Bangladesh: Bangla blogs react to the Mumbai terror attacks

This post is part of the Global Voices coverage on the terror attacks in Mumbai, India on November 26, 2008. Please stay tuned for more news and views as the event unfolds.

The Bangla blogosphere reacted to the Mumbai terror attacks with concern. Condolences poured in with bloggers such as hzbrl saying

আমি শুধুই জানাতে পারি সমবেদনা এবং সহাবস্থান ঘোষনা করতে পারি মুম্বাইবাসীদের সাথে। আমরা আপনাদের সাথেই আছি এই ক্রান্তিলগ্নে।

I can only express my sympathy and tell the residents of Mumbai that we are all with you in this hour of crisis.

These sentiments were echoed by many others. Ahmed Akhtar writes in the comments section of the same post

শোনার পর থেকেই সাধারণ নিরীহ মানুষগুলোর অসহায়ত্বের ছবিটাই মনে হচ্ছিল বারবার। সভ্যতার নামে আমরা যে আসলেই কী করছি কে জানে !

After getting the news the helplessness of those innocent victims kept playing in my mind. Where are we heading, in the name of civilization?

After hearing the news, some of the bloggers were also concerned whether neighbor Bangladesh would be linked with the incident. This concern has been captured in the comments section here where Hasib asks:

হাসিব বলেছেন: বাংলাদেশীগো দায়ি কৈরা প্রেসনুট আইছে এহনতরি? …

Hasib: Have they issues any press note yet, holding Bangladesh responsible for these attacks?…

Blogger BDIdol expressed another theory in the same post :

ভারত-পাকিস্তান-আফগানিস্তান এই তিন দেশ নিয়ে আমেরিকান কুটনীতির সাম্প্রতিক কিছু নাড়াচাড়া হচ্ছে। ম্যাককেইন আসছে কিছু দিনের মধ্যেই। ওবামা ক্ষমতা নিয়েই আফগানিস্তান-পাকিস্তানে হামলা করার সম্ভাবনা আছে। সেটার পটভূমি তৈরি করা হচ্ছে বোধ হয়। সমবেদনা থাকলো..এইসব নাটকে সর্বদাই নিরীহ লোকের প্রাণ যায়।

America has recently been involved in diplomatic dialogue with the 3 countries aka India-Pakistan-Afghanistan, McCain is to arrive shortly. As soon as Obama becomes President, there is a possibility of America attacking the Pak-Afghan border. Maybe this is a taste of things to come. Always it is the common, innocent bystander that are victimized in all this kind of drama.

But a bigger worry that bloggers in Bangldesh are expressing is of the possible fallout of this event on the upcoming Bangladesh elections. Shamima Sumi puts this worry into perspective with these words

এইভাবে চলতে থাকলে আমাদের দেশে এর প্রভাব পড়বে সামনে নির্বাচন। আমরা অনেকদিন পর একটা নির্বাচন আশা করছি। যা হলে দেশে নাকী গণতন্ত্র আসবে। গণতন্ত্রই আসুক আর যাই আসুক সরকার নিয়া তো কেউ বৈধতার প্রশ্ন তুলতে পারবে না। কিন্তা ভারতের অবস্থা দেখে মনে হচ্ছে আমরা বুঝি অনেকটা পিছিয়ে যাব। আমার আর সহ্য হয় না। তাজে হামলাকারিরা কী চায়G

If this kind of thing goes on then it is bound to have an impact on Bangladesh, where our elections are round the corner. We are waiting for these elections, hoping that it will restore our democratic process. Democracy or not, at least with an elected government, no one will be able to question its legal standing. But seeing the situation in India, it worries me that it may impede this process. Oh, this is unbearable! What do these terrorists who have attacked the Taj hotel want?

Blogger Z Zaman expresses hope that the elections will bring in a new dawn in Bangladesh, that it will be a strong statement against terrorism.

আমরা আর জঙ্গীবাদ ও দুর্ণিতীবাজ চক্রের আবর্তে আর বন্দি হতে চাইনা।আমরা ২০০৮ এর নির্বাচনের মাধ্যমে নতুন অধ্যায়ের শুরু দেখতে চাই।

নির্বাচনে দুর্ণিতীবাজ ও জঙ্গীবাদের বিরুদ্ধে রায় দিন।

We do not want to be imprisoned in this circle of terrorism and corruption any more. Through the 2008 elections we want the beginning of a new chapter. In this election vote against corruption and terrorism

23 comments

  • Lucknow, Oct 10 (IANS) Former woman bandit Seema Parihar, who had allegedly killed 70 people and abducted over 200 before surrendering to the police a few years ago, Friday joined the Samajwadi Party at a function in Uttar Pradesh.

    Now Folks do you see where the terrorists are coming from- from within their own country.Bandidts join their political party and if you follow their daily Newspapers and NDTV news one can see very well how much the country is involved in racial killings.
    The teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and other good philosophers that INDIA onece possed are all history.
    However the general public (not the INDIAN GOVERNMENT n POLITICIANS) are fortunately ver sane, wise and people friendly– thay want to live in peace and wnat full establishment of peace within the south- asian region. What happening ijn SRILANKA ia also very very tragic- People killing people— whereas NO RELIGION preaches to kill infact ALL RELIGION HAS ONE MORAL LESSON- KILLING IS A GREAT SIN AND ALL KILLERS WILL GO TO HELL–
    We ordinary Citizens cannot understand the full reasons– we condemnm all killing starting from 9/11 in USA to all other countries–lets not forget that there wwere killings in TRAQ too– innocent citizens killed by mistake or cross-fire etc– We do not understand why other Cou8ntry has to interfere into a neighbouring or distant country.
    No doubt killings in MUMBAI and other places must not be repeated but for this the first requirement is:-READ N UNDERSTAND your own RELIGION FIRST- ALL persons have their right to follow and understand their own RELIGION
    ONE who do not love their own or DONT understand their own Religion first will act wild ijn any given situation.
    Mext Love yr neighbours –you dont have KiSS to Love or give up all your food– but understand that they r People like you and we should share greetings,entertauinment,knowledge etc–
    Lets not fall into the TRAP of the POLITICIANS who will now make a great cause to rid Terror by asking for foreign money and spending that money for theirselves and they will create communal hatred by statements that MUSLIMS hate HINDUS or CHRISTIANS hate both MUSLIMS or HINDUS and Buddhists hate them alll and that JEWS are not humans etc.
    WE all are humans created by GOD by whatever Name you call.
    So Please Citizens pray for all victims that died– it is what your religion says too to pray for dead people-Pray that all peopple in the world will get educated,knowledgeable and that all people –each of us will respect each other and let TERRORS go to hell–we stand against any terror.
    Politicians also should note all these points we stand aginst Terror and against those Politicians who preace racial violence and we CItizens stand united for peace and friendship.
    May God forgive the sins of all those who died and may all those find a house in heaven.

  • Shadeen

    Dear bharati,
    Is Defending oneself called torture in India? If someone came in your house and started shooting people down, what would you have done? Surely youre not going to bring him and feed him? We never deny the fact that india has hlped us in 71 btuthink carefully you will understand that the main motive behind india helping us in 71, was to weaken pakistan which has happened. Pakistan is now much weaker compared to india. Otherwise no country is that great or dumb to risk its own people for another countries liberation.and because you guys helped us in 71, doesnt mean we are going to accept all kinds of outrageous accusations. Re us being told by mullahs about whom to thank and whom to not is simply humorous. You have mistaken us as pakistan. neither do we regard indians as kafirs. Bd has a very good reputation of being a secular country were hindus and muslims and all other religions coexist. can you give me one example of a religious riot in BD? where as in your country muslims are being burnt alive(gujrat) and the same is being done to christians now. what these terrorists are doing in the name of religion is disgusting. no religion supports that. it is also known that our largest sector (garments) is being disturbed By RAW. maybe that is why they failed predict such a large terrorist activity in india, because they were too busy destabilizing other countries.we dont accept religiousgovt handouts but we do see parties like bojrong in india making religion their weapon. bd is one of the largest participants in un peace missions sending soldiers in various countries to stabilize them. You know, we do have much better things to do then destabilizing others. Lastly, i would like you to read my previous blog carefullyyyy. i have not once mentioned the word islam, hindu, mullah or religion. But still you have brought those points. Doesnt this prove who is blinded by religion? And i also wish our skeletons will ask eachother ARE WE HUMANS? but it seems yoy have something else in mind.
    Tnks

  • deepak

    The messages here follow the same defense pattern of Islamists. India did this to Muslims so they are angry seems to be the excuse ! very sad indeed. The reformation of Islam can only come from Muslim moderates not apologists like the ones we see here. Is it any wonder Bangladesh like Pakistan is quickly becoming an Islamic terror hub? What these guys dont tell you is that Pakistan today is 1% Hindu down from nearly 35% and Bangladesh is about 10% down from 40% at partition. The process of full Islamization is in progress. In 1971 the Pakistan army killed 3 million Bengalis – and it is no secret that the Pak army had expressed orders to kill Hindus.
    India has more successful Muslims that all of Muslim world combined, plus more Muslims are killed every Friday in Karachi mosques than India. It is wrong to bring in Babri and Godhra as an excuse for Jihad. Jihad is what is going on today from Mumbai to Manchester. No one killed Muslims in London or New York or Copenhagen. No one curbed Islamic rights in Amsterdam or Paris but we see Van Goghs grandson lying dead and British mullahs fume and open stop British cops from coming to Muslim neighborhoods. The time for excuses has gone. There must a conscience on the Islamic mind, and it is a shame that Bangladesh which is a moderate Muslim society should have such apologists who justify Islamic jihad and terror. do the world and yourselfs a favor. Close down your madrasas if you sincerely want to stop terrorism. That come reduce the number of Bangla bhais you produce.

  • I think the opinion T. Mitra expressed was a personal view that in no way should be generalized to all Indians, just like if someone from Bangladesh expresses dislike for Indians, we cannot immediately generalize that all Bangladeshis dislike Indians.

    As for ’71, it is interesting to note that while some still expect gratitude for something that India was forced to do to stem the flow of refugees across its borders, others are trying to make themselves believe that the intervention and help provided to the mukti bahini was totally superfluous!

    But glad to note that amidst all of this anger, blame & cross-blame, there are saner voices of reason.

  • Shadeen

    very well said by aparna ray. we have never denied indias contribution in 71.neither have we shown any dislike towards the indians in any blog. you must have noticed that all our blogs have been in response to blogs from our fellow neighbours. like when mitra out of nowhere started attacking bd, relating us with mumbai incident was really surprising.

  • Attention:Deepak/Bharati/Collaco/Mitra
    1.If you have not read my message posted in No:11 do read and try to give me a solid answer as to what justifies the need of bandits joining the political parties to be members of the parliament??? So who then is actually rearing terrorists within the Country????
    2.Bangladesh is an Islamic country but it is secular in its constitution and the best example in the world of a Country where people of all religion stay in harmony.Some mischievous people stay in all society and they did cause some problems to minorities but the majority of the people are friendly and exchange social visits,dinners, pleasanteries and gifts with those who belong to other religions–we not only condemn those few misguided people but hand them over to lawenforcement personnels to take legal action for disturbing peace in the society.We have Human Right and Civil societies that lodge strong protest if actions are not taken for wrongs committed against minorities.
    3.Compare this above scenerio to your country where both muslims and christians have been killed/murdered/burnt but action from yr lawenforcers and your Civil societies to prevent or save them have been pathetically poor.Even there is report of a young British girl being raped openly on a sea-beach in India –the news was given wide coverage world wide.In NDTV a talk show was organized by a Lady who does an excellent job on her show discussing various social problems facing India. But to what effect??
    4.Now 1971: Pakistan role– Because Pakistan Administration and particularly the Military under Politicians advise was bad towards Bengalis that we decided to become independent.Not only Hindus but Bengalis as a whole was their target– thats the reason why we fought back.
    Indian Role:- They provided us space and assisted in the war. BUT ALL THE EXPENSES OF THE BENGALI REFUGEES IN THE CAMPS CAME THROUGH UN FUNDS THUS INDIA DIDNT SPEND ONE PENNY FOR BENGALIS.RATHER INDIA EARNED FOREIGN EXCHANGE FROM THE UN FUNDS CONVERTED TO LOCAL CURRENCY TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES AND SLALRIES TO MEDICAL DOCTORS AND SECURITY PERSONNELS ETC.HOWEVER WE APPRECIATE INDIA’S COOPERATION FOR SPACE TO MAKE CAMPS N MEDICAL FACILITIES. BUT CAMPS AND FOOD WAS FROM UN FUND–ONLY SPACE FROM INDIA N TRAINING TO MUKTI BAHINI AND LATER THEY JOINED TO ENSURE VICTORY.
    NEXT, INDIRA GANDHI DECIDED TO ASSIST THIS WAR DUE TO PRESSURE FROM RUSSIA WHO ADVISED THAT IT WILL HELP IN HER ELECTION AND IF BANGLADESH IS ESTABLISHED INDIA AND RUSSIA BOTH WILL HAVE GOOD MARKET PLACE FOR THEIR GOODS.
    3.Bangladesh role:-LATE Mujibur Rahman’s speech in Delhi helped Indira Gandhi to win her elections. SO Politicans in India who supported Indira and Congress should be thankful to Late Mujibur Rahman and also us Bengalis too. WE do not hear about this from India– why????
    4.India’s step-brotherly attitude started when the Indian Army and the Indian Rakhi bahini was sent back to India and when other countries started to recognize Bangladesh as an Independent country– because that meant competition for India.
    India has too many internal problems in addition to kasmir and assam problems etc. Sri Lamka too has much internal problems and dont forget it was in Sri Lanka where Rajib Gandhi died as India tried to dominate Sri Lanka and its Poltics.
    Muslims r being killed in Karachi and Iraq due the fact that Western Countries are playing the divide and rule game as they did in the subcontinent of India before partition– the Indian government is too happy to assist the Western countries in this effort.
    Your marxsists and left front porty workers are not too happy with the nuclear deal signed with US–Remeber they flashed the news as to how Manmohansing bought the consent of the MPs for this deal–so you have there a potential internal enemy– and marxsists now ruke Nepal-they finished the Kingdom-the King and now the other political parties will be their slaves soon in Nepal and then next in India too as Congress and BJP are both becoming unpopular in India.
    It was the West that Divided the country by playing the game of Politics in a manner where Muslims andn Hindus couldnt live together–in the process they reaped huge wealth– thay are again now onto the game .Try to have an open mind and anaylyse situation factually. If you all just spread venom for Bangladesh or any other country whats the difference between You all and the terrosists?????
    Please as I said before be POSITIVE and try to spread peace and love and follow yr own religion –No religion encourages Killings and No religion says that you will get Paradise if you kill those the words of eveil people not the wise and good people. TRY to DIFFERENCIATEbetween the two through a Dictionaryn first.
    Stay well and ask any questions you like through this medium.

  • branded

    It’s a tendency for Indian media and government spokespersons to categorically blame Bangladeshi involvement for terror activities in their country. This is very unfortunate as it is totally baseless and ill-contempt accusations they are doing it for years. One can readily assume the intention behind such accusations are not really a goodwill for fact findings of these heinous crimes rather its a strategic movement which is aimed to create a bad image of Bangladesh in front of international community. There are several issues still unresolved between these two neighboring countries, and one can assume India might try to take advantage of the situation, undermine Bangladesh’s effort for any fair deal and might take unilateral action against Bangladesh as labeling them as a hostile country.

  • Branded,
    India wants to get favourable oppurtunities from the US in terms of foreign aid.
    Earlier the same India was the “evil” country due to close political links with Russia which was US number one enemy back from the time of 1960 onwards till the disentregration of Russia. The Russian link is still there but India finds monetary assistance more lucrative from the US besides a large number of NRI’s have settled down in India– mostly in business and IT sector- Bangalore thus developed to a IT hub outsourcing to US.
    Now that US-Pakistan relations is down to zero India wants to strike while the iron is hot therefore proving Bangladesh to be also equally a Islamic terrorist country it wants after the nuclear deal to sign in more financial delas- BUT US is US and they need to study the opattern of US n Pak relationship to get the actual picture.
    The Marxsisits n other left parties are strongly against the deal and India faces many internal political turmoil than any other country in the Asian continent due to fact of Classification of their social structure as per religious segments– Unity is difficult to achieve here.
    With present global crisis that has already hit US n UK and slowly hitting the European countries too the free flow of aid and warm relationship wont be too smooth.
    Hop they will realize this soon.

  • I would like to extend my sincere sympathies and condolences to the bereaved Families and prayers and thoughts to all affected by the brutal attacks in Mumbai

    This is totally unfair; innocent Lives being cruelly snatched by perpetrators of such condemnable actions

    “When” will the perpetrators of such condemnable actions ever understand that by committing such actions, they are literally committing the very most sinful of actions!

    It only leaves one more confused, perplexed and wondering in amazement with so many questions unanswered as to Why, Why and Why are such actions taking place? What do the perpetrators achieve?
    Why don’t they realize and understand that the World needs Peace, Love, Progress and Prosperity; that when they first contribute and invest in Peace and Love can they expect to reciprocate likewise, “When” will they ever learn?

    Life is extremely Precious and when the perpetrators just take decisions and commit unforgivable actions; they only foster more repulsion and disgust at what they are seeking to demonstrate.

    By committing such actions, they are only creating more hatred for themselves primarily; as well as further distancing and surrounding themselves with a vicious circle of further infinite hatred

    At this crucial moment, where we stand at the cross roads of doing our very best to comprehend the reasons for these condemnable actions; it is sincerely Hoped that decisive resolutions are identified whereby they are able to facilitate an effective mitigation right from the core roots of these elements, where they emerged.

    “Understanding” the core elements relating to this process is one of the strategic and instrumental keys in effectively managing and regulating the process instead of solely combatting since the first process is to establish a platform upon which a firm foundation could be built; the foundation of Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity

    It is pursuing an hopeful and practical process; whereby anticipating, innovating and embarking onto pursuing a practical approach for adeptly and resolutely dealing with such type of condemnable actions is being encouraged; Alas what has occurred cannot be recuperated, but the sacrifice that has been made by several innocent victims over the years reminds us and encourages us to stringently identify resolutions that could effectively harness the various factors effectively and implement a resolute approach in dealing / combatting with such condemnable actions decisively and practically.

    It is more easily said than done; but every step taken in the direction of seeking to identify each resolution is essential and imminently approaching

    Evolution is testament and holds evidential records of various events that have occurred and it is our duty to educate and inspire the concerned to seek to “Recognize” and “Understand” the immense potential value of each and every Life, since Life is extremely Precious and Splendid; and can “NEVER” be snatched away by these type of cowardly actions on any pretext or instance whatsoever.

    Each and Everyone has the rightful privilege to Live and cannot become subject to what perpetrators of such condemnable actions think and decide, it is absolutely very wrongful, punishable to the maximum possible extents and unpardonable; (Although the deviation is there when reference is made to referring to the aspect of punishment, it is but natural that when all steps that are taken to make the concerned understand the significance and importance of reality and when they refuse to understand and persistently seek to establish their own agendas, then in such contexts, this is NOT permissible since there has to be Universal Harmony, Peace and Love that is accorded contentious precedence and pre dominance since the Universe provides us and bestows us each and every Moment with the very finest of virtues but when there is an interruption or attempts made by perpetrators to change the course of what is being manifested Universally, then the perpetrators are naturally SUBJECT to pay a price for their irresponsible actions, face the consequences; they need to be accountable and responsible and essentially “Understand” that defying the Universal Principles, The Laws of Nature is having a price that NEEDS to be paid)

    It is not only retribution alone, it is fairness where no sides are taken, but what is just and unjust; since Nature never discriminates or favors one over another; but tends to remind and make one aware time and again that it makes one pay for one’s wrong deeds whether now or later; but definitely has its own way of compensating those that have been made to endure and face unfortunate events due to the mindless actions taken by perpetrators; the distinguishing of those that are right and those that are wrong is already being journalized / recorded and will seek accountability accordingly.

    I shall summarize the above comments on this note since it is an extensive appeal that consistently seeks to kindle the Hope for establishing Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity; If a reference has been made to certain tendencies that reflect accountability, this is natural, since every action that is taken is linked and bound to result in a reaction; so every action that is taken must be carefully assessed and taken explicitly on the basis of establishing Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity; it is the pursuit of a mutual process and not solely for suiting one’s agenda alone!

    With sincere Hopes, Thoughts and Humble Prayers,
    Vashi Ram Chandi

  • siv

    TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI: Mumbai’s 26/11 was actually a plan hatched by “Hindu Zionists” and “Western Zionists”, including the Mossad, said a self-styled Pakistan
    security expert on a Pakistan news television show, uploaded on http://www.hotklix.com.

    ” Inki shaklein Hinduonwali hain, jis zabaan mein guftagoo kar rahein hain, woh zabaan koi Pakistani istemaal nahin karta hai (They look like Hindus. No Pakistani speaks the language they chatted in),” said Zaid Hamid while referring to the terrorists on the show Mujhe Ikhtilaf Hai (I differ) on Pakistan’s News One channel. The sensationalist channel was launched in November last year.

    Hamid said that it was a “badly planned” operation that had gone horribly wrong. “9/11 jo Americans ne kiya tha usko bahut khoobsurat camouflage kiya tha. Unhone media mein perception management bahut acchha kiya . Indians ne wahi game repeat karne ki koshish ki, lekin akal to hai nahin . In ahmakon ne complete disaster kiya isko handle karne mein . (The Americans executed the 9/11 attack perfectly. They managed the media very well. The Indians tried to repeat the formula but goofed up. The idiots made a complete mess of it).

    He said that the attackers wore saffron Hindu Zionist bands, which no Muslim would tie. Hamid also said that within the first 5 minutes of the attack, the three ATS policemen investigating the network of terror within India’s security agencies and radical right were killed.

    That ensured that those investigations reach a dead end. Anchor Qudsia Qadri added that with their killings, the investigations into the Samjhauta Express carnage would be halted. The killings also immediately shifted attention from India’s domestic terrorists to Pakistan, said Hamid.

    Marvi Memon, glamorous Pakistan Muslim League member, on the same programme, was appalled at the Pakistan government’s expansion of the “India-appeasement package” by initially agreeing to send ISI chief to India. “I just don’t get it,” she exclaimed in exasperation.

    She wondered how can you send the ISI chief to a ” mulk jiske sath jang chal raha hai …at a different level…,” mentioning Kashmir and accusing India of blocking Pakistan’s waters. Memon said, “They (Indians) are quite obsessed with anti-Pakistan speak and that unites them,” she said. Memon also spoke about India’s separatist movements and believed that India was only reaping the bitter harvest of the poisonous seeds it had sowed.

    Blogger daily.pk writes in pakalert.wordpress.com, “India has been relapsing into religious extremism and numerous separatist movement have mushroomed due to official patronage …I see the Mumbai bombings as the desperate move of separatists who want to blame everything on Muslims.”

    It’s not only random voices railing against fingers pointing to Pakistan. Blogger and journalist Farrukh Khan Pitafi is miffed. “For years I have been advocating peace between India and Pakistan,” he wrote. But he, too, says that India was out of its mind in naming Pakistan as the source of violence without identification of the perpetrators.

    He wrote: “During such a long coverage of the mishap not a single outlet pointed out that Hemant Karkare… was the same man whose dismissal was Narendra Modi’s biggest demand. Or that he was the man on the verge of uncovering the home-grown terror franchise of the Hindu extremists. No channel mentioned Colonel Purohit once during the live telecast, no not even CNN, BBC or CBS. It is sad.”

    WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN U HEAR OF SUCH THINGS THAN IN PAKISTAN. TERROR IN THE WORLD STARTS IN PAKISTAN AND THE US HAS BEEN GOING AROUND THE WORLD FOR IT, WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY IN THEIR BACKYARD. CUT PAKISTAN TO SIZE THE TERROISM IN THE WORLD WILL BE CONTAINED. BELIEVE THEIR LIES AND THE WHOLE WORLD IS SIMPLY ASKING FOR MORE MUMBAI LIKE INCIDENTS IN THEIR COUNTRIES …

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