Lakho Konthe Exposed: Episode 5, Bangabandhu, Bangabandhu Everywhere

The Lakho Konthe program may be history for now, but it highlights something important. The issue at hand is the politics of reinforcement of a historical perspective. Solely trying to associate Sheikh Mujib with the occasion of March 26 1971, the Independence Day of Bangladesh (as in the case of the Lakho Konthe occasion), and also other national days is in itself not a crime. The crime is the obliteration of the names and signs of the other contributors to the history of Bangladesh, namely people like Maulana Bhashani, MAG Osmani and President Ziaur Rahman among countless others.

Lakho Konthe stage prominently featuring Sheikh Mujib

If Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman deserves this amount of representation due to a fiery speech on the 7th of March 1971, then the others deserve loads more for what they did for the country around the same time. And I’m NOT bringing into the equation how Sheikh Mujib verifiably screwed up the nascent country called Bangladesh during his governance post 1971.    

Lakho Konthe singing stage with nothing but a big fat slice of Sheikh Mujib

The Lakho Konthe guest stand and the singing stage was filled with huge pictures of Bangabandhu, while the sea of people hummed to the tunes of the national anthem with a picture of Bangabandhu imprinted on their caps. Even the program ended with the customary slogan of “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu”.

The caps at the Lakho Konthe event. Its all about the Pa of the nation.

Some may shirk it off as a simple political event, but the fact remains that around 300,000 people attended the program, a feat in itself. Spending time and money in sending a message to 300,000 people is no isolated feat, it’s a deliberate attempt at modifying and superimposing a deliberate version of history.

Not an isolated feat:

The nefariously intentioned pictures of Sheikh Mujib are not just occasional appearances in television and road signs, they are plastered everywhere. One such widely seen example is the face of Sheikh Mujib on the currency notes. Although faces of the father of the nation on currency notes is nothing much to be go gaga about given the fact that the Awami League has been in power for half a decade now, the fact that his is the only face that is found on all notes except the 1 taka note is something to be wary of, given the fact that not another single leader is featured in this regard. The simple question remains. Are we not justified in claiming that this is a deliberate attempt at distorting history?

Below are images of the various denominations of the taka notes (the full set, I may add), all featuring Sheikh Mujib.

Absolutely not an isolated feat:

On December 14 2009, the cabinet led by Sheikh Hasina at its weekly meeting on December 14, agreed in principle to change the name of the country's main airport from Zia International Airport and rename it after the great saint Hazrat Shahjalal (RA). A decision also was made to rename those institutions and installations whose names were changed following the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujior Rahman in 1975.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who presided over the meeting, was requested by the Awami League General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam to change the name of Zia International Airport. The prime minister asked all present to propose the new name and the name of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) was approved. The cost of the renaming operation cost the nation 1400 crore taka.

Past examples show us that the successive governments led by AL have renamed the Institute of Post Graduate Studies in Agriculture at Gazipur as Bangabandhu Agricultural University in 1996, the PG Hospital as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Jamuna bridge to Bangabandhu Bridge, Bhashani Novo theatre to Bangabandhu Novo theatre and have most recently renamed the Bangladesh-China Friendship Convention Centre as the Bangabandhu Convention Centre.

It is mentionable that the BNP initiated a few changes as well, such as changing the Ershad Army stadium to Army stadium, the Chittagong airport (initially named after M.A. Hannan) to Shah Amanat Airport and the Chandrima Uddyan to Zia Uddyan. The name changes by the BNP when it was in power stem from reactionary politics initiated by this aggressive stance by the AL when it was in power.

So be wary folks. Set aside those chetona sunglasses and open your eyes to how your history is being edited.

Lakho Konthe Exposed: Episode 2, Large scale mismanagement and misappropriation

The Lakho Konthe Program, where more than 254,681 people gathered to sing the national anthem in chorus at the National Parade Square grounds in an attempt to create a Guinness world record was widely mismanaged at all ends. Take for example the false claim that every participant was given a cap and a bag containing the national flag, a certificate, and a card containing the national anthem and relevant rules, water bottle, juice, and saline.

Photo: People thronging haphazardly at the Lakho Konthe event

Witnesses at the program confirmed that the situation at a majority of the ground was chaotic, except for perhaps the area in front of the pavilion of Prime Minister and the singing stage. There was an inadequate supply of food and water, not because of unavailability, but because of the fact that there was a massive hoarding of the items by the administration themselves, namely the caps and the bags. Many others didn't get the food packs, as a result of which many had to go without food or water for a straight 4-6 hours while standing in the hot sun. Many attendees complained of the army being involved in the above malpractices. One schoolgirl of class 9, Tahera Akhter, when asked about the matter, informed that when she and her friends lined up for backpacks and caps were waved away by army personnel, saying that there were ‘problems involved’. Each personnel, she says, took 20-30 pieces of bags and caps for themselves. Such instances of mismanagement invariably resulted in many falling ill or fainting as a result of dehydration and weakness emanating from the excessive dust and the heat.

Photo: Street urchin sleeps as people flock to get into the Lakho Konthe program

The BGMEA, the garments manufacturers association of Bangladesh, in a press briefing at its headquarters in the capital on Thursday informed that the number of garments workers who had attended the Lakho Konthe program alone numbered 2 lakhs. Manabzamin, while reporting on the program, quoted BGMEA Vice President S.M Mannan Kochi who claimed that about 2000 garments workers alone had fallen ill at the program due to dust, heat and exhaustion among other reasons, conflicting media reports from bdnews24 such as this which said that only about 30 people had fallen ill at the program.  

Photo: People over the national flag while leaving the program premises

The blatant lack of management in terms of maintaining order failed similarly, as all semblance of orderliness failed miserably down the track of both space and time. Attendees of the program informed of chaos both while entering and exiting the grounds and on the ground itself. At the time the main singing event transpired, many were seen sitting due to exhaustion while others were seen waving flags without any clue. The claim by organizers that there was one army personnel for every 50 participants turned out to be void as clusters of officers meant to be looking after order were seen chitchatting at random clusters instead. Endless replicas of the Bangladesh national flag, meant to be treated with respect, were seen strewn around as people, mired in exhaustion from the heat and exhaustion, were forced to either sit or walk on piles of national flags fallen on the ground, a legacy of the widespread mismanagement already in place. 

Photo: More people over the national flag while leaving program premises 

Shocking as it may seem, this misappropriation too, seems to have gone over the radar of the media in large. Or is it just that the media alive are the government compliant ones?

Lakho Konthe Exposed: Episode 1, A story of forced attendance

More than 254,681 people gathered and sang the national anthem in chorus at the National Parade Square grounds in an attempt to create a Guinness world record and be a part of the history through the event ‘Lakho Kontha Sonar Bangla’.

On May 6 last year, the Sahara India Pariwar had set a Guinness Book record by arranging the singing of the Indian national anthem by 121,653 people.

People began gathering at the ground way before 6am, when the gates were to open. The event began at 8am with a cultural function, staged by the Shilpakala Academy, featuring eminent artistes.

The Prime Minister arrived, sporting the national flag, around 10.30am. At around 11.20am, Bangladesh tried its hand at making history as thousands joined voices together to sing ‘Amar Sonar Bangla Ami Tomai Bhalobashi’ (My Golden Bengal, I Love You).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina behind a bulletproof shield at the Lakho Konthe Program

A headcount was done every time an individual was let in. There was an automatic counting machine at each entrance. A gate along with the counting system was also erected at the entry of the special podium made for the Prime Minister and other VIPs. A big screen, set up in each sector, showed the strength of the gathering at regular intervals.

Every participant was given a cap and a bag containing the national flag, a certificate, and a card containing the national anthem and relevant rules, water bottle, juice, and saline.

The media would have liked you to believe that every one of the above information was true. The truth however on the ground was otherwise.

As a Daily Star editorial wrote, schools were strictly asked to assemble their students by 6.30 am to be picked by buses at 7 am for a function that ultimately started at 11.20 am. Parents have horrendous stories to tell of how they had to subject their children through a grueling experience of early morning wake up, hours of waiting for transport, in places that often changed, anxious waiting with no possibility of contact till the function ended, inadequate water and food, and no exception being made for sick students.  As is usual in our society, the poorer the schools and their kids the stricter and more arduous were the conditions imposed on them, sometimes by overzealous principals who wanted to curry favour with higher ups.

In this regard, many students confirmed that they were threatened with marks deduction if they would not attend. Take for example Mirpur Bangla School where students were informed by the administration led by Dhaka-16 MP Iliyasuddin Mollah that they would be given an overall of 40 marks for just attendance in the program, which would be cut in the event they’d not attend.   

Worse was the case with the large number of garments workers who were forced to attend the event in order to receive a certain amount of their wages for the day. The writer has had acquaintance with garments workers who complained of being forced to walk the distance to the Parade Grounds as a result of the absence of any transport in Dhaka from early in the morning on that day. A garments worker from Mirpur 12 section confirmed that around 320 taka had been deducted from her workday wage for not attending the Lakho Konthe program.

As it turns out, the story of forceful attendance will prove to be just a tip of the iceberg as we go into the next episode of the Lakho Konthe exposed series of posts. 

Shahbag spearheads cheap politics with dead BCL cadre Dip

A third-year student of mechanical engineering and BUET unit Chhatra League convening committee member, Arif Raihan Dip, died at about 4:00am in Square Hospitals in the capital on the 3rd of July 2013. He had been unconscious since he had been stabbed him in his room at the Kabi Nazrul Islam Hall on April 9. He was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition and was later was moved to Square Hospitals.

Arif Raihan Dip Source: Daily Star

The media spin:

This is how the media described Dip’s attack-

1. Newage says, “An unnamed man had stabbed him in his room at the Kabi Nazrul Islam Hall on April 9.”

2. Daily Star says, “An unidentified man dragged Dwip down the hall’s stairs and stabbed him indiscriminately on April 9.”

3. Bdnews, in a more dramatic tone, claims, “Finally the miscreants attacked Dip in his dormitory on Apr 9 and left him severely wounded in his head and back.”

4. In the most dramatic tone, mixing unverifiable witness accounts into the factual description, the Dhaka Tribune claims, “According to witnesses, four youths hacked Dwip in his room, located in the Kobi Nazrul Islam Hall, using sharp weapons at around 11am on April 9.”

All media were unanimous in planning the seed of doubt, when they quoted Chatra League leaders pinning the blame on usual suspects. The Dhaka Tribune deserves credit for being the most (mis)informative when it says, “Although the assailants could not be recognised, Arif’s friends said they suspect members of Islami Chhatra Shibir or Hefazat-e-Islam of being responsible.”

The motive:

New Age reports that Raihan is said to have been attacked as he along with some other students stopped an imam of a hall mosque providing Hefazat-e-Islam activists with food during their long march to Dhaka on April 5. The imam, Abdul Alim, was suspended immediately as the students informed the university’s student welfare director Delwar Hossain of the matter.

Bdnews starts playing around with the motive when it states, “ The assault followed hearsay that he along with some other students had barred an imam of one of the hall mosques from supplying food to Hifazat-e Islam activists during their long march to Dhaka on Apr 6. Later, the Imam, Abdul Alim was suspended.”

Other media did not care to report on the matter.

A past history of violence:

Although ‘progressive’ news media did not hesitate to identify Dip as being some sort of a hero, his documented past is not so rosy. This was the same Dip who was suspended for being involved in attacks on general students just about a year ago. As reported by bdnews, following a dispute on Dec 28 2011, between the senior and junior batches over entering a concert organised for the rag day of the outgoing batch, 2008 batch students Saifullah Sikder Mithun and Sujit Saha of the Material and Metallurgical Department and 2009 batch student Arif Raihan Dip of the Mechanical Engineering Department.  on Dec 31 2011, beat Tousif Ahmed Ishan, a final-year student of the Computer Science and Engineering Department with hockey sticks and iron rods in his room in the Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall, leaving him with severe injuries in his both hands and legs. BUET unit Chhatra League general secretary Tonmoy Ahmed had said though the three accused were his fellow party activists, his party was not involved in the attack. They would be expelled from the party, he had added.  BUET students organised protests on the campus to demand that authorities permanently expel the three students who are accused of beating Ishan.

Not only was Dip reinstated into the university within a short period of time, he was also reinstated into the Chatra League itself and was a Chhatra League convening committee member on the eve of his attack on the imam.

A victim?

The Detective Branch arrested fourth-year civil engineering student Md Mezbah Uddin on April 18 at the campus in this connection. The police said that Mezbah had confessed to attacking Raihan in the hall. Mezbah is reported to have told investigators that Raihan had beaten the BUET mosque imam for providing Hefazat activists with food on April 5. However, NO connections to Hefazat OR Bangladesh Islami Chatra shibir have been even remotely suggested by police or proved by anyone.

The supposed ‘confession’ of Mezbah is also subject to controversy in the current climate of fear stemming from a plethora of well documented police excesses in Bangladesh. Add to this the fact that the Lalbagh police seized a bag containing a machete, a pair of pajamas, a panjabi and a cap from the Kobi Nazrul Hall and you get the idea as to where we are all headed to.

Shahbag plays cheap politics:

Shahbagh protesters bring out a procession in Dhaka on Tuesday protesting at the death of BUET student Arif Raihan Dwip three months after he was hacked by a fellow. — New age photo

Dhaka Tribune and New Age reported that Shahbagh protesters, meanwhile, held protests in the Shahbagh crossing on Tuesday evening demanding an immediate arrest of the attackers, blaming Shibir and Hefazat activists for the attack. They were led by Convener of the Ganajagaran Mancha, Imran H Sarkar and coordinator Maruf Rasul. The protesters from the programme accused Hefazat-e-Islam of making the attack on Dwip that took his life. This of course seriously raises concerns as to whether Shahbag really has turned into a haven for anti-Islamic hatred and partisan politics (the Chatra League is and a driving force at Shahbag and it is the student.body of the ruling Awami League)

So the question remains, is the death of a well known miscreant going to be just another manufactured scenario to further fuel the Islamophobic narrative actively sponsored by the government of Bangladesh?

Chatra League: Embodying terrorism en masse

UNB reported that two people, including an 8 year old boy, were killed and another person was injured during a gunfight between armed cadres of the Jubo League and Bangladesh Chhatra League over dropping a tender for three development projects of Bangladesh Railway East Zone headquarters, CRB Bhaban, under Kotwali Police Station at around 11:45am.

  

8 year old Arman. What was his fault?

Kotwali Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Nezamuddin said the armed clashes erupted following a dispute and running battles between the groups of Chhatra League and Juba League over a tender for a Tk 4.8 million renovation project of Feni Railway Station.

Police said that around 20 rounds of gunshots were fired at the time.

After the horrible incident, police conducted drives in different parts of Chittagong and detained around 40 people, including Chhatra League Central Assistant Secretary Saiful Alam Limon.

The deceased persons were identified as passersby Arman Hossain, 8, son of Siddique Ahmed and Saju Palit, 24. Both were residents of a nearby slum. While playing out in the open, Arman was shot in the head and died on the spot. Saju was sitting on a roadside tea stall near the clash site when a bullet hit him in the head. Doctors declared him dead after he was rushed to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.

What did he do to deserve this end? Was innocence his fault?

How the Chatra League (re)acted,

In a media statement, the President of the Chatra League, HM Badiuzzaman Shohagh and the General Secretary Siddique Nazmul Alam said there was no active committee of Chhatra League in the port city. "None have been ordered to work for the organisation at any level there," the statement said.

However, police have said that apart from Limon, the arrestees include Chhatra League's Chittagong University unit Organising Secretary Alamgir Tipu, Cultural Affairs Secretary Jamir Uddin and Chittagong Commerce College Vice-President Hasmat Ali Russell.

In a sham of a bid to appear tough, in a press release in the afternoon, the front said it was permanently expelling its Central Assistant Secretary Limon for his involvement with anti-organisational activities

Meanwhile, in this month….

In case you do not know, the above incident is no way an isolated one. Let us refresh our memories from a few examples from June 2013 (this month) itself.

On the 22^nd of June, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-11 arrested president of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Burichang chapter with 250 tablets of Yaba (methamphetamine) tablets from Shankushil bazar under Burichang upazila early hours Saturday.

On the 14^th of June, local cadres of the Juba League and Bangladesh Chhatra League, carried out an attack on Kazipur municipality office on Wednesday. They vandalised various furniture of three rooms of the office worth around 5 lakh taka.

On the 11^th of June, president of Savar College unit Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was sued on the charge of rape. Police said that the victim’s mother Doly Begum filed a case against BCL leader Ahmed Rubel and ten others, including his two brothers, with Savar police station in the morning.

A walk down the memory lane….

8 year old Arman Hossain, a victim of today’s clashes, did not deserve to die the way he died. Nor did Bishwajit Das. Neither did 10 year old Rabbi at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. But the fact is that convicted criminals have been granted immunity and have enjoyed widespread impunity, just because of the obnoxious fact that they are affiliated with that sorry excuse of an organization called the Bangladesh Chatra League (BCL). 

A recent report of Centre for Media Research and Training shows that around 60 higher education institutes of the country were declared shut for indefinite period because of the BCL’s factional clashes and those with their political rivals. They also locked in 200 clashes in different educational institutes over the last four years that left around 4,145 people injured. Around 20 teachers of Dhaka University have been assaulted by Chhatra League activists during this time. They assaulted around 20 teachers of Bangladesh Agriculture University on August 20, 2011. On May 10, 2010, BCL activists assaulted a female teacher and 10 female students of JnU. More than 150 journalists were assaulted by BCL in the last four years by activists of BCL, the report said. 

It was found that in most of the incidents, no cases had been filed. Moreover, cases which were filed were done so against unidentified people even though the attackers had been exposed through media and witnesses. 

In conclusion,

Once the pride of a beleaguered nation, Bangladesh Chatra League of late has turned into a terrorist outfit; one even Sheikh Hasina herself has failed to bring under check. Progenitor of a generation that gave Bangladesh great political leaders, the BCL has now turned into a haven for miscreants and anti-social hypocrites who use it as a breeding ground to create mindless replicas of themselves. It is high time that this terrorist outfit be either banned or brought to justice in order to set the records straight. There is no other alternative.