Faezul Huq's protest letter

I am very intrigued by the protest letter and the attendant threat by Mr. Huq to sue another letter writer Mr. Shawkat Hussain for accusing Huq for being a collaborator.

I am not sure if he is a collaborator or not but I seem to remember that the post-liberation government of Sk. Mujib took him in as early as December 1971. Isn't that what he is talking about when he mentions that two British MPs wrote to Mujib in June 1972? Will Mr. Huq please shed some light?

Ashraful Alam

Lamatia, Dhaka

Razakar: A true story We are a Shaheed family from Barisal. My elder brother was a freedom fighter and on 5th December 1971 was caught by Razakars and killed. Razakars raped my three cousin sisters in Lalmonirhat and one of them was killed.

Razakars in Rangpur killed my uncle. We have three members from my father's family still missing (one young girl and two old men).

We are a family faced directly affected by the Liberation War. My

aunt and my father suffered a lot from all that. They were physiologically stigmatised and died after the Liberation War in 1974.

We know Sheikh Mujib and we know Golam Azam. We understand the politics of Bangladesh. And still we want the Razakars to be forgiven and we continuously would show them mercy. This is their punishment. We will suffer but would never stop loving Bangladesh.

Isaac Baroi, on e-mail

Nigerian syndrome

We often come across the word "Nigerian syndrome" related to the export of gas.

As a matter of fact this came about due to the political crisis which erupted in Nigeria in the 1970's leading to economic atrophy and political disaster. International reports allege that this was master minded by a major international player in the Oil industry.

When the Nigerian government reused to respond to the SHELL proposal, a lot of things happened including political unrest. Various books and reports have said that the oil lobby worked overtime in organising a succession of putsch against the civil government.

After succeeding in their motive, SHELL started to extract millions of barrels of oil by palmgreasing those in power. But this wealth wasn't shared and Nigeria grew poorer by the way. The per capita income in the late 1970's was US $1300, which has come down to US $ 240(approx.). This in a nutshell is the Nigerian Syndrome.

A similar kind of situation prevails in Myanmar in context to operation of a lucrative offshore Yadana gas field. This highly profitable gas field is owned and operated by an American oil company UNOCAL and Total a French oil company.

There are no less than 85,000 citations in the Internet on Shell's operation in Nigeria alone. In fact, Shell, Unocal and Total operate as a medley. The present military junta of Myanmar known as State Law and Order Restoration Committee, (SLORC) is one of the most repressive regimes of the world. Myanmar is totally ostracized by all most all counties, yet the military junta is running the country in full steam with financial support of oil companies while democracy is not in sight.

Interestingly, both these SHELL and UNOCAL companies are involved in the gas business in

Bangladesh, UNOCAL being in the forefront while SHELL is following. Most conservationists say that major oil companies not only put pressure but if government's refuse to do their bidding, force them to do so.

Having said this, whether we export gas or not, I believe the present government should device some sort of safety valve to check the activities of these IOC's. Further it indicates their interference in government policies and decision making. Hence, the government should not get carried away, cajoled, trapped or trade in lieu of something considering that the proactive predictions of the IOC's to be viable which will bring economic revolution benefiting the country.

Therefore, should the government go for export of gas, they should safeguard the stability of the nation, These will also assist the present party in power from any problem that could arise in future.

Billy I. Ahmed

Dhanmondi, Dhaka

Islam is not seasonal

The notion that Islam requires certain deeds at certain time of the year is very myopic. I am not very much versed in Quran. But so far I

read in the translations, I do not see anything that requires women to cover their heads or not to were a "bindi".

But, any way, these are petty trivia. In a society (Muslim Society as per Mr. Zakaria), where lies, violence, and bribery is rampant (even in the month of Ramadan), does it matter, whether the anchorwoman in a TV channel cover her head or not wear a "bindi"?

Please, let's not trivialise Islam with these trivia. And above all Islam is not seasonal.

Mohammad A. Zaman, M.D

North Carolina, USA

Purdah in Islam

In view of the raising controversy on the issue of purdah in Islam it is pertinent to reproduce two relevant Ayats from the Holy Quran, Sura Al-Ahzab (The Confederate Tribes) for those who are interested in the subject matter.

"Wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women. If you fear Allah, do not be too complaisant in your speech, lest the lecherous-hearted should lust after you. Show discretion in what you say. Stay in your homes and do not display your finery as women used to do in the days of ignorance (pre-Islamic days). Attend to your prayers, give

alms to the poor, and obey Allah and His Apostle." (Ayat 32).

"Prophet, enjoin your wives, your daughters and the wives of true believers to draw their veils close round them. That is more proper, so that they may be recognised and not molested. Allah is forgiving and merciful." (Ayat 59). Source: The Koran, Translated by N.J.Dawood.

syedWaliullah

Dhaka

Purdah is compulsory

I'm writing in response to what a concerned citizen form Dallas has written who believes that Purdah is a women's personal choice.

As mentioned by Mr. Sameer Ahmed Khan Mojlish, Purdah is compulsory and Mr. Ziaul Huda has verified this by including Quranic Verses in the letter published on December 26th which were Ayats 31 and 59 of Surah An-Nur and Al- Ahzab respectively.

If we are true, pious Muslims, and believe in the Almighty Allah, then we do not have a personal choice regarding Purdah but to follow what has been laid down in the Holy Quran. You mentioned that "It is one's choice to pray, to fast, to give away portions of one's assets,...". No, we must pray five

times a day, fast during Ramadan, and give Zakat and perform Hajj when it becomes obligatory to us.

Almighty Allah has given us a brain to think and to decide what is right and wrong. As we are Muslims we must obey what Almighty Allah has asked us to do. What has been given in the Holy Quran is the right path that we are to follow. Now it is up to us about what we decide but remember we have to answer for everything to Him. We should not forget that what ever we do in this world is to please Almighty Allah and only Him.

I agree completely with Farah Islam's view that -"Hijab bolsters a woman's liberty and freedom".

Tasneem

Grade 11, Dhaka

Release Shahriar Kabir

The Human Right Congress for Bangladesh Minorities-Dallas/Fort Worth (HRCBM-DFW) has been following with great concern the sequence of events following the arrest and detention of the renowned journalist, author and human right activist Mr. Shahriar Kabir. Authorities arrested Mr. Shahriar Kabir on November 22, 2001, when he

returned to Bangladesh after visit-

ing West Bengal and witnessing and documenting the plight of the Bangladeshi Hindu minorities who had fled there following the October 1, 2001, election.

His actions and efforts have always been a vital force in creating awareness among the people, which help identify the anti-social and anti-liberation forces. Bangladesh needs courageous citizens and thinkers like Mr. Shahriar Kabir to protect life and liberty and guarantee freedom of expression against social injustice and to create communal harmony.

Peace and freedom loving people all over the world have expressed their grave concern on the well-being and security of Mr. Kabir.

We, on behalf of the HRCBM-DFW, urge the government authorities to immediately drop all charges against Mr. Shahriar Kabir, release him unconditionally and return all his documents, videos and personal properties confiscated at the time of arrest.

Human Right Congress for Bangladesh Minorities-Dallas/Fort Worth (HRCBM-DFW)

P.O. Box 117080

Carrollton, TX 75011-7080, USA