tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85222228087980463842023-11-16T20:00:52.411+06:00Sharif's BlogShariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-50413940285784747422015-12-06T19:39:00.000+06:002015-12-06T19:41:15.981+06:00ঢাকার যানজট / যানজটের ঢাকাঃ অতীত, বাস্তবতা ও একটি কল্পিত ভাবনা<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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সমস্যার ভারে জর্জরিত ঢাকা শহরের একটি সহনীয় এবং বহনীয় ভবিষ্যৎ চিন্তা করা কি সম্ভব? এ রকম একটি ভবিষ্যৎ চিন্তা করতে হলে সবচেয়ে আগে যেটা নিয়ে ভাবতে হবে তা হলো ঢাকার যানজট। নগরজীবন নিয়ে যে কোন আলোচনার কেন্দ্রবিন্দুতে ঢাকাবাসীর হাহাকার যানজট নিয়ে। ঢাকার যানজট শুধু রাস্তার সমস্যা নয়, বরং এটি অনেকগুলো পরস্পর সম্পর্কযুক্ত সমস্যার সামগ্রিক ফল। ২০০৮ সালে মার্কিন সাময়িকী ফোর্বস ম্যাগাজিনের এক জরিপে ঢাকাকে পৃথিবীর সবচেয়ে নোংরা শহরের মধ্যে দ্বিতীয় বলে উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে। ওই জরিপে ঢাকার অবস্থান ব্যাখ্যা করতে গিয়ে মন্তব্য করা হয়েছে, প্রতিদিন রাস্তার যানবাহন থেকে যে বিষবাষ্প বেরুচ্ছে, তা ঢাকাকে বাসযোগ্যতার মাপকাঠিতে অনেক নিচে নামিয়ে এনেছে। আসলে যানজট শুধু বিভিন্ন সমস্যার কেন্দ্রবিন্দুই নয়, এটি একইসঙ্গে সামাজিক ও অর্থনেতিক নানা সমস্যাও তৈরি করছে। নগরবাসী মাত্রেই জানেন, তীব্র যানজটের ফলে ঢাকার বাসযোগ্যতা এবং পরিবেশবান্ধব বিনিয়োগের সম্ভাবনা ভীষণভাবে ক্ষতিগ্রস্থ হচ্ছে। প্রশাসনিক কর্মকর্তারা তো বটেই, এমনকি অর্থনীতিবিদরাও প্রায়ই ভুলে যান যে, দেশী-বিদেশী বিনিয়োগকারীরা তাদের বিনিয়োগ সিদ্ধান্তে আসার আগে একটি শহরের বাসযোগ্যতাকে প্রথমেই মূল্যায়ন করেন।<br />
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প্রশ্ন হল, ঢাকার যানজট সমস্যার সমাধানে বাধা কোথায়? এই সময়ের তীব্র যানজট পরিস্থিতিকে শুধুমাত্র নগরায়ন অথবা সড়ক প্রকৌশলের সমস্যা ধরে নিলে যানজটের রাজনৈতিক, প্রশাসনিক এবং সামাজিক উৎসগুলোকে সম্পূর্ণ ভূল বোঝা হবে। যানজট সমস্যার সমাধানের জন্য সমাজের বিভিন্ন দিককে দেখতে হবে ৩৬০ ডিগ্রিতে। মধ্যবিত্তের নগর পরিবেশ নিয়ে প্রচলিত ভাবনাগুলো কী, সেটা প্রথমে বুঝতে হবে। মধ্যবিত্তের গতানুগতিক ধারণায় ঘর বা অফিসের বাইরে যাওয়া মানেই বিভিন্ন ধরনের বাস্তব ও কল্পিত যন্ত্রণার সঙ্গে যুদ্ধ: ছিনতাইকারীর হুমকি, ট্রাকের নিচে পড়ার আতঙ্ক, দূষিতবাতাসের ভয় অথবা চাঁদাবাজির শিকার হবার সম্ভাবনা। মধ্যবিত্তের কাছে বাইরের জগৎটা প্রায় পুরোপুরি নেতিবাচক। এতোটাই নেতিবাচক যে, সেটা যতো এড়ানো যায়, ততোই যেন ভাল!<br />
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এ ধরনের নগরবিরোধী ধারণার প্রতিক্রিয়া হয় দু ধরনের । প্রথমত, প্রয়োজন ছাড়া ঘর এবং কর্মস্থলের বাইরে যেতে মধ্যবিত্তের মধ্যে অনীহা দেখা যায়। এই অনীহাই আবার ঢাকা শহরে সুস্থ ও সুন্দর নগরজীবন গড়ে না ওঠার পেছনে অনেকটাই দায়ী। অথচ যে কোন নগরবিশেষজ্ঞের দৃষ্টিতে নাগরিক চত্বর এবং রাস্তা হলো একটি বাসযোগ্য ও স্বাস্থ্যকর শহরের মৌলিক উপাদান।<br />
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দ্বিতীয়ত, ঘরের বাইরে যেতে অনীহার ফলে শহরবাসী এক ধরনের নগরবিরোধী মনস্তত্বেও শিকার হয় নিজের অজান্তেই। রাস্তায় যত্রতত্র থুথু ফেলা, খোলা নালায় ঘরের আবর্জনা ছুঁড়ে ফেলা, নিজের বাসার বাইরে পরিবেশের কী হচ্ছে তা নিয়ে বিন্দুমাত্র না ভাবা, নগর পরিবেশের প্রতি সহমর্মিতার অভাব, ভূমি দখলের নিরন্তর চেষ্টা– এ ধরনের যাবতীয় অপব্যবহার মূলত নগরবিরোধী মনস্তত্বেরই প্রতিফলন। এর সবচেয়ে ক্ষতিকর দিক হল- এই ধরনের অপচেতনা দেশের রাজনৈতিক এবং নীতিমালা প্রণয়ন মানসিকতায়ও জাল বিস্তার করে। রাজনৈতিক সরকার যখন একপাক্ষিকভাবে গবেষণা ছাড়াই শুধুমাত্র ফ্লাইওভার নিয়ে চিন্তা করে অথবা ‘মাস্টারপ্লান’ কেন্দ্রিক পরিকল্পনায় সীমাবদ্ধ থাকে; তখন তা হয় নগর সমস্যার সামাজিক ব্যপ্তি না বোঝারই ফসল। এখানে প্রশ্ন উঠতে পারে, এসব কিছুর সঙ্গে যানজটের সম্পর্ক কী? যদি ঘরের বাইরে যাওয়াটা হয় এক ধরনের সামাজিক যন্ত্রণা, তাহলে মধ্যবিত্তের স্বাভাবিক প্রতিক্রিয়া হবে বাইরের জনপরিবেশে এক ধরনের ব্যক্তিগত স্থান বা ‘বাবল’ তৈরি করা। ওই ‘ব্যক্তিগত স্থান’ হলো গাড়ি, ঘর বা অফিসের বাইরে মধ্যবিত্তের আশ্রয়। মধ্যবিত্তের চেতনায় গাড়ির দুটো ফসল: একদিকে গাড়ি এক ধরনের আরামদায়ক নিরাপত্তার ধারণা দেয় এবং অন্যদিকে গাড়ি হলো সামাজিক সম্মানের সবচেয়ে ফলোৎপাদক প্রতীক। ঢাকা শহরে এখন প্রতিদিন আনুমানিক ১৮০টি নতুন নিবন্ধিত গাড়ি রাস্তায় নামছে। এর অর্থ হচ্ছে বছরে ৪০ হাজারেরও বেশি নতুন গাড়ি যোগ হচ্ছে ঢাকার রাস্তায়। অথচ রাস্তার দৈর্ঘ্য বাড়ছে না।<br />
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যখন শহরে একটি চলমান জনপরিবহন ব্যবস্থার অভাব থাকে, তখন যার সামর্থ্য আছে তিনি গাড়ি কিনবেন অথবা কেনার স্বপ্ন দেখবেন। এই ধরনের মানসিকতার ফলাফল কেমন হতে পারে? ধানমণ্ডির একটি অভিজাত স্কুলের কথা ভাবুন। যদি ওই স্কুলে ৩০০ ছাত্রছাত্রী থাকে, তাহলে খুব সম্ভবত দেড়শ ছাত্রছাত্রী স্কুলে আসবে গাড়িতে তাদের ব্যক্তিগত ‘বাহন’ দিয়ে। এর ফলে স্কুল শুরু এবং শেষের সময়ে ধানমণ্ডিতে তীব্র যানজট হওয়াই স্বাভাবিক। তাহলে চিন্তা করুন ধানমণ্ডির স্কুলগুলো কীভাবে শহরের গতি কমিয়ে দিচ্ছে। উল্টো পিঠে এবার ভাবুন, যদি এমন একটি ব্যবস্থা করা হয় যে স্কুলের নিজস্ব পরিবহন এবং নিরাপত্তাকর্মীরা ধানমণ্ডির নির্দিষ্ট কিছু স্থান থেকে সমবেত ছাত্রছাত্রীদের স্কুলে নিয়ে আসবে এবং স্কুল ছুটির পর বাসায় পৌঁছে দেবে, তাহলে অনেকগুলো গাড়ি রাস্তা থেকে উঠে যাচ্ছে। ভারতের মুম্বাই আমাদের প্রতিবেশী শহর, যার জনসংখ্যা আর সামাজিক পরিস্থিতি ঢাকার মতোই। সেই মুম্বাইয়ের স্কুল পরিবহন ব্যবস্থা যদি তাদের নগর পরিকল্পনার অংশ হয়ে থাকে, তাহলে আমরা কেন একই ব্যবস্থা ঢাকায় করতে পারছি না?<br />
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ঢাকার যানজট সমস্যার সমাধান করতে হলে মধ্যবিত্তের নিরাপত্তা এবং সামাজিক সম্মানবিষয়ক মনস্তত্বের বিকল্প তৈরি করতে হবে। এটা সম্ভব একটি বিকল্প গ্রহণযোগ্য জনপরিবহন ব্যবস্থার মাধ্যমে। কলাম্বিয়ার রাজধানী বোগোটার কথা ধরুন। দক্ষিণ আমেরিকার এই অপরাধপ্রবণ শ্রেণীবিভক্ত শহর নব্বই দশকের শেষ দিকে তার নগর পরিবেশের আমূল পরিবর্তন করেছে ট্রান্সমিলেনিও নামে একটি শহরব্যাপী ও টেকসই জনপরিবহন ব্যবস্থার মাধ্যমে। সেখানে লালরঙের বাসগুলো শুধু শহরের চলাচল ব্যবস্থাকেই দক্ষ করে নি, বিভিন্ন অর্থনৈতিক শ্রেণীকে একসাথে এনে শহরের সামাজিক ভারসাম্যকে করেছে শক্ত। একইসঙ্গে কমিয়েছে অপরাধ প্রবণতাও।<br />
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যেহেতু মধ্যবিত্তের চেতনায় ঢাকার নগর পরিবেশ অনিরাপদ, সমকালীন ঢাকায় হাঁটার সংস্কৃতি নেই বললেই চলে। সকালে স্বাস্থ্য রক্ষার হাঁটা এবং দোকানে যাবার হাঁটা একটা শহরকে পথিকবান্ধব করে না। যে কোন নগরবিদের দৃষ্টিতে একটি চলমান শহরের পরিচিতি নির্ভর করে তার মানসম্পন্ন ফুটপাতের ওপর। ঢাকার ফুটপাত সংস্কৃতি হারিয়ে গেছে রাজনৈতিক মাফিয়ার স্থানীয় মাস্তানদের সড়ক-বাণিজ্যের ভেতরে। পথিকবান্ধব নাগরিক সংস্কৃতি তৈরি করতে হলে ফুটপাতের কোন বিকল্প নেই। দোকান মালিকদের যদি বোঝানো যায় যে পরিস্কার ফুটপাত মানে আরো মধ্যবিত্ত ক্রেতা। তখন এ ক্রেতারাই তাদের ফুটপাতের অবৈতনিক রক্ষক হিসেবে কাজ করবে। লাইসেন্সধারী হকারদের শহরের কিছু স্থানে স্বল্পমূল্যেও বাজারব্যবস্থার মাধ্যমে পুর্নবাসিত করা সম্ভব। অবমুক্ত ফুটপাত শুধু হাঁটার সংস্কৃতিকেই উৎসাহিত করবে না, একটি নগরে সবুজ অর্থনীতি তৈরিতেও সাহায্য করবে। কারণ কম গাড়ি মানে কার্বনমুক্ত অর্থনীতির দিকে এগিয়ে যাওয়া।<br />
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এভাবে চিন্তা করলে আমরা যানজট সমস্যার সমাধানের দিকে এগিয়ে যেতে পারবো। কিন্তু বাস্তবতা হলো ঢাকার যানজটের সামগ্রিক সমস্যার সমাধান শুধুমাত্র নগর পরিকল্পনা বা যানবাহন প্রকৌশলের মাধ্যমে সম্ভব নয়। কারণ যানজট শুধু রাস্তার সমস্যা নয়, এটা এক হিসেবে আমাদের রাজনৈতিক অদূরদর্শিতা, প্রশাসনিক অদক্ষতা এবং নাগরিক দুর্ব্যবহারেরও ফসল। এ কারণে পাঁচ ধরনের চালককে এগিয়ে আসতে হবে যানজট সমস্যার একটি দীর্ঘমেয়াদী সমাধানের লক্ষ্যে। এরা হলেন: রাজনৈতিক সরকার, পরিকল্পনাবিদ/সড়ক প্রকৌশলী, প্রশাসনিক কর্মকর্তা, সুশীল সমাজ এবং গণমাধ্যম। এ পাঁচ চালকের কাজের প্রকৃতি ভিন্ন, কিন্তু লক্ষ্য অভিন্ন।<br />
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<b>রাজনৈতিক সরকার:</b><br />
ক. রাজনৈতিক সরকারকে দলীয় স্বার্থের ওপরে উঠে কিছু নীতিমালাকে ইস্পাতকঠিন দৃঢ়তার সাথে বাস্তবায়িত করতে হবে।<br />
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<i><b>প্রশাসনিক, অর্থনৈতিক এবং শিক্ষার বিকেন্দ্রীকরণ:</b></i><br />
১. ঢাকাকে ভারমুক্ত করতে হলে প্রশাসনিক কিছু দফতরকে অন্য শহরে নিয়ে যেতে হবে। এর ফলে বেসরকারি খাতেরও বিকেন্দ্রীকরণ হবে।<br />
২. অর্থনৈতিক বিকেন্দ্রীকরণ করতে বিশেষ করে তৈরি পোশাক শিল্পকে ঢাকার নগর সীমানার বাইরে নিয়ে যেতে হবে। মনে রাখতে হবে, ঢাকায় অন্তত ২০ লাখ তৈরী পোশাক কর্মীর বসবাস রয়েছে।<br />
৩. সারা দেশের মোট ৮২টি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ৬০টিই ঢাকায়। সরকারি/বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোকে অন্যান্য শহরে<br />
স্থানান্তরিত করার নীতিমালা তৈরি করতে হবে জরুরিভিত্তিতে।<br />
৪. বিডিআর সদর দফতর এবং ঢাকা ক্যান্টনমেন্টকে ঢাকার বাইরে নেওয়ার চিন্তাভাবনা শুরু হোক এখনই।<br />
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<b>জাতীয় জনসংখ্যা নিয়ন্ত্রণঃ</b><br />
ঢাকায় ঘন্টাপ্রতি জনসংখ্যা বৃদ্ধির হার (৫০+) পৃথিবীতে সর্বোচ্চ। প্রতিদিন গড়ে দুই হাজার ২০০ জন মানুষ ভাগ্য অন্বেষণে ঢাকায় ঢুকছে। প্রকৃতপক্ষে কোন উন্নয়ন পরিকল্পনাই বাস্তবায়ন করা সম্ভব নয়, যদি দেশের জনসংখ্যাকে এখনই নিয়ন্ত্রণ করা না যায়। এটা খুবই উৎসাহব্যঞ্জক যে, প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা বর্তমানে ন্যাশনাল পপুলেশান কাউন্সিলের নেতৃত্ব দিচ্ছেন।<br />
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<b>জাতীয় মহাসড়ক পরিকল্পনাঃ</b><br />
একটি-দুটি মহাসড়ক চিন্তা না করে, একটি দীর্ঘমেয়াদী মহাসড়ক পরিকল্পনা করার সময় এখনই। সারা দেশকে নিয়ে আসতে হবে একটি মহাসড়ক গ্রিডের আওতায়। এ মহাসড়ক গ্রিডে থাকবে তিন ধরনের নম্বর দেয়া সড়ক: জাতীয় মহাসড়ক, আঞ্চলিক সড়ক এবং অভ্যন্তরীণ শাহরিক সড়ক। জাতীয় মহাসড়ক পরিকল্পনা বাস্তবায়নের ওপর জনসংখ্যার সুষম বন্টন অর্থনৈতিক প্রশাসনিক বিকেন্দ্রীকরণ ওতপ্রোতভাবে নির্ভরশীল।<br />
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সাপ্তাহিক গাড়িমুক্ত দিবসঃ<br />
ঢাকায় শহর সীমানার ভেতরে একদিন হোক সাপ্তাহিক গাড়িমুক্ত দিবস। কলম্বিয়ার বেগোটায় গণপরিবহন ব্যবহার এবং কার্বনমুক্ত চেতনায় শহরবাসীকে উদ্বুদ্ধ করতে বার্ষিক গাড়িমুক্ত দিবস পালন করা হচ্ছে। ঢাকায় সপ্তাহে একদিন পুরোপুরি রিকশানির্ভর হতে অসুবিধা কোথায়? সাপ্তাহিক গাড়িমুক্ত দিবস শহরবাসীকে দূষণমুক্ত পরিবেশ সম্পর্কে সচেতন করবে এবং সরকারকে একটি জাতীয় সবুজ নগরায়নের নীতিমালা তৈরিতে সাহায্য করবে।<br />
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<b>খ. পরিকল্পনাবিদ, সড়ক ও প্রকৌশলী মহলঃ</b><br />
১. ঢাকার জন্য একটি উত্তর-দক্ষিণ, পূর্ব-পশ্চিম দ্রুতগামী জনপরিবহন ব্যবস্থা (বাস, ট্রেন এবং জল টেক্সিকে সমন্বয় করে) পরিকল্পনা করতে হবে। এটা সম্ভব, যদি এর পেছনে প্রত্যয়ী রাজনৈতিক পৃষ্ঠপোষকতা থাকে। পাতাল রেলের সম্ভাবনা জরুরিভিত্তিতে যাচাই করা প্রয়োজন। আমাদের প্রতিবেশী শহর কলকাতায় ১৯৮৫ সালে শুরু হওয়া পাতাল রেলের অভিজ্ঞতা থেকে শেখা যেতে পারে অনেক কিছুই। কলকাতায় প্রতিদিন দমদম কাজী নজরুল লাইনে পাঁচ থেকে আট লাখ লোক যাতায়াত করছে।<br />
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২. একটি জাতীয় ফুটপাত নীতিমালা প্রণয়ন জরুরি। হাঁটার সংস্কৃতি তৈরি করতে একটি সুষ্ঠু পথিকবান্ধব ফুটপাতনীতির বিকল্প নেই। নাগরিক পথিক সংস্কৃতি কার্বনমুক্ত অর্থনীতি তৈরিতে অনেকাংশে সাহায্য করবে।<br />
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৩. বিভিন্ন ধরনের যানবাহনের জন্য সড়ক বিভক্তির সৃষ্টিশীল সমাধান প্রয়োজন। এ ধরনের সমাধানের জন্য সড়ক প্রকৌশলী ও নগর পরিকল্পনাবিদদের প্রচুর মাঠপর্যায়ের গবেষণা করতে হবে। ব্যাংকক, বোগোটা এবং ব্রাজিলের কুরুচিবা শহরের অভিজ্ঞতা থেকে শেখার আছে অনেক কিছু।<br />
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৪. পরিকল্পনাবিদ, সড়ক ও প্রকৌশলী মহল ঢাকা শহরের জন্য একটি জনচত্বর (পাবলিক প্লেস) নীতি প্রণয়নে পেশাগত পরামর্শ দিতে পারেন। একটি শহরের পরিচিতি নির্ভর করে তার মানসম্পন্ন জনচত্বরের ওপর।<br />
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৫. আঞ্চলিক বাসস্টেশনগুলোকে ঢাকার উত্তর ও দক্ষিণ সীমান্তে সরিয়ে নিতে হবে।<br />
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৬. সরকারকে একচেটিয়া দোষারোপ না করে পরিকল্পনাবিদ, সড়ক ও প্রকৌশলী মহল বরং তাদের সুচিন্তিত মতামত জানাতে পারেন যে, ঢাকায় কী কী করা সম্ভব।<br />
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<b>গ.প্রশাসনিক মহল (রাজউক, ডিসিসি)ঃ</b><br />
১. একটি দক্ষ জনপরিবহন ব্যবস্থা তৈরি করতে দৃঢ় পদক্ষেপ নিতে হবে প্রশাসনিক মহলকে। বোগোটার ট্রান্সমিলেনিও যেমন, তেমনি ঢাকাতেও জনপরিবহন রাজধানীর উন্নয়নের প্রতীক হয়ে দাঁড়াতে পারে।<br />
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২. স্কুলবাস কার্যক্রম নীতিমালা প্রণয়ন করতে হবে। এজন্য প্রয়োজন শহরের বিভিন্ন স্থান থেকে ছাত্রছাত্রী সংগ্রহ কেন্দ্র। সরকারি-বেসরকারি স্কুলগুলোকে এ নীতিমালার আওতায় আনতে হবে। বেসরকারি স্কুলগুলো তাদের নিজস্ব বাস কার্যক্রম চালু করলে আংশিক করমুক্তি দেওয়া যেতে পারে।<br />
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৩. সাপ্তাহিক গাড়িমুক্ত দিবস প্রতিষ্ঠা করা যায়।<br />
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৪. ঢাকাবাসীকে গাড়ি শেয়ার করার ধারণায় উদ্ধুদ্ধ করা দরকার। একই বাসা থেকে যদি তিনজন পেশাজীবী একই কর্মস্থলে যান, তাহলে একেক দিন একেক জনের গাড়িতে যাওয়াটা হবে একটি সুস্থ সংস্কৃতি। এরকম সংস্কৃতির চর্চা যতো বেশি হবে, রাস্তায় গাড়ির সংখ্যা ততোই কমবে এবং জ্বালানি তেলের সাশ্রয় হবে।<br />
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৫. বিভিন্ন ধরনের যানবাহনের জন্য সড়ক বিভক্তির নীতিমালা বাস্তবায়িত করার দায়িত্বও প্রশাসনিক মহলেরই।<br />
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৬. পথিকবান্ধব পরিবেশ গড়ে তুলতে জনচত্বর (পাবলিক প্লেস) গড়ে তোলা হবে আরেকটি উল্লেখযোগ্য কাজ। সংসদ ভবনের দক্ষিণ প্লাজা এ ধরনের স্থানের অন্যতম উদাহরণ।<br />
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৭. রিক্সাকে না উঠিয়ে যুগোপযোগী করতে হবে। কম পেশীশক্তিতে আরও গতি এবং যাত্রীর জন্য টেকসই আসন নিশ্চিত হয়– এমন রিকশা প্রকল্পে বিনিয়োগ আহ্বান করা যেতে পারে। পশ্চিমা বিশ্বে কার্বনমুক্ত শহরের ইচ্ছায় রিকশা হয়ে উঠেছে জনপ্রিয়। নিউইয়র্ক, কোপেনহেগেন, স্টকহোম এবং অসলোর দিকে তাকালেই এর প্রমাণ পাওয়া যায়।<br />
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৮. তরুণ প্রজন্মকে পরিবেশ সচেতন করে তুলতে সরকারকে বিনিয়োগ করতে হবে।<br />
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<b>ঘ. সুশীল সমাজঃ</b><br />
১. নগর পরিবেশ সচেতনতা তৈরি করতে সামাজিক আন্দোলন গড়ে তোলার দায়িত্ব সুশীল সমাজের। এ থেকেই গড়ে উঠবে নগরকল্যাণ চেতনা এবং পরিবেশ নীতিবোধ। প্রসঙ্গত, বাপা এবং বাংলাদেশ এনভায়রনমেন্ট নেটওয়ার্ক এ ব্যাপারে বলিষ্ঠ ভূমিকা রাখছে।<br />
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২. সরকার এবং নগর প্রশাসনের কাছ থেকে অবিরত জনপরিবহন এবং টেকসই নগরায়ন নীতিমালা দাবি করাও সুশীল সমাজের কর্তব্য।<br />
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৩. শুধু পরিবেশ সচেতনতাই নয়, পরিবেশ সংরক্ষণে দায়িত্ব পালনেও নতুন প্রজন্মকে উদ্বুদ্ধ করতে হবে।<br />
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<b>ঙ. গণমাধ্যমঃ</b><br />
১. নাগরিক দায়িত্ব ও পরিবেশ নীতিবোধ তৈরিতে সংবাদপত্র এবং টেলিভিশনে পর্যাপ্ত স্থান ও সময় দিতে হবে।<br />
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২. গাড়ি মালিকানার তথাকথিত সামাজিক সম্মানকে নিরুৎসাহিত করতে আন্দোলন গড়ে তোলার দায়িত্ব নিতে হবে গণমাধ্যমকেই।<br />
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৩. টেকসই গণপরিবহন ব্যবস্থা একটি নাগরিক অধিকার এবং চলমান শহরের মাপকাঠি। এটি নগর প্রশাসন এবং সরকারকে অবিরত জানানোর জন্য গণমাধ্যমকে ভূমিকা রাখতে হবে।<br />
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৪. রাস্তাঘাটের আইনের প্রতি শ্রদ্ধাশীল হওয়া এক ধরনের নাগরিক মূল্যবোধ। এটা শহরবাসীকে বোঝাতে হবে গণমাধ্যমের শক্তি দিয়ে।<br />
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৫. হাঁটার সংস্কৃতি তৈরি করতে সামাজিক আন্দোলন গড়ে তোলা এবং নতুন প্রজন্মের মধ্যে পরিবেশ নীতিবোধ<br />
তৈরিতে ভূমিকা রাখতে হবে গণমাধ্যমকেই।<br />
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৬. নাগরিক সুযোগ-সুবিধা প্রতিষ্ঠিত করতে নগর প্রশাসনের দক্ষতা ও জবাবদিহিতা নিশ্চিত করার জন্য গণমাধ্যমকে নিতে হবে দৃঢ় ভূমিকা।<br />
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সর্বোপরি রাজনৈতিক সিদ্ধান্তহীনতা এবং প্রশাসনিক অদক্ষতার পাশাপাশি যানজটের সামাজিক-সাংস্কৃতিক উৎসগুলোকে বিশ্লেষণ করতে হবে একটি দীর্ঘমেয়াদী সমাধানের জন্য। বর্তমানে অনেক গবেষণা হচ্ছে- কেন কিছু জায়গায় উন্নয়ন হয় আবার কোথাও হচ্ছে না। কিছু-কিছু গবেষক আজকাল দাবি করছেন যে, উন্নয়ন এক ধরনের মনোবৃত্তি। তার মানে হলো মানুষের সামাজিক-সাংস্কৃতিক গড়ন তাদের সার্বিক উন্নয়নের পথে বাঁধা হয়ে দাঁড়াতে পারে।<br />
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ঢাকা শহরে আমরা সবাই দ্রুত গন্তব্যে পৌঁছাতে চাই। অথচ প্রায়ই আমরা নিজ নিজ দায়িত্ব-কর্তব্য পালনে শ্রদ্ধাশীল নই। সামান্য প্রয়োজনে গাড়ি নিয়ে রাস্তায় নেমে যাওয়া, যেখানে-সেখানে গাড়ি রেখে দেওয়া, তাড়াতাড়ি যাওয়ার জন্য ছোট রাস্তায় গাড়ি নিয়ে ঢুকে পড়ে আরো দশটি গাড়িকে আটকে দেওয়া, ৩০০ গজ যেতেও রিকশায় উঠে পড়া– এই ধরনের নাগরিক দায়িত্বহীনতাকে কোটি-কোটি টাকার ফ্লাইওভার বা পাতাল রেল দিয়ে ঠিক করা যাবে না। এই ধরনের অপব্যবহার কি আমাদের বাঙালিত্বের মজ্জায়?<br />
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ভেনেজুয়েলার লেখক কার্লোস র্যাঙ্গেল দাবি করেছেন, দক্ষিণ আমেরিকার গোলমেলে এবং অস্থির সামাজিক পরিস্থিতির কারণ খুঁজে পেতে শুধু ঔপনিবেশিক শোষণকে দায়ী করলে চলবে না। বরং আইবেরিয়ান সাংস্কৃতিক ইতিহাসের সাথে এ মহাদেশের অনুন্নয়ন ধারার সম্পর্ক দেখতে হবে।<br />
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হাইতির ক্রমাগত অনুন্নয়নের ইতিহাস বিশ্লেষণ করতে গিয়ে মার্কিন লেখক লরেন্স হ্যারিসন দাবি করেছেন, হাইতির কালো জনগোষ্ঠীর ভেতরে জাগতিক উন্নয়নের প্রতি একধরনের কুসংস্কারাচ্ছন্ন মনোভাব এবং যে কোন ধরনের পরিকল্পনার প্রতি অবিশ্বাস তাদেরকে দারিদ্র্যের বজ্র আঁটুনির ভেতর আটকে রাখে। এর মানে হলো যে কোন ধরনের উন্নয়ন পরিকল্পনা বাস্তবায়নে প্রত্যেক মানুষকে তার নিজের ভূমিকায় এবং উন্নতি করার মানসিকতায় বিশ্বাসী হতে হবে।<br />
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ঢাকার যানজট নিরসনে নগর প্রশাসন বা সরকারের সদিচ্ছাই যথেষ্ট নয়। নগরবাসীকেও তাদের নাগরিক দায়িত্ব পালনে সচেতন এবং রাস্তার আইনের প্রতি শ্রদ্ধাশীল হতে হবে। আমরা হাহাকার করতে পারি যে, ঢাকার মাত্র ৬৭টি সড়ক মোড়ে সিগন্যাল আছে। কিন্তু আমরা ভুলে যাই, শিক্ষিত ব্যবসায়িক কর্মকর্তারা কাওরান বাজারে যেখানে-সেখানে গাড়ি রেখে দেন, তখন সড়কের প্রস্থ কমে গিয়ে তৈরি হয় দুর্বিসহ যানজট। যানজট নিরসনে প্রথাগত নাগরিক ব্যবহারের আমূল পরিবর্তন ঘটাতে হবে।<br />
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কাজেই যানজট নিরসন যেমন একদিকে প্রশাসনিক এবং সড়ক প্রকৌশলীর দায়িত্ব, অন্যদিকে নাগরিক মূল্যবোধহীনতার বিরুদ্ধে যুদ্ধও।<br />
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নব্বই দশকের শেষ দিকে বোগোটার মেয়র এনরিকে পেনিয়ালোসা তার শহরের রাস্তাগুলোকে রাজনৈতিক এবং ব্যবসায়িক মাফিয়া এবং তাদের পরিবহন ব্যবসার দখল থেকে অবমুক্ত করে গণপরিবহন ব্যবস্থা এবং একটি গণচত্বর নীতিমালার আওতায় এনেছিলেন। এ কারণে রাজনীতিবিদ এবং ব্যবসায়ীরা তাকে মেয়রের অফিস থেকে বহিস্কারের চেষ্টা চালায়। কিন্তু পেনিয়াসোলার গণমুখী নগরনীতি শুধু তাকে রাজনৈতিকভাবেই টিকিয়ে রাখেনি, তাকে করেছে বোগোটার ইতিহাসের অন্যতম সফল মেয়র। ঢাকার নগর সমস্যা অনেক। কিন্তু পৃথিবীর অনেক শহরের উদাহরণ (মেক্সিকো সিটি, বোগাটা, ব্যাংকক, ব্রাজিলের কুরুচিবা) স্বরূপ বলা যায় ঢাকাকেও অর্থনৈতিকভাবে গতিশীল একটি পরিবেশবান্ধব শহরে পরিণত করা সম্ভব। কিন্তু এর জন্য প্রয়োজন রাজনৈতিক সদিচ্ছা, পরিবেশবান্ধব নগর নীতিমালা এবং প্রশাসনিক দক্ষতার সুষম সমন্বয়। যানজটের কাছে আত্মঘাতী সমর্থন নয়, বরং ধরে নিতে হবে এক ধরনের নাগরিক নীতিবোধে উদ্বুদ্ধ হয়ে যানজট নিরসনে সৃষ্টিশীল উদ্যোগ নেওয়া ছাড়া আমাদের সামনে আর কোন পথ খোলা নেই।</div>
Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-21732471058260924952015-12-06T11:14:00.005+06:002015-12-06T19:41:35.849+06:00ব্লগ: যা মূলত এক ধরণের অনলাইন জার্নাল!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">আমাদের দেশে ব্লগ ও ব্লগার শব্দ দুটি বর্তমানে বেশ আলোচিত, তবে ব্লগ শব্দটির চেয়ে ব্লগার শব্দটিই বেশী আলোচিত। গত কয়েক বছরে বেশ কয়েকজন ব্লগার বিপথগামী মোল্লাদের দ্বারা হত্যার শিকার হওয়ায় বিষয়টি সারা বিশ্বের মিডিয়ায় বাংলাদেশের একটা নেতিবাচক ভাবমুর্তি তৈরী হচ্ছে। এই দেশে শুধুমাত্র ধর্মীয় শিক্ষার উপর পাঠদানকারী মাদ্রাসাগুলোতে তো বটেই অন্যান্ন সব মাদ্রাসা শিক্ষাত্রী ও একই শিক্ষায় শিক্ষিত ব্যক্তিদের মানসিকতায় ব্লগার মানেই হলো ধর্মের অবমাননাকারী কিম্বা নাস্তিক। আমার ব্লগ, সচলায়তন, সামহোয়্যারইন ব্লগ, প্রথম আলো ব্লগ এই চারটি সামাজিক ব্লগই ব্লগারদের নিয়মিত পদচারনায় মুখর। ব্লগ শব্দটি ইংরেজ Blog এর বাংলা প্রতিশব্দ, যা এক ধরণের অনলাইন জার্নাল । ইংরেজি Blog শব্দটি আবার Weblog এর সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপ। যিনি ব্লগে পোস্ট করেন তাকে ব্লগার বলা হয়। ব্লগাররা প্রতিনিয়ত তাদের ওয়েবসাইটে কনটেন্ট যুক্ত করেন আর ব্যবহারকারীরা সেখানে তাদের মন্তব্য করতে পারেন। এছাড়াও সাম্প্রতিক কালে ব্লগ ফ্রিলান্স সাংবাদিকতার একটা মাধ্যম হয়ে উঠছে। সাম্প্রতিক ঘটনাসমূহ নিয়ে এক বা একাধিক ব্লগাররা এটি নিয়মিত আপডেট করেন। নিয়মিত ব্লগ লেখার প্রক্রিয়াকে “ব্লগানো” বলা হয়।</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">বেশিরভাগ ব্লগই কোন একটা নির্দিষ্ট বিষয় সম্পর্কিত ধারাবিবরণী বা খবর জানায়; অন্যগুলো আরেকটু বেশিমাত্রায় ব্যক্তিগত পর্যায়ের অনলাইন দিনপত্রী বা অনলাইন দিনলিপিসমূহ। একটা নিয়মমাফিক ব্লগ লেখা, ছবি, অন্য ব্লগ, ওয়েব পেজ আর এ বিষয়ের অন্য মাধ্যমের লিংকের সমাহার বা সমষ্টি। পাঠকদের মিথষ্ক্রিয়াময় ছাঁচে মন্তব্য করার সুবিধে রাখা বেশিরভাগ ব্লগের একটা গুরুত্বপূর্ণ দিক। কিছু কিছু নো মডারেশন ব্লগে ইচ্ছেমত গালগালিও করা যায়। প্রায় ব্লগই মূলত লেখায় আকীর্ণ, কিছু কিছু আবার জোর দেয় শিল্প (আর্ট ব্লগ), ছবি (ফটোব্লগ), ভিডিও (ভিডিও ব্লগিং), সঙ্গীত (এমপিথ্রিব্লগ) আর অডিওর (পডকাস্টিং) ওপর এবং বাংলা ব্লগে এইসব কিছুর খুব ভাল ভাবে কম্বিনেশন করতে পেরেছে “বিডিনিউজ২৪ব্লগ”। মাইক্রোব্লগিং-ও আরেকধরনের ব্লগিং, ওটায় খুব ছোট ছোট পোস্ট থাকে। ডিসেম্বর, ২০০৭-এর হিসেবে, ব্লগ খোঁজারু ইঞ্জিন টেকনোরাট্টি প্রায় এগারো কোটি বার লাখেরও বেশি ব্লগের হদিশ পেয়েছে।</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ব্লগিং জনপ্রিয় হওয়ার আগে, ডিজিটাল গোষ্ঠীগুলোর নানান ধরন ছিলো, ছিলো ইউজনেট (Usenet), ছিলো জিনি(GEnie), বিক্স (BiX)-এর মতো বাণিজ্যিক অনলাইন সার্ভিস, আরো ছিলো পুরনো আমলের কম্পুসার্ভ (CompuServe), ই-মেল লিস্টস আর বুলেটিন বোর্ড সিস্টেমস (বিবিএস)। ১৯৯০-এর দিকে, ইন্টারনেট ফোরাম সফটওয়্যার “থ্রেড”-এর মাধ্যমে কথোপকথন চালানোর ব্যবস্থা শুরু করে। থ্রেড হচ্ছে একটা ভার্চুয়াল “কর্কবোর্ড”-এ বার্তাগুলোর মাঝখানের সাময়িক সংযোগের সমষ্টি।</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">আধুনিক ব্লগের উৎপত্তি ঘটে অনলাইন দিনপত্রী থেকে, যেখানে লোকেরা তাঁদের ব্যক্তিগত জীবনের বিবরণ রাখতেন। এধরনের বেশিরভাগ লোকেরাই নিজেদের বলতেন ডায়েরিস্টস, জার্নালিস্টস অথবা জুমালারস। সোয়ার্থমোর কলেজ-এ ১৯৯৪-এর দিকে পড়ার সময় ব্যক্তিগত ব্লগিং-করিয়ে জাস্টিন হল-কে অন্যতম আদি ব্লগার হিসেবে ধরা হয়, যেমনটা ধরা হয় জেরি পুমেল-কেও। ডেভ উইনার-এর স্ক্রিপ্টিং নিউজ-এরও সবচাইতে পুরনো আর সবচাইতে বেশি দিন ধরে চালু থাকা ওয়েবলগ হিসেবে খ্যাতি আছে।</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">প্রথম দিককার ব্লগগুলো ছিলো স্রেফ সাধারণ ওয়েবসাইটের হাতে-বানানো উন্নততর উপকরণ। তবে, সময়ের সাথে বিপরীতক্রমে পোস্ট-করা ওয়েব প্রবন্ধগুলো লেখা এবং দেখভাল করা সহজ করার জন্যে বিবর্তিত কৌশলগুলোই প্রকাশ ব্যবস্থাটা বড়সড় একটা জনগোষ্ঠীর কাছে, যারা তেমন প্রযুক্তিদক্ষ নয়, বেশ সহজে ব্যবহারযোগ্য করে তোলে। এতে করেই শেষমেষ আলাদা ধরনের একটা অনলাইন প্রকাশনা ব্যবস্থা গড়ে ওঠে যেটা আজকাল আমাদের চেনা চেহারার যেরকম ব্লগ সেরকমটা তৈরি করে। উদাহরণস্বরূপ, কিছু কিছু ব্রাউজার-নির্ভর সফটওয়্যারের ব্যবহার এখন ব্লগের একটা নিতান্তুই সাধারণ ব্যাপার। ব্লগ হোস্ট করার জন্যে আছে নির্ধারিত ব্লগ হোস্টিং সার্ভিস, এছাড়াও ওগুলো ব্লগ সফটওয়্যার কিংবা নিয়মিত ওয়েব হোস্টিং সার্ভিস ব্যবহার করেও চালানো যায়। কিছু আদ্যিকালের ব্লগার, যেমন দ্য মিস্যানথ্রোপিক বিচ ১৯৯৭ সালের দিকে যখন ব্লগিং শুরু করে, তারা নিজেদের অনলাইন উপস্থিতির নাম দিয়েছিলো জাইন (zine)। তখনো “ব্লগ” নামের পারিভাষিক শব্দটা আজকালকার সাধারণ ব্যবহারের পর্যায়ে আসে নি।</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">শুরুটা ধীরগতির হলেও, ব্লগিং দ্রুতই জনপ্রিয়তা পায়। ১৯৯৯ সাল এবং তার পর থেকেই ব্লগ ব্যবহার বাড়তেই থাকে। প্রথম দিককার কিছু ব্লগ হাতিয়ারের প্রায়-সমসাময়িক আবির্ভাব ব্যবহারটা আরো লোকপ্রিয় করে:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">• ১৯৯৮ সালে ব্রুস আবেলসন ওপেন ডায়রি নামান, এতে করে হাজারো অনলাইন দিনপত্রী জন্ম নেয়। ওপেন ডায়রির আবিষ্কার হচ্ছে পাঠক মন্তব্য, এটাই ছিলো প্রথম ব্লগ কমিউনিটি যেখানে পাঠকেরা অন্য লেখকের ব্লগ অন্তর্ভুক্তিতে মন্তব্য করতে পারতেন।</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">• ১৯৯৯-এর মার্চে ব্র্যাড ফিটজপ্যাট্রিক শুরু করেন লাইভ জার্নাল।</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">• জুলাই, ১৯৯৯-এ এন্ড্রু স্মেলস কোন ওয়েবসাইটে একটা “খবর পাতা” রাখার বিকল্প হিসেবে জন্ম দেন পিটাস.কম-এর, এর পরপরই সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৯৯-এ আসে ডায়েরিল্যান্ড, যেখানে ব্যক্তিগত দিনপত্রীমূলক কমিউনিটির ওপর জোর দেওয়া হয়। ইভান উইলিয়ামস এবং মেগ হুরিহান (পাইরা ল্যাবস) ব্লগার.কম চালু করেন অগস্ট, ১৯৯৯-এ এবং গুগল এটা কিনে নেয় ২০০৩-এর ফেব্রুয়ারিতে।</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">বর্তমান বিশ্বে বিভিন্ন দেশের রাষ্ট্রীয় ব্যবস্থার অনেক গুরুত্বপূর্ন সিদ্ধান্তের ক্ষেত্রে কমিউনিটি ব্লগ এমন কি ব্যাক্তিগত ব্লগগুলিও উল্লেখযোগ্য ভুমিকা রাখছে।</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">বাংলা ব্লগের তালিকা:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আমার ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সামহোয়্যারইন ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* প্রথম আলো ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বিডিনিউজ২৪ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সচলায়তন</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* নির্মান ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বিজ্ঞানী</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বিডিনিউজ২৪ বাংলা ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* নিসর্গ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* টেকটিউনস</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* হাতাশি ইনসাইডার</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* না বলা কথা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* উত্স সন্ধানে</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* …করি বাংলায় চিত্কার…</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ছেঁড়া পাতায় কথামালা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আসিফ আহমেদ অনীকের বাংলা ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* অমি আজাদ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সসংকোচ প্রকাশের দুরন্ত সাহস</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আমি এবং আমার পৃথিবী</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* পুড়ে ছাই ধ্বংসস্তুপ থেকে বেঁচে উঠি পুর্ণবার</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* রয়েসয়ে</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* নিরিখ বান্ধিলাম দুই নয়নে……</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বিবর্ণ আকাশ এবং আমি….</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ভয়েস অফ বাংলাদেশী ব্লগারস</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* এইটা তোমার গান</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* প্রাত্যহিক ভ্যাজর ভ্যাজর</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* কবিয়াল</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* অজ্ঞাতবাস</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ধৃসর গোধুলী</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সাধক শন্কু</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বলো গো</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* মোকাবেলা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* খিচুড়ী ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আড্ডা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ভালবাসা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* হাজার বর্ষা রাত………</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* কাকশ্য পরিবেদনা!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আধুলি জমানোর ম্যাচবক্স</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* কীন ব্রীজে গোধুলি এল অন্তরালে কালান্তর ভোর</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* দিল কা লাড্ডু</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* অনন্ত ন্বপ্ন</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ..খেরোখাতা..</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* যাপিত জীবন</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বাংলা ভাষী</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বাংলা ভাষা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সুহ্রদ সরকার</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সম্ভাবনার মৃত্যু ঘটুক … নতুন সম্ভাবনার তাগিদে</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সীমাহীন সংলাপ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* যূথচারী</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আলী মাহমেদের ব্লগিং</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* মাহবুব সুমন ও তার অগাবগা বচন</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* শুভ্র প্রকাশ পালের ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* অলস বিকেলের শেষ রোদ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* শেঁকড়ের সন্ধানে</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* টকিজ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* খসড়া কবির খসড়া কবিতা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আমার ভাঙা পথের রাঙা ধূলা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* স্বপ্নলোক</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* হিডেন হার্ট</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ত্রসরেণু অরণ্যে</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* গ্লোবাল মিডিয়া</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আমাদের কথা -নারী জীবন বাংলা ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* New Gaul Order -USA</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* Ontorjatra</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আলোকধেনু</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* জিকোবাজি</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* কাপালিকানা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আবজাব</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* মুক্তাঙ্গন: নির্মাণ ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সোনার বাংলা ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* চতুর্মাত্রিক ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* নাগরিক ব্লগ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* শব্দনীড় ব্লগ</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">ইন্ডিয়ান বাংলা ব্লগ:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* স্লোগান দিতে গিয়ে</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আমার কিছু বক্কা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* খোলা জানালা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* মনের পাতা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ট্রিভিয়াল বাইটস</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ধূসর ফিনিক্স …এবং কোমল গান্ধার</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বিবর্ণ কবিতা</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* জীবনানন্দ দাশের কবিতা</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">আরো কিছু বাংলা কমিউনিটিঃ</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">বাংলা ফোরাম:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* আমাদের প্রযুক্তি</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* প্রজন্ম ফোরাম</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বাংলাকর্ড</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* রংমহল</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">আন্তর্জাতিক বেতারগুলোর বাংলা খবরের পাতা:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* ডয়েচেভেলে জার্মান বেতার</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বিবিসি</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* এন.এইচ.কে (জাপান)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* চায়না রেডিও</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* রেডিও তেহরান</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">বাংলা অভিধান:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সংসদ বাংলা অভিধান</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* বাংলা ভাষার অভিধান</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">* সংসদ বাংলা-English অভিধান</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">কিছু অনলাইন ম্যাগাজিনঃ</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">বাংলালাইভ i পত্রিকা http://banglalive.com/ipatrikaa/ipatrikaahome.asp</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">গুরুচন্ডালী http://guruchandali.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">নতুন দিগন্ত http://www.natun-diganta.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">বাংলামাটি http://www.banglamati.net/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">বইপাড়া http://www.boipara.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">কালি ও কলম http://www.kaliokalam.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">কৌরব http://kaurab.tripod.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">পড়শী http://www.porshi.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">পরবাস http://www.parabaas.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">পালকি http://calcuttans.com/palki/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">শতরুপা http://www.shatorupa.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">মাধুকরী http://www.maadhukari.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">সাতরং http://www.satrong.org/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">আর্টস বিডি নিউজ২৪ http://arts.bdnews24.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">সাতরং http://www.satrong.org/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">বীক্ষণ http://beekkhan.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">হাজারদুয়ারী http://www.hajarduari.com/</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">“সৃষ্টি’ – http://www.sristi.co.in/</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">সুত্র: উইকিপিডিয়া ও ইন্টারনেট, হাতাশি ইনসাইডার।</span></div>
Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-51066799315952186312015-12-06T10:37:00.001+06:002015-12-06T19:41:50.567+06:00পাকিস্তান শব্দটাই অরুচিকর<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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ভুল ধারণার উপর জন্ম নেওয়া পাকিস্তান নামক ব্যর্থ রাষ্ট্রটির ঔদ্ধত্য ও মিথ্যাচার কেবল আমাদেরকেই নয়, একাত্তরে তাদের বর্বর ভূমিকা সম্পর্কে ওয়াকিবহাল যে কোনো দেশের নাগরিককেই বিস্মিত করবে তাদের রাষ্ট্রপক্ষীয় নির্লজ্জ বিবৃতি। শুধু রাষ্ট্রপক্ষই নয়, এমনকি সে দেশের ‘জামায়াতে ইসলামী পাকিস্তান’ও রাষ্ট্রীয় সুরে গলা মিলিয়ে নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জানিয়েছে বাংলাদেশে যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের ফাঁসির রায়ে।</span></span></h1>
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পাকিস্তান একটি বিকারগ্রস্ত রাষ্ট্র। মনে পড়ছে মওলানা আবুল কালাম আজাদ ‘পাকিস্তান’এর ধারণাটি ‘অরুচিকর’ বলে অভিহিত করেছিলেন। তাঁর যুক্তি ছিল এই যে:</span></span></h1>
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“এক কথা স্বীকার না করে পারছি না যে, পাকিস্তান শব্দটাই আমার কাছে অরুচিকর। এ থেকে মনে হয় পৃথিবীর কতকাংশ শুদ্ধ আর বাকি সব অশুদ্ধ। শুদ্ধ আর অশুদ্ধ বলে এলাকা ভাগ করা ইসলাম-বহির্ভূত; এর সঙ্গে বরং সেই গোঁড়া ব্রাক্ষণ্যের মিল বেশি, যা মানুষ আর দেশকে শুচি আর ম্লেচ্ছে ভাগ করে– এই ভাগাভাগি ইসলামের আদত ভাবকেই নস্যাৎ করে। ইসলামে এ ধরনের ভাগাভাগির কোনো স্থান নেই এবং পয়গম্বরের বাণী হল, ‘খোদা আমার জন্য সারা দুনিয়াকেই মসজিদ বানিয়েছেন।’”</span></span></h1>
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[মওলানা আবুল কালাম আজাদ, ‘ভারত স্বাধীন হলো’; ওরিয়েন্ট ব্ল্যাকসোয়ান; প্রকাশকাল: ২০১০; পৃ: ১৩৮]</span></span></h1>
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ভারতীয় উপমহাদেশের রাজনীতির প্রাজ্ঞ পুরুষ মওলানা আজাদ থেকে এই উদ্ধৃতি দেওয়ার মাধ্যমে এটাই পরিষ্কার করে তুলে ধরা হচ্ছে যে, পাকিস্তান জন্ম থেকেই ভুল ও মিথ্যার ক্লেদে বন্দি একটি রাষ্ট্র। এমনকি যে-ইসলামি জিগির তুলে এর জন্ম, সেই ইসলামেরই ধারণার বিপরীতে তার অবস্থান।</span></span></h1>
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পাকিস্তান নামক বর্বর ও অরুচিকর রাষ্ট্রটি সম্পর্কে কথা বলা মানেই ভাষিক রুচি বিসর্জন দিয়ে কথা বলা। কারণ, এটি এতই অসুস্থ ও উন্মাদ এক রাষ্ট্র যার সম্পর্কে খিস্তি ব্যবহার না করে কোনো বাস্তব ধারণা দেওয়া সম্ভব নয়।</span></span></h1>
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১৯৪৭ সালে ভারত-ভাগের পর থেকেই পাকিস্তান এ-অঞ্চলের বাঙালি জনগোষ্ঠী সম্পর্ক অতিশয় হীন ধারণা পোষণ করত। সূচনা থেকেই এই জাতিকে শোষণ ও নির্যাতন করে এসেছে বাংলাদেশের অভ্যুদয় পর্যন্ত। একাত্তরে আমাদের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধের সময় তারা যে অপরাধ করেছে তা ইতিহাসে নজিরবিহীন। ভিত্তিও, আলোকচিত্র ও তথ্যাকারে তা পৃথিবীর নানান দেশে, নানান ভাষায় সংরক্ষিত আছে জেনেও পাকিস্তান গণহত্যার দায় অস্বীকার করার নির্লজ্জ মিথ্যাচার করেছে সম্প্রতি। এর আগেও তারা বিভিন্ন সময় এ ধরনের কাজ করেছে। আর কেবল এতেই তারা থেমে থাকেনি, এমনকি সভ্য রাষ্ট্রের সব রকম শিষ্টাচার উপেক্ষা করে তারা আমাদের অভ্যন্তরীন বিষয়েও নাগ গলানোর ধৃষ্টতা দেখিয়েছে যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের বিচারের নিন্দা জানিয়ে। যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের প্রতি পাকিস্তানের এই দরদ শুধু এটাই প্রমাণ করে যে, বাংলাদেশকে নিয়ে তাদের ষড়যন্ত্র অব্যাহত রয়েছে।</span></span></h1>
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খুনী ও যুদ্ধাপরাধী পাকিস্তানের বিশ্বব্যাপী পরিচিতি অসভ্য ও প্রতিক্রিয়াশীল এক রাষ্ট্র হিসেবে। এটি এমন এক দেশ যেখানে মিলিটারি একাডেমি কাকুলের পাশেই অ্যাবোটাবাদে আশ্রয় পেয়েছিল দুর্ধর্ষ অপরাধী ওসামা বিন লাদেন। অপরাধ ও মৌলবাদের এক উর্বর ভূমি পাকিস্তানের ভূখণ্ডে প্রবেশ করে এই অপরাধীকে হত্যাও করেছিল মার্কিন সামরিক বাহিনী। একদিকে নিজের দেশে একজন দাগী আসামিকে আশ্রয়দানের মতো অপরাধ যেমন তারা করেছে, অন্যদিকে বিদেশি সামরিক শক্তিকে অভিযান পরিচালনার সুযোগ দিয়ে নিজেদের সার্বভৌমত্ব বিলুপ্তির মতো অপমানও তারা হজম করেছে। এরকম একটি দেশ কোন অহংকারে আজ বাংলাদেশে যুদ্ধাপরাধীদের বিচারকার্যের নিন্দা করার সাহস পায়? সুপরিচিত সেই প্রবাদ–চোরের মার বড় গলা–এই দেশটির ক্ষেত্রে সবচেয়ে বেশি প্রযোজ্য। অন্যায়, অবিচার, খুন, দুর্নীতির ক্লেদে নিমজ্জিত পাকিস্তানের কোনো নৈতিক অধিকার নেই বাংলাদেশের ব্যাপারে নাক গলানোর। বাংলাদেশের কাছে পরাজিত এই রাষ্ট্রটি এখন এতটাই নির্লজ্জ ও উদ্ধত ভঙ্গিতে কথা বলছে যেন ওদের পেছনে পরাজয় ও অপমানের কোনো অতীত নেই।</span></span></h1>
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সামরিক প্রধানদের কাছে পাকিস্তানের রাজনৈতিক নেতা বা রাষ্ট্রপ্রধানরা কতটা মেরুদণ্ডহীন তার এক প্রমাণ দেখেছিলাম পাকিস্তানেরই ইংরেজি পত্রিকা ডনে ২০১৩ সালের ৫ জুনে প্রকাশিত এক সংবাদে (PM sharif’s convoy stopped to let Army chief pass) যেখানে বলা হয়েছিল, প্রধানমন্ত্রী নেওয়াজ শরীফের গতিরোধ করা হয়েছিল সামরিক প্রধানের গাড়ির বহর যাওয়ার সুযোগ করে দেওয়ার জন্য। পাকিস্তানের মতো দেশেই কেবল এ ধরনের আত্মমর্যাদাহীন ঘটনা ঘটতে পারে। গোটা রাষ্ট্রটি যে দুর্নীতিগ্রস্ত সামরিক বাহিনীর বুটের তলায় পড়ে আছে তা আর নতুন করে বলার কিছু নেই।</span></span></h1>
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এ রকম একটি আত্মমর্যাদাহীন বিশ্ববেহায়া দেশের সঙ্গে কূটনৈতিক সম্পর্ক বাতিল করার যে দাবি সম্প্রতি আমাদের দেশের বুদ্ধিজীবীসহ বিভিন্ন পেশা ও শ্রেণির পক্ষ থেকে উঠেছে তা আত্মমর্যাদাশীল বাংলাদেশ সরকারের আমলে নেওয়া উচিৎ। পাকিস্তানের সঙ্গে আমরা যদি সব ধরনের বাণিজ্যিক ও কূটনৈতিক সম্পর্ক ছিন্ন করি তাতে মনে হয় না বাংলাদেশ অর্থনৈতিক কোনো ঝুঁকির মধ্যে পড়বে। যত দূর জানি, বাংলাদেশ থেকে পাকিস্তানে আমরা যে-পরিমাণ রফতানি করি, সে দেশ থেকে বরং আমদানি করি অনেক বেশি। অতএব ওরাই বেশি ঝুঁকির মধ্যে পড়বে। আর যদি ধরেও নিই যে, আমরাই বেশি ঝুঁকির সম্মুখীন হব, তাহলেও আমাদের সেটাই করা উচিত। একাত্তরে আমরা স্বাধীনতা অর্জনের যে ঝুঁকি নিয়েছিলাম সেই তুলনায় এই ঝুঁকি হবে খুবই সামান্য।</span></span></h1>
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কূটনৈতিক সম্পর্ক ছিন্ন করার আরও একটি যুক্তি হচ্ছে এই যে, এই সম্পর্কের মুখোশে ওরা আমাদের দেশে এখনও পর্যন্ত ষড়যন্ত্র কেবল অব্যাহত রাখছে তা নয়, তাকে আরও সুদূরপ্রসারী করার সুযোগ পাচ্ছে। পাকিস্তানের গর্ভজাত জঙ্গিবৃত্তি, সহিংসতা আর প্রতিক্রিয়াশীল তপরতা এদেশে প্রবেশের পথও উন্মুক্ত থেকে যাবে যদি এই সম্পর্ক ছিন্ন না করা হয়। ভুলে গেলে চলবে না যে, বিশ্বব্যাপী বড় বড় জঙ্গি সংগঠনগুলোর প্রধান পৃষ্ঠপোষক ও লালনকারী এই পাকিস্তান।</span></span></h1>
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সুতরাং একটি জঙ্গি ও যুদ্ধপরাধী রাষ্ট্রের সঙ্গে কোনো ধরনের সম্পর্ক রাখার প্রয়োজন আমাদের নেই।</span></span></h1>
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Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-28902673078137653592010-12-06T16:25:00.000+06:002010-12-06T16:25:56.450+06:00Climate change and the poor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLc-TlksWThcDDfQSn6hPryKDzdJEdfGRVgvlSWGLN8wOwJZAaXMCbfjw58ZOdtgOqT6kPNIqbHtJFmaz3jueSxrTd91ha7ZGoRzHgKuQDwxmXQg5Sk-yjcrxV5m1FKmnRmk76hrHdW9Es/s1600/Climate-Change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLc-TlksWThcDDfQSn6hPryKDzdJEdfGRVgvlSWGLN8wOwJZAaXMCbfjw58ZOdtgOqT6kPNIqbHtJFmaz3jueSxrTd91ha7ZGoRzHgKuQDwxmXQg5Sk-yjcrxV5m1FKmnRmk76hrHdW9Es/s320/Climate-Change.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;">Climate change caused by global warming is a hard and bitter reality now. World leaders and activists have risen to the occasion lately; intercontinental level discussions after discussions have been held over the recent years to agree on ways and means to mitigate effect of and adapt to this unwelcome change. But any adequately effective and agreed measure is yet to be on card. The latest </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Copenhagen</st1:place></st1:city></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px;"> conference has also unfortunately experienced more discord than consensus. Meanwhile the scourge is assuming further gravity for the vulnerable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.5pt;">Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, one of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s most influential environmental organisations, writes on projection: "The climate models ran and ran, and ran again. Big chunks of Antarctica plunged spectacularly into the sea, while glaciers in the <st1:place w:st="on">Himalayas</st1:place> quietly withered away, and Kilimanjaro got browner and browner. Finally the scientists concluded their long debate: not only could human activity disrupt and destroy the stability of the world's climate, it was measurably doing so. The rest of us tried not to listen. But we need to" (India Today, Dec 14, 2009).</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.5pt;">Yes, we need to, not only listen but act too, now. Because it is already late; we must not allow it to be too late.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Well, global warming is a natural process, but so slow in progression that it never have been anyway significant until late last century when people started to feel the heat to their utter concern. They traced back to find the cause in their own doing: the process has been more human induced than natural following the industrial revolution. And since then there has been no let up in the excessive emission of CFC and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. With the increase in population coupled with unabated consumerism this heating up process has only gained momentum for worse over the recent decades. "Nineteen of the world's 20 warmest years have occurred since 1980".</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">But for this not all humans are equally responsible, nor all are equally capable of mitigating the scourge themselves. But when this malady is global, the measures to face it also has to be global -- logically the most emitters helping the least emitters in that.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Although the COP15 Copenhagen has been termed by many as failure, there has been some hopeful outcome to note. The Kyoto Protocol, an international initiative to deal with the problem, was adopted in 1997 but the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the largest greenhouse gas producer, refused to sign it. This time at <st1:city w:st="on">Copenhagen</st1:city> it has been a <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> led deal. Under the initiative of US President Barak Obama, <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> struck it while there has been pledges that rich (industrialised) countries would provide dollar 30 billion over the next three years and dollar 100 billion a year from 2020 to developing countries. The <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>, however, announced the lowest pledge of contributing dollar 3.6 billion between 2010 and 2012 while <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region> would contribute dollar 11 billion and the EU dollar 10.6 billion.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">But the deal has no legal binding. There has been an agreement to arrest global temperature rise at 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial level by 2050. This implies considerable cut in carbon emission over the next 40 years. But would it be realised under a non-binding accord, many doubt. So reasonably many are not satisfied with the COP15 outcome. However, there are also reasons for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> to feel a bit otherwise. It has been recognised as one of a few countries most vulnerable to global warming and climate change. At least some fund must be available for it to adopt coping measures. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> consequently finds some solace in the face of mounting miseries due to climate change ravages.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Poor vulnerable countries, including <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>, have already started to bear the brunt of climate change impact. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> is more frequently visited by devastating cyclones now than ever before and is set to lose 15 percent of its landmass to the rising sea turning 10 percent of its population climate refugees. Damage to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s coastal infrastructure is apprehended to amount upto 12 percent of its GDP by 2010, not to speak of how frightening it would be by 2050. According to one estimate, 65 percent of greater <st1:city w:st="on">Khulna</st1:city>, 99 percent of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Barisal</st1:place></st1:city>, 100 percent of Patuakhali, 44 percent of Noakhali and 12 percent of Faridpur districts will be inundated.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">As a result 13.74 percent of cropped area and about 401,600 hectares of mangrove forest with its unique wildlife will be lost. Crop loss will be in millions of tons. The salinity intrusion upward will entail further production loss in agriculture. The total losses of assets and production in small and cottage industries sector are estimated to be Tk 1078 million and Tk 981.553 billion, respectively, not to speak of other industrial and trading losses.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">These losses will lead to increased poverty and decreased food security, increased unemployment and decreased accommodation capacity, pushing society to a jeopardy. Climate change will increase incidence of diseases with addition of new affliction and vectors. Vulnerable poor countries consequently having less withstanding capacity will simply suffer more. They need adequate support -- global support to counter their respective local climate change afflictions.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Well, the problems would vary from region to region, place to place, and local efforts are a must to overcome these. Local experts and administration understand their local problems better. Whatever the source of fund local undertakers are required to utilise that. At the Conference also, while raising demand for support to mitigate climate change impacts by LDCs, there has been suggestions by many for local initiative towards ensuring effective encounter.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Like elsewhere <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> also has a local government system which may take the initiative of implementing or permit other appropriate undertakers to implement special climate change mitigation and adaptation programmes. Such programmes, in fact, shall not be much different from other development projects. So there is understandably not much difficulty in assuming and achieving them. But there is little time left for contemplation. Climate is changing rapidly than thought and its impact is already being felt. This will mount and profoundly affect us and subsequent generations. The only way out is our own challenge to slow the process, to lessen our vulnerability and adapt to changed conditions.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">If we are serious and sincere in our pledge to reduce green house gas emission, it would not be very difficult to bring down global mean temperature below 2 degree Celsius above pre-industrial period by the target period or even before.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Locally we can go for greening (afforestation) projects wherever possible. But, sadly enough of late media is very frequently coming up with reports of denudation of plantations by "miscreants having links with people that matter". This speaks of no sincerity, no seriousness attached to speech. There must be very stringent law against deforestation and exemplary action against perpetrators. And we can go for clean energy -- wind power, solar power -- as much possible. However, windmills in coastal belt run the risk of being affected by cyclones and solar panels will not work during the monsoon. But then we can embark upon some solution measures, ways must be found for survival's sake.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">As a least developed country we need to develop; the world want us to develop. Thus we cannot curtail our modest industrialisation process but can cut emission, whatever small it is. In that the developed world has to help us with improved, efficient technologies. In our case at the moment the brick kilns appear to be the most emitters. They should be made to refrain from burning fossil fuels and adapt to efficient energy use step by step.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">In agriculture we have to adapt to further intensive cropping patterns, for a substantial portion of cropland will be lost under the climate impact, and we have to undergo a massive rehabilitation programme as well. We have also to undertake an extensive campaign to aware people about the climate change -- how and why it happens, and enlighten them of the necessity for mitigation and adaptation measures. This is also necessary for involving the people in the process. Because, all inclusive the task is simply huge; not feasible for administration machinery or a few agencies to shoulder it alone.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Besides, or outside of, government, NGOs have a proven record of undertaking and accomplishing large public interest projects involving individuals as well as communities. The sphere includes healthcare, education, water and sanitation, afforestation, farming, microcredit and poverty alleviation. They can be effectively engaged in alleviating climate change suffering of the people as well utilising their experience and capability. Small industries also can come under some NGOs' SME programmes for employment and rehabilitation of the displaced.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Poor countries' cry for help is by all counts justified. The poor obviously suffer most during any calamity not to speak of the climate change impact -- the calamity of scale. The NGOs have experience of working with and for the poor in some cases more than government agencies themselves. They have experience of involving their network during emergency situations, like flood and cyclone, in relief and rehabilitation service.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Government can chalk out programmes for the poor and vulnerable according to evolving situation or ask NGOs to submit theirs and get approved. Then it can embark upon that at local government level or whatever with NGOs, or ask them to run theirs under its supervision or whatever process plausible. The objective is to serve most the most vulnerable -- the poor -- to help them mitigate and adapt to the climate change situation. This has to be accomplished in whatever way and with whatever means possible.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span">--Shariful Alam Sharif</span></span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-89779246353266912052010-10-14T16:50:00.001+06:002010-10-14T16:50:08.608+06:00Biodiversity for life and livelihood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVl-Zd9P3YvVqNQjcHqRKfjPrj_9Rj-cKiyflkufiYgOFL-wfQBi5UkZadFmC8uqTa0CO_hkmrxd-9dCMPV0CTaAaN_8tHKpi68ZoQwhAtuoLiXjXNihUbPqzZ3xnQW4MJ8incKgLQksRj/s1600/Biodiversity-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVl-Zd9P3YvVqNQjcHqRKfjPrj_9Rj-cKiyflkufiYgOFL-wfQBi5UkZadFmC8uqTa0CO_hkmrxd-9dCMPV0CTaAaN_8tHKpi68ZoQwhAtuoLiXjXNihUbPqzZ3xnQW4MJ8incKgLQksRj/s320/Biodiversity-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">Human being is probably the most intelligent among the million species. He has tamed the nature by his knowledge and comparative physical advantages. However, in his reckless consumption spree for the sake of development and prosperity, humans have used different species in such a way that many of those have already become extinct and some others are under threat of extinction.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">At present, humans have intensified use and production of some so-called economically valuable species ignoring others' contribution. Lately, humans have started to understand significance of ecosystem services generated by different species and estimated that 60% of the ecosystem services, accessed, are in decline due to unsustainable human actions (MA, 2005). Millennium Ecosystem Assessment warned that the cost of failure to halt biodiversity loss on land alone in last 10 years is estimated to be $ 500 billion and if the current trend of biodiversity loss continues then in near future the humanity itself will face extinction.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="apple-style-span">Therefore, the realisation of a balanced world with all living beings' </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="apple-style-span">respective role has come to the forefront of the recent scientific researches. The UN has supported the awareness by declaring 2010 as International Year of Biodiversity. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has further added value to the recent worldwide movement of conserving biodiversity by setting this year's World Environment Day theme as “</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><i>Many species. One planet. One future”.</i></span><br />
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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span">Bangladesh</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="apple-style-span"> is endowed with very rich biodiversity resources and it is evident from its species diversity profile, particularly for angiosperms and avi-fauna. Recently published 4th National Biodiversity Report estimates that the country possesses 3,611 species of angiosperm, 2,623 belonging to 158 families of dicotyledons and, 988 to 41 families of monocotyledons. Since the country's economy is largely natural resources based, the sheer majority of the human population directly depend on its biological resources to sustain their lives and livelihoods.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">However, country's overwhelming population and their demand for development often compel them to pay little or no heed to biodiversity. Industrial development, expansion of agriculture, human settlements, unplanned urbanisation and rural infrastructure development all have exerted negative pressure on our environment, particularly resulting in the destruction of habitats of valuable biodiversity resources.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Climatic change, not completely a new phenomenon but recently soared up in policy arena, is another strong factor apprehended responsible for biodiversity loss. Climate change and biodiversity exhibits an inverse relationship. Loss of biodiversity causes climate change; on the other hand, climate change induced natural calamities contribute to biodiversity loss. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>, supposedly a darling child of nature, is affected from both climate change and poverty. Consequently, its biological resources experience immense pressure; rather than being considered as natural capital, the resources are always regarded as raw materials.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuGpgwtuMrUBRCFhVOvohQgfKVmdEi0gqFt6PpiZzGYS-2PK1mrVWD_KG5H2lqy2vGROMfqQ1PIk2d1McK_PWFLdwLHr8nhTf6RyoY6m8yzoH9WfGOhZY-8QSOEn9i1-xwSu1Nho4Akp0/s1600/Biodiversity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuGpgwtuMrUBRCFhVOvohQgfKVmdEi0gqFt6PpiZzGYS-2PK1mrVWD_KG5H2lqy2vGROMfqQ1PIk2d1McK_PWFLdwLHr8nhTf6RyoY6m8yzoH9WfGOhZY-8QSOEn9i1-xwSu1Nho4Akp0/s320/Biodiversity.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Agriculture is the world's oldest occupation and constitutes the biggest employment sector. Both basic sustenance (nutrients and calories) for people and raw materials for industries have been coming from agriculture since inception of civilization. Yet, agriculture is fundamentally dependent on biodiversity and eco-system services. Species of crops and livestock and their genetic diversity are the basis of agriculture. Even the insects contribute a lot to the agro-production. Species of earthworms, fungi, soil-micro organisms, as well as flora and fauna surrounding agricultural areas underpin ecosystem services that sustain agriculture, such as pollination and nutrient cycling.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Being an agrarian country, life and economy of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> are largely dependent on agriculture. In spite of introduction of mechanical agriculture, still larger farmer community practices nature dependent agriculture where they use bull to cultivate their land, earthworm as their plough, cow dung, small trees and leaves as their manure, insects as their agent of pollination and so forth. Every component of the natural environment works as their helping agent in agricultural production. Even if so-called green revolution has been given credit for alleviating poverty and providing food to the country's large population , but recent food crisis has depicted an opposing scenario where mechanised agriculture, which pay little attention to biodiversity, has been blamed for degrading environmental quality and consequently the production decline.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Intensified production system using only few varities, dominates the current agriculture production system. Even though presence of more than 10,000 rice varieties in the country is a clear example of our vast wealth of genetic resources, but now there are only ten types of local rice in production practice and this sector has been dominated by High Yielding Varieties (HYV) which need an intensive use of fertilizers, insecticides and so on resulting in an adverse impact on the surrounding environment. Once abundant, fish resources might be the most affected by synthetic agri input.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Together with the staple rice small amounts of vegetable and fish constitute the everyday diet of overwhelming majority population of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Moreover, fisheries are important occupation of many of the rural poor, constituting main income source for near about 2 million households. Flood plains, rivers, streams, canals, beels and ponds in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> are equipped with 260 species of fresh water fish resources. Among them, 140 species are classified as small indigenous fish species. Moreover, a considerable number of estuarine and marine fish species have enriched country's fish resource stocks. However, overcatch, destruction of habitat, pollution, conversion of wetlands to alternative uses have resulted in extinction of many fish species and subsequent wild catch has declined sharply in recent years.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">The extinction of local fish species and associated decreased production has affected poor people's diet mostly. Millions of poor rural people are now suffering from malnutrition, who once were dependent on fish to meet their protein demand. Interestingly, official statistics estimate that total fish production has been increasing; this is due to aquaculture practice with some fast growing hybrid and exotic fish species. Regrettably, many of the widely cultivated exotic fish species have been identified as invasive and they exert negative externalities to our local ecosystem. Moreover, poor people have limited or no access to such commercial fish culture. And they cannot afford fish from the market due to high prices. Many of the rural poor cannot even remember now when they had fish last time.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Forests provide food and vast array of materials for medicinal, cultural and spiritual purposes as well as building materials and firewood, more specifically the poor is the primary beneficiary from the forest. It is estimated that one billion people worldwide depend on drugs derived from forest plants. Moreover, by providing home to a large number of birds and wildlife forests play an important role to conserve valuable biodiversity resources. Forests' ecological, social and economic functions are also praiseworthy. Forests store and purify drinking water, protect watershed, mitigate natural disasters, and control erosion, cycle nutrients, help to store carbon and to regulate climate and contribute to the regional and national economies both directly through revenues, value adding and employment.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Even if <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> is a forest poor country, only 6% of country's total land is forest covered, yet it is very rich in species diversity. The hill forest alone supports 2,259 species of angiosperm. Sundarbans, world's largest single mangrove block and a world heritage site, is a unique habitat of spectacular Royal Bengal Tiger. Being the most bio-diverse forest in Bangladesh, Sundarbans alone supports 53% of birds, 43% of animals, 42% of reptiles, 36% of amphibians, 29% of plants and 17% of fish species of the country's total biodiversity resources.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">However, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s forests have decreased significantly in terms of both area and quality over the last few decades. The annual deforestation rate is estimated to be around 3.3% (Khan et al. 2004). Number of factors are responsible for forest degradation. The increasing population and associated increased demand for timber, shelter, food continues to put pressure on existing forest resources resulting in over exploitations. Moreover, introduction of some exotic species such as Eucalyptus, Acacia etc. and their wide plantation is another important cause of some native species' extinction. These exotic species neither fitted with local environment nor support birds or any wildlife. Additionally, these have introduced some pests, which incur a huge loss every year.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Every year about 20% new settlements are being added at the expense of productive homestead agriculture and forest lands, which basically used to provide food and livelihood to the rural poor. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Homestead</st1:place></st1:city> ecosystem is also very important for providing shelter to wildlife. With dwindling forest cover, this importance is becoming far more significant. Most of the small mammals and birds still existing in the country are completely dependent on this ecosystem, including agricultural land for their survival.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Again, culture and biological diversity are closely intertwined. Biodiversity remains at the centre of many religions and culture. The close association between biodiversity and culture is particularly apparent at sacred sites -- areas which are held to be of importance because of their religious and spiritual significance. In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>, there is a significant diversity in ecosystem, culture, especially rural and indigenous culture, which is the centre of attraction to many tourists.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">We do not have another planet to depend on, except this mother earth. The earth is still livable and beautiful because it has many species, who perform different functions to keep the earth functioning. All the species have been created for serving and supporting human beings as argued by many religions. Biodiversity loss, therefore, will eventually lead to human extinction. We have to protect all the species for our own sake, for keeping the world colourful and, above all, surviving.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space">Shariful Alam</span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-90325822701488031312010-10-06T17:53:00.001+06:002010-10-06T19:06:06.686+06:00The seven stages of working life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D7ezQcUd11UGeNNT2p7odW2JjdwJ0NcuHNcKkGM97sIG7KO27-9DjrzFXh3G03xs4N9p_zBvOpMUHX_0KgFGo1aK5aToHCeaZyQ8Lm0to1EuvuCKf5577AqyF0rU5OGkSQ1Z8gwCCT9M/s1600/Stage-of-Life.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D7ezQcUd11UGeNNT2p7odW2JjdwJ0NcuHNcKkGM97sIG7KO27-9DjrzFXh3G03xs4N9p_zBvOpMUHX_0KgFGo1aK5aToHCeaZyQ8Lm0to1EuvuCKf5577AqyF0rU5OGkSQ1Z8gwCCT9M/s1600/Stage-of-Life.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;">YOUR work and your personal achievements remain a major focus these days, or so the contents of my mailbag suggest, so let's return to that subject.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> <br />
William Shakespeare said that a person went through "seven ages of life."<br />
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I think the immortal bard was spot on.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
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Here are The Seven Stages of Working Life. Which stage are you at?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
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<b>Stage One: The intern</b><br />
Arrives late. Explains that he got lost. Told to make coffee. Makes undrinkable black gunge. Sits in on meetings at which he realises, with horror, that he knows nothing about anything being discussed. Spends most of the day feeling terrifyingly useless. Asks inane questions such as: "Please, sir, do we have to ask before we go to the toilet?" At midday, eats packed lunch from home.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
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<b>Stage two: The short-contract worker</b><br />
Arrives early. Waits outside till a staff member arrives with a key. Devotes all his energy to volunteering for assignments because he is desperate to get hired full-time. At lunch, he eats sandwiches at his desk while doing everyone else's work. He leaves the office last, at 9:00 pm, but still arrives the next morning before the rest of us.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
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<b>Stage three: The new hire</b><br />
Arrives slightly before other staff. First to take his seat at meetings. Talks constantly about "our vision." Starry-eyed and enthusiastic. Does much of the work that gets done, although he is constantly interrupted by older staff wandering into his room to sit on his desk and spout rubbish. Leaves at 8:00 pm.<br />
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<b>Stage four: The experienced executive</b><br />
Arrives at exactly 9:00 am, not a minute early or late. Has a lot of work to do, but spends most of his time transferring it to other people. Occasionally buys lunch at the wine bar for people at stages one, two and three, because he enjoys the way they worship him. Leaves at 7:00 pm.<br />
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<b>Stage five: The senior manager</b><br />
Strolls into the office at 9:40. Cannot avoid work completely, but does the bare minimum. Lunches at private club, practicing his "vice president" look of worldliness and ennui so as to be ready for the next stage. Sneaks out of the office on the dot of 6:00 pm.<br />
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<b>Stage six: Vice president</b><br />
Languidly ambles into the office around 11:00. Finds work a total bore, so he gets people at stages one, two, three and four to do all of his work for him. Spends most of the day sitting on the desks of new hires to give them the benefits of his wisdom. Leaves the office at 5:00 pm pretending to be on the way to a client meeting.<br />
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<b>Stage seven: Chairman</b><br />
Arrives late. Explains that he got lost because his memory is not what it was. Serves coffee from private percolator. Turns out to be undrinkable black gunge. Sits in on meetings at which he realises, with horror, that he no longer knows anything about what is being discussed. Spends most of the day feeling terrifyingly useless. Asks inane questions all the time, such as: "Shall we open some overseas offices, or have we already done that sort of thing?" Before leaving at 3:00 pm, he eats packed lunch from home because he can't eat anything without bran.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
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It's the circle of life.<br />
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By the way, every time you start a new job, you usually go back several stages. For example, I'm a young man, but I am at Stage Five in my current job. What stage are you at?</span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">Shariful Alam</span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-37442152618778966902010-09-19T17:08:00.000+06:002010-09-19T17:08:15.375+06:00Water pollution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fqvk_8i7zwgomjWbAqOaaWedhAm1jZREcPZlfdGmu1DljwoLqBbLqKOgL_Tq_yjzkGUfaejng2LEoKcXtOMMpl6PiJytRB7W_7iiFmUqLe3DgostO64S3wgFUmEcovzCnEuXWUd7feZj/s1600/Water+Polution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fqvk_8i7zwgomjWbAqOaaWedhAm1jZREcPZlfdGmu1DljwoLqBbLqKOgL_Tq_yjzkGUfaejng2LEoKcXtOMMpl6PiJytRB7W_7iiFmUqLe3DgostO64S3wgFUmEcovzCnEuXWUd7feZj/s320/Water+Polution.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;">Pollution affects plants and organisms living in water. Although water has been identified on several planets, none has as much water as Earth, of which 70 percent is covered with water. Approximately 97.4 percent of the water on Earth is found in oceans and is too salty for human consumption. An additional 2.6 percent is fresh water found in underground bodies of water called aquifers or frozen in glaciers or polar ice caps. Less than 0.02 percent of Earth's water is present in lakes, rivers, or the atmosphere. The water itself provides the environment for fish, plants and animals. There are several sources of water pollution which work together to reduce overall river water quality. Industries and agriculture discharge liquid waste products. Rain as it falls through the air, or drains from urban areas and farmland, absorb contaminants.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Many dangerous metals including iron, aluminum, tin, lead, mercury and cadmium come out of old mine workings. Phosphorus from sewage is another powerful pollutant. Careless people can also pollute rivers and harm wildlife by pouring things like used car oil and paint into drains. Rubbish dumps create a strong chemical cocktail called leachate. This can be deadly to fish, small aquatic creatures and plants. In modern waste sites great care is taken to ensure that none escapes, but leachate from older rubbish dumps seeps into rivers and can pollute our drinking water. If we want to mitigate water pollution then we need to be aware of using various technologies. In the industrial sector, there should be use of water purification technology such as waste water treatment plant. This way we can maintain a sound industrial environment. Steps should be taken by the government at the policy making level. The awareness among the general people of the country and the NGOs should help to reduce water pollution.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span">Shariful Alam</span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-61934777172392803132010-09-08T11:21:00.000+06:002010-09-08T11:21:17.390+06:00Secrets of Mona Lisa smile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUNFY8ED7putIKD5Y82l0nS9ht2S9VsidOzV_Ems8jV01TTr2nA6qp33ix-sDn7cLQgfQpvge8RfoSO7rr8VYy-kqJAXNQ7w93S1khTJ4ua3zyDrzBiY1xl6bAqlIE_L7zAq8NsafrSFP/s1600/Mona-Lisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUNFY8ED7putIKD5Y82l0nS9ht2S9VsidOzV_Ems8jV01TTr2nA6qp33ix-sDn7cLQgfQpvge8RfoSO7rr8VYy-kqJAXNQ7w93S1khTJ4ua3zyDrzBiY1xl6bAqlIE_L7zAq8NsafrSFP/s320/Mona-Lisa.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;">Mona Lisa. The immortal, captivating and the most wondrous creation of the renaissance maestro Leonardo Da Vinci. There is truly something enigmatic about this sixteenth-century portrait that has fascinated artists non-artists alike for generations. Presumably the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of a wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco Del Giocondo, this painting has deeply influenced scientists, fiction writers, even conspiracy theorists. Thanks to the mystic facial expressions created by Vinci, the archetype renaissance painter. A team of French scientists have finally cracked the secret of Mona Lisa. Specialists from the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"> of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><st1:placename w:st="on">Research</st1:placename></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"> and Restoration of the Museums of France, in collaboration with European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Louvre</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;">, have studied seven of Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings in order to analyze the master's use of successive ultra-thin layers of paint and glaze, the technique that scholars believe gave Vinci's work their distinct dreamy quality. The paintings are Mona Lisa, Virgin of the Rocks, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><st1:city w:st="on">Saint John</st1:city></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"> the Baptist, Annunciation, Bacchus, Belle Ferronniere, Saint Anne, the virgin and the child, all currently displayed in the famous </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Louvre</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"> where the actual study took place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Armed with a non-invasive technique called X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, the distinguished team of scientists was able to study each layer of paint and their chemical compositions of each of the seven artworks. According to team leader, Philippe Walter, this equipment is so precise that “now we can find out the mix of pigments used by the artist of each coat of paint.” Published in the latest edition of the journal Angewandte Chemie, international edition, the researchers found out that Da Vinci painted up to 30 layers of paint on his works to meet his signature standard of subtlety and all the layers are less than 40 micrometers or about the half the thickness of a human hair. This is in fact a technique called “Sfumato” (common amongst the renaissance masters), which is the mixing of thin layers of pigment, glaze and oil to create lifelike shadows.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">This “Sfumato” technique allowed Leonardo to give outlines and contours a hazy quality which eventually created an illusion of depth and shadow. According to the scientists, the shadows were built up by dozens of translucent layers of glaze where each layer was only one or two micro-meters thick, but each contained a carefully dosed pigmentation. It is believed that this in particular was a new technique during the Renaissance and part of the reason Leonardo and his contemporaries were able to make what had been once flat images of the Middle Ages which appear to leap from their frames into photo-like reality. And this “Sfumato” technique explains the mystic nature of the drawing of “Mona Lisa”. Experts believe that, one of the key reasons behind Mona Lisa's enormous appeal is the lifelike shadows and tones that give her enigmatically smiling face a sense of depth and reality. It was found that in the case of Mona Lisa, Leonardo used a mixture of oil and resins, a binder with a very low amount of pigments. And according to Philippe Walter, “with this mixture it was possible to create a very impressive aspect of the painting-a realistic, like a 3-D painting”. It was also found that in the Mona Lisa, Da Vinci used manganese oxide in hid shadings whereas in others he used copper and often glazes. And regarding any hidden codes or clues, perhaps more patience is in order. This study may have answered how Leonardo Da Vinci illustrated the mystic smile in Mona Lisa, but as for the actual reason behind such mysterious smile, as the saying goes “there is more than what meets the eye”; surely we need to study her more innately.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space">Shariful Alam</span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-7135029814299390902010-09-06T11:48:00.001+06:002010-09-06T11:48:29.127+06:00Save the Mother Earth by keeping biodiversity & ecosystem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc4jYYGzb6Yu57rkI47dW5BnFYDi5SXMq898atr4pgvoNGzyyfmD8-JVcp_rBxyEtRJwwmQ2_bKgGWGfN86Gx6QSNPYdlgTWp0cYMnCWsqGw43uKDAgVNWIw4FTzncIbyU4DVfjVTqR9U/s1600/Biodiversity-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc4jYYGzb6Yu57rkI47dW5BnFYDi5SXMq898atr4pgvoNGzyyfmD8-JVcp_rBxyEtRJwwmQ2_bKgGWGfN86Gx6QSNPYdlgTWp0cYMnCWsqGw43uKDAgVNWIw4FTzncIbyU4DVfjVTqR9U/s320/Biodiversity-2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">WHATEVER the religious scriptures depict, man as a species of living beings constitutes a negligible part of the earth's biota. Yet, having overwhelming intelligence and capacity to mould nature, he has done much harm to the environment that nurtures all of them with motherly affection. In essence, we -- the humans -- have been a destructive species that has caused irreparable damage to mother nature just for rapid production of our utilities and to lead an easier and rather lavish life.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> <br />
<span class="apple-style-span">However, after axing our own feet, we could realize that such destructive activities have harmed our own well-being, and have started crying for sustainable development using as much renewable energy as possible, reducing carbon emission to avert or at least minimise green-house effect and global warming that are contributing largely to melting of ice caps, sea level rise and unforeseen climate changes.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">There were four major organised international efforts at sustainable development to retain the natural biodiversity as much as possible in the ecosystems. The first one was held in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Stockholm</st1:place></st1:city> on the issue of Human Environment. On the same platform, one more resolution was adopted, which gave birth to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). That <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Stockholm</st1:place></st1:city> conference decided to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5 every year.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">World Environment Day (WED) is the main weapon of the United Nations to make people aware of the worldwide environmental degradation, and to attract the attention and action of various political sources and human resources. Now over 100 nations around the globe celebrate this event. Every year, the UNEP coins a theme and its central program is arranged in a specific place. This year's theme was “Biodiversity -- ecosystems management and the green economy” and the venue <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:city>.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">At the state levels, various resolutions and pledges are taken by prime ministers, chief ministers and ministers for environment on WED. They make commitments to take care of the world environment. The pledges are then established as the basis of environmental management and economic planning dealt with by the government.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the first and foremost state program is the seasonal tree plantation campaign that is inaugurated by none other than the head of the government. This is usually done on June 1, four days before the international WED. Our ministry concerned also arranges street rallies on the scheduled day. Furthermore, we also arrange essay and poster competitions in schools, while the clean-up campaigns are usually arranged by some non-governmental organisations, especially the environmental groups like Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA).</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Now let's dwell on the theme of this year's WED. Here “biodiversity” comes first. The term refers to the existence of diverse biota (species diversity) in the various types of ecosystems (ecosystem diversity). Another term, “genetic diversity,” signifies especially the different varieties of living beings (containing diverse genetic constitution) inside a species of plant, animal or microbe. We must note that both genetic and species diversities need diverse ecosystems (and in micro-level, different niches) to sustain and thrive.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Once we destroy even partially the underground, surface and aquatic ecosystems (along with the atmosphere), unwisely creating only some artificial (secondary or tertiary) forests, and confine aquatic biota to closed water bodies (lakes and ponds) we actually close or limit the scope of sustenance and growth of diverse flora and fauna. Hence, UNEP properly placed the term “ecosystem management” just after biodiversity.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">How can we manage the natural ecosystems? In countries like <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>, where geometrically increasing human population is literally eating up space (ecosystems) essential for all other biota, how can we still leave the spaces that other living things deserve to have?</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">There is a two-way solution. One is to arrest further growth of our own species. The other way is wiser living. We must occupy lesser earth surface for our living, i.e., living in vertical spaces, in high-rise buildings. Another way to keep some spaces available for other living things is decentralisation of human organizations, including dwelling houses, social establishments and industries.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Most people's longing for living in cities (thus leaving no space in large continuous areas of concrete jungles for other living things) can be changed by sincere state efforts through sound policies of turning the whole country into a mix of urban and rural communities rather than concentrating all urban facilities in cities. This refers to green economy all through a country and, in turn, worldwide.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">However, “green economy” cannot be established by a single state, or even a region. That's why three major international efforts, other than <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Stockholm</st1:place></st1:city> declaration, were made. These are the Rio Declaration (1992), Kyoto Protocol (2002) and Copenhagen Summit (2009).</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">The last summit was termed by many as failed and by some as an opportunity. To me, this summit was just saved from a total failure by the last minute efforts. Why are most industrialised states -- both western and eastern -- still reluctant to reduce carbon emission and rely more on renewable energy? The answer I find is that they do not realise the very basis of environmental concerns that created UNEP, WED, Rio, <st1:city w:st="on">Kyoto</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Copenhagen</st1:place></st1:city>.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">What is that? That's the very first proclamation of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Stockholm</st1:city></st1:place> declaration, which states: “Man is both creature and moulder of his environment.” Leaders in most developed countries still like to “mould” the environment further by using technology, forgetting that the environment thus moulded shall turn unsuitable for living of “creatures” of nature that we actually are. So, please stop further moulding of nature, let's rather mould our psyche to avert the 27th destruction of earth that can make room for the 28th evolution of life (An evolution theory says: living things have evolved 27 times so far after large scale destruction).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="apple-style-span">Shariful Alam</span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-32186604052475283702010-09-05T13:42:00.000+06:002010-09-05T13:42:48.668+06:00Save Old Dhaka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN1bpOFsHGIMyARVt_2OqLbmQq2ogYP5cw9gsrFZgqrtDZxv5JrHCndpVgDLnF1CpbuqBI1k3cYo90PHIVqGefu4h9BNYHNpq6z1SAe35AjDgB39HTyG9XUdqfg5D6-LmPDGWCxfF9C0I/s1600/Old-Dhaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN1bpOFsHGIMyARVt_2OqLbmQq2ogYP5cw9gsrFZgqrtDZxv5JrHCndpVgDLnF1CpbuqBI1k3cYo90PHIVqGefu4h9BNYHNpq6z1SAe35AjDgB39HTyG9XUdqfg5D6-LmPDGWCxfF9C0I/s320/Old-Dhaka.jpg" /></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">IT is time to think and talk about old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> and the people living there. It is more pertinent to do so after the tragic fire incident at Nimtoli that claimed so many lives recently. We must not let it happen again. Old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> is unique by every definition. It has a character of its own that can be felt only by people who continue to live there or who had lived there for at least a good number of years. New <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> lacks that character.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Puran Dhaka, as it is popularly called, is a moving canvas of colour, faces, food, dress, language and lifestyle that can hardly be emulated by outsiders. It is the part that never sleeps. It is the part where most of our traditions, heritage and pride linger in every nook and niche, silently bearing testimony to many historic events for the last four hundred years. Old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> must survive. Old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> must live. If it is gone, we will be left with no past; no history.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">As we see the population increasing like crazy everywhere, old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> is no exception. But, not all are genuine Dhakaiaas who live there. At the moment, a guesstimate is that one third of the population there is constituted by people coming from other districts.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">This gradual infiltration by aliens has not only alarmingly diluted the original character of old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> but has also created a demand for more living space. But, as space is a big constraint in that part, house owners have opted to go skyward to earn rents.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">They are building floors on weak foundations despite the fact that most buildings have outlived their allotted time. The invasion has in turn created tremendous pressure on the utility service supply system in the entire area from Wari to Wiseghat, from Laxmi Bazar to Lalbagh. The increasing number of people, shops, hotels, restaurants, schools, cars and rickshaws has resulted in the narrowing down of the roads and lanes in the area.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">What the government must do on an emergency basis, if it is serious about not allowing any man-made disaster striking again, is formulate a pragmatic policy of creating a new residential area for the people of old Dhaka -- for the genuine Dhakaiaas that is. Offer them compensation package for dismantling their dilapidated buildings. Then find land for them and sell plots on instalment basis. Where would the government find land in old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place>? There is a solution.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Remove the Central Jail. Take it to somewhere in Savar or Gazipur or anywhere. The Central Jail is situated on a large area, which can be cleaned up and then divided into hundreds of plots. Those plots would be sold on lottery basis. No minister's nephew would be eligible to apply. Everyone will have to submit evidence to prove that he or she has been living in old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> for five to six generations.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">As an alternative step, the government can construct spacious, modern multi-storied residential buildings and sell flats to the Dhakaiaas. The entire enclave should be built with a modern concept. There should be wide roads criss-crossing in all direction with a park and a shopping mall for the residents. There should also be a small field for children to play in. The demand for such flats would rise among the people in old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place>. But, where is land to construct more flats? There is a solution.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Remove all the tanneries from Hazaribagh and remove all factories and illegal warehouses from old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> and you will have sufficient land to construct hundreds of flats. Hazaribagh itself is almost half the size of Dhanmondi residential area. One can visualise how many flats the government would be able to construct there; how many old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> families would be able to live amidst fresh air and sunlight. Then why don't they do it?</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Here everything stops. All good ideas and good initiatives come to a dead end when we ask the government to do something. Why? because, government does not belong to anyone, neither does it belong to itself. It is a strange conglomerate, if we may say so for argument's sake, constituted with some strangers who do not know each other well and do not share any common interest. Each member of the government has his or her individual interest to fulfil.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Then who would do it? Private developers? But, cynics say that most of them are even worse than the East India Company. Well, a dilemma indeed and we shall have to find the best way as to how we can help our brothers living in old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place>. To reach a solution, let us form a strong committee comprising some highly respected, elderly citizens who would visit the entire old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place>, talk to the people, talk to the local leaders and seek their advice regarding how the crisis of residential quarters can be overcome.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">The time bomb in old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> is ticking. The ominous signs are there. If we do not act fast, greater man-made disasters will take more lives. Someone, some organisations will have to come forward with the good intent to help solve the problems. The commercial banks have been doing good business in old <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place> for over a century under different names. Can they all get together and set aside a big fund from their CSR account to undertake massive facelift work?</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Whether government or private sector, the bottom line is Save Old Dhaka.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="apple-converted-space">Shariful Alam</span></span>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-24937824360149386642010-09-02T11:48:00.000+06:002010-09-02T11:48:25.762+06:00Science and/with Rabindranath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5dh8frjIcBASSTCP5E_UFfFXw0G7Fn8mXEdcdlE3oRwtrDPmn4pO2ySXMUBi0tigaRdXdxclFji5LFuXJ5lDUFwGGL15btHhoy15m-3ukAYhnCPNExQm5lzjgaTfer-FoLxqhHtw97xP/s1600/Ronindranath-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5dh8frjIcBASSTCP5E_UFfFXw0G7Fn8mXEdcdlE3oRwtrDPmn4pO2ySXMUBi0tigaRdXdxclFji5LFuXJ5lDUFwGGL15btHhoy15m-3ukAYhnCPNExQm5lzjgaTfer-FoLxqhHtw97xP/s320/Ronindranath-2.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">WHY should</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Biswa Parichay</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">(our universe) by Rabindanath Tagore, written so long ago in 1937, be a matter of discussion today? This is because the scientific-minded Tagore comes up less in our discussion than the God-loving poet. This type of discussions has given rise to many interpretations and misinterpretations about the great mind of the poet.<br />
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There is another less discussed side of the poet, who has contributed to not only our literature but also to our nation-building efforts. Putting him only within books deprives us of the vision for going ahead in the modern world.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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Rabindranath, with some of his contemporaries -- though towering above them all -- showed us the way forward. Just reading his popular poems and listening to his songs pulls down him to a narrow place in our national life.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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What is the significance of</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Biswa Parichay</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">? It makes us realise that the nation cannot develop without learning and practising science. Practising science does not mean only using electric fan, mobile phone, television, laptop, etc., or becoming a doctor or an engineer.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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Beyond these, it is necessary to study, think about, debate over, assimilate in life and contribute to the development of science.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Biswa Parichay</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">is a book on science written for children. The poet said that he wrote it just to show the way of discussing science in an entertaining and understandable manner for all. Many critics call it the best book on science in Bangla literature.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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In it, the poet has discussed physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, all in a manner of telling a story combining science with life in society. This is the one characteristic that has made this unique among all Bangla books on science.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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When our intellectuals are struggling to find Bangla terms for scientific words and are at wit's end, there is a good example in this book which shows that there is no barrier to discussing the most complex scientific ideas in the Bangla language.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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This book is not only a scientific explanation of the world, but also a linguistic explanation of it. After discussing the growth and development of the universe, Tagore said, almost in passing: “<i>Eijonnoi amader bhashay ei bishshoke bole JaGaT. Orthat er shongga hochchhe e cholchhe, cholatei er utpotti, cholai er shobhab</i>" (So in our language this universe is called jagat. The definition of it is it is going on, it grows out of movement, and its nature is to keep moving).</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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I learnt from the writings of Kalim Khan, a linguist in West Bengal, India, that in the Bangla word ja-ga-t, ja = origin, ga = development and t = revolutionary change. (<i>Paroma Bhashar Shongket</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">by Kalim Khan, published by Papyrus, <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place>.)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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Since Tagore wrote this book many scientific ideas and information have changed. Except those few things, the book is as new as if it was written yesterday. It is known that more school students in our country prefer humanities and commerce to science. This is because presentation of science, the most interesting subject of all, is very insipid in our classrooms and so students fail to enjoy the reading of it.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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Those who study medical science and engineering do so not so much either for their interest in science or for working for humanity as for the money these professions will fetch -- yet there are not many doctors and engineers in our country. Again, a scientific outlook is necessary for everyone, irrespective of what group s/he studies in; it is imperative for the development of the nation as well.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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There are five chapters in this book. Notes can be given at the end of each chapter, showing the changes in modern scientific ideas. Each chapter can be studied in different grades. This article is written as an appeal to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to make</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Biswa Parichay</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">compulsory reading for all from Class IV to VIII.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
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It will help learners achieve a scientific outlook, understand that all branches of knowledge are unified at a deeper level of understanding, remove some harmful misunderstandings about Tagore from our social life, and ultimately learn to have joy in earning knowledge about our</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">JaGaT</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt;">Shariful Alam</span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-21823968089109596012010-08-31T14:06:00.000+06:002010-08-31T14:06:08.402+06:00The Bengal Legend: Shamsur Rahman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7Twm1sVPS9vOlrqm7LhTXjnIRRG-HJXuNVvapzwdUn6XSUGUnzkmH6rAihFjKXH_tqvUvbxNaoYed8dw22IPB03RxnO1-Ttfg2h3ZPK-OKzQKVgmFgji0HV1fkLR3c2mZN7HZjUwItxV/s1600/Shamsur+Rahman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7Twm1sVPS9vOlrqm7LhTXjnIRRG-HJXuNVvapzwdUn6XSUGUnzkmH6rAihFjKXH_tqvUvbxNaoYed8dw22IPB03RxnO1-Ttfg2h3ZPK-OKzQKVgmFgji0HV1fkLR3c2mZN7HZjUwItxV/s320/Shamsur+Rahman.jpg" /></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If Robindranath Tagore was the last poet in the Bengali tradition, Jibanananda Das was the first of a new breed. And this new breed, in the trend of Bengali modern and post modern poetry, has been unarguably continuous with the powerful contributions of Shamsur Rahman.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Shamsur Rahman emerged in his time as the most popular poet of modern Bengali literature. Popularity apart, Shamsur Rahman had distinguished himself as an extraordinary poet presenting a paradigm hitherto best chosen. It is a fact that his most familiar poetic diction, choice of words and thematic preferences took not much time to reach the heart of the readers. Today it can be said without exaggeration that the poetry of Shamsur Rahman has become the defining essence of modernism in 21st century Bengali poetry.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Shamsur Rahman was born on 24th October 1929 in <st1:place w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:place>. He studied at <st1:placename w:st="on">Pogos</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">High School</st1:placetype> [matriculation in 1945], <st1:placename w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Shamsur Rahman wrote most of his poems in free verse, often with the rhythm style known as Poyaar or Aakhsharbritto. It is popularly known that he followed this pattern from poet Jibanananda Das. He also wrote poems in two other major patterns of Bengali rhythmic style, namely, Matrabritto and Shorobritto.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Of Bengali modern poets, poet Shamsur Rahman was equally popular in both Banglas. Surely, his early poems bear the influence of Jibanananda's and some other poets like Satyendranath Dutta and Buddhadeb Bose. However, before long, he thoroughly overcame all influences and created a post modern poetic diction. However, as his style and diction matured, his message appeared to touch urban hearts. In fact, he gave huge attention to liberal humanism, human relations, romanticised rebellion of youth, the emergence of consequent events in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and opposition to religious fundamentalism in his poetry and writings and these were considered mostly comprehensible. His poetic talent has reserved a crown for him in Bengali modern poetry.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Bengali literature received a big blow with the death of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s poet laureate Shamshur Rahman in 2006.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="apple-converted-space">Shariful Alam</span></span>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-79407921735965735892010-08-30T12:08:00.001+06:002010-08-30T12:10:44.901+06:00Digital distractions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YdrL-ZLB0oGRzswNjiIkwZZEs5yX0gk4zbI-p_EDHX3bb5Z5LWVsy_-T7Fi3dOHaurNHMD_Uqtm1esvXN52fthmUgyPMdk5FPyF402vgh7f-Gs5PCGaIHoqJLuOwO6trmIGFx-LLpkLx/s1600/Digital-distruction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YdrL-ZLB0oGRzswNjiIkwZZEs5yX0gk4zbI-p_EDHX3bb5Z5LWVsy_-T7Fi3dOHaurNHMD_Uqtm1esvXN52fthmUgyPMdk5FPyF402vgh7f-Gs5PCGaIHoqJLuOwO6trmIGFx-LLpkLx/s320/Digital-distruction.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">Imagine you are sitting in your living room, looking at your friend's new photos on Facebook. Old friends start to send instant messages, and you have your email account open on a different window. Other links are also open, where you are browsing for information. Your television is also switched on and your cell phone rings, you pick it up, and while conversing, you try to read and send a text message. Looking obliquely from the corners of your eyes at the computer screen and someone enters your room and you finish your important family talks.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">You must be thinking that this is exactly what you do. It doesn't take much imagination to conjure up this scenario, because in this era of technology, all of us go through this situation. But a growing body of research suggests that people are paying a mental price for their addiction to electronic gadgets.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Today's office workers face a lot of distractions. There are some with a Facebook obsession and others who check multiple e-mail accounts throughout the day. Inside office cubicles, workers can surf the web or text without worrying about whether anyone is looking over their shoulder.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">It is also common for students to browse the internet with their cell phones in classrooms and while riding CNGs three-wheelers or rickshaws.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Digital distractions are everywhere.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We have so many ways of communicating that it's nearly impossible to simply answer a call, research something online or jot down a note without transitioning to other tasks.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">PC World recently published an article saying the biggest digital distracters are calls and texts from our cell phones, emails, instant messages and social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">The article is great because so many of us don't realise how much time we drain on these forms of remote communication. They've become so deep-seated in our day to day lives that, for some of us, it's hard to imagine what the world would be like if we didn't know whether someone has changed his/her profile picture or not, or what your cousin and friends abroad are doing.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">In 2009, David McCandless, a writer, conducted a survey, The Hierarchy of Digital Distraction, to spot the attention-grabbers. The iPhone and e-mail topped the list.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">The hierarchy showed the entries at the top of the pyramid wins attention over the lower levels. Landline still has a place, but it is thoroughly trumped by anything coming in on your iPhone.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Facebook makes a surprisingly low showing, occupying only the lowest two levels of the hierarchy.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">At the very top of the pyramid is the ultimate arbiter of them all: significant other closing the laptop lid on your fingers. At the very bottom? Any kind of actual work.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="apple-style-span"><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Nevertheless, we cannot controvert the fact that rapid advances and continuous innovation in technology have made the world a smaller place. The internet has made it possible to access information and communicate free of charge with a person sitting at the other end of the world at the click of a button.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">It is amazing how technology has slowly entered our lives and become a part of our daily activities, even without our conscious knowledge.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">When using technology, we should keep in mind the best and worthy use of it. Our goal is a harmonious balance between our daily productive lives and feeling like we are still clued in on the world around us being completely digitised.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Let us see whether the points below can help us come up with ways to take away the distraction part from the equation.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Schedule your surfing -- Give yourself a block of time to catch up on all your Facebook contacts, personal email, and news feeds.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Create a schedule that allows you to check in with your inbox, friend's list and social networking friends on a reasonable basis.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Limit yourself to one email account, Facebook page and instant message screen name.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">If you are constantly refreshing a favourite site or pressing send/receive on your mail client, then you are not actively engaged -- you are probably avoiding your long-term priorities, which show you are wasting time and energy.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">While you are trying to read something online, do not log on to social networking sites. Stick to that very topic, do not open more than four or six links on different topics or else, you will end up remembering nothing.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Settle on a schedule that works for you. We all have different priorities, commitments and levels of activity. Determine how much time you can comfortably spend “plugged in” to these digital distractions and work from there.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">If possible, make more time for people, not people's emails, status updates or instant messages. When we engage with people face-to-face, we're able to dive a lot deeper into conversation, resulting in a pleasant experience for both parties.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Limit the number of times you check your phone while you are really working on something online.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">A break from work should be a restorative action, chatting with a friend online about your project isn't a break. It's a distraction.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Distractions exist because we allow it. It's human nature to wonder what we're missing and we want to be the first to receive an update from a loved one or a piece of gossip from a well-placed source. E-mails, text messaging, push updates, and chat sessions may make us more productive than we've ever been -- in fact, they may be vital in helping us do our jobs, but for many, it may reduce the ability to focus on a single task for more than a few minutes at a time. Rather than multitasking, we are being distracted.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"></span><span class="apple-converted-space">Shariful Alam </span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-3800459171344458102010-08-30T12:04:00.000+06:002010-08-30T12:04:10.714+06:00Digital Bangladesh: Farmers wise up online<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OvNUeN9_lVt4KFjhyphenhyphenukEGvtXjmHOxieZXaparEDzzq5YniPzg-NiwXGcN2FHyXj2lpuA570PcfOcW-oQ2YaB-L1p2Vpn9GYysfy5nIHzoaGSu6vr8zP0vlHrrt0wA6Nzjl1n3CbsrT0E/s1600/Farmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OvNUeN9_lVt4KFjhyphenhyphenukEGvtXjmHOxieZXaparEDzzq5YniPzg-NiwXGcN2FHyXj2lpuA570PcfOcW-oQ2YaB-L1p2Vpn9GYysfy5nIHzoaGSu6vr8zP0vlHrrt0wA6Nzjl1n3CbsrT0E/s320/Farmer.jpg" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">A big chunk on the map of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> happens to comprise of rural areas. Thus, the dream of a 'Digital Bangladesh' can never be achieved by leaving behind the interests of our rural co-habitants. Everyone has the right to information and development. But Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development (BIID) took the provision of this right one step further by providing them with a very modern solution to the problems of our rural farmers by launching their e-krishok campaign. The campaign provides farmers with information and advisory services, so that the farmers can increase their income as well as generate new sources of income.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Bangladeshi farmers have to go through numerous hardships. Natural calamities cannot be avoided. However, if the farmer knew when to expect one and thereby take appropriate preventive measures, maybe some of his crops could be saved. Besides natural calamities, he is always running the risk of crop infestations and rainfall that is either too low or too high, thereby producing poor yields. Due to poor education, many farmers may be following the practices of his fore-fathers blindly, without looking for better agricultural methods or practices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Without proper information, a farmer whose crops have been infested by pests, for example, would think that this is the end and that his crops are only destined to die. This would mean a bad income that year, and no food for his family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">So what if this farmer was armed with easy access to the correct information at the correct time? This could lighten his load by ridding him of numerous uncertainties during his agricultural process and thereby raise his family's living standards. A better living standard for the farmers would mean a more developed <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>. This is the prime aim of the e-Krishok campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Through e-Krishok, farmers can get information and advice not just on agricultural issues, but also on other issues relevant to the Bangladeshi farmer, like animal husbandry, fisheries, rural cottage industry and handicrafts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">BIID , with support from UNDP, has teamed up with Grameenphone by setting up Community Information Centres all over the country. In the pilot phase, 10 Centres had been opened in various locations, but the aim is to scale this up to more than 1000 locations in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">So how does this e-krishok campaign work? When a farmer faces a problem or needs information relating to an agricultural or animal husbandry issue, he only has to visit his nearest community information center and using the e-Krishok agricultural services, the farmer can get reliable and correct information as to what he should do. The farmer has to inform the entrepreneur of the CIC the nature of his problem or the kind of information he is looking for. The entrepreneur then searches for the solution on </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">http://www.ruralinfobd.com</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;"> or if the solution is not available there, he e-mails the information of the problem to the agricultural expert of e-Krishok. The agricultural expert will get back to him with a solution via an e-mail. This way, the farmer can get a solution to his problem within a 24 hour time span.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">BIID is also engaged in the process to build the capacity of the CIC entrepreneurs to provide better services and facilities to the customers thereby adding value to the user experience of the customers. The District Commissioner Offices are leading the initiative of training on using the Computer, Internet and all other ICTs with the support of a 150 trainers pool. More and more people are getting trained on how they will run their telecentre and what will be their role. This again would help in raising employment opportunities in the rural areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The achievements of this campaign are after setting up more than 100 information centres were as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Around 1400 farmers could be reached either directly or indirectly through the campaign. They now have around 1200 registered members. A total of around 6000 queries of framers have been handled by the CICs and around 1800 farmers have reported to have benefited from applying the information or advice of the CICs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Initially, it is but natural for the farmers to be cautious and mistrustful of anything new, especially something that they do not understand. However, the e-Krishok campaign has shown the farmers that they can rely on ICT to improve their livelihoods through better techniques and practices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Here's to a greener 'Digital Bangladesh'.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Shariful Alam</span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-52876649977121935282010-08-29T10:51:00.002+06:002010-08-29T10:51:46.414+06:00Toxic chemicals in food chain<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We are alarmed at the news item that scientists have discovered high concentration of toxic chemicals like cadmium, lead and chromium in fertilisers that are being used by our farmers for better yield of agricultural produce. Zinc, cadmium and lead are basic ingredients for manufacturing batteries and tin but zinc fertiliser is being used in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> for the last three decades to save soil from sterility.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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Experts are of the opinion that such harmful chemicals, if used for a long time, find their way into the food chain and thereby put human health at considerable risk. On top of that, if the situation is not reversed toxic chemicals are likely to endanger microscopic organisms and eventually the entire agriculture ecosystem of the country. Prof Dr ABM Faroque of the department of pharmacy of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Dhaka</st1:placename></st1:place> has to say that once in food chain, cadmium and lead could affect liver, kidney and cause blood cancer and thalassemia. Chromium in blood could affect human reproductive system resulting in the birth of deformed babies. The vulnerability of the consumers therefore is obvious and it needs to be addressed without further loss of time.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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Some good words must be said about the Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI) which has been able to identify highest 40,258 ppm (parts per million) cadmium and 31,292 ppm lead in zinc sulphate, whereas the allowable level of cadmium and lead is only 10 ppm and 100 ppm respectively. Furthermore, the experts suspect that manufacturers use expired battery cells, waste of tin or steel as zinc for low cost. We wonder with so much risks in evidence around how the various government agencies responsible for checking such things could remain oblivious to the danger for such a long time!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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There is no scope for debate on the importance of launching a massive laboratory testing campaign pertaining to chemicals and other substances being used in crops, vegetables, bottled water, soft drinks, confectionary items and other varieties of finished foods. Such action no doubt would go a long way in ensuring safety of the health of the citizens of the country. We are reassured by the fact that agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury has spoken about taking action against fertiliser adulteration. We only hope her words would be translated into action very soon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Shariful Alam</span>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-50464096893290414672010-08-29T10:47:00.001+06:002010-08-29T10:48:09.658+06:005th amendment judgment open the Pandora's Box<div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The recent judgment of the Supreme Court cancelling the Fifth Amendment to the constitution has opened the door for challenging the legality of the controversial secret trial of Bir Uttam Colonel Abu Taher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Taher's relatives and the lawyer who moved the petition challenging the trial's legality narrated the background of their coming forward. They said the perspective has changed after the Supreme Court's historic verdict that declared illegal the governments and military rule and martial law regulations between the murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975, and April 9, 1979.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Khandker Mushtaque Ahmed, Abu Sadaat Mohammad Sayem and Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman led the governments during that period.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"This changed perspective prompted us to correct the historic wrong of executing Teher in a farcical trial under a Martial Law Tribunal," Prof Anwar Hossain, brother of Col Taher, told The Daily Star yesterday at his Dhaka University home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Taher's trial is controversial. His wife Lutfa Taher not only termed it illegal when she was talking to The Daily Star over the telephone, she also sees it as "the killing of Taher in the name of a secret trial".<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lutfa wanted to seek justice for the last 34 years but she could not as she did not get even a single document of the sedition case against Taher or the proceedings of the trial in the tribunal. The tribunal had awarded Taher, former army officer and, also a sector commander during the Liberation War, death penalty and imprisoned 16 others on different terms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"As I am sure injustice was done to Taher, I was trying to file a case against this trial but we did not even get a single document from the administration in the last 34 years…that is why I could not challenge it," Lutfa said, adding that cancellation of the fifth amendment has created an opportunity for her to challenge the secret trial and ask for documents of the trial through the court.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lutfa, Prof Anwar and Fatema Yusuf, wife of Taher's bother Abu Yusuf Khan Bir Bikram who was also sentenced to life imprisonment in the hush-hush trial, are the petitioners of the case filed with the High Court Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Taher was arrested on November 24, 1975. The sedition case was file with Mohammadpur Police Station on June 4, 1976.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On June 14, 1976, the then president Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem constituted a Martial Law Tribunal and published a gazette notification.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">According to the gazette, the chairman of the tribunal was Col Yusuf Haider from the Army and four other members were Wing Commander Mohammad Abdul Rashid from the Air Force, Acting Commander Siddique Ahmed from the Navy, Mohd Abdul Ali, first-class magistrate (Sadar South), Dhaka and Hasan Morshed, first-class magistrate (Sadar North), Dhaka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The trial was held inside Dhaka Central Jail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The tribunal took less then a month to complete the camera trial of the sedition case and delivered the verdict on July 17, 1976. In the wee hours of July 21, 1976, Taher was executed within 72 hours of the verdict delivery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Since Taher's arrest, Lutfa was not allowed to see her husband for even a moment until a few hours before his execution.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Prof Anwar was one of the 16 convicted by this tribunal and sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment. He said they were produced before the tribunal on June 21, 1976, a week after constitution of the tribunal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the first appearance before the tribunal, it adjourned proceedings for a week and resumed on June 28.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"The hearing on the case against Taher and others were completed on July 14 and the tribunal gave its verdict on July 17," Anwar said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Taher refused to beg mercy from the people in the administration, said Anwar.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soon after knowing about the verdict, Lutfa through Taher's lawyers had sent a petition to the then president and chief martial law administrator (CMLA) Abu Sadaat Mohammad Sayem, army chief and deputy chief martial law administrator (later CMLA) Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman, and secretaries to home and law ministries with a prayer to reconsider the death penalty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A day after Lutfa's prayer on July 19, a section officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs sent a letter to Lutfa Taher saying, "The president has not been able to accept your prayer."</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lutfa had also written a letter to the home ministry seeking permission to see Taher as she was not aware of her husband's whereabouts after the arrest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"But I did not get any reply from the administration," Lutfa said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"I got a few censored letters from Taher when he was detained and at that time I could know in which prison Taher was in. And then I rushed to that jail but heard that the authorities had moved him to another jail and they declined to tell me the name of that prison," Said Lutfa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She said many illegal things had been legitimised by the fifth amendment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Leading jurist Shadeen Malik, counsel for the petitioners, told The Daily Star, "All the martial law regulations were protected by the fifth amendment. As now the Supreme Court has cancelled the legality of the fifth amendment, the martial law regulations are no longer protected by the constitution, and it can be challenged like any other law."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The tribunal that tried Taher and others was constituted under the Martial Law Regulation-16 of 1976.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Shahdeen said they have challenged a few provisions of the Martial law Regulation-16 which contradict with the constitution. Like having a trial in secret, getting people involved with it to take oath of secrecy and having no provision for appeal against the verdict of the tribunal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Any provision introduced by any martial law regulation that contradicts with the constitution can be challenged and the cancellation of the fifth amendment opened avenues for challenging all such things." he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He also said the cancellation of the fifth amendment paved the way to challenge the legality of the trial of Taher. Otherwise, they had to challenge the fifth amendment first and then the secret trial.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Shahdeen said, "It would be interesting if anyone now claim compensation for their conviction and imprisonment under an unconstitutional law."</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The three petitioners, including Taher's wife and brother, did not pray for compensation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 11.1pt; margin-bottom: 11.85pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"We are not thinking about compensation, we want justice to free ourselves of the stigma which had been imposed on us through a farcical trial based on a false sedition charges," Anwar said, adding, "Due to the constitutional protection of such wrong actions, the history of that period has not come into the light…now the time has come to tell the new generation the true history."</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Shariful Alam</span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-14377868542499161672010-08-26T12:52:00.001+06:002010-08-26T12:57:10.259+06:00Trial of war criminals in Bangladesh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYxcHZ0-sil30Bi7R8beWuHewFg8miF0jixsB0xRx0aXS5y9RcBMPzq8QWJHzknQgf2JztchyuKG846j0ixmqzQ3bCt42XWzMJigA4hobvxRV4JdOMAngB5Bb50DWnA70jbaegmQLeCmI/s1600/War-criminal-Bangladesh.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYxcHZ0-sil30Bi7R8beWuHewFg8miF0jixsB0xRx0aXS5y9RcBMPzq8QWJHzknQgf2JztchyuKG846j0ixmqzQ3bCt42XWzMJigA4hobvxRV4JdOMAngB5Bb50DWnA70jbaegmQLeCmI/s320/War-criminal-Bangladesh.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dyHcWDIBbjtmxJSiNHE5IK8-NYhdWASCuGSGxlde1k5sXKAsY8F1gtA6ebFzS43N2TTXzGoCe3r3Bq9WoJEF23EtXo355I15OnNdbz-fdO4ssYhKcOUfp6rVNsdFjRW0rnldVnpS9_Ol/s1600/War-crimes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dyHcWDIBbjtmxJSiNHE5IK8-NYhdWASCuGSGxlde1k5sXKAsY8F1gtA6ebFzS43N2TTXzGoCe3r3Bq9WoJEF23EtXo355I15OnNdbz-fdO4ssYhKcOUfp6rVNsdFjRW0rnldVnpS9_Ol/s200/War-crimes.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">BETTER late than never. Thirty-nine years after its independence, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:country-region> is going to bring to justice the anti-freedom groups and people that committed atrocities on the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:country-region> in collaboration with the then <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> army.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">It is true that questions have been raised by some small groups about the need for trial of war criminals after so many years of independence. However, the vast majority of people want trial of the war criminals at the earliest.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Immediately after liberation things were in an awful state due to lack of experience of a national government, lack of training and capability of officers and staff of erstwhile provincial government of East Pakistan in handling an extremely tricky and intricate matter like arranging trial of war criminals.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZagVGWurfBJ5buLmULPMgsEyKqExSwFtwRqN2RIFMcuz9v0hjU6W49_68iy8fSjbC1sA8V_uR1B0E8_bLMG7l7PmusXZgrCmsp9rSkCbc3k8wStyjn7dO93NpvM2dSeCiCQaFfv0cRwWS/s1600/War-crimes-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZagVGWurfBJ5buLmULPMgsEyKqExSwFtwRqN2RIFMcuz9v0hjU6W49_68iy8fSjbC1sA8V_uR1B0E8_bLMG7l7PmusXZgrCmsp9rSkCbc3k8wStyjn7dO93NpvM2dSeCiCQaFfv0cRwWS/s320/War-crimes-1.jpeg" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span">The few officers and staff who were available were extremely occupied in reconstruction works relating to a war-ravaged economy, and in the rehabilitation of nearly ten million returnees from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Thus, it was not possible for a nascent democratic government to handle a complex task like the trial of war criminals.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">The present government of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> has started the trial. It has repeatedly declared its commitment to implement the programs and philosophy of the war of independence. It is not surprising at all if it faces strong hindrance created by the opposition. The trial of war criminals appeals strongly to our intelligence, emotion and rationalism. During the war of independence a large number of international communities supported our cause strongly. To them, we feel small because we have not done proper justice to the families of the shaheeds.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">For the present government, this is a golden opportunity for dispensation of justice through successful trial of war criminals. Accusing the opposition of hatching conspiracy is not very helpful. The behaviour of the government should make them popular.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">The present government appears to be proceeding properly with the trial of the war criminals. It is also trying to mobilise support, not only within the country but also of the international community. It has been successful to a fair extent so far.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">In a recently held international seminar, attended by experts and eminent personalities from Europe, Asia and America, the following observations were made:</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">- Bangabhandhu was assassinated because no trial of war criminals was held;</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">- The trial must be transparent and free from politicisation;</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">- Secularism is the main key to development;</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">- Fundamentalism is increasing in Bangladesh. Citizens of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:country-region></st1:place> should work together to stop it;</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">- The massacre of 1971 was genocide. To stop such killings (such as killings by Islamic terrorist organisations, grenade attack on Shiekh Hasina or the murder of Mr. Kibria etc) there must be trial of the war criminals. Otherwise, such killings will continue.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">It is absolutely clear that this is the most opportune time for the government to complete the trial because never before had we seen the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> want a transparent and free from politicisation trial of war criminals with one voice.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: #243e8b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.5pt;"> </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><span class="apple-style-span">Shariful Alam</span></span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-23604404602711990892010-08-25T15:43:00.001+06:002010-08-25T15:46:11.658+06:00Urban 'Organic' farming should start now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4OE4rfsK4mMWWDtiGtQr9hUSxMKjVNU66VvHtp6JnO9sAQqKSrMenOLZKzoW8nVAS03JeukksArKhIIe1R-REJHJGP3xj4fb3VQbgthGzxn7dM0HmEKLI5opcBijCUr9QZ4KteSz2tty/s1600/U-farming+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4OE4rfsK4mMWWDtiGtQr9hUSxMKjVNU66VvHtp6JnO9sAQqKSrMenOLZKzoW8nVAS03JeukksArKhIIe1R-REJHJGP3xj4fb3VQbgthGzxn7dM0HmEKLI5opcBijCUr9QZ4KteSz2tty/s320/U-farming+2.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4OE4rfsK4mMWWDtiGtQr9hUSxMKjVNU66VvHtp6JnO9sAQqKSrMenOLZKzoW8nVAS03JeukksArKhIIe1R-REJHJGP3xj4fb3VQbgthGzxn7dM0HmEKLI5opcBijCUr9QZ4KteSz2tty/s1600/U-farming+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4OE4rfsK4mMWWDtiGtQr9hUSxMKjVNU66VvHtp6JnO9sAQqKSrMenOLZKzoW8nVAS03JeukksArKhIIe1R-REJHJGP3xj4fb3VQbgthGzxn7dM0HmEKLI5opcBijCUr9QZ4KteSz2tty/s320/U-farming+2.jpeg" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">Let me tell you a story. Imagine after 20 -25 years, the fossil fuel stock nearly gone. Some stock is still present in first world but these are restricted who can afford the high cost. Country like <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the fossil fuel leaded agro-fertilizer and irrigation system clasped day by day. Daily vegetable, fruits and other necessary agro-product are limited merchandise from village. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">The urban daily food supply percentage is regularly lower then any time past and the food crisis began. People who have to live here for their livelihood can't back to village. The urban system will fall down. What will be the situation? Is it like the manuscript of a <st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place> Movie? No, it is neither a <st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place> movie nor a bad dream of a naturalist, a geologist or a scientist. It is true and it will happen within 20 years or hardly 30. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBy7sHOsTxu4lhTnZ22L2JubRyL8LTc5eWzujAsnwWLyJJEdYveNMrBjDZsDH9vAIOENIDETIEb2Sg8QorcHs-BdzMf5AuRs1rcR-gVOeLyaZIP7GWTtw4YMT5SDglSAcY99m4p9nx7CO/s1600/U-farming+3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBy7sHOsTxu4lhTnZ22L2JubRyL8LTc5eWzujAsnwWLyJJEdYveNMrBjDZsDH9vAIOENIDETIEb2Sg8QorcHs-BdzMf5AuRs1rcR-gVOeLyaZIP7GWTtw4YMT5SDglSAcY99m4p9nx7CO/s200/U-farming+3.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">Total world fossil fuel index tells us the statistics. In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region>, it will also happen within the predicting years. So we should have to take some steps now. A good percentage of the urban people in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:country-region></st1:place> have purchased land as a future investment and those lands are mostly unused. Urban farming can be easily started from there. And the farming would be organic based, because though this concept is old but it is not usually used in rural <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the name of productivity and cost effective.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">Urban farming is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around (pre-urban) a village, town or city. Additionally, urban farming can also grip husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture. These actions also take place in pre-urban areas.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWk_W3mafZT8_6jRMjhMcMPb_-cmBtjRG7y1QtLvAoQ9v94phgf56DTC4O9aDCMXGIm8jB74wyCljFEf9OXqPE1fOBZNyj_4vzm9fC4TsHvmZ0_1BMCa_2f0jtLaXS_rb_n_GdUFeSfo7/s1600/U-farming+4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWk_W3mafZT8_6jRMjhMcMPb_-cmBtjRG7y1QtLvAoQ9v94phgf56DTC4O9aDCMXGIm8jB74wyCljFEf9OXqPE1fOBZNyj_4vzm9fC4TsHvmZ0_1BMCa_2f0jtLaXS_rb_n_GdUFeSfo7/s320/U-farming+4.jpeg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;">Urban farming is usually exercised for income-earning or food-producing activities though in some communities the main impulsion is recreation and relaxation. Urban agriculture contributes to food security and food safety in couple of ways: first, it enhances the amount of food available to people living in cities, and, second, it allows fresh vegetables and fruits and meat products to be made available to urban customers. A frequent and competent form of urban agriculture is the bio-intensive technique. Since urban agriculture promotes energy-saving local food production, urban and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;">pre</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;">-urban agriculture are normally seen as sustainable practices.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;">Thus we can start implementing urban agriculture in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:country-region></st1:place> with a view to ensuring food security and a good source of employment for many.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">Shariful Alam </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-60963458960748110652010-08-25T14:34:00.000+06:002010-08-25T14:34:31.842+06:00Pakistan Disaster Response: The Failure of military based administration<div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Floods have isolated about 800,000 people in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> who are now only reachable by air and aid workers need at least 40 more helicopters to ferry lifesaving aid to the increasingly desperate people, the United Nations said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The appeal Tuesday was an indication of the massive problems facing the relief effort in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> more than three weeks after the floods hit the country, affecting more than 17 million people and raising concerns about possible social unrest and political instability.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">"These unprecedented floods pose unprecedented logistical challenges, and this requires an extraordinary effort by the international community," said John Holmes, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Earlier, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said hundreds of health facilities had been damaged and tens of thousands of medical workers displaced and the country's chief meteorologist warned that it would be two weeks until the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Indus</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place> — the focus of the flooding still sweeping through the country — returns to normal levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry said high tides in the Arabian Sea would slow the drainage of the <st1:place w:st="on">Indus</st1:place> into it, but that those tides would begin changing Wednesday. He said the <st1:place w:st="on">Indus</st1:place> would reach peak flood stage late this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">"The flood situation is not yet over," Chaudhry said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The floods began with hammering monsoon rains in the northwest and have swept southwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Many of those cut off are in the mountainous northwest, where roads and bridges have been swept away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> has deployed at least 18 helicopters that are flying regular relief missions, but the United Nations said it would need at least 40 more heavy-lift choppers working at full-capacity to reach the estimated 800,000 stranded in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that about 700,000 Pakistanis have been forced into makeshift settlements just in the southern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">province</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Sindh</st1:placename></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">While there have been no major disease outbreaks because of the floods, aid agencies are increasingly worried, saying contaminated water and a lack of proper sanitation were already causing a spike in medical problems in camps for the displaced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">"<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> and its people are experiencing the worst natural calamity of its history," Gilani said at a meeting on health issues in the flood zone. "As human misery continues to mount, we are seriously concerned with spread of epidemic diseases."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">More than 3.5 million children are at risk from waterborne diseases, he said, and skin diseases, respiratory infections and malnutrition are spreading in flooded areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The problem is compounded by the flood's impact on the country's medical system — which has long been badly overstretched and underfunded. Gilani said the floods had damaged more than 200 health facilities, and that about one-third of the country's 100,000 women health workers have been displaced. Those health workers are the main primary medical care to millions of rural Pakistani women.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Dr. Jahanzeb Orakzai, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s national health coordinator, said a team has been formed to oversee the response to any flood-related health emergencies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">"Health problems usually arise in flood-affected areas after four to six weeks, and we need to be alert and prepared to tackle the situation," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The aid group World Vision said it could be three months until some families are able to return to their homes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">"People are in urgent need of almost everything: shelter, health clinics, clean water, sanitation and livelihood support," Mike Bailey, the group's regional manager for advocacy said in a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Local charities, the Pakistani army and international agencies are providing food, water, medicine and shelter to the displaced, but millions have received little or no help.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">On Monday, President Asif Ali Zardari defended the government's much-criticised response to the floods, but acknowledged recovery would take a very long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">"Three years is a minimum," Zardari said in an interview Monday with a small group of foreign reporters in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Islamabad</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 9.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">On Tuesday, officials announced that the government would give 20,000 rupees ($230) to every family affected by the floods, with a statement from Zardari's spokesman calling the payment "initial assistance."<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Since the floods first swept the country, the Taliban and al-Qaeda have been relatively quiet. But on Monday, three bomb attacks rocked the northwest, one of which killed the head of an anti-Taliban militia on the outskirts of the main city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Peshawar</st1:place></st1:city>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Shariful Alam</span>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-85084441384732764602010-08-25T14:19:00.000+06:002010-08-25T14:19:24.771+06:00Bangabandhu -Bang-alee's Greatest Hero<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbxz-KHKVbaJDSs8mkfsHCLMMIRYq1VAzoTaSlllLT2F8B3C8RX-bJ57mvUkK8ea9p7jdAI4hLQIyf2OiGSWe6c-pN5R73ZAO2JOlfW6vHx2XTrzWcgR-f5bo9XJ_tP7ZYkT_GqaBK6o3/s1600/Bangabandhu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbxz-KHKVbaJDSs8mkfsHCLMMIRYq1VAzoTaSlllLT2F8B3C8RX-bJ57mvUkK8ea9p7jdAI4hLQIyf2OiGSWe6c-pN5R73ZAO2JOlfW6vHx2XTrzWcgR-f5bo9XJ_tP7ZYkT_GqaBK6o3/s200/Bangabandhu.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bangabandhu</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Friday, 15 August, 1975, is one of the saddest days of our history. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, our greatest patriot, was killed on that day. His dear wife, three sons and only brother were also killed along with him. It reminded us of the dark night of March 25, 1971. The Father of the Nation, loved and respected in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> and the world over as a great hero, a great leader of independence, lay dead on the stairs of his famous residence at Road Number 32, Dhanmandi Residential Area. He was only fifty five.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Bangabandhu, of all people, didn't deserve a death like this! He was our greatest politician. His love for his country and his people was beyond question. Who could kill our greatest patriot? A certain Major Dalim was claiming credit for his death! Who was he? We had never heard of him before! Khandakar Mushtaq has become the new president. My God! What a traitor! </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Who killed Bangabandhu? They who control world politics like people who obey them. They don't like nationalist leaders and freedom-loving patriots like Bangabandhu or Allende. Thus Allende dies but General Pinochet lives on and makes life miserable for his countrymen. There are many such instances in the <st1:place w:st="on">Third World</st1:place>. If you want to kill a great leader, make him unpopular through planted journalists, corrupt and disgruntled bureaucrats and dismissed soldiers. Use some of them during his killing. Then get obedient people to rule the country and serve your purpose. No wonder our Supreme Court has ruled that the governments which succeeded Bangabandhu and his cabinet were not legal. They had captured power by sheer force. They were not bred by democracy.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Bang-alee loved and respected the martyred Bangabandhu even more. He had his tragic flaws but he was our greatest hero, wasn't he? He was our greatest hero of the past, the present and the future. My thirty seven-year-old heart profusely bled for him. A budding young man wept over the death of his land's greatest patriot.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="apple-style-span"></span>Shariful Alam<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span>Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8522222808798046384.post-66308999405293081712010-08-24T15:05:00.000+06:002010-08-24T15:05:04.752+06:00My First Blog post....At last, I am starting by blog. Though I am a old net user, I never think to be a blogger myself. After going through some blog site, I found it interesting. Here is the media, I can express myself in my way. No bindings, no Jurisdiction, no threat at all. Here me and myself. Wow.. what a feelings. It is cool. I think anybody can spend his lazy time or even active time writing blogs. I heard some philosopher said " Man sometimes do somethings, he never think to do" Now I realize, he told a true.<br />
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To day is the 13th day of Ramadan. All muslim believers, mostly practitioner spend the Arabic Holly month by fasting in days and other religious activity at night. In this month, muslim believers try to control themselves. For that, country like Bangladesh (where muslim is the highest percentage of population), people behaves politely and the surroundings are quite good. After ifter (breaking fasting after sun set) and prayers, the shopping mall and market are crowded by shoppers, mostly for new dresses. Businessman are waited for the time for 11 months. After the holly Ramadan, Eid is the main festival of muslim society.<br />
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No more to day.<br />
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Shariful Alam Shariful Alamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06810547305207358867noreply@blogger.com0