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It is a matter of great regret and anguish that, with the up-rise of Shahbag generation, some news papers in Bangladesh are openly utilizing the power of press in creating unrest and anarchy in the country. The distortion of news to create sensation is not uncommon in Bangladesh. Many under-radar news papers and magazines exaggerate and twist facts to attract readers and to increase their circulation. This type of yellow journalism, although considered unprofessional and unethical, was overlooked from the freedom of press notion. But some recent media involvement in the prosecution of war criminals of 1971 war of independence, the attempt to manipulate prosecutorial process, the spreading of historical lies in favor of the charged war criminals, leaking insider information of the ongoing prosecution and finally defamation of the brutally killed blogger Rajib Haider through unsubstantiated, inciteful and dubious posts crossed all boundaries of decency, ethics or even legal limits.

In the midst of the unforeseen uprising among people of Bangladesh in Shahbag, demanding capital punishment to the convicted war criminals, Baroness Warsi visited Bangladesh as part of the England prime minister and his team's tour of south asia. The visiting British Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi has said she does not believe that banning a political party is the best way to win the battle of ideas but the public can decide what kind of future they want for Bangladesh. I am sure this is a diplomatic statement, but how much does she really know about the ideas of Jamaat-e-Islami and their mandate. And before we delve into the violent history of this Islam abusing political party, has she taken into account the public out-pour in Shahbag who gathered there to let the world know "what kind of future they want for Bangladesh", to quote the baroness.

1. Formally established on 26 August 1941, Jamaat -e - Islami's (JI) intellectual inspiration came from the thoughts of Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi, a journalist, theologian and political thinker. The vision of its formations was (i) pan-Islamist in nature (Islamic state without boundary) (ii) to transcend the national boundaries to encompass all peoples and countries (iii) become the moral guardians of Pakistan: a holy community that did not dirty its hands in the mud of political wrangling” [1, 2]. 

2. Maududi vehemently rejected the creation of an independent state for Muslims and suggested that the new country Pakistani should be named as Napak-istan [19]. In Maududi's own words “The establishment and birth of Pakistan is equivalent to the birth of a beast.” “Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s place is not on the throne of leadership. He deserves to face trial as a traitor” [12, 13].
After years of strong opposition towards the creation of Pakistan, denouncing Jinnah as a religious lightweight and decrying democracy as satan’s handiwork, Maududi made an astonishing 180 degree flip and embraced Pakistan, Jinnah and democracy in 1948. This is when he moved from India to Pakistan [11].

I am starting with the name of martyr Zobayer Hossain Rimu, starting by remembering those martyr whose names are forgotten by Bangladesh! Even though Bangladesh has forgotten, Jamat-Shibir is still reminiscent of their success. Starting by remembering those parents who taught their children the true history of Bangladesh’s birth, but did not get justice for the murder trial of their own child.

Freedom of thoughts and speech is a fundamental right and it does not require the thinker or speaker to be believer or atheist. But if this purposefully goes for subversive and anti-state occurrences, of course, that’s not the rights.

The historical Shahbag movement in Bangladesh seems to have gained a momentum that alarms the biggest anti-liberation force in Bangladeshi politics -- Jamaat-e-Islami. The outcome we have seen in the murder of the 'controversial for preaching against religion or religious blindness' (depending on who's looking at it) blogger Thaba Baba aka Rajib Haider.

In the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh, more than 3 million civilians were killed by Pakistani army and soldiers. A meticulously planned intellectual extermination was carried out where physicians, engineers, professors, bankers, movie directors, writers, journalists were targeted and killed. In addition approximately 500,000 women and girls were systematically raped with many of whom later killed.

Translated from লাইনে থাকুন, লাইনে রাখুন by নীড় সন্ধানী http://www.sachalayatan.com/hrrh69/48052

I did not know Rajib, I was not even familiar with his writings. So far as I know, in his lifetime, Rajib was not a well known or a popular blogger. But after his death, a frenzy had been created around him. I don’t know what was the motif behind targeting him. There were bloggers who are much more popular than him who could have been targeted. Rather Rajib was targeted. An advance news on Rajib’s death was there in the Sonar Bangla blog. What’s the reason behind that?

Main Article by Tanveer: একাত্তরে জামায়াতে ইসলামীর ভূমিকা ও আন্তর্জাতিক অপরাধ ট্রাইবুনালে এর উপস্থাপন

Dreadful crimes were perpetrated during the 9-month liberation war in 1971, which resulted in the birth of independent Bangladesh. Since March 1971, the country had been engulfed by torture, rape, mass-killings and other acts against humanity, led by the Pakistan army. A group of local collaborators, mostly the members of the political party Jamaat-e-Islami, facilitated and also actively participated in these war crimes.

Kuloda Roy
MMR Jalal

Published in Sachalayatan