We were with the radio round the clock in our Bengali resettled refugee colony Basntipur sicnce the war broke. We with all our passions were waiting the victory. One lac refugees crossed over and Mrs Indira Gandhi as well as Indian opposition and the entire netion were engaged to prepare the ground for the victory.

My father Pulin Babu managed to get all literature published by the Government of Bangladesh in exile and working from Kolkata. We Indians hoisted the Bangladeshi flag. We had very fresh memories of Indo Pak war in 1965.We became overjoyed with the victory in Bangladesh. Enthusiastic Bengali refugees , particularly those from Jassore and Faridpur rushed to Bangladesh hoping to get back to the homeland. The result was pathetic as they lost their land and home in Terai.

My father also went to Bangladesh and he had a different agenda. He saw the last rays of hope for solving refugee problem for once and forever. He could not get any breakthrough.

And Quiet flows the blood in this subcontinent.

Pak rulers and military specifically are the target of justified criticism. But it remains the fact as the colonial rulers handed over power to Deshi Goras, blood continued to flow very silently and as the legendary Urdu poet Faiz ahmed Faiz wrote very well, we have no trace of the blood niether there is any clue left by the killers. It happened in Bangladesh. It was the repeatation in West bengal. We blame Pakistan for its discriminatory rule in East Bengal. What the Indian State power is doing in Kashmir and entire North East, seems to be worse.AFSPA is still in action in the northeast. Is not this a declaration of War?

Well, Indian army had played a historical role to liberate Bangladesh, but we may not perhaps support the deployed army jawans arownd us. We have the experience so often.

How the Naxalites have been traeated in Bengal, it remains history.

Then Mareechjhanpi. Self rehabilated Bengali refugees resettled in Dandyakarany were evicte forcefully amid a shameful genocide unprecedented and no one is convicted till this date.

What modi did in Gujrat, the world knows well, but what Buddhadev Bahttacharya is doing in Singur, it is further another war. Singur is siezed and democracy helpless. The left is waiting for a victory day in its own style.

Globalisation is victimizing man and nature and there is not enough resistanace. Double speak and hypocricy seems to be the adapted language of the polity.

Citizenship of India Act 1955 is revised with a target for the deportation of two corore Bangladeshi illegal immigrants and all Bengali spoken people out of Bengal, the bonafied Indian citizens are targeted.

Recently, I visited the resettled Noakhali Victims in Ramnagar under Kendrapara district of Orrissa.I have webcasted the experience. Now I am getting fresh calls from Kendrapara and Bhubneshwar as the resettled Bengali refugees are subjected tp persecution in the name of saving Olive riddles in coastal Orrissa.

Congratulations

Bangladesh celebrated its independence anniversary Saturday, 35 years after Pakistani troops surrendered to Bangladeshi-Indianforces after a nine-month war that cost almost 3 million lives.Bangladesh - then a part of Pakistan - proclaimed independence on March 26, 1971, and launched a separatist war after Pakistan's military rulers refused to hand over power to an elected political party.With assistance from neighbouring India, Bangladesh defeated a 93 000-strong Pakistani military force and emerged as an independent nation on December 16, 1971. Even as sporadic violence erupted between rival political parties.

A 31-gun salute heralded the 'Victory Day' - a national holiday - as thousands gathered at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar to pay homage to freedom fighters who died in the country's liberation struggle.President Iajuddin Ahmed placed wreaths at the memorial and later led a childrens' rally in the city's Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Exhorting the countrymen to unite in the face of a national crisis, he said, "Despite difference of opinion among the political parties, we must all make concerted efforts to solve our national problems." On this day in 1971, Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan with India's help. Pakistani troops surrendered to the Indo-Bangla joint command in Dhaka bringing to an end a nine-month war which started in March 1971, killing nearly three million people.

On this day in 1971, General AAK Niazi, chief of 93,000-strong Pakistani occupation forces, surrendered to the Bangladesh-India Joint Command at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka following a miserable defeat to the Bangalee Mukti Bahini (guerrilla forces) in the March-to-December war.On March 26, 1971, the Pakistani armed forces committed one of the cruellest genocides in the annals of human history by killing at will the freedom-loving unarmed Bangalees in the then East Pakistan.

The nation, under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, finally achieved independence on December 16, 1971 after the nine-month long bloody war.

However, celebrations were marred as supporters of Sheikh Hasina Wajed's Awami League and arch-rival Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party clashed in south eastern port city Chittagong early today.Several people were injured in the incident, reports said.

Political violence over demands for electoral reforms by the Awami League led 14-party alliance since October has left more than 60 people killed.

Indian Army on Saturday celebrated the 35th anniversary of liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan, in which the armed forces assisted the local uprising under the banner of Mukti Vahini in 1971.General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 corps of the Army, Lt Gen A S Sekhon led the rank and file of army personnel in paying tribute and homage to the heroes of the 1971 war against Pakistan.

"Vijay Diwas (Victory Day) is dedicated to the memory of soldiers who laid down their lives for the country since independence and is an echo of remembering the war martyrs," Sekhon said.

Bangladesh will pose severe problems in the subcontinent region if a government is not elected there "democratically", a senior Bangladeshi official told PTI in Kolkata.

"Bangladesh will be a problem for the subcontinent if a government is not elected there democratically," Additional Secretary to the government of Bangladesh, Mohammad Musa said.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony organised here by the Indian Army to felicitate fighters of the Bangladesh Liberation War on the eve of Vijay Diwas, he accused BNP-ruled Bangladesh of "exporting" Islamic militancy to neighbouring countries and to Europe and the United States.He said, "Bangladesh is turning into a Pakistan." Musa, also general secretary of the Freedom Fighters' Association of Bangladesh, said this body wanted democratic nations to help install a democratically elected government in the country.

After dawn Saturday - heralded by a 31-gun salute - tens of thousands of Bangladeshis congregated at a national monument outside the capital to lay wreaths and pay homage to those killed during the bloody liberation war.

The Fisherman was shot dead without any provacation

As the details available,the tranquillity of the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, the world’s largest habitat for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles in Orissa’s Kendrapara district, was pierced early this morning when a fisherman fell to bullets fired from the rifle of a forest guard.Rajnagar divisional forest officer Ajay Jena said a patrol boat of the forest department was on duty in the Gahirmatha when it spotted a mechanised fishing boat.

“All fishing activities are banned in Gahirmatha for a stretch of 35 km as it is a marine sanctuary. The trawler was in the prohibited zone. Apprehensive of firearms being kept in the fishing trawler, forest guard Sudhakar Kandi opened two rounds of blank fire from his rifle to scare them away. However, he inadvertently hit 35-year-old Kalu Biswas, a fisherman, killing him on the spot,” the DFO explained.A group of six marine fishermen from Kharinasi had boarded a motorised boat and were fishing at Barunei.

A patrol team of the forest department came across the fishing vessel around 6 am today and asked its occupants to surrender. The fishermen had reportedly stopped moving when suddenly, and without provocation, a guard opened fire.

The incident led to protests in the area and an army of more than 2,000 fishermen cordoned off the local police outpost in Ramnagar demanding Rs 20 lakh compensation for the family members of the deceased.

The fishermen relented after the district administration agreed to pay Rs 1 lakh as ex-gratia and provide an anganwadi worker’s job to the widow of Biswas.

“The situation is tense but under control. We are keep a close watch,” said Kendrapara superintendent of police Shatrughan Parida.

The Rajnagar DFO said: “After being spotted, they refused to surrender. The patrol team resorted to blank fire. As the sea was turbulent, a couple of bullets might have accidentally hit the fisherman.” Around 50 forest workers and two armed policemen are inadequate to take on fishermen armed with sophisticated weapons, he contended.

Jajati Karan,CNN-IBN writes in her article,`Whom to save—turtles or humans? ‘

Posted Sunday , December 10, 2006 at 16:57

Updated Sunday , December 10, 2006 at 17:12 Email Print

TURTLES VS HUMANS: One of the many families afflicted by the environment laws is that of Buddhananda Saraswati.

Kendrapara: Environmental laws have helped save Olive Ridley turtles in Orissa's Gahirmatha marine sanctuary from extinction. But efforts to save the turtles have dealt a death knell for local fishermen. One of the many families afflicted by the environment laws is that of 51-year-old Buddhananda Saraswati, who committed suicide on Thursday.

The only bread earner, Buddhananda had taken a loan of Rs 50,000 but could not repay it. A prosperous fisherman once, he became too poor to feed his family of eight because of the ban on fishing in the area.

"We had four boats and 23 acres of agriculture land. Now all's gone. I have lost my husband due to these turtles," says Buddhananda's widow, Basanti.

It's not Buddhananda alone. Six fishermen have committed suicide in this area over the last two years. Some have even gone insane.

In 1998, a 60 km coastline in Kendrapara and 20 km inside the sea territory was notified as Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary for the Olive Ridley turtles.

Fishing was banned for five months during the turtles' nesting period. This affected over 20,000 fishermen. But the Orissa forest department denies stopping traditional fishing.

"This is a sanctuary area and so fishing is banned. But we allow traditional fishermen to fish if they do not use motor boats, which are fatal for the turtles," says Chief Wildlife Warden, S C Mohanty.

The fishermen community alleges that it has become a fashion for many environmentalists to speak for Olive Ridley turtles without addressing the fishermen problems.

They say if the situation continues, it would lead to further deaths of fishermen in future. But the question remains—how does one save both man and the animal?

SC declines to hear PIL on Tata

New Delhi, Dec 16: The Supreme Court has declined to entertain a PIL challenging the allotment of land to Tata Motors for its car project at Singur in West Bengal.When the petition was mentioned before a Bench comprising Justice B N Agarwal and Justice P P Naolekar on Friday, it directed the petitioner to approach the Calcutta High Court.

The petition filed by Joydeep Mukherjee of All India Legal Aid Forum contended the West Bengal Government did not follow proper procedure for transfer of land to Tata Motors.

The Bench also refused to grant interim stay on the land allotment and to prohibit any kind of construction.

VP bid to broker Singur truce falls flat

[ 16 Dec, 2006 0249hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

KOLKATA: If anybody was expecting former PM V P Singh to broker a deal between the government and the Opposition over Singur on Friday, the hopes were dashed by the evening.

Singur protest: Mamata gives alternative proposal

Kolkata, Dec 16: Suggesting an alternative to end the impasse, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said around 500 acre land acquired 'forcibly' by the West Bengal government should be returned, and 450 acre of low land available adjacent to it should be taken for the Tata small car project.

"We hope that the state government will think over it. The farmers at Singur did not voluntarily give around 500 acre and the government should return it to them," Banerjee, whose hunger-strike entered the 13th day, told newsmen.

"The government will still have 500 acre. Another 450 acre low land is available nearby," she said.

On Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's assertion yesterday that his government would not budge an inch from the Tata project, Banerjee said, "He should set aside his ego. If he thinks that we are weak because we are agitating in a peaceful way, he is wrong. If he shows decency, we will show courtesy. But if he adopts a rigid attitude, our hunger-strike will continue."

Referring to the Chief Minister's appeal to withdraw her fast and sit for talks, the Trinamool Congress supremo said "On one side Bhattacharjee is offering talks and on the other he makes such statements. This cannot go together." She said another 700 acre was available at nearby Dankuni which could also be used for the Tata project.

We're going ahead, says Buddhadeb

Undeterred by the continued fast by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said the government is determined to go ahead with the Tata project in Singur.

"There is no going back on the project. If we do it, the people will not forgive us," Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told newsmen last evening. He said that the government, however, was willing to discuss with the TC the compensation package for the 1,300 landless labourers at Singur.

Asked whether the government would intervene to force-feed Banerjee following reports of her failing health, the chief minister said, ''we will not do anything by force.'' Bhattacharjee, who earlier met former prime minister V P Singh at the state secretariat, said that he had been able to convince Singh that the government was doing its best to compensate land losers at Singur."(Singh) asked me whether there was room for discussions. I said: of course, we can discuss the compensation package. He also asked whether we were ready to talk to the local farmers. I told him that the (Hooghly) district magistrate and (Director of Industries) M V Rao are camping in the area specifically to talk to locals. Anyone can go to them for talks,'' he said.

The Chief Minister said that during the meeting, he gave two documents to Singh detailing the project and the various development schemes being undertaken around it. (Agencies)

Former CITU leader flays Left Front on Singur

Cherian stunned

Former national secretary of Centre for Indian Trade Union (CITU) V.B. Cherian Saturday criticised the Left Front (LF) government for its 'shameful' surrender before a transnational industrial house by acquiring fertile farmlands in Singur, about 40 km from here.

'I am shocked. I am ashamed of what the LF government is doing here. They are committing atrocities on the farmers and going about without any master plan,' Cherian told a press conference.

The senior trade union leader visited the area as a representative of four-member fact-finding team of trade union leaders. The team concluded that brute police force had been used since Sep 25 this year to terrorise people and it reached its peak on Dec 2. It also claimed that over 500 acres have not been handed over despite the government claims that about 950 acres are already in their possession.

Cherian, who is the vice-president of National Trade Union Initiative (NTUI), said the state government is not transparent on Singur land acquisition deal.'What the government is doing here is unbecoming of a Left government. I was told that Singur has been chosen because the Tatas want it and also because the Chief Minister (Buddhadeb Bhattacharya) wants the project to be there,' he said.

'If the agrarian people are impoverished then what is the point in industrialisation? The very concept of industrial progress here is nonsense. Industrial development has to supplement agriculture. It has to be supportive of agriculture. Why does not the government have a master plan?' asked Cherian.

'I am shocked to know that there is no rehabilitation policy and the state industry minister says that the details of the agreement are trade secret. This project is nothing of a national secret that it would be exempted from the Right to Information (RTI) laws,' he said.

Meanwhile, Musharraf`s initiative to resolve the Kashir issue went abegging as the Indian side failed to see any credibility in this. It seem the mainland India as well as Pakistan, both are quite eqally insensitive in reference to kashmir Valley and its people

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Munizae Jehangir Writes:

Saturday, December 16, 2006 (Lahore):

Last week President Pervez Musharraf's interview to NDTV made headlines for days in Pakistan.

His remarks have evoked various responses from political parties and even from the Musharraf-led government.

The interview to NDTV was broadcast on two private Pakistani channels last week.

In India it was Musharraf's statements on the Kashmir conflict that drew attention. But in Pakistan, the General's resolve to not allow the two former PMs Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to contest elections is still generating strong responses.

Dr Prannoy Roy: In these elections, are Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif going to stand?

General Musharraf: No.

Dr Prannoy Roy: Why not?

General Musharraf: Firstly, one of them is convicted. The other also is convicted. Both of them are convicted actually. One of them has gone out for 10 years for an agreement, by himself. And the other is out since.

Dr Prannoy Roy: What happens if they both come (to Pakistan) in a plane together?

General Musharraf: If he comes, he will be sent back to Saudi Arabia. He is on a 10-years agreement. He will straight go back like his brother. If she comes, there are trials and cases against (her).

The reaction from the two largest political parties led by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto was immediate and strong.

"Benazir Bhutto will come back. There is no question of 'if'. The decision has been taken. Benazir Bhutto is coming back before the general election to lead the PPP campaign and to be our candidate for the PM slot. Now there are cases. We have never run away from those cases, all we have asked for is a fair trial. We are absolutely confident that in a fair trial, these trumped up cases stand no chance," said Shah Mehmood Qureshi, President of Punjab, PPP.

NDTV: If she is arrested what will happen. President Musharraf is in power. He arrests Benazir Bhutto, what will the PPP do then?"

Shah Mahmood Qureshi: If she is arrested there is a political recourse and there is a legal recourse. We will adopt both.

"I think the President is totally mistaken for the reason that he cannot do so because no Constitution, no law of the land is available. No provision is available by which he will send back Nawaz Sharif or deport Nawaz Sharif," said Chaudhry Naseer Ahmed Bhutta, Member, PML (N).

NDTV: But he has done so with Mian Shabaz Sharif, Mian Nawaz Sharif's brother in the past already. So what makes you say that he won't be able to do it again?"

Chaudhry Naseer Ahmed Bhutta: He has done it in total violation of the law. He has done it in total violation of the Supreme Court judgement and we are supposed to move to the Supreme Court in Pakistan. I believe that the Supreme Court of Pakistan will also take suo moto notice of how the judgement of the Supreme Court is flouted.

Political agreement?

President Musharraf came to power in Oct 1999 in a bloodless coup after he toppled the government of Nawaz Sharif, which enjoyed a two-thirds majority in Parliament at the time.

Sharif was arrested and was in a clandestine manner put on a plane to Saudia Arabia.

The nation was later told that Sharif had signed an agreement with the Musharraf led government that bars him from participating in politics for a period of 10 years. But to this day, the details of that agreement are not known.

"That agreement still stands. That is the reason they are scared of coming to Pakistan. They know that if they do come, they will be sent straight back to Saudi Arabia and then under the agreement they will not be allowed to go to any other country," said Pervaiz Elhai, Chief Minister of Punjab, PML (Q).

NDTV: What else is there in this agreement?

Pervaiz Ilahi: Under that agreement Nawaz Sharif explicitly apologized and clearly stated that he will not come back to Pakistan for another 10 years and keep away from all political activity.

There is however, another side of the debate.

Chaudhry Naseer Ahmed Bhutta (member of PML( N): This is a pack of lies. No credibility can be attached to these statements for the reason that when we went to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to challenge the exile of Nawaz Sharif and Shabaz Sharif, the government could not produce any sort of agreement.

"The government could not produce any sort of document or any sort of signature pertaining to apology. If there could have been any agreement between Sharif family and the government or they could have been any apologetic signatures then of course those could have been presented in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Since they have not been able to put it before the Court or to bring it in the limelight or bring it in the press, therefore this kind of a statement is totally absurd."

But General Musharraf is not without friends. His keenness to stay on in power has support from his propped up King's party, the ruling PML (Q).

"It is our duty to try and get our President elected again as President, while still maintaining his position of Chief of Army Staff," said Pervaiz Elhai ( Chief Minister of Punjab, PML Q).

Poll uncertainty

There is a lot of uncertainty in Pakistan ahead of 2007 general elections.

The precise date of these elections, which General Musharraf refers to as mother of all elections, is yet to be announced.

The President has very clearly stated that elections will be held after November 2007, but political parties within Pakistan are preparing to contest elections which they believe can be held as early as March next year.

In this fast changing political scenario of Pakistan, there is only one thing clear that Benazir Bhuttoo and Nawaz Sharif are determined to return to Pakistan once the election date is announced and both leaders will resist all attempts to bar them from contesting elections.

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Palash C Biswas,writes from Sodepur, Kolkata-India. E Mail : palashbiswas_kl@rediffmail.com