February 2005 Archives

Mohan Roy (An independent News corespondent), Kolkata, 5th February: A symposium was organized at ‘Calcutta International Book Fair’ United Bank of India Auditorium by ‘Matribhasa Suraksa Samiti, Bangabhasa Samskriti and Bamla Bachao Committee’ (‘All Bengal Save Mother Tongue Association’).

The meeting was presided over by Dr. Alok Mukherjii, a noted linguist from Bengal.

A year ago, late professor Humayun Azad, a noted linguist and leading freethinker of Dhaka University was brutally attacked on February 27, 2004 in front of Bangla Academy where he was attending the Book fair, which has become a seasonal event. In that attack, the assailants wanted to chop off Prof. Azad’s head. However, because of the presence of many book fair-goers the assailant could not do their job. In the process, though, they injured him with repeated chops in the neck and head areas resulting in his comatose condition. For a few days, his well-wishers thought he would not return from his long slumber. By surprising everyone, Prof. Azad’s senses came back and he took a slow road to rehabilitation, which required a number of plastic surgeries on his face to efface the brutal mark of the attack he received on that fateful day.

"The farce of democracy has been likened to a puppet show where a handful of power hungry politicians pull the strings from behind the scene." ~ Shrii P. R. Sarkar

To understand Prout is to understand revolutionary dynamics. Apart from formulating an original concept of revolution in itself, Prout discusses a number of revolutionary concerns such as the spiritual, the psychosocial or historical cycles, and the structural.

"Most cosmetics and personal care products manufactured by mainstream and multilevel marketing (MLM) industries are a veritable “witches brew” of multiple known carcinogenic ingredients and contaminants.

Sun 13 February 2005 BRAZIL/Anapu, Para State

74 year old American missionary Sister Dorothy Stang was assassinated on 12 February 2005 for her work in defending the Amazon and rural workers.

74 year old American missionary Sister Dorothy Stang was assassinated on Saturday in the Amazon state of Para, Brazil. Sister Dorothy was travelling to a sustainable development project in Anapu with some colleagues when she was shot three times by two gunmen.

At approximately 12:25pm on Saturday, resistance fighters waged an unprecedented assault on the Abu Ghraib prison camp south of Baghdad. The assault was sparked by a letter from a female prisoner named Fatima that fueled some Muslim fighters into action.

Fatima's letter, a hand written document, was recently smuggled out of Abu Ghraib. Fatima is the sister of one of the celebrated Resistance fighters in the area. US occupation forces raided his house some time back but failed to find him, so they took his sister prisoner in an attempt to force him to give himself up. JUS reported the incident at the time and it was said that this family is known for their piety and uprightness.

Here is Fatima's letter as originally published in Arabic by Mafkarat al-Islam and translated to English by Muhammad Abu Nasr of Free Arab Voice

Every atom and molecule of this universe is the common property of all living beings. This has to be recognized as a matter of principle.

After recognizing this fact, statements such as, "This is indigenous and that is foreign", "So-and-so is qualified for the citizenship of such-and-such country while others are not" and, "Such-and-such community will get certain political rights, neither more nor less than that", are totally irrelevant. In fact, such statements nakedly expose the vested interests.

Indonesia's top intellectual and a longtime contender for the Nobel Literature prize believes that the influx of foreigners and aid money into tsunami-devastated Aceh could bring significant change to the war-torn province.

Pramoedya Ananta Toer, an outspoken champion of democracy who was imprisoned for 14 years by the U.S.-backed dictatorship of former president Suharto, said recovery, and ultimately peace, will depend on the Acehnese.

"They are the country's bravest, most fiercely independent ethnic group and they cannot be conquered," Pramoedya told The Associated Press in an interview at his home outside Jakarta. "With everybody coming in from around the world, that could bring real change for the Acehnese."

Fri Feb 25, 2005 00:01:54 AM ET

By Karin Strohecker LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation kill 4,000 children every day, global health experts said on Friday.

They described the deaths as a "silent humanitarian crisis" and called for immediate action.

Indonesian Metro TV reporter Meutya Hafid (L) and cameraman Budiyanto (R) pose with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono shortly after arriving at the presidential palace in Jakarta February 24, 2005. Meutya and Budiyanto, who had been held captive in Iraq, arrived in Indonesia on Thursday. REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni.

National News Service, Kolkata - 25 February 2005: The moral degradation that the average Indian has gone through and continues to go through has reached new heights. The inability of Indians to shine in anything has lead us to celebrate mediocrity.

The latest example being Sania Mirza. We wish and hope that she becomes a great sports person, but to celebrate her rising to the third round of the Australian Open and being ranked 99 th in the WTP rankings is totally out of proportion with her achievements. The achievements of Ramanathan Krishnan, Jaideep Mukherjea, Premjit Lal, Naresh Kumar, Ramesh Krishnan, The Amritraj Brothers, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati were much greater than what Sania Mirza has achieved but, the Indian public, and more than the public, the medias' hype has gone beyond control. All the previous players received their dues when they achieved real success after years of toil, and their achievements real, but frankly speaking the press and the public are doing a disservice to Sania Mirza by hyping a non achievement.

Dhaka, Thursday, February 24 (NSS): Bangladesh government has banned two ‘Islamist militant’ organisations, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) and Jama’atual Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB) Wednesday accusing them of a series of bomb attacks and killings to create anarchy.

“The government is determined to take legal action against any those involved in destroying peace and discipline, and terrorist activities in the name of any organisation,” the Home Ministry said in its press note, issued on Wednesday.

By Shrii P. R. Sarkar

The cry, "Peace! Peace!" has become a craze in the world today. Can anything be achieved by such cries? There is no way to establish peace except to fight against the very factors which disturb peace. Even in the personal life of every human being, there is a constant fight between the benevolent and the malevolent intellect, or between vidya' and avidya'. At times vidya' triumphs, while at other times avidya' wins. In social life, too, this fight between vidya' and avidya' continues.

Dhaka, Monday, February 21 (NSS): People of Bangladesh paid homage to the language martyrs with due respect and solemnity Monday recalling their heroic role in establishing right to speak in mother language.

Dhaka, Monday, February 21 (NNS): A total of 118 bodies have been recovered from the sunken launch in the Buriganga and many others still remain missing till noon Monday as the rescue operation is going on.

National News Service, Kolkata: The Police in Dhaka recently foiled an anti-Indian demonstration plan in front of the Indian High Commission by a Islamic Fundamentalist group Hijbul Taharik. The Police maintained a barricade 10Kms. From the Indian High Commission office in Dhaka recently.

Dilip Chatterjee (National News Service), Kolkata 21st February 2005: The Indian Marxists particularly the CPI(M) and CPI are now determined to infiltrate the UPA Government led Central Administration. The Congress Party which leads the UPA is now dependent on the Marxists, because they have 60 MP's in the Lok Sabha. After the defeat of the BJP led NDA in the general elections the Marxists had major electoral gains from West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.

By Shrii P. R. Sarkar

The dowry system is yet another glaring example of social injustice. In my book Human Society [Part 1], I have already mentioned that the dowry system has two major causes: the first is economic, and the second is the numerical disparity between women and men. With the decreasing economic dependence of women on men, the inequity of the dowry system will cease to exist. But to expedite this process, it is essential to propagate high ideals among young men and women. Our sons and daughters are not commodities like rice, pulse, salt, oil or cattle that they can be haggled over in the market-place. [PROBLEMS OF THE DAY - 14]

Dhaka, Saturday, February 12 (NNS): A bus service between Dhaka and Shiliguri was launched Friday as two private transport companies of Bangladesh and India had been ferrying passengers from the respective destinations through Burimari border.

By Shrii P. R. Sarkar

Those who shudder at the sight of various social vices and lament, "Everything is lost; righteousness is gone; morality has vanished..." should realize that among all the causes behind this so-called all-round degeneration, social injustice is the principal one.

By Aarti Dhar

CAMPBELL BAY (NICOBAR ISLANDS), FEB. 16. Apart from the destruction caused by the tsunami, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are witnessing another problem — a divide between the local tribal population and the mainland settlers.

Dhaka, Monday, February 14 (NNS): The first meeting of techno-commercial working committee on a tri-nation pipeline to take gas from Myanmar to India over Bangladesh will be held in Yangoon February 27-28 next, official sources said.

[India News]: Campbell Bay (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Feb.15 : A teenaged woman, who survived on wild berries and rainwater for over 40 days on a tsunami devastated Indian island, was rescued by a search helicopter earlier this week.

Extra-virgin olive oil is the most digestible of edible fats.

It helps the bile, liver and intestinal functions, fighting against gallstone and stomach ulcer formation and aiding in digestion.

Olive oil contains antioxidants and vitamins E and K. It also helps the body assimilate vitamins A and D.

National News Service (Kolkata, Feb. 16, 2005): The pseudo intellectuals of India have struck again. The bleeding hearts like Medha Patkar and Arundhuti Roy are crying their hearts for S.A.R. Geelani, a Muslim fundamentalist, and so called professor of the University of Delhi. If there was any genuine case of somebody deserving to be locked up in Guantanamo Bay, it is he.

According to a new study, women suffering from a common thyroid problem called hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone, are less likely to develop breast cancer than women with normal thyroid function. The study, published in the March 15, 2005 issue of CANCER (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/cancer-newsroom), a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, finds that a history of hypothyroidism is associated with more aggressive forms of breast cancers, suggesting that thyroid hormone may promote breast cancer biology.

Chennai, Feb. 12: The waters that killed thousands have brought to life creations of the past.

Dhaka, Friday, February 11 (NNS): Bangladesh will import 400,000 tons of diesel in two years from India to meet its growing demand for energy in the irrigation sector, official sources said.

The decision came at a meeting of the cabinet committee on purchase held in Dhaka Thursday with Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman in the chair.

By Siddique Islam

Dhaka, Feb 10 (NNS): Bangladesh will import at least 132,500 metric tons (MT) of rice at a cost of Tk 2.26 billion to meet emergency need.

The decision was taken at the meeting of cabinet committee on purchase held Dhaka Thursday with Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman in the chair.

By Shrii P. R. Sarkar

In all human actions the tender touch of humanity should be present. Those with the tendency to not deprive others cannot, on the grounds of justice and equity, accept the principle of private ownership. The economic structures in the world today, however, are not based on human rights. In order to recognize human rights, one will have to be ready for revolutionary changes, and one will also have to welcome them.

Siddique Islam from Dhaka

Tuesday, February 08 (National News Service): US and Bangladesh will start the process for signing free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries within next few years after inking the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).

Siddique Islam from Dhaka

Dhaka, Feb 8, 2005 (National News Service) – Main opposition Awami League (AL) will hold a grand rally in Dhaka on February 19 after enforcing a 36-hour countrywide hartal on February 14-15 to protest the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and repression on its activists, and demanding resignation of the alliance government.

By Shrii P. R. Sarkar

Industry, agriculture, trade and commerce almost everything needs to be managed, as far as possible, through cooperative organizations. For this, special facilities will have to be provided to cooperative organizations whenever necessary. Adequate safe- guards will have to be arranged, and slowly private ownership, or the system of individual management, will have to be eradicated from specific areas of agriculture, industry, trade and commerce.

National News Service, Kolkata: At long last we have a leader in South Asia who has the courage of his convictions. The King of Nepal has had the courage to step in and take over the reins of power before his country slid into total chaos. As usual the powers that be start screaming about the murder of democracy.

Noted multinational and traditional publishing house MacMillan India Limited has formally released their already best selling title, "Heart over Matter" for the eastern region at a release function organised at Open Air Auditorium at the Kolkata Book Fair on the 31st of January 2005.

The noted author Mr. Virendra Kapoor was present at the function along with eminent personalities. The release function was followed by a press meet and a book signing session, by the uthor Mr. Virendra Kapoor in the MacMillan India stall.

National News Service, Kolkata (3 February, 2005): All India Forward Bloc has cautioned the Congress led UPA Government at the centre for continuing anti-people policies in the Economic front and diversion from the Common Minimum Program, under the pressure from American Imperialist force.

The Forward Bloc organised a huge public rally at the base of Sahid Minar, Kolkata to oppose American sponsored globilization, economic reforms, and Americal infiltration in Indian cultural field.

Forward Bloc leader, Kamal Guha and others strongly criticized CPI (M)'s big brotherly attitude and sponsoring politics of violence in West Bengal.