Category Archives: Politics

Zia Hassan: A pox on all partisans

. Politics

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A pox on all partisans
by Zia Hassan, translated by Unnashic for AlalODulal.org

1) First, who are absorbed in love for Hefazat all day long - brother, there is a nine minute long video and there is another one recoded from a roof in which the shapla-chatter operation recoded-live can be seen. It is clear from these videos that thousands of dead bodies were not found at all. Most of the people left as soon as the firing started. Only a few people in the Sonali Bank and a dead body at the door were to be seen. In spite of seeing this why are you spreading the rumor that 25000, 30000 were dead? If you believe that is to be true, please bring their families, show their voter ID cards. Continue reading →

Where Do We Go From Here (Part 2)

. Politics .

Where Do We Go From Here (Part 2)
Shafiq

OCP0106195

This is part 2 of a series that looks into deeper underlying causes behind recurring political crisis in Bangladesh. Part 1 is here:,
Where Do We Go From Here? (Part 1- The Belgian Incident)

http://alalodulal.org/2013/04/17/where-1/

Let us consider a hypothetical scenario. Bangladesh 5-10 years down the road. Another national election is looming. But the political scene has changed a lot in the last few years. Continue reading →

Seema Amin: The art of dehumanization

. Government, institutions, Media, Politics
May 5, 2013 © Mahmud Hossain Opu / Dhaka Tribune

May 5, 2013 © Mahmud Hossain Opu / Dhaka Tribune

The art of dehumanization
by Seema Amin

‘A door marked enemy and no one home.’ Tom Engelhardt.
‘If you repeat a lie enough times, it becomes the truth.’ Electra, my love (1974 Hungarian film).

It will not be too overcast to say the 21st century (Anno Domini, whose 12 years and some hundred days have passed) has thus far been the century of the “enemy-industrial complex”. Continue reading →

Zia Hassan: An Institutional Failure

. Police, Politics
© Daily Star

© Daily Star

[Editor: Originally posted on March 3rd, 2013. Reposting, in light of recent events.]
An institution must remain completely neutral. The institutions of a state are bound to treat every human being equally – whether that person is from Jamaat, Shibir, or Chhatra League, whether they are poor or rich, atheist, Hindu or Muslim, it doesn’t matter. To quell those who went out to demonstrate against the verdict on Sayedee or went on an angry rampage by shooting them is not equal treatment.
Continue reading →

Running barefoot through the city of Barbie liberty and sexy grenades

. institutions, Left, Minority, Politics, Religion, Rights
© Mahmud Hossain Opu / Dhaka Tribune

© Mahmud Hossain Opu / Dhaka Tribune

Running barefoot through the city of Barbie liberty and sexy grenades
by Faruk Wasif, translated from Bengali by Nayma Qayum for AlalODulal.org

In the morning I saw four teenagers on the pavement across the street from Mohammadpur Central College. They wore the usual jobba-tupi, but no footwear. Those, they had lost in Motijheel, and could not buy another pair. Continue reading →

Faruk Wasif: After burning our own house for ten years, we will arrange the mortuary.

. Nationalism, Politics
May 5, 2013 © Mahmud Hossain Opu / Dhaka Tribune

May 5, 2013 © Mahmud Hossain Opu / Dhaka Tribune

After burning our own house for ten years, we will arrange the mortuary
by Faruk Wasif, Translated by AlalODulal.org

Durmukhs say, Hefazat and Shahbag are government’s right hand left hand. Right hand always hits left hand. But why does the body get pleasure from breaking both hands? Why is the government laughing? Continue reading →

Samia Huq: Who have we “defeated” and with what?

. Politics, Religion
Source: Facebook

© Rahul Talukder

Of the Hefazat men killed yesterday, one was from the a factory in Dhaka. While not speaking with numbers, I think this highlights an important issue that many have been saying for some time. While we, with our elitist or middle class sensitivities, continue to look upon the Hefazatis as outlawed, faceless “fanatics” on the fringes (read: in the madrasas) in our society, they also live and work amongst us– our factory workers, our drivers and nightguards. Continue reading →