Hypatia comes to our town
In one of the most despicable attempts to restrict free expression to be seen in recent times, Bangla Academy has tried to impose a two-year ban on "Srabon Prokashoni," a secular publishing house.
Zahir Raihan was accused of defaming Sheikh Mujib
Zahir Raihan (19 August 1935 – 30 January 1972) was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary ''Stop Genocide'', made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was an activist of the Language Movement of 1952. The influence of the language movement was so high on him that he made his legendary film "Jibon Theke Neya" based on his experience. In 1971 he joined the Liberation War of Bangladesh and created documentary films on this great event. He mysteriously disappeared on January 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by the Pakistan army. Evidences have been found that he was killed by some armed Bihari collaborators and disguised soldiers of Pakistan Army.
The curious case of Turkey and Pakistan
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Bodies of Bangalee victims of Pakistan's brutality are seen in this undated photo of 1971. Not even an infant could escape this viciousness. Photo: Raghu Rai / Magnum Photos[/caption]
Supreme Court to Decide Whether Islam Should Remain as the State Religion in Bangladesh While Government Plays Safe
A few days ago, the Daily Mail (UK) published a news item entitled "Bangladesh Considering Abandoning Islam as Its Official Religion Following Wake of Extremist Attacks." While it reflects the fact that there will be a hearing in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on the 27th of March to decide whether Islam should remain as Bangladesh's state religion, the heading gives a false hope of solving a major problem. This hearing is not in motion because of the recent rise of Islamic extremism, killing and violence towards the minority. It is not a step taken by the government to fight Islamism, but rather a decision taken by the Supreme Court to look at a petition that was filed 28 years ago.
Editorial - Human Rights Watch's statement is unhelpful towards establishing justice
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement asking for an immediate halt to the execution of the war criminals Salahuddin Quader (SQ) Chowdhury and Ali Hasan Mujahid in Bangladesh. HRW wants to portray this as a political vendetta of the ruling Awami League (AL) against the political parties of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). HRW laments the lack of fair trial and accuses the court of not allowing witnesses who could testify to the innocence of these two men.
Editorial - Amnesty's Baffling Stand on War Crime
It is with utmost concern we observe that David Griffiths, Amnesty International's South Asia Research Director, has issued a statement describing the death penalty given to the 1971 war criminals Mohammed Mojaheed and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury as the ultimate miscarriage of justice.
Mutawas' of Bangladesh
A hitherto unknown Islamist outfit, 'Ittahadul Mujahidin' from Sylhet has sent a letter to B D News office, Dhaka threatening to kill 19 persons including ministers, teachers, cultural activists, ganajagaran mancha organizers and bloggers.
QUADER MOLLAH TEST' OF BANGLADESH
AL is historically the party which brought independence to the country. But before getting rid of war criminals and Pakistani collaborators, it submerged into corruption and nepotism. It was criminal offence on the part of AL to deny Bangladeshi people a good governance and progressive development at that time. The Paki collaborators and ISI took the chance and poisoned the mind a group of mid level Bangladeshi army officers and rest is history of emergence of BNP and Jamaat-Shibir.
We demand proceedings be brought against the Pakistani War Criminals of 1971 immediately
Written by - Rayhan Rashid