State depriving Harijans of rights - Says NHRC chief

Your Right To Know
Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Staff Correspondent

The downtrodden Harijans are being deprived of basic rights by the state organs, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chief said yesterday.

“We are all guilty…because this community, which has been serving us for decades, is leading their lives without due rights," Prof Mizanur Rahman told reporters after visiting the capital's Ganoktuli and Mironjilla Harijan colonies. "It is absolutely unacceptable and this situation must change,” he said.

The NHRC chairman urged the government to take effective measures to improve the community's accommodation, health and education facilities.

When told of the Harijans' miserable living conditions, Prof Mizanur said, “We will try to do everything for addressing the problems you (harijans) have, even by drawing the attention of the prime minister.”

Bangladesh Harijan Oikkya Parishad Secretary General Nirmal Chandra Das demanded permanent housing, education, and job facilities for the community.

Currently, 13 lakh Harijans live in Dhaka city.

In remembrance of Bana Bhante

Your Right To Know
Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Our Correspondent, Rangamati

A two-day programme, marking the first death anniversary of venerable spiritual leader Sadhana Nanda Mohasthabir, widely known as Bana Bhante, began at Rajban Bihar in Rangamati yesterday.

The programme includes panchashila prayer, blood donation, candle-lighting, asthaparikkara dan, sangha dan, delivering a sermon from the Tripitak and release of balloons on the closing day, said Pratul Bikash Chakma, secretary of Upasak Upasika Parishad (UUP) of Rajban Bihara.

Bana Bhante passed away at Square Hospital in Dhaka on January 30 last year at the age of 92.

His original name was Ratindra Chakma.

He became a monk at the age of 29 at Nandan Kanan Buddha Bihar. Bana Bhante acquired spiritual power through meditation for about 12 in the deep forest at Dhanpata of the hill district.

Bana Bhante came to Rajban Bihara along with his disciples in 1977. He was the chief monk at Rajban Bihara until his death.

What atrocity is this?

about 1 day ago January 23, 2013 10:48 am

DailyIttefaq Editorial

What is happening in Gazipur? In the space of 48 hours three people were brutally beaten to death in the presence of the security forces who didn’t offer even an ounce of sympathy, let alone any protection. The first victim was a mentally impaired middle-aged woman called Morzina. Unbelievably, the agitated mob not only beat the helpless woman mercilessly in broad daylight with countless people watching, but according to some newspaper reports, guaranteed her death by pressing a bamboo stick to her throat. The local police SI excused their inaction by quoting their helplessness in the face of such aggression even after the wounded victim was handed over to them for protection. The woman was wrongfully accused of being a child snatcher.  

This cruel incident occurred last Saturday in Kaliakyur upazila. On Monday two more unknown people, o one of whom was a woman, were violently killed in Shadar upazila. The woman was set on fire after she was beaten to death. A few members of the Ansar were present at the scene of the crime. Later, one of them said that they attempted to disperse the crowd but were unsuccessful. These victims too were falsely suspected of being child snatchers. We fail to understand how such atrocities ensued over what were, in fact, baseless rumors in a small town like Gazipur.

Death by mob beatings is not something new in this country. There are numerous examples of such violent incidents. The victims are later labeled as robbers, muggers, delinquents, etc. The Aminbazar incident can be the ideal example here. On the night of Shab-e-Barat 6 adolescent boys were beaten to death in the presence of a few policemen. Instead of rescuing the boys, the policemen helped the culprits file false charges of robbery against them. We don’t know what exactly happened in Gazipur but the incidents surely merit due investigation. It cannot be denied that the present law and order situation of the country is a cause of serious concern. Most of the time the progress of justice is being hampered by certain powerful sects, thus causing people to become impatient and impulsive. The Gazipur incidents are no different. The only way to prevent such aggression in future is to ensure smooth functioning of the law and to bring the lawbreakers to justice.

ধামইরহাটে বৌদ্ধ বিহারে খননকালে১৪টি মূর্তি উদ্ধার

ঢাকা, বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৪ জানুয়ারি ২০১৩, ১১ মাঘ ১৪১৯, ১১ রবিউল আওয়াল ১৪৩৪

ধামইরহাট (নওগাঁ) সংবাদদাতা

নওগাঁর ধামইরহাট উপজেলার ঐতিহ্যবাহী বৌদ্ধ বিহার জগদ্দলে ১৪টি ব্রঞ্চের মূর্তি পাওয়া গেছে। সরেজমিন পরিদর্শনকালে জানা যায়, প্রতিদিনের ন্যায় গতকাল খনন কাজ শুরু করার কাজে নিয়োজিত শ্রমিকগণ ভিক্ষুকক্ষের কুলঙ্গী থেকে একটি মূর্তির সন্ধান পায় এবং কিছুক্ষণ পর ছোট-বড় ও মাঝারী সাইজের মোট ১৪টি (ব্রঞ্চের) মূর্তি উদ্ধার করা হয়। পাহাড়পুর জাদুঘরের কাস্টরিয়ান মাহবুব আলম জানান, মূর্তিগুলো আপাতত বগুড়া অফিসে এবং প্রয়োজনবোধে ঢাকায় নিয়ে যাওয়া হতে পারে। মূর্তি উদ্ধারের খবর পেয়ে হাজারো উত্সুক জনতা বিহারে ভিড় জমায়। সরকারের কাছে এলাকাবাসীর দাবি এই বিহারের সকল সম্পদ উদ্ধারপূর্বক এই উপজেলায় সংরক্ষণ করা হোক।

Bangladeshi Buddhist families resettle to Arakan state

FRIDAY, 18 JANUARY 2013 13:07 KALADAN NEWS - KALADAN PRESS

Bangladeshi Buddhist families have resettled to Karayni Natala village in Maungdaw south, Arakan state, according to one Maungdaw officer.

“The Bangladeshi Buddhist families entered Burma with the help of District Administration Officer Aung Myint Soe on Jan.10, and stayed at the central monastery until resettling in Maungdaw south (on Jan.13).”

The Rakhine community in Arakan State organized one Buddhist Marmagyi family and 29 Bangladeshi Rakhine families to resettle to Burma after they were facing difficulties earning a living in Bangladesh, according to one Bangladeshi Rakhine who didn’t want his name used.

The man said the families moved because they were promised homes and support from authorities and international aid groups.   

There are more than 100,000 Rakhines living in Bangladesh. Many moved to the area in the 18th century to escape persecution from the Burman kingdom.

Nearly all of the Maungdaw high officials are Rakhine, according to a Muslim Maungdaw school teacher who didn’t want their name used. They want to populate the area that is 90% Rohingya with more Bangladesh Rakhine,

14 Buddhist families from Bangladesh seek refuge in Burma

FRIDAY, 28 DECEMBER 2012 15:09 NARINJARA NEWS - NARINJARA NEWS

Maugdaw: 14 Buddhist families from Bandarban District under Chittagong Hill Tract in Bangladesh have sought shelter in Burma after entering into northern Maungdaw in Arakan State.

An official from the area told Narinjara that they have now been provided with temporary shelters in the central school in downtown Maungdaw after being taken from Nasaka Area No. 01 in northern Maungdaw Township on the Bangladeshi border.

“There are 14 families that consist of 52 people. They are now temporarily being kept in Baho Monastery  in Maungdaw under the care of the local authorities for their convenience”, said the official.

They are said to have requested shelter from the nearest Nasaka station in northern Maungdaw Township after crossing the border between the two countries.

“They are two different groups of families. The first group of 8 families consists of 30 people who entered into Maungdaw on December 20 and the second group of 6 families did so on the following day”, said the official.

He said the local authorities have reported their arrival to the central government and will have to tackle their cases according to the government’s decision.

The first group of families is said to have stated that they are from Kant Kaw Phar area in Bandarban in Bangladesh.

It is still not known why they have fled their homes in Bangladesh.

Narinjara is trying to get a chance to interview some of those family members currently taking shelter in downtown Maungdaw.

Is Bangladesh a democracy?

Your Right To Know
Monday, January 21, 2013

Nilufer Ahmed, Dhanmondi, Dhaka

The definition of democracy is said to be "Government of the people, by the people, for the people". Then there are countries that have tailored democracy to the benefit of their people so that their basic human rights are protected, while at the same time they can elect or vote their leaders out of office. Is Bangladesh a democracy?

In Bangladesh, democracy has somewhat degenerated into a license to deeds evil: killing innocent people in broad daylight, committing outrage to innocent schoolgirls including children, and to do whatever one's distorted mind wishes to do with impunity. That is democracy in Bangladesh. This democracy is not what we gave lives for. This democracy is not what we want for our progeny. Where is the Rule of Law?

How is bail being enlarged t o the murderer and rapist of the 5-year-old girl? This is my message to all the fathers and parents of the victims of rape and murder: Get hold of the murderer or rapist, gather all the people of the village, hang the man from the tallest tree, and leave him there for all to see. Let him hang there until everyone knows what he did. There is no Rule of Law in Bangladesh, and we are, unfortunately, living in a 'mock democracy'.