CHANCES OF JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI BANGLADESH IN THE COMING ELECTIONMany conspiracy theories emerged after the Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) bombings that rocked Bangladesh last year. Some JMB members turned out to be former Jamaat-e-Islami members. But it was obvious that being in the government Jamaat had no reason to play with fire. One of the theories was that this whole JMB plot was a brainchild of BNP to tarnish the image of their ruling coalition partner Jamaat so that they can get the leverage in the coming election.Now that JMB kingpins...
May 30, 2006
May 29, 2006
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR RELIGIOUS MADNESSAt last the verdict of the first trial of killing of two judges by the Islamic fundamentalist organization Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). The Daily Star reports:A Barisal court yesterday sentenced to death Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Abdur Rahman, his second-in-command Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and five other militants and acquitted one in the sensational Jhalakathi judges' killing case.The reason for the killing was stated in a leaflet in the crime scene:"We don't want Taguti...
BANGLADESHI BLOGS - another update
Here is another updated list of Bangladeshi Blogs after adding some new blogs (arranged in no particular order):* Badh bhangar awaaj-The largest Bangla blogging platform with hundreds of blogs in Bangla* The 3rd world view-Germany* Unheard Voices - A drishtipat group blog initiative -USA* imperfect|world|2006 -UK* Mezba's blog -Canada* Serious golmal -UK* South Asia biz -Bangladesh* Or how I learned to stop worrying -USA* The Bengali Fob says -Canada* Mac's blog -Bangladesh* Mac's savoury chorChoriz! -Bangladesh* Close your eyes & try to...
May 28, 2006
SEARCHING FOR FATWASI was really surprised by this AFP news, which quoted an unknown cleric of a mosque of a small town of Bangladesh telling Bangladeshi Muslims in a sermon not to fly the flags of any 'infidel' nations playing in the Football World Cup.However, the report also highlights:His call came as thousands of flags of World Cup football favourites fluttered over Bangladesh's cities and towns with the tournament less than two weeks away.Most of the flags flying from the rooftops of houses and windows of apartments are of the two World Cup...
May 26, 2006
FREEDOM OF SPEECH UPDATEPickled Politics reports that the London based Asia House has cancelled an exhibition by the Indian artist MF Husain after "threats" from Hindu fundamentalist groups. Now things are getting serious as it is revealed that someone had destroyed two of MF Husain’s paintings, and the exhibition had to be closed for security reasons.Pickled politics' call for a protest uniting Asians against censorship aroused much deba...
THE GARMENTS INDUSTRY RIOTS IN BANGLADESHThe readymade Garments Industry is the key export earning sector for Bangladesh, which brings to this developing country $6 billion yearly revenue. The industry has over 4,000 export oriented factories and thousands more small scale sub-contractors which employ nearly three million workers most of whom are women (80%).All hell broke loose last weekend as a riot broke out in and around the capital Dhaka city when a garments worker was shot in Savar, an industrial zone 30km away from Dhaka, while police was...
May 25, 2006
May 23, 2006
May 22, 2006
May 21, 2006
ANOTHER ELECTION PROMISE?Rumi of Drishtipat wrote recently:"After 15th August 1975, we lost one of the greatest assets of our natonal idenitity, i.e. our constitutional declaration of secularism.30 years have passed since then.It seems like slowly we are getting used to our non-secular constitution. Nobody talks about it anymore. Dream of a secular Bangladesh is no longer promised in our political party meetings. It’s no longer a prominant election highlight. In last 30 years, as far as I can recall, no party has ever submitted a bill in our parliament...
May 19, 2006
NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN BANGLADESH I really don't know when a GPS based car navigation system like the 'Tomtom' (left) will be available in Bangladesh. With the price falling below Euro 200 in Europe its use is increasing day by day. You can also buy maps of neighboring countries in memory modules and just type in touch screen where you want to go. The system will lead you via the shortest possible route with live traffic information and automated detouring.A...
UNUSUAL RETREATEver thought of getting an opportunity for combining work experience in Dhaka, Bangladesh with a unique retreat in the heart of Bangladesh’s paddy fields? This organization promises just that. Film and art enthusiasts all over the world, students and professionals alike are encouraged to take the opportuni...
SHAHIDUL UP CLOSEShahidul Alam is a pioneer in photography in Bangladesh and is revered all around the world for his work. His institution Drik is doing a lot of hard work related to photography. They provide many services and boast lot of initiatives like the photography training institute Pathshala, which also let foreign students like Gwyneth experience Bangladesh in a different way.That is why when Time magazine publishes a story on Bangladesh they use his photos.And Shahidul is a blogger and he writes well. Check behind the scene events of...
May 17, 2006
TODAY'S LINKS* Match schedule (fixture) for the FIFA World cup 2006 in Germany.* Blood bonds bind Bangladesh with India.* Sex education in Asia.* 20 types of Blog posts.* Dr. Muhammad Yunus - microcredit as a way out of poverty.* As women get stronger, fundamentalism wanes.* An interesting worldwide magazine roundup.* The U.S. did what to Libya?* The problem of Mec...
CENSORING THE DA VINCI CODEThe movie is scheduled to be released in Germany tomorrow. I am eagerly waiting to watch 'The Da Vinci Code' just to see how thrilling the movie is comparing to the book. My experience tells that sometimes books are more exciting than the movie or vice-versa. For an example, the Harry Potter movies create far less excitement than what reading from the original books generate.I am reading interesting news from various blogs about the movie. One Sri Lankan blog says that the movie will be censored in some Asian Countries....
May 16, 2006
BLAME IT ON THE BULLYIts true that Biman do not have good reputation due to mismanagement lately. So after hearing the news that a Bangladesh Biman flight was banned entry into US over safety issues, it was expected that people would bully Biman. But until now its safety record is not that bad. People paid no heed to Biman's claim that the aircraft was okayed for landing in New York and the US authorities had no right to refuse it to land.Now the US State Department has apologized to Bangladesh's national carrier, Biman saying that it was FAA's...
BANGLADESH BLOG BUZZ:Crossposted in the Global Voices Online)The latest happenings in Bangladeshi blogs around the world:* Politics: Addabaz criticizes the stand-off between the government and the opposition regarding electoral reform. He notes that people of Bangladesh are suffering and getting tired of this unfortunate political crisis.Salam Dhaka lists top ten things are usually done by an MP in Bangladesh.Dr. Rumi of Dristipat is critic about dynasty leadership in Bangladesh. His article has generated an interesting discussion on the subject...
May 15, 2006
BANGLA WIKIPEDIAI got an email from Ragib Hasan, a PhD Student of Dept of Computer Science in the University of Illinois, USA about Bangla Wikipedia. Ragib is a regular contributor of the Bangladesh portion of Wikipedia since 2005. I knew that the Bangla Wikipedia initiative was taken earlier in 2005. But only recently the media campaign has been started in Bangladesh to make the open source Bangla Wikipedia a good quality, free encyclopedia (bishwakosh) available for everyone. Ragib says:The Bn-wiki uses Unicode, so it is easy to incorporate Bangla...
OF WHAT RELIGION ARE YOU?Are you a Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jews, Christian or a Sufi? We all have our excuses. But do we ever try to think beyond the limitations of our interpreted religions?I am an ardent fan of Sadiq's writings. Unlikely for a postgraduate student of engineering, he is a seeker of truth and hovers constantly over mysticism and spirituality. Who else could answer the question in the title this way?"I personally believe that all the Prophets and Teachers, namely Abraham, David, Moses, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad (peace and...
May 12, 2006
TODAY'S LINKS* Bangladesh: Colour and chaos unspoilt by the West.* Should students be allowed to carry cell phones?* May - The month of great Bengali poets.* There is no blogosphere.* IRC and users with female names.* The disappearance of black America?* Living in two India(s).* Submerged Bangladesh palace resurfaces after 50 years.* Art of rigging in Banglade...
May 11, 2006
SECURE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTEThe Change Bangladesh blog urges Bangladeshis to check with the Election Comission if they are correctly enlisted in the voter list."Bangladesh Election 2007 : Voter Registration Issues tell us what you think is wrong with the Election ComissionThis survey aims to raise questions about the 8 days left to fix thehuge mismanaged eligible voter list database. The numbers to call are8129325 and 9129033 , find your names and make sure someone else isnot going to get a free ride on your ballot. Call your commisioner now"Its time...
LETTER DIPLOMACYBetween Bush and Ahmadinejad—two of the world's most stubborn, self-righteous leaders:* To George with love from Mahmoud.* Dear Mahmoud: How Bush should respond to the Iranian president's letter.But from Bangladesh's experience we know that sometimes letter diplomacy is played to avoid direct talks and reconciliations. As the Daily Star editorial comments about the impasse over talks between the ruling parties and the opposition:Both sides seem keen on avoiding responsibility for talks being a non-starter. If the diplomacy does...
GERMAN CITIZENSHIPAfter much controversy, Germany decided against a uniform citizenship examination (Der Spiegel):In order to get a German passport, all immigrants have to pass a language exam, attend an "integration course," designed to provide newcomers with insight into the German constitution and values, and attend a citizenship ceremony at the end. As to whether immigrants have learned what it means to be German -- that will be up to the individual states to determine. Now what does it mean to be German?* Explain the term "Israel's right to...
TODAY'S LINKS* The Committee to Protect Bloggers says goodbye.* Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Caliph: CSM profiles Hizb ut-Tahrir.* The battle for Mong throne.* Australia interested to recruit accountants from Bangladesh.* World Cup interview series - voices from all the 32 Football Worldcup countries.* Plagiarism happens unconsciously?* Who is the author of Al-Quran? (Part-1)* An introduction to anarchi...
May 10, 2006
BRING THE ARMYIn Bangladesh, the army is called when any situation is out of control. They are the last shot in the government's armory and are usually effective to bury down a mess. Now look what they are doing. They are dispensing water to the protesters who are deprived of water for basic needs. Shouldn't that be the WASA authorities doing this?The main cause of the crisis is the power crisis. It was long expected but the authorities failed to...
FREE ALAAI am really shocked! Alaa Ahmed Seif al-Islam, an Egyptian pro democracy activist was apprehended by the Egyptian authorities in a crackdown on protests. Alaa and Manal, his wife are popular for their strong voices in the award winning blog Manal and Alaa's Bit Bucket.'On The Face' blog has a good roundup of the latest news on Alaa. People have set up a blog called "Free Alaa" to spread the news and protests.Bloggers around the world are...
May 08, 2006
ON RACISMGot an email which claims that the following stories are true:Scene 1: The Oprah Winfrey Show where her guest was Tommy Hilfiger:On the show, she asked him if the statements about race he was accused of saying were true. Statements like "If I'd known African-Americans, Hispanics, Jewish and Asians would buy my clothes, I WOULD NOT have made them so nice. I wish these people would *NOT* buy my clothes, as they are made for upper class white people." His answer to Oprah was a simple “YES".Where after she immediately asked him to leave her...
May 05, 2006
UNVEILING SAUDI ARABIAThis is good news. Saudi Arabia will start issuing non-religious tourist visas to foreigners to develop tourism in the country (via Haitham). It is too early to predict that it will be as open as its Gulf Arab neighbors which boast Western-style nightclubs serving alcohol anytime soon. I hope they will consider giving permission to holy cities of Mecca and Medina to the non-Muslims as well. Saudi wahabi ideologies need some fresh air."No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive." - Mahatma Gan...
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