måndag 22 februari 2010

Creative Writing-Literary Workshop in Uppsala


2010 february series

Welcome you all to the February series of workshops on Wednesday and Thursday. During this series, we will have two guest authors Lisa Irenius and Lars Sund. I am herewith sending you the short presentations on their biographies.

Participants are reminded to submit their sample write-ups in a couple of weeks.

The topics will be as follows:

February 24

Lisa Irenisus: About what makes a good culture article, in a wider sense: including essays, documentary articles, analytic reportages and so
Anisur Rahman: Poetry matters

February 25

Lars Sund: His own techniques of writing & so
Anisur Rahman: Perspectives of translating poetry

Lisa Irenius, kulturchef i Upsala Nya Tidning, född 1978 i Stockholm. Magister i statsvetenskap/europeisk politik från Stlms universitet och College of Europe i Belgien. Har även bott och arbetat som bl a frilansjournalist i Frankrike och Italien. Författare till en reportagebok om svenska ungdomar som flyttar utomlands, "Sedan gymnasiet har alla våra kompisar flytt utomlands" (W&W), tillsammans med Madelaine Levy. Har skrivit för SvD, DN, Bang m.fl, samt arbetat som redaktör på tidskriften Axess och på DN Kultur.

Lars Sund är finlandssvensk författare, sedan drygt 30 år bosatt i Uppsala. Han debuterade i Finland med en diktsamling och har gett ut sex romaner. Colorado Avenue (1991), första delen av den s k Siklaxtrilogin som skildrar 1900-talet i en sydösterbottnisk bygd, har dramatiserats och även blivit film och tv-serie.

I vår ger Lars Sund En morgontrött fågelskådares bekännelser, en essäbok om fåglar och människor som ägnar en stor del av sin tid åt att titta på fåglar.
Venue: Uppsala City Library
Time: 17.30-19.30

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anisur Rahman
Course Leader
E-post: anisbangla@yahoo.com


photo courtesy
Lisa Irenius’ facebook page
http://www.swedishbookreview.com/article-2005-s-sund.asp

söndag 21 februari 2010

Library is parliament for reading republic


Authors' role in vitalising a local library


by Anisur Rahman

Library is considered to be storehouse of knowledge. It shows storehouse of bundles of paper made products only, without visitors or readers. It is like parliament for reading republic. An author is an ambassador for this republic.

When an author visits a local library, it indicates the functionality of reading republic that will encourage the reading public in getting involved with fresh outlook through interactions with their ambassadors. Authors are also considered to be unwritten guardians for languages.

Library is a platform for writer, as parliament or respective councils are for politicians. Academics have their spaces in academia as every other careerist does have. Library is considered to be a platform for writers as of readers as well.

Without effective debate there is no meaning of parliament building as of libraries without the visit of authors and readers. Author’s visit to a local library also enriches the cultural scenes at that respective locality. It helps enlighten the social as well as cultural progress in the region concerned. It also dignifies an individual library thus. Authors can play their greater role in vitalising a local library through participating in programmes over discussion, workshop, reading, debate and interaction. A great author is first a great reader. His way of developing reading taste may help one shape the choice in his/her.

In a writer, many a thing remains to be addressed and shared with the readers. On the other hand, the readers have many things to ask to an author. It also increases the number of visitors to the library as that of their visits.

Without students, a school loses its appeal and necessity. Library needs readers. Library is public school avoiding all burden sum exams on its learners, I mean visitor or readers. It is an school for a self educated learner. Library should be considered as university for the mass avoiding all barriers in attaining knowledge. When an author will have his occasion to meet with readers in a library, it helps live the mass university. University education means to achieve knowledge and ideas through debate. A library must have such spirit. This spirit and debate can be energised when an author pays his visit on that purpose.

Library as mass university offers ever knowledge non-miser, unconditional, non-payment. Such a university does not offer certificate but knowledge to cause beauties and truths in life. In this respect, I would like to share with you a strong example from my land Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s great philosopher Aroj Ali Matubbar (1900-1985) was born to a poor farming family. He studied for only a few months at the village maqtab (school for Islam studies). He lost his father in his early age. At his 12, his inherited property of 2 acres of land was auctioned off as the minor boy was unable to pay land tax. The landless boy faced even more critical crisis when a local usurer called him out of his ancestral homestead. Destitute Aroj Ali grew up somehow on the charity of others and by working as a farm labourer. He could not attend in any school due to his poverty.

A kindhearted man helped him finish the Bangla Primers. Persevering as he was, he kept on reading more and more. To satisfy his thirst for knowledge he studied all the Bangla books in Barisal Public Library like a serious student. A teacher of philosophy at the B M College, Kazi Ghulam Quadir, was impressed by his depth of knowledge and understanding, so he helped him borrow books from the college library. This is how his mind was shaped. Now he is internationally recognised philosopher and his texts are taught and studied at different universities.

Library can thus help one in shaping his/her mind. This task can be more beautiful and easier through authors’ visit to a library. The dark and the light prevail in society at the same time. Library always stands for light and gets it spirit up. Through the visit of an author, the mission is beautified and helps the readers cheering up. Author gets inspirations and feedback from the readers thus as well.

Every other platform for gaining knowledge in life does have their time span, notably school-university does have academic year and syllabus. Library is like river. It must have flawless water. Its destination is the vast sea of knowledge. Author’s visit somehow helps gaining the flow speeding as well as cheering up.

In my initial days in Sweden, library was great help and attraction to me. I am grateful for getting cooperation from Fisksätra and International Library. My librarian friend Barbro Bolonassos is a must mention in this regard.

I came to Sweden in summer 2008 on a scholarship offered by the Swedish Writers’ Union. Meanwhile, I had political problem and Bangladesh witnessed militarisation in administration along side strong presence of Islamist militancy in line with the regressive beliefs of Jamaat-Shibir.

Referring that troublesome time in my life, I can remember Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore was insulted by the immigration officials at the California Naval Port in August 1929, on his way to Japan via Canada. A long ago of this incident, Tagore became so famous over the world getting the 1913 Nobel Prize for literature. In spite of that, the immigrant official threw many such questions to Tagore that was disappointing as a Bengali-Indian. After that Tagore met the press conference in San Francisco and expressed his disappointment as saying the immigration officials concerned foolish. He cancelled his scheduled lectures in Chicago, San Francisco and New York.

Mahatma Gandhi too had difficult times in his exile in South Africa. Tagore and Gandhi were worldwide famous by that time. I am not any such important.

When I first time visited Sweden on an invitation from the Swedish Writers’ Union in 2006, immigration-custom officials at Arlanda Airport had long unexpected conversation with me on the excuse of checking my luggage that killed my long hours and I was tired from my way back from Mexico via Paris. I was disappointed. One of them, asked me 'Is Bangladesh a difficult place for a poet? I responded to him as saying, 'I can see not only Bangladesh even your Sweden is difficult so.’

I had very struggle some time in Sweden. I used to work for restaurant, distribute advertising leaflets and to do cleaning work. However, I did never forget as I was a committed writer. I was a regular visitor to library. That difficulties, I faced, helped me to see life different way and I reflected on that of my seeing in my novel ‘Oi Andhakar Ashe’ (The Dark Sounds) and in some poems. I had strong supports from my friends at the Swedish Writers’ Union, Swedish PEN, Solidarity House, Uppsala Kommun, Uppsala University, and entire media as well. In fine, the truth has won.

When an author can avail himself of his platform in libraries, it means in life. Society requires it to be enlightened. When one in Sweden loses every access to life without person number or migration board formalities, some libraries (not all) offer their cooperation without any asking. This is an approach rare in other parts in the world and it should be model for every sound and enlightened society.

Library must not be an outlet for making money or selling services. I am afraid as some libraries have introduced fee to visitors for entry to some author programmes. It does not go with a library’s spirit and goal. It is not a good sign for a welfare state, is it? #


photo caption: Aroj Ali Matubbar (1900-1985)--- a great Bengali humanist philosopher

photo & Aroj Aliu Matubbar’s biographical information courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aroj_Ali_Matubbar.jpg

lördag 20 februari 2010

Poetry is not for bureaucrats, businessmen . . .


by Anisur Rahman

The people who enjoy business and bureaucracy as their career, they don’t need to be poet. In their trial of being poet, they somehow invite troubles and dart waters in the world of poetry. I am thus not dismissing the exception. Such great exception is our very respected poet Abul Hossain.

This question of bureaucracy and business over poetry knocks me when I learn a seating top ranking bureaucrat of Bangladesh is fuelling the troubles over the expulsion of businessman cum poet Mohan Raihan from the Poetry Council of Bangladesh.

Once, Finish Writers’ Union expelled its member, who was also the president of Finland at the same time. In spite of being president of the country, he had nothing to do against the expulsion decision of the union. It indicates one could be so powerful, if he missed poetic power as a poet, other power does not mean any in the survival of a poet as of being in the union of writers or the council of poets.

I think this is clear pointer to the bureaucrat and the businessman having total different pace, love to have signboards of being poet. It will not work. History does not tell us so. Poetry is not so silly matter. It requires cent percent honesty within.

A successful bureaucrat these days does have snake skin. He can change it as a snake does when it is necessary in different regimes like Jamaat-BNP or military or Awami League. So is the bureaucrat concerned, I am talking about.

When president of Finland was powerless to the Finish Writers’ Union, then a businessman or a bureaucrat should not be a headache for the Poetry Council of Bangladesh. The council upholds its very strong conceptual position, though it struggles a lot in the need of infrastructural capacity.

Against this backdrop, it is much expected and high time the government come up with necessary supports for its smooth functional and help it in having institutional shape to contribute to literary scenes in Bangladesh having large international collaboration with other countries. Poets are considered to be unwritten guardians of languages. In line with this spirit, the government should do something in favour of the poetry council, when ministers stress their commitment to promote the spirit of International Mother Language Day and thus help survival of beauties in different languages.

Business and politics is highest form of compromise in life. Poetry never allows compromising. Bureaucracy has no sovereign spirit for one who wants to be a poet. So? Poetry is not for businessmen, not for bureaucrats, not for politicians. One can point out Pablo Neruda, Mao Zedong and others. They were the Himalayas in their entities. In one life, an individual who could cash the identity of a bureaucrat or a businessman or a politician, he does not need to be poet. It is a pity for a bureacrat or a businessman concerned has no space to be a poet within or out. #

Stop violence on ethnic minority people in Bangladesh


Withdraw military from CHT zone, form judicial probe body, punish the culprits


by Anisur Rahman


Since the formation of the Awami League led grand alliance government in January 2009, for past one year, the ethnic minority community people of Bangladesh have been free from tension as it is expected Chittagong Hill Tracts--CHT Peace deal to be implemented fully and no violence will take place over them. They do not know this relief is not freedom at all for them as they have shrugged off the terror of living their lives in the gun-sights of heavily armed soldiers, in the densely militarised zone in the south east hilly part of Bangladesh.

After long years of military occupation has contradicted to democracy and freedom in their land. Observing the beginning of military withdrawal last year, it was expected, it was then faced with peaceful process to ensure a violence free own way of free living in free zone but not the kind it knew how to see. Soon time witnessed tragic plots over the life of indigenous people in CHT.

This one is nourished by indigenous people's memory of years of repression in which many have been killed, many have been ‘disappeared’, many tortured, injured, and humiliated by military as well as settlers. Settlers in ethnic minority community regions seem to us as if they were colonial powers in their dynamism. For the greater protection of the culture and lives of ethnic minorities, separate land commission was much expected that would prohibit the mainstream Bengali settlers wiling to settle in ethnic zones. It did not happen. Rather, militarisation happened in ethnic zones as well as in civil administration.

It is condemned! It is unaccepted! It is unexpected! But, it is the outcome of real frustration under the cover of democracy. Ethnic minority community people are alien citizens in their own land. State behaves enemy with them. Military is occupation forces to them. Civil administration carries the legacy of Robert Clive spirit. Military epitomizes the Pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad forces.

Quoting from the link: http://www.bodytree.org/articles1.html it can be said as in 1971, after the Bangladesh Liberation War resulted in Bangladesh's independence, the they hoped for political recognition and some form of autonomy within the state of Bangladesh.

During the 1970s and 80s, the government brought 400,000 Muslim Bengali settlers & on the plains into CHT an area with little cultivatable land remaining after the construction of the Kaptai Dam alongside major military stationing over there. This military occupation has obstructed political and economic development and resulted in gross human rights abuses. Many indigenous people had refuge in India.

It is reported as the 1997 Peace Accord between the Bangladeshi government and CHT tribal leaders promised tba.1 refugees could return to their original land in Bangladesh. However, very few of the agreements that were set down in the Peace Accord have been kept. Only a small number of refugee families were able to move back onto their land, since in many cases it was now inhabited by Bengali settlers from the plains.

Not surprisingly, the voice that the government of Bangladesh has tried so silence in CHT region has massed into a deafening roar and military as well as settlers violence over their lives, their homes on February 20, 2010. The following day February 21, 2010, the government would vow to protect and help survival of the ethnic minority languages and cultures! What a farce it is! Military will fire on them, get their houses burns, they will kill them. On the other hand, so bogus commitment from the administration!

At least two indigenous persons were claimed by the authorities to have been killed as the military opened fire on agitated indigenous people feuding with settlers in remote Gangaram Mukh area of Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati district on February 20, 2010. Indigenous people claimed the number of killed to be at least six.

The settlers had allegedly set fire to 40 houses of indigenous families on February 19 night. They burnt 160 more houses in 11 villages on February 20 morning in the presence of the army. They also burnt down a church and a Buddhist temple, alleged members of the indigenous community.
Does it mean during the long hours there was a functional democratic administration in Bangladesh? It is due for military as they will save the lives of minorities and their properties. On the contrary to it, military victimized the endangered communities! What a disgrace it is! Does it mean democracy? Does it indicate the functionality of parliament? It means still cantonment is more powerful than parliament. It means regress is dominating progress in the name of democracy.

It must be investigated and made accountable who command military to fire on the ethnic minority people and their homes. Judicial Probe Committee is a must! Full withdrawal of military, separate land commission, withdrawal of settlers and prohibited the Bengalis in other regions. Militarisation under the guardianship of an elected parliament must not be allowed. It is not democracy.

The unimaginable sums of public money that are needed to keep the military occupation of CHT region is money that ought by right to be spent on schools and hospitals and food for an impoverished, malnutritioned population in CHT region.

What kind of government can possibly allow that it has the right to military can fire on the ethnic minority communities? This question can carry a message to the existing elements in the Bangladesh administration today.

The Bangladesh military occupation of CHT regions makes monsters of us all. It allows Muslim Bengali chauvinists to target and victimise ethnic people in Chittagong by holding them hostage to the freedom struggle being waged by indeginous people in that zone.

Bangladesh needs autonomous from CHT zone just as much as - if not more than – CHT zone needs autonomy from Bangladesh. It can easily be possible through the full implementation of 1997 CHT Peace Deal. #

Photo caption: Massacre on houses belonging to ethnic minority people in CHT on February 20, 2010
Photo source: http://www.samakal.com.bd/admin/news_images/256/image_256_48434.jpg

External link: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=127234

onsdag 17 februari 2010

Are we observing cultural ruination?


by Anisur Rahman


February 17, 2010

Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation
Uppsala University



I am grateful to the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, its executive director Henning Melber, his colleague Karin Andersson Schiebe and others for every thing they have done to commemorate the UNESCO International Mother Language Day and promote the spirit of great humanist Dag Hammarskjöld. I feel honoured and privileged for offering me the space to be in touch with Hammarskjöld Foundation. Thanks are always due to my friend and cultural affairs officer at Uppsala Kommun Annika Strömberg.

For the first time, I visited Sweden in 2006 on an invitation from the Swedish Writers’ Union. At that time, my boss at my newspaper where I used to work, suggested me to know much about Dag Hammarskjöld and Olof Palmo. During the one week stay in Stockholm, I tried to collect some books in English on Hammarskjöld but I did not find any. Even it could not be possible for me to be in Uppsala then. I was little bit unhappy for that at the end. In fine, this occasion today is a great bonus to be the soldier in line with Dag Hammarskjöld spirit.

This is a thrilling privileged feeling in me to be here not as a poet or as a guest author in Uppsala, but as an ordinary voice from Bangladesh, my homeland as in the question of the east or the west during Dag Hammarskjöld days at UN, he always stood for the east to promote the values and realities for a troubled free world and making the UN a functional international organisation in true sense.

Our great Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore, who got Nobel Literature Prize in 1913, was the first Nobel laureate from the east. The time was British colonial occupation in India, Bangladesh and other regions in the east. Tagore was so disappointed at the colonial role and much more upset reading a book written by German priest Dr Theodor Christlib The Indo-British Opium at his youth. After more than fifty years of that Tagore wrote a book entitled as ‘Kalantar’ ‘Time Span’ at the backdrop of his visit to China. In it he made a comment, the European torch of civilisation outside of Europe is not to show lights but put the fires on. And the time was European colonies in different countries. After the end of the World War II, a great humanist from Europe had the vow to put the fires off. The humanist was from Sweden and his name was Dag Hammarskjöld.

In 1947, Indian sub continent was liberated from British colony as two separate parts India and Pakistan. Today’s Bangladesh was made a part of Pakistan. The distance between two parts of Pakistan---East Bengal (Bangladesh) and West Pakistan was 1200 British miles. Hindi majority people got the India as a Hindi state. Muslim majority people got the Pakistan as a Muslim state. There were many controversies and confusions what would be the state of other minorities in India and Pakistan who are not either Hindu or Muslim. That is still a big question in that region even after the six decades or so at the end of European colony there.

In Pakistan, there were many language community people including Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi and other more than fifty ethnic minority languages. Then West Pakistan controlled the administrative power in entire land. They tried to impose Urdu as the state language, though it was not majority people language. Bengalis from eastern part of Pakistan demanded Bengali to be the state language along side Urdu. The authority did not entertain the logical demand. Rather the police fired on a demonstration during the language movement on Dhaka University campus on 21 February in 1952. In 1956, Pakistan recognised Bengali as state language along side Urdu. In 1971, Bangladesh liberated from Pakistani colonial occupation.

In 1999, UNESCO declared February 21, as the International Mother Language Day to commemorate the Language Movement in Bangladesh as well as to promote the spirit of necessity for the survival of vulnerable languages worldwide. How dangerous colonial fires for language and culture could be, to show that I will just present some facts before you:

1. Aotearoa was the original name of today’s New Zealand and its language was te reo. After the long British settling there, now English is all in all and te reo is in life support!

(By the mid-20th century there were concerns that the language was dying out. Major initiatives launched from the 1980s have brought about a revival of te reo. In the early 21st century, over 130,000 people of Maori ethnicity could speak and understand te reo, one of the three official languages of New Zealand (the others are English and New Zealand Sign Language).

2. For helping a language survive, it must always be used by minimum fifty thousand people. The experts on language have made this observation. Gaelic is a language in Scotland and it is at its border line of fifty thousand.

One hundred years, back Gaelic had two hundred thousand users and twenty years back eighty thousands. It is used by 1.5 percent people in Scotland. Once it was the main language of Scottish people. As soon as, this language will have its end, Gaelic culture will grace the same fate.

3. In Europe, there is a sincere initiative to help languages’ survival. In spite of that languages are dying here.

4. As per the number of users the major languages in the list are: 1. Mandarin Chinese, 2. English 3. Hindi/Urdu 4. Spanish 5. Bengali 6. Arabic 7. Russian 8. Portuguese 9. Japanese 10 German 11. French. This serial has been showed considering their use as mother tongues. However, the scene of language use are different to it. At this back drop English is to be considered as white shark. And the list is as follows: 1.English 2. Mandarian Chinese 3. Hindi/Urdu 4. Spanish 5. Russian 6. Indonesian/Malaysian 7. Arabic 8. Portuguese 9. Bengali 10. Japanese 11. French.

5. Native English speaker is only 350 million. On the other hand, total users of English are 1900 million.

6. Two thousand years back, Latin had its strong position bolding out other languages in Europe. Now Latin is a dead language as Sanskrit is in South Asia. English is doing the same today. English is Lingua Franca. Noticing such trend of English, Mahatma Gandhi in 1946 said, ‘It seems people have been drunk at alcohol over English. European school students from different countries are using English during their excursion to any second land.

7. The Dutch are making debate as they think English should be the medium of higher education. Their argument is availability of reference books and doctoral thesis in English. May God bless them. I appreciate the love for French in France and Swedish in Sweden.

8. When Microsoft launched its Encarta World Dictionary, Bill Gates was so excited and made a comment, ‘One world, one dictionary’. I hope the human civilisation will not have such devastating ruination.

9. In 1867, Mathew Arnold made a comment as saying what we call the modern civilisation, requires similar level of English speaking world. To do this, it is urgent to ruin all cultural ethnicities. When a language dies, its culture gets ruination. Are we observing cultural ruination in the name of globalisation?

Sweden is now witnessing so many language minority communities from different parts of the world. That can be a great opportunity to build a multi language lab and language museum having attachment with major universities in Uppsala, Stockholm, Gothenburg and elsewhere. Sweden can also have expansion of exchange projects over language and translation with different countries.

In Sweden, I have observed as it is not clear to many either Sweden should promote multi cultural society or protect its Swedish tradition. I would like to say as there is no contradiction between protecting cultural tradition and multiculturalism. Multiculturalism does not mean, one will sacrifice her own culture. Rather it will help to enrich one’s own culture when people of different culture will meet and share those many things in life.

Cultural aggression is the other fact. If issues regarding language, literature and culture are subjected to be commodities for market competition, there is a great chance of inviting cultural aggression somehow. This may be a necessary pointer to be marked in the policy-making concerning language and culture in today’s Sweden.#

Photo courtesy: http://japetus.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/dag-hammarskjold-map.jpg











söndag 14 februari 2010

Sweden does not need to stand either ‘for’ or ‘against’ burka


by Anisur Rahman

I had a views exchange meeting dated February 13, 2010 in Uppsala with the members of a Swedish support group for a non-government development organisation called Sabalamby Unnayan Samity---SUS based in Bangladesh. SUS is housed in Netrakona, 170 kilometer north of Dhaka.

The discussion was so fruitful and interesting that covered sexuality, religion, extremism, corruption, suicide, difference between Swedish and Bengali society, politics, controversial law enforcing agencies Rapid Action Battalion---RAB, its so called crossfire killing in Bangladesh, Dr Muhammad Yunus’s Grameen Bank and his poverty trade in the name of poverty reduction, Burka debate and so.

In this piece, I would like to focus on Burka. I do not know whether there is any scientific reason for a woman to wear burka or not. A group member asked me what I would like to say about burka. I should say the weather either in Sweden or in Bangladesh does not support a woman to wear a strange dress-up like burka. My mother used to wear burka as once she was so influenced at the propaganda by the so called mullahs (Islamist leaders?) and started to wear burka. Noticing it, I talked to her and showed the arguments why a woman does not need to wear burka. She was convinced and now she does not wear it.

My younger sister is a graduate student in Bangladesh. During her pre-graduate schooling, she told me as her college had offered two options for girl students---either burka or college dress with particular coloured as well as designed salwar-kamiz. I suggested her to choose college dress. It seemed to me as she was so happy at such a suggestion from me.

One of the group members asked me if Sweden should support burka or not as the land is committed to liberalism in society. I responded, ‘Sweden should neither support nor oppose burka.’ Then she said, but there is debate and it must be elaborated. Then I pointed as saying Sweden does already have such rules and laws that do not permit such a peculiar dress. Then she said what is it.

My observations were as: To apply for a Swedish visa, one has to submit such photos that must show clear look of one’s face particularly hair, two ears and so along with application form. Same is for Swedish ID. If someone needs to prove as this is she herself showing her id or visa or passport, she has no way to wear burka in Sweden. It is clear. If one does have any business at post office or bank if it requires as she must prove herself as this is she in that case there is no way to wear burka.

I visited Radio House in Uppsala as I had an interview with journalist Ulla de Verdier last week. At the entrance there is a calling bell along with camera. I called the lady at reception. She saw my face on camera from her room, was confirmed of my look and opened the door. What will be if someone is in burka?

In the excuse of burka, or liberalism for free expression, we cannot allow any security threat in any country. In Bangladesh and other countries, the smugglers are using burka to carry arms and drugs.

Some are arguing as burka is an honour and protection to women. What is the honour? They respond, ‘They will be protected from illicit looking and teasing by people.’ Why should a woman has to pay if someone looks illicitly or teases her? It is clearly criminality in that person concerned and he should be punished. If it is necessary, he could be suggested to wear burka. One of my facebook friends wrote to me as burka is for saving the women from any rape alarming. I responded to him, ‘Today in some countries men are also targeted of sexual abuse even in Sweden. Why we are not suggesting burka for men?’

If burka is mandatory in Muslim majority countries as per the whim of so called Islamist fanatics what will be the fate of paintings, sculptures, cinema, theatre and literature.

When radio was invented, the mullahs said as if it were a box of Satan. They told the same when television was discovered. They made same propaganda in case of loud speaker. Today, the same mullahs are using those scientific discoveries.

If a woman does really feel and need to wear burka, it should be her personal choice and it is better she does not need to come out. Her house should be the right place. None will see her and say anything to her in that case.

It is somehow impossible for working women in particular sector to work wearing burka. Notably it is impossible for women working in agri farms to wear burka. How they will work wearing such a peculiar dress. Should they starve in the excuse of burka? When women are in starving, mullahs have nothing to say. On the contrary, to disturb women’s progress they have many sayings. In that case, I would like to say if burka matters anything regarding religion or faith or Allah. It must be His business not mullahs. Please leave it up to Him.

Supporting burka, we cannot favour talebanism in any country. In the name of campaigning in favour of burka, the people in line with taleban spirit simply want to stop women’s progress and empowerment.

Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir and their like minded political elements in Bangladesh are on campaign for burka. The same elements in 1971 committed many crimes including rape and killings during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Jamaat-Shibir has strong network with talebanised international terrorist groups. They raped some two hundred thousands women in 1971. They raped many minority community women aftermath of parliamentary elections in Bangladesh in 2001.

It is very clear as burka is not a religious problem, it's a question of liberty and women's dignity. Even it is not a religious symbol, but a sign of subservience and debasement. Islamist mullahs are afraid of women’s progress as they usually do not have supports from women. Women are like enemies to them.

Campigning for burka, mullahs are trying to make women prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. That must not be an idea for liberal society either in Bangladesh or Sweden or elsewhere. #

onsdag 10 februari 2010

Ban Jamaat-Shibir, no delay, please!

by Anisur Rahman

Ban Jamaat-Shibir, no delay please! It has already been too late to do the right. If Nazi could be banned after the World War II, al-Qaeda could be banned, why not Jamaat-Shibir. We could ban Jagrata Muslim Janata, Freedom Party, Hizbut Tahrir, why not Jamaat-Shibir. After the Supreme Court verdict dismissing the functional of the 5th Amendment in Bangladesh Constitution, it is automatically supposed to be banned of religion based political parties like Jamaat-Shibir. In spite of that, through discussion in Parliament, an immediate decision is a must to root out these beast political forces.

Jamaat-Shibir have been committing offences against humanity as well as Bangladesh since the Liberation War in 1971. They are recognised war criminals and deserve punishment for their involvement in rape, killing and abusing women in 1971 and afterwards. They had no political right in between 1972 and August 1975. After the killing of country’s founding leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, they regained their rights and patronisation from the military administration then. That was their beginning.

In last three decades or so, they have been rehabilitated in every establishment. They have strong bases in military, Rapid Action Battalion, police, diplomacy, bureaucracy and educational institutions. Particularly, RAB was formed to implement blue design of Jamaat-BNP to demean the progressive democratic voices in the name of driving against crimes.

It has been by this time reported by intelligence agencies of different countries as Shibir has been recognised as a terrorist organisation. If the Bangladesh authority does not ban Jamaat-Shibir and declare as terrorist organisation, the government must take the responsibility of any further offences committed by these heinous forces.

At the same time, the ruling element must initiate the self-correction drive as minister Syed Ashraful Islam claimed shibir elements had been embedded into Chhatra League leadership. However, it is a pity as the Awami League needed to address the reality more than a decade or so. It was reported as during the 1990s with the blessings from a central Awami League leader, a Shibir activist from Noakhali, got an important position in the central committee of the Chhatra League. If proper investigation could be done, such more truths would be revealed.

Shibir is involved in the killing of Rajshahi University geology teacher S Abu Taher in 2006 and RU economics teacher Mohammad Yunus in 2004. Last edition of their audacity and heinous claws took place over the lives of students on Rajshahi University campus at broad night on February, 9, 2010.

Most JMB elements initially were Jamaat-Shibir elements. Even Bangla Bhai himself was a formerly Shibir leader. Jamaat-Shibir are enjoying strong international connections with terrorist groups. In recent decades they rehabilitated a huge many Shibir elements in western countries notably in Europe and America.

Jamaat-Shibir elements have joint business concerns with our so called progressive people and television talk-show stars. Many of our influential’s in the pro-liberation camp have social relationship with Jamaat elements. Such social ties must not be appreciated and have an end.

Here one incident is to be noted. Food minister Dr Abdur Razzak, taking the ministerial oath, attended a reception hosted by the then Madhupur Jamaat chief, Jongi-patroniser Rajakar element and Madhupur College principal Montaz Ali. Dr Razzak also received a gold-made boat from that Jamaat leader. Thus Jamaat made their future score of politics as wells crimes trouble free, getting the blessings from minister Razzak. Where we do go!

To ban Jamaat-Shibir politically and boycott socially are a must for our way out from any further danger. We cannot nurse the dangers allowing them to commit offences against humanity one after another. At the same time, the elements in the power corridor must need to have self correction as they will not do any favour to any Jamaat elements for bribe or gift or family connection or simply influenced by any womanly entertainment! #

Photo courtesy: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=125803

söndag 7 februari 2010

'Poetry Council must be a platform for poets, not for businessmen


by Anisur Rahman

The National Poetry Council of Bangladesh has recently expelled its member Mohan Raihan for his alleged controversial role and activities against the secular and progressive spirits within.

In reaction to the council decision, Mr Raihan wrote some series of pieces using wrong terminology and exposing linguistic weakness. Seeing the title of his first one published in The Daily Amader Shomoy dated January 31, 2010, that could roughly be translated as ‘when the people become stupid, the history gets upset’, I thought as if he made his reaction regarding the killers of Bangladesh’s founding leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But, not it is! He just exposed his anger and disappointments against his fellow poets.

It is due and justified as he could express his anger. And thus, he wrote in newspaper. I am upset seeing his linguistic poverty. It is really a pity, how ugly could be a language who loves to introduce himself as a poet, but the more he is a businessman and politician.

Personally I do not like a businessman or a politician will be a poet at the same time, as both business and politics are highest form compromising things in life. Though we have examples of great poets who were also great politicians like Pablo Neroda, Mao Zedong and more, they were exceptions. And, our very own Poet Nirmalendu Goon also contested in parliamentary elections in 1991. Surely, Mohan Raihan and a few more businessmen at the poetry council must not be marked at that level.

I am happy and feel relief as poetry council should not be a platform for any businessman cum politician. It should be an organisation for genuine poets committed for secular, progressive spirit of Bangladesh as of culture.

I have learnt as Mohan Raihan proposed to some of senior poets to form another poetry council. They can try. But it will not be. An organisation is not only a matter of a committee or members. It is a matter of concept and commitment. No second platform is simply possible on the same concept and spirit that poetry council upholds. Moreover, the Mohan Raihans are thousand miles away from those concept and spirits. Second Bangladesh is impossible as poetry council is.

Yes, it is true, Mohan Raihan was one of the primary initiators in the formation of poetry council in late 1980s. So what? Khandakar Mostak was also a cabinet minister in the Mujibnagar Government in 1971. We all know his role in 1975 and so.

Personally, I feel poetry council has been free from a load and stigma as it was also a resort for businessman-politician. Through the expulsion of him, the council has attained a clean image. Image and acceptance is important for advancement of an organisation. I hope poetry council will keep its all spirits in favour of truths, beauties and progressive ideals up. Let’s Mohan Raihan’s do whatever they like to do either resorting with rubbishes on newspapers pages or moving in line with the Jamaat and anti-Liberation elements. Pointer always remains for all ‘tit for tat’. History will not forgive Jamaat and its allies elements.


Caption: A view from Poetry Festival 2008 in Dhaka, organised by the National Poetry Council of Bangladesh.

Photo courtesy: http://www.newagebd.com/2008/feb/03/img15.html

onsdag 3 februari 2010

"Let find me my human-being papa"

by Anisur Rahman

Did I do have to do anything? I could not manage a job even after completing my university degree, even knocking thousand times to hundreds positions. I had my parents, I had siblings - who were individually were a load on me. On the other hand I fell in love with a girl. That was not enough! I got to married her. What could I do without marrying her. Tender youth in me at that time, green-fresh idealism, purified thought for revolution, perfection in patriotism, all I had in me in those days.

After completion of university education, I would serve the nation and bring fortune for my family, that was a motto in me. At the end, I myself do not find my way out. I entered into a blind alley. I did manage a job indeed. There is in my country a society and surroundings, particularly for women in my goodness of the ‘V’ island called Bangladesh in world map. My wife too had same headache for society and surroundings. It is to have in all ideal (?) women!

That was a big matter as I managed a job in land of 150 million people and in the market of millions of unemployed. Excitement indeed in me! How could I know what was their business where I got my job? It was too late for me as they were mafia, they were smugglers! Thieves! When I came to know and understand, it was too late for my survival. The godfathers or mafia don, whatever we call…Moti Muhammad Bhai or Shahiduzzaman Bin Jomsher or Nulauddin Nader Chowdhury… were the owners, the culprits! They wanted to make me a scapegoat!

I am now in a country in the north. I have metamorphosed into a strange animal from human being after a six-year awaiting, I am an animal today, but my memory is working fine. I can think more than usual as a human being.
It is a story that took place six years ago in Bangladesh. Ten trucks illegal arms were seized by police in Chittagong. Two trucks out of ten went missing. I realised I was going to be made the ‘scapegoat.’ By this time my wife along with my eight-month daughter was kidnapped. The indications were clear, I would go to police in search of my wife and daughter, police or mafia gang will pick me up and kill me. So? Where do I go? Where is the difference between police and mafia? As I find military and fundamentalist today have their resort in same feathered nest.

Stealing seal pad from my office, I went into hiding and reached this land in the north after a long trip and trick. That was another long story and could be a large novel. Let’s skip that!

I applied for refuge in Sweden. What was the reason? I wanted to survive from fear and threat. That was the honest cause. But, who were getting me to run? Who were threatening to kill me? What were the evidences? Yes, where is my evidence. I could be killed, that was true and cent percent true. Even my animal brain right now could think it.

But the problem was with the officials at migration offices. They need evidence. They demand evidence for every single word. My wife and daughter were kidnapped and it was true you know. But I had no evidence in this regard that I could show to migration officials. They told me you had you job, your relatives, parents, siblings, wife and daughter all are in your land. ‘If they can survive, why not you.’ Yes, they are right on their part. I too was right true as I know and see my danger. Even my animal brain is convinced as my life was not safe at all in my land. But I had no evidence in support. Migration board people must need evidence and evidence. They are even happy getting evidence in favour of a true falsehood.

I did get refuge, my application was refused. My ways got all lost. I went on hide, passed my nights here and there, at churches and so. I pass days starving and half starving. I worked at horse firms in remote country side. At last police arrested me. I got shelter at custody in far remote area. After long waiting there one morning I found myself as a strange animal. I had a mirror in my pocked that helped to see my new outlook. This is a hot issue all over the world. I was sent shifted to the animal protection and research centre in Stockholm.

So many reporters, photographers and eager people gathered to see me today. I can exactly recollect those days in churches, in remote areas in my starving days. I wrote to many newspapers, to Amnesty, to Red Cross. None did pay any attention to my words. I can hear members of the crowd are saying Bangladesh authorities are demanding me back home. They are saying that I am their national resource. Swedish authority is saying my passport proves the identity that I was a human-being that was Adam Ali. Adam’s passport should not be this animal’s identity. This animal is a national property of Sweden. That is why they cannot return me back to Bangladesh. Swedish animal protection law does not permit the government to hand me over to any second party.

Now I am a tourist attraction too. Business analysts are writing in newspapers and expecting billion dollar income, biological scientists are taking preparation for huge research on me filmmakers are thinking for making a documentary on me. Everything is an outcome of their own business thinking. Human rights groups are too aware. They are taking a hand hard over Bangladesh and Sweden ’s governments. They are raising the issue of my daughter ‘Borshaa’s right to her father. I can hear everything the crowd is saying outside my cage – all about me. Bangladesh government is taking preparation for filing a complaint to the UN. They are also thinking of filing a case with the International Court. Newspapers reported by this time in a couple of weeks of my being an animal, the number of tourists doubled in Stockholm. The number is increasing at geometric rate. I have been a hot factor in the upcoming elections in Sweden and Bangladesh. All parties in both the country are prioritising to claim me, ‘an anima’ in their election manifesto. They all are trying their best to convince the voters they would succeed in protecting me according to the national interest.

I have no headache for those. My tension is for my daughter ‘Barshaa’ only. She is seven now. At her 8-month age, I came here and went to Red Cross and requested them to bring my daughter and wife here anyhow. They did do nothing or could not do anything. The same Red Cross with the help of UNICEF now brought my daughter and her mother to see her father who is no more a human being today …a strange animal!

They are coming, my daughter Barsha and her mother… The face of my Barsha is like a carbon copy of mine. Oh, misfortune, with the baby! This is my wife and I can read her eyes even being an animal today. I can see her mind is indeed breaking. She wants to die, but she will not die, she will survive only for her daughter. She will be kidnapped, she will be abused, but she will regain her strength and confidence on for the cause of her daughter, she will be living for Barshha as dead grass regain their life at the touch of rains. I can see water is dropping from the eyes of my wife. No sound from her mouth.

The Bengali interpreter girl echoing the voice of the Swedish guide instructing my daughter, let you see that is your father inside cage. Let you see, see!
Barsha is saying: That animal is not my papa. My papa was a human being. Let me find my human-being papa!


photo courtesy: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1392/1085211695_9a834ff17a.jpg?v=0