Weekend 2:13

| vo l 2 I ssu e 13 | F R I D AY, A UG UST 8, 2014

War and peace

4

BANGLADESH ON PALESTINE

12

peace anthems

15

inner JIHAD

CONTENTS

1

A W e ekly Productio n of

DhakaTribune

Volume 2 | Issue 13 | August 8, 2014 Editor Zafar Sobhan

News

Executive Editor Shahriar Karim

2 This Week

Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder

3 Say What

Features Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Features

Assistant Magazine Editor Rumana Habib Weekend Tribune Team Tasnuva Amin Nova Farhana Urmee Rifat Islam Esha Faisal Mahmud Shah Nahian Syeda Samira Sadeque Tausif Sanzum James Saville Sifana Sohail Art Direction/Photography Syed Latif Hossain Cartoons Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy Rio Shuvo Priyo

4 Politics Bangladesh on Palestine 5 Politics The next world war?

6 Feature On propaganda

8

12 Listology Peace anthems

feature

15 Origin Story Inner jihad

WWI centennial

17 Feature Anti-culling 20 Event Partition week

Contributors Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi Promiti Chowdhury Prova Zareef Kamal Ruwaida Khandker Polash Prodip Dina Sobhan

Regulars 14 Legalese Age of arbitration

Graphics Md Mahbub Alam Sabiha Mahmud Sumi

16 Tough love Auntie raver and face-saver 18 Stay In War films

Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Kazi Syras Al Mahmood Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad

19 Go out Monument tour

9

Photo story

Red cross in bangladesh | v o l 2 I s s u e 1 3 | F R I D AY, A U G UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

War and peace

Website dhakatribune.com/weekend facebook.com/WeekendTrib Email your letters to: weekend@dhakatribune.com

the cover This photo was taken after midnight during the peak of the Shahbag movement last year, when people from all around Bangladesh gathered to chant slogans and express still-raw emotions about war crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

Photo: Syed Latif Hossain

War and peace

4

BANGLADESH ON PALESTINE

Editor’s note

T

his is no Tolstoy novel. Gaza is very real (pg 2), and Bangladesh takes a stand along with others across the globe (pg 4). With tensions brewing, could this touch off another world war (pg 5)?

This week marks some important anniversaries: the WWI centennial (pg 8), the first use of the atom bomb (pg 8), and the lead up to Partition (pg 20).

So, we are taking a look at both the weapons of war (propaganda, pg

12

peace anthems

15

4-5) and peace (music, pg 6-7). Even the word “jihad” has two meanings (pg 15).

We offer a more humane alternative to the culling of dogs on Dhaka streets (pg 17).

We also honour the good work in Bangladesh done by the Red Cross (pg 9-11), which turned 150 this year.

All we are saying is: Give peace a chance.

- Rumana Habib

inner JIHAD

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

2 News | this week

Children of a Senior British war-torn nation minister quits over Gaza Ask any child in Gaza to do a drawing and the resulting picture is likely to be a house being bombed by a fighter plane.

In the strife-torn Palestinian enclave, thousands of children are suffering from the trauma of war, but resources to help them are scarce.

At a school in the northern town of Jabaliya which has been converted into a refuge, specialist teachers hand out paper and coloured crayons to a motley band of shaken up children, asking them to draw whatever is in their head.

Jamal Diab, a nine-year old with red flecks in his brown hair, draws his dead grandfather. Under the drawing, he writes in Arabic: “I am sad because of the martyrs.”

“A few days ago, an aircraft bombarded our house. We had to leave quickly and leave everything

behind. It was dangerous,” the lad breathes timidly as he shows his drawing.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, Unicef, about 300 children have been killed since the start on July 8 of Israel’s offensive against Hamas militants firing rockets into the Jewish state.

Inside the school, groups of youths attend half-hour sessions one after the other.

“The children have all lived extreme experiences,” says Dr. Iyad Zaqut, a psychiatrist who manages the United Nations community mental health programmes in the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, 460,000 people – more than a quarter of the population – have been displaced by the fighting and have gone to stay with relatives or found refuge at UN shelters. News: AFP

Baroness Warsi, who had been Britain's first female Muslim cabinet minister before being demoted recently, has resigned over her government's position on Gaza.

She wrote on Twitter on Tuesday: "With deep regret I have this morning written to the Prime Minister & tendered my resignation.

I can no longer support Govt policy on #Gaza."

In her resignation letter to the Prime Minister David Cameron she elaborated: “My view has been that our policy to the Middle East Peace Process generally but more recently our approach and language during the current crisis in Gaza is morally indefensible … I believe our approach in relation to the current conflict is neither consistent

with our values, specifically our commitment to the rule of law and our long history of support for international justice.”

In his reply Cameron wrote: “I understand your strength of feeling on the current crisis in the Middle East – the situation in Gaza is intolerable.

Our policy has always been consistently clear: we support a negotiated two state solution as the only way to resolve this conflict once and for all and to allow Israelis and Palestinians to live safely in peace.”

Several MPs have called on Cameron to take a more robust line with Israel amid concerns that its actions in Gaza are “disproportionate.”

News: Desk

Earthquake devastates Ebola virus kills hundreds in West Africa Chinese village A paramilitary policeman rests on the roof of a collapsed building after spending the day searching for earthquake victims at Longtoushan, in China’s southwest Yunnan province on August 5. More than 400 people have died in an

earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter scale, that devastated a Chinese village, officials said, as relatives face the stark probability that rescuers would only find the remains of their loved ones.

News and photo: AFP

Ferry capsized in Munshiganj

Health workers, wearing head-totoe protective gear, prepare for work, outside an isolation unit in Liberia in this July 2014 Unicef handout photo.

As of July 27, a total of 1,323 cases, including 729 deaths, had

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

been attributed to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the four West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Liberia has borne 329 of these cases, including 156 deaths.

News and photo: Reuters

An overloaded ferry capsised in the Padma river in Munshiganj, some 30km south of Dhaka on August 4 Photo: Mehedi Hasan

Oddities | News

Silent wanderer

T

he mysterious woman in black walking across the US while refusing to talk to anyone has finally reached her destination.

She caused an Internet sensation as she traveled nearly 800km by foot, and has apparently reached what she calls “home”, local police say.

Elizabeth Poles is an army veteran who travelled for two months on foot. She was seen from Georgia to West Virginia walking American back roads in her wanderings. Those who tried to give her food and water or to otherwise help her were often rebuffed.

The “woman in black” drew growing attention as sightings were reported on Twitter, under #womaninblack, as well as on a Facebook page with nearly 80,000 “likes” dedicated to the woman’s journey. During the entire period of her journey she refused to talk to

Say what?

anyone or disclose her identity.

Raymond Poles, her brother, told Reuters that since shaving her head, donning black robes and refusing to go to church, she has disappeared for months at a time. Mr Poles told the wire service that his sister is a loving and kind-hearted person who was travelling to Virginia, where she was born and raised. She has told police that she is on a religious quest.

News: Desk, Photo: Facebook

3

Crocodile in toilet In this photograph taken on July 20, a crocodile which snuck into a bathroom is seen in a house in Sojitra village near Anand, some 80km from Ahmedabad, India.

The crocodile was discovered after it made its way into a residential property.

News and photo: AFP

Indian wrestlers honour snakes

nspca to sue over giraffe bridge collision death

Elderly Indian wrestler, Ram Gopal performs during a bout of traditional wrestling organised at the historical Loknath Vyayamsala (Fitness Centre) on the occasion of Nag Panchami, in

A

South African animal rights group is planning to sue the people responsible for the death of a giraffe that smashed its head on a bridge as it was being transported on a trailer on one of Africa’s busiest motorways.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing two giraffes in an open air trailer being driven along Johannesburg’s N1 motorway on July 31st before one hit its head on the bridge. “What a weird and sad thing to witness. That impact was so shocking,” TV and radio personality Pabi Moloi said on Twitter, next to a cellphone picture of the giraffes shortly before the incident.

“Look how low that bridge is and how tall the giraffes are. Who thought this one through?”

South Africa’s National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said they would be seeking to prosecute those responsible.

“We’re very concerned about the way it was transported. Most definitely there has been negligence,” NSPCA manager Rick Allen said.

The incident has caused outrage in South Africa and has been tragically compared to a scene in the Hollywood film “The Hangover 3” in which bungling character Alan Garner buys a giraffe before accidentally decapitating it on a highway bridge.

Allen said it was fortunate the other giraffe survived. “We have already nicknamed it ‘Lucky’,” he said.

News: Reuters

Allahabad, on August 1. The Hindu festival of Nag Panchami is observed during the monsoon with prayers and tributes to snakes.

News and photo: AFP

Man accidentally shoots himself while taking selfie

A young Mexican man had died after accidentally shooting himself in the head while posing for a “selfie” with a loaded gun.Oscar Otero Aguilar, who worked in a pet shop, is said to have been drinking with friends in Medero, in the north of the capital, Mexico City, when the accident happened.

A follower of the “selfie” craze - in which people pose for photographs they take of themselves - Otero Aguilar frequently posted pictures of himself on social media sites.

He had been at home with with his two housemates, Omar Abner Campos Vives and man known only as “El Paco,” when neighbours heard a gun go off followed by screaming and called the police.

News and photo: The Telegraph

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

4 Politics | Bangladesh on Palestine

Camaraderie for Palestine Bangladesh’s involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict Rifat Islam Esha

T

he recent and ongoing conflict in Gaza has left the world feeling helpless.

The international support for the cause falls short of what Gazans need at this point. Here in Bangladesh, thousands of miles away, most people can offer only moral support – sharing #hashtags and news stories, or boycotting products that aid or fund Israel.

As of August 4, Al Jazeera reports that 1,815 Palestinians have been killed and, as indicated by the Palestinian health ministry, 410 of those were children. The world is watching and many want to put effective pressure on the governments responsible, to put an end to this interminable conflict.

Volunteers from Bangladesh fighting with Palestinians in Beirut, Lebanon, 1982

Official support

Bangladesh has always been one of those countries. It has been supporting Palestine since its own liberation. Our country does not officially recognise the state of Israel, and supports the end of Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. Bangladesh has no foreign relations or trade with Israel. No one is allowed to travel to Israel with a Bangladeshi passport.

On July 14, five days after the recent attacks on Gazans, the Bangladesh cabinet strongly condemned the attacks and killing by the Israeli military at its regular cabinet meeting at the secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh stated that killing of scores of innocent civilians was a human rights violation.

According to a foreign ministry press release on August 4, there was a meeting where Bangladesh called on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member countries to jointly mobilise to express their support for Palestine by imposing a trade embargo on Israel. He urged that member states not allow visas to Israeli politicians, representatives and business people responsible for committing crimes against humanity. The countries should “slap a ban on arms trade with Israel for violating the provisions of the Arms Trade Treaty,” said Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Adviser to the PM. Ministers from Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria and Venezuela and special representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Morocco, Jordan and other NAM member countries also spoke at the meeting.

The role of Arab countries Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of international relations at the

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

University of Dhaka, spoke to us about the stance Bangladesh has taken on the Israel-Palestine conflict: “Bangladesh will only recognise Israel when there is an independent Palestinian state.”

Unlike some nations in the Arab world, which “play a dubious role,” Bangladesh’s stance in this is very firm, he said.

He believes we ought to be critical about the role of the Arab nations – and not just Israel and the United States – who should be campaigning for an end to the

war. The prevailing divisiveness that exists among the Arab nations is not really helping to bring this about. According to Imtiaz, countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar could be much stronger, and play a more prominent role.

Imtiaz said the protests seen around the world, not just in our country, include people of different religions and political inclinations.

He emphasised that this issue is not religious, pointing to the tacit complicity of Israel’s Muslim neighbours in the occupation of

O

The 8000

Photo: Yazan al-Saadi/Al-Akhbar English

Pro-protest

Imtiaz added that Bangladesh continues to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian cause due to its experience of atrocities during the Liberation War. When asked about the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanction) movement against Israel, Imtiaz states that any sort of resistance is legitimate: “Everybody has their own way of shouting.”

.

Old allies n July 3, 2014, the Beirutbased news publication Al-Akhbar English published an article entitled “Remembering the past: Bangladeshi fighters for Palestine of the 1980s,” along with two pieces of evidence of Bangladeshis fighting alongside Palestinians in Beirut in 1982: A photograph and a grave.

The tombstone of Kamal Mustafa Ali in the Palestinian Martyr Cemetery in the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp

Photo: Magnum Photos/Chris Steele Perkins

Palestine.

This article tries to trace the trajectory of Bangladeshi camaraderie with Palestine. The article mentions the US Library of Congress report (1988), which highlights a 1987 Bangladesh government report stating: “8,000 Bangladeshi youths had volunteered to fight for the Palestine Liberation Organisation.” However, it is very

hard to find concrete proof of the exact number of Bangladeshis who were there to help the Palestinian cause.

The deshi martyr

The writer says the grave of a Bangladeshi man named Kamal Mustafa Ali is located “on the outskirts of the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp in southern Beirut, which is the Palestinian Martyr Cemetery.” His date of birth and other details are missing from the tombstone which only bears his name, nationality, alongside the cause and timing of his death. “Ali died on July 22, 1982, during a battle at the castle of the High Rock, also known as the Beaufort Castle, located in the southern Lebanese governorate of Nabatiyeh.”

THE NEXT world WAR? | politics

5

Who will start WWIII? With the current political turmoil around the world, worriers have begun speculating how this story will end Faisal Mahmud

has always been a major player on the world stage. In the time of the USSR, Russia was a superpower that could have triggered a world war at any moment. Their dispute with the United States is well known, and everyone can imagine what could happen if these two superpowers were to actually fight it out. Russia is also a major supporter of Israel, but also paradoxically of Syria and Iran.

China

B

lood is being shed in Gaza and a civilian airliner has been shot down in Ukraine. Meanwhile a self-proclaimed caliph is calling for jihad in Iraq and Syria. Conspiracy theorists are having a field day. Is World War III looming?

Perhaps this is a crazy question, but the current situation has some eerie similarities to the 1930s – and history is a creature of habit.

The million dollar question is: From which part of the world might it start? Here is a list of possible countries which could start a global war:

Israel-Palestine

Israel is in such opposition with many of the rising powers in the world that it may stop at nothing to settle scores. Looking at the Gaza incident, international observers are concluding that Israel could soon attack Iran and Syria. If this happens, other Muslim countries may finally feel compelled to come together (a big question mark here though) in aid of each other, with the superpowers having to intervene and save the world.

Egypt

Egypt is one of the most powerful

nations in the Middle East and has not been in good shape for a long time now. Internal political conflicts have already made it a simmering cauldron. The fact that they are one of the biggest unifiers of the Muslim nations is a cause for concern in some countries. Furthermore, their relationship with their neighbour Israel is of great concern. Any day now, one could attack the other. If that happens, each side’s respective supporters could rush to help their allies.

Iran

Iran is in a lot of trouble regarding its internal political affairs.

Many superpowers have raised questions about the government of this Muslim country. Its former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was highly criticised by the world media, as well as by leaders from different countries, for the way he ruled the country. The United States and its allies are against this country getting nuclear weapons, and the day may not be far when Iran could be attacked for its rogue behaviour.

North Korea

The relationship that North Korea has with South Korea has been

troubling since the end of the Korean War. The day is not far when the people who govern this country will take a foolish step that they might regret for ever. Meanwhile, the South Korean government has the full support of the United States. Some countries call North Korea a “rogue state,” and what frightens many is North Korea’s stock of nuclear weapons.

Pakistan

The current political situation in Pakistan is very bad, the woeful economic condition adding to people’s misery. The government has been found wanting in this South Asian country where terrorists have safe havens.

Pakistan is fully equipped with nuclear warheads, and many fear these weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. This country also does not have good relations with its neighbours, and if any of them attack, it could lead to WWIII, as Pakistan has a number of powerful allies including Iran.

Russia

The situation in Ukraine may not be the start of another world war, but it is a sign this country has a free reign to do whatever it wants. Russia

Many are uncomfortable with China’s newfound power. In November 2013, China startled the world by announcing a new air defence zone in the East China Sea. However, Japan and other nations, including Taiwan and South Korea, also lay claim to the airspace.

The Senkaku Islands fall inside their “newly acquired” airspace, and now they are threatening to forcefully move Japan out of the area. Tensions have been building in the Pacific Rim for a while now, and unlike the first two SinoJapanese wars, any conflict now could involve other countries in the region.

South Korea has also quietly expanded their own airspace in December 2013, pushing back into territory that China claims. With China and Japan aggressively rearming themselves, this territorial dispute has the potential to explode.

United States

A war only becomes a World War when the big guy gets involved. Unlike their official policy on Russia, stern warnings and disapproving looks, the White House has publicly and unwaveringly declared that it will back Japan against any acts of aggression by China. There are other factors too. The US government is close to $17 trillion in debt, and China owns 7% of that, about $1.19 trillion. If China were to dump the US debt it would incur a large financial loss, but it could be a crippling blow to the US economy – and much of the world, since the US dollar is held in reserve by most foreign governments.

If China and the US do come to blows over the South China Sea, the US could eradicate the debt and pump the extra revenue into military spending – as happened in World War II.

.

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

6 FEATURE | On propaganda

mightier tha In wartime, incendiary words can be a powerful weapon Shah Nahian

“T

here is no such thing as a good war, or a bad peace” said Benjamin Franklin at the end of the French and Indian War in 1755. Every war fought in the history of mankind has brought death and destruction, yet citizens willingly sign up to be soldiers and continue to support war.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes causes and ideals are worth fighting for.

But nations and political groups are often guilty of conveying biased and misleading information to promote a particular agenda. The motives behind the messages are simple: To convince the audience to adopt an idea as their own belief, while rejecting viewpoints from the other side. This is known as propaganda.

“The first casualty when war comes is truth” said US Senator Hiram Johnson during World War I.

On a mission

Propaganda being used as a tool of persuasion has existed for many centuries. It was used as far back as

1622, when Pope Gregory XV created a group for the express purpose of trying to win back Catholics who had taken up the Protestant faith.

Missionary work was nothing new but people began to realise the possibilities associated with “spreading the word.” The technique became widely used not only for religious indoctrination but also for political discourse.

WWI

War propaganda debuted at the start of the First World War and continues to exist in the modern world. The bad guys and the good guys were both often guilty of misleading people with distortions and exaggerations.

The Holocaust

Propaganda was used to the maximum under Adolph Hitler’s regime.

Information available to German citizens was limited to what cast the Nazis in a favourable light. The idea was to suffocate opposition with a lack of information. Anti-Nazi

State propaganda, when supported by the educated classes and when no deviation is permitted from it, can have a big effect. It was a lesson learned by Hitler and many others, and it has been pursued to this day

- Noam Chomsky in ‘Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda’

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

an the sword documents were burnt, while radios were sold at extremely low prices, allowing everyone to hear Hitler speak. In films, Jews were compared to rats while Hitler was made out to be a godlike figure, a saviour.

Germans in other parts of the world were portrayed as being horribly abused.

Hitler said: “The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over. Here, as so often in this world, persistence is the first and most important requirement for success.”

Home front

Looking closer to home, JamaatShibir activists’ instigated violence in Bogra by circulating a poorly photoshopped picture of Delawar Hossain Sayedee superimposed on the face of the moon. They sold the photo to the gullible public as an omen, and a calling for believers to fight and free the Jaamat leader at any cost.

How propaganda works

Propaganda increasingly tapped into people’s emotions during the Second World War. War posters proved to be the most

7

effective, due to the fact that they could be put up just about anywhere and because people remember pictures much more clearly than they remember words.

War propaganda served to motivate people on the home front to boost factory production and to join the army, while others helped demonise the enemy, so they would only be viewed as purely evil entities, something less than human.

According to Dr Michael Lane Bruner, an associate professor of rhetoric and politics at the department of communication at Georgia State University, propaganda is most effective when conveyed through television, radio and film.

Since the audience has little or no opportunity to respond or provide feedback to these messages, the content they watch becomes a fact in many of their minds.

Furthermore, Bruner added: “Given the wide range of programmes, people often only tune in to the programmes that reinforce their own beliefs.”

There are various methods of conveying propaganda but it usually relies on some basic principles.

The general idea is to manipulate a message or to portray an issue or person in the most favourable light possible, and when necessary make the opposing side look shabby in comparison.

.

Tricks of the trade:

• Diverting attention: When someone is trying to avoid answering a question or providing hard facts.

• Name-calling: Uses labels like terrorist, traitor or hypocrite.

Negatively charged words are often used to describe ideas or beliefs.

• Bandwagon: Encourages its audience to join the crowd by aligning with the most popular and successful side on some issue. This type of persuasion plays to the human desire to be on the winning team.

• Glittering generalities: Combines words that have positive connotations with a concept that is particularly beloved. Very few people are actually willing to speak out against democracy

or freedom. The idea is that by using these terms in tandem with an agenda, people will accept it and avoid looking for supporting evidence.

• Card-stacking: Only presenting details, statistics and other information that impacts public opinion positively. The negative issues are left out entirely.

Although the information that's presented is usually true, it presents a lopsided and unrealistic viewpoint that is dangerously deceptive.

• Plain folks: Politicians often come from wealthy backgrounds.

However, in order to become more acceptable to the general public, they often portray themselves as humble people with ordinary lives, doing

ordinary everyday activities.

• Fear propaganda: Designed to scare people into choosing sides, worst-case scenarios are presented as inevitable if a particular action is not taken.

• Transfer technique: Conveys propaganda through subliminal means. Using this method, a group or person attempts to align themselves with a beloved symbol in an effort to transfer the status of the symbol to the cause they represent. Many people see parallels between propaganda and subliminal messaging, in which images or words are presented too quickly or abstractly for people to consciously recognise and process them.

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

8 FEATURE | wwi centennial

WWI and the end of colonialism 100 years after WWI, we remember how soldiers from the subcontinent helped shape their own national histories Rumana Habib

T

his week marks the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of World War I. The conflict that began in Europe also had huge implications for South Asia, as it marked the beginning of the end of the Old World order of colonialism.

On August 3, 1914, Germany declared war on France. On August 4, Britain declared war on Germany.

Colonial troops fought side-by-side with the French and British, which led to both a sense of camaraderie during the war, and a sense of betrayal afterwards.

Home rule

“Feelings of nationalism turned into the drive for independence,” Olivier Litvine, director of the Alliance Française de Dhaka, told the Dhaka Tribune in an interview.

Earlier this year, Litvine organised War & Colonies, a photography exhibition and international lecture series in Dhaka, to examine the complicated history between Europe and its colonies.

“Ironically, 1920 was also the height of colonialism for France and Britain, since the victorious allies divided Germany’s colonies among themselves,” Litvine said.

“But there were many broken promises,” he added, notably Britain’s promise of self-rule for India in exchange for their participation, which was significant. More than one million Indian troops volunteered and served overseas during WWI, and of these, 74,187 Indian soldiers

Indian soldiers marching in Paris

died and more than 67,000 were wounded. Eleven Indian nationals were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour awarded to British and Imperial (now commonwealth) army forces.

The India Gate in New Delhi was built to commemorate these soldiers. But India was denied selfrule.

“Even as late as 1918, Gandhi was arguing that if we do not support Britain in it’s time of need, then we do not have the moral authority to ask them for political concessions,” said War & panellist Sqn Ldr (retd) Rana Chhina of USI Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research in New Delhi.

“People learned that they could not trust the colonial powers anymore, they had just used and dropped them like a discarded garment. It hurt their sense of pride, and they could not look upon these white masters as benevolent anymore,” said Litvine.

India played a significant role in both world wars. “The Indian army in WWII, with 2.5 million men, was the largest volunteer army in the history of human conflict,” Chhina said.

Bhadralok warriors

Rana Chhina’s paper “Bhadralok Warriors: The Bengali Military Experience in the First World War,” looks at the role played in the war by the Bangali elite, who applied political pressure on the British to be allowed to participate.

“The British by then were very

ECPAD Collection Garros/Alliance Française de Dhaka

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

firmly entrenched in the “martial races theory,” which believed that only certain classes of people were warlike and competent to become soldiers,” Chhina explains.

“The one class they were very sure they didn’t want as soldiers were ethnic Bangalis.”

“The reason for that was twofold. One was the fact that in Bengal, you had a very high level of political consciousness, and that was anathema to the colonial regime. And the second was the 1857 uprising,” which was largely led by Bangalis.

“Not so with France,” Litvine said. France took the opportunity to snap up soldiers from the region.

“France brought in colonial soldiers because, in purely demographic terms, we were losing against Germany, as the population of France is not very big. The colonial troops were very important.”

But eventually the educated Bangali elite did convince the British to let them serve.

“They initially setup a volunteer field ambulance, a state-of-the-art floating hospital barge with X-ray

machines, operating theatres, and refrigerators, to be used in Mesopotamia. But as it was being towed across the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in the monsoon, it turned turtle and sank.”

“But they persisted and they ultimately managed to send the Bengal Ambulance Corp to Mesopotamia, which operated in two parts: a stationary hospital and an ambulance at the front.”

Volunteers also served in the 49th Bangali Regiment.

Interestingly, WWI also had a formative impact on Kazi Nazrul Islam. Mofidul Hoque of the Liberation War Museum wrote a paper exploring the impact military life had on Nazrul, who joined the British Indian Army in 1917 and served for 2.5 years where he was exposed to the multiculturalism and anti-colonialism that inspired his dreams of a new national identity.

“The existence of Bangladesh is living proof, if proof was required, that the entire British myth of the non-martial Bangali was rubbish,” Chhina said.

.

WWII: The bomb that terrified the world

T

Zareef Kamal

his week marks the 69th anniversary of the first use of the atomic bomb in war.

On August 6, 1945, the US dropped the uranium-based bomb, nicknamed “Little Boy” over Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in 90,000-166,000 deaths. Three days later, a second plutonium-based atomic bomb nicknamed “Fat Man” was detonated over Nagasaki, Japan, resulting in 60,000-80,000 deaths. Most of the people died immediately from the explosions, as the bombs created huge fireballs that burned down the traditional Japanese wood and paper houses, while the rest died over the next few months from burns and radiation sickness.

To date, this is the only incident of an atomic bomb actually being used. Since then, the world has lived in fear of a nuclear war that could wipe out humanity, as modern atomic weapons are up to thousands of times more powerful

than those dropped on Japan.

The atomic bomb was developed under the American physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, as part of the infamous Manhattan Project that also involved Albert Einstein.

It began in 1939, in a race against the German atomic bomb project. After Germany's defeat in May 1945, attention was turned to Japan. A trial explosion was carried out at the Trinity site, near Alamogordo, Mexico, on July 16.

When Japan refused to surrender to the Potsdam Declaration on July 26 1945, President Harry Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima, and later Nagasaki, resulting in Japan's surrender on September 2.

To date, the US, UK, China, Russia and France hold nuclear weapons under the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty. However, India, Pakistan and North Korea have also declared possession of nuclear arms, and Israel is thought to have them too.

.

Red Cross in bangladesh | Photo story

9

Red cross in

bangladesh

Transportation of baby food to Marapura camp, Bangladesh, 1972.

Photo: Jean-Jacques Kurz

This year, the International Committee of the Red Cross celebrated 150 years of humanitarian service across the globe.

The ICRC delegation in Bangladesh organised a fiveday exhibition entitled “150 Years of Humanitarian Action in 71 Photos” was held in the capital’s Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi.

150 years of service Promiti Chowdhury Prova

S

ince its inception in 1863, the ICRC has been working to provide protection and assistance to people affected by conflicts worldwide and to promote laws that protect victims of war.

The ICRC carried out extensive humanitarian operations in Bangladesh during the Liberation War to alleviate the suffering of victims. The war left 120,000 Bangalis stranded in Pakistan – mainly military personnel and civil servants and their families.

Thousands of Pakistani civilian internees and prisoners of war remained in Bangladesh.

On August 28, 1973, the governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh concluded an agreement in New Delhi to arrange repatriation. The ICRC helped to repatriate 118,070 people to Bangladesh and 117,272 people to Pakistan from 1973-1974.

The ICRC distributed around 2.8 million Red Cross messages from 1972-1975, which helped reunite several hundred families.

During the post-war crisis, the ICRC initiated a large-scale relief operation with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 25 national societies and the Bangladesh Red Cross Society.

To many Bangalis, this programme was distinguished as a symbol of hope. In the five years of its operation, Red Cross medical teams provided treatment to an average of 112,000 people a year, caring mainly for undernourished children and people suffering from scabies.

More recently, the ICRC has been supporting the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) to produce custom-made artificial limbs for people with physical disabilities.

.

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

10 Photo story | Red Cross in Bangladesh

A distribution point at a refugee camp, Dhaka, 1971

A refugee woman, Dhaka, 1971

Photo: F Altherr

Photo: Jean-Jacques Kurz

Distribution of Red Cross materials, Bangladesh, 1972 Photo: Jean-Jacques Kurz

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

11

Transfer of Bangali civilians from India under the auspices of the ICRC, Dhaka, 1972 Photo: AndrĂŠ Jolliet Supported by the ICRC, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, volunteers provide first-aid to a person injured during politically motivated violence, Chittagong, 2013 Photo: A Wahid

The ICRC supports operations such as the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in its vocational training programmes, giving a sense of dignity and independence to people with disabilities, Dhaka, 2013 Photo: A Wahid

With support from the ICRC, the CRP provides rehabiliation services to the injured and other disabled people, Dhaka, 2013 Photo: A Wahid

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

12 listology | peace anthems

Singing for

Music is a weapon that can motivate people to take a stand against conflict, and come together in love and harmony. It remains a powerful medium to motivate human rights activists, and to disseminate values in a memorable way Farhana Urmee

1

During World War I music was used both as war propaganda and also by the anti-war movement.

The lyrics of songs composed were often patriotic. The lyrics composed by Al Piantadosi for Alfred Bryan's “I Didn't Raise My Boy to be a Soldier” advocated peace with the lament of a mother whose son was lost in the war.

2

Bob Dylan’s folk songs accompanied Martin Luther King’s activism against racism, and

he performed after King’s unforgettable “I have a dream” speech.

10

3

Similarly, Kolkata-based Indian singer Kabir Suman, has always sung about people's rights.

He sang of the struggles of ethnic minorities within his country and the misdeeds conducted by the state. He has been an inspiration for the current generation of singers, paving the way for social change.

4

During the Vietnam War, Pete Seeger, for whom music was a “conversion experience,” sang revolutionary and inspirational words aided by simple strokes on

his folk instrument. His civil rights anthem: “We Shall Overcome,” is sung worldwide in the call for

peace. Even today, that tune retains its intensity, and is an inspiration to millions who are struggling for peace rights.

5

The version of that song, sung by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, has been released as “Song for Palestine.” Through this track,

Pink Floyd's frontman Waters, takes a stand against recent Israeli attacks on Gaza.

6

John Lennon's song “Give Peace a Chance” became an anthem during the Vietnam War. His lyrics

demonstrated compassion for the working class.

7

In 1970s Bob Marley sang for peace, cultural equity and against racism. The

8

Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was the temporary radio station during the Bangladesh Liberation

Jamaican singer's “Get up stand up” went on to inspire revolutionary activities in Africa.

He sang for people who were politically and economically oppressed.

War. Its historical role, from

broadcasting the Declaration of Independence to the official surrender of the Pakistani army, included playing patriotic songs to boost morale among the freedom fighters and civilians at that time.

9

Musicians like Kafil Ahmed sang to save the Sundarbans and on other

burning political issues of the day. He believes musicians sing out of their own sense of responsibility.

.

Piano

Protestor The picture of an unnamed pianist playing in front of a police squad in Kiev, Ukraine, during the Euromaidan last year, went viral on social media. It represented the concerted attempt to keep demonstrations peaceful after a series of violent police crackdowns on protesters, as well as demonstrating the power of music as a peacemaker.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

peace The Concert for Bangladesh was organised to raise awareness about the genocide that took place in Bangladesh, known as East Pakistan at the time.

The concert, organised

This comic was inspired by the lyrics of John Lennon’s (former member of The Beatles) song, “Imagine.” The song, first recorded in 1971, was the best-selling single of Lennon’s solo career. BMI named it one of the 100 most-performed songs of the 20th century.

Since 2005, event organisers have played it just before the New Year’s Times Square ball-

13

in New York in 1971, saw performances by Ravi Shankar, George Harrison and Bob Dylan. That event was a milestone in the history of charity musical shows.

drop in New York City, where Lennon spent his last years.

Reprinted with permission from the artist Pablo Stanley. To see more of his wonderful work, visit www.stanleycolors.com.

You can purchase the poster of this image, as well as other popular pieces, at: www.stanleycolors.com/ product/imagine-3/

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

14 Legalese | Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi

age of arbitration Q

Got a problem?

My company is currently embroiled in what may be described as a “power struggle” with some of our clients.

These clients have shamelessly used our services for the last 8 months without paying a single penny for the privilege of doing so.

Write to Jennifer at weekend@ dhakatribune.com

A

Cartoon: Rio Shuvo

Jennifer Ashraf Kashmi is a barrister and solicitor of England and Wales. She is currently Senior Partner at Legacy Legal Corporate.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

Dear Reader, The answer to your question, in a word: Yes. Not only is arbitration a viable option for your company, it is also faster, more efficient and useful in the long-run. In fact, the majority of contracts being signed today have an arbitration clause as a mode of alternative dispute resolution. Additionally, since you already have arbitration specified within your contract, the courts will be reluctant to hear any case regarding this matter unless arbitration is pursued first.

So, what is arbitration and how is it helpful for your company?

According to the law, if there is a dispute and the contract between the parties specifies arbitration as a mode of dispute resolution, the aggrieved party should send a notice for arbitration through an arbitrator. The notice receiver should appoint an arbitrator, in consultation with the notice sender, within 30 days of receipt of the notice.

The decision of the arbitrator, regarding the dispute, is binding upon both the parties and the decision cannot be challenged in any court of law. An “arbitrator” is the person or persons who play the role of the “judge” or decider during the arbitration proceedings.

An adequately drafted arbitration clause is a compulsory element in all commercial contracts. Many people often make the mistake of attempting to draft the clause themselves by looking at samples of other contracts.

This, whilst saving a couple of thousand takas initially, is actually

My company has finally wised up and terminated the services we were providing them.

Unfortunately, there is still the matter of recovering the amount owed for the last 8 months. Having browsed our contract with this particular client, I have noticed “arbitration” specified under our “dispute resolution” clause. Is this a viable option for my company? potentially responsible for hassle in the recovery of lakhs or even crores of takas when disputes do arise. In Bangladesh, law relating to international commercial arbitration and the enforcement of arbitral awards was codified in the Arbitration Act of 2001.

Bangladesh has immense investment and growth opportunities, but a log-jammed judicial system. Disrespect for alternative dispute resolution practices will serve as a deterrent for potential international investors, if not dealt with in the proper manner. It is owing to this very reason that courts in Bangladesh are now quite considerate regarding upholding arbitral awards or judgments made by an arbitrator.

In summary, commencing arbitration proceedings is possibly the smartest move that your company can make now. If the sum owed is not an excessively large amount, you can also fast-track the arbitration proceedings and have it over and done within three months.

You can commence either “ad-hoc” arbitration (arranging it yourself and independently) or seek the support of “institutional” arbitration. In Bangladesh, institutional arbitration support is provided by Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC). And, of course, you will also require competent and adequately qualified legal counsel and lawyers to argue your case during arbitration.

I hope thing work out well for you. Arbitration is definitely a smart move to take in this instance.

.

inner jihad | Origin Story

15

Jihad: The mystery unravelled The gentler origin of a controversial word

I

n the 20th and 21st century, few words have been as widely misunderstood as the Islamic term “jihad.” The mention of this word raises eyebrows all round, and inspires fear among some.

Let’s look at the history of its use and the misconceptions that surround the concept today.

What is Jihad?

In Arabic, Jihad means “to strive” or “to struggle.” Some Muslim scholars have also interpreted the meaning as “armed struggle” or “struggle against oppression.” To many people, especially nonMuslims, the word may also mean “holy war,” a call to spread the Muslim religion and punish nonbelievers by violent means.

However, most Muslims disagree with this definition. While the word occurs 41 times in the Quran, it is never used to signify war. The term “harb” is used for this purpose.

In his book, The History of Baghdad, Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi distinguished between two forms of Jihad in the early 11th century.

He referenced a companion of the prophet Muhammad, Jabir ibn Abd-Allah, who was quoted as saying: “The Prophet … returned from one of his battles, and thereupon told us: “You have arrived with an excellent arrival, you have come from the Lesser Jihad to the Greater Jihad – the striving of a servant (of Allah) against his desires (holy war).’”

Although this quotation is said to come from an unreliable source, it nevertheless has greatly influenced many schools of thought, especially Sufism.

It led scholars to distinguish between: • Jihad-al-Akbar, or the greater jihad, which signifies spiritual struggle, or struggle against one’s desires (Nafs) and • Jihad-al-Asgar, or the lesser jihad, which indicates struggle, or even armed struggle, against the enemies or oppressors of Islam.

According to research by the BBC, some scholars have suggested that the five pillars of Islam are a form of greater jihad, and allow Muslims to get closer to Allah by

Zareef Kamal

performing the following: • Learning the Quran by heart or engaging in other forms of religious study • Overcoming greed, anger, hatred, pride or malice • Fighting addiction • Working for social justice • Taking part in Muslim community activities In classical Islamic jurisprudence, Jihad-al-Asgar is only allowed in defence of an Islamic state, and is not allowed for aggressive, oppressive or selfish gains. It is the only form of warfare permissible in Islam.

Islam comes from the Arabic word “salaam” which means peace.

Most Muslims do not believe that violence is a proper way of conducting jihad unless it is performed in self-defence. Today, some Muslim scholars recognise wars with the aim of territorial defence as well as those in defence of Islam as legitimate.

The primary aim of Jihadal-Asgar as warfare is not the conversion of non-Muslims to Islam by force.

The history of the misconception

The word jihad has come to be associated with terrorism and extremism. This association is completely rejected by the majority of Muslims. They look to the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran’s specific orders to never attack women, children, the elderly, the disabled and the sick. They point out that terrorist tactics are not endorsed by Islam, and thus have no place within jihad.

The fear of jihad can be traced back to the time of the Prophet, when Muslim armies united under him and went on to conquer the Middle East, Persia and Egypt. They even reached as far as Spain after his death.

At the same time, Europe under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church was facing great internal struggles. In these circumstances, the rapid advance of the Arab Empire threatened Christian Europe.

This even led to the Pope calling for all Christian soldiers and knights to unite and retake the “Holy Land”

Photo: L Madhi

that had been conquered by the Arabs, thus leading to the four Crusades.

During the Crusades, the Arab Empire led by the Ottomans fought bravely against knights from the Holy Roman Empire. But when the knights returned home unsuccessful after years of fighting, all they brought back was bitter hatred and misconceptions of the Muslims. They spoke of torture and cruelty, albeit exaggerated and distorted, done by the Ottomans under the name of “Jihad”.

9/11

This was perpetuated over the centuries, slowly building up to the events of 9/11. The current world view of jihad was finally cemented after Al-Qaeda’s declaration of war against the US in the name of “jihad” the attack on the World Trade Centre.

It’s clearly evident that misguided groups such as the Al-Qaeda have been largely responsible for twisting the meaning of the word, but it is also true that western media have

chosen to portray the word in the sense of terrorism and extremism.

This was further reinforced by President Bush’s “War on Terror” that started shortly after 9/11, after which the original meaning of jihad was lost forever.

Even after the end of Bush’s term in the presidential office, and Osama Bin Laden’s death, Muslims are still associated with terrorism and fear, and jihad is still misinterpreted.

Arab Spring

However, in the wake of the Arab Spring, most of the world has been alerted to the plight of Muslims living under oppressive regimes, and they have extended sympathy and humanitarian support.

Muslim populations living side by side with people of other religions in countries like the US, Britain and Australia; have also received some sympathy and understanding. Hopefully the Western world will soon overcome its fear of Islam, and embrace it as a peaceful and growing world religion.

.

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

16 TOUGH LOVE | DINA SOBHAN

Auntie raver and face-saver Q A

My aunt (my mother’s little sister) has married a younger man who is an acquaintance of mine. This guy moves in broadly the same circle as some of my close friends and as a result I keep bumping into the happy couple

at parties. It feels weird partying with my auntie and seeing her with a guy only a little older than me. I don’t want to distance myself from my close friends by not going with them to parties, so I thought I might discretely discourage my aunt from coming to these occasions. Can I do this?

Is that fair?

I wonder how that conversation would work.

You: “So, I’m really uncomfortable going to parties where my aged aunt and her boy-toy husband gyrate to hip-hop songs without regard for their humiliated niece (me) trying to drown herself, literally, in a white wine spritzer. Can you, um, please stay home?”

Your aunt: “No, you insolent brat. If you are uncomfortable with any aspect of my life, it is not your place to express an opinion.

You can either get comfortable or sit home and suck your thumb.”

So, as you can see from the scenario I have so generously painted for you, this will not go well for you. And having given her your candid opinion, you will have now severely annoyed her and she will gyrate with even more gusto than before, thereby forcing you to attend these parties in the future using the back door and wearing a mask.

The easier option would be to check the guest list with your host beforehand and just avoid those parties where you know they’ll be making a dreaded appearance.

Surely, her brittle hips cannot be

expecting to perform at every occasion in Dhaka city, lest they succumb to overuse and simply collapse. However, that may be the most desirable eventuality for you, so you could just wait it out and embrace the life of a social pariah for 6 months, forced to peruse the pages of Facebook for a glimpse of the life that could have been yours, but for your meddling aunt.

Dina Sobhan is a freelance writer, and cautions readers not to take her ‘advice’ here too seriously!

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

Q A

I was planning to get divorced from my husband by mutual consent, but our respective families persuaded us to try and patch things up.

As far as I’m concerned, once the fire is out, no incendiary device (not even MacGyver) can reignite it. If you two were ready for a divorce, how would your families’ intervention make any difference? They are neither capable of resurrecting your love, nor are they living your lives of quiet desperation, so the choice is hardly theirs, is it?

Got a problem?

Write to Dina at weekend@ dhakatribune. com

We did this and our relationship is now stable. But these days we have trouble being close, given that we know the marriage was only saved by our parents’ intervention. How can we reignite the spark under these circumstances?

In the subcontinent, we are big on saving face and making a go of things, no matter how vile and murder-inducing the relationship is. You are not compelled to stick it out and pretend that you’re still frolicking through the woods holding hands in your diaphanous sari if, in fact, you can barely make it through breakfast without flinging your toast in his face.

Even if there is no homicidal intent with carbs on the horizon, having nothing in common anymore with the person you once believed was your soulmate can be somewhat daunting. If there are no children to traumatise and scar with a separation, and there really is no “amour” left in the “us,” go your own merry ways and make the most of what’s left of your lives.

Your families will just have to deal with it.

.

Cartoon: Priyo

Anti-culling | feature

17

Let sleeping dogs lie When it comes to animal welfare, Cantonment and DOHS still lag behind the rest of Dhaka, a designated no-cull city Polash Prodip

C

ulling is the process of picking up dogs and killing them.

For decades, the local government authorities of Bangladesh have been culling dogs.

Cullers capture dogs by their necks with a metal tong and kill them by injecting magnesium sulphate into their hearts.

Sometimes the cullers simply twist the neck of the dog to save money on injections. The tails of the dead dogs are then chopped off and turned in to the relevant authority for payment. For each tail turned in, they get anywhere from Tk40-80.

When a particular location is chosen to carry out a culling campaign, the cullers aim to kill as many dogs as they possibly can and target dogs that are easy to catch and are trusting of humans – pets. Old, pregnant dogs and puppies are also easy targets.

No-cull city

In January 2012, Dhaka was announced the first ever no-cull city in the country, by an order passed by the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC).

In its place, Dhaka adopted the humane dog population management programme recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), where dogs are vaccinated against rabies and

surgically sterilised to curb the population. This has proven effective in controlling rabies and reducing dog populations, and is now the standard approach adopted by several national governments across Asia.

Obhoyaronno – Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation, is a local animal welfare organisation that has been carrying out this programme on behalf of DCC with support from several international organisations including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Humane Society International.

The success of this programme has also won Obhoyaronno and the government multiple international awards for rabies prevention and animal welfare.

Unfortunately, Dhaka Cantonment and the DOHS areas do not comply with the no-cull order despite several requests from DCC and Obhoyaronno. The board of those areas has its own team of dog shooters, who can carry out indiscriminate killing. This makes it difficult for Obhoyaronno or the government to stop them from killing dogs.

People there live with constant fear that their pets – beloved to some like members of the family – could become a target of dog shooters simply for a minor infraction or a neighbour’s complaint.

Culling increases rabies and destabilises dog population Bangladesh carries the heavy burden of rabies. However, rabies cannot be prevented by killing dogs.

According to WHO: “There is no evidence that removal of dogs alone has ever had a significant impact on dog population densities or the spread of rabies.”

In fact, any sudden reduction in dog numbers disrupts the dog population dynamics. There will be an increase in movement of dogs between territories, which exacerbates the risk of rabies transmission, dog bites, and other concerns.

Saarc has identified rabies as a priority public health problem, and acknowledges that vaccination and sustainable management of the canine population is fundamental to elimination of human rabies.

Globally, there is increasing recognition of the importance of proper dog population management for society, “not only to control zoonotic diseases and dog bites, but ultimately to contribute to human well-being and animal welfare,” according to a 2011 report by FAO.

Redefining the process

Dhaka Cantonment Board may consider redefining the post of “dog

shooter.” Their job description gives them the right to kill dogs, which can only bring dishonour to Dhaka Cantonment Board, which otherwise upholds values and principles that the rest of the city aspires to follow.

The board may deploy animal welfare officers who would coordinate with DCC and/or Obhoyaronno to address the doghuman conflict effectively and humanely.

These officers as well as the residents of these areas should also learn what actually causes dogs to bark or bite, and how to prevent such behaviour. Dogs become aggressive when they are fearful and threatened. Interviews with residents revealed that dogs bark when they are mistreated, beaten, confined or kept in poor conditions.

According to the pet policy of the Cantonment Board, the guardians are not allowed to walk their dogs outside their apartments. This forces many guardians to confine their dogs, which in turn causes them to bark.

Through these rules, the board is merely perpetuating the very situation from which it is trying to protect its residents. If a dog is indeed ill or has a behavioural disorder, the duty officer could also assist the guardian with getting in touch with a veterinarian or animal welfare group.

Responsibility of citizens

Dhaka Cantonment Board is responsible for keeping its residential areas clean and secure. However, it is vital that they recognise that dog culling is neither effective nor acceptable. Dhaka city has more than 50,000 free roaming dogs. Dogs will continue to enter and appear in the Cantonment and DOHS areas, and the authorities will continue to kill them with no end in sight.

Residents of these areas should encourage the board to adopt the more humane methods of dog population management. It is time for Cantonment authorities to adopt the 21st century solution to their community issue.

It is time to be humane to our dogs.

.

Polash Prodip is an animal rights activist.

Photo: Syed Latif Hossain

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

18 Stay in

War films

War is something we cannot avoid. It devastates us, and claims the lives of the people we love.

But it can also be used to make movie magic. Whatever your preferred genre, there is a war film you are sure to enjoy.

Ruwaida Khandker

Sudoku

Use the numbers 1-9 to complete each of the 3x3 square grids such that each horizontal and vertical line also contains all of the digits from 1-9

Dear John (2010, starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried) Young soldier John Tyree visits his hometown in North Carolina only to fall in love with the beautiful and intriguing college student Savannah Curtis. The pair soon develop a powerful romance and cannot live without each other. But when John must go back to war, the only way the two can communicate is by sending letters. Suddenly, Savannah reveals shocking news in one of her letters. Can they keep their love alive?

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

The Hurt Locker (2008, starring Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie) Set in the vicious war in Iraq, Sergeant James is put in charge of a highly trained bomb disposal team.

James recklessly throws himself and his two subordinates Sanborn and Eldridge into a dangerous game of urban combat – as if they were all immune from death. The men struggle to control their new leader, and as James’ true self starts to show the trio’s lives will never be the same. This film won six Oscars including best picture, director and actor.

If you like drama:

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008, starring Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis and Vera Farmiga) If you’re looking for a sob-fest, this film is perfect

Mini cryptics Clues

ACROSS 1 Creature first to whisk hot beer (5) 5 Talk of ox in Tibet (3) 6 PC fruit? (5) 8 Become larger and terrific (5) 10 Pin back and catch (3) 11 Churchman, bishop in broken boat (5) DOWN 1 Snow ape crossed arms (7) 2 A record peak? (3) 3 My 6 has one look (3) 4 Cooking pot talent, and French (7) 7 Sound cow makes in valley (3) 8 Health resort sees patients at first (3) 9 Go against the flow? (3)

Last week’s sudoku solutions

If you like thrillers:

for you. When eight-year-old Bruno must move to another part of England for his father’s military duties, he forms an unlikely bond with Shmul. The only problem is Shmul lives in the concentration camp near Bruno’s house. As the pair become closer, Bruno is determined to help Shmul find his missing father. This desire grows and Bruno’s actions lead to deadly consequences.

If you like action:

Saving Private Ryan (1998, starring Tom Hanks and Matt Damon) After the Normandy landings, a group of American soldiers set out to save a paratrooper, Private James Ryan, whose three other brothers were killed – after the mother of the boys sends the army a request to find her remaining son. This actionpacked yet moving film will have you hooked from the first minute.

.

Last week’s Mini Cryptics solutions

If you like chick flicks:

ACROSS 1 Something else, or the alternative (5) 5 Expression of distaste in plug hair (3) 6 Brand new cloth (5) 8 Nimble soldier found in jar (5) 10 Highest rated to place first (3) 11 Plant between old you and me (5) DOWN 1 Egg dish to let me scramble (7) 2 Egg provider in the news (3) 3 Hurry to henhouse (3) 4 Chequers perhaps home to orientals (7) 7 Energy horse gets from Easter symbol (3) 8 Initially a private trouser fitting (3) 9 The girl 4 you? (3)

Go out

19

A tour of war monuments

Weekly Planner August 8

August 10-14

Music | DJ Day

Partition Week | Nations and Notions

When 4pm-10pm Where The Flamingo, Road 23, House 88, Block A, Banani What Flamingo Restaurant is organising a daytime DJ party accompanied by a buffet dinner.

Ticket prices are Tk800 for single tickets and Tk1,500 for couple’s tickets. Call 01841461888 for more information.

August 9 A) Liberation War Museum: This museum was built to showcase the heroic actions and sacrifices performed by Bangladeshi citizens up to and during the Liberation War. Six different galleries house photographs, artefacts, and other materials used by the freedom fighters and martyrs of the war.

B) Shoparjito Shadhinota: This famous structure standing in front of TSC, Dhaka University, represents the “self-earned independence” of Bangladesh. It depicts the horrific mass killing of intellectuals, freedom fighters and ordinary people – and how they prevailed and united against tyranny.

C) Shahid Minar: One of the most beautiful and famous national monuments of Bangladesh, the Shahid Minar was established to honour the lives lost during the Bangla Language Movement in 1952.

D) Swadhinata Sangram Sculpture Garden: On the premises of Dhaka University lies this majestic sculpture garden. Including sculptures from the most significant chapters of Dhaka’s history, the garden boasts 103 pieces dedicated to the struggles of Bangladeshi citizens on their road to independence.

E) Martyred Intellectuals Memorial: One of the most damaging and vindictive war crimes committed by the Pakistani army was the en masse killing of Bangali intellectuals right before the end of the Liberation

War. The Martyred Intellectuals Memorial stands in memory of their deaths at Rayerbazar, where the largest number of intellectuals were tortured and killed.

F) Aparajeyo Bangladesh: Possibly the most well known statue created in memory of the Liberation War. It is located on the Dhaka University campus. The three figures in the statue represent love, care, youth and sacrifice.

G) Jalladkhana: Bangla for “Butchers Den,” this is a haunting killing field located on the outskirts of Dhaka. Trails of flowers and marble plaques lead to a two-room building in which remain flickering candles, broken artefacts and objects commemorating the horrors that took place there 40 years ago.

H) Shikha Anirban: Unlike the other memorials, the Shikha Anirban is a simple structure, more solemn than artistic. Situated in Dhaka Cantonment, the “eternal flame” burns in memory of those members of the armed forces who gave their lives in the Liberation War. I) Jatiyo Sriti Shoudho: The National Martyrs’ Memorial – the national monument of Bangladesh located in Savar – serves as a symbol of the sacrifice and bravery of those who gave their lives for the liberation of this country. On national holidays, it becomes a beacon for those who wish to remember and reflect on the past, as its slopes transform into a playground for visiting children.

.

Music | It’s a Family Affair

When 7:30pm Where Red Shift Cafe, Radius Centre, Bay’s Galleria (5h Floor), 57 Gulshan Ave What Blue Note presents an Eid Celebration Concert featuring a unique performance by the band Renaissance and their family members. Their performance will feature a blend of two generations and genres consisting of contemporary, 70s music and original songs. Tickets will cost Tk500 and are available at Blue Note and Red Shift Cafe. For further information please contact 01684571109.

Cause | Swimmable Water Weekend in Bangladesh

When and where Various, see page 20 What During Partition Week, the Bayaan Collective in collaboration with the University Press Limited will be holding a series of discussions and artistic presentations, focusing on the legacies of partition.

The various events will involve interdisciplinary academics, artists, media persons and activists. The events will be open to all. For more information about specific events during the week, see page 20.

August 10-25 Lights and Shadows

When 6pm-8pm Where Studio Lorenzo, 1/21 Razia Sultana Road, Mohammadpur What Studio Lorenzo will be hosting a 15-day workshop on Light Design. The workshop will focus on teaching applicants fashion plus indoor, outdoor & wedding photography. Farhan Ahmed will be the instructor. There are only 10 places available. The course fee is Tk15,000. Interested parties should contact 01746700004.

August 11

When 10:30am-12:30pm Where Bosila Bridge, Bosila What Buriganga Riverkeeper is raising awareness about the conditions of riverbank communities like Bosila. The community is a victim of reckless water pollution.

Everyone is invited to join the event and dip their hands in the river behind Bosila Old Primary School to show their solidarity with the community. The event will be lead

by BPI Chairperson Advocate Sultana Kamal.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2014

When 3pm Where National Museum Auditorium, Shahbag What Kapaeeng Foundation and Bangladesh Adivasi Cultural Forum are organising a discussion meeting entitled “Second Decade of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and situation of IPs in Bangladesh” as part of the celebration of International IPs Day 2014.

Send your events to weekend@dhakatribune.com

August

2014

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

31 3

1 4

2 5

3 6

4 7

1 8

2 9

10 17 24

11 18 25

12 19 26

13 20 27

14 21 28

15 22 29

16 23 30

WE E K E N D TR I B U N E | F R I DAY, AUG UST 8 , 2 0 1 4

20 event | Revisiting partition

Nations and notions

The Bayaan Collective, in collaboration with University Press Limited, will be holding a series of Partition-themed discussions this week

Tasnuva Amin Nova

I

n order to understand the current state of affairs in South Asia, it is important to look into Partition-era history and other dynamics – especially since it continues to be relevant today. The development of society in Bengal has been an accumulation of the social, cultural and political developments over the last millennia.

Need for examination

In her recently released book “Partition’s Post Amnesias,” author Ananya Jahanara Kabir casts a look back on the interconnected fates of post-Partition India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The book documents the shared history: memories, rare books and personal experiences.

The author asserts that the renewal of memories from Partition in recent times has brought about an age of “postamnesia.”

Medieval, Mughal and colonial trajectories have all played their due share in moulding the communities across the Indian subcontinent. Against these shared and layered trajectories of history, the Partition of 1947 has had the most profound effect on the independence of Bangladesh.

The separation of homelands has divided cultures and created new ones.

The Lectures

The week-long programme consists of a series of lectures and films, highlights include: “Identity formation and Bangla cinema, pre- and post-1947,” presented by Prof Zakir Hossain Raju of Independent University, Bangladesh, based on his forthcoming book “Bangladesh Cinema and National Identity: In Search of the Modern?” This book investigates the roles of a non-western “national” film industry in Asia in constructing nationhood and identity within colonial and post-colonial predicaments. The author explores how the conflict among different social groups turned Bangladeshi cinema into a site of competing identities.

WEEKEN D TR I BU N E | FR I DAY, AUGUST 8 , 2014

“League vs Congress? The case of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bengal Boundary Commission, 1947,” will be presented by Tamina M Chowdhury of Cambridge University. The Government of India Act, 1935 was instrumental in bringing the politics of the Bengal countryside into the political mainstream. Yet, while the 1935 Act was a watershed moment in Bengal politics, it hardly had any effect in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The tribes of the Hill Tracts were seen not just as situated on the geographical periphery, but also as wholly peripheral in terms of ethnicity and race. The paper will be an attempt to understand how and why the CHT remained isolated from mainstream party politics, and will try to explain why the region ended up, rather unceremoniously, in the Muslim state of Pakistan.

The Films

The films were chosen to represent the human experience of Partition: Subarnarekha follows the story of Ishwar Chakraborty, a Hindu refugee from East Pakistan after the 1947 Partition of India. He and his young sister Sita go to West Bengal – where he tries to start a new life.

Komal Gandhar focuses on two rival theatre groups belonging to the IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre Association) movement. The protagonists of the film take on crushed hopes and dreams, love, and shared passion for the stage.

Garam Hawa is based on an unpublished short story by Ismat Chunghtai. The story follows the Mirzas, a Muslim family with a shoe business, in post-Partition India. A family member, formerly a Muslim League supporter, now joins the ruling Indian National Congress in an attempt to get ahead in independent India.

Khamosh Paani is set in a village in the Punjab Province of Pakistan.

It tells the story of a group of Sikh pilgrims who arrive in the province, and receive a mixed welcome from the existing residents.

Dhaka Tribune is a media partner for this event.

.

Schedule August 10

Lecture | Identity formation and Bangla cinema, pre- and post-1947 (Prof Zakir Hossain Raju, Independent University Bangladesh) When 7pm Where Ramesh Chandra Datta Smriti Milan Kendra, 3rd Floor, Chhayanaut August 11 Film | Subarnarekha When 12pm Where Room 7002, Independent University Bangladesh Lecture | League vs Congress? The case of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bengal Boundary Commission, 1947 (Tamina M Chowdhury, Cambridge University) When 3pm Where Conference Room, Red Shift Cafe August 12 Lecture | Haunted by history? 1947, 1971 and “stranded Pakistanis” in Bangladesh (Prof Dina M Siddiqi, BRAC University) When 3:30pm

Where ESS Student-Teacher Lounge, Room 702, Building 4, BRAC University Film | Komalgandhar When 6pm Where Dhaka Art Center August 13 Lecture | Road to 1947: Partition and intellectual narratives (Prof M Emdadul Haq, North South University) Where Conference Room PPG, NAC 1058, North South University When 11:30am Film | Khamoshpaani When 1:30pm Where NAC Room 205, North South University August 14 Film | Garam Hawa When 12pm Where Room 7002, Independent University Bangladesh Lecture | Teaching partition (ENH, BRAC University) When 3:30pm Where Conference Room, 13th Floor, ENH, BRAC University