The situation in Bangladesh is fast deteriorating . The government has decided it cannot allow the Hefazat-e-Islam march to Dhaka from Chittagong to continue. Although it has fallen short of any official announcement, its actions speak louder than words. Also the red-eyed announcements of various government ministers talking of zero-tolerance towards any violence that might …
Apr 04
Pro-government imams paid to boycott 6th April Long March to Dhaka
A press conference was held by a new organisation, “Shachetan Hakkani Alem Shamaj” to boycott the 6th April long march by Hefazat-e-Islam, at Jatiya Press Club, on Wednesday. It has been reported that this government supported organisation had been offering money (250 taka per person) to get participants in the conference. The matter came to …
Apr 03
13 point demand of Hefazat-e-Islami
Hefazat-e-Islam has come to the forefront of discussion in the public sphere as the eve of its long March to Dhaka on the 6th of April draws near. But what are the demands of this movement? On the 9th of March, Hefazat-e-Islam leader Shaykh-ul-Islam Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi put forward a 13 point demand at …
Apr 03
4 ‘atheist bloggers’ arrested upto now: Everchanging drama in light of April 6 long march
Something seems fishy. Everybody knows by now that the government has arrested 3 atheist ‘bloggers’ in the name of arresting defamers of Allah, Mohammad (S.A.W) and Islam. However, few in the online realm know of them and the initial lukewarm response that the arrest of these ‘bloggers’ managed to get out from Shahbag speaks a …
Apr 02
Bangladesh Police: Reaping the rewards of oppression
Police are being beaten. Police are being attacked. Police are being forced to fire. Police are being chased. Pro-government and complicit media are usually awash with such heart rendering news of law enforcers being subject to such severe instances of violence. As a citizen of the state, it hurts me. Attacking law enforcers is highly …
Apr 01
Dr Farid Uddin Ahmed: Facing the Tune of Theatrical Autocracy
Listen my friends to the story of a human being. A human being facing injustice at the hands of justice. Dr. Farid Uddin Ahmed is an ophthalmologist by profession and a distinguished philanthropist. Resident of Kaderabad Housing Society at Mohammadpur, Dr. Farid was, incidentally, also the ex-ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami at Madaripur. On the 12th of …
Mar 30
What really happened in Feni on the 29th of March? The myth of secret meetings
A recent item in the news was the arrest of several people from a mosque at Feni. Police and pro-government media hailed it as something of a revelation. News reports of such media applauded the police raid of a secret meeting of Jamaat-Shibir activists, and sung their (miserable) odes to the bravery and efficiency of …
Mar 30
The Khulna saga: Tendon cutting by AL and my thoughts
The political scenario in Bangladesh is often mired by violence. Sometimes terrible violence. Violence that makes a sane human being question the existence of the rule of law. One such practice that has recently come to the forefront in Bangladesh is the barbaric practice of tendon cutting. Tendon cutting, in all its sadistic glory has …
Mar 30
Five die by police fire on the 29th of March
The 29th of March was not a special day by any means in Bangladesh. There was no call by opposition BNP-Jamaat for any special program for any agitation. Nor was there any call for hartal or procession. It was Friday. Yet, 5 people died. All of them were killed after being fatally shot by police. …
Mar 30
Shaheed Rumi Squad: When hunger-strikers turn out to be Biryani-khors
An organization called Shaheed Rumi squad has been staging a hunger strike in front of the gate of the National Museum at Shahbag to demand for the ban of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chatra Shibir. Made up of a few left leaning youths, the organization has presently attracted some university teachers, thinkers and political activists. …
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