[ BREAKING NEWS: 4 Rajshahi University Professors, Associate Professor Moloy Kumar Bhowmik of the Department of Management, Selim Reza Newton, Dulal Chandra Biswas and Abdullah Al Mamun of the Department of Mass Communications, sentenced to 2 years hard labor for “inciting anti-army riots” by students]
[This letter from one of the professors to his wife was received the night before the verdict]
awaiting verdict.
A Rajshahi University teacher’s letter to his wife.
Naturally I was anxious. 25 November was the day of verdict. The night before, darkness had fallen heavily on me. No space left for sleep to enter. “IF” — that one word kept circling inside me, it made all else seem insignificant. “If” the verdict was announced, “if” they decided to punish me would I be able to stay calm and strong in the courtroom? I lay on my prison bed and wondered. I kept telling myself that such things had repeatedly happened in history, from the time of Socrates. No, I could not break down. I would have to be strong. I would have to resist the injustice. I must hold my head up high. I must not bend. I know I will lose my job, you will have to find one…, what can I do in this situation, what should I do, what will happen to you my love? I keep thinking, over and over. I think I have only one weapon at my disposal. I must remain strong, I must keep my spirits high. Like many others in prison. Most of the prisoners are innocent. They are victims of the judicial process, that is why they lead imprisoned lives.
And what if they set me free? One is willing to give up all that one has, to be set free. Life in prison teaches you that, it teaches you the meaning of freedom. If they set me free I think I will go to our famiiar haunts with you — Talaimari, campus, the road beside the Jail which follows the river Padma. I want to see people walking, I will closely observe how men who are free go about their business. I want to sit in the rocking chair at home and read, I want to watch television with you, I want us to sit together and plan new pieces of writing. But first of all, I want to start working on a collection, writings on student protests, the loyal caretaker government, World Bank, IMF activities, our imprisonment, on the all-pervasive culture of fear that has been carefully crafted. If I were to lose my job I will have no regrets, as long as they set me free. That is what I long for, that is how I feel at this moment. Here I have come to know many prisoners who sold the last of what they owned, a piece of land, they gave their last farthing to the dalal (middleman) but did not become free. They lost everything. Some of it found it’s way into the lawyers’ pocket, the rest went to the dalal. Law-administration-jail, it’s a frightening knot, it breaks to pieces ordinary people, political dissidents, those who oppose the powerful. “Case”, its a horrible word, it is monstrous. It is a monster with poisonous hands and feet. These thoughts kept circling my head that night.
I knew the moment I entered the courtroom that the verdict was to be postponed. When I heard 4th of December, after so many days, I was very angry, very disappointed. But things seem to fall into place. This “collaborator” regime wants to set instances. It wants to hurt people. It wants to build a culture of fear. It wants to strip the land naked and sell off all resources to foreign companies. It wants to create a donor-driven code for our universities, it wants to occupy our universities. Look at how the American warships have arrived, without having been invited. They have built a temporary base in Barisal. And look at the jolpais (army) who have planted themselves at the head of institutions. And the Pakistani army medical corps, they too have come, surely for the the first time since 1971? Hasan Moshhud says, if Dudok (ACC) is not allowed to complete its work, it’ll signal the people’s defeat. The Supreme Court has dismissed the High Court injunction on Hasina’s property estimates. Much is said in the name of the land, its people. Those who rule the country are selling it off, they are enslaving its peoples, and it is they who speak in the name of the people. How farcical can things get, how super-real! And all the while, the ordinary people, and those who are with them, they become breathless, they are panting like TB patients.
When the new date was announced in court, I did not wait, not for a moment… I did not speak to anyone. I rushed into the prison van. It seemed like a black curtain had gathered around us. We returned to the prison. We had been silent in the van, we had not spoken to each other. On reaching the jail we had to wait outside, in the space between the two iron gates. It is like being in the mouth of the alligator, waiting to be devoured. We were waiting for the ‘inner’ gate to be opened, waiting for orders to enter the prison building which was built in 1800. While waiting I noticed an old man, sitting on the ground. He was very frail, very old. His haunches alone could not support him, he had to use his hands for support. He turned his head sideways and glanced at us. I could see that it hurt, the sideways glance. His body quivered. I kept looking at him, at his unshaven cheeks, at the prison sheet wrapped around his thin frame to ward off the cold. One of his hands wore a handcuff, it had a long rope trailing off from the handcuff. Does this old man have the strength to escape? One can tell he is very poor from the way he sits, his helpless look, it makes me shudder. His chains are an insult to humanity.
The inner gate was opened and we entered. Another super-real sight greeted us. Seventy to eighty men were sitting on the ground in three rows. They will be taken to court. Prisoners who are being sent off to court have to sit down kneeling. They were guarded by babus, who accost prisoners when they have to go from one part of the jail to another. It reminded me of the first day we had been taken to court. We had been made to stand and wait just like them. And then… we had been ordered to kneel down. Should we…we were agonising when a jomadar came and saved us. He made us form a separate line, we were allowed to remain standing.
Hell. The myth of hell which is inscribed in religion, that is prison. Dhopachalis work in the hospital area, next to our division room. They are 7, at most. That day I got up from bed, went outside and saw them working. A huge earthen fire, a huge pot full of prisoners’ uniforms, the water boiling. One of the men was stirring the clothes, turning them this way and that, another was carefully stoking the fire. The long piece of wood was used to pick the clothes and drop them on the washing board. Korban, who is handsome, and some others were thrashing them on the board, cleaning them of dirt and grime. I felt as if the whole prison, the whole country was boiling in the pot. Boiling in hell.
Two old macchichalis (prisoners deputed to swat flies of those who have division status) were sitting on our veranda, killing flies. One of them… I think he belongs to the marfoti tradition. He had told me early on, “The jail will not be able to contain you.” The other day he said, “A mother cannot keep her baby inside her for more than ten months and ten days, and you think the government can keep you in here?”
….What is going to happen? The last couple of days, I have felt quite low. They were bad days. I keep hoping for good news, but it’s the opposite. I waited for you today. Take care. Be careful. I long to see ma. If the news is bad on the 4th I want to see ma. I send you my love, but I am angry at you for not looking after yourself.
December 4, 2007 at 1:21 am
হায় আল্লাহ। কি আর বলার আছে?
এটা নিজেদের ব্লগে তুলে দেওার অনুমতি চাই।
December 4, 2007 at 1:50 am
I want to know the name of the teacher!
December 4, 2007 at 9:03 am
[…] Also read: The letter of RU teacher “If I am jailed” […]
December 4, 2007 at 9:14 am
Why can’t people see the true color of the present regime? I often meet people who defends the current govt. blindly. Why?
December 4, 2007 at 11:19 am
“It wants to build a culture of fear”
It has, & people will rise again & oppressors will be crushed in a way Bangladesh has not seen for many years. Inshallah.
December 4, 2007 at 1:12 pm
#
“It has, & people will rise again & oppressors will be crushed in a way Bangladesh has not seen for many years. Inshallah.”
Inshallah! Amin!
December 4, 2007 at 2:56 pm
[…] the curfew and the emergency laws imposed by the military government. Rumi bhai has posted a moving letter from one of the professors detailing the harshness of prison life and the daily humiliation these […]
December 4, 2007 at 3:20 pm
As Beretta would say . . ” don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time!”
December 4, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Down with Imperialism!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 4, 2007 at 3:35 pm
clam, what was the crime? Please explain.
December 4, 2007 at 4:08 pm
The main crimes are doing politics, conspiracy and provoking the students in the name of teaching. Two years jail is nothing compared the economic loss we had to incurred in the so called agitation against CTG
December 4, 2007 at 4:16 pm
bd_watcher,
1) What is your estimate of “economic loss” incurred during agitation?
2) Given that most economists agree that education is an unquantifiable factor behind economic growth, how exactly are you calculating the economic loss incurred by jailing academics for two years?
Without these measures, such stateents as “two years in jail is nothing compared the economic loss” is meaningless fluff.
Also, try answer this question:
“How does it compare with the economic loss caused by government measures, such as its anti-VOIP crusade, shutting down jute mills, messing up fertilizer deliver, shutting down television stations etc.?”
before you make economic gain/loss the sole criterion for judging social utility.
December 4, 2007 at 4:33 pm
bd_watcher, if these RU professors deserve two years for their supposed role during the one week curfew, how much imprisonment will we give Gen. Moeen, Lt. Gen. Masud, Lt. Gen. (rt) Hasan Mashud and others for their politics, conspiracy and provoking the armed forces in the name of leadership? One year of emergency rule, and about one point less of GDP growth, to compensate that does three hundred years sound correct?
December 4, 2007 at 4:56 pm
bd_watcher, in spite of your claims in #11 it appears the professors were convicted for taking out a silent procession. But thank you for slandering them nonetheless.
December 4, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Law advisor has said on tv that Goverment will be merciful if the convicted teachers appeal to government.If the verdict is from court,where is the chance of government being merciful to them?If the verdict is from government driven,where is independent judiciary?This man is giving us lesson of ethics,law everyday who has very little ethics to and own define law to follow.This counrty
December 4, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Law advisor has said on tv that Goverment will be merciful if the convicted teachers appeal to government.If the verdict is from court,where is the chance of government being merciful to them?If the verdict is from government driven,where is independent judiciary?This man is giving us lesson of ethics,law everyday who has very little ethics to and own define law to follow.Our ethical Hasan Mashud Chy visits our chief justice regualarly.Whatever may be the reason isnt he avoid this as he has many case in cheif advisor’s court? Odbhut uter pithay cholchay shawdesh.
December 4, 2007 at 7:52 pm
for the clueless among us, the crime was a violation of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) 2007. I hope that helps you.
Although i appreciate that higher education in Bangladesh is on par to 7th or 8th grade in the developed world, these so called professors really should have known better. Oh well, on the bright side, 4 fat/dumb awami thugs/professors are now out of the universities thereby saving their students’ minds from turning to mash.
in the long run, two years in jail might do them some good.
December 4, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Clam, I ask again. What is the crime? Please explain the crime that they committed and then we can all determine who amongst us is clueless.
Your second paragraph in #16 is just too precious. What is the word I am looking for? Oh yes, “clueless” 🙂
December 4, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Please Ignore this so called BD watcher. His name should be blanket comments watcher. He is champion to make the nonsense comments.
16#
Clam Choudery
“the crime was a violation of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) 2007. I hope that helps you.”
So Clam you can claim now there is independence of Judiciary in the country.
Then how those HUJI made procession on the protest on Cartoonist Arif. These are the big Hypocrisies of you and your regimes
December 4, 2007 at 9:16 pm
YAWN . . . as some of you know, the CTG promulgated the “Emergency Powers Rules 2007” banning political activities in Bangladesh effective January 12, 2007. In fact, the Daily Star reported (and i assume that these professors can read):
“The government has banned political and trade union activities and restricted provocative news, including talk show, in print and electronic media under the Emergency Powers Rules 2007.
The government has restricted processions, demonstrations, hartals, strikes and lockouts across the country to ensure security of the state and people, and maintain discipline in public life.
It has also banned student-teacher politics and politics by government employees and professional bodies.
In case of violation of the restrictions, the offenders will have to suffer a maximum of five years or a minimum of two years rigorous imprisonment along with fines.”
DOH!
The CTG made a law, anyone who can read should have known about it. However, it appears that these awami thugs believed themselves to be above the law, because that is what Hasina has been spewing for years, along with the personality cult of her daddy. So, these thugs broke the law. They knew the risks.
It is a crime, simply because the CTG says so . . . they have the tanks, they have the guns, and they have the authority . . . . too bad, so sad.
Perhaps someone can explain to us, how these fat professors are actually innocent, and how the EPR does not in fact exist, and how the judges were hoodwinked into convicting four innocent men.
Frankly, i agree that it is a really stupid law, I agree that the CTG has perpetrated a coup, and i agree that life sucks in Bangladesh. WAH!
Unless the Bangladesh diaspora is ready to go home and start a counter-coup, stop crying about it, and continue to line your pockets with cash while Bangladesh festers.
As much as i detest these professors and all they stand for, at least they had the guts to stand in the light of day and protest this regime, instead of hiding behind their blogs.
🙂
December 4, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Clam, let me see if I can get an answer from you this time. Please write down in English what these professors specifically did that has gotten them two years in jail. Spare me the commentary and just write down in a few concise sentences what they did (that is, what was the affirmative action on their part that has gotten them this conviction).
It shouldnt be hard for you to do that, its all over the papers. However, given your track record above I will be surprised to get a comment from you without all the color commentary. It seems clear you have some issues you need to work out, but this is probably not the forum for that.
December 5, 2007 at 1:08 am
[…] few clicks away from this blog, Rumi Ahmed has posted a translated letter from one of the sentenced professors: “If I am jailed” (Letter to my wife). Money quotes. I […]
December 5, 2007 at 1:52 am
Mash,
Clam C’s mindset is very similar to a lot of peoples, esp. those from a recent Global Voices post.
1) Spends time on Bangladeshi blogs and yet, derides Bangladesh and everything about it
2) Admits that Bangladesh is a bad place to live in because of Emergency, but that no one (else), e.g. these professors, should try to state this obvious matter. If anything, supports the government’s attempts to keep Bangladesh a bad place.
3)Takes a low blow at NRBs while sitting in North America herself/himself/itself
4) And finally talks derisively about others “hiding behind blogs” while adopting a fishy name like clam, excuse the bad pun.
Best thing to do Mash, is to ignore anyone who suffers from such obvious cognitive dissonance. Really not worth your time or any amount of blog space.
December 5, 2007 at 4:32 am
They were accused of conspiracy and some other charges,but they were convicted for being present in a silent procession which the govt calls violation of Emergency.Politics banned in emergency?two new parties started in emergency.Government backed people made procession,these are not violation of emergency rule?Some people like clam choudery have one eyed view like Jamat who fears progressive people.
December 5, 2007 at 9:37 am
[…] few clicks away from this blog, Rumi Ahmed has posted a translated letter from one of the sentenced professors: “If I am jailed” (Letter to my wife). Money quotes. I […]
December 5, 2007 at 11:43 am
Clam Chowder:
FEW of despicable & criminally punishable crime those have been committed by 3-M Company are follows:
1. Threaten President & setting and indefinite emergency rules.
2. Deliberately participating and acting on actions that violate ethical code of a uniform. Such as making political statement being in that uniform.
3. Using and abusing Army to foster own personal ambitions.
4. Breaking professional ethical code via using the status of that profession to take actions which that profession is not meant for.
5. Positioning military personnel in government position which is an ABSOLUTE corruption via damaging a civil government’s chain of command.
6. Treasoning a nation via acting on behalf of foreign government fulfilling their requirement and their saying.
7. Taking actions contrary to national interest to facilitate BD army’s income source from foreign government.
8. ALLOWING foreign military to enter WITHOUT having approval from its citizen.
9. Falsely accused any single soul of crime they have not committed.
10. Falsely imprisoning any soul, who would pose a threat to CTGs criminal acts.
11. Impersonating and acting in the name of people who HAVE NOT ELECTED them.
12. Threaten people to put them in jail in the name of Emergency Law, who otherwise would point out failure of managing SIDR crisis.
13. Mismanaging government resources in Dudok. Using dudok personnel to MAKE up cases to facilitate present criminals.
14. Using dudok to threat any one who would protest.
15. Using EC and BREAKING its professional ethical code to pursue an ILLEGAL attempt to break or create a political party.
Bangladeshis did not like what happened prior or during Jan11. Now is not about pointing finger of who did what then. Worst, what Bangladeshis do not like now, is person like you who are associated with thieves of power and acting on behalf of them in continuation of criminal acts. When Moin was made chief, people expected he would keep his professional honesty. He broke that trust along with other liars. Surely we have seen Ershad & Musharraf to drag things. But at the end people has stripped them off and they are known as power greedy bad people who oppressed people with FEAR. Don’t be comfi thinking Bangladeshis going to wait another 6 or 8 years. We Bangladeshis know well all about laws & regulation. We like laws and like to abide by laws. We also like to kick Ms Out when we do NOT LIKE Ms. Regardless of their good or bad intention, taking power illegally and executing those power not VESTED by citizen is CRIMINAL ACT. Your propaganda that all Bangladeshis worship their leaders is propaganda. It has been 1 year and we know who thieves are. We have dealt with power thieves before. Presently we are very much interested in dealing with you & your kind. It is not a conspiracy against Ms. It is open. You know it.
You may be a member, or not, but it is obvious you have no clue on how army works. If you would, you would immediately know when and how M committed crimes.
December 5, 2007 at 12:15 pm
They are in jail because they decided to stand up and not beg for mercy because they did nothing wrong.
I dont see any HuT leaders jailed when they protested, more violently, against cartoonist Arif?
Look, this has nothing to do with logic or emergency rules. Don’t kid yourself.
The teachers refused to kneel down and beg for mercy, that’s all there is to it.
December 5, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Word of war then get involve in wrestling on the street. It was very common nature of BNP and AL supporters and is still exist which led the army back CTG to take over the power.
December 5, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Asaad bhai,
you and I have had our differences in blogs before. But “clam chowder” is something I have to congratulate and thank you for.
For the edification of all chowderheads crying out EPR everywhere: http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=14402
Front Page
RU Teachers’ Conviction
Jurists see poor evidence, question govt neutrality
Staff Correspondent
The verdict sentencing four Rajshahi University (RU) teachers to two years’ imprisonment was based on “poor” evidence and has raised questions about the caretaker government’s neutrality in enforcing Emergency Power Rules (EPR) 2007, eminent jurists have observed.
Talking to The Daily Star, they said a good number of incidents have taken place so far violating the EPR, but the government has targeted university teachers only for prosecution.
“The judgment suffers from a lack of strict scrutiny of the oral evidence inasmuch as the conviction seems to be based on oral evidence of a single witness,” Justice Ghulam Rabbani, former judge of Supreme Court Appellate Division, said.
“The learned magistrate ought to have noticed that the prosecution failed to produce any corroborative evidence and therefore he should not have relied on the un-corroborative evidence. This is the rule of ordinary evidence,” he said.
He said if the convicted teachers appeal with the higher court, the judgment will not sustain.
Questioning the government’s impartiality in enforcing the EPR, Dr Shahdeen Malik said, “The prohibition on meetings, processions etc has clearly been enforced very selectively. We know of a good number of similar incidents that violate rule 3 of the EPR. Unfortunately, it seems that prominent and liberal teachers of the public universities have been targeted for prosecution and now punishment.
“This clearly does not indicate even-handed, impartial or neutral enforcement of rules, but targeted persecution. It is clear to me that most people will not blame the teachers for any wrongdoing but find faults with the government for intentional punishment of a select few,” Malik added.
He said, “I hope that people in the authority will assume that by prosecuting university teachers they would not be able to silence the language of protest against injustice.”
Advocate Sultana Kamal, former adviser to the caretaker government, said she has been deeply saddened by the news of conviction of the RU teachers. “It seems to me that they have been punished heavily for a lighter crime,” she told The Daily Star.
The jurists referred to some incidents of violation of the EPR: thousands of protesters brought out processions on the Dhaka University campus and in different parts of the capital on August 20 and the following days; thousands of Awami League (AL) workers took to the streets and chanted slogans welcoming party chief Sheikh Hasina’s return from abroad last May; Progressive Democratic Party President Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi and his men brought out a motorcade procession in Manikganj during distribution of relief to flood victims; and a few people brought out a procession welcoming the arrest of the AL chief last July.
A renowned jurist pointed out that religious outfit Hizbut Tahrir has also frequently brought out processions in the capital since September, denouncing a cartoon published in a national daily.
But none of them has been prosecuted, the jurists alleged.
On Tuesday, a speedy trial court sentenced the four RU teachers to two years’ rigorous imprisonment for participating in a silent procession on August 21 protesting the previous day’s police attack on DU students.
“Questions have arisen in the mind of people whether the government is enforcing the emergency power rules selectively,” Sultana Kamal, also a human rights activist, said.
Bangladesh Bar Council Vice-Chairman Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, however, said many incidents take place violating the laws but not all the lawbreakers are punished.
“The judgment has sent the message to all that none is above the law. It has also sent a message to all teachers and students for abiding by the law,” Mahbub, who was made vice chairman to the bar council by the caretaker government, said.
On the allegation of punishing the teachers on the basis of poor evidence, he said if the convicted teachers think they have been punished in an unjust way, they will of course get justice from the higher court upon appealing against the judgment.
Justice Rabbani said, “I am confident the judgment will not sustain [in higher court if appeal is made against the verdict], but considering the long time needed to dispose of the appeal, I will hope the president will exercise his constitutional prerogative of pardon.”
Justice Naimuddin Ahmed said both the government and the president can remit the punishment. “Since the convicts are teachers, I appeal to the president to remit the punishment,” Naimuddin said.
December 5, 2007 at 7:23 pm
#29
We are like sheep, goat & cow, from whose milk and meat you and your friend are surviving. You are like wolf that preys on innocents. This is established. Now unlike real sheep we can gather and stomp your guts out, and will provide milk and meat to some reasonably honest civilian leaders, who at least would, not do sneak attacks.
The criminal mind set your friends has, average citizen were not prepared to face what they are facing now. Average citizen do not plan on criminal acts, arrest people at night, jailing underage people, making false cases, accusing falsely. Using corrupt POLICE & criminals with guns & suits in grand scale to plot and hide criminal acts. It simply takes time to have an grasp of reality, and that is Country’s governing mechanism has been hijacked by some criminals, who we thought, would not bring a nation in today’s situation. We were wrong and unfortunately past government failed to recognize these wolfs. This is how it is progressing with time:
Then: Country was heading into turmoil, foreign government would not support us hence Ms took power.
Now: Income source of BD army was threatened & that upset them. As for turmoil, that was smoke screen.
Then: Emergency needs to be applied to save nation from turmoil.
Now: Emergency need to be applied to arrest any one in any notice so dynamic plots can be laid out.
Then: Chadabazi by political leadrs bla bla
Now: In absence of alternate system all political parties used these practice. These were not chadabazi by local mastaan, rather a not well known public process that ran parties. Provide an alternate transparent system to run party and then find out who does chadabazi.
Then: EC is independent
Now: Scandalous!
Moin then: I will not do politics and army goes back to barrack.
Now: HS & KZ must be removed no matter what, so I can make political land of Bangladesh my diaper.
Dudok then: Corruption must be removed
Dudok Now: Dr. Kamal Hossain please help, we together stink the place and failing to coat corruption on threat pills.
Economy then: Not hahakaar
Economy now: hahakaar
BDR & good Police men then: Struggling then and being the work horse of maintaining external (Roumary) & internal deterrence.
BDR & good Police men now: Struggling then and being the work horse of maintaining external & internal deterrence.
BD Army then: Consumed national income, remained non productive & fat.
BD Army now: Consumes more and more fat. Have no guts to say no to foreign power. Loyal to thieves like Moin & personal comfort, but disloyal and no respect to CIVIL GOVERNMENT. With all the money they hogged, they are only good to threat local leaders & people with guns in night ventures. Plunderers of a functional nation.
It takes time to grasp and realize these large scale criminal plots and acts. Be patience, you will have your day.
December 6, 2007 at 5:45 pm
#13 Tacit
Since there are no trials are in the process against Gen. Moeen, Lt. Gen. Masud, Lt. Gen. (rt) Hasan Mashud or any army person hence its irrelevant to delivered any virdict.
If they commit any crime it is not you, I or we will imprison them; only the court who will decide whether they are innocent or guilty.
#12 Dhakashor
People like you do not deserve any reply from me as you don’t buy my stuffs; once you said it in UV.
December 6, 2007 at 6:12 pm
bd_watcher,
I asked fair questions in relations to some comments made. It’s your choice to defend them or not. I have never said I deserve a response to every question I ever asked :). I’m sorry to say I don’t recall you from UV.
December 6, 2007 at 7:49 pm
So if someone does file a case against them, you agree they should be tried?
December 7, 2007 at 8:00 am
Talat,
Your comment was posted a while back. One of the admins asked a question to me and before I could make a call on it, you already termed my action tyranical and what not. In fact, as soon as I saw it, I let it go disagreeing with the other admin as I did not see anything wrong with the comment.
Coming to think of it, this is a great example of what the teachers did in RU. They did not like how the DU students had been treated. They came out with a silent protest. You had a chance to show your dissent for withholding your commnet. But the teachers were not so lucky. They got two years jail for that. Yet, you call this decision a PERFECT decision.
admin did not withold your comment to prove this point but in a way, the whole thing proved the falacy of your argument.
December 7, 2007 at 11:17 am
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) at an emergency general meeting which ended half an hour ago, demanded the release of all arrested university teachers and students by Dec 12.
The meeting said DUTA would be compelled to take up a “tough action programme” if the detained teachers and students of both Dhaka and Rajshahi universities were not released by the deadline.
The meeting also drew up a two-day programme that includes the wearing of black badges by the teachers on Sunday and a mourning procession by the teachers from the Aparajayo Bangla monument at 11am Monday.
Acting DUTA president Tajmeri SA Islam told reporters: “If the detainees are not released by the Dec 12 deadline we will be compelled to go for a tough action programme.”
Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Prof Aktaruzzaman, Prof Md Samad, Prof MM Akash and DUTA acting general secretary Dr Mamun Ahmed were among the nearly 150 teachers present at the DUTA University Club meeting room.
Courtesy: BDNews24
December 7, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Oh my god! Talat’s comment at DP is a prisoner of conscience! Someone please call Amnesty International to free Talat’s comment!
Never mind that University professors have been imprisoned for 2 years for participating in a silent procession. We must all now focus our energies to free Talat’s oppressed comments! Alert the media! Call Nelson Mandela!
December 7, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Mash
If you start foul play with us we can do that as well in return. In the name of HR some of you elite crooks just do the dirty tricks to fulfil your political party’s agenda. My personal comment to Mr. Asif is not important at all if you go through it but the dirty games you guys play in UV in the name of HR, Freedom of speech and democracy; that is my intention to point out. It is nothing but the hypocrisy.
December 7, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Cool down Talat… cool down… its 18*C in Dhaka right this time… quite cold to keep the brain cool… 😀
December 7, 2007 at 2:40 pm
xanthis
But the place where I am living the temperature is far below than 18* C…now you tell me how can I cool myself down 🙂
December 7, 2007 at 3:08 pm
To summarize: “dirty games” played by “elite crooks” to fulfill the “political party’s agenda” using “dirty tricks.”
Not to despair though, “holla golla” will come to the rescue.
Mash, regarding the UV prisoner of conscience, what say we have a million man march to highlight the issue?
December 7, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Temperature in your place is far bellow 18*C… and still you are asking someone to know how can you cool down…
Talat…
ain’t this sounding weird?
December 7, 2007 at 4:21 pm
:-S
December 7, 2007 at 4:47 pm
tacit, I’m with you. Its andolon time! Its “holla golla” time!
I must admit that I have never been called an “elite crook” before. I kind of like it 🙂 Keeping with the times, I have been thinking about floating a political party as well so that I can fulfill its “agenda” and play “dirty tricks”. Any suggestions for names?
And Talat, thanks for making me a UV admin in your non-directional rapid fire above.
December 7, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Dear All ( and Talat)
Lately due to time crunch I am not able to regularly monitor all the comments those are being posted here.
But looks like taking the opportunity of unmoderated commenting policy of this blog, some people have started trashing other blog sites and bloggers.
All the comments concerning other blogs will be deleted ( Once I go through all of them!). If you have any problem with a blog, go vent your frustration at that site or open your own blog. Don’t abuse this blog for your venting pleasure. I also request all respected bloggers to keep the discussion withing the confines of the specific post.
December 7, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Sorry about any abuse of posting privileges, Rumi bhai.
Mash, the latest trend is to have lots of words like “progressive” and “liberal” in party names. I have personally always wanted a party with the word “majority” in the name: voters could go to the polls, find out there is already a majority party, and vote for them (so not to spoil their vote) and walk away much relieved. Thus, the result: Liberal Progressive Democratic Majority Party.
Do trademark it quickly before some other retired army person seizes it. 🙂
December 7, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Talat,
Just shut your Mouth. I think Asif’s reaction was right but Your comments should not be released in UV. Don’t speak about human rights
in your dirty mouth.
Rumi Bhai It seems you are too busy now a days :D.
so no moderation long time.
At last Talat I have no regret to attack you. If a anti human rights worker like you
is begging for own human rights are real big opera show.
Go and shout every where . You thrashed about E-BD now about UV. This two organizations have huge credibility. Better
Go and open your own blog.
Now You have attacked Mash and Asif.
We are really enjoying . Go and bark as much you can. You and some of your funny friends will be remain Jokers in Blog sphere. So Just shut up.
December 8, 2007 at 3:15 am
Coming back to the topic on hand. As Xanthis points out, DUTA has called for “action” and is standing firmly beside their colleagues. December 12th is the given deadline.
Anyone wants to speculate where we’ll be on December 13th? Will we see arrests again or will there be a few pardons? Perhaps a few more backroom deals?
The reported words of one of the men who came to arrest Professor Anwar resonate through my head now and then: “Sir, you are a patriot and so are we. We are not the Pakistani army. We are Bangladeshi.”
I don’t know how sincere the speaker was, but I find it hard to disagree with what he is trying to say: that the Bangladeshi army is nothing like the Pakistani army. Long may that sentiment remain and may they live up to it. Their actions towards the intelligentsia do not live up to that noble sentiment unfortunately.
In any case, this promises to be quite a symbolic Shaheed Buddhijibi Dibosh for a lot of people, for all the wrong reasons.
December 8, 2007 at 6:14 am
The Truth Commission has been drafted today. Few days ago, Fakhruddin talked about another one, Better Business Forum. Why don’t they ask me…? I have idea of quite lot forums & commissions… like
1. Better Golf Forum
2. Golf Commission
3. “Rajakar Khedao” Forum
4. Amra YABA Khaina Forum
5. Yaba Commission
6. Dalal Commission (President Motiur Rahman, GS Mahfuz Anam)
7. New Political Party Bureau
8. DUDOK Notice Prapto Shomiti (New President Sadeq Hossain Khoka)
9. Amra Ko’jon Reenkhelapi
10. Defaulters Commission
December 8, 2007 at 11:24 am
Ring! Ring! Ring!
A DGFI team with some policymaking executives of the agency is now in an emergency meeting with DUTA inside Dhaka University. VC Fayez has said before he got into meeting that the meeting will be fruitful, whereas DUTA President Prof. Tajmeri & Former President Prof. Arefin have said that there was little hope after their ultimatum given yesterday, but now nothing is for sure. If this meeting with Brigadiers from DGFI is failed, a strong protest program will be launched from tomorrow morning from “Aporajeyo Bangla” monument.
Keep in touch!!!
December 8, 2007 at 11:31 am
DGFI has come along with a package program plan. This is probably the main issue of the meeting, which is still going on and I am not having any information if its in progress or going bad. On the other hand, Tajmeri has told about a message from the Adviser of Education before she entered the meeting. This is another thing they are bargaining about right this moment.
I guess D. Fayez is right, the meeting will be fruitful. But we are not quite sure about how that fruit will be, sweet or sour. Because DGFI has been involved and we know crops does not grow better in soil with salinity.
December 8, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Thanks to the updates xanthis bhai! Any idea what the package program plan contained? BDNEWS24 and New Age report makes it sound like no agreements were reached.
December 8, 2007 at 2:22 pm
DUTA Leaders will meet Adviser of Education tomorrow evening. That meeting will be I guess the decisive one.
Its quite clear I guess… the thing is like… Brigadier A.K. Amin with two other Colonels were sent to DUTA with the questionnaire tonight. And the answered copy of that questionnaire will be submitted to the Adviser tomorrow. Tajmeri, Arefin with the middle man Fayez will meet adviser & I think… the matter will be positively dissolved then. This regime is quite enough wise to deal with matters like this I understand.
December 8, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Reaction of Generals as well as DGFI will be very sophisticatedly cool to the entire matter. Moinul will possibly do some “falafali” or “faporbaji” with the issue & will be slapped off by any DGFI man later. Already CTG has made its dalal newspapers filtering news of DUTA matters as you can see, no focus has been laid down to DUTA affairs in Daily Star, Prothom Alo, Jugantor etc. So the CTG will act like they ain’t taking DUTA affairs very seriously.
In short, CTG will do everything needed to close the whole DUTA, RU, DU chapter before December 14. What you guyz think of it?
December 8, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Well, that’s where it’s going right now. But short of a presidential pardon, what other legal measures are there for freeing the condemnded RU teachers before December 14th?
Completely agreed with you on the coverage in DS. I still haven’t seen PA yet.
December 8, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I don’t know if you are noticed of this,
RU Teachers are not detained under general Police law as well as Bangladesh Police is not anyhow responsible for their condition. They have been kept under direct care of Director General of Forces Intelligence (Chair of DGFI). If anything happens to them, responsibilities will directly go to DGFI, not police. Because they have been arrested for the insurgence inside RU which resulted with burning of a DGFI vehicle & students’ “love session” on a DGFI Official, who is a JCO (Junior Commissioned Officer) of Armed Forces. So that the total aftermath has been handled by DGFI other than RAB or Police, as the top most intelligence agency of the country holds official right to do so.
Now, if DGFI likes, they can release all 4 teachers & students in a second. That’s why the meeting was held by DUTA & DGFI because the federal organizations (police, judiciary, any ministry, secretariat) other than military had nothing to do with it. Its DGFI Executives, who can make things totally dissolved.
December 8, 2007 at 3:17 pm
A joke goes like…
top most intelligence agency of a nation is used to know the decision of God right after God takes it. Then the agency comes to know what’s gonna happen before God does it. Because the topmost agency is used to have an inside man into the inner circle of God’s trusted angels 🙂
I guess DGFI is that of Bangladesh.
December 9, 2007 at 1:25 am
[…] media, especially Daily Star and Prothom Alo, different Bangladeshi websites have been abuzz with anger and shock at this outrageous disregard for […]
December 9, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Never did I agree with any thing that came out of Hasina’s historic mouth but when she once said, “Bangalee Jaatee Huujeger Jaatee.”
Bangalee Jaati since I started to know about it from mid-1960s, had been behaving in the same stereotypical way of extreme emotional labilities. I went through E-Bangladesh piece of Tasneem Khalil and enjoyed very much and some body has commented it’s a splendid piece, I agree with. Yet, I see it’s teemed with emotionality despite dare-devil depiction of truth of Jolpai-rule.
I want to remind all of us who are now showing our abject disgust about Jolpai-take-over on 1/11, we most people congratulated them and had a deep-long sigh as if the nation had been saved from the death-chokes. And Tasneen rightly commented we saw the messiah-mint in their breaths and vocalities. This is a nation who we are, very fickle-minded with the least foresightedness.
Now we are swayed by sympathy of the teachers for their provision of perdition. I don’t insist that they were catered justice they deserved. But neither do I agree with the notion that just by being virtue of teachers in the university are all respectable good guys and they are conscience of the country. I don’t say all or most of them are bad, corrupt and unduly politicized but what is sad and silly about them is, many of them are.
Not even the papal position is above law. And many big bishops are seen indulging in immorality, corruption and disservice to the people and taken under rule of law. Why should we assume them immune of crimes? Judges may make mistakes and as all of them[judges], born of the same nation we are all, are also vulnerable to the same sin [in fact many are sinners] for which they try others. We should say something if we see something proven that the convicted teachers were innocents. We should not think university as the sanctuary and it’s teachers and students should enjoy pre-emptive bail for any wrong-doings as they are U-teachers.
We should not encourage political lackeyism in the educational institutes. BTW, Dhaka univeristy was once called the Oxford of the East but now what!
We see, too many criminals are spawned out of these hatecheries due to the politicial pies spewn out for them by the parties . Recently, a report came out, on the best universities of the world and paisntakingly, we saw no name from us among the 500 best universities of the world. Shouldn’t we do anything about! How long we can get sedated and it’s time to wake up!
People ask where are our all veteran lawyers! Don’t you know most of them including our Dr. Kamal Hussain [ TMCC, the most coward constitutional clerk] are now the DUDOOK attorneys with the carrot of fat fees. Perhaps, many of them are unhappy being not able to include them in D-team of lawyers. Here, we see money masters their moral armamentarium.
What I can urge us hence, is to put more weight, not on our bodies but our minds so that we become less unstable in our thoughts, words, actions, behaviors, characters and identities.
Thanks.
December 9, 2007 at 8:05 pm
#58
“
Bangalee Jaati since I started to know about it from mid-1960s, had been behaving in the same stereotypical way of extreme emotional labilities
“
All nations have its share of ‘huzuge’, not Bangladeshis alone. It is a hollow senetence.
“
I want to remind all of us who are now showing our abject disgust about Jolpai-take-over on 1/11, we most people congratulated them and had a deep-long sigh as if the nation had been saved from the death-chokes.
“
What do you mean by “we most”. What criteria followed to find out “we most”. Disagree!
Stupid ones thought of Jan 11 being good. Majority’s voice was not heard to know what majority really said (felt). ‘Prothom Lie’ & ‘Daily Lie’ said it. EMERGENCY Rules shut people’s mouth. Majority simply hold their breath for an unknown ride. Majorities were NOT ‘huzuge’. Majority were suspicious and observant and eventually their suspicion became true, which is ‘country was made more chaotic and non functional in many fronts’. Such are EC, Justice System, Night Visits of DGFI, Inflation, dudok and list goes on.
Again ‘Bangali huzuge’ and bla bla are simply sayings those do not reflect anything meaningful with present situation. ‘Majority likes’ is myth & propaganda of 3-M Company.
……………………….
You flipped flopped again in ‘teacher area’. Playing politics with justice is in question here. Black & white accusation is in question where; demeaning people of what they believe or do not believe is in question here. Incompetence of 3-Ms is in question here. Threat is applied and release of two was done to keep balance, thus playing politics is in question. In summary, these are few of the TEST cases Ms are PALYING is in question here.
“
Judges may make mistakes and as all of them[judges], born of the same nation we are all, are also vulnerable to the same sin [in fact many are sinners] for which they try others
“
Very selective, aren’t you. Why then KZ be put in Jail for Gatco. It couldn’t be the honest mistake she may have made. Why Maududi be in jail for few beer cans. That is called naked impartially and gross offense to impartial justice. With such obviousness of playing politics with justice, why should public trust them at all.
Do not put Universities and their student down for not being among 500. Process to throw out liars and bastard are greatly helped by University students in past. If you can appreciate 52, 91 then do not ask what University teachers or student should do now or not. Do not throw these BS numbers of 500 and bla bla. These are meaningless, worthless numbers to Bangladeshis.
Preach these when nation is in peace. We have 3-Ms to fry. NOW.
December 10, 2007 at 1:04 pm
so sorry to see that they let out those awami scum teachers. On the other hand, it shows the humanity of the CTG. JOY CTG!!! JOY CTG!!!
December 10, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Ignoring the monkey jumping up and down right above me (#61), let me congratulate xanthis. His predictions have been spot on for the past few days. The RU teachers are free, the army has kept quite while orchestrating this entire thing and Mainul is doing his lafalafi. Spot on!
December 10, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Dhaka Shohor
you misspelled the word, lafalafi
it would rather be, ” Falafali”.
If you do a word matching quiz, it would be like
Moinul Falafali
Moeen Tafaling
Masud parapari (ask a bus driver in Bd what it means by parapari)
Matin Foporbaji
Fakhruddin Panpenani
December 10, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Apoogies Rumi bhai. 🙂 It’s hard to tell the two apart (“lafalafi” from “falafali”) when it comes to Mr. Hosein.
February 17, 2008 at 4:25 am
we r having a problem. brigrediyar Ferdous hasan khan created by this problem. he use his power wrong way. my house naogaon. now i’m living u.s.a. in my absence he want to get my house use by his power. every day RAB warning my family members to left my house. Ferdous hasan khan lead the RAB. it’s just unligule. please do some. my house naogaon chalkdev college para(House no:2672)
April 18, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I was a student in Management and I have seen the black part of teachers politics, among those teachers Moloy Kumar, Nasim Anjum were the pionear. They are the blach sheep of the teachers community.
March 18, 2009 at 8:53 pm
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