In the pantheon of Islamic states, Bangladesh seems an unlikely place for a secular revolution. It is a dry country with no bars, casinos or horse races. Bangladesh is not liberal in its social mores, compared to Muslim-majority countries like Turkey or Indonesia. And secular principles are far from being consistently upheld: Madrassas receive state funding, while citizens are often hounded for perceived slights to Islam.

Yet since its landslide election in 2008, the ruling Awami League party has rolled back the Islamization trend of recent decades. In July, the government banned the extremist scholar Syed Abul Ala Maududi’s books. A historic Supreme Court ruling last month struck down a constitutional amendment that had paved the way for Islamist politics. And a special tribunal to try war crimes of the 1971 Liberation War began its work last month.

These trials are garnering a significant amount of public attention, as the accused are mostly leaders of Islamist political parties. The Awami League is emboldened no doubt by its resounding majority?its alliance controls 264 out of the 300-seat parliament. Its leaders sense a historic opportunity to redress the past. In the late ’90s, the Awami League adopted an arguably more moderate course, but this leniency was violently repaid when an alliance of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami won power, when repeated terroristic attacks killed top Awami League leaders. This, combined with the desire to see justice done, has shaped the party’s determined mood.

Activists demand war-crimes trials, March 2010.
.Cynics argue that the trials are politically motivated. The principal target, Jamaat-e-Islami, is a crucial ally of the main opposition BNP. Yet, any perceived benefits to the Awami League are not as straightforward as they may seem. Driving Jamaat underground might make it more dangerous, and any votes lost by Jamaat due to the trials will accrue to BNP, not to the Awami League. Indeed, it might have been safer for the Awami League to ignore the historical injustices. With the advent of the trials, many are now anxious of violent extremist reprisals. Yet repeated opinion polls indicate overwhelming public support for the trials.

Aside from the political jousting, the widespread public support for all the secularizing measures is worth closer scrutiny. Bangladesh’s Sufi Islamic roots clearly play a big role. Religious practice in this delta consisted of practices woven gently into the existing cultural fabric, not harshly imposed from outside. While the Islamism that has swept the region in recent decades has left a mark?from greater numbers of madrassas to the prevalence of burqas worn by women?it did not uproot a deeper cultural antipathy to extremism.

Yet this is also a society where the high court dared to declare fatwas illegal and ruled last week that no woman can be forced to wear burqas at work or school; a society where the secular holidays like Bengali New Year and Valentine’s Day?both irritating to the fundamentalists?are celebrated by millions of youth. Even in its heyday, Jamaat never garnered more than 10% of the popular vote.

Why? Credit women’s empowerment, which provide not only a sign of societal progress, but also remain its most salient cause. The prime minister and the opposition leader are both women. The foreign affairs, home and agricultural ministries are all run by women. Women hold top jobs in government, banks and business, and are especially prominent in legal, medical and social industries. They excel in art, culture and sport. They serve in the armed forces and fly planes for the national airlines. In the lower socio-economic spheres, women work in agriculture, microfinance and the garment industry. Tens of millions of women are economic decision-makers.

Of course the struggle for gender rights and equity still has a long way to go. But the attempt to achieve these worthy goals, led mainly by nongovernmental organizations, has also increased social resiliency against religious fanaticism. In fact, it’s not a stretch to argue that the government’s actions to stem Islamism could never have been imagined without society’s secular backdrop.

The foreign community could reinforce these positive trends by supporting the war crimes tribunal. Important in its own right, the success of the trials is crucial to the secularization process as well. Trade and development partners also need to review their economic policies. The United States, for example, could reduce its punitive tariffs on Bangladeshi garments, providing an immediate boost to the economy.

Just as importantly, it’s key to recognize that Bangladesh has come further on its own in the struggle to stay secular than many Muslim countries?even those with greater foreign aid or intervention. Which just goes to show that Bangladeshis can do much to build themselves a better future. Is there a more positive example for the Islamic world?

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All America is hallowed ground for freedom
By Bridget Kustin

Last week, I returned to Baltimore after spending a summer researching Islam, finance, and politics in Bangladesh. I still haven’t unpacked–I want to preserve the memories of hospitality and gratitude that couldn’t be captured in my field notes. The smell of wood smoke on clothes worn as my village host prepared me an elaborate Ramadan fast-breaking meal. The parting gift of pungent spices from an Islamic bank officer who accompanied me across my rural field site, answering my questions for hours. And when I arrived home, an email from one of Bangladesh’s most senior figures in Islamic banking and politics was waiting for me, asking if I made it back safely.
As I recovered from jet lag the day after my return, a passenger asked a cab driver in New York City if he was Muslim. When the cab driver responded affirmatively, the 21-year old passenger offered the traditional “Assalamu alaikum” greeting, then apparently slashed the driver’s throat and stabbed his arms and face. According to news reports, this horrific act will be charged as a hate crime.
The cab driver was an immigrant. He came to America 25 years ago from Bangladesh.
Critics of the proposed “Ground Zero” Cordoba House insist that America is exceptional because opposition to different religions and religious institutions is expressed peacefully. This is not true. Violence against Muslims is not systematic or state-sponsored, but it still occurs. These individual violent acts are all but sanctioned by media and political figures who undermine the humanity of Muslims by calling their religion inherently violent, or an existential threat to “American values,” or an innate threat to national security.
A less severe position is that Muslims can be good Americans, but projects such as Cordoba House are insensitive. According to these critics, constitutional rights should be subject to good taste.

Commissioners Richard Land and Nina Shea of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a federal advisory body, have opposed Cordoba House as insensitive and as a potential security risk, respectively. USCIRF commissioner chair Leonard Leo directs a Tea Party group collecting signatures against Cordoba House, billed on its website as an “affront to decency and common sense.”
The irony of American advocates of religious freedom opposing a Muslim community center would make for pitch-perfect political comedy a l??? The Daily Show if it wasn’t so deeply troubling. As a former USCIRF employee, the deep disconnect between these commissioners’ overseas advocacy and their domestic intolerance of the religious freedom of Muslims suggests to me that Islamophobia has worked its way well into the mainstream.
During my tenure at USCIRF from 2007 to 2009–first in communications and then as South Asia researcher–commissioners defended the right of religious minorities to build and maintain their religious institutions, no matter the popular objections or prevailing social norms. Among the countries in my portfolio, commissioners argued for the rights of Christians to maintain churches in Orissa, India, despite strong anti-Christian sentiment grounded partially in the fear of “forced conversions.” In Pakistan, commissioners defended the right of persecuted Ahmadis to call themselves Muslims and call their houses of worship mosques–despite the widespread, impassioned belief that Ahmadis are not ‘real’ Muslims. Commissioners criticized Sri Lankan government for citing security concerns while restricting the freedom of individuals to worship where and how they pleased.
Indeed, USCIRF advocacy is generally dedicated to upholding Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that every individual has the right, “alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” Commissioners Land, Leo, and Shea should protect Cordoba House under Article 18 with the same vigor they have extended to foreign countries.
In Bangladesh this past summer, I met many Muslim Bangladeshis who excitedly told me about friends or relatives living in the United States, while gamely answering my probing questions about Islam. How shameful that being Muslim in the United States is now suddenly enough to have one’s religious freedom restricted via popular pressure–or even to get one killed.
To my host community in Bangladesh, and to my fellow Americans: that cab driver’s life is just as innocent and just as valuable as any of the 3,000 lost on September 11, 2001. All of America is hallowed ground for the freedoms that have made this country great. There is no greater affront to decency than to allow the slow erosion of our commitment to tolerance.

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Industries Minister Dilip Barua alleged that a section of employees loyal to the BNP-Jama’at alliance are engaged in sabotaging the power sector.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered the authorities concerned to keep unhindered the supply of power during Iftar, Tarabi and Sehri. But some employees are intentionally interrupting power system during these sensitive times,” he said.

The minister was inaugurating an international Eid Festival and Meena Bazar at the city’s Samarai Convention Center in Panthapath area Saturday, reports BSS.

Net Work and Event Bangla, two NGOs, arranged the fair and meena bazar on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr.

Companies from India, Pakistan, China, Iran, Bhutan and host country Bangladesh are participating in the fair with different products.

M Yasin Khan, CEO of Net Work, Ali Akbar, CEO of Event Bangla, Selina Quader, Vice Chairman of Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among others, addressed the function with Captain (retd) Masudur Rahman, president of Mother Teresa Welfare Society in Bangladesh.

The minister said that they had specific information that a large number of employees from Power Development Board (PDB) and WASA participated in the mass procession organised by opposition BNP recently.

Inquiry was going on into the incidents of power disruption during iftar and sehri hours, he hinted saying exemplary punishment would be given if anyone found involved in sabotaging.

Appreciating the initiative to organise such fair, the minister said it was a very good sign that the foreign companies were being attracted for marketing their goods in Bangladesh as the buying capacity of our people have increased.

The initiative would inspire our entrepreneurs to improve the quality of our goods and would be able to participate in the fairs to be organised in other countries, Barua added.

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It,s a day of sorrow !It,s The 15th August, a grief-stricken day for the Bangalee nation, is our National Mourning Day. On this day in 1975, the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with his 18 family members, was assassinated in one of the most barbaric carnages in the human history.

Bangabandhu’s wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Captain Sheikh Kamal, Lt. sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, farmers’ leader Abdur Rab Serniabat, youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and his wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu were also killed on the fateful night. Bangabandhu’s Military Secretary Col. Jamil was also killed. Some members of a family at Mohammadpur were also killed by canon-ball fired by the killers. On the day of National Mourning, I pray to the Almighty Allah for the salvation of the souls of the
martyrs of the 15th August.

The people of this territory snatched the glowing sun of the independence, breaking the shackles of subjugation of thousands of years, under the dynamic, courageous and charismatic leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We got our own nation-state and the pride of self-identity. But Bangabandhu was killed when he had devoted himself to the arduous task of building a Golden Bangla reconstructing the war-ravaged independent country and unifying the whole nation. The defeated forces of the Liberation War made an abortive effort to ruin the tradition, culture and advancement of the Bangalee nation. Their target was to destroy the non-communal democratic fabric of Bangladesh.

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday morning urged the alumni of Dhaka University to work as social reformers to protect society from moral degradation.

Hasina gave the call when a 33-member delegation of the Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) led by its President Syed Manjur-e-Elahi and Secretary General Raquibuddin Ahmed met her at the PM’s office.

The premier renewed her strong warning against those who create anarchy on campuses including the country’s premier institution, Dhaka University.

“I have already ordered the law enforcement agencies to arrest the troublemakers on the campuses. Even if they are from my party, no one will be spared,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying by her Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad.

She deplored the fall in the quality of education at Dhaka University, saying that the government is strongly committed to take quality of education in all institutions to new heights.

“We all have to work hard to redeem the lost glory of Dhaka University, which was once known as the Oxford of the East,” said Hasina, herself a life member of the Alumni.

The prime minister said during her last regime also, Dhaka University was among the top class universities of the world, but later it started to lose its glory.

The last BNP-Jamaat government, like all other sectors had also destroyed the education sector, she said.

Education quality in Dhaka University and all other educational institutions degraded severely during the four-party alliance’s regime.

“However, we are strongly committed to maintain congenial academic atmosphere on all the campuses,” she said.

Already, the nation has started to get fruits of the government’s various initiatives on education, science and technology sectors, according to the PM.

She said science in Bangladesh has entered a new era with the decoding of genome sequence of the ‘Golden Fiber’, jute, and the University of Dhaka was one of the proud partners in the process.

The prime minister expressed her concern over moral degradation of youth community. She blamed the past’s military rulers for degradation of values among the youths. Hasina commented that the military rulers have ruined the youths by using them to meet their own evil purposes.

“To protect the youths and rebuild the society, you have a great role to play,” the Prime Minister told the DU alumni.

Hasina said bribes and other types of corruption have polluted the society.

“There are many persons in the society who spend more than they earn,” she said.

The prime minister said the society itself has to identify the corrupt people to free it from all types of stigma.

“All in the society must have accountability and transparency in income and spending,” she said.

The prime minister further requested the DU alumni to inspire the young generation to live an honest life.

The prime minister expressed her deep respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman and other martyred family members who were assassinated on the fateful night of August 15.

The prime minister recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was scheduled to visit Dhaka University on August 15 in 1975.

Hasina also thanked the Dhaka University authorities as she was conferred with honorary doctorate of law degree by the University of Dhaka in the year of 1999.

Dhaka University Alumni Association on the occasion presented the Prime Minister a crest, a book titled “Sourove Gaurobey Dhaka University” and her Identity Card of DUAA

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Ramadan Begins Today, Muslims Start the Month of Fasting,Today, Wednesday, is the first day of the Islamic month of Ramadan (Ramadhan), of the year 1431 Hijriya, corresponding to August 11, 2010.
Adult Muslims all over the world start fasting this month as required by their religion. They abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having sexual activity from dawn to the sunset.

Fasting is the fourth way of worshipping God after the proclamation of faith, performing prayers, giving the poor tax (alms or charity), and followed by the pilgrimage, Haj.

Islam: A Brief Introduction
On the authority of Abu Abdul Rahman Abdullah, the son of Umar Bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with both of them), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say:

“Islam has been built on five (pillars) 1: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the zakat 2, making the pilgrimage to the House 3, and fasting in Ramadhan.” 4

***

The word “Islam” means believing in Allah (the God) 5 to the extent of surrendering your will to Him. In this sense, the previous messengers of God such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Christ and their righteous followers are considered Muslims. It is one religion, revealed to people for thousands of years to guide them in this life and reward them in the hereafter. Muhammed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (pbbuh), was the last one of these prophets and messengers of God.

The Arabic verb root of the word is salema, meaning kept safe. The Prophet (pbbuh) said, “The Muslim is the person from whose tongue and hand people are kept safe.” In other words, a Muslim does not harm people with his tongue or hand.

A derivative of the verb is salam, or peace. Thus, Islam is peace, and Paradise is referred to as Dar es Salam, or the House of Peace.

Finally, Islam the first level of faith, attaining it is required to gain the mercy and contentment of God, in order for a person to enter Paradise. A higher level is Iman, and the highest is Ihasan. For more about these three levels of faith, see: Three Levels of Faith: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan

Sources of the Islamic teachings:

1. The Holly Book, the Qur’an (pronounced as two separate syllables Qur – an, sometimes referred to as Koran) is the first source of Islamic teachings. It was revealed, in the 7th century, to the Prophet Muhammed (pbbuh) in 23 years, through the angel Jibril (Gabriel), peace to him.

It includes the basic teachings found in the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as former messengers of God. It also includes clarifications about the differences between Jews and Christians such as the nature of Jesus and his message to the Israelites and the world.

The first word uttered by the angel Jibril, peace to him, to the Prophet Muhammed (pbbuh) was iqra’, or the command verb: Read. Thus, a direct translation of the word “Al-Qur’an” may be “The Reader.” This means that God, the Knowledgeable, wants his beloved human creation to be as knowledgeable as they can, through reading, writing, and accumulation of knowledge.

The Qur??an in its Arabic original version and its translations into other languages can be found in many libraries and internet sites, such as http://quran.al-islam.com/, which has indexes of the Qur’an subjects in various languages.

2. The traditions of the Prophet, or the Sunna 6 (Hadith). It includes sayings, actions, and approval of the Prophet (pbbuh). The Sunna explains the Qur??an in more details, and includes teachings of the Prophet about various aspects of life.

The Sunna in its Arabic original version and its translations into other languages can be found in many libraries and internet sites, such as http://hadith.al-islam.com/ , which has indexes of the Sunna subjects in various languages. However, only the Arabic original version is working currently (May 2009).

3. Research conducted by Islamic scholars concerning contemporary issues. Their investigations, discussions, and arguments are guided by the first two sources.

Five Islamic Obligations:

A Muslim is obligated to perform the following five obligations. They are considered the pillars of Islam.

1. In order to be a Muslim, a person has to announce the Declaration of Faith, which states: “There is no other God but Allah, and Muhammed is His messenger.”

2. A Muslim has to perform Prayers five times a day, before the Sun rises, at noon, mid afternoon, after the Sun sets, and at twilight (about one and a half hours after the Sun sets).

Prayers include reciting certain verses from the Qur??an accompanied by doing certain movements that range between standing, bowing down, prostrating, and sitting down on the floor.

Before performing prayers, a Muslim has to make Wudu’ , washing and cleaning of hands, mouth, nose, face, head, ears, arms, and feet. A shower or bath is required after sexual intercourse.

Thus, the Creator, praise to Him, wants people to be healthy by cleaning themselves of dust, sweat, and microbes five times a day. Moreover, the unique movements performed in prayers function as exercise for various body organs on daily basis.

A detailed description of how Muslims pray, including cleanliness, Athan, Iqama, making Raka’as, reciting Al-Fatiha, Tashahud, and Tasbeeh, with sources of Videos and illustrations can be found at: ( .Performing Islamic Prayers By Hassan Ali El-Najjar ).

3. A Muslim has to give Zakat. The word Zakat is often translated as “alms-tax” or “poor-due” but it is more than that. It is calculated as 2.5 percent of a person’s wealth annually. This includes income, profits, and commercial property (not used for necessity, like dwelling, tools, women’s jewlery, and cars).

In an Islamic state, it is a tax levied on a man’s wealth and spent by the state. In absence of an Islamic state, Muslims as individuals have the responsibility to calculate and spend it annually. Whether it is collected by the state or calculated by individuals, Zakat should be spent on the areas prescribed by the Holy Qur’an (Chapter 9, Al-Tawbah, Verse 60).

???????? ???????????? ????????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? ????????? ???????????????? ??????????? ????? ?????????? ??????????????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????????? ????????? ???? ??????? ????????? ??????? ???????

Alms (charity or charitable offerings) are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage, and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is Knowledgeable and Wise.

4. A Muslim has to fast during the month of Ramadhan. This means that Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having sexual intercourse during the day time. This extends from about one hour before the Sun rises until it sets. The objective is to train one??s spirit to resist body desires and to feel for the hungry poor. It also has numerous benefits to the body. Many articles can be found on the internet about the benefits of fasting, such as: reaping_the_benefits_of_ramadan, Fasting health benefits ramadan .
5. A Muslim has to go to Makkah (Mecca) in pilgrimage, Haj, at least once in one??s lifetime. This is a visit to the first House of God on Earth. It is now in Saudi Arabia. There, about several million Muslims gather every year to confirm their faith, remember, and act out the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, when he left his son, Isma’il, and his wife Hajar (Hagger), there.

Then, when Ismail grew older, Ibrahim came to slaughter him in obedience to God. It was a test for the three of them. They passed the test by expressing obedience to God and disobedience to Shaitan (Satan) by throwing stones at him. As Ibrahim put his knife on Isma’l's neck, Jibril came with the good news that they passed the test and Ibrahim was given a sheep to slaughter instead.

Then, Ibrahim and Isma’il built Al-Ka’aba, the House of the Lord, the most sacred place of worship for Muslims. Pilgrims perform rituals resembling the various parts of the story, which can be watched in many videos in the internet, such as: how-to-make-hajj-45 min with explanation , Haj, 5min, with a song ,

—————————

1. The word “pillars” does not appear in the Arabic text but has been supplied for clarity of meaning. Pillars (arkan) is the generally accepted term in this context.

2. Zakat is often translated as “alms-tax” or “poor-due” but it is more than that. It is calculated as 2.5 percent of a person’s wealth annually. This includes income, profits, and commercial property (not used for necessity, like dwelling, tools, women’s jewlery, and cars).

In an Islamic state, it is a tax levied on a man’s wealth and spent by the state. In absence of an Islamic state, Muslims as individuals have the responsibility to calculate and spend it annually. Whether it is collected by the state or calculated by individuals, Zakat should be spent on the areas prescribed by the Holy Qur’an (Chapter 9, Al-Tawbah, Verse 60).

???????? ???????????? ????????????? ??????????????? ??????????????? ????????? ???????????????? ??????????? ????? ?????????? ??????????????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????????? ????????? ???? ??????? ????????? ??????? ???????

Alms (charity or charitable offerings) are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage, and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is Knowledgeable and Wise.

3. The House is a reference to the House of God, the honorable Ka’aba and the Nobel Sanctuary, Al-Masjid Al-Haram, surrounding it in Makkah.

4. This Hadith was translated by Ezzeddin Ibrahim and Denys Johnson-Davies (Abdul Wadoud), “An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadiths.” 1976. Dar Al-Manar.

5. Allah is the name of God in Arabic. It means “the God,” or “Al-Ilah.” In addressing God, a Muslim may say in Arabic “Ilahi” (my God). However, Muslims usually refer to God with the definite article, as Allah; thus addressing Him with “Ya Allah.”

The definite article (the) in Arabic takes two forms: “El” and “Al.” Almost all usage of the definite article in the Holy Qur’an is in the “Al” form. However, there are three words in the Holy Qur’an, which include the “El” form. These are used in reference to the Prophet “El-Yass” (Elijah or Idris), his house (family) “El-Elyassin,” and Prophet “El-Yassa’a,” with the Hamza under the Alef, for which the English vowel “E” is the correct translation (The Holy Qur’an: Chapter 6, Verse 85 and Chapter 37, Verse 130).

The definite article “El” was also used in in the ancient Arabic dialect of Aramaic, spoken in the Holy Land of Baitul Maqdes, which was called Palestine at the time of Jesus Christ (Peace and blessings of God be upon him. The Bible tells us that Jesus addressed God the same way Muslims address Him today (Ilahi, or my God).

In Mark 15, Verse 34, Ps. 22:1, and Mat 27: 46, the Bible says: “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eloi, Eloi, la ma sabchtani? which is being interpreted, My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?”

The current (21st Century) Arabic form of the question attributed to Jesus Christ in the Bible may be “Ilahi, ilahi, li ma sayabtani?

While “Ilahi, Ilahi li ma” are standard Arabic words, which can be understood by the average educated Arabs, the word “sayabtani” is most spoken in Egypt but understood by most Arabic speakers.

Apparently, the sound “h” in “ilahi” was missed during one of the successive translations of the Bible from Aramaic to Greek, Roman, old European languages, middle languages, to modern European languages.

It is noteworthy that Christian Arabs also refer to the word God as Allah, and a famous Christian Arab phrase is “Allah Mahabah,” or “God is love.”

This should be enough evidence for non-Muslims to know that the name of God (Allah) was used by messengers of God who preceded Muhammed (peace and blessings of God be upon all of them).

6. Allah, praise to Him, says: “Whatever the Messenger came to you with, take it; and whatever he prohibited you, abide by it (The Holy Qur’an, Al-Hashr (59): 7). Yusuf Ali’s translation of the same verse: “Take what the Apostle assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you.”

The Messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “You need to follow my Sunna (path) and that of the guided successors after me. Stick to it strongly.” (This was a translation of the meaning of the Hadith, the Arabic text of which can be found in “Riyadh Al-Saliheen,” Hadith Number 157.

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Bangladesh has banned beating in schools after an upsurge of “inhuman” treatment of pupils by teachers, an official said Tuesday.

“Corporal punishment hinders the progress of a student,” education secretary Syed Ataur Rahman said in a government order issued late Monday to schools nationwide.

“Teachers should help the physical and mental growth of the students to flourish — they should be grooming them so they grow up as worthy citizens of the country,” the order said.

Rahman told AFP that the ban on beating and caning was because the government had “seen that these punishments can be inhuman”.

“Some parents have even attacked teachers for beating their child,” he said, adding that corporal punishment could also cause truancy, as pupils avoided classes at which they had been beaten.

The move comes after the country’s High Court urged the government to tackle growing cases of excessive corporal punishment in schools.

In March, eight Bangladeshi children received treatment in hospital after being caned by their headmistress for forgetting to bring coloured pencils to school.

Bangladesh has more than 30 million students in schools and madrassas — and nine out of 10 are physically beaten in school, according to a report released last October by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The report, which surveyed more than 3,800 children aged between nine and 18, found that the most common form of physical punishment was with a cane or stick.

It also found that seven out of ten children were physically punished at home.

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The government would soon conduct a survey on beggars in Dhaka city to prepare a database with photographs of people who live on alms.
The ministry of social welfare has meanwhile formulated a guideline for the survey?the first of its kind?to be conducted by some ten NGOs under the guidance of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, a senior official told media.
The beggars?? photographs would be taken to avoid duplicity and ensure proper rehabilitation of the down-and-out people in different parts of country, said Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir, Director general of the National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons.
He said most of the disabled beggars would be relocated at government supported rehabilitation centre while able-bodied one would be provided with opportunities for self-employment, preferably in their own district of origin.

The authorities would divide Dhaka into ten zones and carry out the survey on a single day to prepare the database to ascertain the exact number of beggars and their origins and reasons for begging.

The database is essential for rehabilitation of the beggars whose number is growing at a fast rate throughout the country, specially in capital Dhaka, the NFDDP chief said.
Finance ministry officials said Tk 12.47crore has already been allocated for the project titled ??Beggars Rehabilitation Programme??. Half of the project fund would be spent on survey while rest on rehabilitation.

Although there is no specific data on number of beggars in the capital and others major cities, different government agencies estimate it would be one million countrywide.
The number of beggars in the capital would be around 600,000 who are always found seeking alms at bus stands, railway stations, markets and at traffic signals.

The survey on beggars in Dhaka city would be followed by similar surveys different divisional headquarters, said officials.

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Bangladesh has become the institutional member of Unicode Consortium, an organisation that enables people around the world to use computers in any language.

On being a member, Bangladesh has achieved the voting power to make necessary additions of Bangla letters to be used in various devices of science, information and communication technology (ICT) and to develop the language standard.

Unicode is an internationally recognised system by which any language can be used in different digital devices like mobile phone and computer.

Earlier, only India had the voting right in the consortium about the Bangla language.

The ICT ministry with the personal interest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the initiative of being a member of the consortium last year.

Bangladesh was declared an institutional member on June 30 this year following an application by the ministry on March 18, 2009.

The Unicode Bangla text has already been initiated in many government offices under the supervision of `Accesses to Information (A2I)’ programme, operated by the Prime Minister’s office.

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Hartal : Strike !!!Virus of politics: Many discussions held?by the?political parties of Bangladesh. On white meeting they never support Strike, they even not get the new way rather than such a destructive and harmful event like Hartal (strike)?. To establish political demand if that is really the demand of maximum public, must can roar against Government. I am sorry to say that i never support such a political event which directly makes harm to public, what gain? I never clear. Hope many like me are not clear.

Time changed. we were under different political culture ,so at the beginning of independence -?we also needed Hartal as political demand.?Now?from my core observation. AFTER39 years THE NATION LOOKING FOR THE ALTERNATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIFFER WITH GOVERMENT. NO MORE HARTAL IS EXPECTED.

HARTAL IS A STRAIGHT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS !!!!

HARTAL : STRIKE REVIEWS .

26/06/2010DHAKA: Security has been beefed up in the Bangladeshi capital today ahead of the anti government general strike called by the main opposition BNP, amid fears of violence as the supporters of the ruling Awami League plan to thwart the day-long shutdown tomorrow.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party has announced a nationwide anti-government general strike tomorrow to oppose the ruling coalition’s policies, including “compromising national interests” by inking deals with India earlier this year.
Former prime minister Khaleda Zia, the chief of the BNP, announced the anti-government campaign on May 19 for “compromising national interests?? by signing deals with India during prime minister Sheikh Hasina??s New Delhi tour in January, oppose “tender-grabbing and extortions by government cronies?? and deteriorating utility services in the country.
The authorities and the supporters of the Awami League have said they were determined to crackdown on those creating “anarchy and disorder” in the country.
Dhaka metropolitan police has banned processions on the main roads in the capital and stepped up security to prevent any violence.
Dhaka police chief AKM Shahidul Haque told mediapersons that an additional 10,000 force will be deployed in the capital to maintain order.
He said police would not prevent the BNP from its planned strike, but actions would be taken if they try to create anarchy by vandalising vehicles or setting those on fire.
Pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) today announced that it would thwart the dawn-to-dusk general strike of BNP, triggering fears of violent clashes.
“So BCL will be on the field to prevent the strike by any means,” Mahmud Hasan Ripon, the BCL president, was quoted as saying by the bdnews24 online.
He expressed fears that the radical Islamist groups, including ‘Jamaat-Shibir’ could take advantage of the strike to create chaos in a bid to halt the trial of the war criminals accused of genocide during the 1971 ‘Liberation War’.
He asked the leaders and activists of BCL to stay on the alert tomorrow.
Law minister Qamrul Islam told reporters yesterday that the government had no plans to confront the protesters, but warned: “We will not tolerate anarchy or disorder during the hartal”.
BNP chief Zia has warned the government against creating any obstruction during the countrywide shutdown.
“The government will have to bear the responsibility of the consequences if it tries to obstruct our peaceful programme,” she warned.
BNP secretary general Delwar Hossain alleged today that the government had been arresting and harassing BNP leaders and activists across the country to disrupt the strike.
BNP-led four party alliance, including the Islamist Jammat have already declared their support to the strike.
During Hasina’s New Delhi visit, Bangladesh and India signed three agreements to jointly combat the terror menace while New Delhi announced a one-billion dollar line of credit to Dhaka.
India decided to give 250MW of power to Bangladesh from the central grid while they signed a power-sharing agreement. Bangladesh also promised not to allow its territory to be used for terror against India.
Political parties have frequently resorted to shutdowns and general strikes in Bangladesh to pressure the government, often leading to violence, political deadlock and seriously crippling its economy.
An earlier UNDP report calculated that the net loss in one day’s shutdown to around Taka 500 crore while it cost the country 3 to 4% of its GDP on an average every year between 1991 and 2000.

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