A different kind of Halloween In Bangladesh - Brutal killings of free-thinkers

Published on Monday, 30 November 2015

Halloween or Hallowe'en, a contraction of all Hallows' Evening, is a celebration brought to the USA by the Irish and Scottish immigrants in 19th century. In the late 20th century this celebration of Halloween was also observed in other western countries. Now, in the present time Halloween is celebrated in almost all the western countries namely, USA, Canada, Ireland, UK, and many other countries. Other than the countries mentioned earlier it is observed being celebrated in countries like Japan in Asia, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. According to the popular belief among the people of Irish, British Welsh community, the pagan god of death Samhain (SAH-win) calls upon all the souls/ spirits of the dead people. According to the belief, in that night all the man made laws are no longer active and the dead spirits are allowed to join the world of alive world. They also believed that, all the dead spirits lived in a land in the form of immortal youngs, and were called "Tir nan Oge". Some believed that the dead ones lived with angels.

It was told in a folklore that, all the dead ones come to the alive world in order to take on a new body form for the upcoming new year, in the night of 31st October. In order to be protected from the influence of evil spirits necessary precautions are taken. Such a ritual was to make new sacred fire in the next dawn, which symbolizes also the upcoming new year.

In Britain and Ireland the clerics would reunite in a dark mountain in the Oak Forest in order to make sacred fire and to sacrifice seeds and animals. They would dance and sing around the fire till dawn, in a belief that would show the path to the destiny in the upcoming year. In the dawn, the clerics would wear the coal which was burned from each families.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="204"] From Arts by Rats[/caption]

Halloween was also celebrated in Bangladesh in 21st century. The first wave plunged on to Humayun Azad. Then it started with the murder of Rajib Haider on 15 February 2013. Then it maintained its pace by killing Avijit Roy. Bangladeshi Halloween is completely different from that of other countries.

The history of religious killing is very old. The evil practice of religious killing is brought to this century by the fanatic religious people. In recent times the celebration of Halloween is also  observed in the Islamic countries as well as in India. But it is now a big event for the Islamic Mullahs. Halloween is celebrated in many countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other Islamic countries. Islamic fanatics believe that the free thinking writers call upon the people to the freedom and thus their religious cheating business are under threat. Although the Halloween is celebrated in a particular day in western countries, it is celebrated whenever the time seems right in fanatic religious countries. It is celebrated by killing of two writers in a same day, or the celebration can be postponed for months for the lacking of "chances".

Fanatic religious people believe that the blessings of god rains down upon then whenever they celebrate Halloween in their own terms. As many as 72 of whores and gelmans are be reserved for their life after death. Westerns believe that the in the day of Halloween dead souls come to the living world to take a new body, and the fanatics believe that the whores begin waiting for them since that day. Religious Fanatics believe that their place in heaven is confirmed as soon as they book a place for the writers in hell.

In western countries people get dressed as horror figures, but in Bangladesh a guy having beard wearing long white gown is an iconic horror figure.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1366"] LGBT magazine editor and his friend stabbed dead at Dhaka -25 April, 2016. by Ansarullah[/caption]

Editor of LGBT magazine 'Roopban', Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Mahbub Tonmoy were hacked to dead at Dhaka. Allahu Akbar" word was used when killers run away. Ansar-Al-Islam claimed this responsibility.

English department teacher of Rajshahi University Prof AFM Rezaul Karim Siddiquee was attacked from the rear while he was waiting for the university bus this morning. He died on the spot. Islamic terrorist group ISIS accepted this responsibility. Date-23 April 2016

 

Nazim Uddin Samad. He was an atheist. He was killed only for his Facebook post and his personal view. Died-6 April 2016 Unidentified assailants have hacked and shot a Jagannath University student dead at Old Dhaka's Sutrapur. "Allahu Akbar" word was used when they attacked to kill him. Ansar-Al-Islam claimed this responsibility.

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="467"] Police arrested Shamsuzzoha Manik, 73, owner of Ba-Dwip Prakashani, a Dhaka-based publishing house and two associates on Feb. 16 for selling copies of Islam Bitorko (Islam Debate) during an annual book fair in Dhaka.-18 Feb, 2016[/caption]

 

For Publishing Avijit Roy's book, owner of the publication "Jagriti Prokashoni" named Faisal Arifin Dipon had been hacked to death by Islamic fundamentalist group Ansar-Al-Islam.on 31 September 2015 at Sahabag, Dhaka.

Office in Dhaka on October 31 in 015 publisher of Avijit Roy and owner of "Suddhasbara" Tulul along with writer and blogger Ranadipam Basu was attacked by Ansar-al-Islam on 31 October 2015

31 October 2015: Ahmed Rashid Tutul was injured by Ansar-al-Islam in his publication at "Suddhasbara"  , Dhaka

31 October 2015: Along with Ahmed Rashid Tutul poet Tareq Rahim also was Injured seriously by Ansar-Al-Islam.

Blogger Nlioy Neel had been killed by Ansar-al-Islam at his home on 7 august 2015-at Dhaka

Writer Ananta Bijoy Dash had been attacked and killed in Sylhet, on 12 may 2015,

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="523"] 30 March 2015, Washikur Babu had been murdered around 9:00 am at way to his office.[/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="514"] In February 2015, a Bangladeshi-American computer engineer and founder of the secularist website Mukto-Mona, Avijit Roy, was hacked to death in a Dhaka street. Islamic terrorist nearly killed Ahmed too: slicing off her thumb and covering her body with wounds.[/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="485"] Avijit Roy donated his body at Dhaka medical college.[/caption]

 

In 2015, Bangla Academy banned '23 Years of Prophet Muhammad' by Ali Dasti, , simply for such a silly demand raised by a fundamentalist group – Hefazat-E-Islam. The fundamentalists' group had also threatened the owner of Rodel Publisher for publishing the book.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="479"] Anjali Devi Chodhuri was a Lectureer of Chittagong Nurshing Instute. 11 January 2015, she was killed for only hijab issue on her institute.[/caption]

 

On 16th November 2014 Dr. A K M Safiul Islam a prominent teacher of University on Rajshahai had been attaked and killed for talking against HIJAB at- Rajshahai, Bangladesh.

Abdul Latif Siddique, a minister and front ranking leader of ruling Awami League became victim just for becoming bold to express his opinion. The attack on Latif Siddique is similar to the nature of government's attacks on the publishers, writers and bloggers. He was arrested and kept in jail without trial as long as for seven months. Latif Siddique was sacked from the cabinet. He lost his parliament membership. He was expelled from the party. He has become insecure. At least 22 cases were filed against him in different parts of the country. He was arrested on November 25, 2014 and was freed on bail on June 29, 2015. He criticized Hajj, one of the main pillars of Islam, and Tablig Jamaat and had to pay the price.

On September 2, 2014, at a views-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York, Latif Siddique said: "During Hajj, too much of manpower is wasted. Over 20 lakh people have gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. They've no work, no production and they only cause deduction. ........ Some 20 lakh Tablig Jamaat people get together annually who don't do any work except halting traffic movement across the country."

Ashraful Alam a student of Capital University Ashulia, Savar. He had been attacked and hacked to death for being anti-Islamic on 30th September 2014

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="275"] Facebook user Rakib Mamun had been attacked for being atheist on 24 june 2014, at- Dhaka[/caption]

 

Rayhan Rahee and Ullash Dash of chittagong had been attacked by Islami chatra shibir on 30th march 2014 on chittagong. Picture of Rayhan Rahee

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="657"] 28 December 2013 , Bangladesh gov't banned 'Bhangamatha (Broken Shine)' for hunting religion sentiment. 'Bhangamatha' was published at Bijoy Prokashoni from Indian. That book was written by Bangladeshi writer Abdush Salam (Salam Azad). Government banned this book only for so called hunting religion sentiment.[/caption]

11 December 21, 2013: Bogra teacher and Gonojagoron Moncho Activists Ziauddin Zakaria Babu stabbed to death by Jamaat men

Blogger Tanmoy Ahmed Moon was a student of BUET had been attacked by fundamentalists on 11 august 2013, at- Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

 

Arif Rayhan Deep a 3rd year student of BUET had been attacked and hacked to death on 9 April 2013, at Dhaka

 

On April 2013, four bloggers (Moshiur Rahman Biplob, Russell Parvez, Subrata Adhikari Shubho and Asif Mohiuddin) were arrested for 'hurting religious sentiments' with their 'derogatory' postings on blogs and social networking sites.

 

Jagat Jyoti Talukdar an activist of Ganajagaran Mancha and Blogger, had been hacked to death on 2 march 2013 at Sylhet

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="461"] Blogger and Engineer Sanaur Rahman had been attacked by fundamentalists on 7 march 2013 at mirpur pallabi, Dhaka[/caption]

 

Ahmed Rajib Haider a blogger from Bangladesh and also An architect by profession, On the night of 15 February 2013, he was attacked and hacked to death at Mirpur, Dhaka

Asif Mohiuddin a known Bangladeshi blogger. He had been attacked on 15th January 2013 around 10pm after his office at uttara, Dhaka

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="494"] Arifur Rahman worked for the ' Alpin' a satirical publication of "prothom-alo". In 2007 he had been arrested for one of his cartoon that allegedly hurts the mass religious sentiments. At prison he had been attacked by islamic fundamentalists. Now he is at Norway.  The drawing was accompanied by this dialogue:[/caption]

My name is Babu.
It is customary to put Mohammed in front of the name.
What is your father's name?
Mohammed Abu.
What is that on your lap?
Mohammed cat."

In 2005, Mohd Rafiqul Islam Rony MP laid a complaint against professor Ali Asghar for causing hurt to religious sentiment by his alleged remark that religious instruction need not be compulsory.

27 February 2004, Bangladeshi author, poet, scholar and linguist Humayun Azad had been attacked at book fair on Dhaka about 8:30pm.

In 1995, the government banned Naree (Woman) by Humayun Azad because the book analyzes religious doctrine. Azad was able to have the ban lifted in 2000.[8] In 2004, attackers with machetes badly injured Professor Azad outside the annual Ekushey Book Fair. After his recovery, Azad moved to Germany where he soon died.

In 2002, the Bangladesh Censor Board banned Tareque Masud and Catherine Masud's film Matir Moina (The Clay Bird) because its setting (a madrassa in 1971) was deemed religiously sensitive. The Appeal Board lifted the ban.

In 2002, the police arrested the members of an amateur theater group in Faridpur, among whom were Hindus, for "causing hurt to religious sentiment" by their play.

 

In 2000, Monir Hossain Sagor was hacked to death for his book "Nari Tumi Manush Chhile Kobey" by JMB.  A Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) commander yesterday ( June 04, 2006) confessed to not only attacking noted writer Hymayun Azad, but also killing a writer of Tangail in 2000 at the directives of JMB chief Abdur Rahman for making "indecent remarks" about Allah and the prophet in their books.-Daily star

In 2000, four senior editors of Jonokontho are sued on blasphemy charges in Shamsuddin Ahmed and others v. The State.

 

 

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="466"] Shamsur Rahman, a prominent Bangladeshi poet was attacked by Islamic group Huji on 18th January 1999[/caption]

 

Fundamentalist groups called a conference and gave a statement to ban Taslima Nasrin's books and demanded for her punishment.

In 1993, Taslima Nasreen released Lajja (Shame), a novel. It is about the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh, and its last sentence has the Hindu protagonist and his family leaving Bangladesh for India. The government immediately banned the novel. Militant Islamist groups announced a bounty on Nasreen's head. She fled to Europe. In 1999, Nasreen released volume 1 of her autobiography, Amar Meyebela (My Girlhood) in India. Bangladesh's government banned the book from being imported, sold, or distributed. In 2002, the police in Bangladesh were under orders to confiscate all copies of volume 2 of Nasreen's autobiography Utal Hawa (Wild Wind) after the Home Ministry declared its publication, sale, and distribution illegal.[8] In October 2002, a court sentenced Nasreen in absentia to a year in jail for her "derogatory remarks about Islam." In 2008, her books were openly sold by street hawkers in Bangladesh, but Nasreen dared not go there.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="324"] Fundamentalist groups demanded capital Punishment of writer & Intellectual Professor Ahmad Sharif.[/caption]

In 1992, Dr. Ahmed Sharif faced charges under sections 295A and 298 of the penal code because Inquilab, a daily, published remarks allegedly by Sharif that were critical of Islam. Sharif allegedly made the remarks during a private seminar. Islamist boomed at his house for his writings.

In 1974, Enamul Haq published a leaflet which made reference to Prophet Mohammed's wives. Protests ensued. Haq spent some time in protective custody.

In 1973, Daud Haider published a poem in which he allegedly insults Prophet Mohammed, Jesus Christ, and Gautama Buddha. The police took Haider into protective custody. He fled to India in 1974 or 1975. Later, he moved to Germany. In 2007, the government banned the Eid issue of the weekly Shaptahik 2000 because of a blasphemous reference in an autobiographical article by Daud Haider.[

Believer: who were killed, attacked by Radical Islamic groups. 

In Bangladesh Islamic terrorist no only they attack Atheist, they also attack and kill believer person of different thought.

May 8, 2017: Ahmadiyya Imam Mostafizur Rahman was hacked with sharp weapons indiscriminately inside the mosque around 9pm after Esha prayers on Monday

April 30, 2016: Tailor Nikhil Chandra Joarder who was sued in 2012 allegedly for defaming Islam hacked to death at Gopalpur of Tangail by ISIS

December 5,  2015: Bomb attack on Dinajpur's Kantajeu Temple during Rash festival. A bomb attack early on Saturday during a festival at the Kantajeu Temple in Dinajpur has left nine people injured. The temple, located in the northern district's Kaharol Upazila, is also a tourist attraction for its brick and terracotta style architecture. Police said three handmade bombs were hurled on the crowd of devotees gathered for the yearly fair held around the temple premises during the Rash festival

November 26, 2015: At least a devotee was killed and three others were injured as gunmen opened fire entering a Shia mosque in Shibganj upazila of Bogra this evening.

October 24, 2015:  At least one person has been killed and nearly 80 wounded on Saturday in a bomb attack outside the main Shia site in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka as thousands gathered for the annual Ashura procession, police said.

September 5, 2015: At Ser-shah Bangla bazaar, Chittagong; the extremist group killed 2 people inside a Shrine.

October 6, 2015:  A religious leader named Khizir Khan had been killed by extremists on Dhaka

September 27, 2014: Famous TV anchor Mawlana Nurul Islam Farooki had been killed at his own residence on 27 September 2014. His Followers said – Jamat has responsible for the murder.

December 21, 2013: they killed six people in a house at Gapibagh in Dhaka city. Six people were killed by Islamic terrorist group. Lutfur Rahman (60), his son Monir Hosen (30), His follower Saidur Rahman (30), Mujibur Rahman (32), Russel (30), Rahman's house boy Monjurul Alam were killed.

Islamist Terrorism Fatalities in Bangladesh (2005 – 2015)

This soil of us- contains the blood of hundreds of our brothers. Similar incidence happens 44 years ago at 1971 by Pakistan in thins very same soil. Now this job is performed by Radical Islamists. Intellectual Killing by Religious Fundamentalists has a thousand year history. Ahmad Rony made a wonderful video on this killing. You can watch the video, the link is given below.

[embed]https://youtu.be/OCYM40PyQqg[/embed]