Bloggers Arrested In Bangladesh While Protesting Against Energy Deal

Many netizens in Bangladesh are raging with anger as for the first time in the country bloggers and online activists among other protesters were arrested while striking in protest of a recent Production Sharing Contract (PSC) between the Bangladesh government and United States energy giant ConocoPhillips for deep sea gas exploration.



Clashes between police and protesters erupted during the 6 hours general strike called by National Committee on Protection of Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports against the offshore gas deal between the government and ConocoPhillips. Image by Suvra Kanti Das. Copyright Demotix. July 3, 2011

Today's half day long strike called by National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports (NCPOGMR), a left-leaning citizens' group, had disrupted the daily life of the capital Dhaka as most shops, businesses and schools were closed and very few vehicles were on the roads. Police had beaten many protesters mercilessly and arrested them en-mass. Renowned photo journalist and blogger Shahidul Alam updated the situation whole day (accompanied with pictures) in his blog:

Eyewitness report from Nasrin Siraj:

Anu Muhammad, professor of economics of Jahangirnagar University and member secretary of National Committee to protect oil-gas-mineral resources, power and port is arrested from Paltan today (3 July) at 6:53 a.m. While he was walking towards the office of Communist Party of Bangladesh to join the other activists of National Committee for strike campaign, at least 40 anti riot police came forward, grabbed him and took him away in a prisoner’s van. During the arrest he was silent. [..]

Today, from the very morning police started arresting activists of the National Committee. First, at 5:45 a.m leader of Student Union of Jahangirnagar University was arrested from Paltan. All the central offices of left political parties in Topkhana Road and Paltan were surrounded by police from the early morning. Almost all the central leaders of the National Committee are under police custody now.

Breaking News: Nasrin Siraj has since been arrested.

Bangladeshi bloggers had been part of the protest against the energy deal online and offline. A number of bloggers have rallied for the strike yesterday which can be seen in this video. OnnoMonosko Sharat posts pictures about the bloggers protest and writes:

ব্লগের টোকাইরা দলে দলে হাজির হইছিল বিকালে। তাগোরে কেউ পয়সা দেয় নাই। আপ‌্যায়নও করে নাই। নিজে নিজেই আইছে। সমাবেশ করছে, সংহতি জানাইছে। একজন ব্লগারের সাথে থাকে ১০০ ভার্চুয়াল ব্লগার। কারো কারো সাথে থাকে আরো বেশি। কেউ কারও চেয়ে আগাইয়া বা পিছাইয়া নাই..সমান্তরাল।

Bloggers rallying for the strike. Image courtesy Sharat Chowdhury

The bloggers arrived in numbers in the afternoon. Nobody paid them, nor fed them. They came by themselves, rallied, showed support. There are 100 virtual bloggers behind one blogger present. Some have more followers. Nobody is ahead of the other.. all parallel.

Blogger and GV Bangla Lingua translator Kowshik updated about today's strike in his blog at Somewhereinblog.net [bn]:

আপনারা জানেন বাংলা ব্লগের খ্যাতিমান ব্লগার দিনমজুর নামে মূলত তিনজন তরুন প্রকৌশলী লিখে থাকেন যাদের মধ্যে অন্যতম অনুপম সৈকত শান্ত। তেল-গ্যাস নিয়ে তার বিশ্লেষণধর্মী লেখা আমাদের অনেক চরম সত্যের মুখোমুখি করেছে। একটু আগে প্রখ্যাত এই ব্লগার কনোকো ফিলিপসের সাথে অন্যায্য চুক্তির প্রতিবাদ করতে গিয়ে গ্রেফতার হলেন। এখন তিনি শাহবাগ থানায় আছেন।

I hope you know that the popular Bangla blog Dinmazur is authored by three young engineers and one of them is Anupam Saikat Shanto. His analytical writings on oil and gas reserves have provided an eye-opener for many of us. A while ago this blogger was arrested while protesting against the unjust deal with ConocoPhillips. Now he is inside the Shahbag police station.

A protester inside a prison van. Image by Suvra Kanti Das. Copyright Demotix. July 3, 2011

বাংলা ব্লগোস্ফিয়ারের ইতিহাসে প্রথম কোনো ব্লগার গ্রেফতার হলেন। শান্তর গ্রেফতারের তীব্র প্রতিবাদ জানাই। একজন শান্তকে গ্রেফতার করে আন্দোলন স্তিমিত করা যাবে না - বাংলা ব্লগোস্ফিয়ার এখন অনেক সমৃদ্ধ এবং প্রায় সবাই সোচ্চার এই দমন-পীড়ন আর দেশ বিক্রির চুক্তির বিরুদ্ধে।

This is the first time in the history of Bangla blogosphere a blogger has been arrested. We strongly protest the confinement of Shanto. You cannot stop the protests by arresting one Shanto - Bangla blogosphere is very resourceful now - almost everyone are vocal about this repression and the selling out of national interest.

A local TV channel reported that 24 bloggers were arrested in the day, 23 of them had been released so far. There had been rumors that charges of sedition will be brought against the arrested protesters. During the day individual reports of bloggers/activists being arrested occupied different blogging platforms. More bloggers like Ayon at Choturmatrik posted eyewitness reports with photos.

Blogger Jobaen Sondhi writes:

কনোকোফিলিপস চুক্তি বিরোধী আন্দোলনে দেশের অনলাইন কমিউনিটির যুক্ত হওয়া চলমান আন্দোলনে নতুন মাত্রা যোগ করেছে তাতে কোন সন্দেহ নেই। অনেকে অপবাদ দিয়ে বলেন ব্লগাররা মনিটরের সামনে বসে অলস সময় কাটায়। কিন্তু তাদের বক্তব্যকে মিথ্যা প্রমাণ করে ব্লগাররা দেখিয়ে দিল প্রয়োজনে তারা রাজপথেও যুদ্ধ করতে সক্ষম। এই আন্দোলন সমগ্র অনলাইন বিশ্বে ছড়িয়ে পড়বে এবং অনলাইনের সংগ্রামে সকলে অংশ নিবেন এটাও প্রত্যাশা করছি।

The campaign against the deal of ConocoPhillips has provided a new dimension to the ongoing activism of the online communities of the country. Many say that bloggers spend idle time in front of monitors. But proving them wrong bloggers have shown that they can also engage offline. We hope that this protest will spread to the world and we will have more support.

বর্তমান শাসক ও বিরোধী উভয় দলই সাম্রাজ্যবাদ ও তাদের বিদেশী প্রভুদের পা লেহনে সিদ্ধহস্ত এটা প্রমাণ হলো এবার। ব্লগারদের উচিত এইসব 'দেশপ্রেমিক' নেতাদের স্বরূপ উন্মোচনের পাশাপাশি জনগণকে সঠিক পথে অগ্রসর হওয়ার পথ নির্দেশ ও প্রেরণা দেয়া

The ruling party and the opposition both are prone to satisfying their colonial and foreign lords. The bloggers should expose the true faces of these leaders and guide the nation towards the right path.

Vaskar at Amra Bandhu echoes same sentiments:

আজকের হরতাল আওয়ামি-বিএনপি'র ক্ষমতালিপ্সু রাজনীতিবিদদের প্রতি হুশিয়ারী।

Today's strike is a warning to the power monger leaders of Awami League and BNP (editors note: the ruling party and the opposition)

Mahfuz Jewel at Unmochon blogging platform sees hope in these protests:

আধাজ্বর নিয়ে সকাল থেকে আমিও পল্টনে ছিলাম আজকের আধাবেলা হরতালে। [..] হরতাল যখন শেষ হলো দেখলাম পুরো দেশের যন্ত্রণা আমার মাথায় চলে এসেছে। চোখে ঝাপসা দেখছি, কিন্তু এই ঝাপসা চোখেও দেখছি আশার আলো। মানুষ জেগেছে। দেশপ্রেমিক জেগেছে। জাতির বিবেক জেগে উঠছে। জেগে উঠছে সময়ের সাহসী সন্তানেরা!

I was in fever but was on the ground in Paltan during the half day strike. When Hartal (strike) ended I felt that the pain of the whole nation sat on my head. My eyes were blurred, but I saw hope with those blurred eyes. The people have risen. The patriots have risen. The conscience of the nation is awake. The brave youths are marching forward.

You can find a compilation of blog posts on this debate posted by Haseeb.

Update by Vaskar: Dinmozur has been released.

First Published in Global Voices Online

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Survey going on for overpass construction

Its interesting they are using four cameras in an intersection to survey for overpass construction - somewhere in Agargaon, Dhaka.

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What else can you do with your mobile phone:

* Short Message Service (SMS)
* Bluetooth/Wifi/infrared
* Camera
* Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)
* Email
* Games
* Radio (FM/Internet)
* MP3 player
* Video
* Banking
* Print pictures
* Get directions via GPS
* Have your text messages/emails read back to you
* Scan in a business card
* Calender /To Do /Notes
* Alarm clock
* Get general information
* VoIP
* Purchase goods
* Work with office documents/spreadsheet/presentation
* Work as a torchlight

Via Netsquared

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Generation next

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The Indigenous Online Activists Get Noticed

Not long ago I wrote about the Adibashis struggle to make their voices heard to depict how they are repressed by the Bengali settlers. Al Jazeera took notice of their efforts and has posted a roundup in their program website "The stream" which also quoted from my blog.

Here is a video clip of the program including interviews of bloggers.



Don't forget to watch the program.

More international news:

* IRIN

* Amnesty International

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Bangladesh: Netizens Protest Human Rights Abuse in the Hills

Although outnumbered by the Bengali population, the close to one million indigenous and aboriginal population of Bangladesh live mainly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Over the years they have become vulnerable minorities.

During the 1970s and 80s, the government took steps to resettle Bengali homeless people in the three hilly districts of Bangladesh. There were resistances and insurgency by the local indigenous people and these previously tourist places became a protected militarized zone.

For decades Bengali settlers and soldiers have been accused of human rights violations against the tribal minorities while members of the Shanti Bahini and other rebel indigenous groups have committed similar violations, including the massacre of unarmed Bengali settlers. The 1997 Peace Treaty with Shanti Bahini granted a limited level of autonomy and stemmed the violence but the problem was not solved.

 
Settlements in the hills. Image by Flickr user Nurulamin Russel (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Recently ethnic violences sparked again and news media reported that four Bengali settlers were killed and 50 others were injured in Ramgarh on Sunday April 17, 2011. According to a statement by Amnesty International:

The latest round of tensions began on 14 April when a group of Bengali settlers occupied and tried to plant crops on areas within the Jumma’s ancestral lands, in Khagrachari District in south-eastern Bangladesh. After three Bengali settlers were killed on 17 April, allegedly by Jumma people, settlers looted surrounding indigenous villages and injured people, burning at least 60 homes.

Indigenous sources say they informed the local authorities – including the army, which has a heavy presence in the area – of the settlers’ movements, but they failed to act on the information.

The voices of the indigenous people are rarely heard in the mainstream media but through the Internet - blogs and Facebook - they have found a platform from which to be heard. In the Facebook group CHT Voice people have been wondering why only the casualties of Bengali settlers are being reported. Radhamon wrote:

News are being filtered, and media is BIASED. They DONT LIE, but they DONT TELL THE TRUTH.

A new blog called CHT News Update has this question:

Bangladeshi mainstream media has been overflown with biased news about Ramgarh incident. The journalists try to retain objectivity in their news. However, all news articles are being filtered by the security forces before they get published and thus the public is not made aware of the real story. If you look at the the Bangladeshi dailies, you will see news and pictures of injured and dead Bengali settlers. How come they never dare to publish the pictures of these injured Indigenous people?

Blogger and journalist Biplob Rahman writes at the Indigenous Bangla Blog [bn]:

Those who have tried to gather news on their own initiative, have learnt that although the majority of casualties are Bengalis but they were the first attackers. The indigenous people have tried to resist with their scanty resources. Not only that, the cause of the violence, the land dispute, was generated as the Bengali settlers tried to grab the lands of the indigenous Marmas living there.

Unheard Voice blog posts a round up of mainstream media news and also some news, images and video obtained via email.

Another blog CHTBD.Net is reporting that the number of houses of locals burnt are 95, and 4 indigenous persons are confirmed missing. In an interview Polen Chakma describes how he escaped death on April 17.

Anandi Kalyan quotes one of her friend's Facebook messages to describe [bn] how these incidents are accumulating hatred against Bengalis amongst the indigenous people:

There are unrests in the hills for decades. Let alone the statistics quoted in the media, I know from personal connections that my indigenous friends are victims one way or another. When I went to visit places like Bandarban, Rangamati, Teknaf and Cox's Bazar I saw that many businesses and settlements are owned by Bengalis. Those who are aboriginal there are cornered now. The hills have become agitated yet again and we are reading reports on attacks against Bengali settlers. The repressions against the indigenous people are being blacked out.

When I speak with my aboriginal friends hatred are forming inside them because of our land grabbing mentality. My friend, who remained apolitical over the years now also think of armed resistance.

We should not only think about the Chittagong Hill Tracts as an 'awesome' touristic place. To what extent we think about the well beings of the indigenous people living there?

 

An indigenous family in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Image by Flickr user Jonas in China (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

Blogger and Journalist Arif Jebtik writes [bn]:

There comes a time when civil societies have to stand on their feet and boldly say the truth. The situation on the hills is demanding the same from us. The hills are for the people of the hills, you cannot hide the truth trying to impose logics of political science. The politicians have resettled homeless Bengalis in those hills. They had to build settlements for them and had to deploy army for their security. The problem starts here. We at the same time have endangered homeless Bengalis, our security forces and of course the indigenous people.

The only way to solve all problems persisting in the hills is to remove all the Bengali settlers.

First posted in Global Voices online

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BBC is cutting back its foreign language services

Tweet

For millions of people around the world, especially in South Asia BBC broadcasts in their own language meant an alternative voice than the monotony or propaganda of their state broadcasts. In Bangladesh a place has been named BBC Bazaar to mark the trend - rural people typically gather around radios in public places (eg a market) to listen to BBC broadcasts.

BBC cutting back on broadcast services in Hindi, Mandarin, Russian, Turkish, Albanian, Vietnamese and many other languages due to budget constrains. For many of the languages their radio broadcasts will become internet webcasts.

Fareed Zakaria at CNN writes:

But to take two examples: China has only 20 percent Internet penetration and India, just 5 percent.

Maybe there is a billionaire out there who could fill this budgetary gap.

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