Official versions conflict about why Romel Chakma – a 20-year old HSC examinee and student leader of the Pahari Chatra Parishad – was picked up by the army, whether he was transferred from army to police custody while in Naniachar, whether his admission to, and 2-weeklong treatment at, the Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), occurred under police custody, and lastly, whether the Naniachar police station’s officer-in-charge (OC) was physically present when Romel’s body was burnt (not cremated, for his body was not handed over to his family), a few hundred yards away from his home in Purba Hatimara village, Naniachar.
Romel was not ill, nor was he suffering from any kind of injury when he was picked up. I have not come across any such media reports, nor does Romel’s father Kanti Chakma, in his letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC, dated April 6, 2017), make any such mention. One can therefore assume that he was reasonably fit and healthy (beside the stresses and strains of appearing for his exams), when he was picked up. Continue reading “ROMEL CHAKMA II: Is custodial killing heroic?”
সম্প্রতি বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ তথ্য প্রযুক্তি বিষয়ক নির্বাচন পরিচালনা কমিটি নামক একটি ফেইসবুক পেইজ থেকে ২০১৩ সালে ডয়েচে ওয়েলেকে দেয়া আমার একটি সাক্ষাৎকার থেকে খন্ডিতভাবে এক টুকরো অংশ উদ্ধৄত করে একটি ভিডিও কন্টেন্ট তৈরি করে সেখানে বলেছে:
“দেশপ্রেমিক সেনাবাহিনী ও জনগণকে মুখোমুখি করতে গভীর ষড়যন্ত্রে লিপ্ত ছিল শহিদুল আলম। সেনাবাহিনীকে বিতর্কিত করতে আন্তর্জাতিক একটি মিডিয়াকে বেছে নিয়েছিলেন তিনি।”
২১ বছর আগে অপহৃত হিল উইমেন্স ফেডারেশেনের নেত্রী কল্পনা চাকমাকে নিয়ে আমি ২০১৩ সালে যেই প্রদশর্নী করেছিলাম তার উপর দেয়া ওই সাক্ষাৎকারের প্রায় পুরোটুকু ফেলে দিয়ে মাঝখান থেকে খন্ডিতভাবে ছোট এক টুকরো অংশ কেটে নিয়ে তারা যেভাবে প্রচার করছে তার থেকে বিভ্রান্তির সুযোগ তৈরি হচ্ছে। উল্লেখ্য, কল্পনা চাকমার অপহরণের সাথে সেনা সদস্যর সংশ্লিষ্টতার যে অভিযোগ, যার উল্লেখ আওয়ামী লীগের শীর্ষ স্থানীয় নেতা ও সাবেক স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী মহিউদ্দিন খান আলমগীরও ২০০৯ সালের একটি টিভি টক শোতে করেছিলেন, সেই অভিযোগের কোন বিচার এত বছর ধরে হয়নি। পাশাপাশি পার্বত্য অঞ্চলে যে জাতিগত নিপীড়ন চলমান তারও কোন সুরাহা দশকের পর দশক ধরে হয়নি। এরই প্রেক্ষাপটে বিষয়গুলো নিয়ে বিভিন্ন রাজনৈতিক দল, সরকার ও সামরিক বাহিনীর ভূমিকা নিয়ে সামগ্রিকতার আলোকে কিছু আলোচনা আমি ঐ সাক্ষাতকারে করি। পাশাপাশি আমার যে প্রদর্শনী কল্পনা চাকমার অপহরণ নিয়ে হয়েছিল সেই প্রদর্শনীরও নানা দিক আমি সেখানে তুলে ধরি। ফলে সেখানে আমাকে কল্পনা চাকমার অপহরণের উপর বিভিন্ন ধরনের প্রশ্ন করার পর এক পর্যায়ে যখন প্রশ্ন করা হয় “তার মানে এটা কি বলা যায় যে কোন সরকারই আসলে সামরিক বাহিনীর বিষয়ে বিশেষ কোন কিছু, কোন উদ্যোগ গ্রহণে আগ্রহী নয়?” তখন এর উত্তরে আমি যা বলি তা ছিল নিম্নরূপ:
“আমাদের সামরিক বাহিনীর প্রয়োজন আছে কিনা সেটাই আমি প্রথমে প্রশ্ন করি। তেতাল্লিশ বছর ধরে আমরা যে সামরিক বাহিনীকে লালন করছি তারা কিন্তু একবারও দেশ রক্ষার কাজে কোনভাবে নিয়োজিত হয়নি। সেটা ভালো। আমাদের শান্তি আছে সেটা ভাল। তবে বিশাল অঙ্ক কিন্তু এদের উপর ব্যয় করা হচ্ছে যেটা শিক্ষায় যেতে পারত, স্বাস্থ্যে যেতে পারত, অন্যান্য ধরনের উন্নয়নে যেতে পারত, সেটা হয়নি। এমনকি যে জায়গায় তাদের থেকে আমরা কিছু আশা করতে পারি আমাদের এই বর্ডারে যে বাঙালীদের পাখির মতো গুলি করা হচ্ছে, বিএসএফরা গুলি করছে সেখানে প্রতিবাদ করা, সেখানে তাদের অন্তত এই পরিস্থিতিতে বাঙালীদের, বাংলাদেশীদের বাঁচানো সেই কাজেও তারা কোন কিছু করেনি। তাদের একমাত্র কাজ শোষণ করা। এই শোষণ তো পাকিস্তানীরা আমাদের করেছে। আমাদের নিজেদের মিলিটারী আমাদের শোষণ করবে এটা আমরা হজম করব এটা হবে কেন? কিন্তু যে কথা আপনি বললেন, যখন যে সরকারই এসেছে এদেরকে তুষ্ট করাই ছিল তাদের প্রধান কাজ। এবং এটাও ভাবতে হবে যে আমাদের দেশের জাতির পিতাকে যারা হত্যা করেছে, জেনারেল জিয়াকে যারা হত্যা করেছে, আমাদের নেতাদের জেলে যারা হত্যা করেছে তারা কিন্তু এই দলেরই মানুষ।”
কিন্তু আমার উত্তর থেকে বিএসএফ এর সীমান্ত হত্যা ঠেকাতে না পারা এবং জাতির পিতা বঙ্গবন্ধু ও জাতীয় নেতাদের হত্যা বিষয়ক খুবই গুরুত্বপূর্ণ দুটি অংশ সম্পূর্ণরূপে বাদ দিয়ে তারা যেভাবে খন্ডিত আকারে আমার বক্তব্যটি প্রচার করছে তা নিম্নরূপ:
“আমাদের সামরিক বাহিনীর প্রয়োজন আছে কিনা সেটাই আমি প্রথমে প্রশ্ন করি। তেতাল্লিশ বছর ধরে আমরা যে সামরিক বাহিনীকে লালন করছি তারা কিন্তু একবারও দেশ রক্ষার কাজে কোনভাবে নিয়োজিত হয়নি। সেটা ভালো। আমাদের শান্তি আছে সেটা ভালো। তবে বিশাল অঙ্ক কিন্তু এদের উপর ব্যয় করা হচ্ছে যেটা শিক্ষায় যেতে পারত, স্বাস্থ্যে যেতে পারত, অন্যান্য ধরনের উন্নয়নে যেতে পারত, সেটা হয়নি। তাদের একমাত্র কাজ শোষণ করা। এই শোষণ তো পাকিস্তানিরা আমাদের করেছে। আমাদের নিজেদের মিলিটারি আমাদের শোষণ করবে এটা আমরা হজম করব এটা হবে কেন?”
এভাবে আমার প্রায় পুরো সাক্ষাতকারটাই বাদ দিয়ে মাঝখান থেকে একটি প্রশ্নকে বেছে নিয়ে তার উত্তরে আমি যা বলেছিলাম তারও গুরুত্বপূর্ণ দুইটি অংশ বাদ দিয়ে যেভাবে খন্ডিতভাবে আমার বক্তব্যকে উপস্থাপন করা হয়েছে তাতে বিভ্রান্তি তৈরি হতে পারে। আমার কাছে এটা বিস্ময়কর যে আওয়ামী লীগের একটি ফেসবুক পেইজ কি করে আমার উত্তর থেকে জাতির পিতা হত্যাকান্ডের মতো এতো গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটা অংশকে ছেঁটে ফেলল! আমি মনে করি সামগ্রিকতার আলোকে সামরিক বাহিনীসহ রাষ্ট্রের যেকোন প্রতিষ্ঠান নিয়েই গঠনমূলক সমালোচনা করা প্রতিটি নাগরিকের দায়িত্ব এবং জাতীয় স্বার্থেই সামরিক বাহিনী সহ প্রতিটি রাষ্ট্রীয় প্রতিষ্ঠানের উচিত এসব গঠনমূলক সমালোচনাকে নির্মোহভাবে বিচার-বিশ্লেষণ করা, আমলে নেয়া। সেই রাস্তা বন্ধ করাই বরং সামরিক বাহিনীসহ রাষ্ট্রীয় প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোকে জনগণের মুখোমুখি করার ষড়যন্ত্রের সামিল।
Romel Chakma, 20 year-old HSC examinee and student leader of Pahari Chatra Parishad,
was picked up by army personnel on April 5, 2017. Allegedly tortured, he died in hospital two weeks later.
Romel Chakma ? Photographer not known.
How does one restore dignity to the memory of a youth who was picked up and tortured, who died of torture, whose body was not handed over to family members for cremation, but burnt after pouring petrol and kerosene? Continue reading “ROMEL CHAKMA. PART-I: Is custodial killing heroic?”
Muktadir Rashid | Published: 00:23, Jun 24,2017 | Updated: 00:38, Jun 24,2017
The National Human Rights Commission has written to the defence ministry asking for a Bangladesh Army
explanation for the death of Romel Chakma as a commission investigation has observed that army personnel concerned cannot avoid the responsibility for the death.
Commission chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque told New Age on Friday that a full commission meeting analysed the investigation report and sent a copy of the report to the defence ministry asking for the explanation from the army in the past week.
?We did not get any version from army, so we wrote a letter to the defence ministry based on the recommendation made by the commission probe committee on the issue,? he said.
He said the commission found circumstantial evidences against perpetrators and wanted to know the army?s explanation.
Commission officials said that the commission received the copy of a letter of the defence ministry to the army headquarters seeking their explanation.
The three-member probe body headed by commission member Banchita Chakma, also former Rangamati College principal, submitted the report to the commission on June 11.
Banchita Chakma said that they submitted the report without any version from the army.
She said that the witness accounts suggested that the visually challenged ethnic minority youth was in the custody of the army when he died at Chittagong Medical College Hospital on April 20.
Physicians at the hospital in the medical report observed that Romel Chakma died from kidney infection.
Probe committee members said there were two reasons for kidney infections ? severe internal injuries caused by either torture or major accident.
?We believed Romel was tortured,? said a commission member.
The probe body recorded statements of 15 people including Romel?s family, local police and physicians to examine what happened to the youth but no version from army was available.
The probe concluded that the army in no way could avoid the responsibility for the death of Romel Chakma.
The committee included commission?s deputy director in Rangamati Gazi Md Salahuddin and executive magistrate Tapos Shil from Rangamati district administration.
Committee members said that had approached army zone commander at Nannerchar on May 24 during the inquiry but could got no response.
The field office of army told the probe committee that they would speak if their high ups allowed them to talk.
The probe committee recorded the statement from five police officials who narrated that Romel Chakma was brought to them in a critical condition and that was why the police did not receive him.
The police officials told the committee that Romel did not carry major mark of injuries but he was vomiting and the army personnel carrying him informed police that Romel met an accident.
It takes hardly 10 minutes from the police station to the nearby health complex.
The inquiry found that it took one hour and a half to take Romel Chakma from police station to the health complex. Romel was moved to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where he was admitted under security protection by army personnel.
?We have collected the documents from police station and the hospital,? said a probe body member.
Formed on April 24, the three-member probe body met with Romel?s family and local people at his village Purba Hatimara under Burighat union of Nannerchar on May 1.
On April 6, Romel?s father Binoy Kanti Chakma wrote to the commission chairman demanding justice for the ?inhuman torture? on his son by army personnel.
In a statement issued on April 24, commission Reazul termed it a serious violation of human rights to kill an innocent person in torture.
HSC examinee Romel, 20, was the general secretary of United Peoples? Democratic Front-backed Pahari Chhatra Parishad?s Nannerchar upazila unit.
He was allegedly picked up by local army personnel on April 5 and taken to police station in the evening.
The next morning, police and army personnel admitted him to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where he died on April 20.
Romel?s father alleged that they were barred from meeting him at the camp as well as at the hospital.
According to media reports, the Inter Services Public Relations alleged that Romel had masterminded the attack in which two buses were robbed and a truck was set on fire in the area on January 23.
Different rights groups, student bodies and UPDF demanded a judicial inquiry into the death terming the detention and torture unjust.
Absolutely stunning: Jess Worth. New Internationalist Magazine (Oxford)
We had a fabulous opening with moving recitation of Kabita Chakma’s poem “I will defy” by Aungmakhai Chak, Marium Rupa and Rahnuma Ahmed. Many of the warriors were present in person. We were sad to miss Saydia Gulrukh, but her presence was felt.
I will resist, I shall defy Will you do as you please? You turned my home into sand It was a forest where I stand You made daylight go dark Left it barren never a spark I will resist. I shall defy You strip me of my land On my women, your hand No longer shall I see No longer will I be Abandon, neglect, rage A throbbing womb, my stage I curl, I tear asunder Awake, I search, I wander I am who I am And I will resist I shall defy
Poem by Kabita Chakma
Translation by Shahidul Alam
Thanks to Arshad Jamal and Chris Riley for their support and Mohammad Mohsin Miah for helping with the printing. ASM Rezaur Rahman curated the show and the entire teams from Drik’s Publication, Gallery, Photography and Audio Visual Department as well as the volunteers from Pathshala did a wonderful job. We shall resist and we will continue to defy.
Absolutely stunning: Jess Worth. New Internationalist Magazine (Oxford)
They told me you were quiet. But I felt the rage in your silence. That when you spoke, they rose above themselves. But I felt their fear. That they held you amidst them. But I felt their loneliness. They pointed to the Koroi tree where you would all meet. The banyan tree under which you spoke. Ever so powerfully. They pointed to the mud floor, where you slept. I touched the mat that you had rested upon, and I knew I had found the vessel that must hold your image.
New settlements with glistening tin roofs dot the hillsides. According to Amnesty International as of June 2013 the Bangladeshi government had still not honored the terms of the peace accord nor addressed the Jumma peoples concerns over the return of their land. Amnesty estimate that there are currently 90,000 internally displaced Jumma families. Photo: Shahidul Alam/Drik/Majority World
They had tried to erase you, your people, your memory. They had torched your homes and when coercion failed, when you remained defiant, they took you away, in the dead of night. Abandoned typewriter in the room where Kalpana and her comrades used to meet. Photo: Shahidul Alam/Drik/Majority World
The leaves burned as the soldiers stood and watched. The same leaves they weave to make your mat. The same leaves I shall burn, to etch your image. Will the burning mat hold your pain? Will the charred leaves hold your anger? Will the image rising from the crisp ashen leaves reignite us? Will you return Kalpana? Pahari protestors could previously go to the GOC’s office to express their grievances. Today, in Khagrachori, they no longer have that access. Photo: Shahidul Alam/Drik/Majority World The Shapla Mor in Khagrachori was also a centre of protest. Pahari protesters are no longer allowed there, though Bangali settlers have access, says Kabita Chakma, former president of the Hill Women’s Federation. Photo: Shahidul Alam/Drik/Majority World
For nineteen years I have waited, my unseen sister. For nineteen years they have waited, your warriors. Pahari, Bangali, men, women, young old. Was it what you said? What you stood for? Was it because you could see beyond the land, and language, the shape of one?s eyes and see what it meant to be a citizen of a free nation? For pahari, bangali, bihari, man, woman, hijra, rich, poor, destitute, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, Animist. Posters in the meeting room where Kalpana and her comrades used to gather. Khagrachori. CHT. Photo: Shahidul Alam/Drik/Majority World
You had reminded us that a nation that fought oppression, could not rule by oppressing. That a people that fought for a language, could not triumph by suppressing another?s. That the martyrs who died, so we might be free, did not shed their blood, so we could become tyrants. That we who overcame the bullets and bayonets of soldiers, must never again be ruled through the barrel of a gun.
That Kalpana is what binds us. That is why Kalpana, you are not a pahari, or a woman or a chakma or a buddhist, but each one of us. For there can be no freedom that is built on the pain of the other. No friendship that relies on fear. No peace at the muzzle of a gun.
These Kalpana are your warriors. They have engaged in different ways, at different levels, sometimes with different beliefs. Some have stayed with you from the beginning. Others have drifted. They have not always shared political beliefs. But for you Kalpana, my unseen sister, they fight as one.
The Process
The process involved in creating these images are rooted to the everyday realities of the hill people, the paharis. Repeatedly, the interviewees talked of the bareness of Kalpana?s home. That there was no furniture, that Kalpana slept on the floor on a straw mat.
Rather than print on conventional photographic media, we decided we would use material that was part of pahari daily lives. The straw mat became our canvas. The fire that had been used to raze pahari homes, also needed to be represented, so a laser beam was used to burn the straw, etching with flames, the images of rebellion.
It was the politics of this interaction that determined the physicality of the process. The laser beam consisted of a binary pulse. A binary present on our politics. In order to render the image, the image had to be converted in various ways. From RGB to Greyscale to Bitmap, from 16 bit to 8 bit to 1 bit. To keep detail in the skin tone despite the high contrast, the red channel needed to be enhanced. The Resolution and intensity and duration of the laser beam needed to be brought down to levels that resulted in the straw being selectively charred but not burnt to cinders.
A screen ruling that separated charred pixels while maintaining gradation had to be carefully selected. And then, working backwards, a lighting mechanism needed to be found that broke up the image into a discrete grid of light and dark tones, providing the contrast, the segmentation and the gradation, necessary to simulate the entire range of tones one expects in a fine print. This combination of lighting, digital rendering, printing technique and choice of medium, has led to the unique one off prints you see in this exhibition. A tribute to a unique woman that had walked among us.
?I think it is natural to expect the caged bird to be angry at those who imprisoned her. But if she understands that she has been imprisoned and that the cage is not her rightful place, then she has every right to claim the freedom of the skies!” Kalpana Chakma Dress belonging to Kalpana Chakma. Photo: Shahidul Alam/Drik/Majority World
Eighteen. The legal age to vote.?The age of sexual consent. The threshold of adulthood when one ceases to be a child. Eighteen. The sections of the?Mahabharata. Eighteen armies fighting over eighteen days. Eighteen, the number of years we have waited for justice. Eighteen years that you have been gone Kalpana, my sister. Continue reading “Eighteen”
There are stories in fragments, but more a gallery of portraits and human conditions. It is a photographic story that brings us very close to the smells, the colors and the efforts of a people living in extreme conditions.
Prologue
EVEN THOUGH I was dying to, pressing work — to do with other activist engagements, the Tazreen factory fire, communal attacks in Ramu — forced me to stay away the first few days from the youth uprising which began at Shahbagh on February 5. The spontaneous sit-in, rapidly gathered into its fold hundreds of thousands of people who, driven by a deep sense of injustice, have felt compelled to go to Shahbagh to ‘right’ the wrongs of history committed in post-independence Bangladesh: war collaborators of 1971 have not only been unpunished in the ensuing four decades but have been reinstated politically, financially and socially at the national level. Continue reading “YOUTH UPRISING AT SHAHBAGH”
