they also need to swallow their pride, aquire some flair and join the AL, because it might fit them more than the suit of ‘religious nationalism mark 2 Busy emptying the public coffers’.
September 18th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
It was the sensitivity that will enable someone to foresee what action may give some fodder to the hyenas out their.
Prothom Alo editor made himself a major target and subject to hatred of many very powerful people. While many/most of his actions were acts of rightful journalistic bravado, some were, in many peoples’ opinion, naked involvement in the game of power politics.
It was very clear that people have been just waiting for an opportunity to take a bite at Prothom Alo editor.
Bigots like Baitul Mukarram Khatib Obaidur Rahman, Moulana Amini, Moulana Mohiuddin met today with info advisor Barristr Moinul. Prothom Alo has published reports against and expressed editorial dislike of all four of them in the past.
And this was the chance for them to start the revenge process. NTV ( naother nemesis of prothom Alo) gave long coverage where all these three Moulana, sitting in Barrister Moinul’s office, were urging government to arrest prothom ALo publisher and editor and ban prothom alo.
We have to remember that prothom Alo is not only Motiur Rahmna, it also means the birth of columnists like Justic Rabbani, Dr Sadaat Hossain, or it also means magazines like Bichchhu, Alpin, or editors like Anisul Haque etc.
Having said that and after seeing the cartoon, I also do not believe it was a big deal or it could hurt a Muslim’s sentiment.
September 18th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Annu,
Let’s not get into a majority has no feelings kind of argument. “Majority” is a fluid term given the situation, borders and power, especially given all the hoopla we tend to make about some notionally broad South Asian identity. Muslims are anything but the majority in South Asia. As such, they have this siege mentality. Your argument would apply more towards the Middle East than here.
Having said that, let me just say that as a Muslim myself I found the cartoon innocuous and even funny (roja abar makhruh hoye gelo naki?:)). If anything, the new generation of Islamist people I’ve met would largely agree with the message of the cartoon. Let me also add that the Danish cartoons were something I objected to vociferously. This and that should not be compared.
And lastly, let’s take some time out to condemn the sheer idiocy of some of the protests that followed the Danish cartoons (and I expect all those who condemned the DU students protests to support me here). Let’s hope that sort of thing doesn’t happen again and that the PA offices remain safe.
September 18th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Rumi Bhai I am just worried about Utpal Shuvra and Shishir who are the life line of PA.But I am Curious where is the so called state of emergency while those fanatics were buring papers.But This issue has coverage already May be Our Scholar adviser Mainul has done the biggest harm to establish CTG as Pro fanatic.
September 18th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Asif Y(13#)
PA office will be safe no doubt but I am very surprised to see the reaction of PA. Indirectly they have supported Govt.Motiur Rahman has sacked Sumanta Aslam already.
Rezwan has already mention in same thread (#3). He has put a nice write up In E-Bangladesh as well.
After that To be very honest Asif I don’t have any soft corner for PA.Even their coverage was even not there till 10 pm(Gmt+8)
on their Regular head line
September 18th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Jamat and religious zealots do not have to come to power. Before the election 2008 ,
talebanization of our country will be complete by the CTG.
Prothom-alo has already apologized, there is no reason to arrest the cartoonist.They have done it only to terrorize the media and the entire nation. How come the bigots are burning the newspaper under emergency? why rules are different for them? Politicians, teachers, students, cartoonists all are threat to the law and order, now the CTG, along with these fundamentalists will bring ‘democracy’ in Bangladesh.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
I do protest this cartoon and agree that a cartoonist should be sensitive about sensitive religious issues and should try not to hurt peoples’ feelings. But I condemn his arrest.
Unlike the editor he should had gotten chance to apologize to the people. I like Tanim’s comment - “akaimma” government’s “badaimma” governance. This arrest shows the real face and underlying foundation of this government of 3M (Moinul,Motin,Moin).
September 18th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Prothom Alo management has shown very poor judgement by publishing this cartoon and the cartoonist is a probably a fool (or maybe not as I explain later) to create such cartoon living in a country like Bangladesh and knowing prevailing situation. Islam is getting enough bad press and propaganda from many different quarters and I have to say that a cartoonist who knows all this is probably doing it deliberately to provoke some untoward reaction like the burning of papers and get some publicity for himself. It is a tired old formula started by many illustrious writers of Muslim background. A so-called Muslim insulting Islam. What the human animal will not do for attracting attention and to seek fame and the other goodies that come with it as a bonus!
The authorities and the Islamic populace should show their restraint by not giving this person the attention that he has asked for. That is the best way to deal with these attention seeking traitors in our midst. Let them be and ignore them, but make a note of their inclinations and watch them carefully. The worst strategy is to make them into a hero, a darling poster-boy that he wants to be and as a result enables and empowers him to make himself available for propaganda by a well known quarter.
While burning of papers is a dramatic way to express anger and disagreement, I do not believe it is breaking any existing laws. It is still a peaceful and lawful form of protest, as far as I can tell.
However, our Muslim population should honor our prophet Muhammad (SAWS) more if they follow his examples of toleration and sabr (patience) and not get agitated and excited by trifles of no significance which are essentially attempts at intentional provocation to elicit a predictable response. It is better to see through the motivations behind acts than to be used as pawns by our enemys, who are always plotting to show us in a bad light, what a violent, intolerant and excitable lot we the Muslims are.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
I’m a bit surprised to read this one: http://bhorerkagoj.net/online/news.php?id=4706&sys=3 No other newspaper did report this. CTG has superseded the judges as like the political regime.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
The following may be slightly off topic, but not entirely irrelevant.
In continuation of the above post, I also wanted to add that lately there is worrying trends about the Iran situation. A background is being prepared for a violent confrontation for taking countless innocent lives, all because Iran cannot be trusted, although it is their legal right under NPT to seek and develop nuclear power generation technology. The justification is that these bunch of Muslims (violent and excitable, as we all Muslims are), specially a “rogue” regime such as the one in Iran, cannot be trusted with a destabilizing and sensitive technology such as this, since they will definitely go for nuclear weapons technology and eventually threaten to use it and may use it in a dire situation. There is also great nervousness about Pakistan, as it is the only nuclear Muslim country and there is a chance that the Islamic parties can somehow come to power. So all effort is made to make sure that this scenario does not take place and power remains with “secular” quarter friendly with the West.
So I call for understanding and restraint from our Islamic leadership, think before you act. Open your eyes, look at what is happening in the world and try to understand the trends.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Well, it just got more interesting in Bangladesh!
The cartoon controversy in Bangladesh has more than one dimension. First of all, after seeing the cartoon, I didn’t think it is a very good cartoon. May be I missed the satire in it? After describing the cartoon to my wife along with the story, she said “many of us joke around with similar things”. I myself joked many times about how many Bangladeshis are named ‘Mo’ after coming to the US. When my western friends are surprised about how all of brothers (including myself) have the same first name, I tried to explain to them that in Bangladesh we don’t really follow the western naming convention of first name-last name etc. At least not when I was named or any of my brothers were named. But the point is, does that make it a good cartoon? I don’t think so. I expect more from an award winning cartoonist. Is it offensive to Islam and the Muslims? Well, I don’t think so…but that depends on the interpretation.
So far the reaction from various quarter are as expected. The secular, educated (holders of college and university degrees), upper middle class part of the society is up in their arms and calling it ‘censorship’ and loss of freedom of expression, etc. The fundamentalists are burning newspapers and may very soon announce bounty for the head of the cartoonist! The government, I think is somewhat confused about what to do and arrested the cartoonist. Obviously the govt. does not want another movement like August. So they are trying to maintain the status quo.
I would like to raise a few points of my own. First, I think the timing of this is interesting. Just after the August incident, and right after the announcement of bounty on the Swedish cartoonist’s head for a similar offense, this could be a test case for the secularists in Bangladesh and elsewhere. In fact, Bangladesh could be a nice test ground to assess the level and type of response to an event like this in the context of a Muslim majority country. I don’t want to be a conspiracy theorist. But I think the timing is too much of a coincidence and does have some significance.
Second, how did this go through the editorial process in Prothom-Alo? As I said earlier, I don’t think this cartoon could be offensive to anyone. But the editorial staff at PA should know more!
The third is more about the aftermath of all these. In response to the incident, a known quarter in Bangladesh started burning PA and protesting on the street. The other quarter started calling them bigots and all. But the truth is, the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram mosque does enjoy the support of a number of people in Bangladesh. Same is true for the others with him. The support comes from mostly the rural majority of Bangladeshi. They don’t know any better. To them, the Imam of the mosque is their way to Allah and they would listen to the Imam without questioning. What do the secular, educated people do to make this rural majority understand that this cartoon is not really about the prophet? What do the city-living, college-educated, progressive members of Bangladesh society do to take more responsibility and educate their brothers and sisters and parents? Blaming the government will not solve the problem. Will it?
In Bangladesh, unfortunately this is not the only example of the progressive elites of the society to avoid their responsibility and dictate from the top. Not very long ago, the very same people wanted to change the political process in Bangladesh and as a result, we now have a pseudo-military government ruling Bangladesh. This top-down approach may be quicker in theory. But in the context of Bangladesh, I don’t think this would work. We have seen that many times through-out our history. The common people in Bangladesh do not like to be told what to do. So if we want to change the political process, we have to educate the common people what to expect of the political process or what their responsibilities are. If we want the Khatib and the likes to not have the strength that they have, we need to educate the common people about these issues. These are all bottom-up processes and may take more time. But I believe this is the only way to have gained any progress in Bangladeshi society. The sooner we can understand this and act accordingly, the better. Otherwise, history would keep repeating itself.
September 18th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
#15 Tanoy bhai,
Ami to shudhu shuni AL-leaning manushder thekey je DS ar PA is part of some great “shusheel” conspiracy to bolster this government and/or Jamaat. If that is true, then how did this cartoon run in the first place? If that is true, then how come people can run pieces critical of the current government and HIGHLY critical of Jamaat?
No one really has much sympathy for PA nowadays. Some of us because they have been too critical of politicians. Some of us because they have been too lenient to the current government. I myself fall into the latter group and really don’t have much sympathy for the former.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
AsifY,
I’ve read/heard stories about how DS/PA/susheel backed bhodroloke government is really a front for an imminent Indian takeover. And I’ve also read/heard stories about the Jamaati connection. That’s the kind of paranoia fear breeds.
I’d like to echo Rumi bhai’s concern - when the mainstream conservative politics (jatiyotabadi in our political lexicon) is demolished, the door is opened for the Islamists.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Such a “renowned and talented (?)” cartoonist lost all his ideas and ended up sketching a cartoon which is so cheap in taste. Call it a talent or brain fart?? Thinking of cartoonist’s intention as naive will be moronic. Having a first name as “Arif”, which means “knowledgeable” was not reflected in his own cartoon. May be he is putting supersize ear gag about what is happening all around him. Or, it is just another ploy to agitate the already boiling political environment a la DU style?
September 19th, 2007 at 1:21 am
To confront the rise of radical Islam there are several strategies:
1. to prevent failed states like Somalia or Afghanistan, where society breaks down completely, anarchy reigns and most of the civil society is forced to leave the country to escape lack of law and order and for lack of economic opportunity
2. to foster some level of working democracy so that there is representative government of the people replacing previous dysfunctional democracy and the culture of rampant corruption and loot
3. to ensure some level of prosperity to maintain peace in society which hopefully will choose a path of moderation as opposed to the path of radicalism and extremism
The emergence of 1/11 and the new CTG was due to all of above factors. An opening was available and the opportunity was taken to make changes using internal players, which could be brought into the game using existing leverage.
The motivation and drive for change comes mainly from the Islam factor as mentioned above. But the main driver of change are also close to WB-IMF(interest thieves)/globalization(WTO or market thieves)/(use of India as the regional sentry guard)/(hydro-carbon and mineral thieves) lobbyists, so all of these agenda’s also tried to enter the arena as a side note to the main factor of confronting and preventing the rise of radical Islam, using the influence of the main change agent. Here, I must caution the current country managers that these side issues should be looked at with a very critical eye, as most do not have very good track record worldwide. Also India like the other side players is probably trying to fish in muddy water, to use a Bengali phrase. All these sensitive issues along with others are best left to be tackled by the next elected govt. Only essential issues should be dealt with by this CTG, otherwise if something goes wrong later, the list of blames and incriminations will make lives difficult for current country managers in the future.
Also, the country managers, in their inexperience made several important mistakes, most of which was unintentional and hopefully we are moving in the right direction now after some corrections. Before 1/11, a creative, choatic and corrupt Bangladesh was lumbering along with all its imperfections, but as a functioning entity with its myriads of complexity, and it was still achieving 6.5% growth. After 1/11 with the anti corruption drive, this entity stopped functioning, as the key spokes of the wheel were removed and some stayed away out of fear. A change of this magnitude is bound to have structural and economic repercussions, at least in the short term.
The hope is that the country will suffer in the short term, but in the process we can build a lasting foundation, on which we can build a better future. Bangladesh does not need to be an Islamist state, but it will not accept any attack on its Islamic identity either. In many parts of the world, Muslims are being converted to Christianity in large numbers, specially in former Soviet Central Asia - so the anti Islam forces will do what they can do undermine and destroy Islam, as it is an old foe and competitor. Since this kind of approach is not possible in Bangladesh in large scale (conversion of poor in Bangladesh is an ongoing phenomenon), that is why the drive is not to eradicate Islam here, but prevent failure of state and the resulting rise of radical Islam.
But we must be clear on the identity and intention of the parties involved. They are no friends or well wishers, these parties can kill and destroy if needed and attack the core of our identity, as we are seeing today in many places. Here I do not even need to bring in history, it is happening on this planet as we speak and more of the same are being planned for the near future.
Regardless of why the change took place in the greater global context, for us, the people of Bangladesh, it does present an opportunity to clean house and build a good foundation. I think both CTG and Army key persons are well aware of these, probably much more than any of us give them credit for. So I wish them success in bringing about a money and muscle free election, corruption free MP’s and an independent judiciary as well as an NSC to remove any future corrupt MP’s. The country and its people will be grateful and thankful to them for these gifts.
As for AL, BNP, JP and other getting demolished and Jamati’s rise as the last man standing is really not a fair account of the actual situation on the ground. There are plenty of people to choose from in AL, BNP, JP and other parties to find corruption free candidates and I am sure the majority MP’s in the new parliament will be AL, BNP or JP. Jamat will probably retain its earlier number of MP’s or it may increase its base slightly, but not by much.
About Jamat, despite its questionable past, if they want to increase their base, I think the time has come for introspection about their own internal house cleaning, such as getting rid of any past anti Bangladesh forces, moving away completely from Moududism, specially Moududi’s new questionable innovations that are out of line with main stream traditional Hanafi Islam in the sub-continent and severe their ties with Wahabi/Salafi groups based in Gulf countries. A reconciliation of various sects/divisions in Islam are welcome for all Muslims, but we should not be servile followers of Wahabi/Salafi just because they have the bags of gold now, that would be deviating from Siratul Mustaqim (the straight path) the example of which was given to us by our prophet (SAWS).
September 19th, 2007 at 1:40 am
Take a look at the salivating headlines by NAYA DIGANTA. They were just waiting for such a chance. Take out your competition at one go.
Friends, I urge all of you to write to BD paperrs, in Bangla, expressing your outrage at the cartoonist’s arrest. DO NOT STAY LIMITED TO INTERNET OR TO ENGLISH. The people of BD have no access to either!
September 19th, 2007 at 2:07 am
Asif Y (23#)
Just have a look of the explanation of PA. I
heard the BBC yesterday where Abdul Kaiun has mentioned that Cartoon was Unapproved still it has been published.
what a funny stuff? Does PA has explanation
of such unprofessional behavior or Employees
of PA themselves started to revolt against
their Editorial group? It may be too much hypothetical. But none of us can avoid the point.
See neither I am intellect nor I am so called Elite of Dhaka but a normal guy what
impression will I have for PA? If I am telling that they try to be pro-fanatic,
I think at least I will get 10% support.
this 10% may be bigger in future as 50% if
same thing is happened now and then .
September 19th, 2007 at 2:57 am
Tanoy bhai,
I’ve read that piece. PA’s behaviour in this matter has been disgraceful, agreed. My argument was more about all that has gone on since 1/11.
September 19th, 2007 at 2:58 am
The argument the molla is giving in the cartoon is very common, and in
Arabic, its grammatically wrong too!
I was a victim of that!
During my SSC registration, the molla teacher gave me the same
argument and he inserted Mohammad before my name! The problem is, I
already had the Ahamed at the end! Now it became “Mohammad *** Ahamed”! In Arabic, they have a very similar meaning (”proshongshito” and “odhik proshongshito”)… so you cannot have the both in the same name.
Even, the prophet never used them at the same time (His uncle used to call him Ahamed).
Last year when I finally changed my name in the passport to correct it (by deleting Mohammad), I was treated almost like an apathetic, which I am not! Even now when people see my passport, they give me a look!
So, I gave my daughter a bengali name. Now when huzur came for “akika”, he questioned that its a “hindu name” (the same argument they gave for my Nick name as well, but that’s a different story)!
So, this is what I told him:
“Sunnah” is following what the prophet did. The prophet didn’t name himself… others named him so naming can’t be a sunnah! Also, those who named the Prophet were not Muslim at that time. So, mohammad was not an islamic name at that time! So, naming “Mohammad” is not real sunnah! Real Sunnah is “naming someone in his/her own
language”…. such as what the prophet’s gurdians did. In that case, naming my daughter in bengali is a sunnah!
The Mollah gave me a look, but did the akika, took the money and never
came back to irritate me!
September 19th, 2007 at 4:52 am
Is Baitul Mukkarram’s khatib paid by the government? Does anyone know?
#21, I think vast majority of rural Bangladeshi’s really evn don’t know the khatib’s name, forget about his popularity. But if you meant “madrasa circle”, I would agree that he might enjoy some supports.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:10 am
At first, I thought I shouldn’t send any post on this current topic. But at the end I failed to resist me. I’m not of the generation of the most bloggers and on an average,I believe, half a generation older than you folks. My view will be little eccentric to you and can’t soothe your souls. Yet, I’ll try to say what I feel truth and perinent.
I appreciate the views of SENSIBLE AND KHILJI in most part.
I’m very much saddened to see the socio-politico-religio misshappened mindscape our people. If I just look at the our bloggers I get scared to foresee our gleam future. The more the people are gettig materiastic education, the more they are getting away from human sense and rationality.
The same folks who see all bad in CTG were so happy with the 1/11 changeover. Now the same bunch who see all bad with CTG whole-heartedly welcoomed it. You are the people who endorsed the pre-1/11 political anarchy, street vandalism, arsion, gherao, killings, lagatar hartals paralizing the nations in succession that paved the way for CTG. And your most affiliated PA and DS bragged and demanded their credit for 1/11.
You then saw the light at the end of tunnel with the Jalpai-takeover and now you witnessing indfinite no-moon night for you, Alas! This clearly proves your lack of farsightedness and fathomless fallibilities.
About the cartoon most of you are commenting it was just a innocuous cartoon. But why it was done. It could be good fun in indoor pubs or chatrooms, but not in a highly circulated national daily. Moreover, the cartoon magzine itself is satirical publication section of PA. One with little sense can’t say a satire is innocuous. A satire is always atire and intended to hit or hurt.
But the evil-cartoonist should have known the entire spectrum of sensitivities of the readers of the daily.
Many bloggers wondered how the religious zealots dare to burn papers under emergency laws but didn’t wonder and ask the same question how under emergency, the so called students and teachers dared to create nationwide riot damaging public properties of million dollars!
They understand the liberty for themselves, not for others. At this stage we direly need to know the definition of liberty.
I can’t quote the definition of liberty from any pedant. But by librty, I mean, freedom of any activity for the good of oneslf or the society, that doesn’t incur physical, emotional or psycho-social loss of other individuals or groups.
We have to keep in mind, 150 million people of Bangladesh don’t possess the same degree of sense of sensitivities. Some are too sensitives, on the opposite end others are too flat that if anyone, for example, curse them as sons or daughters of whore, they won’t mind and perhaps, the rest are on the middle.
The problem is that we so called progessivists by thier very imbecile unthoughtful irresponsible reckless act cause the zealots to explode and then say why they explode so quick!
I’m afraid the country is heading towards another Afganistan. May, Allah save us. If it happens fanatics. religious or secularists, none will find their safe exits.
Thanks.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:22 am
I hope Dhaka publishers are not TESTING the authorities by the Swedish philosophy - “a work of art is successful when it meets resistance (see below).”
More likely, they are doing this for publicity, Madonna style - which makes more money than regular material.
The key to media profits in many places (incl UK), is sensationalism. Authorities do best by IGNORING this stuff, which may be difficult when they percieve media to have crossed the boundary.
Strangely enough - just today’s news from Sweden:
[[ Vilks, (Swedish cartoonist), told the seminar that he made a series of drawings of Muhammad to test the boundaries of artistic freedom, saying “a work of art is successful when it meets resistance.”
His drawings drew protests from Muslims in Sweden and abroad after Nerikes Allehanda, a newspaper in Orebro, published one of them in an editorial criticizing Swedish art galleries for refusing to exhibit the cartoons.]]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070918/ap_on_re_eu/sweden_prophet_drawings
September 19th, 2007 at 6:27 am
To me the Dhaka cartoon is innocent, and published in error.
Unlike the Swedish artists, who are intentionally trying to create a publicity stunt, by resisting the authorities and protests.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:26 am
4#
EDR Nice analysis.
To Me Current Bangladesh is compare to Famous
Hindi Block Buster Sholay. It seems One Gabbar
Shing is ruling the whole Village. This is the destiny of Bangladesh.we have to live in such fear.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:29 am
The cartoonist knew exactly what he was doing with this cartoon. If he didn’t, then he must be the most naive media-man in the country.
This is a pretty good example of the disconnect between the different layers of BD society, and how they view many things differently. The well-educated secularized segment will see it like this:
‘So what’s the problem, this is harmless, it’s just a cartoon, a silly joke. It’s nothing to do with the prophet, and even if it is, we have freedom of speech etc etc.’
OTOH, people who have some religious sympathies will interpret it differently. I don’t just mean bomb-throwing terrorists here, I’m talking about the regular Nurul Islam who can read a paper, who goes to Jumma on Fridays, who as a child was sent to madrasa in the afternoons or had a hujoor come to the house to teach him Quran and namaz.
To many such people, it will seem to be something other than a childish joke involving a cat and a mollah. They will fit it into a larger frame, they will find it insulting to the prophet in some vague and undefined way. They will see this as an intentionally oblique but definitely sarcastic and unnecessary attack on his name and on Muslim naming conventions. They will feel a pang of dismay or annoyance, some will even feel outright anger.
It doesn’t matter that many of them do not pray regularly or fast regularly, that their actual actions and religious values are divergent and full of hypocrisy. No, what matters is that the holy totems of their religion are being somehow targetted. The way that the majority of people are brought up in Bangladesh, they are taught - rightly or wrongly - that the very name of the prophet is sacred, that they should say Peace Be Upon Him every time they hear that name, that they should attach it to the names of their newborn (even if it soon gets shrunk to that ubiquitous, confusing and definitely lower middle class abbreviation Md.) They certainly wouldn’t see Mohammad, the prophet’s name, as proper fodder for the punchline of a cartoon. And that too during Ramadan. It doesn’t help that there is an Islamist political force ready to make hay out of this kind of incident.
All in all, a good example of the values divide. One set has fully taken on board values such as freedom of speech, to the extent where it would protect real or perceived slights against the majority religion. The other set - in my belief, the majority - are unschooled in such values, they still have a knee-jerk emotional response to such slights against their religion. They certainly wouldn’t buy the ‘freedom of speech at any cost’ angle in this case.
More generally, what I have never understood is how the secularized elite can believe they represent the people when they view the fundamental issue of religion so differently. It is no secret that a significant number of the secularized, Westernized classes view Islam with barely disguised contempt and even outright hostility. They view the populace’s emotional attachment to it with pity and distaste. The problem is that in this they are on their own. Most of the people may not even understand religion properly, when they practise it, they practise it as a matter of habit, reflex, childhood rote. But it is what it is. Even the para’r mastan puts on a punjabi and goes to the mosque with his buddies on Friday, if only to go to the roof of the mosque and spend some quality time in idle chatter. People in Bangladesh may not be dhormandho but most people of all faiths are to some extent dhormo-bhiru, and that is a critical distinction. They wouldn’t take kindly to denigration or mockery of their beliefs. The cultured classes on the other hand think that religion is fair game just like everything else. In my experience, matters of faith are disparaged by them, people’s beliefs and religious emotionalism are lamented.
A day may come when the people are indifferent to religious issues, when most Bangladeshis will respond with a yawn even to the most gratuitous insults, as they do in the God-free West. That day is not here yet. It will take that level of material affluence and secularized education, and also that degree of fraying in the faith before that can happen. In large parts of the West, religion is now just a cultural appendage, reduced to Easter bunnies and Christmas parties. Bangladesh has not reached it yet, although I am sure the seculars cannot wait for such a day to come. How will we know that day has arrived? When people look at you the same way when they hear that you go to Jumma as they do when they hear that you go to church regularly in Scandinavia.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:26 am
The essential problem I have with the cartoon is that it’s not funny. Tense moments can be relieved by a witty joke. This wasn’t humorous so didn’t have that to fall back on. If it wasn’t funny then why publish it?
September 19th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Z/Bitterboy,
How do we know that people who are not “secular elite” are reacting angrily to this? Are we to say this cartoon which satires the ignorant mollahs use(abuse) of our prophet’s name are an insult to Him and the majority of the religious people are thinking this cartoon is calling the prophet a cat as the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram is portraying it to be?
Once we can say that this angry view is shared by a large group of people and is not another ploy by the extreme right to come to the headlines, then we can get down to the discussion on issues of values divide as you mentioned. But first give one good reason to believe that those paper burners views are shared by all. Also do recall, the same folks were burning Prothom Alo last three years when they reported on Qawami madrasahs and Ahmadiya oppression. I did not think that represented the views of the religious non-elites at that time and neither do I think its representing their views this time.
A bit more background here
http://rumiahmed.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/the-only-totally-independent-government-officer-in-bangladesh/
September 19th, 2007 at 11:44 am
How come a few ultra-conservative mullahs scared off the PA? Is this the same newspaper that carried out a bold and relentless campaign against the notorious JMB? Now that was a scary lot.
My guess is that the PA got instructions from the CTG to take stern measures. But that begs the questions, why this Government was so keen to placate a handful of religious whackos that have little in common with rest of us Bangladeshi Muslims?
Hmm! Maybe I am thinking too much?
September 19th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I do not understand what freedom basically means.
Mother nature mutilated for so called temporary benefits- say with my money power if I encroach jamuna, padma and block the river flow am I not at my liberty? I’m punishing my body for some satisfaction it is not my freedom? I am eating red meat everyday it is my freedom. So if I go out and scream, can’t I do that?
But, if I have a grain of respect for nature where my relatives, friends, fellow human being and I live I should have thought twice to waste my resources because of its harmful impact. So is my body treatment that endanger my livelihood and potential power that is being curtailed. Perhaps that’s how the liberty preachers shouts.
Respect for others and thinking of common goods and benefits should surpass the ‘me’, ‘me’ thinking pattern.
If the cartoonist had put the human wellbeing at fore front he should have opted for issues that only benefits mankind not making fun of them in a silly way. Human integrity should be uphold at any cost.
32 gallons of blood circulating your body per second covering a distance twice to moon you do not respect its creators and its functionality, it is up to you but do not suggest me otherwise. And do not step into my sovereignty until I broke yours and that should be the freedom. Freedom to stay and maintain my own sovereignty should be the cause.
Obaidul Haque’s knowledge and culture does makes me to suffer with my real identity but the cartoonist is no better. Call me bigot or zealot, I am a today’s much disrespected Muslim.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
An international press freedom body on Wednesday called for the immediate release of a Bangladesh cartoonist detained for allegedly insulting Muslims with a reference to the prophet Mohammed.
Reporters Without Borders appealed to the military-backed government to release Arifur Rahman, who was detained on Tuesday following the publication of his cartoon in a satirical weekly magazine.
The drawing showed a small boy adding the name Mohammed to the name of a cat.
“The play on words had no intention of attacking the Prophet. It was a joke about cultural custom,” the Paris-based organisation said in a statement.
“The government should not yield to pressure from extremist leaders who are trying to politicise the case. Rahman should not be made a scapegoat. He must be freed.”
Around 3,000 people from Muslim groups protested in central Dhaka on Wednesday against Rahman’s work. Street demonstrations have been illegal here since a state of emergency was imposed in January.
The government earlier seized all copies of the magazine, which is published by the mass-circulated Bengali daily Prothom Alo.
It is the second time that the emergency government has been criticised by Reporters Without Borders.
Last month, it said the government’s record had been “badly marred” by censorship and violence by security forces against journalists during a spate of unrest.
Bangladesh, with a population of 144 million, is the world’s third-largest Muslim-majority country.
It has been under emergency rule since January 11, after elections were cancelled over vote-rigging allegations and the military-backed government took power.
The government has pledged to hold fresh polls by late 2008 after carrying out wide-ranging reforms to clean up the nation’s corruption-riddled politics.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
This government is now acting on the slightest provocation and the out-of-proportion offence taken at the behest of a bunch of aggravated mullahs because of a silly cartoon?!
Two possibilities spring to mind:
The CTG is either very much weaker than we give it credit for OR there is some other agenda-driven string-pulling going on behind the scenes.
Welcome to a ‘Jamaat Shorkar’.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
This cartoon was posted as a joke at a shibir newspaper before but no one raised a hue at that time.
See details:
http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/sujonmcblog/28732243
September 19th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
3000 people did a demonstration today but police was nowhere to be seen. One country — two sets of laws.
One for jamaties and the army and the others set is for the rest of us.
September 19th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Please go through the news in the DS under the heading “US welcomes Army Chief’s assurance of having no political ambition”
1) Speaking at a meeting with newspaper editors at the residence of US CDA Geeta Pasi US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Gastright welcomed Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed’s assurances that he and the army do not have any political ambition.
…if Army is just supporting the current government under the constitution, why meeting with the Army Chief is so important? Under what protocol one foreign country can meet with visiting county’s Army Chief. Does it mean that the Chief Adviser and the Army Chief are holding the same protocol? Or the country is being run by 2 governments?
2) The editors present at the meet include Rahat Khan of Daily Ittefaq, Golam Sarwar of Daily Jugantor, Matiur Rahman of Daily Prothom Alo, Abed Khan of Daily Shamokal, Motiur Rahman Chowdhury of Daily Manab Zamin and Nurul Kabir of New Age.
…so now we know who are enjoying Moinul’s freedom of speech the most. By the way where is the editor@thedailystar?
3) Later, politicians and business-community leaders joined an Ifter Party at the venue. Among them were Awami League leaders Tofail Ahmed, Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Asaduzzaman Noor, BNP leaders Dr Moyeen Khan and Jahiruddin Swapon, JP leader Ruhul Amin Hawlader and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and FBCCI president Meer Nasir Hossain.
–wait a minute, except the Jamaat (which is part of current government of 3M), aren’t rest of them so called reformist?
So running the country by the Army Chief + Some Ex-employees of ADB/WB + Some Ex-Army Officers keeping Jamaat as their partner and dividing the 2 big political parties by creating their agents (reformist) will not bring any good to our future Bangladesh. This was tested b4 but failed.
September 19th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
In a nation like BD with strong conservative values, where explosive frustration against third world conditions are dampened only by religious dogma, I think ALL religious jokes should be avoided in the media. The CTG are only trying to hush the environment, so that the Sleeping Giant of religious uprise doesn’t sidetrack the political reform.
A secular nation doesn’t mean one that insults and offends religion, however obliquely, in the western pattern of “freedom of speech”. Taslima Nasreen may feel like a wild Madonna on stage, but in BD, like Z says earlier, the nation is not ready to accept such blasphemy yet. Religion is too powerful a pain killer in the poverty environment, and too entrenched in the social history of British-Raj-Brahmin-Pak exploitation and humiliation in BD, to be permissively trampled as in the West. BD is not ready for that yet.
By the way, here is a joke heard in the West, and shared carelessly among folks, but I wouldn’t publish this in a BD newspaper, no matter how innocent, as it MAY offend the religious sentiment of some. But this one is relatively benign, as it doesn’t involve the Lord or prophet directly, unlike the cartoon.. Here it is:
“Yesterday, my Car-ma ran over my Dog-ma.”
September 19th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Have a look of Salim Samad-
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2007/09/19/of-the-fua-%e2%80%93-mua-sarkar/#more-88
September 19th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
This cartoon is not something that the cartoonist invented… This kinda of joke was going around for a while. Post number #43 is a good example. I remember a similar joke was used in the movie Matir Moyna.
It feels like prothom-alo is being unfairly targeted by the bigots.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
I looked through the DS and couldn’t find a single reference to the cartoon story.
Why is that?
September 19th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
The arrested cartoonist should be released. He didn’t make the cartoon to offend the religion. Here it can be noted that this joke is an old one, many of us heard it before. So, there’s no point of arresting him. Apology from him was enough.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Say No To Muhammad Army and the unholy alliance of the Muhammad CTG and the Muhammad Jamaati Islaami. Death to unpatriotic Muhammad Razakars! And corrupt dynasties of Muhammad BNP and the Muhammad Awami League!
September 19th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
With all due respect to all agitated posters, here you can be 10, 20, 50 or 50,000 it matters very little to our 140 million Muslims in Bangladesh who love and respect our prophet Muhammad (SAWS), no matter how much you try to defame his name, our religion and way of life.
You post here with Muslim name and try to show that there is a secular elite or secular section in our population, unfortunately foreign organizations are already sitting in the fields of Bangladesh collecting their info, they do not need to read DP to get reliable info. Your efforts will be better served if you joined some NGO to convert Bangladeshi Muslims to christianity or Hinduism in Bangladesh and elsewhere. And by the way, there is a bunch of us going everyplace in India and even Pakistan, how about trying to convert them first, there is a lot of work for you guys, you better get busy.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
It’s a Legal and not a Political Issue:
I must say that I only glanced through some of the above comments. Many are much too involved and are really attempted expositions of the person’s political and societal views. Much of those, regrettably, are much ado about nothing, signifying little substance: great storms in the tea cups over a very simple issue. This issue is a question entirely legal in nature to my mind, that is to say: whether or not the act of publication of the cartoon concerned violated a specific law of Bangladesh, not forgetting the fact that the publication license of the newspaper is also issued under the laws of Bangladesh.
Whether such laws are relevant of not, of if indeed, they are conducive to our society that is modern, theocratic or moderate, is another matter altogether, but in the end an opinion only, and not a provable fact.
Without giving any uncalled for opinions regarding the same, I may only point out that this law was NOT even discussed in any of the parliaments of Bangladesh since 1972, let alone rescinded. It has thus survived many parliaments with many political parties in the majority, and can be assumed to continue as an active law in Bangladesh. It can thus be taken to represent the will of the majority people of Bangladesh for long 35 years as also it is expected to continue to do so in future as well. And we all, including the cartoonist, are subject to ALL the laws of Bangladesh, whether we like it or not.
It is the duty of executive branch of every State to enforce its laws,and not to debate its suitability or otherwise of the law. That would the duty of the Legislature which in our instant had its say in the preceding 37 years! The law is here and will stay intact till a parliament act upon it.
Without getting into unnecessary and irrelevant discussions about any other peripheral issue, it can be said without much controversy that such frivolous and mindless satire on a very sensitive matter such as the Prophet (SM)’s name in whatever context and whatever objective, was in very bad taste and exhibited abysmal insensitivity for the public sentiments. One must not forget that hundreds of millions of our devout people are keeping fast in this month of Ramadan and are performing long nightly prayers (Salat-ul Tarabih) in the very name, which was ridiculed so tastelessly in the cartoon. Muslims, it may not be needed to remind the commentators, also pray many times a day, every day of their adult lives, in the name of the Prophet (SM), that is to say in the form of ‘Sunnat-e Rasul-lliah-e Tawala’.
Therefore, let us view things in perspective and not put blame regarding every such incident on Jamat-e-Islami or on the bogey of the ‘fundamentalists’. There are indeed hundreds of millions of Muslim citizens of this country who will be offended by such affronts even though they do not belong to or sympathise with any political party. They are simply Muslims, without any adjective pejorative as usually are put before their names by some sections of the Western media and copied by our local ‘yours truly’ copy cats. Since their sentiments were adversely affected, the relevant section of the BPC, which guarantees the citizen to the contrary, was invoked. It is up to the courts however to decide, and the accused is free to go up to the full bench of the Supreme Court in order to obtain justice, whether or not the man concerned has indeed committed a crime or not. If not, he goes a free man, and if proven guilty, he should and hopefully will, bear the consequences, as anyone will in any society, for breach of any law to which he/she is subject.
This simply spoken is at the essence of Rule of Law, which indeed is the most important aspect of a democratic society for which we are still pining for.
Under the circumstances, any such discussion is thus sub-judice and will only hamper the cause of justice under rule of law, for which many commentators have shown much concern in the preceding comments.
Let our legal system do its job unhindered, leaving all of us to do ours, if we have any!
September 19th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
#53
I’m not offended. I’m Muslim. Or does my support for the cartoonist readily mean that I’m no longer a Muslim?
Or maybe I’m simply posting with a Muslim name while in reality, I’m trying to go back home to convert a bunch of Muslims out of the way of Islam. I should just stop fasting from tomorrow and praying shouldn’t i???
khilji, if you’re fasting today you ought to be worried just a bit. I hope you know that you are not allowed to cast aspersions on other Muslims’s faith in Islam: “You post here with Muslim name and try to show that there is a secular elite or secular section in our population”
Some of us have more than Muslim names, some of us have Muslim faiths and a different understanding of our faith than knee-jerk reactionaries like you. You preach tolerance in one comment and then go off on a rant in another. Are you bipolar or something man? Or maybe an amnesiac? Whatever you are, you are everything that is wrong with Muslims today. Please note, not wrong with Islam as peached by the Prophet (SAW) but with half-baked Muslims like yourself and your pals from the Baitul Mukarram.
Admins, please keep out the ridiculous comments like #52 that are offensive to a LOT of regular commenters here. The commenter obviously thinks that everyone but himself is out to get Muslims, but somehow doesn’t criticise the Islamist magazine that published almost the same cartoon. Such commenters do not lead to constructive debate and engagement but to division and accusation. They also display a mild form of paranoia that isn’t healthy to any group or country!
September 20th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Also, where exactly are you getting that figure for 140 million Muslims in Bangladesh?
September 20th, 2007 at 12:36 am
54 Recognizing sarcasm is not one of your strong points I guess. I do have a suspicion that some people of other faith comment here with Muslim names (I did not mean actual Muslims using Muslim names), of course I could be wrong and yes you can call be paranoid for that if you want. I can usually tell from the comments if they are Muslims with a secular bent or liberal views or if they are from other faith. Sometimes the series of comments from an individual make it painfully obvious to not just me, I am sure others are seeing the same things.
I remain firm in my conviction of tolerance as every good Muslim should be, but I do not like attacks on any religion not just Islam. It is a Human Rights issue, not to hurt religious feelings of people, regardless of the faith in question.
The problem with forums or any other anonymous internet forums/blogs is that how can you be sure about who is writing these comments? False representation is what I am refering to here, and there is really no way to prevent it, unfortunately. But at least I can joke about it and make people aware, or do you want to take away my freedom of speech for that.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:57 am
khilji,
Get a dictionary. Do you even know what jokes and sarcasm are?
If you’re CONVINCED that people from other faiths are commenting here with Muslim names, then you should have said the opposite to have been sarcastic. Instead you are simply repeating your UNPROVEN, basless accusation.
I couldn’t find a single ‘joke’ in comment #52. However, I did find you saying that people here supporting the cartoonist should go back home and convert people into other religions. Rojar maashey ei shob kotha baarta na bolley kemon hoy? You want this cartoonist to respect Ramadan? Why not start yourself and stop doubting the genuine faith of other commenters.
Yes, an insult to religion is a HR issue. If you feel that Islam/Muslims were insulted by this cartoon, then that is your right. Just dont say that we are not being good Muslims just because we are not insulted. I felt insulted by the Danish cartoons because they were really racist. THAT was an HR issue. This is political.
Khilji, Do not even bring up your own freedom of speech if you do not want to give it to others. Hypocrite!
September 20th, 2007 at 3:05 am
I fail to understand why all this theorizing about a very simple issue. Can anyone among those who are criticizing the cartoonist honestly claim that there aren’t hundreds of tokais in BD who would do exactly what has been described in the cartoon.
I think such actions show the weakness of one’s faith not its strength. I honestly don’t believe that islam needs to be protected from such “evil” acts. A healthy dose of common sense would certainly help.
September 20th, 2007 at 7:39 am
The cartoon anarchy reminds me a famous poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller, written about the Nazi regime.
“First they came for the communists,
And I did not speak out—
Because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists,
And I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists,
And I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews,
And I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—
And there was no one left to speak out for me.”
Motiur Rahman would probably save himself by sacrificing a 20 years old cartoonist. BUT then they will come for him and there will be no one left to speak out for him!
September 20th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Please calm your nerves. This thread is showing how unwarranted personal attacks can flare up to a hate fest. Please use discretion and judgement. If you don’t want to be attacked, please don’t attack others with random statements.
September 20th, 2007 at 10:25 am
The bigots and fanatics will have a hay day with this psuedo liberalism displayed in the Prothom Alo cartoon. To many liberals this may be nothing but when it come to making a mountain out of a mole hill this was enough. Unfortunatley there is no place for liberals and free spirit in Bangladesh. Somehow in Bangladesh we are continuing with our ‘identity crisis’ and confused state of mind. We are not sure of our heritage, our culture and have no clue of nationalism or patriotism.
September 20th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Why can’t u say this action (publishing the cartoon) is intentional?
The cartoon itself is harmless… but the timing is very significant…
Sumanta aslam did it to get some cheap political points… and the artist… HUH… he did to go abroad… West… taslima Nasrin, Humayan Azad shows us how it is easy to go to Europe even with huge dignity while talking/attacking Islamic religion/culture. While Bangladeshi youths are dying while crossing Sahara and Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to get some income to feed their family… these bunch of so called intellect are getting the benefit of western wealth by creating chaos in social harmony of Bangladesh… I don’t know when Taslima will get Noble prize in literatures
And these people of khilafat… they have no works… they are the burden of society… making political points out of no where and defaming Islam… They also should be prosecuted for insulting Islam…
September 20th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
The fact that the cartoon created an antagonistic feeling among the religionists is not surprising. It is not surprising that ulema-ekrams got together and burned Prothom Alo. The surprising aspect is/was CTG’s reaction to the complaints. Moinul Hussain’s explanantions asisde, which themselves can be written down and sold as jokes (like Bushisms are sold in US), my question is - WHY? Why would CTG give in to the demands of IOJ and other Islamists - and that too so promptly?
Yeah, yeah, - we all know the answer to that… he didn’t want to take the risk of having another DU incident in their hands to deal with!!! Asinine… simply ridiculous!!!
But, if this explanation is ridiculous, what could be a better one? We all know Moinul Hussain’s connection with Shibir and Jamaat, right? I saw an video clip of him sitting on a panel of distinguished Jamaati leaders during a Mohashommelon of Shibir in China-Bangla Moitri Shommelon Kendro…
So - there - a link can be established between some of the advisors and these religionists (I am sure there are more than just him). The influence of these extreme-right wingers within the fold of BD army is also well-documented and well-known… interesting, to say the least.
The theoretical underpinning - right-winged powers flock together… nationalists and religionists flock together… simple.
Now… CTG is not ALL Jamaat, as some would like to believe that. As I have written elsewhere, I believe, the 1/11 coup de tat occured through a triangular power balancing act, with one pole being the big brothers, the other two represented by the elite-petit bourgeosie oligarchs and fire-power (army).
Now… not all that much have been said or written about the second element in the mix… the elites. Who are they? Who were involved in the present mix-match of people? One think for sure, whoever they were, they are not consistently part of it… but, have remained influenctial this way or the other. Let me name a few names…
1. Motiur Rahman
2. Mahfuz Anam
3. Sirajul Alam Khan
4. Moinul Hussain
5. Md. Yunus
5. Fakruddin Ahmed
and so on and so forth…
Like it or not - these people are who rbought about the so-called revolution. Please provide your comments and take on this matter.
If my conjecture has any truth in it, then Motiur Rahman is no shotter shondhani… he is as opportunistic as the next person (ref. Mahfuz Anam). They both have been able to capture the pulse of American media coup and learned the tactics of freedom and democracy on one hand, and oppotunitistic journalism favoring the anti-left, pro-American forces.
So - this is where we needed to be the most surprised (though I wasn’t since I believe in what I am writing…
). The seemingly secular and free press of Prothom Alo turned their back on the editor of the magazine Alpin!!! Motiur Rahman didn’t give the agitators the slightest of chances to say anything any further - he promptly, more promptly than the CTG itself - took the issue out of net archive, apologized to the nation, and worst of all - instead of protesting (which some guillible readers expected) the arrest of his freelance cartoonist, he FIRED his editor!!!
Yeah - Motiur… BRAVO… that is good jounalistic move… a long time ago a friend of mine told me - a rhetorician can not be expected to say the truth… s/he is busy making thing looking good - it doesn’t matter if those thigns are expressive of truth or not… and MR - is definitely a rhetorician per excellence.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
astute observation, Iconus. Now the big question is all of these folks like Anam et al who have put their reputation on the line trusting Fakhruddin, will they be vindicated if there is a meaningful election happens in 08? or will they crash and burn and say that “we had been conned”?
September 20th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Restraint restraint restraint from all possible violence.
Peace peace peace.
No oil on fire.
Opportunists please cool down, break right where you are.
Enough many of you have done with it…religion, politics can not be expressed in same language which have their different colour.
Every where we love to paste some colour with the motive of gains, how long.
If you do not want to have peace for long, see a different destination - better get out from harming this green land.
Do not let throw stone at them who are on the deep of inconvenience.
Let us forget to serve our ‘masters’ for the gain of money, short lasting power, fame.
They are identified and should we not get them out for a free Greenland.
ALO
September 20th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
bdnews24 just reported that GOVT has banned the EID issue of shaptahik 2000.
from BDnews24
Home secretary Abdul Karim told bdnews24.com that the Eid edition of the magazine had carried an article “offensive to religious sensibilities”.
The autobiographical article written by Daud Haider, self-exiled in Germany, is at the heart of the controversy.
September 20th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Although current government is trying to expand its size by appointing more advisors, apparently Moinul himself is running this government by himself and he is pocking his nose in every affairs. Otherwise why he has to led team of his obedient editors (Golam Sarwar, Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, Sangbad Editor Bazlur Rahman, Ittefaq Editor Rahat Khan, Ataus Samad of Amar Desh, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Samakal Editor Abed Khan, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Amar Desh Editor Amanullah Kabir, Amader Shomoy Editor Naimul Islam Khan, Manabjamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, and Naya Diganta Mohammad Alamgir Mohiuddin) to apologize to Moulana Obaidul. Last time I checked, Major General Dr. A.S.M. Matiur Rahman (Retd) is in charge of Ministry of Religious Affairs, isn’t he? What the hell is he doing with his big title in front of his name?
Today Moinul met with the president and discussed his departments’ activities. Can he do that? Shouldn’t he update the chief advisor instead of the president?
News came out that Sheikh Hasina’s arrest was due his personal / political clash with her.
So my understanding is 3 governments are running (rapping) Bangladesh:
1)Fraction of Army led by Gen. Moin,
2)ADB/WB agents led by Dr.Fakhruddin and
3)Jamaat + nationalist force led by Barrister.Moinul.
We have to wait till 2009 to see the winner. But will Bangladesh survive that long or people of Bangladesh will tolerate that long?