The forest for Hansel and Gretel

We followed a narrow canal into the Ratargul swamp forest and were immediately sucked into a sinister looking wonder. We had never seen anything like this before -- all around us are Karach trees and some occasional Hijal and Borun trees. And they were all partly submerged in a huge basin of water. Some were just visible above the surface. Others were submerged half their trunks.

The canal became narrower and narrower and we had to stop our engine boat and get on to a paddleboat. It was a narrow thing; we could hardly fit into it with efforts. And any movement proved to be dangerous as the boat jogged perilously. With the stroke of the paddle the boat progressed swiftly across the still water.

           We left the canal and ventured into the forest. We had to be extra cautious this time as the serpentine trunks and branches blocked our passage at every corner. It was a strange place -- the shaded sunlight, the tree trunks and the serenity makes you feel that you are in a village woodlot where children would appear anytime to play with spins or marbles any time. But then you know this is not to happen. No children will ever play here; only water will lap, and crabs and snakes will slither across the water.

The trees had given off long braid like roots dangling from their branches. As our boat created small waves, the roots danced from side to side like some ancient creates waiting in lure for their preys. As the sunlight patches played on the water and the grotesque looking Karach trees created a huge canopy over us. Their reflections on the water were even more bizarre. We came to a place where the trees were at least 40-50 feet high. Sitting on the boat, they looked overbearing; as if this forest was looking down on us with contempt for breaking its sleep. We got engulfed by the greenish ambiance. And we imagined we were in a fairy tale forest where each tree is an ogre, hissing at us as we pass by them. We could feel them turning and twisting and whispering to each other about a sinister plan to catch us and tear us apart. We were the Hansels and Gretels. The forest was so witchlike that we felt an unease in heart. The uneasiness increased even more because of the strange silence. And it was even more eerily barren. No birds, no nothing.

Then we saw the snake, slowly writhing across a canal. Its head above the water and the body creating a ripple. And we saw a long soggy snakeskin wrapped around the trunk of tree. Leaves and reeds had created a thick coating on the water and floated like rafts.

We saw the monkeys. High up in the Karach trees, the primates were plucking leaves and chewing. The unknown guava like fruits we saw earlier were surely their staple food. We were started by the sudden flapping of wings -- for a fleeting second we saw a large bird, about the size of a kite, with off-white feathers vanishing behind the Hijal branches. We could not recognize the bird.

Strangely for a water body so huge, the place seemed to be devoid of fish because we did not meet any fishermen here. And the forest was pristine in the true sense of the word. No human invasion has depleted it, no illegal logging was visible.

"Nobody touches the forest because Karach trees are basically useless things," a forest department official later told us. "They make some poor firewood. But who cares to come all the way here to collect wood? "

So for now, we have a clean forest, an untouched greenery. That is until the fishing project that has recently started takes over the greenery.

======================

Tragic Aug 21 back to memory

“Can you tell me why my son was killed? I buried here (showing Mamun's grave) all my hopes three years back,” said Motaleb Mridha, father of Mamun Mridha, one of the 22 people killed in the grenade attack on Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on August 21 in 2004.


Mamun, a second year student of Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Government College in Dhaka, Mamun lived with his father Motaleb Mridha at Nayabazar in Old Dhaka.

“I heard that the present government has arrested many corrupt leaders, top criminals and godfathers across the country. Can they not bring to justice the killers of my son?” said Motaleb.

A landless farmer turned sawmill worker, Motaleb is the only earning member of the family gripped with frustration and poverty, struggling hard for existence.

Mamun's mother Morsheda burst into tears when we started talking with her at their old and decaying house at Alipura under Dashmina upazila, about 60 km from Patuakhali town.

"Hearing the news of blasts that day, I rushed to Bangabandhu Avenue. Shrapnel smashed both of his legs. Four grenade splinters pierced through his ribs, one through the right chin and some might have hit his brain,” recalled Motaleb.

"I accompanied him as rescuers were taking him towards Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead," he said.

“Mamun was a brilliant student and worked as a private tutor to help the family. He wanted to be an army officer,” said Morsheda with tears rolling down her pale cheeks. Failing to bear educational expenses, they married off two daughters -- Mahmuda, 18, and Jhumur, 16, while two other daughters -- Runa, 14, and Tuli, 12, are now studying in class ten and class seven.

"Of the Tk 1 lakh we received from Awami League, we have already spent Tk 50,000 for Mamun's chehlam and my elder daughter Mahmuda's marriage. I bought a piece of land with the rest Tk 50,000 in last year. On August 21 in 2005, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina donated Tk 25,000 for my daughter Jhumur's marriage," Motaleb said.

“We are yet to get any help from the government. The government is rehabilitating many landless people but they are not taking any step for our poor family,” he said.

My mother

LIFE has been always tough for me, so tough. It was like the vessel of my life sunk so much deep every time, every day until I no longer cared enough to retrieve it. Family played a healing and heightening part here and parents' were always the column and positions for mightiest inspiration. Otherwise, the idea of “Mom” was just fragments and it was like I waited for that every innovative chance of time to seep back down to the forsaken lake, which is time itself and knot out the pieces. So, here there is the revived passion and greatest sorrows of a legendary lifetime of growing-up with just nobody to care, understand and feel your heart beats at excel velocity. That is the point of life when I detested her and later found out the other side of this story.


I never got enough of her and maybe this is the first and crucial reason that she was my victim of sarcasm to motherhood. She left me- or I'd rather not say it this way- or she was pushed to have kept me apart and isolated from her for some dark 7 years or more. And time grew us more distant and indifferent. Every time we talked over phone, it was the equivalent and fashionably old consistent yet small conversations and mockery. All of us took privilege in accusing the other party, and there was nothing we believed in instead of being monotheistic. Here, this term “all of us” gladly or sadly represent the generation of we indecent yet love savvy and hungry people who were not brave enough to correspond the abysmal remoteness.

The professor me right now really want to be heard and speaks out- it's me always talking so good about for a new autobiography I write. Actually, that's the systematical emphasize for a boundary which is set outside the original horizon. I really, really have to pledge this lady- maybe not because she had done or put so much that disgusted me so much all these years- not because she had punish me for a crime I never foresaw- maybe not for she's evil women and I had relation and no longer one- but still there's instilled in me her jot of blood that I surrender to when I'm pained. This little thing running inside me is my life and that's her gift to me. How do I ever say it a mishap or forbidden sin? No relation perhaps gets purified and even attested to divinity that a mother-daughter's. Knowledge is enough when a new born child gazes at her mom's beautiful eyes and stares to find water falling downwards. Love is sometime all the things to remove dusk.

But maybe this is not the end- there's never an end. If the mercy of dearest God, the blessings and touch of my father's life is there, and the love of my mother and sisters stay so appealing I'd do so much success in life that people have to stop envying and just loving me for who I am. Mom, so this is for you: You are my key to success. That's a remembrance you should always keep. I'd love you forever and my mother you'll stay everlastingly. I will never forget the blood that reigns in my body. You are with me, eternal. I love you so much even if you don't, it doesn't have to matter.

AL demands proper probe into Aug 21 grenade attack

Awami League (AL) yesterday demanded that the caretaker government carry out proper investigation into the August 21 grenade attack on a party rally in 2004 and ensure exemplary punishment of the attackers.

"Proper probe into the incident and trial of the culprits are yet to take place despite repeated demands at home and abroad," AL acting president Zillur Rahman said in a statement.

He however thanked this government for unveiling many mysteries behind the heinous attack through a fresh investigation.

Talking to journalists at his Gulshan residence in the city on the day, Zillur questioned this government's commitment to unmask the godfather behind the grenade attack. People hoped that the godfather would be identified through proper probe but the government has frustrated them, he said.

In his statement, the acting AL president said the then BNP-Jamaat coalition government had in a planned way turned investigation into the incident a farce.

They showed no interest in any international probe even in the face of national and international demands, he mentioned.

To observe the day, the AL will place wreaths at a temporary memorial in front of its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue today. The party will also arrange a discussion at the central office, and special prayers for salvation of the departed souls.

On this day in 2004, a barrage of grenade blasts at an anti-terror rally of the AL killed 24 people including party leader Ivy Rahman, and wounded over 500 others. Almost the entire leadership of the party was present at the rally. Party chief Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attacks.

Zillur blamed the coalition government for the dreadful attack, Its main objective was to kill Hasina, he said.

Concert for Abdur Rahman Boyati

Abdur Rahman Boyati is one of the most prolific exponents of Baul songs. Throughout his life, Rahman Boyati has performed in over 40 countries and led cultural delegations to many international programmes. He is the recipient of six national awards including one Presidency Award.

Rahman Boyati is currently suffering from a neurological disorder, which affects his sight and movement. At present he is admitted at the Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital in Dhanmondi.

'Top of Mind', 'AV Graph' and 'Green Planet' jointly arranged a fundraiser concert at the Winter Garden, Hotel Sheraton on August 19 for the ailing bard. Popular artistes and bands including James, Arnob, Krishnokoli, Maqsood O Dhaka and LRB performed at the concert.

Khrishnokoli opened the gig and rendered only one song – Jao pakhi bolo tarey from the soundtrack of the yet to be released feature film Monpura.

Arnob also rendered a song from the soundtrack. The song, Amar shonar moina pakhi, is a popular folk song and has been used in the film with contemporary arrangement by Arnob himself. "Let's have only folk songs tonight," said Arnob and then rendered two more songs including Shona diya bandhaiyasi ghar and Aketo barir mosha.

Next on the stage was the band Maqsood O Dhaka. Maqsood, who once generated much interest in Baul songs among contemporary urban listeners, rendered a number of popular songs including Rahman Boyati's Mon amar dehoghori. When Maqsood was with the band Feedback, he and Rahman Boyati composed a contemporary version of the song. Maqsood's other renditions at the show were Gurur naam dhorey, Bangladesh and Melaye jairey.

The organisers arranged a special moment for the audience: Rahman Boyati made an appearance. Despite his ailing health, Rahman Boyati came on the stage with the help of a medical team including his doctor. The bard hoped to be back on the stage soon. The organisers handed a cheque worth Tk eight lakh. Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. added Tk. two lakh to that amount, making the total Tk ten lakh. Geeteara Safia Chowdhury; Faridur Reza Sagor, managing director of Impress Telefilm Ltd; Maqsood, Ayub Bachchu and others were present on the stage.

LRB took the stage next with Ayub Bachchu on the lead guitar. They started with an instrumental. After that LRB rendered their old hits including Shudhu ki aamar bhul, Ghum bhanga shohorey and Meye.

James was the last performer of the night. He rendered three songs including Maa and Deewana mastana.

ACI Ltd, Warid Telecom, Millennium Development Goal 3: Empowering Women (Nari O Shishu Bishayak Mantranalay), RAK and Macomm were the sponsors of the programme. Media partners of the concert were Channel i, Ananda Alo and Radio Today. Hasan Abidur Reza Jewel was the MC of the programme.

Missing masterminds mock probes, charge sheets

The masterminds behind assassination attempt on Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina on August 21, 2004 remain undetected even after charges have been pressed in two cases filed in this connection.


The government investigators believe although 22 people are charge-sheeted, the key planners of the grisly grenade attack are still untraced.

"The gravity of the attack indicates it was not possible to be carried out without backing of any influential group or some most powerful people. But we don't see any such findings," says an investigator who was assigned soon after the attack and discharged the duty for quite a long time.

Referring to charge-sheeted accused BNP leader and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu and Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) top leader Mufti Abdul Hannan, another former investigator says though it's convincing that Huji was involved, they could not trace those who were behind Pintu and Hannan to carry out such a well-planned attack.

"It's not possible to reveal the mysteries of an unreachable place. I've submitted my investigation report on the area within my reach. If I could go further, more mysteries of the attack might have been revealed," current investigation officer (IO) of the cases CID Assistant Superintendent Fazlul Kabir told The Daily Star.

Kabir finds Hannan as the main accused of the cases based on his and seven other Huji men's confessional statements.

Intriguingly, a former investigator who quizzed the Huji leader said Hannan revealed that at least one BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government's lawmaker had financed the attack.

"But following submission of charge sheets I saw the lawmaker's name was not among the 22 accused. I think if we could go after that lawmaker at that time, we could advance much to trace those who were behind him," the investigator added.

He also said he could not go after the lawmaker as he was not involved with the investigation anymore.

Former CID ASP Munshi Atiqur Rahman, who was IO of the cases before Kabir, said he got hints from Hannan about Huji's involvement but couldn't go till the end as he went on retirement.

He said he tried for long to arrest Hannan in the aftermath of several bomb and grenades attacks but was not successful as the BNP-Jamaat-led government was "reluctant".

"They were soft to Mufti Hannan," Atiq said, adding, even a number of former ministers and lawmakers recommended relieving Hannan of different cases.

Before getting the hints from Hannan, the investigators had no clue regarding Huji members' involvement.

Rather, Abdur Rashid who was IO before Munshi Atiq had concentrated on a different criminal group based on confessional statement by one Joj Miah. However, Rashid said he could not trace any mastermind during his investigation.

"I was at primary stage of the investigation. To find out the masterminds and link them with the attack was a huge task, but I was not in a position to accomplish the task," he told The Daily Star yesterday.

From his experience, he however, said, "It was an extensively pre-planned attack and a huge amount of money was involved. It's not like that if anyone wants grenades, the bombs will automatically be available," he said.

Rashid obtained confessional statements from Joj Miah and two others -- Abul Hashem alias Rana and Shafiqul Islam -- which completely contradict with that by Mufti Hannan and seven other Huji leaders and activists.

Authenticity of the identical confessional statements of Joj Miah and two others during the BNP-Jamaat rule raised questions and controversy as those stories were weakly woven.

Following huge controversy and media flak the government had to hold back submission of the charge sheets based on Joj Miah's story.

Allegations were rife that the government was trying its best to divert the investigation to save the main culprits of the gruesome attack on Hasina's rally on Bangabandhu Avenue that left 24 AL leaders and workers killed and scores others injured, many of them maimed forever.

Less than a month into the attack, the then ruling BNP lawmakers in parliament in presence of the erstwhile prime minister Khaleda Zia blamed AL for perpetrating the grisly attack on its own rally.

More interestingly, the one-member judicial probe committee of Justice Joynul Abedin pinned the blame on an "enemy" country, but the investigators have so far found nothing to substantiate the findings.

That perception of diverting the investigation to save the culprits got intensified when the investigators at least pointed their finger to a BNP leader and former deputy minister and the Huji.

A number of investigators say after they became sure of Pintu's involvement, they were trying to find out whether there were links between the attack and any people of "Hawa Bhaban" or other bigwigs as Pintu had connection with the then alternative powerhouse.

However, the charge sheets submitted in June do not contain anything regarding that matter.

But Rashid claims his investigation was not influenced by any government high-ups and he still believes Joj Miah's statement is "correct".

"The attack was launched following a massive plan where Joj Miah was involved in a small part. I believe many others were involved like Joj Miah in different parts of the plan. If someone holds anyone of them, they will not get the entire picture, rather a small part. Joj Miah here represents a small part," Rashid argues.

However, like the present IO of the cases, Munshi Atiq also believes Joj Miah's statement is not accurate.

Interestingly, when the investigation was proceeding based on Joj Miah's statements, all intelligence agencies gave positive nod to advance.

On the other hand, when the incumbent IO sensed Huji's involvement, the same intelligence agencies again gave a green light to go ahead.

Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad yesterday said police will not file any case against the investigators who made concocted story involving Joj Miah.

"We'll however assist the family members of Joj Miah and others who were implicated in the cases falsely if they come forward to file case against those investigators," the IGP told The Daily Star.

Apart from Joj Miah, 19 others including a ward-level AL leader were arrested after the grenade attack and tortured severely. Finally, a Dhaka court ordered their release as the charges brought against them by the erstwhile investigators were baseless.

One of the then investigators admitted severe torture of the arrestees, saying they did it to find at least some clues and ways to make a headway.

Besides local investigation, the government allowed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Interpol to probe the attack, but people are still in dark about their findings.

The Interpol report with details of the attack was attached to the charge sheets and was also submitted to the government, say CID officials. They add the FBI, which had taken some pieces of evidence for test and returned later, did not submit any report.

Children's playground turns into planners' plaything

The city has lost another children's playground as the authorities have planned to build residential quarters for Ansar members at the place.

Children from some of the most congested neighbourhoods of the city played at Sabuj Sangha ground in Malibagh Chowdhurypara for more than half a century. In January last year the ground was fenced with all its toys and rides closed.

"We have a plan to build quarters for Ansar members and maybe some other structures," said an Ansar officer, explaining why they have closed the playground.

Locals said Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) officers on the night of January 31 last year arrived there with corrugated iron sheets, bamboo and other construction materials and set up a metallic fence around the playground.

Today scampering children romp around the circular street that surrounds the playground enclosed by a rusting metallic barrier.

"Asphalt can never replace a grass turf," said Munir, a local schoolboy. "Playing in the bumpy, potholed streets is nowhere near as fun as playing in a real ground."

"We used to look forward to afternoons, when we could play cricket on the ground. There used to be a competition between different groups for taking over the centre turf," said Tomal, another high school goer from the neighbourhood. "I really miss those days."

“In a city where there is very little nature left, kids are living in a synthetic indoor setting,” said Khalil Hossain, a local resident. “When they go outside, they should feel grass and soil. But we are taking that away from them too.”

Khalil's neighbours also agreed that their children desperately need a playground. They said the 2-bigha ground, also known as Chowdhurypara Pachaar Math, has always been a victim of tug-of-war between various authorities and influential quarters.

Hafizur Rahman Moina, general secretary of Khilgaon Samajik Sangstha (KSS), said the place designated as a children's park in the City Master Plan of 1961, has always been a target of encroachment by the influential quarters of the society, denying the demand of the local people for maintaining it as a recreational park.

"Being the only children's playground in the area this has been subjected to attempts of encroachment in the past, and it never got to become a full-fledged park," said Moina.

"It [the ground] has always been surrounded by rickshaw garages, makeshift stores, mechanical workshops, etc. And considering the fact that no other option is available in the area¸ the children used to go and play there every day even with all the risks involved," said Majibur Rahman, a local resident.

Jamilur Islam, an environmentalist and social worker, said a High Court bench had issued an injunction on any type of construction on the playground and changing the nature and character of the land in any manner. But the Ansar and VDP have been occupying the playground violating the High Court injunction."

However, sources at the Ansar and VDP headquarters claimed that they are rightfully occupying the ground.

"Different people are claiming different things. But the reality is we got lease of the ground in 1987. Even though successive governments made attempts to allocate the ground to other organisations, the original allocation [the lease] was never cancelled," said a top official at the Ansar and VDP headquarters.

However, sources said the allotment was cancelled by the public works ministry of the caretaker government of 1996 following protests from the locals. The then government decided to hand it over to Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) for maintaining it as a park.

Later the ground was allotted to Sabuj Moti Trust (SMT) on July 12, 2000 for the construction of a health complex. This allotment too was cancelled on November 25, 2004 after the BNP-Jamaat alliance government came to power. The government then issued an order for developing the ground as a park.

Following a writ petition filed by SMT on January 2, 2005, the High Court issued an injunction on the ministry and instructed the Ansar not to make any construction on the designated land till the disposal of the writ petition.

Col Abul Kalam Mohammad Zaki who was director (admin) of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP when the ground was closed said steps will be taken, if necessary, to renovate the ground and turn it into a full-fledged playground under Ansar and VDP supervision.

Locals expressed resentment and discontent over the authorities' failure to save the ground and turn it into a recreational park for the children.

Indigenous People's Day

The Indigenous people from all over the world celebrated the "International Day of world Indigenous people" on August 9 every year. The Day was declared as such by the UN General Assembly on December 23,1994. This year the Day has been celebrated with the theme " The Economic and Social Rights of Indigenous People". UN Secretary General Ban Ki -Moon in his special message on the occasion of the Day has mentioned, "Indeed the sufferings of indigenous peoples include some of the darkest episodes in human history". Needles to say, the indigenous people suffer oppression, grave human rights abuses, even the threat of extinction in this country. For example, this year on the night of April 20 some land grabbers attacked indigenous people in Rangamati. They set fire to Indigenous people's houses and continued to occupy their lands forcibly. But they too are citizens of this country.

So, why should they suffer? Really, such barbarian attitude towards indigenous people reminds us of those “darkest episodes of human history”.

Fresh air for jail kids

From now on children living with their detained mothers in the Dhaka Central Jail will get a chance to visit parks and other recreational centres.


The jail authorities have planned to arrange the first outing for them to Dhaka Shishu Park in the first week of Ramadan (early September). Similar trips will be organised in phases for children living in other jails across the country.

DIG (Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told Star City that the initiative has been taken for the development of mental health of those children.

“After a day out we hope the children would be cheerful, which will make the detained mothers happy too. The programme is aimed at integrating these children into the normal social life,” he said.

Accompanied by the jail's social worker, female wardens and deputy jailor, the children will spend a day at the children's park. The authorities will pay for the tickets, expenses of rides, balloons and food, Siddiqui said.

If the programme succeeds the children will be taken to Dhaka Zoo and other recreational centres. The outings will be organised twice a month.

All expenses of the trip, including the rent of vehicles for transport will be met by the income of Kara Bakery and the money earned from the sale of handicraft items made by the detainees, Siddiqui said.

At present 77 unfortunate children live with their detained mothers in the Dhaka Central Jail where the number of female prisoners is around 500.

The total number of children living in jailhouses across the county as of Monday was 487 while the number of female prisoners was around 3,100. The number however changes almost every day.

Dhaka Central Jail is the largest among the total 67 jails in Bangladesh, which is located on 36 acres of land on Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka.

Female prisoners having 1 to 6 years old children are allowed to keep their children inside the jail. Although not guilty of any crime these children have no other option but to live with their detained mothers in the jailhouses.

After reaching the age of 6 years these children are sent outside. Depending on the mother's wish they either live with relatives or end up in orphanages.

In Dhaka Central Jail the children remain at the day care centre during the daytime run by the jail authorities. They spend time playing, trying out books and watching television. They meet their mothers during every mealtime where the mothers are given a chance to feed the children.

The detained mothers and their children also get a chance to reunite every afternoon in the jailhouse lawn. At night the children sleep in a separate room. A female social worker of the jail keeps an eye on the entire process.

Fathers of the children are allowed to meet them once a month.

The jail authorities are considering establishing day care centres in other jails throughout the country, Siddiqui mentioned.