Bangladesh Victory Day

Today, 16 December, Bangladesh celebrates national Victory Day.

It is the 39th anniversary of the victory of Bengalis over Pakistan aggression and massacre which lasted from March to December, 1971. On 16 December the allied forces of the Indian army and Bengalis’ Mukti Bahini (freedom fitters) crushed the West Pakistani forces deployed in the East.

That victory gave people of former East Pakistan (after 1947, when British India was partitioned into the states of India and Pakistan, modern-day Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan and was called East Pakistan) not only freedom but a new state Bangladesh. Declaration of Independence was announces by Bengal political leaders (declaration was signed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the Nation) in March, 1971. Officially 26 March is considered the Independence Day of Bangladesh, when the name Bangladesh was in effect henceforth. Though, unofficially there is controversy on who and when did the first announcement of the declaration of independence over the radio (which is a question of political manipulations actually).

Commenting on the achievements of the country after winning the Liberation war, President Zillur Rahman in his statement said, "We could not yet attain that objective after four decades of independence. The anti-liberation force as well as the vested quarters created obstacle in the way of democracy and development by killing Father of the Nation. Or democratic advancement has been jeopardized afterwards in absence of a people's government. As a result, we lag far behind in anticipated development", bdnews24.com reports. This speech was supported by the words of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Thirty nine years have passed since independence but the desired dreams and aspirations of independence are yet to be achieved," she said in her statement, according to news agency.

In one voice with ruling party sounds the opposition this day. As bdnews24.com quoted the opposition leader Khaleda Zia speech, "Even though our motherland was freed from enemies in 1971, their sharp eyes are still on us. An imperialist force is working to turn us into a subjugated race. We will have to unite nationally to fight it."

As for harp imperialists’ eyes, needless to say that in 1971 USSR helped Indian army as main ally of Bengalis’ Mukhti Bahini. The Soviet Union was interested in strong India. So independence of Bangladesh which could make India’s rival Pakistan weaker, played into USSR hands. Soviet authorities gave assurances to India that if a confrontation with the United States or China (which supported Pakistan) developed, it would take counter-measures. Officially this  was enshrined in the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty signed in August 1971.
USSR recognized Bangladesh as new state in January, 1972, and after 2 month, in March, 1972, father of nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made his first diplomatic visit to Moscow.
Almost forty years later, this fact of assistance during the war is the only fact which Bangladeshis can recall about Russia or former Soviet Union. Still it’s amazing how strong the memory is.
Today many families in Bangladesh and abroad think of other memories, though. Dead brothers and fathers, raped women, killed babies, the millions of refugees, millions of destroyed lives. This song, the greatest Bangla songs of all times, is for them.

Ek shagor rokter binimoye Banglar shadhinota anle jara amra tomader bhulbo na amra tomader bhulbo na...
(We will not forget the ones who liberated Bangladesh by spilling a sea of blood, we will not forget you... – I’m sorry for the incorrect translation, if it is so)

And some personal memories of last year V-day (2009) in Dhaka (full set is here)

Bangladesh PM will make an official visit to Russia in early 2011

Short visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Russia in the network of "Tigers summit" was a dress rehearsal of her official visit next year. Two countries are expected to discuss the upcoming nuclear power plant project.

The transcript of a short meeting between russian PM Vladimir Putin and Sheikh Hasina, PM of Bangladesh in St Petersburg, Russia.

Vladimir Putin: Distinguished Ms Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to warmly welcome you again.
Ms Prime Minister, you are worthy of continuing what your father began, as he not only fought for the independence of Bangladesh but also took the first steps to establishing friendly cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia. Just such relations have emerged between our countries over recent years but there is still much more to do to bring our trade and economic ties on a firm basis and raise them to the proper level. There are many opportunities to do so. We have already granted tariff preferences for many of your traditional exports but more can be done in the specific areas of practical activities – energy, agriculture, mineral fertiliser trade, and military-technical cooperation. Our two countries are already cooperating in some of these areas.
I am very glad to have the opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations with you today, and I think that we should really take practical steps, especially with your upcoming visit in mind – I mean your official visit to Russia early next year.

Sheikh Hasina (as translated): Mr Prime Minister, first of all, I would like to thank you for the warm reception given to me and my delegation, and for the invitation to participate in the Tiger Forum.
It gave me a fine opportunity to see this historic city. We have heard so much about the magnificent city of St Petersburg, which has played an important part in Russian history, so we treasure this experience.
Traditionally, we have had a great respect for the Russian people since long ago – since the struggle for independence. When my father was rebuilding our country after the war, he always received support from Russia and could count on cooperation with it. In particular, the Russian military helped to clear mines on our land. Many Russian soldiers gave their lives for our country, and we will always be grateful to Russia for that.
Unfortunately, I was not able to visit Russia over the last ten years, but I think that these ten years have made our relations friendlier and stronger.

source: official web-site of Prime Minister of Russian Federation, http://premier.gov.ru

Eid ul Azha … Russia VS Bangladesh

Eid Mubarak everyone!

This year Eid al-Adha or "Festival of Sacrifice" was celebrated in Russia 1 day before Bangladesh, on 16^th November (which is, I suppose, because of time and probably moon calendar difference. I might be mistaken)

This Eid reminds us the story of Abraham (Ibrahim) who was supposed to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah according to God's command, sent to Abraham in a dream. Abraham shared the dream and its intent with his son and Ismail showed his love and commitment for Allah, as well as his own father and obeyed to sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah… That was the test by Allah. When the God saw both Abraham and Ismail ready for a cruel demonstration of their faith (Ismail was already lying under his father’s knife), Allah told Abraham to replace his son with a ram. 

The tradition of Eif is followed by all Muslims in the world more or less in the same way. Prayer, then gathering together with the whole family, killing an Eid ram, cooking. Meat is divided in three parts, one remains with the family, second goes to the  relatives, friends and neighbors, and the last third is given to the poor.

In Russia (as in Turkey and some other Central and East Asian countries) it is called Kurban Bairam. There are around 15 million Muslims in Russia according to official statistics (Rosstat), other sources mention 20-25 millions. The Muslim population increased 40% in last 15 years.

Below you can see a video by 1^st TV channel (“Pervij kanal”) from celebration in Moscow (language is Russian, so just see the video)

 

Photos from Moscow taken by Leonid Varlamov. The full report is here (LiveJournal of Leonid Varlamov) It’s worth seeing!!!

Photos from Dhaka taken by photographer Shuvo Das (from this source http://www.demotix.com/news/510439/eid-ul-adha-celebration-dhaka)

Moscow, 16th Nov 2010

Dhaka, 17th Nov 2010

Dhaka, Family shares the prayer

In Moscow prayer is shared with police

And here one can find photos from St-Petersburg.

The photos belong to Valentin Ilushin, photo reporter of Fontanka.ru (online newspaper)

http://www.fontanka.ru/2010/11/16/038/picture.1.html

Also some photos from DP.ru http://www.dp.ru/a/2010/11/16/Baranov_dlja_Kurbanbajram

(Unfortunately I can’t find the author of the photos)

The main mosque (very beautiful one, by the way) is situated in the centre of St-Petersburg. Muslim’s gathering caused jams and definitely gave rise to condemning comments from townspeople…

1-day Barbarian

As you can understand, for those people who are not aware about Eid and its traditions, killing of animals becomes a cruel act of “those Muslim barbarians”. However, an honest person will admit that the same had been happening in each and every Russian village for ages and still happening, of course. And at last, meat factories all over the world do not look better at all.

Anyway, here we are in Moscow, witnessing Russian style of sacrifice…

Photoes by Leonid Varlamov 

It is also worth seeing for those especially who wonders why I eat only vegetable. 

Nothing personal :)

 

And this is how the victims of holy sacrifice were sold just in the open place in the center of Russian capital: http://www.echo.msk.ru/blog/ottenki_serogo/726873-echo/

Photos were taken by Sergey Muhhamedov, the  source is “Eho Moskvi” FM station webpage.

And here we see the trace of Eid celebration in Kazan, traditionally Muslim place in Russia. Animals’ remains on the backyard of the mosque scare both non-muslim and muslim people, especially kids on their way to school.

 

As one of the locals tells the author of the article (“Komsomolskya pravda” newspaper), the remains used to appear here every year after Eid and stay until local people would not through them out or bury them

Not only animals’ killing is discussed regarding Eid in Russia. One of the most commented videos in the net was taken at Gorkovskaya Metro station in St-Petersburg (just opposite the mosque). 

 After praying hundreds of people had taken the metro entrance by storm, jumping over the turnstiles…..

I would say, even if these Muslims are “newcomers” in our city, the intellectual capital of Russia, even if they are less educated or not educated at all (as many of “Slovenian” Russians coming from other parts of Russia by the way!), NORMALLY they would not do like this. They would by a ticket and go as all other people do...Who doubts?

At the end of the day,  why shall not we recall those huge events taking place in the city fro tie to time, like New Year or 9 May (Victory Day in Russia) or Paratrooper’s day or ZENITH (St-Petersburg’s football team) games, for example.

I bet, same video with very white Slovenian faces, doing same bloody things one could have taken on these days, couldn’t he?

The use of tolerance

This Eid celebration got me back to one of the most complicated topics in my journalistic practice. It’s tolerance and how it works, or I must say, doesn’t work in Russia. (Does it work anywhere in general?)

This time our society divided into several groups. The majority is definitely condemns the open celebration of Eid. The minority suggests authorities to arrange celebrations such a way that nobody would feel insulted, neither muslim society, nor non-muslim citizens.

What do I mean by “open” celebration? Open means thousands muslims’ crowd in the center of largest cities, open means selling animals and killings just in the middle of the street (last year the killing was seen in Apraskin Dvor, the biggest center city market in St-Petersburg, this time they did it somewhere out of the city). All this frightens people and pours oil on the flames of the popular in Russia and most of all other “white” countries idea that a Muslim is a terrorist. Unfortunately, I would repeat, unfortunately, it happens.

Though, I would say, while reading forums and blogs, I picked up a lot of reasonable comments from those who follows the idea of humanity and respect for a human being (which comes before respect to any religion). However, these people are in minority and would stay a minority. In my opinion.

Here in Russia we’d been speaking about tolerance for last 10-15 years, right after the ruin of Soviet  Union. Naturally, Russia in times of Soviet Union or earlier, in times of Russian Empire, was always a multinational country (due to its size of course). Then, after the collapse, when all the former soviet republics, donated from the center, became independent and poor, the huge wave of migration started… It sees like since then Russians forgot about recent fraternity. 

So what do we have today? Injuring and killings of both classes – migrants or just “persons of Caucasian origin” (this is how all people with dark skin and slanting eyes are called in Russia)  and, on the other hand, those Russians who fights for human rights and against fascism. 

We still have those celebrated cases in our memories…9-years old girl from Tajikistan family, cruelly killed by a group of 11 youngsters  in St-Petersburg (later they were sentenced under “hooliganism” article…). On 13th November 5 years ago a 20-years old student of Faculty of Philosophy, State University, an anti-fascist  activist and “Food not Bombs” movement member Timur Kacharava was killed in the central street of the city – Nevsky prospect. He was Georgian by origin. Then lawyer Stanislav Markelov and a journalist Anastasia Baburova, killed in  Moscow in connection of the “antifascist” views and activities…

But this is a new story which I will definitely tell you in future.

And for know, I wish happy Eid vacation for those who celebrate it.

Especially for those who is doing it in St-Martins’ :P