BLACK NIGHT 1971 Bangladesh

By Monirul Alam

The black night of March 25, 1971 when the Pakistani occupation forces kicked off one of the worst genocides in history that led to a nine-month war for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.
On this black night in the nation?s history, the Pakistani military rulers launched ?Operation Searchlight?, killing some thousand people in that night?s crackdown alone.?As part of the operation, tanks rolled out of Dhaka cantonment and a sleeping city woke up to the rattles of gunfire as the Pakistan army attacked the halls at Dhaka University, the then East Pakistan Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh) headquarters and Rajarbagh Police Lines, killing the several thousand unarmed Bengalis on the single night. The planned and designated centres of offensive operations under that plan were Dhaka, Khulna, Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Saidpur and Sylhet? areas, where West Pakistani army units were concentrated. Continue reading “BLACK NIGHT 1971 Bangladesh”

Dawn-to-Dusk Opposition Strike

Photos by Monirul Alam, text by bdnews24.com

The opposition enforced countrywide shutdown protesting against the latest hike in fuel oil prices began on Sunday amidst tight security necessiated by incidents of explosions and vandalism yesterday evening.

BNP supported lawyers shout slogan during the dawn to dusk strike in Old Dhaka on Sunday. The Bangladesh National Party BNP and its 18 party alliance enforced a countrywide dawn to dusk shutdown protesting against the latest hike in fuel oil prices January 06 2013/ Dhaka, Bangladesh- ? Monirul Alam
BNP supported lawyers shout slogan during the dawn to dusk strike in Old Dhaka on Sunday. The Bangladesh National Party BNP and its 18 party alliance enforced a countrywide dawn to dusk shutdown protesting against the latest hike in fuel oil prices January 06 2013/ Dhaka, Bangladesh- ? Monirul Alam

The government on Thursday increased prices of octane, diesel, petrol and kerosene for the fifth time in four years, despite a threat by the opposition alliance to enforce a strike within a day of the hike.
A Bangladeshi  policeman fires a rubber bullet to disperse the procession during the dawn to dusk strike in Old Dhaka on Sunday. The Bangladesh National Party BNP and its 18 party alliance enforced a countrywide dawn to dusk shutdown protesting against the latest hike in fuel oil prices January 06 2013/ Dhaka, Bangladesh ? Monirul Alam
A Bangladeshi policeman ?in Old Dhaka fires a rubber bullet to disperse the procession during the dawn to dusk strike on Sunday. The Bangladesh National Party BNP and its 18 party alliance enforced a countrywide dawn to dusk shutdown protesting against the latest hike in fuel oil prices January 06 2013/ Dhaka, Bangladesh ? Monirul Alam

Incidentally, the shutdown has come on a day when the ruling Awami League led coalition completes four years in office.
A Bangladeshi  polices carries a water drum to  try to remove  fires on the burning car during
Bangladeshi policemen carry a water drum to try to quench the fire on a burning car during the dawn to dusk hartal enforced by the opposition 18 party alliance on Sunday. January 6 2013. Dhaka Bangladesh. ? Monirul Alam

Protest against hike in energy prices

By Monirul Alam/The Daily Prothom Alo
Text: bdnews24.com
Police on Sunday foiled an attempt by the demonstrators of various left organisations to besiege the Ministry of Energy in protest against the hike in energy prices.
Witnesses said at least three activists were injured when police charged batons at them.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) and Gonotantrik Baam Morcha activists attempted to march towards the ministry from the Press Club area at around 11am, but the police blocked the roads by placing barricades at the secretariat-press club link road.
Protestors attempted to break through but the police charged batons and lobbed tear gas shells to dispersed them.

DEC 30 2012 Dhaka.Bangladesh.The left-leaning parties Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) marching towards the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Sunday Dhaka to protest against the plans to hike energy prices. At least 10 activists were injured during a clash with police. ? Monirul Alam
The left-leaning parties Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) marched towards the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Sunday Dhaka to protest against the plans to hike energy prices. At least 10 activists were injured during clashes with police. 30th December 2012. Dhaka. Bangladesh ? Monirul Alam

An activist show their party flag and poster in front of press club.  The left-leaning parties Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) marching towards the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Sunday Dhaka to protest against the plans to hike energy prices. At least 10 activists were injured during a clash with police. 30th December 2012 Dhaka.Bangladesh.  ? Monirul Alam
An activist shows the party flag and poster in front of press club. The left-leaning parties Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) marched towards the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Sunday Dhaka to protest against the plans to hike energy prices. At least 10 activists were injured during clashes with police. 30th December 2012 Dhaka.Bangladesh. ? Monirul Alam
Continue reading “Protest against hike in energy prices”

Sectarian Unrest in Burma

Pathshala alumni, K M Asad, Monirul Alam and Andrew Biraj, covering Rohingya exodus to Bangladesh.

Read more:?http://world.time.com/2012/06/11/sectarian-unrest-in-burma/?xid=rss-photoessays#rohingya-refugees-from-myanmar-sit-on-a-boat-as-they-try-to-get-into-bangladesh-in-teknaf#ixzz1xgxD1VUL
Photos by K M Asad

Rohingya Muslims gesture as they try to cross the Naf river in Teknaf on June 11, 2012. Bangladesh border guards and coastguard patrol teams pushed back eight boats carrying more than 300 Rohingya Muslims, mostly women and children, fleeing religious violence in Myanmar, a border guard said. Bangladesh has stepped up security along the border with Myanmar and in refugee camps where tens of thousands of Rohingya live, after a surge in sectarian unrest in Myanmar. Photo: K M Asad

Rohingya Muslims fleeing sectarian violence try to cross the Naf river into Bangladesh in Teknaf on June 11, 2012. Bangladesh border guards and coastguard patrol teams pushed back eight boats carrying more than 300 Rohingya Muslims, mostly women and children, fleeing religious violence in Myanmar, a border guard said. Bangladesh has stepped up security along the border with Myanmar and in refugee camps where tens of thousands of Rohingya live. Photo: K M Asad

 
Bangladesh border guards (L) push back Rohingya Muslims as they try to cross the Naf river into Bangladesh in Teknaf on June 11, 2012. Bangladesh border guards and coastguard patrol teams pushed back eight boats carrying more than 300 Rohingya Muslims, mostly women and children, fleeing religious violence in Myanmar, a border guard said. Bangladesh has stepped up security along the border with Myanmar and in refugee camps where tens of thousands of Rohingya live. Photo: K M Asad