Jahanara Imam - The Profile of a Fighter

Jahanara Imam (May 3, 1929—June 26, 1994) was a Bangladeshi writer and political activist. She is most widely remembered for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial. She was known as "Shaheed Janani" (Mother of Martyrs).

Secular Voice of Bangladesh: Jahanara Imam - The Profile of a Fighter

One of the most revered names in the recent history of Bangladesh is Jahanara Imam. She personifies the ideals of the liberation war of Bangladesh of ‘71 and embodies the protest against obscurantism and bigotry.

Through her dissenting voice she had assumed a bigger than life stature of a warrior, resounding the sentiment of those who had fought for the ideals of democracy and secularism, and continued their struggle to reinstate them in the new found democratic setup of 1991.

Before she heralded her call for the movement the trial of the killers and collaborators of ’71 in 1992, Bangladesh had suffered long 15 years of military rule. This militarization, which began only three years after the reception of Bangladesh in August 1975, continued till the over through of General Ershad in December 1990. Over the years under military rule, the democratic space had shrunken for the people to assert their right in matters of the state and its policies. The military dictators amended the constitution to suit their end and remove the principles of secularism and socialism, thus fortifying the use of religion ion politics. With the over through of the last military despot through people’s movement, a New Hope for a democratic society had set in.

Political Advertisements on Channel i Europe

In the past, several Bengali TV channels broadcasting from the UK have been rapped by Ofcom for breaches of broadcasting rules. I'm sure many other breaches go unnoticed, largely due to the viewers not flagging up the issue to Ofcom (via their website).

Recently, Channel S and NTV were found to have breached Ofcom rules (Bengali TV channels, Channel S and NTV in breach of Ofcom rules, again!)

Yesterday, I was shocked to see a range of political advertisement on Channel i, a Bengali satellite TV channel broadcasting to UK and Europe. It was for similar advertisements that NTV was found in breach of. One wonders if the people operating these TV channel are 'fit and proper' for the purpose? It also makes you wonder if such individuals have close connections to political parties originating from Bangladesh? Here is a complaint made to Ofcom with images and videos of the advertisements.

Dear Ofcom,

The Bangladeshi people around the world are used to political wrangling that takes place back home. The constant national strikes by these political parties brings the country to its knees and hinders progress. People live in fear of constant threats and violence from individuals associated with political parties. Poverty often fuels such association and motivation for violence.

A large number of Bangladeshis have left their impoverished motherland and made homes abroad, like the UK. Although Bengalis have a strong sense of nationalism due to the violet birth of their country in 1971, many of these immigrants avoid modern politics like the plague.

There are two large political parties in Bangladesh with their branches and advocates spread around the UK and the world. One of them is the Bangladesh Awami League (Awami League), the current ruling party. Its leader is Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of the founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The other is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Its leader is Begum Khaleda Zia, the the widow of the President and former army chief Ziaur Rahman.

Now and then advertisements appear on TV channels aimed at Bengali speaking people in the UK and Europe promoting events organised/supported by the above political parties. I note Ofcom found NTV in breach of similar advertisement in Broadcast Bulletin 202. I was shocked to see a range of short adverts in several slots within a short time period, broadcast on Channel i on the Sky platform on the evening of 13th of April 2012. You would have thought the NTV breach would serve as a warning to the rest of the Bengali channels. Sadly it has not.