Observing 1952 in a New Ambience
February 26, 2011
Serajul Islam Choudhury, Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University, is among the most powerful and probably the most widely read voice of dissent in the country. Author of nearly eighty books, the extent of his scholarship on history and politics of this sub-continent is extensive. His views have swept over the fields of literature (both Bengali and English), history, social science and in the departments of Arts and Humanities. His works beyond the ivory tower have influenced and inspired generations of political activists. Recently, Akram Hosen Mamun on behalf of The Daily Star spoke to him about his thoughts on the language movement of ’52, liberation war and the present prospects for a better society. What follows are excerpts from the conversation.
Violence against women
February 20, 2011
Harassing girls or women has become a common matter nowadays which can be regarded as one of the worst social diseases of the country. This leads many girls to take a very hard decision of not going outside their home and ultimately force them to drop out from schools and colleges and sometimes to migrate to other places along with their families. Another big concern is that the girls harassed outside even tend to kill themselves. Though many educational and non-governmental organisations stood by those victim families expressing their concern, protested by forming human chains to make some differences, but these do not seem to be enough to wipe out this social disease.
Sagar confesses killing schoolboy
January 12, 2011
Tajul Islam Shagar, the only accused for killing a nine-year-old, has confessed his guilt in the court.
‘Zia okayed Taher verdict before delivery’
January 12, 2011
A former army officer, who was given life term by a military court in 1976, has said that Gen Ziaur Rahman wanted to hear nothing but death sentence of Col Abu Taher. Read more
Maternity leave now 6 months
January 11, 2011
The government has extended maternity leave to six months from four months.
The new decision came into effect on Tuesday through a government circular released by the Finance Division. Read more
Subsidised rice, wheat for poor
January 9, 2011
The government is going to launch a programme to supply rice and wheat at low price to about one crore poor families in next four months in the face of prevailing high food price. Read more
‘Judges should be accountable to parliament’
January 9, 2011
Senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed thinks that the judges should be accountable to the parliament and the relevant article of the constitution should be restored to make it happen. Read more
’127 extra legal deaths in 2010′
January 9, 2011
On an average, one person was killed every three days in the last year. Rights activist Odhikar also said that there were at least 110 deaths in custody.
Mindless cruelty!
January 8, 2011
Miscreants have strangulated a six-year-old boy to death in Munshiganj after gouging his eyes out.
Police said victim Mohammad Maruf, son of rickshaw-puller Mamun Sheikh, had been missing since Thursday. Read more
‘Tk 1.38 for breakfast inhuman’
January 8, 2011
The head of the National Human Rights Commission has deplored the measly allocation for children breakfast.
NHRC chairman Mizanur Rahman told a seminar in Dhaka on Friday that the Tk 1.38 allocation per child for breakfast was simply unacceptable and inhuman. Read more