Militant group Ansar Al Islam publishes hit list of Bloggers and Free thinkers

12 August 2015

The notorious Islamic militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ATB), has claimed for a series of killings of ‘free thinkers’ in Bangladesh, has published a hit list of bloggers and activists around the world, threatening to kill them.

The hit list, issued in an announcement on the Internet, incorporates for the most part of exiled Bangladeshis—nine from the U.K., seven in Germany, two in the U.S., one in Canada and one in Sweden.

The ABT has distributed the list after a few of its fanatics and activists were captured by the Bangladesh police, including the outfit's acting boss Muhammad Abul Bashar, regarding the killing of bloggers.

English daily paper The Guardian reported that the U.K.- based bloggers of Bangladeshi inceptions named on the list have drawn closer the police in London and somewhere else taking after its distribution.

Group of bloggers said they have reasons to be frightened with the new list, yet included that dangers would not prevent them from composing. The ABT pioneer, Bashar and his two partners were captured not long ago in Dhaka for their charged association in the slaughtering of Bangladeshi-American mainstream blogger and science author Avijit Roy.

In February 2013, ABT activists hacked to death Ahmed Rajib Haider, another mainstream blogger who was a coordinator of 'Shahbagh movement, requesting most extreme punishment for the 1971 war offenders.

In May this year, Ananta Bijoy Das was hacked to death by Islamic fanatics in  In Sylhet. The most recent casualty is Niloy Neel, who was killed in Dhaka. Another blogger The Bangladesh government has as of late asked the bloggers to keep up "a breaking point" in their compositions so that religious notions of the general population are not influenced.

The police have as of late charged a few ABT agents and coordinators for the homicide of a 27-year-old blogger, Washiqur Rahman, in March this year in Dhaka. Rahman's demise came weeks after Avijit Roy was killed in the capital city in February. Roy's U.S.- based dowager, likewise a blogger, who barely got away from the fierce assault on her better half, is among those named on the new list.

  

I observed the list, seemed to me, calling ''another 14 December'' the darkest day of bangladesh history when the number of intellectuals were killed by Pakistani Military.  In independent Bangladesh, never seen such as brutal and barbaric act of religious terrorism.

Those who out of country, they are safe now, but who staying in Bangladesh, under massive death threat. The list, full of intellectuals and secular personality including Jafor Iqbal (professsor of Shajala university of science and technology), Nirmulendu goon and mohadev (wellknown poets), Shariar kabir (secretary of  Ghatok dala nirmul commitee), Abed khan (former editor of the daily samakal and The kaler kantho), Muntasir mamun (novelist), Mofidul hoque ( Liberation war researcher), Mohammed A Arafat(faculty of independent university), Ramendu mazumder ( Drama personality and actor ), Syed anwar hossain( Professor of Dhaka university), Syed Hasan Imam(actor and director), Turin Afroz(Barrister), Omi Rahaman pial (blogger and liberation war researcher),Imran h sarker(spokeperson of Ghonojagoron manch), Arif jebtik(blogger), Bappaditto basu(blogger), Kamal pasha chowdhury(journalist), Lucky akter(activist), Jonardhon datta nantu(blogger), Ibrahim khalil sobak(blogger), dr Nazmul hasan(Medicine specialist and blogger), Arifuzzaman prithil(blogger),Kaniz aklima sultana(blogger),FM shahin(blogger), Tamimul Ahsan(blogger),Imtiaz Morshed(blogger), Azim(Blogger and filmmaker) and Shammi haque(activist),.

I believe, By killing the intellectuals and freethinkers as well as secular force, they are trying to destroy country's backbone. To be noted, Bangladesh was born with the spirit of democracy and secularism. Sadly, the emerging islamic extremism making the country just hell with their brutality and barbarism.

The militant group posted on its site a narrative video entitled 'Kill Democracy', which explains that vote based system is not an Islamic framework and the western arrangement of vote based system is totally in struggle with Islam.

‘Our beloved country has become a fertile land of Islamic extremism, Intellectuals being killed by fanatics and there is no credible step to confront the threat’ says exiled blogger Azim. He added ‘The government of Bangladesh is not willing to protect freethinkers, writer and bloggers to hold the autocracy’. Illegal government has been defeated to Islamic fanatics and surrendered to the militancy.

নিবর্তনমূলক ৫৭ ধারার অবলুপ্তিসহ আটক দুই কিশোর ব্লগারের মুক্তি ও নিরাপত্তা চাই

বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতার চেতনা ও ইতিহাসের সংরক্ষণে বাংলা ব্লগ ও বাঙালি ব্লগারদের যে ভূমিকা তার চূড়ান্ত প্রকাশ আমরা দেখেছিলাম শাহবাগ আন্দোলনের মাধ্যমে। এবং বাংলাদেশের অস্তিত্ববিরোধী শক্তির হাতিয়ার হিসেবে ধর্মের ব্যবহারটাও আমরা দেখতে পেরেছিলাম সেই একই সময়ে। দেখেছিলাম ধর্মকে ঢাল হিসাবে ব্যবহার করে নব রূপে জন্ম নিয়েছে রাজাকার বান্ধব হেফাজতী আন্দোলন। এরই প্রেক্ষিতে পহেলা এপ্রিল ২০১৩ তারিখে চারজন নাস্তিক ব্লগারকে ডিবি পুলিশ তথ্য ও যোগাযোগ প্রযুক্তি আইন, ২০০৬ এর ৫৭ (১) ধারায় গ্রেফতার করা হয়েছিলো। যে ধারাটির সন্নিবেশন বাংলাদেশের সর্বোচ্চ আইন, মহান সংবিধানের ধর্ম-নিরপেক্ষতার মূলনীতি এবং বাক ও ভাব প্রকাশের স্বাধীনতার চূড়ান্ত অবমাননা। [১] এরপরে জল গড়িয়েছে অনেকটাই, অসাংবিধানিক এই ধারাটি তার বিষবৃক্ষের ডালপালা ছড়িয়েছে আরো বহুদূর।

এই কালো আইনের সর্বশেষ শিকার চট্টগ্রাম নিবাসী দুই কিশোর ব্লগার কাজী রায়হান রাহী ও উল্লাস ডি ভাবন। গত ৩০ মার্চ’ ২০১৪ তারিখে চট্টগ্রাম কলেজ থেকে নিজেদের আসন্ন উচ্চ মাধ্যমিক পরীক্ষার প্রবেশপত্র সংগ্রহ করতে গেলে পূর্ব পরিকল্পনা অনুযায়ি তাদের উপর আক্রমণ চালায় জামাত-শিবির মনষ্ক ধর্মান্ধ সন্ত্রাসীরা। [২] পরিকল্পনার অংশ হিসেবে তারা সংগ্রহ করে- অপর এক ধর্মান্ধ সন্ত্রাসি এবং একাধিক হত্যার হুমকি ও জঙ্গিতৎপরতায় উষ্কানিদাতা ফারাবি শফিউর রহমান’এর সাথে, প্রচলিত ধর্মবিশ্বাসে দ্বিমত পোষণকারী রাহি ও উল্লাসের কিছু কথপোকথন। [৩] “অপরাজেয় সঙ্ঘ” নামক এই জামাতমনষ্ক সন্ত্রাসি দলটির সাথে ফারাবি’র যোগাযোগের প্রমাণও স্পষ্ট। এরই প্রেক্ষিতে, আক্রান্ত ব্লগারদের উপরে হামলা করবার পূর্বে তারা তৈরি করে ধর্মীয় উষ্কানিমূলক প্রচারপত্র এবং সময় বুঝে ঝাপিয়ে পড়ে নিরস্ত্র দুই কিশোরের ওপর। গুরূতরভাবে আক্রান্ত কিশোরদ্বয়কে স্থানীয় পুলিশ সুরক্ষা প্রদানের পরিবর্তে ৫৭ ধারায় গ্রেফতার করে তথতাকথিত ধর্মানুভূতিতে আঘাত দেবার অজুহাতে।

উল্লেখ্য যে, অভিযুক্ত ব্লগার দুজনই অপ্রাপ্ত বয়স্ক কিশোর এবং এই বারের অনুষ্ঠিতব্য এইচ,এস,সি, পরীক্ষার্থী। তা হওয়া স্বত্বেও তাদের সাথে পুলিসের আচরণ মোটেও কিশোর অপরাধীর মত ছিল না। এমনকি অপ্রাপ্ত বয়ষ্ক হওয়া সত্তেও এবং উচ্চ মাধ্যমিক পরীক্ষা দেবার কারণবশতও, ৫৭ ধারার অবাস্তব মারপ্যাঁচে পড়ে তাদের জামিন আবেদন নামঞ্জুর হয়ে যায়। সেই সাথে, নিরাপত্তাজনিত কারণে এই কিশোরদ্বয়ের পক্ষে স্থানীয় আইনজীবিরাও দাঁড়াতে ভয় পাচ্ছেন বলে পারিবারিক সূত্রে জানা গেছে। উল্লাস, ইসলাম ভিন্ন অন্য ধর্মাবলম্বী বলে অনেক আইনজীবিই তার পক্ষে মামলা লড়তে অস্বীকৃতি জানান বলেও জানা গেছে। তাছাড়া এদের পরিবারও স্পষ্ট নিরাপত্তাহীনতায় ভুগছে। এই পুরো ব্যাপারটাই দেশের মধ্যে একটি নষ্ট, জঙ্গিবান্ধব ও ধর্মান্ধ পরিবেশ তৈরি হবার প্রমাণ বহন করে।

তবে এরথেকেও ভয়াবহ ব্যাপার হচ্ছে- এই ঘটনার পরেই বিভিন্ন সামাজিক যোগাযোগ মাধ্যমে রাহি ও উল্লাসের উপর চলা জীবন সংশয় সৃষ্টিকারী এই হামলার হোতা “অপরাজেয় সঙ্ঘ” নামক ধর্মান্ধ সন্ত্রাসী সঙ্গঠনটির একাধিক সদস্যের দাম্ভিক স্বীকারোক্তি থাকা সত্তেও তাদের বিরূদ্ধে কোনো প্রকার আইনি ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ করা হয়নি। এমনকি তারা প্রকাশ্যে এই একই ঘটনার পুনরাবৃত্তির হুমকি প্রদান করা সত্তেও তারা নির্বিঘ্নে ঘুরে বেড়াচ্ছে। [৩] অথচ এগুলোর সবই বাংলাদেশের প্রচলিত ফৌজদারি আইনে স্পষ্ট দন্ডনীয় অপরাধ। কিন্তু স্থানীয় প্রশাসনের পক্ষ থেকে এদের বিরূদ্ধে কোনোপ্রকার ব্যবস্থা গ্রহন করা তো হয়ইনি, বরং এদের নির্বিঘ্ন চলাফেরার সুযোগ দিয়ে প্রশাসন এই ব্লগারদের পরিবারকেও হুমকির মুখে ফেলছে।

উল্লেখ্য যে, তথ্য ও প্রযুক্তি আইনের ৫৭ ধারাটি প্রথম থেকেই মানবাধিকারের সুস্পষ্ট লঙ্ঘনের কারণে বিতর্কিত। সেই সাথে স্বাধীন, ধর্মনিরপেক্ষ বাংলাদেশে বার বার ব্লাসফেমী আইনের বিকল্প হিসেবে এর ব্যবহার যথেষ্টই আশংকার কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। এমনকি, দেশের প্রচলিত অন্যান্য আইনের সাথেও এই ধারাটি অসামঞ্জস্যপূর্ণ। কেউ চুরি করুক, ডাকাতি করুক, খুন করুক, ধর্ষন করুক- তার জামিন আছে। কিন্তু, ৫৭ ধারার অপরাধের কোন জামিনের সুযোগ রাখা হয়নি। সেই সাথে এই ধারায় কৃত অপরাধ-এর ন্যুণতম শাস্তি ৭ বছরের কারা দন্ড, যেখানে ধর্ষনের মত জঘন্যতম একটি অপরাধের ন্যুনতম শাস্তিও এরচেয়ে কম। আমাদের অভিজ্ঞতা বলে ফেইসবুকের বিভিন্ন গ্রুপে ধর্মীয় মৌলবাদি ও রাজাকারদের সংগঠন জামাতে ইসলামীর কর্মীরা বিভিন্ন সময়ে যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের রায়ের আগে ও পরে বিভিন্ন সন্ত্রাসী কর্মকান্ডের উস্কানি, পরিকল্পনা কোন রকম বাধা ছাড়াই করেছে। এর জন্য দায়ী ব্যক্তিদের কোনপ্রকার আইনের আওতায় নেয়া না হলেও সামান্য ফেইসবুক স্ট্যাটাস যেগুলোতে কারো কোন শারীরিক ক্ষতি বা এমন কিছুর দুরতম সম্ভাবনাও নেই সেখানে ধর্মীয় অবমাননার অজুহাতে ব্লগ ও অন্যান্য সোশ্যাল মিডিয়ার ব্যবহারকারিরা গ্রেফতার ও হেনস্থার স্বীকার হচ্ছে।

বিসিবিএ বিশ্বাস করে, বাংলাদেশের মহান সংবিধান কোনো ব্যক্তিবিশেষকে যেমনটি নির্দিষ্ট ধর্মবিশ্বাস লালল করায় বাঁধা দেয় না, তেমনি কারো ধর্মের প্রতি অবিশ্বাসেরও পালন, প্রচার এবং প্রকাশকে রূদ্ধ করে না। কিন্তু অবস্থাদৃষ্টে বিসিবিএ ঘৃণাভরে বলতে বাধ্য হচ্ছে, স্পষ্টতঃই সরকারের মধ্যে হেফাজতী, ধর্মান্ধ একটি অংশ প্রবল ভাবে প্রভাব বলয় সৃষ্টি করেছে। এবং এদেরই প্রত্যক্ষ উষ্কানীতে জাতির সংবিধানের রক্ষক হয়েও তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি আইনের ৫৭ ধারার মতো সংবিধানের প্রতি চরম অবমাননামূলক একটি আইন প্রণয়ন করেছে সরকার। এবং ক্রমাগত অপব্যবহারের মাধ্যমে এই আইনটিকেই ব্লাসফেমি আইনের আদলে গড়ে তুলে বাংলাদেশের পাকিস্তান যাত্রা নিশ্চিত করছে তারা।

বাংলা কমিউনিটি ব্লগ এলায়েন্স (BCBA) এর পক্ষ থেকে অন্যন্য সমমনা গ্রুপ এবং ব্যক্তিবর্গের সাথে সমন্বয়ে আক্রান্ত দুই ব্লগারকে সর্বোচ্চ আইনী সহায়তা দেবার লক্ষে যথাযথ ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ করা হচ্ছে এই মুহুর্তে। ঘৃণ্য ৫৭ ধারার অজুহাতে বারবার মুক্তমতকে দলিত করা হচ্ছে তার বিরুদ্ধেও সর্বাত্মক প্রতিরোধ এবং জনসংযোগ সৃষ্টি করতে আমরা সচেষ্ট। এই প্রেক্ষিতেই সংশ্লিষ্ট কর্তৃপক্ষের কাছে নিম্নলিখিত দাবীসমূহ উপস্থাপন করা হচ্ছে-

ক) আটককৃতদের অবিলম্বে মুক্তি দিয়ে তাদের শিক্ষাজীবনের সুস্থ প্রবাহ ও পারিবারিক নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করতে হবে
খ) আক্রমণকারী সন্ত্রাসিদের উষ্কানিদাতা, সঙ্গঠকসহ জড়িত প্রত্যেকের বিরুদ্ধে প্রশাসনের যথাযথ ফৌজদারি ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ করতে হবে
গ) সংশ্লিষ্ট পুলিশ কর্মচারী এবং কর্মকর্তাদের প্রত্যেকের বিরুদ্ধে শাস্তিমূলক ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ করতে হবে
ঘ) আইসিটি আইনের ৫৭ ধারা বাতিল/সংশোধন করে মুক্তমতের প্রবাহ নিশ্চিত করতে হবে
ঙ) ভবিষ্যতে এ ধরণের ঘটনা প্রতিরোধে প্রশাসনের পক্ষ থেকে কার্যকরি ব্যবস্থাগ্রহণ করতে হবে।

এছাড়াও আটককৃত ব্লগারদের মুক্তি ও নিরাপত্তা বিধানের লক্ষ্যে বিসিবিএ সচেষ্ট থাকবে এবং আইসিটি আইনের ৫৭ ধারা রদকল্পে ক্রমাগত কর্মসূচি প্রদান করে যাবে বলে আমরা শতভাগ নিশ্চয়তা দিচ্ছি।

তথ্যসূত্রঃ

[১] http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/bangla_all_sections.php?id=957

[২] http://bangla.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/article767003.bdnews

[৩] http://i.imgur.com/FzsngVU.jpg

New conspiracy against Bangladesh

Right after the mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles [BDR] troops, which is partially resolved by now only at its Dhaka headquarters, some vested interest groups are becoming increasingly active in giving a bad name to the Bangladesh Army by claiming, “They are corrupt violators of rules and abusers of human rights”. Such a campaign is aimed at stopping the participation of the Bangladesh Army in the United Nations Peace Keeping Force.

Some so-called intellectuals in Bangladesh are also adding their voices against the Army and are trying to justify the heinous crime committed by the mutineer BDR troops.

Bangladeshi Economist Anu Muhammad saw the rebellion of BDR soldiers as a “class revolt, though the cruelty in it was extreme”.


“Discrimination was going on in the regimented forces for so long and people had accepted it for sometime. But the situation began altering with the changes in society, as the soldiers in the forces were part of the society’s subaltern section,” he said.

Playwright and cultural activist, Mamunur Rashid said “It was the most shocking event for the nation. What the Bangladesh Rifles members have done is not right, although it was clear that the repression by officers reached an intolerable level. But I think the government has to go deep into the matter that led the soldiers commit such cruelty.”

My personal analysis is the statement by both Anu Mahmud and Mamunur Rashid are designed in indirectly justifying the criminal actions by the mutineer BDR troops.

On a television talk show, former military officer turned political leader General [Retired] C. R. Dutta said, “The BDR revolt is the outburst of their decade old accumulated anger.”

Here again, General Dutta tried to defend the notoriety of BDR troops.

Meanwhile, public sentiment is growing increasingly against the killing and atrocity by the mutineer BDR troops. No grievances can justify a mutiny and killings by a disciplined force anywhere in the world and those who murdered officers at the BDR headquarters should be tried under the laws of the country.

The general sentiment of the people and defence personnel on Thursday turned strongly against the BDR mutineers as news and pictures of the brutal killings of army officers started to emerge in newspapers and on television channels. The bodies recovered from the sewage system bore marks of utter brutality. The bodies were mutilated by gunshots and bayonet charges and were ruthlessly dumped in the sewage system.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s general amnesty to the mutineer troops, defense experts said, “It’s globally common ethics not to support any mutiny or terrorist acts.”

“If there are grievances, there are many other civilised ways to express that. If mutiny is justified, it would then simply welcome terrorism. While amnesty may be acceptable for the general mutineers considering that there could be more bloodshed otherwise, those who committed the murders should be tried under the laws of the land. They cannot be pardoned.”

Commenting on the mutinee, some said, the way the killings took place surely indicates that there was a hardcore element, which wanted to give the mutiny a face of almost unprecedented brutality. The group, their relationship and linkage should be brought into cleansing daylight through proper and professional non-partisan investigations. The government should look into the facts in a most serious fashion.

The rebellion by a section of soldiers against the officers at the Pilkhana headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles in the capital of Dhaka, which started Wednesday morning and continued late into Thursday afternoon, has put the country in a grave crisis. The members of the paramilitary BDR constantly guard our national borders in difficult situations, while the members of the armed forces have been raised to defend our national territory if and when attacked; our nation-state badly needs these two forces to maintain healthy relations. After the revolt in BDR, entire bordering areas of Bangladesh are in extreme security situations, and there are reports of strengthening of security measures by our neighboring nations as well as deploying special commandos for unknown but presumable reasons.

Now, let me humbly point to a number of extremely important but very crucial issues, which the government needs to address forthwith:

When the notoriety inside BDR headquarters was continuing, although all the private television channels were covering the incident, state-owned Bangladesh Television was busy broadcasting an entertainment program, as if nothing happened in the country. Such senseless behavior of Bangladesh Television is not only a serious offense by its staff, but to the information ministry itself. It may be mentioned here that the information secretary was just removed from his job only a week ago for writing a notoriously abusive poem on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and members of his family. Bangladesh Television [BTV] is under the information ministry. Many believe that, BTV’s roles might have been intentional to put the government into questioned position.

After dead bodies of army officers came out through the sewerage line at Kamrangirchar in Dhaka, their bodies were laid out on ground and members of law enforcing agencies called local people to load the bodies into trucks in a very dishonorable manner.. The law enforcing agencies should have used stretchers to honorably shift the bodies to the trucks. Secondly, none of the representatives of the government visited that spot right after recovery of the bodies. Bangladesh Television was again continuing its entertainment and fun programs, thus not even showing a special scroll of condolence on its screen for the loved ones of the dead.

The BDR mutiny was not a mere random incident. No way! It was a very well planned and well organized undertaking, with many key organizers involved from behind the scenea. It was also reported that on the previous night of the mutiny, leaflets were distributed amongst the troops of BDR. They even collected the red and yellow color mask and bandana much ahead of it. So, they were absolutely prepared for the revolt and murder of 146 army officers, in a planned way to create a vacuum right within our armed forces. Moreover, some of the mutineer soldiers were referring to the Prime Minister as “Amader Netri” [Our leader]. To a soldier, how does a PM turn into a leader? Moreover, most of the mutineer troops were appearing before the mass media without any mask, as they knew that their faces would be seen by the television viewers. Were they already sure of plans for a general amnesty, even before any government delegation met them?


And, most interestingly, why did the government decide to send Jahangir Kabir Nanak, MP and Mirza Azam, MP to Bangladesh Riffles headquarters as their first representative for negotiations? Why not any senior leader like Tofael Ahmed or Suranjit Sen Gupta? Or a senior minister like Motia Chowdhury? Any special reason? Did these two leaders have some contact points already inside BDR?

The Bangladesh government must make necessary arrangements for the decent burial of the killed officers with all due respect and honor. They should be accorded the honor of national heroes. Moreover, the government definitely should identify the entire conspiracy behind such brutality. There should also be proper investigation on the cases of rapes inside the BDR headquarters during the 30-hour mutiny. And finally, the government should do everything possible to stop dangerous anti-army propaganda inside and outside Bangladesh by various elements.

Armed forces are the guards of our sovereignty. They have been sacrificing lives since the independence of this country. Many officers sacrificed their lives during the war of independence. Dignity and prestige of this institution should be upheld under any and all circumstance. There should never be any compromise in this regard!


Bangladesh: Tears of anger

More than 50 decomposing bodies of murdered officers of the Bangladesh Rifles [who were sent on deputation by the Bangladesh Army] has so far been recovered from a number of mass-graves inside the Bangladesh Rifles Head Quarters at Pilkhana in Dhaka. Some were recovered too from the sewage line flowing from the BDR Headquarters to the Buriganga River.

Meanwhile, according to the latest information, most of the killings and rapes took place after the Prime Minister announced General Amnesty to the mutineer BD troops on Wednesday afternoon. It is further now known that the delegation of mutineers on their return from the Prime Minister’s residence, told their fellow rebel comrades to ‘clear-up’ the remaining number of detained officers as well as to give a ‘good lesson’ to the female officer members. The mutineers were also burying the dead bodies of the army officers during the more than 30-hours they had in the name of negotiations with the government.

RAW destroying Bangladesh

Most of the members of the forums know that RAW’s nefarious activities in subcontinent in general and in Bangladesh in particular has become menacing.Many of You might be knowing that journalist and researcher Mohammad Zainal Abedin has written a revealing book:”RAW and Bangladesh”. Two Pakistani writers have highly spoke of this book:
“RAW AND BANGLADESH” By Zainal Abedin Published by :Fatema shahab
7. Fakirapool,Inner Circular Road Motijheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, First Edition: November, 1995
Cover Design : Zobayer Alam

Dedicated To Those Fighters Who Shall Protect Our Independence, Sovereignty And

Religious Identity From Generation To Generation. Printing:Madina Printers.
38/2. Banglabazar Dhaka-llOO. Bangladesh. Distributor: Madina Publications 38/2, Banglabazar Dhaka-I 100. Bangladesh All Rights Reserved by the Author Price: Taka-125 US $ -5

PREFACE

The eventful days of 1971 remain ever fresh in my memory despite the passage of long 25 years. As I ponder over the events, one particular incident chastises me the most. It happened during April 1971. Although the operation of Pakistan Army had started in Dhaka on the night of 25 March but my home district Noakhali was still out of its purview. I, along with some other leaders was busy in organising resistance forces in our area. Volunteers from far off villages and shoals had assembled in large numbers in the district headquarters. They carried assortment of weapons, some even carried bamboo sticks, spears, arrows, javelins etc. They were determined to fight for realization of the just rights of the Bengalis.

I, as a student leader had played significant role in popularising 6- points in my area. I had many admirers and political supporters. My most staunch supporter and admirer was a neighbour. He was a middle-aged, ‘mature and sober person. He had stood by m)’! during difficult days of Ayub regime. In fact, without his assistance and support, it would not have been possible for me to become a front rank student leader.

I had immense respect and regard for him. I was thrilled when I spotted him in the make shift camp set up for the resistance forces. I greeted him warmly. But he remained cold and unmoved. His eyes were dazed and he seemed lost. I thought that he was concerned about Pakistan Army’s imminent advance to our area and its consequences for us.He got hold of my hand and took me to a nearby restaurant. As we sipped tea, he started narrating the history of pre-1947 Bengal. He mentioned gory details of how the Hindus used to treat the Muslims and explained the reasons for creation of Pakistan. He said that struggling for one’s right is different from break up of the country. He stated that India would first weaken us by breaking our unity and then exploit us. He added that his life time experiences had told him that India would never be sincere to Muslims. With tears in his eyes and hands trembling with emotions he quipped, “Are you again going to make us the slaves of the Hindus?”.

I must admit that I did not give any serious thought to his urging. I was too young and emotional. Besides, I was so involved with my cause that I had little time or scope to think about future. In fact, had I not known his background, I would have dismissed him as a ‘ collaborator’ .

However, the said question now haunts me often. The realization of what lay in store for us had started soon after I crossed over to India where I was assigned to elite Mujib Bahini. The attitude of our Indian handlers and trainers indicated that they treated us (the Freedom Fighters) not as friends but as agents. However, the real Indian face lay bare after the surrender of Pakistani forces, when I saw the large scale loot and plunder by the Indian Army personnel.

The Indian soldiers appeared to be the modern edition of the Maratha Cavalry who is notorious in history for plundering Bengal during the middle age. The Indian soldiers swooped on everything they found and carried them away to India. Their haste for plunder made our people believe that they had been waiting for such I an opportunity for centuries and they were not ready to waste even a single moment when the cherished opportunity arrived. Indian soldiers imposed curfew on our towns, industrial bases, ports, cantonments, commercial centres and even residential areas to make the looting easier. They lifted every thing from ceiling fan to military equipment, utensils to water taps. Thousands of Army vehicles were used to carry looted goods to India.

History has recorded few such cruel and henious plunders. Such a large scale plunder could not have been possible without connivance of higher Indian authorities. Otherwise how could the soldiers have dared to commit such a pillage?It was evident from the conduct of the Indian Army that they treated Bangladesh as a colony. That was the time when the question asked by my neighbour seriously surfaced in my mind. Since then I have been pondering but am unable to give any definite answer. I only pray that history proves his .apprehensions wrong.Frequently I face question from some quarters how I write about Indian misdoings while I am myself a freedom fighter, who had got training, shelter and help from Indians during liberation war. My answer to them is that I do what a real freedom fighter ought to do. I cannot remain quiet about excesses committed against my motherland irrespective of who is the’ perpetrator of the excesses. If India had given a fair deal to Bangladesh,nobody would say anything against her. But India through her notorious deeds has proved time and again that she is not our friend but an arch roguish foe. India has posed a grave threat to our independence and sovereignty.

Thus the duty and responsibility of a genuine freedom fighter calls upon me to stand up to the enemy of Bangladesh in whatever manner I can.It is now evident that India had helped the creation of Bangladesh with the aim that it would be a step forward towards the reunification of India. Soon after creation of Bangladesh, India let loose all forces at her command to cripple the newly born country. Their aim was to precipitate its collapse and eventual merger with India to realize part of the Brahmanic dream about ‘Akhand Bharat’.

The most significant player of this henious game is India’s notorious intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing commonly known as RAW.Since its inception in 1968 RAW has been an unobtrusive instrument for achieving Indian foreign policy objectives. RAW had worked assiduously in the erstwhile East Pakistan and had succeeded in establishing an elaborate network of spies and subversive elements. After establishment of Bangladesh the said network was further expanded as there was no check or obstacle in her way in the new country. RAW has spread her tentacles in almost all spheres of Bangladesh. Its network is growing like a cancer.

However, except for occasional news and features in some newspapers, no detailed account of RAW’s activities has been documented. During 1994-95, I wrote a series of articles about RAW’s nefarious activities in Bangladesh in the Weekly Muslim Jahan. Having read the same a large number of my readers and friends goaded me to publish a comprehensive book on the subject. The result is in your hands in form of this book.

Here I would like to dispel the impression that RAW is an insurmountable or a super organisation. In fact, contrary to that it has stagnated into an unwieldy and sluggish organisation. Its strong point is its vast resources. But there is no reason to be over-awed by it. Certainly the RAW’s onslaught can be effectively countered as has been proved time and again by patriotic Bangladeshis.

Through this book I want to send a clear message to RAW in particular and Indian rulers in general that Bangladesh is not a country which will bend down in the face of their covert and overt intrigues. Let RAW and its toadies understand that the nation that achieved her independence through tears and blood will foil their designs. There will never be any compromise with the enemies. Therefore, intrigues RAW has been indulging in during the last quarter century must end. We may live in hardship and misery, yet we value our independence and sovereignty. Bangladesh may be a small and a weak country, yet it is our pride, our identity. We believe in Tipu Sultan’s dictum, ” One day life of a lion is better than hundred years life of a jackal”.

I may add that some well wishers had advised me due to concern for my security, not to antagonise RAW, a ruthless organisation. My answer to them was that as a true Muslim and patriot I cannot keep quiet when my motherland is being trampled. For me life is not more precious than the sanctity of my mother land. Moreover, I could have been killed in 1971 war. This life is a bonus. I am not afraid of sacrificing anything for my country.

The publication of this book could not have been possible without support and encouragement from the Editor of the Weekly Muslim Jahan, Mr. Mutafa Moinuddin Khan. I am also grateful to Moulana Mohiuddin Khan, a renowned intellectual, for his invaluable help and suggestions. Besides I am indebted to large number of my readers and friends who after reading series of my articles in the Weekly Muslim Jahan encouraged and persuaded me to compile this book. I am also thankful to of those dailies, weeklies, periodicals and authors of the books from whom I took help and also quoted in the book

The original book was in Bengali. But later I decided to publish an English version as well for greater awareness about RAW’s nefarious activities particularly by the international community. For obvious reasons the English version is not a literal translation. Besides, some portions have been revised and updated. Hence some variance may be found by readers of the two versions.My head bows down before Almighty Allah in all humility to thank him as He gave me strength to undertake this arduous and sensitive work and enable me to present it to my readers. All glory and praise be toAllah. Errors, omissions and limitations, if any, are mine. I must frankly admit that it is not an all encompassing work. Full exposure of RAW’s machinations requires hundreds of volumes. I urge all patriotic writers and researchers to come forward and help in unveiling the ugly face of this treacherous organisation which is eating into the vitals of Bangladesh. May Allah help us

Will Bangladesh Return to Normalcy?

The Bangladesh government, charged with cleansing the nation’s polity and bring vigor to its economy by streamlining the countries various institutions, has allowed the former prime minister and opposition Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed - who is being held on corruption charges - to leave detention for eight weeks. This step looks like an important step in government’s efforts to bring settled peace by meeting the political crisis in the country. Sheikh Hasina has left the country following her temporary release from prison to get medical treatment abroad. She left on a flight to London on her way to the US. She is due to have treatment for hearing, eyesight and blood problems.

The interim government, headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, arrested Hasina in July last year for alleged corruption, but it granted her an eight-week parole for treatment abroad. Special courts prosecuting Hasina for alleged corruption ruled the trials could continue in her absence, after a government-appointed medical board suggested she be sent abroad immediately. Hasina's freedom, temporary though it may be, had moved the Awami League and the military-backed government towards a "win-win situation" that would help push the political process forward.

The Awami League leader was released from her special jail on the grounds of parliament on 11 June to enable her to obtain immediate medical treatment abroad. A senior party member said that her ailments had all worsened considerably since she was jailed nearly a year ago. Her doctors insisted that she could not receive the right medical treatment in Bangladesh. However, it is not clear how serious her condition is or how long the treatment will take, she said would return immediately after the treatment to actively take part in politics. But she has asked the government to let her ailing sons, Tareque Rahman and Arafat Rahmanm, travel abroad for treatment.

Further, it is also not certain that she will be in the country to contest the elections, though she said wants to contest a parliamentary election planned for December or her party would boycott the poll. In April last year, the military-backed interim government tried to block Sheikh Hasina's return from a personal visit abroad. It was forced to allow her back, although she was arrested soon afterwards. Some analysts believe once Hasina leaves she will not be allowed back, and that if Khaleda left the country that would also be her fate.

However, party officials of Awami League which Hasina heads will now hold talks with the government over the staging of the December elections. The Awami League had been boycotting the talks, demanding that Sheikh Hasina be released first. She is among scores of politicians detained by the army-backed government for alleged corruption.

The other main opposition leader Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has also been given the chance to go abroad for medical treatment but she has refused the government's offer. The government also tried to force Khaleda Zia also into exile. But that plan also failed and she too was jailed. It seems the government believes its plans to reform Bangladesh's political institutions will not work as long as the two veteran leaders are still on the scene.

Corruption and nepotism in combination with “necessary” crime have come to stay in politics in third word as well and the Muslim leaders don’t seem to get rid of these evil practices. Both Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina have been charged with serious corruption and criminal offences. Sheikh Hasina has been accused of extortion and misuse of power, while Khaleda Zia has been accused of accepting bribes. Both women, however, still deny all charges against them.

The state of emergency has been in place in the country for the last 16 months.

Hundreds of politicians have been arrested on corruption charges.

Observers say the government wants the parties to reorganize and choose new leaders - which it argues is essential if credible elections are to be held.

Parties are also being asked to change the way they are run, to open up their accounts to independent auditors and to agree to a code of conduct.

Last month the interim government announced that delayed general elections will take place in the third week of December. The exact day has yet to be set.

Voting was due in January last year, but postponed after political violence led to a state of emergency. All of Bangladesh's parties, including the BNP and the Awami League, which alternately ruled the country between 1991 and 2006, have been invited to join the dialogue.

The military-backed interim government of Bangladesh began talks with two smaller parties in May. Earlier, the two main parties of Bangladesh said they will not take part in talks with the government until their leaders are released from detention. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) say that their respective leaders - Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia - are being unjustly held over false and fabricated corruption charges. The authorities say the discussions are part of a roadmap to restore democracy.

The parties question the credibility of the elections if held under emergency rule. While many senior Awami League politicians are in favor of beginning talks with the government, the party's rank and file membership across the country is vehemently opposed to such a move. Similarly, a BNP spokesman said that the dialogue would be not be meaningful and the forthcoming elections not acceptable without the presence of Khaleda Zia. People would now hope the government might offer a similar olive branch to Hasina's rival Begum Khaleda Zia and release her from detention

General public in Bangladesh wonders if the situation in the country would come back to normal in the near future and peace would be reinstated in the country by the interim government as its top most agenda, would the political parties indeed help the government cleanse the system infested with all lacunas and weaknesses