A recent Candle Light Vigil at Shahid Minar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bikkhubdho Nari Morcha (Forum for Outraged Women)

 Candle light vigil at Shahid Minar, 18:00 - 19:00 hrs | 26 February 2005

Bikkhubdho Nari Morcha, a  Forum for Outraged Women has organised tonight's candle light vigil. It basically represents the initiative of socially aware women who belong to different professions. Initially, 120 women beyond partisan interests expressed their deep concerns, worries, anxieties and outrage at the current social, political and cultural climate prevailing in Bangladesh in a statement that was published in the press on 30 January.  

We have organised this candle light vigil to inform the larger community about our concern and our sense of outrage, and also to establish contacts with any person (or persons) who is faced with questions, similar to those raised by us. Since February 2, 2005 we have initiated a signature campaign in Dhaka, and in several districts outside Dhaka, demanding overall security for the citizens of Bangladesh. Our intention is to make public contact, and in this short period of  one month more than 50,000 people have signed the Bikkhubdho Nari Morcha petition, thereby supporting the demands raised by us. The demand for a safe and secure life has actually become transformed into a basic demand. The demands raised by the Bikkhubdho Nari Morcha in their public petition are:  

1)       hold an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into each bomb blast and grenade attack (free of government interference)

2)       prosecute and punish those responsible for such attacks under due process of law

3)       provide medical care for those injured in such attacks and compensation for the families of those killed or injured

4)       take urgent steps to improve the law and order situation in accordance with respect for fundamental rights, including to life and liberty

5)       take measures to ensure the independence and integrity of public institutions

6)       restore a democratic environment conducive to freedom of participation in political and cultural activities (jatra, baul singing), for women's sports events (wrestling, swimming, football), etc and to freedom of expression.

These demands were raised in the light of the situation prevailing as a result of 21 bomb and grenade attacks which took place between 1999 and January 2005. As of today no steps have been taken against those involved in the attacks, neither have any steps been taken to prevent such attacks. On the contrary, we have witnessed an increase in the number of attacks which has risen to 35, while the death toll has increased to 151. The number of attacks in the last two months alone is 15. We are forced to acknowledge  with great sadness that even though we had brought the aforementioned incidents to the notice of the relevant authorities, their indifference and inaction has led to a non-recognition of our anxieties, feelings of insecurity, grief at loss of close kin, and our sense of fear. On occasions, the response of those in power has been callous and unconcerned with the human tragedy. We all know that from 1999 to 2005, a number of  cultural activists, politicians, common people, development workers and journalists have been killed. A foreign diplomat has also been attacked. Parties in power noticeably failed to counter these attacks, to the extent that the extremist militants became emboldened enough to issue their threats in public. Notwithstanding this, we are yet to see any visible initiative on the part of those responsible in the government, and in law-enforcing agencies to prevent such attacks. On the contrary, the government's reaction to those who have expressed alarm at the occurrence of such incidents, has resulted in silencing people.  

In the last few years, many outstanding and socially-aware journalists have been murdered because they dared to write courageously. It is only recently that journalists have combined to form a forum to protest such attacks against journalists. However, jatra and other folk artists, cultural activists, NGO workers and people from different communities or those of other religious denominations, have not been able to unite in protest for fear of harassment and further  repression. At present, a suffocating environment has been created in the country, leaving no space for the expression of any form of dissent whatsoever. Calculated and often armed attacks on the freedom of self-expression, individual liberties, the right to belief has resulted in leaving people generally defenceless. We have clearly noticed that the state's defence system and the law-enforcing agencies are being used in the interests of particular approaches. While too busy in the act of  silencing and controlling people, they play no effective role to defend citizens’ freedom of thought, a free culture, or the practice of democratic norm. We have noticed that grenades, bombs, automatic weapons and ammunition have been discovered in large quantities in different parts of the country, but those responsible for smuggling these into the country remain noticeably untouched. No effective steps have been taken against those who have clearly confessed to using these, while many have been arrested and remain imprisoned for indefinite periods, on the slightest hint of suspicion. We note with alarm that statements of confession, descriptions of weapons disappear from police records. We fail to understand whose interests are being served. Impunity enjoyed by these people is leading to  people’s losing faith in the judicial system, in the courts, and most of all, in the capability of the government. The number of crimes committed is not decreasing, terror is yet to be abated, instances of beating to death in public places occur, and RAB, Cheeta, Cobra have  carried out many extra-judicial killings. The killings by Bangla Bhai and the Jagroto Muslim Janata have yet to be tried. On the contrary,  law-enforcing agencies are becoming involved in corruption and terrorism. Feelings of insecurity have gripped common people, people don’t even expect a minimum standard of governance anymore.  This situation has led to feelings of despair. On the other hand, cultural and developmental activities have been closed down in the name of security, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to raise questions against violations of human rights, or to protest against injustices. Even the Shahid Minar has been put off limits, with the authorities closing down cultural performances.  

We thank those who have supported the Morcha's statement, have supported our list of demands. We request each and every freedom-loving and free-thinking person to come and join us in our protest movement aimed at securing peace through non-violent means. We request you to raise your voices for security,  against the violation of human rights, and the restoration of democratic freedoms from wherever you are  and from which ever space you occupy. The time for remaining silent has passed. We urge you to support our campaign for peace by attaching your signature to this Petition.

On the other hand, we call upon the main opposition party and all other political forces to use whatever resources at their disposal to ensure public security. You are our representatives, as are those in the government, and you must be accountable to the public. You must put effective political pressure on the government to ensure that the government feels compelled to make provisions for public security. We request the government to make good use of their powers and perform their duties with regard to ensuring public safety and security. We demand an end to the policy of killing, of terror and repression; we urge the government to be attentive towards common people's anxieties, to deal with these sympathetically, to disregard party alliances and to take initiatives to forge a broader unity so that we can overcome this period of darkness together, and once again, turn our faces towards light.

You have been elected to power and provided with resources and entitlements in order to govern the land cognisant of democratic and constitutional norms and conventions as well as with respect for human rights for all. You must fulfill your obligations to the people.

We therefore call upon the government to take the following measures as a step towards normalcy:

1. Take immediate steps to effectively stop all killings by RAB, Cheeta, Cobra and police. Stop terror by constitutional (and not unconstitutional) means

2.       Hold independent, impartial and transparent investigations into each bomb blast and grenade attack (free of government interference) and make the reports public. Punish those guilty.

3.       Take steps to remove corruption from the administration and the judiciary.

4.       Remove all hindrances to political activities. Take steps to create an environment where dissent can be expressed.

5.       Take effective steps to stop terrorist threats, and attacks on all forms of cultural activities.

6.       Exchange opinions with political, social and cultural forces through democratic means, and in a neutral non-partisan manner, in line with progressive, democratic principles that encourage free-thought, and rescue the nation and its citizens, through constitutional means,  from politics based on obscurantism, militantism, communalism and violence.

Courtesy: Dr. Hameeda Hossain, Photograph: DRIK