I’m still struggling to decide if I would vote tomorrow. The struggle is unique as I did not vote during the last three CTG periods. Wife and well-wishers are suggesting going and voting for ‘no’ which I find useless. Why one should stand in queue for hours to vote ‘no? This facility should have been offered on-line!
Any way, my argument is simple: voting turns you into numbers, which I refuse to become. Moreover, my voting is not that important as no change will occur through my voting. By voting I don’t want to loose my neutrality. Worst still, you become labeled and branded. One anonymous said; voting is like going to a slave auction where you are the slave, but are allowed to choose which master you will serve. I don’t want to be a slave. Nonvoting is also a democratic right. And I want to exercise that right.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Military-media Relations in Bangladesh 1975-1990
A new book titled ‘Military-media Relations in Bangladesh 1975-1990' has just been published and is now available in bookstores in New Market and Shahbag in Dhaka. The author is Rezwan-ul-Alam. Hugh Stephenson, Emeritus Professor of Journalism, City University, London, has written an introduction.
This pioneering study explores some selected aspects of mass communication in relation to direct and indirect military rule in Bangladesh from 1975 to 1990. The study tries to give answers to questions like these: Did Bangladeshi journalists facilitate the imposition of military rule? Did some influential journalists actively conspire to help bring in military rule? Did a section of journalists receive benefits and favors from the military governments? Were military rulers responsible for the deterioration of standards of journalism in the country? Was the role of the journalists’ positive in fighting the autocracy as has been portrayed by the journalists themselves?
The study also explored the issues such as: a) what were the general views of the Bangladeshi editors on military rule and the media? b) what were the views? f the journalists about various aspects of military-media relations in Bangladesh? c) what was the attitude of the Bangladesh army towards the media? d) what were the media policies of the military governments? e) how did the local press cover the imposition of military rule? f) what was the role of the journalists in upholding the ideals of the freedom of the press? d) how did the British press cover the reports on Bangladesh military in the years 1972-1990? g) what role did the BBC and VOA's Bengali Services play during 15 years of direct and indirect military rule in Bangladesh; and h) what were the effects of direct and indirect military rule on the functioning of media? This ground-breaking work attempts to answer those questions raised above.
This pioneering study explores some selected aspects of mass communication in relation to direct and indirect military rule in Bangladesh from 1975 to 1990. The study tries to give answers to questions like these: Did Bangladeshi journalists facilitate the imposition of military rule? Did some influential journalists actively conspire to help bring in military rule? Did a section of journalists receive benefits and favors from the military governments? Were military rulers responsible for the deterioration of standards of journalism in the country? Was the role of the journalists’ positive in fighting the autocracy as has been portrayed by the journalists themselves?
The study also explored the issues such as: a) what were the general views of the Bangladeshi editors on military rule and the media? b) what were the views? f the journalists about various aspects of military-media relations in Bangladesh? c) what was the attitude of the Bangladesh army towards the media? d) what were the media policies of the military governments? e) how did the local press cover the imposition of military rule? f) what was the role of the journalists in upholding the ideals of the freedom of the press? d) how did the British press cover the reports on Bangladesh military in the years 1972-1990? g) what role did the BBC and VOA's Bengali Services play during 15 years of direct and indirect military rule in Bangladesh; and h) what were the effects of direct and indirect military rule on the functioning of media? This ground-breaking work attempts to answer those questions raised above.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
LA Times says: Get a grip on Dhaka
Although this is a familiar line of arguments that Al-Qayeda is making its presence felt in Bangladesh, the Los Angeles Times story did snub General Moeen with careful chosen words. The commentator blamed Moeen for staging a bloodless coup, now manuvering to break the biggest two parties. It also branded the regime as 'unconstitutional'.
Read this LAT piece here, which is asking the Bush administration to get a grip on Bangladesh.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-harrison2-2008jul02,0,419761.story
Does it indicate change of hearts? Let us wait and see.
Read this LAT piece here, which is asking the Bush administration to get a grip on Bangladesh.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-harrison2-2008jul02,0,419761.story
Does it indicate change of hearts? Let us wait and see.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Only 269,000 people died in Bangladesh war?
Times of India is reporting that only 269,000 people died in Bangladesh's independce war in 1971. Read this outrageous claim by a group of so-called researchers which will surely create a storm in Bangladesh.
269,000 people died in Bangladesh war, says new study
20 Jun 2008, 0909 hrs IST,PTI
LONDON:
As many as 269,000 people died during the war leading to the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, nearly five times more than the previously estimated figure, a new study says.
The study, titled 'Fifty years of violent war deaths from Vietnam to Bosnia: analysis of data from the world health survey programme', published in the British Medical Journal said "war causes more deaths than previously estimated, and there is no evidence to support a recent decline in war deaths".
Earlier estimates of casualties during the Bangladesh war were in the region of 58,000, the study noted. The objective of the survey was to provide an accurate estimate of deaths in wars. The study analysed estimated deaths from war injuries in 13 countries over 50 years, including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Between 1975 and 2002, the study says that the ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka between the government and Tamil Tigers accounted for the death of 215,000 people, while earlier estimates put the figure at around 61,000. "Accurate estimates of war mortality are crucial for planning on several different levels. Political, military, and public health leaders must have credible information on the number of deaths to plan properly before, during, and after wars.
"The public must also be aware of the human cost of wars. Information on war deaths is useful in the investigation of the scope of war crimes, as in the Nuremburg Trials after the second world war or the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia," the study says.
From: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3147513,prtpage-1.cms
269,000 people died in Bangladesh war, says new study
20 Jun 2008, 0909 hrs IST,PTI
LONDON:
As many as 269,000 people died during the war leading to the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, nearly five times more than the previously estimated figure, a new study says.
The study, titled 'Fifty years of violent war deaths from Vietnam to Bosnia: analysis of data from the world health survey programme', published in the British Medical Journal said "war causes more deaths than previously estimated, and there is no evidence to support a recent decline in war deaths".
Earlier estimates of casualties during the Bangladesh war were in the region of 58,000, the study noted. The objective of the survey was to provide an accurate estimate of deaths in wars. The study analysed estimated deaths from war injuries in 13 countries over 50 years, including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Between 1975 and 2002, the study says that the ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka between the government and Tamil Tigers accounted for the death of 215,000 people, while earlier estimates put the figure at around 61,000. "Accurate estimates of war mortality are crucial for planning on several different levels. Political, military, and public health leaders must have credible information on the number of deaths to plan properly before, during, and after wars.
"The public must also be aware of the human cost of wars. Information on war deaths is useful in the investigation of the scope of war crimes, as in the Nuremburg Trials after the second world war or the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia," the study says.
From: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3147513,prtpage-1.cms
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)