Free Speech

[javed helali]

On free speech and the imperatives of democracy

This essay is dedicated to the memory of National Professor Dr. Anisuzzaman, Founding Vice Chairman and Settler, Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation, a personal hero, and a champion of free speech.

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Ahrar AhmadJune 01, 2020

Star Online Graphics

It is almost axiomatic that free speech is indispensable to democracy. 

It is also obvious that almost all human progress depends upon an environment of free thought and free expression. Scientific advances would not be possible without challenging and revising received wisdom and provoking new explanations based on logic and evidence. Human creativity would not be possible without allowing the audacity of imagination to extend aesthetic tastes and frontiers. Intellectual growth would not be possible without the willingness to tolerate diverse, sometimes contradictory, answers to life's enduring questions.

Human existence may be possible without these freedoms, but the human condition would be bereft of beauty or joy or meaning.    

However, it is important to point out that the notion of "free speech" may be problematic, and generate awkward questions.

Can speech be absolute, universal, unconditional? Are there no limits or boundaries or responsibilities regarding the exercise of free speech that we must acknowledge? Shouldn't historical contexts, cultural dynamics and social norms determine the quality or level of free speech that may be practiced?

Moreover, should we allow the leakage of state secrets that may jeopardise national security? Pornography that objectifies and degrades women? Hate speech that not only disparages minorities, but may make them unsafe? Information that is demonstrably false, confusing and dangerous to public welfare, or may hurt the sentiments of some, particularly on matters of race, identity and religion?

Also, what happens when two rights collide – when one's right to free speech goes against someone else's right to a fair trial (which may be jeopardised by media reporting), or against someone else's right not to be defamed, or against someone else's right to conduct daily life without disruptions?

These concerns are all legitimate, but are neither unique nor novel. There is a long and lively jurisprudential tradition that has evolved around such questions. There have been doctrines that have been established, tests devised, definitions provided, guidelines presented, and reasonable conditions clarified. These may well serve as the basis to approach, if not resolve, some of these problems.

Moreover, it is most reassuring that the trajectory of free speech, considered in this essay essentially as "political speech", has almost always been upward. Its ambit and authority have expanded steadily. This evolution will be discussed here with reference to court cases in the US judicial system.

II

During WWI and the Red Scare days that followed, the US Supreme Court interpreted "free speech" very narrowly and upheld the conviction of citizens for distributing leaflets to oppose the draft (Schenck v. US, 1919), calling a strike to oppose US efforts to overthrow the Communist regime in the USSR (Abrams v US, 1919), publishing a "left-wing manifesto" in which the author had advocated the overthrow of the government (Gitlow v NY, 1925), or just being associated with the Communist Party (Whitney v CA, 1927).

In these cases the Court used the "clear and present danger test" where the exercise of free speech could supposedly endanger the public in some way, or the "bad tendency test" where it could possibly lead to "evil" consequences in the future. Incidentally, it was in Schenck that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes had famously remarked that one cannot be allowed to "falsely shout fire in a crowded theatre" (and elsewhere, is reported to have said that "the right to swing your arm ends where my face begins"). Ironically, Justice Holmes became one of the fiercest defenders of free speech later.

Lawmen escort handcuffed photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol to a court in Jashore on May 4, 2020.

By the 1930s, when the Red Scare had abated (the US recognised the USSR in 1933), the Depression was creating economic havoc, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had his majority in the Court by the late 30s, and the orientation towards free speech shifted. 

Justice Cardozo instituted the "preferred position" doctrine (Connecticut v Palko, 1937), which held that there was a "hierarchy of constitutional rights" in which free speech would always be privileged over others. Justice Harlan Stone (US v Carolene Products, 1938), in probably the most famous footnote in constitutional history, invoked the standards of "strict scrutiny" to apply to laws that sought to limit rights under the constitution. Even the requirement to salute the national flag, mandated in many States, was invalidated as an infringement of First Amendment rights (West Virginia State Board of Education v Barnette, 1942).

The Warren Court (1953-1969) advanced free speech aggressively. In Yates v. US (1957) the Court made the crucial distinction between advocacy of an idea and incitement to action, and ensured the protection of the first (a belief cannot be a crime). Based on this ruling, many imprisoned members of leftist parties who had been jailed under the Smith Act (1940), or because of anti-communist hysteria following WWII (McCarthyism), were released. 

This principle was further sharpened in Brandenburg v Ohio (1969), when the conviction of a Klan leader for an ugly racist rant, was declared unconstitutional because while his speech was inherently offensive and inflammatory, it did not advocate "imminent lawless action", the Court's only condition for limiting speech. All previous "tests" for political speech were thus rendered moot under this stringent standard.

Thus, it became perfectly legal to criticise, satirise, or condemn any law or leader, any historical event or ideological position, any people or policy, or propagate anything utterly silly (after all, as the Courts pointed out, citizens have the right to be stupid), as long as a specific criminal act was not being directly encouraged. Citizens can agitate to "throw the bums out", or mobilise to "destroy capitalism", or demand to "end the lock-down", or denounce "gays, or Muslims, or vegetarians, or abortion defenders, or Senator X, or a book, etc. as evil", but one cannot provoke public harm by saying "hit that person" or "rob that bank" or "vandalize that building".    

The Courts also expanded free speech rights through the "vagueness" and "over-breadth" doctrines which stipulated that unless the language of laws that limit speech is clear and specific, they would be over-thrown. On this basis, it supported the right of school children to wear black arm bands to oppose the Vietnam War as "symbolic speech" (Tinker v. Des Moines, 1967), which was also invoked to allow the burning of the US flag as political opinion (Texas v Johnson, 1989); established the three conditions (actual malice, knowledge of falsity and reckless disregard of facts) to justify a libel suit (New York Times v Sullivan, 1964); and clarified that "no prior restraint" can be imposed on the press by the government, and thus permitted the publication of the Pentagon Papers (New York Times v US, 1971). The one issue on which the Court dithered involved national security including protection to "whistle-blowers".

Undoubtedly, there has been a persistent expansion of free speech in the US. This pattern is obvious in most democratic countries. Unfortunately, Bangladesh defies that trend.

III

Three kinds of evidence may be presented in support of that last contention.

First, Bangladesh fares poorly in measures which compare the robustness of freedom in various countries. Bangladesh was ranked 151 out of 178 countries by Reporters without Borders, with Sri Lanka at 127, India 142 and Pakistan 145. In the Human Freedom Index of the Cato Institute, Bangladesh was ranked 138 out of 162 countries, slightly ahead of Pakistan at 140, but behind Sri Lanka at 110, and India at 94. Freedom House classified Bangladesh in 2020 as only "partly free" with a total score of 39, slightly better than Pakistan with 38, but much below Sri Lanka with 56 or India with 71.

What is even more troubling is the fact that in most of these rankings, Bangladesh's position appears to be worsening. For Reporters without Borders, its position slipped by one over the previous year, in the Cato Institute index it came down by .08 from 2019, and in the rank ordering of Freedom House, Bangladesh was clustered with countries which had significant deteriorations in composite scores.

Second, the Information, Communication and Technology Act (ICT, 2006, amended 2013), and the Digital Security Act (DSA, 2018) appear to problematise the right of free speech granted in several provisions, but most explicitly in article 39, of the constitution of Bangladesh.         

Section 57 of the ICT Act criminalises any "material that is false or obscene" … which may influence the reader "to become dishonest or corrupt", causes "to deteriorate … or the possibility to deteriorate law and order, prejudice the image of the state, or person" or "may hurt religious beliefs instigated against any person or organization".

Similarly, Section 21 of the DSA indicates that any person who carries out "any propaganda or campaign against the liberation war of Bangladesh, cognition of liberation war, Father of the Nation, national anthem or national flag", or Section 25 which suggests that any person who "sends such information which is offensive or fear inducing (and intends) to annoy insult, humiliate, or denigrate a person … or tarnishing the image of the nation, or spread confusion" will all be considered to be criminally liable.

Allowing the sweeping generalities and ambiguities inherent in these acts as the basis for criminally prosecuting people would probably have embarrassed even Emperor Draco (from whom the word Draconian is derived). Moreover, giving police almost unlimited power of search, seizure and arrest without warrant, imposing severe punishment regimes, and making some offences non-bailable, made the Acts even more menacing.   

Third, it was hoped that these Acts were "ones for the book" and would not be used much. Jyotirmoy Barua indicated that between 2006 and 2013 no cases were prosecuted under Section 57. However, after that, the numbers began to increase exponentially and between 2013 and April 2018, Human Rights Watch calculated that 1,271 charge sheets had been submitted under this Section.

Under the DSA, which superseded Section 57, The Daily Star reported that there were 34 cases filed in 2018, 63 in 2019, and by May 6 of 2020, almost 60 involving about 100 people. Newspapers regularly carry the names and pictures of people (some in handcuffs) charged under this Act. 

Politicians of the ruling party and the police have used these Acts primarily to file cases against editors, reporters, photographers, bloggers, baul/sufi artistes, writers and even cartoonists. It is noteworthy that, as Shahdin Malik has pointed out, while "spreading rumours" or "criticising the government" are not specifically mentioned in the DSA, people ARE being arrested on those grounds.

It would seem that the entire exercise was really intended to limit historical enquiry, critical thinking, political satire, policy disagreement, journalistic investigation or personal expression. More than a "chilling effect" on free speech, these laws hang like the sword of Damocles over the population waiting to drop on any hapless citizen at the slightest provocation.

IV

There are three reasons why this is SO frustrating. first, bangladeshis pursued their ideals and earned their independence through a long and intense struggle in which many suffered and millions died. it must be remembered that our national consciousness was rooted in the resistance of the people against those seeking to take away our bhasa (speech) from us. it was not merely a movement to reclaim our beloved language, an essential marker of our identity, but also, in a philosophical sense, it was a metaphor for the freedoms and rights that speech entails.

Second, many of the cases filed today are by people who were allegedly "offended" by someone's exercise of free speech. As Justice Warren had pointed out, the right of free speech means NOTHING if it does not protect speech that someone may find offensive (nice, sweet, agreeable speech does not need protection).

Socrates chose suicide over imposed silence. Khona (famous for her pithy "bochons") had her tongue cut off. Giardano Bruno, a brilliant scientist, was burned at the stake. Galileo was forced to endure house arrest and cease all research and writing, all because what they proposed or taught had offended established beliefs and institutions. Bangabandhu, our Father of the Nation, spent almost half his adult life in prison because the ruling elite had felt mightily offended by his criticisms and demands.

Similarly, every Prophet in the Abrahamic tradition faced persecution because their teachings had offended dominant ideas and practices. The first had to flee his country barely ahead of the Pharaoh's forces and was left wandering in the desert for 40 years, the second was brutally crucified, the last, our very own Hazrat Muhammad (SAW), was hounded out of his beloved city under extremely dire and desperate circumstances. Doesn't history teach us anything? 

It must be remembered that the State has NO responsibility to protect the sentiments of hyper-sensitive people and shield them from being "hurt" or offended. These people must educate themselves, grow up, and become tougher. Otherwise it would not only lead to the trivialisation of political discourse, it would also lead inescapably to the "tyranny of the minority" where any small group of people could simply complain of being "hurt", and use it as a pretext to take away people's rights.

Third, such efforts commit the fallacy of "absolutes". It assumes that the ruling establishment has absolute power to do anything it wants; that it possesses absolute knowledge and its official narrative is supreme and permanent; and that the conflation of party, government and State, will give it absolute protection from all challenges. History neither supports, nor forgives, such absolute arrogance.

Limiting free speech may create an atmosphere of threat and intimidation that may provide current rulers (regardless of party) with a sense of smug assurance, and may even contribute to prolonging a particular regime. But this is illusory and always temporary.

When they are no longer in power, they will themselves face, with extreme prejudice, the same environment of intolerance, bullying and arbitrariness that they have visited on others. In the same way they had criminalised anyone questioning their version of history, that version itself will be criminalised. This logic is immutable, this cycle of events inevitable.

We must remember that leaders are never glorified for the number of years they have remained in power, but for the legacy they leave behind. Our leaders must decide whether they want to construct an inclusive, accountable, and democratic future for us, or whether they are merely interested in holding on to power as long as they can. The first will confer greatness on them, the second will bring them dishonour.     

In this context, it may be pointed out that it is counter-intuitive for the current government to restrict speech. Its achievements are impressive – remarkable economic growth, respect in the international arena, successful trial of war criminals, containment of fundamentalist activism, and so on. It faces no political challenges whatsoever. Given all this, it can easily demonstrate its graciousness and confidence, and regain the high moral ground, simply by expanding the public space for debate, discussion and criticism. 

Limiting speech does not indicate a regime's strength, but only its insecurities, its doubts, its pettiness. When leaders can afford to hold their heads high like the Kings of the Jungle, why should they behave like frightened alley cats?                 

The success of democracy rests on tolerance. The only answer to a bad idea is not to stifle it, but to present a better idea. When any regime does the first, it proves that it lacks the ability to do the second. No democracy can, or should, function under that shadow.

 

Ahrar Ahmad is the Director General of Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation, Dhaka.

Email: ahrar...@bhsu.edu

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On free speech and the imperatives of democracy It is almost axiomatic that free speech is indispensable to democracy.

JH 512-669-5248

[Outlook Team]

From: Zoglul Husain (zog...@hotmail.co.uk) 

Thank you, Javed Helali Bhai, for sharing Professor Dr. Ahrar Ahmad's article, "On free speech and the imperatives of democracy",  published in the Daily Star, today, 1 June 2020. The article has been dedicated to the memory of National Professor Dr. Anisuzzaman. 

We, in our forums, recently discussed Professor Anisuzzaman and asserted that he belonged to the camp of the BAKSAL fascists and the Indian hegemonists. So, an article dedicated to his memory would naturally belong to the same camp. When I read it, I found that my assumption was right. The article would be excellent had it not been a eulogy of Hasina's fascism with mild criticism of draconian laws, stifling the freedom of speech and expression.  

Previously also we discussed, in our forums, Professor Dr. Ahrar Ahmad's article in March this year. He is a Mujib devotee, with some criticism of BAKSAL one-party system, but he was shocked by the assassination of Mujib, which he described as "assassinated in a brutal and dastardly manner by some misguided and disgruntled military officers". But I, along with many email friends, describe Mujib as a fascist ruler, as his regime killed 30 thousand patriots, and perpetrated indiscriminate killings, terror tyranny, plunder, oppression, repression, etc. and the misrule caused the man-made famine of 1974-75, in which 1.5 million people died, and above all the regime, for its power, sold out national interest and surrendered sovereignty to India. I also describe the army-people uprisings of 15 August and 7 November 1975 as patriotic and glorious.  

I do not expect Professor Dr. Ahrar Ahmad to accept our views. And, of course, we do not accept Professor Dr. Ahrar Ahmad's views. He supports fascism and hegemonism with mild criticism of fascism, but we totally oppose fascism and hegemonism, and support freedom and democracy. We belong to two different worlds.    

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From: 'javed helali' via PFC-Friends <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 01 June 2020 21:38
To: Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>
Subject: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

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[RANU CHOWDHURY]

An enlightening article, facts and research oriented. Thanks to Prof Ahrar. Thanks also to Javed Bhai for circulation and Zoglul Bhai for his befitting comments. Frankly, I am not qualified to assess the expertly work of Prof Ahrar, yet a few lines, if he pardons me.  

What was intriguing, as Zoglul Bhai pointed out, the dedication part. The late Prof Anisuzzam was termed as "a champion of free speech." Was he! That belies what the writer explains in his article. I recall, Prof Anis could not stand Deyal, the last novel of Humayun Ahmed, who wrote some facts and truth about Sheikh Mujib and his death on August 15. Anis re-wrote the fiction eliminating some parts, making the novel kind of disjointed from the usual flow of HA's style. What was additionally surprising that Prof Anis knew that Deyal was not a history book, it was a fiction, a genre that the author has liberty to add things; and, HA was not too widely off the mark whatever he said. Again, Prof Anis was highly critical of AVM Khandakar's  1971: Bhitore Baire and Sharmin Ahmad's Tajuddin: Neta O Pita. Both the authors corroborated facts with sufficient references. So, where is the criteria of championing free speech? Aren't we limiting the scope of free speech in that "one can say this, one cannot say that?" 

The first and second parts look more like legal papers, giving the evolution and legislative history of free speech in the US. Useful for experts and researchers. Not sure if common readers in Bangladesh can appreciate that. Parts three and four relate to Bangladesh. Again, good for the academics. Ordinary readers would like to know more the fault lines, and specifically, who is to blame. Prof Ahrar is vague or non-committal. Understandable. The author and the Star have their limits: thus far, nothing beyond. 

 

I liked the following lines:

 

"We must remember that leaders are never glorified for the number of years they have remained in power, but for the legacy they leave behind. Our leaders must decide whether they want to construct an inclusive, accountable, and democratic future for us, or whether they are merely interested in holding on to power as long as they can. The first will confer greatness on them, the second will bring them dishonor."

The writer admired Mujib for his lifelong sufferings for freedom, but remained silent when Mujib imposed the total gag on media and other sufferings to the people. Zoglul Hosain gave a few hints.  

Sorry, if some feelings are hurt!

 

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Cc: RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[rashed Anam]

Anisuzzaman is antithetical personification of free speech !!  It's not only a pathetic attribution to Anisuzzaman  but also the most hypocritical one  given his support , association, elevation, & companion of the very Awami regime that over and over again  not only annihilated democracy from the face of Bangladesh (BAKSAL1 & BAKSAL2)   but also  crucified and muzzled freedom of media and journalists via intimidation, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances . 

1) Anisuzzaman has been for his most adult life  die hard opposed to free speech of the Islamic people and Islamic politics. He did not believe in the rights of Islamic people, sentiment or political rights. He always had demonized them, crucified them and spewed hatred against them to the extent of his desire to ban them. 

2) Anisuzzaman was prime legitimizer,  companion and champion of this  vote-robber, democracy annihilating ,  free speech strangulating   Awami dictator regime, the same regime that even arrested common people for mere Facebook comments.  Not once in his life this fake & hypocritical intellectual , ever protested this dictator regime for  such asphyxiating  of free speech. 

Anisuzaman only believed in  on  the right and the version of  his own political domain and school of thought and politics . Even at the expense of supporting and championing of the undemocratic regime that axed the very tenant and sanctity of the free speech just because the dictator  align  with him in common hatred against Islamic politics ! 

The daily star , Prothom Alo ,  Anizuzzaman, Muntasir Mamum , Shariar Kabir  and AL all's ends are tied to this common rot of hypocrisy and selective rights. 

-RA

 

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[rashed Anam]

Anisuzzaman is antithetical personification of free speech !!  It's not only a pathetic attribution to Anisuzzaman  but also the most hypocritical one  given his support , association, elevation, & companion of the very Awami regime that over and over again  not only annihilated democracy from the face of Bangladesh (BAKSAL1 & BAKSAL2)   but also  crucified and muzzled freedom of media and journalists via intimidation, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances . 

1) Anisuzzaman has been for his most adult life  die hard opposed to free speech of the Islamic people and Islamic politics. He did not believe in the rights of Islamic people, sentiment or political rights. He always had demonized them, crucified them and spewed hatred against them to the extent of his desire to ban them. 

2) Anisuzzaman was prime legitimizer,  companion and champion of this  vote-robber, democracy annihilating ,  free speech strangulating   Awami dictator regime, the same regime that even arrested common people for mere Facebook comments.  Not once in his life this fake & hypocritical intellectual , ever protested this dictator regime for  such asphyxiating  of free speech. 

Anisuzaman only believed in  on  the right and the version of  his own political domain and school of thought and politics . Even at the expense of supporting and championing of the undemocratic regime that axed the very tenant and sanctity of the free speech just because the dictator  align  with him in common hatred against Islamic politics ! 

The daily star , Prothom Alo ,  Anizuzzaman, Muntasir Mamum , Shariar Kabir  and AL all's ends are tied to this common rot of hypocrisy and selective rights. 

-RA

On Mon, Jun 1, 2020 at 9:58 PM RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com> wrote:

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[rashed Anam]

Dear Mr. Ahrar ,

Thank you for your reply. I/we welcome discussion on any important national issue such as this one below and I thank & encourage you for your article , however criticism I have for that. I don't think your are feeble at all rather quite capable with regards to your capacity of thinking and writing. It's however your judgement and courage of walking  the talk that  I/we hope are egnostic to party loyalties.  

1) On your Article:

I only skimmed your article  as  I could not conjure up its gist from the introduction. At first it seemed to delineate the boundaries of free speech in light of some US supreme court cases.  Not sure your introduction was able to establish what the central premise of the article was ,  the lack of free speech in Bangladesh or the boundaries of free speech in USA (and why/how both tied ).  

If USA's cases are to be taken as universal principle, than the below is my understading,

i) No free speech should be allowed that threatens physical harms or violence .

ii) On national security vs free speech, greater public good trumps state secrecy. The pentagon paper case established that. 

iii) Journalists are entitled to anonymous sources and have high bar for liable. Washington Post case during watergate proved it.  

iv) Public position /politicians have high bar to reputation  case. Sever personal criticism comes with positions, even name calling is part of political expression (out of anguish agasint certain policies of a politician) .

v) Pornographic or violent  materials can be censored from broader public display to protect the minors. 

vi) Improper , hate filled or incendiary speeches, however objectionable, cannot be banned.  Medias may not accommodate them.  Hence society often pressure media outlets or organizations not to give platform to improper or hateful speeches. 

2)  On Anisuzzaman:

I’m sure Anisuzzaman had many contributions to Bangladesh.  Recognizing those contributions does not and should not preclude one from unmasking his hycpociacies and fakeness in professing his idealisms only when it served the interests of his domain of politics, but totally keeping blind eye and self-muzzled silence  when those idealisms were mercilessly violated on the opponents. 

  

Word is cheap. We all can write or preach lofty ideals in paper and speeches. But how many of us are  practiced it, especially when it goes against the interests of our party/companions ? One can be very eloquent or have multiple academic degrees but not have the wisdom/courage to side for humanity , for democracy, for human rights for ALL, including the people he/she politically opposed to. 

I'm afraid people like Anisuzzaman, Muntasir Mamun Shariar Kabir, Anisul haq talk about democracy only when it favors their  own party/domain of politics. They are mum when it doesn't. He and many Awami so called intellectuals could not overcome their self imposed AL-India loyalty straitjacket to defend his/their purported idealism for democracy, human rights, ‘secularism' etc when it rubs against their chosen sides. 

 

Their vows of till death do us part with AL and India  is bound in common hatred of Islamic politics/values and their desire of being in power at any cost t have made them willingly blind to the atrocities and usurpation of those very values they seem to champion only in words. 

Anissumman's intellectual vertebra, steely in paper/preaching, became too supine to stand up against AL when AL becames one-party dictator in voteless power grabbing. His silence of Awami atrocities, assaults on democracy and vote robbing,  his association and blessing have empowered and legitimized AL and perpetuated its misrule. How can one regard him a pro-democracy intellectual after this? 

He could not overcome his past associations and roles with AL during independence/post independence period  that gave him notoerity to stick with his purported principle and oppose current metmorposided AL that annihilated  democracy from Bangladesh. 

 

Similarity, he talks a big talk about secularism . But his secularism preaching hits a self-imposed  India loyalty wall when  BJP Hinduva lynches Muslims,  implement religion based citizens test and persecute Indian Muslims into Bangladesh ! Anisuzzman ideals take a vacation then. Because like many others , his 'secularism' is just a coded word for anti-Islamism when it fails universal test. 

 

He also talked about human rights of 'Nastik' (agreed ), but he was totally silent  when Madrasaha/Islamic people were extra-judicially killed in so called cross fire, when Hefajot protesters  were killed in the dark of the night by state forces. 

 We do not hear anything from Anissuzzaman or his likes  on human rights for he victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearance.  Because that will embarrass his political party AL. So, his human rights crocodiles tear takes a hiatus . 

The selective outrage and cheery picking values only for his domain of people or politics, not for universal application,  make him hypocrite and fake at best. 

We need more people like  Tajuddin who did not let loyalty to Mujib or AL to compromise his ideals of democracy. He walked to talk. He opposed one-party BAKSAL of Mujib vehemently and  resigned from PM so that he had nothing to do with that ignomanity called  BAKSAL.  His conviction to the values of democracy had surpassed the greed of PM job , surpassed the aura of eliteness that comes with the association with powers, and surpassed the comfort of ruling class, which the likes of Anisuzzaman could not bare to abandon. 

3) Frankenstein of your own making :

You have extolled this one-party regime in your article, oblivious to its very illegitimate and anti-democratic nature of this regime. That gives the regime oxygen!   How can you expect free speech in a dictatorship that is devoid of democracy?  It’s  contradictory and unrealistic to expect free speech while tolerating one party dictatorship that has occupied/politicized/criminalized every state institutioins , including election system and judicial system.

 Democracy is a precondition of free speech. And free fair election is a precondition of democracy. Without democracy you cannot have accountability or checks and balance in the governance.  As a result we see unbriddled corruptions, lawlessness in Bangladesh . That's why Abrar gets beaten to death by the regime goons for exercising his free speech.  That's not a law and order case, that a symptom of the cancer this AL dictator culture has caused . 

So your clamoring for free speech , however commendable , is hopelessly futile unless you address the root cause , the one party dictatorship . 

I have not heard from you, Anisuzzaman, the Daily star, Mahfuz Anam, Matiur Rahman or others  vocally criticizing this Awami dictator regime for vote robbing, for attacking  political opponents to create fearful atmosphere on election eve , for  extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of political opponents, for sham govt controlled-witness-kidnapping war crime trial etc.  

On the contrary , out of the common hatred against Islamic politics and out of unbridled love for India (even at the expese of Bangladesh interests), they egged, fed , encouraged this AL to become a baby Frankenstein.  They thought it would be thier own loayl frankenstein, so long it devours BNP and Jamaat. Little that they knew it eat up who democracy in the process.  Today that baby frankenstein is a monster Frankenstien. Now it even bites the very cheer leaders who helped to become a frankenstein. Little that they knew that it's a nature of all Frankenstein to devour everything in its path. 

 

So today when you talk about free speech and against digital security Act, it seem very disingenuous and self protecting cry. The cheery picking case only when it started to harm your own interests. When it eat up Amar Desh, when it jailed and persecuted Mahmudur Rahman ,  when it closed down Islamic TV, Digonto TV, when it incurserated Ekushey TV MD and took over, you guys, Mahfuzur Rahman, Anisuzzman had remained silent .  

Today you , Mahfuz Anam , Kajol  Matiur Rahman and likes are doing some faint hearted criticism against the digital security act/freedom of journalists. Why now ? Why only on this subject ? Is it because the Frankenstein now starting to bite some of you, as part of Frankenstein's nature ? The Frankensteil filed cases on some of the jouranlsits and has abducted Kajol. They all once were Awami cheer leaders. They thought they could shape and manage this Frankenstein when they were empowering it. But the very definition of Frankenstein is unmangeable. 

 

We still oppose any repression to anybody, be it past Awami supporters or not as a matter of principle.Sadly your clamoring for free speech , however commendable , is hopelessly futile unless you address the root cause , the one party dictatorship . 

-RA. 

On Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 2:43 AM Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu> wrote:

Dear Rashed Anam:

I am very grateful that you read my meager piece.  I was hoping that, sophisticated thikers and commentators like you, would engage with the essay, criticise it, satirise it, rip it to shreds.  I KNOW that I am a shabby thinker and a poor writer.  I was justifiably nervous about the response it would generate from thoughtful and highly intelligent people like you.

BUT instead, the vicious ad hominem attack on Anis bhai, whom I deeply admire and many revere as a teacher, scholar, public intellectual, and an enlightened human being, was unexpected, disappointing and, personally for me, rather painful.

If that is all you are interested in writing about, I am not particularly eager to pursue this conversation.  My sincere apologies. 

Since you had circulated your note to many people and groups, I am assuming that, in the interest of fairness, you would do the same with my response.

Thank you.

Ahrar 

[Outlook Team]

From: Zoglul Husain (zog...@hotmail.co.uk) 

Thank you, Rashed Anam Bhai. I fully support your views. 

---

From: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>
Sent: 03 June 2020 22:00
To: RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; shahadat...@hotmail.com <shahadat...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; aab...@yahoogroups.com <aab...@yahoogroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; letter Daily Star <edi...@thedailystar.net>; Bijoy Daas <bijoyd...@gmail.com>; Dr Md Saidul Islam (Associate Prof) <msa...@ntu.edu.sg>; quaz...@yahoo.com <quaz...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Mina Farah <fara...@gmail.com>; GT International <gt...@hotmail.com>; Jamal G. Khan <m.jama...@gmail.com>; Jamil Jamil <jamilcho...@yahoo.co.uk>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Syed Margoob <smar...@yahoo.com>; M. Aleem <ale...@yahoo.com>; Nazma Mustafa <naz...@yahoo.com>; asif nazrul <asifn...@gmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Bangla Vision <bangla...@yahoogroups.com>; BDPANA <BDP...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {NA Bangladeshi Community} Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[Muazzam Kazi]

Democracy is a precondition of free speech. And free fair election is a precondition of democracy. Without democracy you cannot have accountability or checks and balance in the governance.  As a result we see unbriddled corruptions, lawlessness in Bangladesh . That's why Abrar gets beaten to death by the regime goons for exercising his free speech.  That's not a law an

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 3, 2020, at 5:01 PM, rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nabdc/CAKmDqPOyrY%2B4dxLUMUmUkXhRF8gWsWKaOvd2cFzk-_42i1221A%40mail.gmail.com.

[rashed Anam]

The flower of free speech does not bloom in the desert of autocracy. 

Expecting otherwise is disingenuous or naive at best. 

There are some Awami appeasers who want to be intellectuals by faint heartedly criticizing selective issues  without criticizing or recognizing the madateless Awami dictatorship that is the mother ship of all evil in Bangladesh.  They want it both ways-  appeasing, cheerleading , tolerating and keeping mum on the existence/activities  of this dictatorship but at the same try to take moral authority by writing innocuous pieces like this . 

There is no morality in tolerating , cheerleading and recognizing dictatorship. We all see through the hypocrisy and fakeness.  What do you think people think  if South Africa's aparthied Botha or his obedient cheerleaders  lecture on equal rights ? Wouldn't that be ridiculous and laughable ? 

-RA

[zainul abedin]

Salam to all,

Actually, we need to be more sober in criticizing others---I have been appealing for a long time. We need to stop name calling!

Hasina regime is the brutest one along with (and after) her father's one, so far. Living in Bangladesh (I do not know where Dr. Ahrar is) it may not be possible for someone to criticize her regime in the harshest language as she/they deserve(s). 

We can look at the other side that it is the opposition's failure to create a(n) space/environment for resisting the brute regime in case of regime's attack on (proper) freer and deeper criticisms.

Sorry for the mistakes if I have done any. It wasn't my intention to criticize anybody nor save any.

Best wishes, and Fi-Amanillah!

ZA

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 1:50 PM, Taj Hashmi

<tajh...@gmail.com> wrote:

But to be fair to me, I didn't call names! Did I? So many people call me BNP, some think I am a Jamaati, others don't hesitate to call me a Murtad/atheist, while some love to call me a Pakistani agent because of my "ethnic" background and surname! Who cares!

HaHaHa!

Thanks for your kind words. 

On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 2:35 PM Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu> wrote:

Hashmi bhai, I don't care about your politics.  I just adore you as a person, admire you as an intellectual, and respect you like an elder brother.

In terms of your note on Dr. Momen (our Foreign Minister) the last line was as wicked as it was devastating.  OUCH!!!

Ahrar 

---

From: Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2020 12:17 AM
To: Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu>
Cc: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <BDP...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; Zainul Abedin <zain...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

Dear Ahrar:

I wish there were many others like you in the Bengali community in Bangladesh and abroad. Don't worry, I have been called so many things by so many people, and most of them have stopped "opening their mouths"  (to call me something not-so-nice or to eat me up!) at me! Now they are tired. They know, I am not another Jesus Christ like you! I simply tear off people who dare to say bad things about me. I have Arab blood! hahahaha! 

By the way, I have NO problem with diehard Awami League supporters, so long as they are honest and civil.

Take care!

Hashmi Bhai

On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 2:09 PM Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu> wrote:

You are absolutely correct Mr. Anam.  I was wrong.

For an article that most thought was rather critical of the democratic pretensions of this administration (and there was considerable nervousness about publishing it) to be so severely attacked is perhaps a bit surprising, and somewhat disappointing.  I am well aware that I will never reach the level of intellectual subtlety, rhetorical clarity  or moral authority claimed by you (and perhaps many in this list), and for that I am embarrassed and seek your forgiveness.  The personal nature of the attack (the name calling) was particularly painful largely because I am so unused to it (I do not ever recall being called a "hypocrite" before).  I KNOW I have failed the litmus test of being sufficiently anti-AL.  I had not realized that, based on that fact alone, I have forfeited my right to be taken seriously.

Academics engage in a discussion (alochona) to learn.  Bangalees engage in a debate (torko) to win.  Well, you have won.  I do not think that people of your wisdom and abilities should waste their time with someone as stupid and inconsequential as I am.  Hence, I honestly do not think that there is anything more that could be gained by this discussion.  

Please stay well, and please forgive my shortcomings.  

Ahrar     

---

From: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2020 8:23 PM
To: Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <BDP...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; Zainul Abedin <zain...@yahoo.com>; Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[zainul abedin]

salam,

Very good and thanks for sharing!

ZA

On Saturday, June 6, 2020, 3:01:52 PM CDT, Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dr Ahrar Ahmed lives in Bangladesh. He can't be any braver than what he has shown already. MOST Bangladeshis just don't open their mouth, even those who live abroad.

I share the Bengali version of my original Open Letter to Foreign Minister Abdul Momen, which has come out in Countercurrents (you may google). The Bangladesh Chronicle and South Asia Journal are going to publish it. And hopefully, daily New Age will use it too!

Please read it and share it with others. We MUST discredit the Regime by exposing its intellectual pillars. By now I have exposed a few.

Take care!

Taj Hashmi

পররাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী আবদুল মোমেনের প্রতি খোলা চিঠি

প্রিয় ড. মোমেন,

আমি এই চিঠি লিখছি,গত ৩১শে মে,২০২০ এ ভারতীয় সাপ্তাহিক ‘দ্য উইকে’ প্রকাশিত আপনার একটি সাক্ষাতকারের প্রতি দৃষ্টি আকর্ষণ করতে, যা আমাদের পারস্পারিক বন্ধুমহল এবং দেশে-বিদেশে থাকা বাংলাদেশিদের কাছে ভিত্তিহীন,আপত্তিকর এবং বাংলাদেশের ভাবমূর্তি ক্ষুণকারী বলে মনে হয়েছে, যেটি রাষ্ট্রের প্রধান কূটনৈতিক বা পররাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী হিসেবে আপনি প্রতিনিধিত্ব করেন। অতপর,এই খোলা চিঠি। 

সঞ্চালক রবি ব্যানার্জীর শেষ প্রশ্নের জবাব ছাড়া,আপনার সাক্ষাতকারের বিষয়ে আমার কোনো আপত্তি নেই। যেখানে আপনি,“মুজিবুর রহমানের সাথে আপনার কাজের অভিজ্ঞতা কেমন ছিল?” এই প্রশ্নের জবাবে বলেছেন,“আমি তার সাথে পশ্চিম পাকিস্তানে(১৯৭০’এ) একটি গোল টেবিল বৈঠকে যোগ দিতে যাই(যার পর তিনি গ্রেফতার হয়েছিলেন)।আমি তার দৈনন্দিন প্রশাসনিক কাজের দেখাশোনা করতাম। স্বাধীনতার পর একজন জ্যেষ্ঠ আমলা হিসেবে আমি তার সাথে বিভিন্ন মন্ত্রণালয়ে কাজ করেছি। আমি তাকে অত্যন্ত নিষ্ঠাবান হিসেবে আবিষ্কার করি।”

আমি আপনাকে ষাটের দশকের শেষদিক থেকে চিনি। ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়য়ের ন্যাশনাল স্টুডেন্ট ফেডারেশন(এনএসএফ)’র একজন সহ-সদস্য ও অফিসধারণকারী একজন কর্মী হিসেবে আমি জানি, ১৯৬৮ সালে ইসলামাবাদ যাবার আগ পর্যন্ত, আপনি আইয়ুবপন্থি ছাত্র সংগঠন এনএসএফের ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়য়ের এসএম হল শাখার প্রেসিডেন্ট ছিলেন। আমি এটাও জানি, সেই গোলটেবিল বৈঠকের সময়, শেখ মুজিবের আপনাকে ভ্রমণসঙ্গী করা দূরে থাক,আপনাকে চেনার পর্যন্ত কোনো কারণ নেই। সেই গোলটেবিল বৈঠক, যা কিনা প্রেসিডেন্ট আইয়ুব খান পাকিস্তানের রাজনৈতিক সংকট সমাধানের জন্য দুই উইঙের রাজনৈতিক নেতাদের একত্র করতে আয়োজন করেছিলেন। যার জন্য শেখ মুজিব সেখানে উপস্থিত ছিলেন। 

যাই হোক, সেই গোলটেবিল বৈঠকটি ১৯৬৯ এর ১০-১৩ই মার্চ অনুষ্ঠতি হয়েছিল এবং আপনি সঞ্চালক রবি ব্যানার্জির কাছে ভুল সাল উল্লেখ করেছেন। ১৯৬৯’র পরিবর্তে আপনি ১৯৭০ সালকে, গোল টেবিল বৈঠকের সাল হিসেবে উল্লেখ করেছেন! মূলত আপনি তার ‘দৈনন্দিন কাজকর্ম দেখাশোনা’ দূরে থাক,আপনি বঙ্গবন্ধুর সাথে কখনই ভ্রমণ করেননি। যেহেতু আপনি সঞ্চালকের কাছে মিথ্যা দাবি করেছেন,আপনি সম্ভবত তাই গোলটেবিল বৈঠকটির সঠিক সালটিও জানেন না। এবং আপনাকে জানিয়ে রাখি, মুজিব গোলটেবিল বৈঠকের পর গ্রেফতার হননি, তিনি ১৯৭১ সালের ২৫/২৬শে মার্চ পাকবাহিনীর ক্র্যাক ডাউনের আগমূহুর্তে জীবনে শেষবারের মত গ্রেফতার হয়েছিলেন।

দয়া করে আমাকে এই মর্মে একটি কারণ দেখান, কেন ড.কামাল হোসেন এবং ব্যারিস্টার মওদুদের মত বয়োজ্যেষ্ঠ এবং অভিজ্ঞ উপদেষ্টা(যারা বিভিন্ন বিষয়ে তাকে পরামর্শ দিয়ে থাকতেন) থাকা সত্বেও,সেই কনফারেন্সের সময় দিয়ে থাকতেন) থাকা সত্বেও,সেই কনফারেন্সের সময় বংগবন্ধু আপনাকে তার দৈনন্দিন প্রশাসনিক কাজ দেখাশোনার দায়িত্ব দিয়েছিলেন? বরং সেসময় আপনি ইসলামাবাদে এমএ শেষবর্ষের শিক্ষার্থী ছিলেন। আর আপনি কখনই আওয়ামীপন্থি ছাত্রলীগের কর্মী ছিলেন না,উলটো আপনি আওয়ামী বিরোধী এবং আইয়ুবপন্থি এনএসএফের একজন সক্রিয় কর্মী ছিলেন। এনএসএফের সাথে আপনার জড়িত হবার জন্য আপনাকে আমি কোনো ধরনের দোষারপ করছি না।কারণ,আমি নিজেও ১৯৬৯ সালে এনএসএফের জিন্নাহ হল(সূর্য সেন)হল শাখার প্রেসিডেন্ট ছিলাম।আসলে মানুষ তাদের কৈশরের শেষদিকে কিংবা যৌবনের প্রথমদিকে অনেক কিছু করে বসে বা অনেক গোষ্ঠির সাথে নিজেকে জড়িয়ে ফেলে, আবার দেখা যায়,জীবনের পরবর্তী অংশে তারা সেসব কিছুর সাথে সম্পর্কছেদও করে। এমন অসংখ্য উদাহরণ আছে। যাই হোক, বঙ্গবন্ধুর পক্ষে আপনাকে কিংবা অন্য কোনো ছাত্রনেতাকে ইসলামাবাদের গোলটেবিল বৈঠকে ডাকার কোনো কারণ ছিল না। 

সাক্ষাতকারে আপনি আরেকটি ভুল তথ্য দিয়েছেন,যা কারো মিথ্যাবাদী প্রবৃত্তির পরিচায়ক বলে প্রতিয়মান বলে মনে হতে পারে। আপনি বলেছেন,“স্বাধীনতার পর একজন সিনিয়র আমলা হিসেবে আমি তার(শেখ মুজিবের) সাথে বিভিন্ন মন্ত্রণালয়ে কাজ করেছি। আমি তাকে অত্যন্ত নিষ্ঠাবান হিসেবে আবিষ্কার করি।”বঙ্গবন্ধুর সংগ্রামের ব্যাপারে আপনার এই মন্তব্য আমার কাছে তার প্রতি অবমাননাকর না হোক, অযাচিত বলে মনে হয়েছে।

যাহোক,আপনি যেভাবে একটি ভিত্তিহীন তথ্য দিয়েছেন,যা কি না মিথ্যা ও বিভ্রান্তিকর ছাড়া কিছুই না,তা আমার ধারণার বাইরে ছিল! অন্যভাবে বললে, আপনি দাবি করেছেন, স্বাধীনতার পর আপনি বঙ্গবন্ধুর সাথে ‘জ্যেষ্ঠ আমলা হিসেবে বিভিন্ন মন্ত্রণালয়ে কাজ করেছেন’,যা অবাস্তব গালগল্প ছাড়া কিছুই না। প্রথমত,আপনি বঙ্গবন্ধু’র না, বাংলাদেশের প্রশাসনের একটি অথবা কয়েকটি মন্ত্রণালয়ের অধিনে দায়িত্ব পালন করেছেন, তাও কোনো ‘জ্যেষ্ঠ কর্মকর্তা’ হিসেবে(যেমনটি আপনি দাবী করেছেন) নয়, বরঞ্চ অন্যতম কনিষ্ঠ কর্মকর্তা হিসেবে, সেসময়কার বাংলাদেশ সরকারের(১৯৭৩-৭৫) মন্ত্রী দেওয়ান ফরিদ গাজীর ব্যাক্তিগত সহকারী’র অধিনে একজন সেকশন অফিসার হিসেবে কর্মরত ছিলেন। 

আপনি হয়ত জানেন, ৬০’র শেষদিকে আর ৭০’র প্রথমদিকে,আমরা যারা আপনার সাথে ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে বেড়ে উঠেছিলাম,আমরা জানি, আপনি কখনই সিএসপি(সিভিল সার্ভিস অব পাকিস্তান) অথবা পিএফএস(পাকিস্তান ফরেন সার্ভিস) এর কর্মকর্তা ছিলেন না বরঞ্চ কিছুটা কম আকর্ষণীয় পাকিস্তান সরকারের সিএসএস(সেন্ট্রাল সেক্রেটারিয়েট সার্ভিস) এর কর্মকর্তা ছিলেন। তাই, আপনার করা ১৯৭০’র দশকে জ্যেষ্ঠ কর্মকর্তা হওয়ার মত ধৃষ্টতাপূর্ণ দাবির কোনো মানে রাখে না।

আদতে আপনার সাক্ষাতকার কিছু ভ্রান্ত আর মিথ্যা তথ্যর সমষ্টি ছাড়া কিছুই না। আমি শংকিত,এগুলো আপনার সমষ্টি ছাড়া কিছুই না। আমি শংকিত,এগুলো আপনার অস্থির না-হোক, আত্মভরী ও ভাববিলাসী চিন্তাধারার বহিপ্রকাশ মাত্র। জনাব মোমেন, এভাবে লেখার জন্য আমি দুঃখিত কিন্তু একজন নির্ভুল, সত্য এবং সঠিক ইতিহাসের অনুসন্ধানী হিসেবে,আমি এজন্যই লিখছি,যাতে আপনি আপনার অসাবধানতার জন্য দেশবাসী ও আপনার প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে ক্ষমা চান। সত্যর স্বার্থে আপনার ক্ষমা চাওয়া উচিত। কারণ, দিনশেষে সবকিছু ছাপিয়ে,সত্যই সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ হয়ে দাঁড়ায়। 

আমি বিশ্বাস করি, বঙ্গবন্ধুকে মহিমান্বিত করার জন্য কারো সত্যর বরখেলাপ করার প্রয়োজন নেই। এতে হিতে বিপরীত হতে পারে। এবং কারো একই সাথে নিজের নায়ক আর নিজেকে মহিমান্বিত করার চেষ্টা করা উচিত নয়। এমনকি সত্য হলেও, প্রত্যেকের নিজের স্তুতি আওড়ানো থেকে বিরত হওয়া উচিত। সংজ্ঞাতিতভাবে প্রমাণ ছাড়া কারো এধরনের কিছু করা সমীচীন নয়। আপনার জানা উচিত,আপনার বন্ধু ও শুভানুধ্যায়ীদের অধিকাংশই,এই আইটি বিপ্লব পরবর্তী যুগে,মিডিয়া বিশেষত সামাজিক যোগাযোগ মাধ্যমের সাথে জড়িত। একজন পুরানো বন্ধু হিসেবে আপনাকে একটি অপৃষ্ট উপদেশ দিতে চাই-এমন কিছু করবেন না যাতে, বাংলাদেশের প্রধান কুটনীতিক হিসেবে আপনার অবস্থান দুর্বল হয় বা আপনার প্রতিনিধিত্ব করা সরকার ও দেশের ভাবমূর্তি ক্ষুন্ন হয়।

আমি আপনার অসাবধানতার উদাহরণ হিসেবে, সাম্প্রতিক সময়ে আপনার করা বেশ কিছু অপ্রীতিকর ও অ-কূটনৈতিক সুলভ উক্তি উদ্ধৃতি দিচ্ছি(যদি না তা বিষয়াদিকে ইচ্ছাকৃতভাবে বিকৃতি থেকে অতিরঞ্জনের পর্যায়ে নিয়ে যায়)।আমি উদ্ধৃতিগুলোর উদাহরণ দিতে আপনাকে শব্দান্তরিত করছি। 

১। “প্রবাসীরা দেশে আসলে নবাবজাদা হয়ে যান।” আপনি বাংলাদেশি প্রবাসীদের সম্পর্কে এই উক্তি করেছিলেন,যখন তাদের অনেকে ঢাকায় কোয়ারেন্টাইনে রাখার সময়, কতৃপক্ষের অব্যবস্থাপনা নিয়ে অভিযোগ তুলেছিল। তারা ইতালিতে করোনাভাইরাস ছড়িয়ে যাবার পর দেশে ফিরে এসেছিল এবং তাদের প্রতি চরম অপেশাদারিত্ব ও অসম্মানজনক আচরণ করা হয়েছিল।

২।“প্রবাসীরা যদি ব্যাপকভাবে দেশে ফিরতে থাকে, তবে দেশে চুরি-চামারি বেড়ে যাবে।” আপনার মত অবস্থানের কারো থেকে,এটি আরেকটি অযৌক্তিক ও অসংবেদনশীল উদ্ধৃতির উদাহরণ। 

৩। “বাংলাদেশ-ভারত সম্পর্ক স্বামী-স্ত্রীর মত।” সম্ভবত সাম্প্রতিক সময়ে আপনার করা সবচেয়ে কান্ডজ্ঞানহীন ও অর্থহীন বিবৃতি। আমাদের অনেকের চেয়ে আপনার ভাল জানার কথা ভারত কিভাবে বাংলাদেশের সাথে অসাদচরণ করছে। এর মাত্রা এতটাই ভয়াবহ যে, কয়েকটি কলাম লেগে যাবে, তা দৃষ্টিগোচর করতে!

৪। আপনার করা সবথেকে কান্ডজ্ঞানহীন উক্তি ছিলঃ“কোভিড-১৯ মহামারী নিয়ে চিন্তার কিছু নেই। এটা সাধারণ ফ্লু’র মত।”আপনি এবং একই সাথে আমরাও জানতাম,যে কোভিড-১৯কে সাধারণ ফ্লু হিসেবে মূল্যায়ন করাটা আপনার কত বড় ভূল ছিল,যা কিনা গত প্রায় ৬ মাস ধরে পৃথিবীর ক্ষতিসাধন করে আসছে। 

পরিশেষে,আপনার একজন শুভানুধ্যায়ী হিসেবে আপনাকে স্মরণ করিয়ে দিতে চাই, সত্য-মিথ্যা, শালীন-অশালীন, বাস্তবতা আর কল্পনার মধ্যকার পার্থক্যটা সরু কিন্তু স্পষ্টত দৃশ্যমান। এটি কারো আসল চুল আর সবথেকে দামী পরচুলা’র পার্থক্যর মতই স্পষ্ট,যা দিয়ে কেউ তার বাস্তবতা লুকিয়ে রাখতে চায়! 

ধন্যবাদান্তে, 

তাজ হাশমী 

(PhD, FRAS Retired Professor of Security Studies, APCSS, Honolulu, and Research Associate at the York Centre for Asian Research (YCAR), York University, Toronto, Canada)

[rashed Anam]

Mr. Ahrar, Mr. Hashmi & Mr. Abedin,

How does pointing out  contradictory acts/statements as hypocrite fall in the definition of name calling ?  

Mr. Zainul Bhai/Hashmi Bhai,  I totally understand the nature of the regime and the threats it poses to writers. People can refrain from risky criticism but should they praise or appease the regime ? Least they could do is to not give it any legitimacy , right ? They are not forced to praise, right ? 

Having said that, I think most of the audience here are living abroad and can criticize the regime safely . But for people of high social/state positions  residing in Bangladesh, be it academician, politicians, businessmen, their  condoning and silence are nothing but derelictions of their moral duty. It's much harder for the regime to do much harm because of their status and even of the state tries to harm them financially or otherwise they can take it. 

-Shahidul Alam spoke out. The regime could not keep him confined. He still is speaking out. 

-Dr. Kamal spoke out against this regime. He still is The harms that the regime has done to him is tolerable to him. 

-Tajuddin Ahmed spoke out against BAKSAL. 

-Dr. Jafarullah spoke out against the regime. He's doing just fine. 

But Awami hypocrites like Baristar Amirul Islam,Dr. Jafor Iqbal, Anisuzzaman ,Muntasir Mamun etc. did not speak out. So when they pretend to be the moral authority of the nation it simply seems hypocritical. 

Today in the USA, only when some prominent Republicans such as General Mattis and Senator Lisa of Alaska spoke out against Trump's racist/divisive political culture against the grain of their party politics, the national tide started to shift and may mark the beginning of the end of the Trump era.    That's what it takes . Some leading people of high positions , intellectuals to take a stand. 

That simply has not happened in Bangladesh.  So I take exception that the people of high positions in Bangladesh should not speak up for the mere fear of the risk. That's precisely the regime wants , rule by fear. 

On Mr. Ahrar article, 

Mr. Ahrar, our response is a very common victim-playing/lesser-pretending reverse sentimental  one which appeared to me  subliminally  condescending (sort of it's not you, its me type) 
I had  criticized  mostly the attribution to Anisuzzaman who I strongly have reservations about for his role/association with this dictator regime.   I did not criticize your article's most of the substance , rather had welcomed it. I tried to say that criticising only on lack of free speech and not on the lack of democracy is not sufficient .   I criticized the types of  Daily Star who only cherry pick the issues that suit their interest.   But not the substance of your article. 

 I criticized your praising of this fascist regime in your article as hypocritical one because , in my opinion , one cannot be for a certain value of liber democracy (free speech)  on one hand  and on the other hand appease  the regime  that violates the most basic value of that liberal democracy ( democracy, free/fair judicial etc) .  IMO,  any false praise gives the regime oxygen and legitimacy and you cannot have it both ways of wanting the regime to continue  and at the same time expect it to deliver on free speech . 

You say you're new to this writing/discussion. My humble request is to grow the skin a bit thicker to criticisms that come with the territory and keep writing and responding. It's a two way learning ! I/we can learn from you if you keep discussing. 

-RA

[rashed Anam]

Mr. Ahrar, Mr. Hashmi & Mr. Abedin,

How does pointing out  contradictory acts/statements as hypocrite fall in the definition of name calling ?  

Mr. Zainul Bhai/Hashmi Bhai,  I totally understand the nature of the regime and the threats it poses to writers. People can refrain from risky criticism but should they praise or appease the regime ? Least they could do is to not give it any legitimacy , right ? They are not forced to praise, right ? 

Having said that, I think most of the audience here are living abroad and can criticize the regime safely . But for people of high social/state positions  residing in Bangladesh, be it academician, politicians, businessmen, their  condoning and silence are nothing but derelictions of their moral duty. It's much harder for the regime to do much harm because of their status and even of the state tries to harm them financially or otherwise they can take it. 

-Shahidul Alam spoke out. The regime could not keep him confined. He still is speaking out. 

-Dr. Kamal spoke out against this regime. He still is The harms that the regime has done to him is tolerable to him. 

-Tajuddin Ahmed spoke out against BAKSAL. 

-Dr. Jafarullah spoke out against the regime. He's doing just fine. 

But Awami hypocrites like Baristar Amirul Islam,Dr. Jafor Iqbal, Anisuzzaman ,Muntasir Mamun etc. did not speak out. So when they pretend to be the moral authority of the nation it simply seems hypocritical. 

Today in the USA, only when some prominent Republicans such as General Mattis and Senator Lisa of Alaska spoke out against Trump's racist/divisive political culture against the grain of their party politics, the national tide started to shift and may mark the beginning of the end of the Trump era.    That's what it takes . Some leading people of high positions , intellectuals to take a stand. 

That simply has not happened in Bangladesh.  So I take exception that the people of high positions in Bangladesh should not speak up for the mere fear of the risk. That's precisely the regime wants , rule by fear. 

On Mr. Ahrar article, 

Mr. Ahrar, your response is a very common victim-playing/lesser-pretending reverse sentimental  one which appeared to me  subliminally  condescending (sort of it's not you, its me type) 
I had  criticized  mostly the attribution to Anisuzzaman who I strongly have reservations about for his role/association with this dictator regime.   I did not criticize your article's most of the substance , rather had welcomed it. I tried to say that criticising only on lack of free speech and not on the lack of democracy, which is the root cause that has led to the symptom of lack of free speech, is not sufficient .   I criticized the types of  Daily Star/Mahfuz Anam  who only cherry pick the issues that suit their interest and who had supported this regime from the get go.    But that has nothing to do with your article except the fact that it was published in the daily Star. 

 I criticized your praising of this fascist regime in your article as hypocritical one because , in my opinion , one cannot be for a certain value of liber democracy (free speech)  on one hand  and on the other hand appease  the regime  that violates the most basic value of that liberal democracy ( democracy, free/fair judicial etc) .  IMO,  any false praise gives the regime oxygen and legitimacy and you cannot have it both ways of wanting the regime to continue  and at the same time expect it to deliver on free speech . 

You say you're new to this writing/discussion. My humble request is to grow the skin a bit thicker to criticisms that come with the territory and keep writing and responding. It's a two way learning ! I/we can learn from you if you keep discussing. 

-RA

[rashed Anam]

In the USA, elections are based on electoral colleges, not popular vote, hence Trump won. 

Yes,electoral colleges are designed so that non-urban and rural counties have a greater say and not let national politics be dominated by only a few big populous states.  IMO, the philosophy of  having rural and non-urban counties not being excluded from having their say in national politics has some valid arguments. The point is where to draw the line.  Some have argued that the electoral college system should be permitted in congressional election but for presidential election popular votes must win.   

-RA

On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 7:55 PM Abdur Syed <ams...@aol.com> wrote:

“Today in the USA, only when some prominent Republicans such as General Mattis and Senator Lisa of Alaska spoke out against Trump's racist/divisive political culture against the grain of their party politics, the national tide started to shift and may mark the beginning of the end of the Trump era.    That's what it takes . Some leading people of high positions , intellectuals to take a stand.”
RA

AWRB, RA, from my understanding republican is wining in marginal seats, unfortunately election systems in USA very strange to me, Two Democrat candidate lost the election even though they had highest popular vote, in that case how it’s the end of Trump era when he is the presidential nominee for Republicans?

Also I this electoral system are designed to keep the supremacy of the white and rich people. That’s my opinion and it’s probably because I hate politics and not deep into it.

Wassaalam

Razzak A. Syed


Sent from my iPhone

[rashed Anam]

Mr Ahrar,

Obviously you can't take criticism. You're throwing sentimental fit , doing reverse psychology/sarcasm  of "you're better, I'm lesser"  and making  totally baseless accusations that are not true .  You wrote a piece, I made some criticism mostly on Anisuzman and Awami appeasers like types of Daily Star,Muntasir Mamun etc. and Farida Majid who 'cut & paste' . Instead of rebutting my criticism on subject matter  or showing where I erred , you went on attacking how injudicious  my criticisms were.  

1) Can you show me one single place I called you a 'coward' ? 

2) Can you show me where I called you hypocrite ?  My 'hypocrite' term mostly referred to Anisuzzaman , Awami appeasers , Awami blind supporter Farida Majid and her likes. 

I made my initial comments on your article and on attribution to Anisuzzaman, not on your unsolicited CV.  

My 'innocuous article' was referred to Farida Majid's 'Cut and paste' and my entire reply of that piece was to her and her likes. Not you. 

only one place I critiqued  you on your praising this govt. In your piece you said, "

Its achievements are impressive – remarkable economic growth, respect in the international arena, successful trial of war criminals, containment of fundamentalist activism, and so on. It faces no political challenges whatsoever. Given all this, it can easily demonstrate its graciousness and confidence, and regain the high moral ground, simply by expanding the public space for debate, discussion and criticism. "

Economic achievement is subject to debate given the current 80 thousand taka per capita debt from 6 thousand only in 2006. The war crime trial  is a farce (witness kidnapping, extortion in a safe house etc) . Fundamental activism  was in fact more given the blogger killing, foreigner killing, burning down of Hindu houses etc.  You term 'it faces no political challenge' as if that was a valid  Awami achievement rather than brutal criminal suppression of opponents  !! 

Your portrayal was as if all are good except the free speech part. Never mind its illegitimate mandateless  existence , never mind the extra judicial killings, never mind the enhanced disappearance of opponents, never mind the partisan pet election system. 

Your term it as if free speech is  subject to the mercy and 'graciousness'  of the regime, not the right of the people that the regime must accede to. 

That's what I criticized your piece for, not your entire life as I do not know you. I said merely expecting free speech from a dictator regime is unrealistic and naive . I said your efforts on free speech was 'commendable' but not sufficient.  What's wrong with that ? 

Please stay on the subject matter. corrent me where I erred. Please do not mischaracterize it and blow it out of proportion.  

Best ,  

-RA

On Sun, Jun 7, 2020 at 5:14 AM Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu> wrote:

Thank you Mr. Anam.  I am beginning to understand myself a little better.  I had always known that I am ignorant and stupid.  I have come to realize that I am also a hypocrite, thin-skinned, AND a coward.  Yes yes, you fought in the war, but you are a coward.  Yes, yes, you left a comfortable job abroad to return to BD, but you are a coward.  Yes yes, you have created a platform where Badruddin Umar, and Serajul Islam Chowdhury, and Akbar Ali Khan, and Shahdin Malik, and Asif Nazrul and many others have presented papers quite critical of the present regime, but you are a coward.  Yes yes, you write these "innocuous" pieces once in a while that only gives the impression that you are being critical, but you are a coward.  You MUST be right Mr. Anam.  I stand guilty.

If there is any silver lining in this sordid experience for me it is the fact that I am also getting some free psychological consultation out of this.  Thus, when Mr. Anam writes that I represent "a very common victim-playing/lesser-pretending reverse sentimental  one which appeared to me  subliminally  condescending (sort of it's not you, its me type)", I have gained new insights about myself. I stand guilty.

To inspire me to be slightly braver, Mr. Anam has pointed out that Dr. Zafarullah, Dr. Kamal Hossain, Shahidul Alam and others have spoken out against this regime, and are just doing fine.  BUT, wouldn't that undercut your basic premise that there is no democracy in BD today?  So YOU think that there is enough space for criticism and debate in the country.  I think that space is very limited.  I am a bit puzzled about who is insufficiently critical of the government here (which, I understand, was the litmus test I had flunked).  Nonetheless, I stand guilty.

One last time, Mr. Anam.  My shabby essay was dedicated to the proposition that there is little scope for free speech and free expression, hence democracy, in BD today.  In one paragraph I had referred to some achievements of the government.  The question that is obvious is that if these are indeed true and legitimate, then why is the government behaving in a manner which indicates a lack of confidence and graciousness.  The fact that some people did not get it only suggests that perhaps some may lack a sense of irony, OR perhaps that I am a terrible writer.  I tend to believe the latter.  I stand guilty.

Mr. Anam you are informed, intelligent, articulate.  I am NONE of the above.  Hence, any conversation between us is doomed from the beginning.  You ended by saying that you may learn something from me.  From ME?  Thank you for ending on such a jocular note. 

In sincere apologies and the best of wishes, bhalo theken, dhonnobad,

Ahrar    

          

---

From: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:36 AM
To: Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>
Cc: zain...@yahoo.com <zain...@yahoo.com>; Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <BDP...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: [BHSU Suspected SPAM]: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[rashed Anam]

on your "

To inspire me to be slightly braver, Mr. Anam has pointed out that Dr. Zafarullah, Dr. Kamal Hossain, Shahidul Alam and others have spoken out against this regime, and are just doing fine.  BUT, wouldn't that undercut your basic premise that there is no democracy in BD today?  So YOU think that there is enough space for criticism and debate in the country.  I think that space is very limited.  I am a bit puzzled about who is insufficiently critical of the government here (which, I understand, was the litmus test I had flunked).  Nonetheless, I stand guilty."

The paucity in the number of govt critique by the established individuals vindicate the lack of democracy.  Just because a few token individuals could talk in limited scope ,  as they are subject to financial/security threats, it does not certify the presence of democratic freedom, rather the lack of it. 

-RA 

On Sun, Jun 7, 2020 at 5:14 AM Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu> wrote:

Thank you Mr. Anam.  I am beginning to understand myself a little better.  I had always known that I am ignorant and stupid.  I have come to realize that I am also a hypocrite, thin-skinned, AND a coward.  Yes yes, you fought in the war, but you are a coward.  Yes, yes, you left a comfortable job abroad to return to BD, but you are a coward.  Yes yes, you have created a platform where Badruddin Umar, and Serajul Islam Chowdhury, and Akbar Ali Khan, and Shahdin Malik, and Asif Nazrul and many others have presented papers quite critical of the present regime, but you are a coward.  Yes yes, you write these "innocuous" pieces once in a while that only gives the impression that you are being critical, but you are a coward.  You MUST be right Mr. Anam.  I stand guilty.

If there is any silver lining in this sordid experience for me it is the fact that I am also getting some free psychological consultation out of this.  Thus, when Mr. Anam writes that I represent "a very common victim-playing/lesser-pretending reverse sentimental  one which appeared to me  subliminally  condescending (sort of it's not you, its me type)", I have gained new insights about myself. I stand guilty.

To inspire me to be slightly braver, Mr. Anam has pointed out that Dr. Zafarullah, Dr. Kamal Hossain, Shahidul Alam and others have spoken out against this regime, and are just doing fine.  BUT, wouldn't that undercut your basic premise that there is no democracy in BD today?  So YOU think that there is enough space for criticism and debate in the country.  I think that space is very limited.  I am a bit puzzled about who is insufficiently critical of the government here (which, I understand, was the litmus test I had flunked).  Nonetheless, I stand guilty.

One last time, Mr. Anam.  My shabby essay was dedicated to the proposition that there is little scope for free speech and free expression, hence democracy, in BD today.  In one paragraph I had referred to some achievements of the government.  The question that is obvious is that if these are indeed true and legitimate, then why is the government behaving in a manner which indicates a lack of confidence and graciousness.  The fact that some people did not get it only suggests that perhaps some may lack a sense of irony, OR perhaps that I am a terrible writer.  I tend to believe the latter.  I stand guilty.

Mr. Anam you are informed, intelligent, articulate.  I am NONE of the above.  Hence, any conversation between us is doomed from the beginning.  You ended by saying that you may learn something from me.  From ME?  Thank you for ending on such a jocular note. 

In sincere apologies and the best of wishes, bhalo theken, dhonnobad,

Ahrar    

          

---

From: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>

Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:36 AM
To: Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>

Cc: zain...@yahoo.com <zain...@yahoo.com>; Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <BDP...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: [BHSU Suspected SPAM]: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[RANU CHOWDHURY]

I am a misfit in this intellectual discourse. Nonetheless, greatly impressed with views expressed in it, particularly by Rashed Anam. Reading a few writings of Dr. Ahrar, I thought he was a scholar of substance, noting his background knowledge, analytical mind and writing skill. I also found him to be an extremely humble and polite person. 

But reading this lengthy post addressed to Rashed Anam, I am at my wit's end to judge if it is an apology, or a sarcasm, or a satire or facing the reality or a pun. Maybe, it is my limitation of comprehension. I thought Dr. Ahrar made himself more incomprehensible,  more complicated. It could be my misinterpretation. 

I made a small comment when Dr. Ahrar's piece came to my attention. His knowledge, views or competence were not in question. It was his dedication part, which Brothers Zoglul and Rashed Anam clearly pointed out. I joined them with a little of my own to add. Supporting what Rashed Anam wanted to convey, I just want to append a famous quote from Edmund Burke, the British politician-philosopher of the eighteenth century:

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of the evil is for good men to do nothing."  

---

From: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2020 2:25 PM
To: Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu>
Cc: Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; zain...@yahoo.com <zain...@yahoo.com>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <BDP...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [BHSU Suspected SPAM]: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[zainul abedin]

Salam,

Yes, all sides have their points to justify their arguments. My arguments are in no way of supporting/upholding the weaknesses of anybody such as Dr. Ahrar (even mine too) now in discussion. If someone wants something to write and get published even living outside Bangladesh has to write "Bongobondhu" for Mujib that I never want(ed) but Dr. Taj had to write in his recent piece!

I believe I was saved by Allah SWT from more humiliation than losing my job from the PIB in 1998 just before Hasina inaugurated a new building over there in 1999 (I was supposed to coordinate the inauguration)! 

It is that Bangladesh where many of my close friends, kins, relatives, neighbors frequently face persecutions (just a few days before one cousin got bail), dozens of neighbors are hiding from arrests linked to a death case of one SL-thug from internal feud but blamed/shifted to others (Chhatradal and Shibir) and one Shibir-man was killed by so-called crossfire!

I clearly feel that this Bangladesh condition is prevailing because of the failure of the opposition, especially BNP, to push up resistance for some "known reasons" for long! In absence of a persistent and resolute movement to oust/resist brute Hasina-regime, we cannot expect much more than mild/moderate criticism of this very open Second-Baksali regime (Dr. Aharar is on which side I do not know)!

The cases/examples of Dr. Kamal, and Shahidul Alam are not the same, though very rare. Dr. Kamal is in a camouflaging situation (before the last election I told you of an intuition of mine that I saw Sk. Mujib calling Shah Aziz. This may mean while both are dead their connection may mean something "underhand"). 

What is the general scenario in Bangladesh: Most critics either have become tactical or gone silent (such as Farhad Mazhar). Mr. Shahidul Alam caught in surprise beyond his belief. The case of Dr. Z. C. is a matter of double-edged sword. He had relations with Mujib, whom Z. bhai calls "Bongobondhu!" I called Dr. Z. bhai (who is not a BNP-insider) in the last few months twice, asked him why they are not aggressive, he told me, BNP for some reasons are not up to that, while Z. bhai also wanted to cut short the discussion!

I understand, criticizing a direct party-element (such as a Bostonian AL-activist) and scholars like Dr. Ahrar may not be the same (again, I do not mean applying a hypocrite way).

Fi-Amanillah!

ZA

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[zainul abedin]

Salam and thanks for sharing!

ZA

On Saturday, June 6, 2020, 11:28:59 PM CDT, Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com> wrote:

America’s Longest War Takes a Deadly New Turn

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. military has ramped up a reckless air war that is killing Afghan civilians in record numbers

By 

JASON MOTLAGH

 & 

KAVITHA CHEKURU

 

The rush of incoming aircraft roused Waheeda and her sleeping family. It was long after dark on a cool spring night in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, a Taliban stronghold of fertile valleys and stark mountains that borders Pakistan. The sound of warplanes is a familiar echo across the skies here, but it had never come so close to Waheeda’s mud-brick home. Her father, a village doctor named Nazar Gul, got up to see what was going on when the first bomb struck the family compound, killing five of her cousins. Her father was moving toward the blast site when a second bomb exploded, she says. In an instant, both of her parents and five of her sisters vanished. “It was dark and dusty, and nothing was visible,” the 14-year-old remembers. “I just knew they were all martyred.”

Two of Waheeda’s little sisters, one of them just five days old, lay crying on the ground as helicopter gunships began strafing what remained of the compound. Waheeda was hit in the leg. She wanted to flee, but it was impossible to discern a clear path out in the darkness, so she swept up her sisters and took cover under an eave of the blown-out kitchen. When the attack finally ended, Waheeda picked her way over mounds of dirt and rubble and made it to the village center to find help. Under the light of cellphones, relatives and neighbors worked past dawn to retrieve the bodies. Twelve people in all.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/afghanistan-us-military-killing-civilians-record-numbers-trump-1010664/

---

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Subject: Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

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[rashed Anam]

Mr. Abedin Bhai, 

In response to Mr. Hashmi's reply I've already said that  people in risky situations  who do not have room/means to overcome the risks should not take risk to criticizing this regime. 

But there are hundreds of  people with means and high positions who still can take a stand but chose not to because they either are not big enough to overcome party loyalty or are not ready to sacrifice little price (financial or otherwise) . For example, Barrister Amirul Islam who was believer in democracy at first now have become belier in AL rule, by hook or crook. 

There are many who are still a very few people speaking out without giving legitimacy or openly praising this fascist regime. Dr. Kamlal , Asif nazrul, Shahdin Malik, Bodiuzaman, Sahidul Alam are a few.  Surly every person has their unique situation. 

If we all remain silent or compromised how will this situation be overcome ? How will this fascist regime go ? 

When a person praises the regime for economy (which I think does not stand in scrutiny)  or any other issue in the same breath while criticizing lack of free speech, freedom , or democracy , I think it buys into the regime's propaganda that development justifies autocracy. There cannot be any middle ground when dealing with an illegitimate fascist regime.  In reality the nation gets neither development nor democracy . 

For example, Trump praised the white supremacist by saying "there are good people in both side". He was excoriated ever since for giving room/legitimacy to white supremacist groups. Something is just black and white. 

Ranu Bahi has mentioned something about being educated/intellectual etc.  Having an advanced degree and being ethical are totally two different things. 

Gowhor Rizvi had Harvard titles/experience but look where has history dumped him into ? As a traitor for India and anti-demoratic sycophant for GOOM-KHUN dictator .

The Current Bangladeshi writing class is full of it (Mejbah Kamal, Muntasir Mamun, Jafor Iqbal etc) .

They are hard wired in the brain. No logic or reasoning will convert them. The more educated they are, the more tools they are equipped with  to RATIONALIZE their hard wired brain. THey do not let the reasoning to deduce their judgements. There was a recent survey in NPR on climate science deniers. Majority of the global warming deniers had advanced degrees.   

In Bangladesh, I think we need more people in high positions to openly criticize and call for change for Bangladesh to have any hope of getting back to the tracks of democracy.  The current corona situation shows how people pay the price as a result of  unaccountability of the government and how hollow the nation's health system has become. How do you think the government  dares to increase bus fare during these grave situations when poor people are suffering the most?  Because it has no accountability in democracy-less Bangladesh. 

-RA

[zainul abedin]

Salam and thanks Anam bhai,

I believe, there is no alternative to "fighting" that can bring change we want in Bangladesh and elsewhere at the present context. 

Also, I think we have fallen into a cycle/circle of logic. Bangladesh is not lacking in "intellectual" arguments and/or excuses, in which case the BNP leadership has taken refuge (maybe as I am trying to too!).

There was no adequate democratic environment, even during BNP regimes,  in Bangladesh, lest Mujib and Hasina's regimes. For God's sake we got a rescue from Mujib, but no escape from Hasina, mainly because of "tolerance" or "idiocy" by none but BNP. BNP has created a bad example of tolerance toward the illegitimate racist regime. Whereas, we try to blame others!

I am sorry to say: You want everybody should be like Dr. Anam! My message is mostly about ways/strategies of critiques. Maybe I am trying to evade my strong position for fighting people used to know me for. Actually, my family and close people are still in the state of direct fighting in Bangladesh. So, I do not have an alternative choice of taking the "straight path!"

We need to go for direct action/fighting, not arguments!

Please pardon me!

ZA

[rashed Anam]

ZA Bhai,

In all fairness I don't think BNP , after 1990, ever imposed dictatorship to asphyxiate democracy from Bangladesh. 

You've mentioned BNP's failures a few times as the main reason we could not overcome this fascist Awami dictatorship. 

To be fair to BNP, I don't agree that BNP chose to  'tolerate'  this dictator regime.  They are suppressed and persecuted to the level of having no choice but to tolerate/live with it.  BNP now does not have the capability- intellectually, leaderhipwise and manpower wise- both  for internal incompetency and for external persecution by the AL regime. BNP was being hollowed out internally since 1990 and did not exercise ideology based political culture. It failed to establish intellectual,  cultural and democratic infrastructure for its ideologies. 

I remember how Zia situated BNP in nation building  from the grassroot level, bottom up, making common people as the stakeholders- be it in agriculture/canal digging, or literacy drive, or family planning, or building food storage in each Thana, or export of garments, manpower export etc.  These were all new initiatives-fruits of whom the nation still reap.  BNP got spoiled in power. But it never became dictator, never took away democracy  unlike AL. AL regime's extrajudcial killings, and systemic persecution using judicial branches have done the finish job with regards to BNP's capability. 

 

Having said that, WHY is it ONLY BNP's responsibility  to give us democracy ?   Are we so spoiled to always depend on others to give us our rights ? If 160 million people are so comfortably numb for not wanting democracy bad enough, why is it only BNP's job to spoon feed these 160 million people ?

We always had someone rescue us. Some brave patriots rescued us from BAKSAL1 dictator Mujib.  Zia rescued us from Mostak and one party dictator regime BAKSAL to multi party democracy, disciplined the army and started nation building.  Khaleda/BNP and  justice Shahbuddin rescued us from dictator Ershad's regime. There was always someone else who rescued this hopeless nation.  Maybe we got too spoiled and  expect that it's someone else's job to rescue us.  It's BNP's job to rescue us. 

Maybe we deserve to languish in dictatorship and all the social/economic/security ills it brings along as natural consequences of such dictatorship, be it in mismanagement of Coronavirus, or in hollowing out of health care system, or in  corruption riddled  looting burdenling the national debt,  or in the increase the gas-electricity-water-bus fair cost.  We deserve to be killed at the border with our government's silence. We deserve to sell out our country's interests to India, lose our jobs and businesses to India in exchange for legitimacy to the mandateless regime.  We deserve to suffer and suffer more , like the refugees of Syria . Until we realize the value of democracy  and freedom. Until we realize the value of fair election and checks and balance ! 

Till then we shall suffer in blood , tears and in indignity .

-RA

IMO, 

[RANU CHOWDHURY]

I understand the frustrations expressed by Zainul Bhia and Rashed Bhai. They are not alone. 

I agree with Zainul Bhai that BNP's "tolerance" and "idiocy" are to a large extent responsible for inactive political atmosphere in the country today. We know the regime has its Gopalis and other torture mechanism. As an opposition political party, BNP needs to devise its own strategy to face them. There will be suffering. It is part of the game. Otherwise, let them continue their Mujra and call off politics. The fascists will definitely take advantage of opposition's posture of "hands and feet tied." 

BNP had no business to participate in the December 2018 election without a CTG. Some people argue that BNP had internal and external pressure to join the election. So had the regime for a participatory election. The AL could not have gone for a replay of January 5 without BNP. Here comes BNP's idiocy. It gave the fascist legitimacy in a platter. 

Another important thing is, BNP lacks leadership. KZ was languishing in jail. She is no better now. TR exercises authority with remote control. It doesn't work. Fakhrul is too soft, ineffective. Other senior leaders suffer from complex: why should they come to the front when they have no say in presence of a junior like MF? 

Rashed A is right to say why should the BNP take the sole blame. My reasoning is, BNP is still the only alternative party. Its grassroots are strong. Problem is of leadership. 160 million people need to be educated and mobilized. They would not come forward in the vacuum. Someone needs to give them a call and lead them. Again, remote control leadership will not work. Dynamic, both young and old, leaders should be recognized and given authority to lead. People still look towards BNP. Corona is no excuse. If the US can burn with Floyd flame, so can others.  

In addition to what Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of the evil is for good men to do nothing," I would say, tolerating the evil is also an offence.    

---

From: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 3:40 AM
To: zainul abedin <zain...@yahoo.com>
Cc: Ahmad, Ahrar <ahrar...@bhsu.edu>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <bdp...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: {NA Bangladeshi Community} Re: [BHSU Suspected SPAM]: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[zainul abedin]

Salam to all,

After RC bhai's comments I thought of no more retorts. But it is not to counter-forcing anything. I know my meagerness in all aspects in front of the immenseness of all others---being like a fly on the colossal-wheel, and/or a mosquito facing huge cannons!  

For Dr. Taj bhai (really no blame!), I myself said that nobody without saying "B-bondhu" or a praising-flute can get published.

I do not know who is hiding whom! We are very open to the "monsters" (our families/neighbors/friends have been suffering for long unreported, in most cases) in Bangladesh. My FF brother and many others caution me overtime what I have been doing!

What many of us usually critique, that is of some kind of flaws that helped the "monsters" grow bigger and stronger. I/we do not compare Baksalite dictatorships with BNP's rules, though one pro-BNPJournalist leader/Editor Reazuddin Ahmad bhai used to say: Democratically elected autocratic rulers/governments (even for the weak-BNP). 

I know how some of my classmates/batchmates, among others, who worked under Shahabuddin-Latifur Rahman CTG (whom Allah SWT bestowed with some honest senses to serve the country in 2001) helped BNP make an about-turn (it was not that much charisma of KZ, lest TZ!), added by some strong-holds of Jamaat, especially in the western-belt (except Rangpur). I have the book of Justice Latifur Rahman in my collection!

About weaknesses, even Syed bhai, on other day, told us how the inner/inter-conflicts  (such as mama-bhagna) weakened "us."

Giving examples of some survivors, such as Editor Mahmudur Rahman, first, we are forgetting/ignoring their longtime bloodied-sufferings and sacrifices; and second, we are accepting "monster's claims of prevailing "democracy," not autocracy in the country---we are caught into their traps! 

Allowing some kind of talk-shows (by some educators/intellectuals, such as Asif Nazrul) is very deceptive, i.e. to eyewash the world, which, in other way around, is into the fold of the "monster." And the monster knows, there will be not much impact of some criticisms in the society, because there is none in the field to translate those into actions (effective actions). 

Their is some concept called "absorption capacity" (those are not the same in all nations/societies). We probably helped Hasina perpetuate a "better" absorption capacity to damn-care (because we also go/went to Modi-gongs)!

Blaming the people of the country, called "blue-moon" by Gani bhai, may lead us to blaming "God" too! Yes, unfortunately, it is a country where we created the narrow option of either or--Billy and Bimpi (as like as even US--Republicans and Democrats), no third force (except known-lewd Heshsha's Jappa for a decade. Again, it is that one either Billi, which helped the lewd sustain, and then used him). 

I believe, Syed bhai may give us some religio-direction/option, as he is very erudite in the field!

Please pardon me!

Fi-Amanillah,

ZA

On Monday, June 8, 2020, 2:06:44 AM CDT, Abdur Syed <ams...@aol.com> wrote:

“Having said that, WHY is it ONLY BNP's responsibility  to give us democracy ?  Are we so spoiled to always depend on others to give us our rights ? If 160 million people are so comfortably numb for not wanting democracy bad enough, why is it only BNP's job to spoon feed these 160 million people ?”

RA bhai,

AWRB. I totally agree with it. Day by day, we have build up a habit of hiding our weaknesses by criticising and accuse others. Either BAL or BNP or Jamaat can’t do anything without the support of the citizens of Bangladesh. Look at Trump, he isn’t struggling with his own party, because there are patriots still exists within his who knows Trump is harming the nation, not only his party.

Hope we get the message clear.

Wassaalam

Razzak A. Syed

Sent from my iPhone

[fatima ashrafi]

Salam Razzak Bhai,

I am sad and sorry to hear of your loss.

Your brother dies of sudden cardiac arrest! No one knows when our time will be up.

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un - "Verily we belong to Allah, and verily to Him do we return."

What happens to us after we die? What is life in the Hereafter like, this new and strange world after death? Do we lose consciousness of this life? Where does our soul go? Do we feel and think the same?

May Almighty Allah forgive your brother and grant him Jannah. May He give you and family sabr in these difficult times.

Regards,

Fatima

On Tuesday, 9 June 2020, 04:33:23 pm AEST, Abdur Syed <ams...@aol.com> wrote:

AWRB ZA bhai,

My extreme apologies to give you such feelings. Comparing everyone of you, I am an ordinary slave of Allah (SWT). 

 I strongly believe that Allah (SWT) being our creator and teacher, we human beings as his slaves and his students, if I am the weakest student in the class, there is a chances of passing the test on a compensation basis and with his Mercy. Therefore, it’s better to be humble than arrogant, just like and Ahrar bhai. 

Life is very short and unpredictable, I lost my brother today morning, who was immediately elder to me, he wanted to talk to me just before his death, because of the time difference we couldn’t get hold of each other’s, he just felt sick admitted in the hospital, nothing related to Covid19, died within half an hour due to cardiac arrest!! Inna lillahe wa inna Elahi rajeun. Please keep him in your doa’s. Lesson I learned is, don’t hurt each other and be humble to each. As part of daily readings I just read the following verses today morning and would like to share with you.

“আপনি কি তাদের দেখেননি, যারা কিতাবের কিছু অংশ পেয়েছে-আল্লাহর কিতাবের প্রতি তাদের আহবান করা হয়েছিল যাতে তাদের মধ্যে মীমাংসা করা যায়। অতঃপর তাদের মধ্যে একদল তা অমান্য করে মুখ ফিরিয়ে নেয়।

তা এজন্য যে, তারা বলে থাকে যে, দোযখের আগুন আমাদের স্পর্শ করবে না; তবে সামান্য হাতে গোনা কয়েকদিনের জন্য স্পর্শ করতে পারে। নিজেদের উদ্ভাবিত ভিত্তিহীন কথায় তারা ধোকা খেয়েছে।

কিন্তু তখন কি অবস্থা দাঁড়াবে যখন আমি তাদেরকে একদিন সমবেত করবো যে দিনের আগমনে কোন সন্দেহ নেই আর নিজেদের কৃতকর্ম তাদের প্রত্যেকেই পাবে তাদের প্রাপ্য প্রদান মোটেই অন্যায় করা হবে না।”

03:23-25

“মুমিনগন যেন অন্য মুমিনকে ছেড়ে কেন কাফেরকে বন্ধুরূপে গ্রহণ না করে। যারা এরূপ করবে আল্লাহর সাথে তাদের কেন সম্পর্ক থাকবে না। তবে যদি তোমরা তাদের পক্ষ থেকে কোন অনিষ্টের আশঙ্কা কর, তবে তাদের সাথে সাবধানতার সাথে থাকবে আল্লাহ তা’আলা তাঁর সম্পর্কে তোমাদের সতর্ক করেছেন। এবং সবাই কে তাঁর কাছে ফিরে যেতে হবে।

বলে দিন, তোমরা যদি মনের কথা গোপন করে রাখ অথবা প্রকাশ করে দাও, আল্লাহ সে সবই জানতে পারেন। আর আসমান ও জমিনে যা কিছু আছে, সেসব ও তিনি জানেন। আল্লাহ সর্ব বিষয়ে শক্তিমান।”

03:28-29

“বলুন ইয়া আল্লাহ! তুমিই সার্বভৌম শক্তির অধিকারী। তুমি যাকে ইচ্ছা রাজ্য দান কর এবং যার কাছ থেকে ইচ্ছা রাজ্য ছিনিয়ে নাও এবং যাকে ইচ্ছা সম্মান দান কর আর যাকে ইচ্ছা অপমানে পতিত কর। তোমারই হাতে রয়েছে যাবতীয় কল্যাণ। নিশ্চয়ই তুমি সর্ব বিষয়ে ক্ষমতাশীল।

তুমি রাতকে দিনের ভেতরে প্রবেশ করাও এবং দিনকে রাতের ভেতরে প্রবেশ করিয়ে দাও। আর তুমিই জীবিতকে মৃতের ভেতর থেকে বের করে আন এবং মৃতকে জীবিতের ভেতর থেকে বের কর। আর তুমিই যাকে ইচ্ছা বেহিসাব রিযিক দান কর।”

03:26-27

Please forgive me if I have ever hurt anyone of you.

Wassaalam 

Razzak A. Syed

Sent from my iPhone

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[RANU CHOWDHURY]

Sorry, Razzak, to learn the passing away of your beloved brother. Innalillahi......Rajioon! May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannatul Firdaous and give enough courage and strength to his dear and near ones to bear the loss.

As we say Innalillahi.....Rajioon, we all will return to the Creator, when He calls. At my age, we are counting the time. May Allah (SWT) bless us all.

---

From: fatima ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2020 6:52 AM
To: zainul abedin <zain...@yahoo.com>; Abdur Syed <ams...@aol.com>
Cc: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>; Ahmad, Ahrar <ahrar...@bhsu.edu>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <bdp...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: {NA Bangladeshi Community} Re: [BHSU Suspected SPAM]: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[Outlook Team]

From: Zoglul Husain (zog...@hotmail.co.uk) 

Salaam, Abdur Razzak Bhai. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. May Allah SWT grant your brother Jannat ul Firdous, and sabr to the whole family, Ameen! 

---

From: Abdur Syed <ams...@aol.com>
Sent: 09 June 2020 07:33
To: zainul abedin <zain...@yahoo.com>
Cc: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>; Ahmad, Ahrar <ahrar...@bhsu.edu>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <bdp...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: {NA Bangladeshi Community} Re: [BHSU Suspected SPAM]: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

AWRB ZA bhai,

My extreme apologies to give you such feelings. Comparing everyone of you, I am an ordinary slave of Allah (SWT). 

 I strongly believe that Allah (SWT) being our creator and teacher, we human beings as his slaves and his students, if I am the weakest student in the class, there is a chances of passing the test on a compensation basis and with his Mercy. Therefore, it’s better to be humble than arrogant, just like and Ahrar bhai. 

Life is very short and unpredictable, I lost my brother today morning, who was immediately elder to me, he wanted to talk to me just before his death, because of the time difference we couldn’t get hold of each other’s, he just felt sick admitted in the hospital, nothing related to Covid19, died within half an hour due to cardiac arrest!! Inna lillahe wa inna Elahi rajeun. Please keep him in your doa’s. Lesson I learned is, don’t hurt each other and be humble to each. As part of daily readings I just read the following verses today morning and would like to share with you.

“আপনি কি তাদের দেখেননি, যারা কিতাবের কিছু অংশ পেয়েছে-আল্লাহর কিতাবের প্রতি তাদের আহবান করা হয়েছিল যাতে তাদের মধ্যে মীমাংসা করা যায়। অতঃপর তাদের মধ্যে একদল তা অমান্য করে মুখ ফিরিয়ে নেয়।

তা এজন্য যে, তারা বলে থাকে যে, দোযখের আগুন আমাদের স্পর্শ করবে না; তবে সামান্য হাতে গোনা কয়েকদিনের জন্য স্পর্শ করতে পারে। নিজেদের উদ্ভাবিত ভিত্তিহীন কথায় তারা ধোকা খেয়েছে।

কিন্তু তখন কি অবস্থা দাঁড়াবে যখন আমি তাদেরকে একদিন সমবেত করবো যে দিনের আগমনে কোন সন্দেহ নেই আর নিজেদের কৃতকর্ম তাদের প্রত্যেকেই পাবে তাদের প্রাপ্য প্রদান মোটেই অন্যায় করা হবে না।”

03:23-25

“মুমিনগন যেন অন্য মুমিনকে ছেড়ে কেন কাফেরকে বন্ধুরূপে গ্রহণ না করে। যারা এরূপ করবে আল্লাহর সাথে তাদের কেন সম্পর্ক থাকবে না। তবে যদি তোমরা তাদের পক্ষ থেকে কোন অনিষ্টের আশঙ্কা কর, তবে তাদের সাথে সাবধানতার সাথে থাকবে আল্লাহ তা’আলা তাঁর সম্পর্কে তোমাদের সতর্ক করেছেন। এবং সবাই কে তাঁর কাছে ফিরে যেতে হবে।

বলে দিন, তোমরা যদি মনের কথা গোপন করে রাখ অথবা প্রকাশ করে দাও, আল্লাহ সে সবই জানতে পারেন। আর আসমান ও জমিনে যা কিছু আছে, সেসব ও তিনি জানেন। আল্লাহ সর্ব বিষয়ে শক্তিমান।”

03:28-29

“বলুন ইয়া আল্লাহ! তুমিই সার্বভৌম শক্তির অধিকারী। তুমি যাকে ইচ্ছা রাজ্য দান কর এবং যার কাছ থেকে ইচ্ছা রাজ্য ছিনিয়ে নাও এবং যাকে ইচ্ছা সম্মান দান কর আর যাকে ইচ্ছা অপমানে পতিত কর। তোমারই হাতে রয়েছে যাবতীয় কল্যাণ। নিশ্চয়ই তুমি সর্ব বিষয়ে ক্ষমতাশীল।

তুমি রাতকে দিনের ভেতরে প্রবেশ করাও এবং দিনকে রাতের ভেতরে প্রবেশ করিয়ে দাও। আর তুমিই জীবিতকে মৃতের ভেতর থেকে বের করে আন এবং মৃতকে জীবিতের ভেতর থেকে বের কর। আর তুমিই যাকে ইচ্ছা বেহিসাব রিযিক দান কর।”

03:26-27

Please forgive me if I have ever hurt anyone of you.

Wassaalam 

Razzak A. Syed

Sent from my iPhone

On 9 Jun 2020, at 15:25, 'zainul abedin' via North America Bangladeshi Community <na...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

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[RANU CHOWDHURY]

"The paucity in the number of govt critique by the established individuals vindicate the lack of democracy.  Just because a few token individuals could talk in limited scope.....it does not certify the presence of democratic freedom, rather the lack of it."--Rashed Anam 

Very true. Looking at the January 5, December 29/30 and 5000 local elections, if someone thinks Bangladesh has democracy, there must be something wrong with that person. Looking at how the opposition is treated (Peelkhana, Baitul Mukarrm, Shapla Chattar, Brick-Sand Truck cordons, Office lockups, hundreds of thousand false cases, jails filled with opponents, 17 years for an unproven case et all), if someone thinks Bangladesh enjoys freedom, democracy and rule of law, there must be something wrong with that person. Signing nearly 50 agreements with a neighbor, almost all against national interest, if someone calls that a people or country-friendly government, there is something wrong with that thinking. With an illegal control of the legislature and maintaining a loyal judiciary, and with a bought-up administration and law enforcing agencies, including the military, one can do and boast of any power, any authority, anything, but that does not right the wrongs. That is fascism. 

---

From: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2020 2:25 PM
To: Ahmad, Ahrar <Ahrar...@bhsu.edu>
Cc: Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; zain...@yahoo.com <zain...@yahoo.com>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <BDP...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [BHSU Suspected SPAM]: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

[rashed Anam]

You are very correct Ranu Bhai  in snapshotting the sorry state of democracy in Bangladesh with  just a few cases ! 

Not sure how anyone with 'beating heart and a working mind' can claim BD even has partial democracy, give the brutal repression and extra-judicial killings, Chatro League killing (i.e.  BUET's Abrar etc. ).  

We should know that even talking about the debatable 'development/achievement' of this autocratic regime in the same breath  gives it a false sense  of justification ! For example, in the case of systemic racism in USA, we do not talk about any underlying crime/vices, if any,  of a victim of racial brutality, because talking about that would distract from the main issue of racial profiling/brutality and sort of given the police some mitigating justification of applying racial injustice on the victim.  Because nothing justifies racial brutality/bias. We do not want to give any false comfort to the racist police/systems. The same goes for a democracy-devouring  autocratic regime like this AL. 

Razzak Bhai, My condolences for your loss. May Allah bless him with Jannah! 

-RA

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[Muazzam Kazi]

Only an insane person will claim Bangladesh has a  democracy. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 9, 2020, at 3:01 PM, rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nabdc/CAKmDqPMdKgpqxKT_44TciOW-R%2B-j-xFqujVi59RK8eu7TQj7kg%40mail.gmail.com.

[zainul abedin]

Assalamu Alaikum, Syed bhai,

Inna-lillahe wa-inna Elahi rajeun! So sorry to know the sad news of yours, actually, for all of us!

Please accept my whole-hearted condolence. May Allah SWT grant your brother Jannah and give you all the solace. This is the destiny of us all: Minha Khalaqnaqum wa-Fiha Nuidukum, wa-Minha Nukhruzukum Tahratan Ukhra! We usually forget that.

For all other ongoing discussion, I am stopping it now! We are in the spell of "Qullillah Humma..." that you placed before us "“বলুন ইয়া আল্লাহ! তুমিই সার্বভৌম শক্তির অধিকারী। তুমি যাকে ইচ্ছা রাজ্য দান কর এবং যার কাছ থেকে ইচ্ছা রাজ্য ছিনিয়ে নাও এবং যাকে ইচ্ছা সম্মান দান করআর যাকে ইচ্ছা অপমানে পতিত কর। তোমারই হাতে রয়েছে যাবতীয় কল্যাণ। নিশ্চয়ই তুমি সর্ব বিষয়ে ক্ষমতাশীল।

তুমি রাতকে দিনের ভেতরে প্রবেশ করাও এবং দিনকে রাতের ভেতরে প্রবেশ করিয়ে দাও। আর তুমিই জীবিতকে মৃতের ভেতর থেকে বের করে আন এবং মৃতকে জীবিতেরভেতর থেকে বের কর। আর তুমিই যাকে ইচ্ছা বেহিসাব রিযিক দান কর।” 03:26-27.

However, all is all the results of "Jaharal Fasadu Fil-Barrey wal-Baharey Bemaa-Kassabat Ai-Diannas," earned by us individually and collectively!

Please forgive me for my excesses!

Zainul Abedin

On Tuesday, June 9, 2020, 3:41:32 AM CDT, Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

From: Zoglul Husain (zog...@hotmail.co.uk) 

Salaam, Abdur Razzak Bhai. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. May Allah SWT grant your brother Jannat ul Firdous, and sabr to the whole family, Ameen! 

From: Abdur Syed <ams...@aol.com>
Sent: 09 June 2020 07:33
To: zainul abedin <zain...@yahoo.com>
Cc: rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>; Ahmad, Ahrar <ahrar...@bhsu.edu>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; Taj Hashmi <tajh...@gmail.com>; Farida Majid <farida...@hotmail.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; LA Discussion <la-dis...@googlegroups.com>; ban...@googlegroups.com <ban...@googlegroups.com>; BDPANA <bdp...@yahoogroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdp...@googlegroups.com>; bangladesh...@googlegroups.com <bangladesh...@googlegroups.com>; american bangladeshi <americanb...@googlegroups.com>; bisne-boston <bisne-...@googlegroups.com>; alapon <ala...@yahoogroups.com>; Alochona Groups <aloc...@yahoogroups.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; Yasmeen Ali <yasmee...@gmail.com>; Pakpotpourii <pakpot...@googlegroups.com>; Pakpotpourri1 <pakpot...@googlegroups.comx>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>; Post Card <abahar...@gmail.com>; Khalifa Malik <kmama...@gmail.com>; mga...@gmail.com <mga...@gmail.com>; Javed Helali <jhela...@yahoo.com>; MUMTAZ IQBAL <miq...@gmail.com>; Sabria Chowdhury Balland <sabriac...@gmail.com>; Dr. Habid Siddiqi HabibSiddiqui <sa...@aol.com>; Mohammad Ashrafi <fash...@yahoo.com>; quamrul....@gmail.com <quamrul....@gmail.com>; Litu . <li...@outlook.com>; Nurun Nabi <nura...@gmail.com>; Nurul Kabir <nurul...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: {NA Bangladeshi Community} Re: [BHSU Suspected SPAM]: Re: [EXT] Re: {PFC-Friends} Free Speech

 

AWRB ZA bhai,

My extreme apologies to give you such feelings. Comparing everyone of you, I am an ordinary slave of Allah (SWT). 

 I strongly believe that Allah (SWT) being our creator and teacher, we human beings as his slaves and his students, if I am the weakest student in the class, there is a chances of passing the test on a compensation basis and with his Mercy. Therefore, it’s better to be humble than arrogant, just like and Ahrar bhai. 

Life is very short and unpredictable, I lost my brother today morning, who was immediately elder to me, he wanted to talk to me just before his death, because of the time difference we couldn’t get hold of each other’s, he just felt sick admitted in the hospital, nothing related to Covid19, died within half an hour due to cardiac arrest!! Inna lillahe wa inna Elahi rajeun. Please keep him in your doa’s. Lesson I learned is, don’t hurt each other and be humble to each. As part of daily readings I just read the following verses today morning and would like to share with you.

“আপনি কি তাদের দেখেননি, যারা কিতাবের কিছু অংশ পেয়েছে-আল্লাহর কিতাবের প্রতি তাদের আহবান করা হয়েছিল যাতে তাদের মধ্যে মীমাংসা করা যায়। অতঃপর তাদের মধ্যে একদল তা অমান্য করে মুখ ফিরিয়ে নেয়।

তা এজন্য যে, তারা বলে থাকে যে, দোযখের আগুন আমাদের স্পর্শ করবে না; তবে সামান্য হাতে গোনা কয়েকদিনের জন্য স্পর্শ করতে পারে। নিজেদের উদ্ভাবিত ভিত্তিহীন কথায় তারা ধোকা খেয়েছে।

কিন্তু তখন কি অবস্থা দাঁড়াবে যখন আমি তাদেরকে একদিন সমবেত করবো যে দিনের আগমনে কোন সন্দেহ নেই আর নিজেদের কৃতকর্ম তাদের প্রত্যেকেই পাবে তাদের প্রাপ্য প্রদান মোটেই অন্যায় করা হবে না।”

03:23-25

“মুমিনগন যেন অন্য মুমিনকে ছেড়ে কেন কাফেরকে বন্ধুরূপে গ্রহণ না করে। যারা এরূপ করবে আল্লাহর সাথে তাদের কেন সম্পর্ক থাকবে না। তবে যদি তোমরা তাদের পক্ষ থেকে কোন অনিষ্টের আশঙ্কা কর, তবে তাদের সাথে সাবধানতার সাথে থাকবে আল্লাহ তা’আলা তাঁর সম্পর্কে তোমাদের সতর্ক করেছেন। এবং সবাই কে তাঁর কাছে ফিরে যেতে হবে।

বলে দিন, তোমরা যদি মনের কথা গোপন করে রাখ অথবা প্রকাশ করে দাও, আল্লাহ সে সবই জানতে পারেন। আর আসমান ও জমিনে যা কিছু আছে, সেসব ও তিনি জানেন। আল্লাহ সর্ব বিষয়ে শক্তিমান।”

03:28-29

“বলুন ইয়া আল্লাহ! তুমিই সার্বভৌম শক্তির অধিকারী। তুমি যাকে ইচ্ছা রাজ্য দান কর এবং যার কাছ থেকে ইচ্ছা রাজ্য ছিনিয়ে নাও এবং যাকে ইচ্ছা সম্মান দান কর আর যাকে ইচ্ছা অপমানে পতিত কর। তোমারই হাতে রয়েছে যাবতীয় কল্যাণ। নিশ্চয়ই তুমি সর্ব বিষয়ে ক্ষমতাশীল।

তুমি রাতকে দিনের ভেতরে প্রবেশ করাও এবং দিনকে রাতের ভেতরে প্রবেশ করিয়ে দাও। আর তুমিই জীবিতকে মৃতের ভেতর থেকে বের করে আন এবং মৃতকে জীবিতের ভেতর থেকে বের কর। আর তুমিই যাকে ইচ্ছা বেহিসাব রিযিক দান কর।”

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nabdc/VI1PR09MB286342999CD2E8047EEB693795820%40VI1PR09MB2863.eurprd09.prod.outlook.com.

[Abdur Syed]

ZA Bhai,

AWRB. JZK for your doa’s. Yes, my brother’s death is a big shock for me. I think it’s time to change my lifestyle too. I feel most of us in this group are like brothers and sisters, we all have feelings for our nation but some of us may have different views and opinions, end of the day we all destined up to our final destination. 

Therefore, either we express our views without abuse or accuse or refrain from get involved into it. We can never get to the bottom of the arguments or fighting each other. 

May Allah (SWT) save us and save our nation.

Wassaalam 

Razzak A. Syed

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