Dear Friends:

Two exhibitions of fashion wares are marking the end of 1999 and the
advent of the millenium year 2000 this ramadan at Drik Gallery.

Kainat's dress carnival presents lots of sarees, salwars, punjabis and
kids' wares while each piece is the one of a single kind. Designer
Amirul Hassan Masud is experimenting with composition and colour. From
28th to 31st December everyday Kainat's exhibition will remain open from
10am in the morning up to 8pm in the evening for visitors.

And with the end of the Kainat's carnival, from the 1st day of 2000
Karna Subarna is holding a five-day exposition of Farzana Ripa's
relentless efforts in combinations and juxtaposition of colours, fabrics
and mosaics' galore. Our renowned artist Hashem Khan will grace the
opening at 3pm on the 1st January as the chief guest.

It will be a rare opportunity of days-long extravaganza of two designers
presenting their best products for the eid-shoppers.

Unlike other exhibitions at Drik gallery, the exhibitions will remain
open from 10am in the morning up to 8pm in the evening for the visitors.

You, your friends and relatives are most welcome.

Thank you, Mayeen.


--
S. M. Mayeen Ahmed
In-charge, Drik Gallery and Exhibitions, DRIK
House 58, Road 15A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, BANGLADESH
Tel.: (880 2) 912 0125, 812 3412, 811 2954;   Fax: (880 2) 911 5044
URL: http://www.drik.net        or      http://www.drik.org

Dear Subscribers,

In keeping with subscribers' preference, we will keep the number of
messages as few as possible. Following are two messages introducing two of
our subscribers. We will be slowly releasing other pending messages that
are consistent with Shetubondhon Policy. Based on our subscribers' popular
demand, and with cooperation from all of our valuable subscribers, this
forum is committed to be a Distinctive Forum by attracting EXCLUSIVE and
PERTINENT contributions that you might not find anywhere else. Of course,
all of you as subscribers have a role to play toward shaping that
distinctiveness.

Shetubondhon Moderation


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 02:04:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Mohammad Ishaque Meah <heron786@...>
Subject: Re: [Shetubondhon] Subscribers: Please Introduce Yourselves!
To: Shetubondhon@onelist.com

Hi Everybody,

Assalamu Alaikum,

I am Mohammad Ishaque Meah from Chittagong,Bangladesh. My home district is
in Chauddagram,Comilla. I Completed M.S.S(Sociology) from Chittagong
University. I also completed Computer Programming course & at present
working as a Programmer in Global Information Network(BD) Ltd. in
Chittagong.

My hobbies are Programming, Travelling, Internet browsing & make new
freind world wide.

Thanking everybody. Have a nice day.

(Ishaque)

* * * * * * * Shetubondhon welcomes Mr. Ishaque * * * * * * *

Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 20:17:38 +0400
From: Ehsan <engehsan@...>
Subject: Subscribers: Please Introduce Yourselve
To: "Shetubondhon@onelist.com" <Shetubondhon@onelist.com>

Dear friends,

It's a nice idea from Shetubondhon. We can start by introducing each
other. Let me introduce first.

I am Saikh Ehsan Ul Shahid, DOB 19/06/71,Khulna Bangladesh. B.Sc. in
Engineering in Electrical & Electronic. Data & Network Engineer in
Emirates Telecom,UAE.
I like to travel & gossip.
I would like to see Shetubondhon different with other forum in
presentation and information.
I wish everybody a happy and healthy life in the new millennium.

Ehsan

* * * * * * * Shetubondhon welcomes Mr. Ehsan * * * * * * *





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Dear Subscribers,

Greetings.

As part of the new Millenium coverage, Voice of America's Bangla program is
continuing its several special broadcasts. During its December 28 (Tuesday)
broadcast that would be heard in the EVENING in Bangladesh you can
also hear, among others, a commentary of Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq on
economic issues and problems.

Our subscribers in Bangladesh, India or those who are generally able to
listen to the regular VOA broadcast should be able to listen to this as
well. Unfortunately, VOA does not have online audio of the hour-long
evening program. Thus, this evening segment won't be available online.
Regardless,VOA's online files are available at
http://www.voa.gov/bangla/index.html .

Shetubondhon Management

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Dear Subscribers,

Greetings.

Road for new initiatives is often bumpy, but we
didn't expect it to be this bumpy. You probably
received too many messages already - much more
than it should have been.

Apparently, some technical glitches combined with
apparent attempt to sabotage this new initiative
have created some difficulty that we are looking
into to resolve. Therefore, you might not receive
any messages for probably a day or longer.

Also, we urge our subscribers to read our policy
guideline thoroughly and carefully before posting
any message. With our commitment to and respect
for the subscribers' interest and time-
constraint, we would like you to note the
following:

1. ONLY THOSE POSTINGS MEETING POLICY GUIDELINE
WILL BE APPROVED FOR POSTING. Please keep in mind
the relevance to the mission of this forum,
quality, and the tone of posting when submitting
any message. We are trying to build an atmosphere
and culture of building bridges. There are
several major general-purpose Bangladeshi forums.

2. This forum expects to post messages that are
primarily EXCLUSIVE to this forum. Therefore,
subscribers should not post, other than in
exceptional cases, to this forum what they intend
to post in other similar forums as well.

It might not be easy, but Shetubondhon is
committed to be a distinctive forum, and our
subscribers are also expected to be a distinctive
body, which is possible only with your
cooperation and participation.

Shetubondhon Management


______________________________________________________
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Dear Friends,

Since becoming a 'subscriber' to Shetubondhon the sheer volume of my e-mailhas
increased dramatically. So much so that the 'TIME' required to read allis just
not there. It is normal for a person living abroad to go overboard with his her
expressions. That is nice but any 'MESSAGES' gets overlooked. Ramadan teaches us
restaints - how about applying that to our postings folks

Regards

Hazra Awal. C.Eng., MIEE
Cambridge, UK

Friends,

I fully endorse Dr. Mizanur Rahman's e-mail and urge everyone to stop
discussing/pondering why yet another discussion group on Bangladesh. I
suspect most of us are not reading many of these mails, and our collective
efforts in deleting these mails are wasteful use of our time.

I have been personally happy to see how we have matured with successive
launching of discussion groups, and I am hopeful that fair competition will
promote creativity and continual changes to meet new needs and challenges.
Fair competition will generate benefits for all of us, including for the
people behind the existing discussion groups even though they may rightly
dislike the launching of a competition now.

I salute initiators of all discussion groups and wish them success. Their
dedications and hard works are a source of hope for me and I hope for others
too. Creating and managing a discussion group involves hard work and
sacrifices, but I also know it provides personal satisfaction and
professional growth for those involved. I trust that through healthy
competitions, each group will find its niche and that niche is likely to be
reader-driven within the broad objectives of the group. So, let us stop
worrying about why yet one more discussion group! Passive participants like
myself must be patient and let each discussion group management continue its
behind-the-scenes hard work.

I have one concern for the present though, although I believe it is solvable
in some distance future. There are certain messages one thinks is of
interest to all people of Bangladeshi origin and is often mailed to all
discussion groups. I have made such multiple submissions and I know others
have too. The problem is that a large number us receive the same mail
several times. Perhaps the esteemed management of the three discussion
groups can put together their creative heads and come up with a solution to
alleviate the problem of multiple mail recipients?

I wish you all well, and the very best in your endeavors!

Badrul Haque
Potomac, Maryland



>From: "Shaikh Mizanur Rahman" <srahman@...>
>Reply-To: alochona@egroups.com
>To: alochona@egroups.com
>Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: Multiple Forums-What's going on?
>Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 00:02:23 EST
>
>Dear Friends,
>
>
>I would first sympathize and empathize with those who are in pain and
>disturbance  by the repeated division and redivision among ourselves.
>I am further shocked by the recent development of  intense
>allegations and counter allegations in an open forum.
>
>I humbly think that the subscribers are not really interested in
>following the allegations and counter allegations of personal nature.
>  I am afraid, subscribers are neither in a position to judge such
>allegations, nor have time or willingness to do it.  Therefore, I
>would request all the parties to freeze the matter, forget and be
>forgiving to each other.  Otherwise we would harm none but ourselves.
>
>Although, I tried my best to mediate between contending
>personalities and groups among these three forums, but could not
>succeed.  Yet, I have complete faith on all of them that they
>all are committed to do some good to Bangladesh within their
>capacities.  I also believe that they all are completely honest in
>their promise and attempts to provide the best service to the
>community.
>
>Moreover, the division has it's good side too.  I think, it would be
>at our best interest if they could compete with each other in a
>constructive way to provide better and better service.  As Mr. Mahmud
>Farooque has explained eloquently in his mail - at this fluid stage
>of our development it is quite expected to have multiple foci of
>activities.
>
>Friends, let us welcome all such groups; urge them to stop throwing
>allegations, counter allegations or publication of such matters, and
>concentrate on the development of their service to the community.
>
>Thanks
>
>Most sincerely
>
>Shaikh Mizan
>Athens, Georgia
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information
>contained in this message]
>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com
>
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>
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>http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications
>
>

An attachment is here with this letter what  describes  something   about
me.

Obaidul  Karim,PhD
Associate  Professor of Sociology
University of Chittagong
Chittagong-4331
Bangladesh
Phone:880-31-630416
E-Mail:<okarim@...>
            <okarim@...>

Note: This is a multi-part series over the current
state of economic maangement of Bangladesh.  The
information here is from US Department of Energy
**************************************************

GENERAL BACKGROUND
---------------------
Bangladesh has received more than $30 billion in grant
aid and loan commitments from foreign donors(including
the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the U.N.
Development Program, the United States, Japan, Saudi
Arabia, and Western Europe) since its independence in
1971, but remains one of the poorest and most densely
populated countries in the world. Bangladesh
historically has run a large trade deficit, which it
finances largely through foreign aid and remittances
from Bangladeshi workers abroad. Bangladesh is
primarily agricultural (around 64% of the labor force
and 32% of the Gross Domestic Product -- GDP),
although urbanization is proceeding rapidly.
Bangladesh has moved increasingly towards a
market-oriented economy since the mid-1970s, although
the majority of enterprises remain under state
control. The government of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, elected in June 1996, has indicated that it
will continue along a path towards privatization and
free market reforms, although progress remains slow
for a variety of reasons. Bangladesh is attempting to
attract foreign investment, and has established export
processing zones in Chittagong (the country's major
port) and Dhaka (the capital), with plans for more
such zones. In 1997, foreign investment jumped tenfold
from 1996 levels, reaching $3.3 billion. Most of this
investment came in the natural gas,electricity, and
physical infrastructure areas. Bangladesh also is
attempting to diversify its economy away from
agricultural, and has made industrial development a
priority. Currently, production and exports of cotton
textiles and garments are booming.

(To be Continued)
__________________________________________________
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From Kamala Das to Dashi: Doing the right thing for wrong reasons?

Once more, a high profile and controversial individual - this time from
Indian-Hindu background - has embraced Islam. I saw several gleeful postings
on the internet circulating this news. She, apparently as a result of her
search, has turned toward what she now
believes to be the truth. Kamala Das was my sister-in-humanity (as I believe
Adam and Eve to be our parents, and if anyone doesn't believe in that,
that's alright too). Kamala Das is now my sister-in-faith too. However, I
can't help but also take notice of some of my wandering thought as I slowly
absorbed the news. At least for some time, I would struggle with those
thoughts, while some Muslims might celebrate. Reading her interview given to
the Times of India, http://www.timesofindia.com/151299/15home4.htm
honestly speaking, I am NOT sure that her reasons to
join the fold of Islam as well as the way she has expressed those reasons
makes me at all comfortable.

First, in response to a question as to why did she decide to embrace Islam,
she commented: "I liked the purdah which Muslim women wore. I liked the
orthodox lifestyle of Muslim women." I am not sure what does she mean by the
"orthodox lifestyle of Muslim women". I am also not sure what she meant by
"purdah", though it seems to suggest some kind of attire like "Burqa". If
she meant the Islamic guidelines for dress for women (and there is also for
men), then I find it somewhat awkward that a learned person like herself
would describe it in this way. In Islam there is guidance for dress for
women (and men), but there is no specific style such as Burqa of our
subcontinent, Chador of Iran (and a good part of Iraq), or any special
full-length dress on top of dress that already covers a woman's body.
Incidentally, there is NO restriction in Islam that a woman can/should only
wear dresses that are black or mono color. Also, one does not need to become
a Muslim for this as the primary reason as there is no Islamic law that
non-Muslims cannot wear dresses that are outwardly commonly worn by Muslims.

Secondly, she said: "A woman in purdah is respected. No one touches you or
teases you if you wear one. You get total protection." It may be generally
true that women with dignified attire (or attires that do not naturally
attract attention or entice or provoke indecent thoughts and feelings) are
often better treated.  [Digression: Does this mean that even bad people have
discriminating taste?] However, her statement "You get total protection" may
be simply overstretched or misinformed and can create false sense of
protection as our own people in the streets of our countries are cherishing
an environment of dignity and security.

Thirdly, the part of her interview that made me most uncomfortable was (all
emphasis mine): "I don't want freedom. ...  Freedom had become a burden for
me. I want guidelines to regulate and discipline my life. I want a master to
protect me. I wanted protection and not freedom. I want to be subservient to
Allah."  If she meant the trend of the broken foundation of family as the
central social unit, which is under an unprecedented onslaught in our
contemporary time, and our temptation and quest for absolute and unbridled
freedom are partly responsible for it, then I can understand what she is
trying to say, but that message could/should have been delivered
differently.

Several aspects of the above statement deserve further elaboration. Even
though Muslims are commonly used to identify Islam with the five pillars of
Islam based on a prophetic narration, apparently there is a great deal of
misunderstanding about the true nature of these pillars. The very first
pillar of Islam is Shahadah: a person affirming that there is no Ilah
(worthy of worship, obedience, and service) except Allah and Muhammad is His
messenger. However, "freedom to choose" is the first and foremost underlying
precondition of that Shahadah. Neither Muslims can take away others'
"freedom to choose" in regard to their faith, nor would they themselves be
held accountable for not proclaiming or practicing Islam under duress or
coercion. This should not be difficult to understand: Islam does not make
common sense "obligatory", rather it assumes that as human beings we have
and we use it. Misunderstanding this aspect by Muslims themselves has caused
so much of our misery and deviation from the essence and spirit of Islam.

In some respect I can understand her reaction as a reaction to the
extremities in our life and experience. I recall the statement made by the
editor of one of the leading Muslim monthly magazines in the U.S. not too
long ago. He found the Taliban extremism in Afghanistan reaching all the way
to the requirement of males keeping their beards so horrendous and repulsive
that he wanted to make a new type of editorial statement: besides writing
about it, he shaved off his long-nourished and nurtured beard in protest.
Many traditional Muslims misunderstood him, but in his view sometimes
extremism needs extreme statement. I don't know whether my respected
sister's statement should be understood in such perspective or not, but at
this crucial juncture of human history when appreciation of human freedom is
so fundamentally recognized and we the Muslims are trying to understand and
appreciate it again - for us and for others, the choice of expressions by
her definitely does not represent the ethos of Islam, and can be
misunderstood by so many others.

Even more disturbing to me was her statement (I presume the interview was in
English, and thus the words are her own choice): "I want a master to protect
me. I wanted protection and not freedom." If she made this statement
verbatim, then this does represent a serious misunderstanding of Islam.
Islam's first and foremost message is freedom. Islam, when properly
practiced and institutionalized, also brings protection not just to women,
but also to men. However, that does not have to be, and must not be, at the
expense of freedom. Furthermore, if the master is meant to be the husband,
then I am afraid in Islam there is no such concept. Here are some sample
statements from the Qur'an and the Sunnah for us to ponder.

"... They (wives) are your garments (cover) and you are their garments
(cover) ..." [Qur'an/2/al-Baqarah/187]

"The believers, men and women, are protectors (Awliya: meaning protector,
guardian, caretaker, friend; not masters) one of another. ..."
[Qur'an/9/at-Taubah/71]

The Prophet (s) said: "... Surely women are the twins of men." [Sunan Abu
Dawood, Vol. 1, #236]

The way my respected sister has expressed herself, I would not be surprised
if many think that a Das (servant) has become Dashi (maidservant), merely to
make her last name gender-correct (that is, a female can never be a Das). If
her expressions also reflect her understanding, then at least to me, this is
a case of "doing the right thing for wrong reasons." As a fellow brother, I
urge her not to think about her entry into the fold of Islam as a Dashi, but
as a queen in the hearts of her brothers and sisters like me, and in another
heart, if any, where she would be enthroned as a genuine and one and only
queen. Let the kings kiss her feet, and be her Das; please, my sister, don't
seek any master. As Kazi Nazrul Islam, the Rebel poet, said:

"While king rules the kingdom
And queen rules the king,
The misery and sadness go away
Joy and happiness her grace does bring."

[Read the full poem "Nari" (Woman; my amateur English translation) at
http://www.globalfront.com/nazrul/nazrul_works/farooq_trans/t_naz_woman.htm

Indeed, people turn to (or away from) Islam, or stays with (or departs from)
Islam for many reasons: most often, of course, the reason is cultural
inheritance through parental background. Thus, some might take issue with my
bringing up the issue of right or wrong reason. However, Muslims and
non-Muslims need to know that the foundation of Makkah (Mecca), a city
considered by Muslims as the center of Tawhidi (monotheistic) heritage, was
founded by a lone woman without human protection. [See my article, Hajj and
the Neglected Legacy of a Great Woman;
http://www.globalfront.com/farooqm/islamic/hajera.html ]

As I believe in Islam and a good portion of humanity also does, my biased
stance on this event of her change of fold  is my feeling of gratification
for our conjoining under the same fold. However, I can't help but grapple
with the fact that parallel to the entry of this well-known Kamala Das -
seeking master for protection and presenting herself as Dashi, we have to
remember how many Kamala from our own fold we are losing day-by-day who do
not make news or our internet discussions, nor do we really care to study
and understand why there might be even an exodus of them due to "lack" of
freedom. Furthermore, all those other Kamalas who might have been inspired
by her would misunderstand her, and say, well thank God, that I am not a
Muslim, or that Islam is not for me.

If this message somehow reaches my respected sister - in humanity and in
faith - would she please share her thought on the aspects discussed here?

Mohammad Omar Farooq, PhD
Upper Iowa University

Was it that important for all of us to know?
---
Shah S Rashid
srashid@...
515-292-4299 (home), 515-294-8270 (office)
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~srashid/

Hi everybody,
I was monitoring and receiving some mails related to the formation of
new egroup called SHETUBONDHON.It seems to me that some members they
don't like to accept another new forum.
In my opinion if anybody like to open a forum in the net he can do.No
body can oppose it.
We have to welcome all new comer.May be we will get some thing new from
that new forum.So we should always welcome rather opposing.If any one
don't like let them out from the competition.

I, Myself welcome the SHETUBODHON and hope it will give us a new idea to
rebuild a new Bangladesh.
Thanks All AND RAMADAN Mubarak

Engr.EHSAN
Emirates Internet
U.A.E.

(Shetubondhon management appreciates Engr. Ehsan's welcoming note.  Management
also commits to do everything possible in creating a conducive environment that
would help rebuild a new Bangladesh)

Dear Setubandhan Bondhura:

Thanks a lot for giving us an opportunity to
read the story by Sarkar Kabiruddin. I personally
was a bit nostalgic when I saw his e-mail. He used
to read National News st BTV decades ago while
I was in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Time again warm and heartful congratulation to
Setubandhan Management for starting a new discussion
group.

I will try my best to be a  regular contributor to
this group.



------------
Sohail Ahmad
Durham New Hampshire
USA

(Shetubondhon management apprecaites Mr. Ahmad's congratulatory note and wishes
to develop a long lasting relationship that would be valuable to achieving our
stated targets of Shetubondhon)

--- Shetubondhon Admin <admin@...> wrote:
> <Shetubondhon management is pleased to express their
> gratitude to Mr. Kabir for his invaluable words of
> wisdom to Shetubondhon.>
>
> Assalamu alaikum.
>
> Occasionally I write in Bangla. Recently, one such
> writing was published in
> Weekly Thikana. I was deeply gratified by Dr.
> Farooq's rendering of the
> story in English.
>
> I also had the opportunity to learn about the new
> initiative and forum
> called Shetubondhon. Both due to time constraint as
> well as my fear of
> getting lost on the vast, unknown frontier of
> Cyberspace, I am not yet
> quite internet saavy. But reading information about
> Shetubondhon, I
> would like to say that we do need a new culture and
> spirit of Shetubondhon,
> particularly in the context of our beloved
> motherland, Bangladesh.
>
> Even though I might not be able to be a participant
> on this forum on a
> regular basis, I do wish the very best to this new
> initiative. Since the
> devastation of our infrastructures in 1971 we have
> already rebuilt as well
> newly built so many bridges on our rivers. I believe
> it's high time that we
> begin to build some new bridges - begin the work of
> Shetubondhon - of our
> HEARTS and MINDSs.
>
> If this new initiative or forum is even modestly
> successful in raising
> awareness about the need of this bridge-building, it
> would be an excellent
> contribution. Let me conclude by saying that the
> idea of Shetubondhon
> already has struck the chord of my heart. May it now
> continue to play the
> tune and bridge at least some of our gaps.
>
> By the way, full-audio file of VOA's Bangla
> broadcast is now available at
> http://www.voa.gov/bangla/index.html .
>
> Sarkar Kabiruddin
> VOA

THANKS MR.SARKAR KABIRUDDIN AND SHETUBONDHON....

DR.LIAQUAT ALI M.D.
E-MAIL:khokona2@...
>

__________________________________________________
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My fellow Shetubondhon subscribers,

Please accept my heartiest shubhechcha (greetings).

Before coming to the U.S. recently, while in Bangladesh, I
was privileged to have close interaction with a leading
literary organization "Bishwa Shahitto Kendra", where its
program gave many of us significant exposure to many
notable literary figures of the world and in various
languages, including Tagore, one of Nobel Laureates in
literature. He is also so close to us through the national
anthem of Bangladesh.

As a poet, author, and thinker, I have always found him so
close to my heart. Recently, I am becoming more exposed to
one of his closest devotees, none other than our national
poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. He is a poet/literary icon on his
own right, but I was not aware that he has written so many
poems as dedications to Tagore. Just as Tagore was so
affectionate to Nazrul (in Tagore's words, Khaypa), Nazrul
has always acknowedged Tagore as his poet-master. I was
truly impressed by the close relationship they enjoyed. I
say this because their relationship could be a model for
us - those who value bridge-building.

I was recently honored to be invited to add one of my
amateur recitations to a Nazrul site. The recitation of the
poem that was added to the Nazrul Audio Collection was
titled "Kishor Rabi" (Young Rabindranath). You may listen
to it at the following location:
http://members.xoom.com/farooqmo/recitations/kishor_rabi.ram
  .

Once again, it's my pleasure to be invited and to be a part
of this new effort of bridge-building (shetubondhon).

Regards.

Md. Manzoor Murshed
Assistant Professor of MIS, UIU
murshedm@...

P.S : Anyone on this list with former involvement
with "Bishwa Shahitto Kendra"?



______________________________________________________
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Dear subscribers,

Greetings.

An essential ingredient of any shetubondhon is first to know each other.
The spirit that has brought us together to build a new bond now
necessitates that we introduce ourselves to each other.

Shetubondhon Management already  has its website providing skeletal
information about its constituent members. Soon more detailed
information about the team would be added.

In the mean time, subscribers might like to know each other better.
While introducing yourself, you might like to consider the following
guideline, although you do not have to follow the numbered sequence or answer
all of the following.

1. Be brief.
2. Provide your educational background (what/where did you study?)
3. Occupation/profession
4. Research interest, if any.
5. Affiliation with major organizations/associations
6. Your hobbies
7. Ideas/goals that are important to you.
8. Any suggestion to Shetubondhon
9. Can you (would you) like to help Shetubondhon in any specific way?
10. And, of course, anything else you would like to add to help others to
know or remember you better.

By the way, not to fill up Shetubondhon archive with hundreds of
introduction, we may later decide to move the introduction comments to a
separate public archive of Shetubondhon.

Shetubondhon Management

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BIJOY - part II

Sarkar Kabiruddin (Voice of America)

Translated by: Mohammad Omar Farooq

(Translator's note: The original story in Bangla was very recenlty published on
the occasion of Bijoy Dibosh - Victory Day - in a weekly magazine from NY.
Readers should understand that I have merely tried to convey the ideas of the
author in English. I have not tried to capture the author's writing style. The
translation has been reviewed by the author. Also, I must acknowledge my
limitation in terms of literary style and experience in English language to
retain the excellence of the original.]

Before Rumni had the chance to realize when she became pregnant, the tragic
night descended upon her life like the black hawk. Khosru was out in an
expedition early at night with several other freedom fighters. Around dawn
five of them returned carrying two wounded comrades on their shoulders.
Khosru, along with five other freedom fighters, could not be found - not
that day or ever. Some claimed that Pak soldiers captured them; others
reported that they have become martyrs while fighting. Rumni herself
searched for so long - in ditches full of corpses, in piles of blood-stained
clothes - if there would be any trace of Khosru. But never! Ignoring the
advice of others she even crossed the border in search of him in camps of
Pak solders.

The lone odyssey of Rumni began since that time. On 16th December Rumni
followed the freedom fighters and Indian soldiers to Dhaka. At that time her
pregnancy was in eighth month. It wasn't clear whether due to the exhaustion
of journey or the overpowering ecstasy, she prematurely delivered a boy in a
hospital in Dhaka on 16th December. Rumni named him Bijoy.

Omar and Jotsna heard this news after returing to independent Bangladesh - a
journey that took them from Karachi through the whole Afghanistan. Khosru's
father was killed in the hands of his dear Pak soldiers due to his failure
of taking care of the freedom fighters as expected. They suspected him that
he might have been cooperating with the freedom fighters due to his weakness
toward his son who joined the liberation war. Who knows, their suspicion
might have been right!

No one of Khosru's family recognized and accepted Rumni or Bijoy in their
family. Later, upon encouragement of Jotsna, Bijoy was enrolled in
Scholastica. Bijoy used to commute to school with them, back and forth. Omar
and Jotsna did not have any children. So their hands were free. They wanted
to raise Bijoy like their own son. However, stubborn and independent Rumni
did not allow even them to do too much. Omar and Jotsna migrated to America
in 1983. Five years later, while bed-ridden due to illness, Rumni wrote
letter to Omar and Jotsna, pleading to bring Bijoy somehow to them. "Who
else do I have to care about? I won't be able to forgive myself, if Bijoy
does not grow up well as a human being. Please do not disregard my plea -
for the sake of Khosru."

Omar phoned to his friend Maniruzzaman, owner of a travel agency in Dhaka,
"Please arrange to send my nephew here. Don't worry about money." But it did
not cost much; one lakh Taka was enough. Bijoy arrived at the Washington
Dulles Airport on one such night in December in 1989. The rest of the story
is not too long. Bijoy graduated from the University of Maryland in computer
science. Then, he enrolled in Columbia University on a scholarship. After
earning his masters degree he joined a multinational company. He visited
Dhaka one time, while attending Maryland. Omar and Jotsna also accompanied
him. Rumni at that time was in death-bed in Dhaka Medical. She was inflicted
by lung cancer. Taking two hands of Bijoy in her emaciate hands she said:
"This Omar uncle, Jotsna auntie - they are your guardians. Never be
disobedient to them. And remember, even though I am your biological mother,
this Bangladesh is your mother too. Never neglect the soil of this
Bangladesh. Here lies your root; this soil means everything."

During one evening of that trip, when Jotsna was alone at Rumni's bedside,
she shared some words with Jotsna, which except him and Jotsna no one else
know. Those words still agonize him. Somehow he can never come out of the
narrowness of his mind. Jotsna's persistent effort to help him understand
has not succeeded to put his mind at rest.

Omar did not realize when the darkness of evening engulfed his surrounding.
At the noise of the door, he realized that Jotsna has returned. Seeing him
sitting quietly, she asked: "What are you doing in this darkness? You have
not even turned the light on! Probably, did not offer your Namaz either.
That boy is coming after such a long time - shouldn't you be somewhat
cheerful? He came quiet some time ago during the last Labor Day weekend.
This year he could not even join us during the Thanksgiving. The boy must
have grown up even further."

Omar silently went to make ablution and stood for Namaz. The door bell rang
right then. Bijoy is here already! He rushed toward the door right after
completing the three rakat Farz. Jotsna has already opened the door.
Cynthia, Bijoy's wife, was standing carrying two bags in two hands. Behind
her was Bijoy, holding B'desh. Jotsna stretched her hands to receive B'desh.
After handing over B'desh, Bijoy bent to touch Jotsna's feet. When he stood
up, Jotsna suddenly had a flash of past memory. Khosru touched her feet in
respect just like this in Karachi Airport! It's the same eyes, same face,
same disposition - that masculine appearance is hard to forget. No mistake
about this!

They spent a few hours enjoying their time, then left after dinner. At the
time of departure, B'desh was refusing to leave Jotsna's lap. Bijoy named
him B'desh, just like Bangladesh used to be reported as B'desh in western
news media during the liberation struggle. They were going to leave for
Bangladesh next month. Bijoy has an indenting business and Cynthia works for
an NGO. Bijoy informed that Yunus uncle has given a job offer. They came to
deliver that news personally.

After they left, Omar was about to start his Isha prayer, when suddenly he
remembered again the words Rumni confided with Jotsna. When searching for
Khosru, she was captured and held in a camp of Pak soldiers for several
days. She never could forgive herself for crossing the border, ignoring the
advice and plea of everyone. She has always struggled with the doubt: "Is
Bijoy the fruit of her sin? The price of her mistake? Or, is he the symbol
of Khosru, son of Bangladesh's soil, symbol of independence?" This doubt
used to drive her insane.

Today meeting Bijoy and seeing B'desh in his lap removed all doubts from
Omar's mind. At one stroke all the weight on his mind was lifted by a voice
from within: "Bijoy, B'desh - they are all sons of our soil - fruits of our
independence. Why should one ever harbor any negative thought about them?"

In no time he felt lightness in his mind like he has felt never before. He
stated his Niyat, uttered Allahu Akbar, and began his Namaz.

[end]

BIJOY

Sarkar Kabiruddin (Voice of America)

Translated by: Mohammad Omar Farooq

(Translator's note: The original story in Bangla was very recently published on
the occasion of Bijoy Dibosh - Victory Day - in a weekly magazine from NY.
Readers should understand that I have merely tried to convey the ideas of the
author in English. I have not tried to capture the author's writing style. The
translation has been reviewed by the author. Also, I must acknowledge my
limitation in terms of literary style and experience in English language to
retain the excellence of the original.]

The winter has not set in yet this time. The first half of December is
ending, but one still doesn't feel the chill. The temperature is fluctuating
between fifty and sixty degrees. Omar Irfan thought there is still time
before they arrive. It's three to four hours' drive from New Jersey to
Washington. Around 3'o clock he called before starting; now it's only 4'o
clock. Definitely they are not going to arrive before 7. Jotsna is not going
to return from work before 6. Only Omar has a holiday today. When the whole
world enjoys the break of the weekend, Omar remains busy at work; and when
others are busy at work, Omar has holiday. That's life in media related
world. Jotsna has already done her cooking at night. Therefore, not much to
do in that department. Now, it's just waiting. Omar filled up his mug with
black coffee. He took his favorite wicker-stool he brought from homeland and
sat in front of the glass door of the living room facing the yard. The
blossom of the season has lost its luster at the approach of the winter and
now lying scattered on the ground. The rose bushes are still sticking out
their heads. Favored by slightly warm temperature, on one bush a rose bud is
shining, but could not bloom the flower, and probably the luck for this
season has run out.

It comes to mind that rose was so dear a flower to Khosru. After the wedding
of Omar and Jotsna, when en route from Dhaka on business, Khosru went to
visit them for the first time in Karachi, and he was very upset not being
informed about their wedding. Omar and Jotsna both tried their best to make
him understand how quickly all that happened and they didn't have a chance
to inform even Omar's father. Only those relatives of Jotsna who lived in
Karachi could attend their wedding. All that effort to make Khosru
understand the situation was in vain. However, on the way back from eating
Kabob-Parata at Bondu Khan's restaurant, he asked to pass by the bridge of
Tinhatti - he said he has some errands. There are several flower shops near
the bridge. Many people buy flowers from these shops on their way to visit
the nearby graveyard. Omar also frequently purchases flowers from here when
he visits his mother's graveyard. She passed away in Karachi. Omar's father
at that time was working for the central government; he was posted in
Karachi.

Khosru brought one hundred one roses from a shop near the bridge and
presented to his friend's wife. Jotsna was delighted, but did not forget to
tease: You presented me flowers that usually are bought for graveyard - you
are not wishing my death. Are you?" Khosru retorted: "You have married him
on the grave of the friendship between Khosru and Omar. You have taken him
away from me, Jotsna. What else can I give you as gift?"

On that trip Khosru stayed in Karachi for several days. They spent those
days together in so much fun. None of the three realized how three weeks
passed so quickly. On the day of departure Khosru held Jotsna's hand in
sadness: "Jotsna, you are my bhabi (sister-in-law), that's what friend's
wife is, I guess. But Omar is not just my friend; we are such bosom friends
that I can never think of separation from him. Yet, you know that our
friendship is not for very long. It dates back only two years at Nazmabad
College and then four years at Karachi University. However, within these
short six years we have become so close that our relationship has gone far
beyond mere friendship." The words of Khosru brought tears to Jotsna's eyes.
With equal emotion, she said: "You will see I will never stand between your
friendship." Then, suddenly surprising both Omar and Jotsna, Khosru offered
his homage by touching Jotsna's feet and said: "You are my bhabi, even
though I might not call you so. In our families, the status of bhabi is like
mother. That's the explanation of what I just did. Bye." Sparing not a
single more moment, Khosru entered the departure lounge of Karachi Airport.

Since then, they have not met again. Soon after came the military havoc of
25th March. The next day after the crackdown at dawn Khosru arrived at
Rumni's hostel. The nurses hostel of Dhaka Medical College was half empty by
then. Some of them have sought shelter in their relatives' home in Dhaka;
others felt more secure to go straight to their homes in rural area. The
sound of gunfires kept Rumni awake all night. Along with a few other female
students, somehow they spent the night in one room. As soon as Khosru
arrived, Rumni packed a couple of Saree, blouse, and petticoat in a
Shantiniketoni Bag, and went out and, holding each other's hand, headed for
the village home. The parents and younger siblings of both Khosru and Rumni
have always lived at their home in a village. Khosru used to live in Dhaka
to attend his business, and Rumni had her job. Their permanent homes are in
a village, just twenty-five miles away from Comilla. They have grown up
together since their childhood. They attended the same elementary school.
Then they attended the same high school, but during different shifts
separately for boys and girls. After that they enrolled in college in Dhaka
around the same time.

Although their intimacy was accepted at the home of Rumni, at the home of
relatively more well-off family of Khosru it was not. The tension that
ensued as a result of this between Khosru and his family took him farther
away, all the way to Karachi. He enrolled there in Nazmabad College. His
elder brother-in-law at that time used to work with the National Bank.
Initially, he lived with them. Later he arranged to live in the Federal
Arrear Mess. By that time, his father Khan Bahadur Abdul Hamid Chowdhury has
softened his position regarding Khosru's relationship with Rumni and was
sending money to support Khosru's education in Karachi. After graduation
from Karachi University, Khosru returned to Dhaka and started his indenting
business. Rumni by that time has graduated as a nurse from Dhaka Medical
College and was living in the hostel. Their old relationship was blossoming
again with renewed vigor and sensitivity.

Khosru and Rumni had to stay away from main road on their journey. So it
took nearly twenty-four hours to reach their home in village.  It wasn't too
long before his father Khan Bahadur Sahib instructed Khosru that a peace
committee is being formed in the village and he has to take the charge. He
has to work with the Pakistan military and, whatever it takes, "we have to
save our beloved motherland, Pakistan, my boy!" Khosru could not accept it.
How can he cooperate with those butchers who were killing thousands of
innocent people? He can never cooperate with them. It wasn't easy, on the
other hand, to oppose his powerful father. He waited to somehow pass the day
and then as the darkness of night fell, holding the hands of Rumni he was on
the road again. However, before their departure, at the request of Rumni's
father a young Moulana was called in and Khosru recited the kalima to wed
Rumni. Rumni's father sighed: "We support the freedom fighters for the sake
of the honor of our mothers and sisters, for the sanctity of our motherland.
However, we are practicing Muslims. We firmly believe in Allah and His
prophet. It's not proper to take such matured girl on this unknown odyssey
without getting married. After all, you do plan to wed some day. I feel, you
will be blessed by this." Without another word, both Khosru and Rumni
agreed.

At the time of wedding the young moulana commented with some hesitation:
"Bhai sab, amareo loge loiben? Daktam chai mukti bahinir loge mila ei
rakhkhoshder birudhdhe lorai kortam pari kina." (Brother, would you take me
with you? I want to see if I can also join the freedom fighters to fight
against these monsters.) Khosru did not agree: "You have old mother at home.
Take care of her, and you will be rewarded." Before they left, Rumni's
father placed his hands on their head and prayed: "Have firm faith in the
Qur'an and the Sunnah. Persevere in the path of justice." It took day and a
half for them to reach Agartala. They were warmly greeted and hosted by
various village residents on their journey. They found shelter in a
temporary camp in Agartala. Khosru joined the freedom fighters, while Rumni
joined a medical team to nurse the injured.

[continues in Part II]

<Shetubondhon management is pleased to express their gratitude to Mr. Kabir for
his invaluable words of wisdom to Shetubondhon.>

Assalamu alaikum.

Occasionally I write in Bangla. Recently, one such writing was published in
Weekly Thikana. I was deeply gratified by Dr. Farooq's rendering of the
story in English.

I also had the opportunity to learn about the new initiative and forum
called Shetubondhon. Both due to time constraint as well as my fear of
getting lost on the vast, unknown frontier of Cyberspace, I am not yet
quite internet saavy. But reading information about Shetubondhon, I
would like to say that we do need a new culture and spirit of Shetubondhon,
particularly in the context of our beloved motherland, Bangladesh.

Even though I might not be able to be a participant on this forum on a
regular basis, I do wish the very best to this new initiative. Since the
devastation of our infrastructures in 1971 we have already rebuilt as well
newly built so many bridges on our rivers. I believe it's high time that we
begin to build some new bridges - begin the work of Shetubondhon - of our
HEARTS and MINDSs.

If this new initiative or forum is even modestly successful in raising
awareness about the need of this bridge-building, it would be an excellent
contribution. Let me conclude by saying that the idea of Shetubondhon
already has struck the chord of my heart. May it now continue to play the
tune and bridge at least some of our gaps.

By the way, full-audio file of VOA's Bangla broadcast is now available at
http://www.voa.gov/bangla/index.html .

Sarkar Kabiruddin
VOA





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Occasionally I write in Bangla. Recently, one such writing was published in
Weekly Thikana. I was deeply gratified by Dr. Farooq's rendering of the
story in English.

I also had the opportunity to learn about the new initiative and forum
called Shetubondhon. Both due to time constraint as well as my fear of
getting lost on the vast, unknown frontier of Cyberspace, I am not yet
quite internet saavy. But reading information about Shetubondhon, I
would like to say that we do need a new culture and spirit of Shetubondhon,
particularly in the context of our beloved motherland, Bangladesh.

Even though I might not be able to be a participant on this forum on a
regular basis, I do wish the very best to this new initiative. Since the
devastation of our infrastructures in 1971 we have already rebuilt as well
newly built so many bridges on our rivers. I believe it's high time that we
begin to build some new bridges - begin the work of Shetubondhon - of our
HEARTS and MINDSs.

If this new initiative or forum is even modestly successful in raising
awareness about the need of this bridge-building, it would be an excellent
contribution. Let me conclude by saying that the idea of Shetubondhon
already has struck the chord of my heart. May it now continue to play the
tune and bridge at least some of our gaps.

By the way, full-audio file of VOA's Bangla broadcast is now available at
http://www.voa.gov/bangla/index.html .

Sarkar Kabiruddin
VOA





Powered by http://www.bn3.com, hosting yourname@..., FREE!

Dear Shetubondhon Subscribers,

Greetings.

Just like every new initiative faces bumps during its initial phase, this
forum is of no exception. Recently, a respected author on another forum
raised some questions about multiple forums and posted to all three
forums, which created some confusion as well as commotion.

To avoid a prolonged discussion on this, we have submitted a detailed
response to be posted on their forum, which is also appended below.
RESPECTING THE TIME CONSTRAINT OF OUR SUBSCRIBERS, first here is the
summary. The full text is also included for those who are interested.

1. Shetubondhon acknowledges and appreciates the already existing forums.

2. Shetubondhon is not intended to be a duplicate forum. It is based on a
new model, with special vision and mission as articulated in our Charter,
and the Welcome Message.

3. Shetubondhon is the first forum of its kind with fully-disclosed
information, including management/moderation team, right from its
inception.

4. Shetubondhon generally has not built its subscribers base in a way
different than other forums. If there has been any exception, the
management is committed to handle the unsubscription requests with utmost
courtesy and promptness.

5. Shetubondhon is Bangladesh-focus, and it is ideological-neutral to
operate on non-partisan basis without any bias or influence of any
particular individual.

6. Shetubondhon does not promise that in the process of its early
existence it won't commit any mistake, however, it is committed to learn
from its as well as others' mistakes to improve and grow.

7. We are very much encouraged by our subscribers' support. We may not be
or become a large, mass forum. But that's not our goal any way.

8. This forum is expected to draw those who not only HAVE creative
ability, positive attitude, and constructive ideas, but also DESIRE to
come together to build new bonds of cooperation for the service of our
community, nation, and humanity.

The full-length text, if you are interested, is appended below.

Best regards.

Shetubondhon Management


=========================== Full-Text ==========

Dear Dr. Ahmed, eShomabesh Frineds and Alochoks:

Greetings.

Shetubondhon management values your concern on forming multiple forums with
similar objectives that can make our e-discussions quite cumbersome and at
times quite time consuming given the number of mails and repetitive nature
of the postings. Immediately after your message was posted, the management
quickly acknowledged your message, and mentioning that a detailed response
is to follow, provided the website address (http://www.shetubondhon.org) as
you urged all three forums. Indeed, Shetubondhon is probably the first to
initiate its presence with fully-disclosed information about the forum on
the web, including information about its management/moderation team.

We are aware of some personal response to your pertinent query, which was
quite discomforting to all of us because it was neither in capacity of
representing Shetubondhon, nor in its spirit. However, we are also pleased
that the responder acknowledged and clarified the personal capacity in
which he responded, and regretted for not showing the spirit of the forum.
Beyond that, we hope that this response would help you and all others
understand this new initiative better.

Two more things before the rest of the comments. First, since there won't
be any point in having a thread developed out of our discussion, this
would be probably the first and last communication submitted to all three
forums. Second, so that we won't have to explain again and again, we are
providing a detailed response and seek your indulgence that you would take
your valuable time to read this rather elaborate message.

While the management at Shetubondhon remains sympathetic to the listed
concerns of Dr. Ahmed, it would attempt to make some objective analysis as
to why these forums have sprung up so soon and shed some light on the
positive impact it might have in developing a base of minimum understanding
among peoples of various faiths, philosophical inclination, and political
beliefs. Shetubondhon firmly believes in the fact that we can look at a
glass half filled rather half empty.

The emergence of Alochona as a prime web based discussion forum was a
testimony of the fact that most of the expat Bangladeshis were living in an
intellectual vacuum and that they wanted to participate in some form of
community building efforts that would eventually add value to aiding our
dear motherland. The unprecedented success of Alochona in binding together
a group of intellectuals, professionals, and students was mostly based on
those two factors. While Alochona maintained its neutrality in posting the
articles but miserably failed to provide an institutional architecture that
would put organized mechanisms in place to avoid individual influences on
the outcome of discussions. These individual influences on the "modus
operandi" of Alochona created misunderstanding among some devoted members
and inserted the seeds of a new forum and there came eSHOMABESH, a group of
devoted and committed workers who became disgruntled with the modus
operandi of the management.

The emergence of Shetubondhon however, should not be linked to any such
disgruntlement or acts of personal sentiments of any individual. In spite
of the fact that we have multiple forums, we have miserably failed to take
advantage of the technological innovation of this century to create the
necessary infrastructure required to create a common pull of knowledge base
elicited from the distinguished expats and disseminate that knowledge base
back home. The current statusquo of various forums is nothing more than a
mechanization of our old habits of "Chaer caape dhua tola". Our philosophy
that has bound together a group of like minded people are:

In a more philosophical note, Mr Mahmoud Farooq of EB2000 has articulated
the creation of Shetubondhon as "eShoambesh wanted to be a better
ALOCHONA--not a different ALOCHONA. Having read through the rules and
regulations of Shetubondhon, I gather that they are perhaps trying to be a
better eShomabesh." In fact, Shetubondhon is neither an Alochona nor an
eShamabesh or will be one because they are build on very different
platforms.

The major objective of Shetubondhon is contained in its mission statement
that reads:

"Enhance human tolerance, instill enduring sense of morality, foster an
attitude of positive thinking and cooperation, and heighten awareness about
pertinent human concerns among people of South Asian origin in general and
Bangladesh in particular through interactive dialogue on socio-economic,
geo-political, religious, educational, cultural and agronomic issues."

We intend to create an environment where people of various faiths,
political beliefs, and philosophical inclination can talk on important
subjects without the fear of any retribution or personal attacks and
channel their thought process into an automated knowledge building process
that will filter out any intolerance, hatred, personal biases and
individual orientations. We intend to be issue based rather being one of
personalities and individual intellects.

Although there have been moments when individuals have tempted to go for
another new forum to establish their own domain, Shetubondhon has emerged
free from those temptations so far and it has first defined its mission and
has started laying the foundation from there. Shetubondhon has no desire to
duplicate any other existing forum; indeed, several of our initiators have
made it clear among themselves that they won't go along with such tendency.

Alochona has already established itself as a leading GENERAL forum among
Bangladeshis on the net. People from diverse background are provided an
outstanding opportunity on Alochona to express their voice. Providing a
platform or environment where seeking and facilitating development of
common grounds is not a part of Alochona's mission. The unique role of
Alochona as the pioneering and leading forum would always be there.
Furthermore, one may argue, explore or suggest possible ways to improve
Alochona, but all subsequent Bangladeshi forums would owe a debt of
gratitude to Alochona, and in expressing that gratitude and offering the
compliment, Shetubondhon would like to be the first and foremost.

Disregarding how eShomabesh came into emergence, the fact is that it has
also established itself as a major forum with considerable subscription
base with expressed focus on Bengal than Bangladesh. It also has a
commitment, unlike Alochona, to release all the postings that do not
violate its Charter or posting policy, even though they might be posted
slowly over time. It is also explicitly committed to deal with any or all
pertinent topics, regardless of how radical it is. There is a need for a
forum like this.

Where does, then, Shetubondhon fit in? Well, all those who come later to
this arena have to explain themselves more or better. Although
Shetubondhon's posted Charter, Guidelines, and Welcome Message have already
articulated its orientation and perspective, (and one can also access those
at its website), we would like to emphasize the distinctiveness of this new
forum.

a. Bangladesh-focus: We will discuss everything - education and culture,
politics and international relations, economy and society, religion and
philosophy, sports and entertainment, science and technology, global and
regional issues - all from the perspective of Bangladesh. Thus, this is
primarily a Bangladeshi forum. We would encourage and even solicit
participation of non-Bangladeshis to enrich the discussion, but we would
hope that they would do so as guests and for constructive purpose.

b. Ideological neutrality: This forum has been initiated by a group of
people from diverse ideological, academic, and professional background. We
have in the management individuals who come from religious and secular
background, theistic and atheistic/agnostic background, rightist and
leftist background. They all have deep commitment to their own background,
but they also believe that their specific background should not stand in
the way to seek common ground for positive, constructive purpose. Rather
it should enrich each other as a group. This idea, if extended, would mean
that people from diverse background can come together and build a nation's
culture on common ground and cooperation. Regardless of our ideological or
religious background, we uphold a relationship of mutual respect.

We don't want just tolerance, we at Shetubondhon have brought ourselves
together to build bridges. Thus, instead of emphasizing differences,
seeking and identifying common ground as well as moving beyond an
atmosphere of tolerance, we want to cherish, nurture, and facilitate a
culture of cooperation and mutual respect, beginning with our
management/moderators, spreading it among the subscribers, and hopefully
making an impact on our overall culture in the context of Bangladesh. We
seek to develop a relationship of mutual respect and cooperation, for
examples, among the religious and the secular, among the Muslims and the
Hindus, among the Muzib-lovers and Zia-lovers, among the theists and the
atheists, or among the Rabi-lovers and Nazrul-lovers.

We realize that Shetubondhon as a forum and as a culture may not be for
everyone, as being polite and yet communicate effectively and with
conviction is lot more difficult than doing so impolitely; as emphasizing
difference is much easier than emphasizing common grounds; as creating
distance is much easier than bridging gaps; as hurting other's feeling
comes easy for us than bringing joy; as being prejudiced and partisan is
lot easier than being fair/objective and non-partisan; or as destroying a
bridge is much easier than building one.

We admit that even us, including management/moderation have to live up to
that challenge. Some of us may fail, and some probably will. Shetubondhon
Management is committed to see to it that it remains focused and determined
in pursuit of its stated mission. If this means that from time to time, we
have turnovers in our management/moderation, who find the culture and
spirit of Shetubondhon too demanding or impractical, if some of our
subscribers after being familiar with us find the forum has not succeeded
to maintain its distinctiveness, or simply if Shetubondhon as a forum does
not become a large forum like Alochona or eShomabesh, we understand it.
But we do believe that the foundation of distinctiveness on which
Shetubondhon has emerged and on which it commits to sustain and grow -
WITHOUT COMPETING AGAINST ITS SISTER FORUMS - definitely has, however
small, a place on this vast cyberspace. Indeed, this forum is expected to
draw probably only those who not only have creative ability, positive
attitude, and constructive ideas - as other forums have a good portion of
them, but also desire to come together to build new bonds of cooperation
for the service of our community, nation, and humanity.

The major stumbling block of our national progress has been that of
intolerance and formation of cells around individual intellects and
individual charisma and rapid deterioration of morality and ethics. We
seriously lack institution building efforts. We intend to change that or at
least sow the seeds of that change so that the future generations can have
a better life than what we currently have. We have detailed out all the
strategy and tactics required to bringing about that change. We need your
help, assistance, and support in nurturing that change. We can not do it
alone.

As far as our subscribers are concerned, to the best of our knowledge,
Shetubondhon generally has not built its initial base in any way much
different that its predecessors. If there has been any irregularity in this
regard, we do offer our sincerest apology for any inconvenience of
unsubscribing. Please rest assured that any request of unsubscription sent
to us directly would be handled most courteously and expeditiously.
However, we are already most gratified as our subscribers are giving
Shetubondhon the opportunity to make our case and some of them are also
coming forward to build their bridges.

Shetubondhon can't promise that everything it intends or commits to do
would be done right. However, it does commit to learn from its as well as
others' errors and to correct and improve itself. We shall very soon come
up with the detailed profile of all individuals moderating and managing
various aspects of Shetubondhon's operations. Looking forward to your
active participation in our forum and sincerely wish you all the best.

Regards,
Shetubondhon Management

Powered by http://www.bn3.com, hosting yourname@..., FREE!

Dear Sir,

With due respect, I would like to state that your presumption that I nurse
some notion, substantiated or unsubstantiated, is totally wrong. The comment
about my "brilliant postings" was poking fun at myself.

By the way, if you knew me, you would not write, " If you have joined
ALOCHONA few months back, then you are not in anyway suppossed to get any
such ideas unless you are indoctrinated by someone something the Americans
might call 'programmed'.  I wish I knew what you were are talking about.
Even my worst detractors wouldn't accuse me of being "programmed." Your
characterization of my inquiries as "irrational" or based on "second hand
information" is really unfortunate. Taking uncalled for swings at people you
do not know anything about is the wrong way to start a new forum.

No doubt running a forum is hard work. But you must learn to laugh at
yourself, my friend.


Best regards,

Ahmed Badruzzaman
Anaheim, CA

PS: By the way, if SHETUBONDHON reflects the intolerant, suspicious attitude
displayed in the note, perhaps I do not want to be on such a SHETU, for it
will collapse on its own illogic.




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Parvez [SMTP:turfan99@...]
> Sent: Friday, December 17, 1999 8:36 PM
> To: alochona@egroups.com; 'eshomabesh@egroups.com';
> 'Shetubondhon@onelist.com'; AHMB@...
> Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Multiple Forums-What's going on?
>
> Dear Mr. Zaman
> I am not going to point out in detail to the issues
> you brought up.  It appears that part of your concern
> came from a sort of unsubstantiated notion you are
> nursing. The first thing I shall tell you is that the
> issue is not necessarily one of getting posted or not
> of one's message.  If you have joined ALOCHONA few
> months back, then you are not in anyway suppossed to
> get any such ideas unless you are indoctrinated by
> someone something the Americans might call
> 'programmed'.  This is regreattable that you did not
> wait to see what we people are going to do in
> SHETUBONDHON.  I appreciate your concern but regret
> your hasty and irrational judgement as well as your
> apparent reliance on second hand information.  If you
> wish to quit SHETUBONDHON, we shall regret very much
> but will fully honor any of your decision.  As far as
> Shetubondhon is concerned, our position is "Wait and
> See" and we virtually have no problem of building
> strategic alliance with any other group to attain any
> common objective once we can identify.  We have our
> own group because we feel that the infrastructures and
> mechanisms of existing forums does not support what we
> want to achieve and what we think right.  You should
> also understand that creating and maintaining a group
> is not an easy job particularly to run it upto the
> standard of intelligent mind.  If one can do that, it
> may not always be moderation dispute but something
> more.  Doing a creative thing requires intelligence,
> pragmatism and vision and a mere moderqaiton dispute
> cannot be its driving froce.
>
> Take care and best wishes
>
> Parvez
>
> --- "Badruzzaman, Ahmed (AHMB)" <AHMB@...>
> wrote:
> > Dear Friends in All three forums,
> >
> > I just got note from yet another Bangladeshi/Bengali
> > e-forum of which I have
> > been made a member of. I remember joining ALOCHONA
> > only a few months back.
> > Then came ESHOMABESH recently. I have enjoyed
> > participation in both but I am
> > beginning to wonder - the topics look similar and
> > many times repeats of what
> > was talked about before. Now we have SHETUBONDHON.
> >
> > I feel flattered to be included by everyone but I am
> > really very concerned
> > on two counts:
> >
> > 1. Are we fracturing needlessly and ending up
> > talking mostly about the same
> > issues in multiple forums? Just because I do not
> > agree with the moderators
> > of a certain forum on many occasions, is it reason
> > enough to start my own?
> >
> > 2. Participating in multiple forums is too
> > time-consuming - we all have
> > regular jobs, at least most of us anyway. If this
> > fracturing continues, I
> > will not be surprised if participation from many of
> > us drops off.
> >
> > 3. How did I get subscribed to the additional
> > forums?
> >
> > 4. I do not know who all are the moderators of these
> > forums, at least their
> > names, location, and a little background. Can I find
> > it on anywhere?
> >
> >
> > Don't get me wrong. I love all the discussion and
> > have been disappointed
> > when my "most brilliant" posts did not get
> > published. But there is great
> > value in staying together. I appeal to you all to
> > reconsider the
> > fragmentation. We can have sub-forums for specific
> > areas of interest.
> >
> > Also, I need to know who controls/moderates the flow
> > of info. I hate to deal
> > with shadows.
> >
> > I am counting on all three of  you publishing this
> > query and plea.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Ahmed Badruzzaman
> > Anaheim, CA
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > [Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for
> > information
> > contained in this message]
> >
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> > To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to
> > alochona-owner@egroups.com
> >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > WE'RE LACKING SOMETHING
> > Collegeclub.com has got it all--over a million
> > members,
> > spicy message boards, and thousands of personals.
> > But we
> > don't have YOU for a member. Click here to join!
> > http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/1853
> >
> > -- Talk to your group with your own voice!
> > --
> >
> http://www.egroups.com/VoiceChatPage?listName=alochona&m=1
> >
> >
> >
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one place.
> Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

With due respect, the first thing I will tell is that
this is high time we stop such feuding and fighting
and join together to do something neat and contructive.
There had been a unexpected miscommunication, as it
appears at this moment.

--- "Badruzzaman, Ahmed (AHMB)" <AHMB@...>
wrote:
> Dear Sir,
>
> With due respect, I would like to state that your
> presumption that I nurse
> some notion, substantiated or unsubstantiated, is
> totally wrong. The comment
> about my "brilliant postings" was poking fun at
> myself.

Well, then I better retract my comments.  BTW that was
my personal opinion and not one of shetubondhon admin.
I regret the misunderstanding but it is internet and
we simply do not see one's face to figure out what is
the connotation.  Perhaps we can now laugh, forget and
forgive each other.

>
> By the way, if you knew me, you would not write, "
> If you have joined
> ALOCHONA few months back, then you are not in anyway
> suppossed to get any
> such ideas unless you are indoctrinated by someone
> something the Americans
> might call 'programmed'.  I wish I knew what you
> were are talking about.
> Even my worst detractors wouldn't accuse me of being
> "programmed."

I really apologize for this comment which is rather
abusive though I did not mean that.  I meant that the
information you might have got is a programmed
information which just passes from one to another
without any reexamination of the logic.

> Your
> characterization of my inquiries as "irrational" or
> based on "second hand
> information" is really unfortunate. Taking uncalled
> for swings at people you
> do not know anything about is the wrong way to start
> a new forum.

I got an impression that you were relying on second
hand information and you did not ask us a lot of
things of what we are trying to do.  I regret my
comments.

>
> No doubt running a forum is hard work. But you must
> learn to laugh at
> yourself, my friend.

Sure! -:)


> PS: By the way, if SHETUBONDHON reflects the
> intolerant, suspicious attitude
> displayed in the note, perhaps I do not want to be
> on such a SHETU, for it
> will collapse on its own illogic.

That was my personal opinion and not one of
shetubondhon admin.  There was no intolerance in my
post except that I was a bit bitter for I got a bitter
taste from your post.  That was all a
miscommunciation, as it is coming up now.

Regards

Parvez
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

Dear Mr. Zaman
I am not going to point out in detail to the issues
you brought up.  It appears that part of your concern
came from a sort of unsubstantiated notion you are
nursing. The first thing I shall tell you is that the
issue is not necessarily one of getting posted or not
of one's message.  If you have joined ALOCHONA few
months back, then you are not in anyway suppossed to
get any such ideas unless you are indoctrinated by
someone something the Americans might call
'programmed'.  This is regreattable that you did not
wait to see what we people are going to do in
SHETUBONDHON.  I appreciate your concern but regret
your hasty and irrational judgement as well as your
apparent reliance on second hand information.  If you
wish to quit SHETUBONDHON, we shall regret very much
but will fully honor any of your decision.  As far as
Shetubondhon is concerned, our position is "Wait and
See" and we virtually have no problem of building
strategic alliance with any other group to attain any
common objective once we can identify.  We have our
own group because we feel that the infrastructures and
mechanisms of existing forums does not support what we
want to achieve and what we think right.  You should
also understand that creating and maintaining a group
is not an easy job particularly to run it upto the
standard of intelligent mind.  If one can do that, it
may not always be moderation dispute but something
more.  Doing a creative thing requires intelligence,
pragmatism and vision and a mere moderqaiton dispute
cannot be its driving froce.

Take care and best wishes

Parvez

--- "Badruzzaman, Ahmed (AHMB)" <AHMB@...>
wrote:
> Dear Friends in All three forums,
>
> I just got note from yet another Bangladeshi/Bengali
> e-forum of which I have
> been made a member of. I remember joining ALOCHONA
> only a few months back.
> Then came ESHOMABESH recently. I have enjoyed
> participation in both but I am
> beginning to wonder - the topics look similar and
> many times repeats of what
> was talked about before. Now we have SHETUBONDHON.
>
> I feel flattered to be included by everyone but I am
> really very concerned
> on two counts:
>
> 1. Are we fracturing needlessly and ending up
> talking mostly about the same
> issues in multiple forums? Just because I do not
> agree with the moderators
> of a certain forum on many occasions, is it reason
> enough to start my own?
>
> 2. Participating in multiple forums is too
> time-consuming - we all have
> regular jobs, at least most of us anyway. If this
> fracturing continues, I
> will not be surprised if participation from many of
> us drops off.
>
> 3. How did I get subscribed to the additional
> forums?
>
> 4. I do not know who all are the moderators of these
> forums, at least their
> names, location, and a little background. Can I find
> it on anywhere?
>
>
> Don't get me wrong. I love all the discussion and
> have been disappointed
> when my "most brilliant" posts did not get
> published. But there is great
> value in staying together. I appeal to you all to
> reconsider the
> fragmentation. We can have sub-forums for specific
> areas of interest.
>
> Also, I need to know who controls/moderates the flow
> of info. I hate to deal
> with shadows.
>
> I am counting on all three of  you publishing this
> query and plea.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Ahmed Badruzzaman
> Anaheim, CA
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> [Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for
> information
> contained in this message]
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to
> alochona-owner@egroups.com
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> WE'RE LACKING SOMETHING
> Collegeclub.com has got it all--over a million
> members,
> spicy message boards, and thousands of personals.
> But we
> don't have YOU for a member. Click here to join!
> http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/1853
>
> -- Talk to your group with your own voice!
> --
>
http://www.egroups.com/VoiceChatPage?listName=alochona&m=1
>
>
>

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com

Dear Friends in All three forums,

I just got note from yet another Bangladeshi/Bengali e-forum of which I have
been made a member of. I remember joining ALOCHONA only a few months back.
Then came ESHOMABESH recently. I have enjoyed participation in both but I am
beginning to wonder - the topics look similar and many times repeats of what
was talked about before. Now we have SHETUBONDHON.

I feel flattered to be included by everyone but I am really very concerned
on two counts:

1. Are we fracturing needlessly and ending up talking mostly about the same
issues in multiple forums? Just because I do not agree with the moderators
of a certain forum on many occasions, is it reason enough to start my own?

2. Participating in multiple forums is too time-consuming - we all have
regular jobs, at least most of us anyway. If this fracturing continues, I
will not be surprised if participation from many of us drops off.

3. How did I get subscribed to the additional forums?

4. I do not know who all are the moderators of these forums, at least their
names, location, and a little background. Can I find it on anywhere?


Don't get me wrong. I love all the discussion and have been disappointed
when my "most brilliant" posts did not get published. But there is great
value in staying together. I appeal to you all to reconsider the
fragmentation. We can have sub-forums for specific areas of interest.

Also, I need to know who controls/moderates the flow of info. I hate to deal
with shadows.

I am counting on all three of  you publishing this query and plea.

Best regards,

Ahmed Badruzzaman
Anaheim, CA

Dear friends at Shetubondhon,

Salam and greetings.

There are many other forums dealing with Bangladeshi community and therefore
I was somewhat hesitant about the idea of another one. There is really no
point in having more and more forums unless each has some meaningful value
to add and contribution to make. Thus, this idea and initiative of
Shetubondhon is intriguing as well as exciting to me.

Shetubondhon's Charter and Welcome Message have already been posted on the
forum. I believe that both documents give some reason to be
somewhat excited. I am an ordinary kind of person. I see enough of
discussions, dialogs, gatherings that so easily degenerate and turn into
slice of reality as people routinely experience in Bangladesh. I participate
in forums to exchange ideas, share our mutual feelings and thoughts,
sometime agree and at other times disagree, enrich myself by expressing
myself and reading others' analysis, reflections, and viewpoints, keep up
with pertinent information from people with focused interest, but last but
not the least important reason, is that I also seek some enjoyment through
my
participation. I like challenging, forthright, enlightening, entertaining,
critical - all sorts of - exchange of thought and information, but what
usually turns me off is the usual absence of this last element: enjoyment.

So far I have not experienced many cases where we engaged in hearty and
thorough discussion on a topic, and then left with a feeling of enrichment,
upliftment, enjoyment, and (whether I agree with others or not, but) a
heightened sense of mutual respect for all of us. That's why I like the
analogy of Baash (bamboo) and Baashi (flute). I prefer Baashi for myself on
which I can play and hear the tunes of creativity, vitality, hope,
challenge, adventure, problem-solving, love - the whole spectrum of life.
Sometimes, I may use my small Baashi for self-defense in minor situation.
But I find Baash hard to carry, and when I see that we are becoming so
accustomed and accomplished in using our
intellectual/philosophical/religious Baash, then I have reasons to be
concerned, because Baash is good for so many reasons, but not for playing
the kind of tune I just mentioned.

Is Shetubondhon going to be different? It's hard to say because it depends
on us. I am cautiously optimistic because it seems that there is a conscious
commitment underlying this initiative. If we all do our share, then, I
do believe that it's possible to make a difference.

What do my comments have anything to do with tea? A good question! Since
this is my first posting, I thought, along with others, I will try to break
the ice. An excellent way of breaking ice among ourselves and introduce to
each other might be a virtual hot cup of tea. While thinking about this new
forum I
tried to imagine what it could be like: well, it could be a really lively,
enriching, enlightening, challenging, and enjoyable forum. That's my idea of
this "virtual" (but somewhat serious) Adda with some special purpose of
Shetubondhon. Of course, how can Bangladeshis, excepting a few, have Adda
without tea? "Where there's tea there's hope" - - [Sir Arthur Pinero]

If you don't mind, I will share some more thought about tea in this posting.
When I participate in this forum, whether I find myself in agreement or in
disagreement on any particular issue or thread, I desire to see the
discussion
wrap up with a feeling like:

"Tea pot is on, the cups are waiting,
Favorite chairs anticipating,
No matter what I have to do,
My friend there's always time for you." [Anonymous]

Apparently, tea is quite common in many cultures, even among cowboys.

"If I pour your cup, that is friendship.
And if I add your milk, that's manners.
But If I stop there, claiming ignorance of taste,
That is tea.
But if I measure the sugar
to satisfy the expectant tongue,
that is love.
But if I measure the sugar
to satisfy the expectant tongue
that is love;
Sitting untouched, and growing cold."

"Cold Tea Blues" This is an old Cowboy Junkies song (circa 1993?) (most of
these quotes are from: http://www.stashtea.com/quotes.htm )

Then, my train of thought took a little more serious turn. I remember the
historical context of Bangladesh, the subcontinent, the British, and so on.
If I am not incorrect, the British had major contribution in promoting tea
in our subcontinent.

"Every nation in creation has its favourite drink,
France is famous for her wine, it's in Germany I think.
Turkey loves her coffee, and they serve it blacker than ink
Russians love their vodka, England loves her tea. . . "
[John Baldrey, "Everything Stops for Tea"]

Are we to understand that England "with love" brought to us (or us to) tea?
Apparently, we love tea too. Apparently, all our CHAowa-Paowa begins with
CHA. How about that? Well, I was thinking about tea for the last
few days since I recently read a poem about tea, written by none other than
Kazi Nazrul Islam. I was amazed at the colorful storm of word patterns and
rhythms he created in the cup of tea using all the "Cha" words. Now, I have
a much better appreciation for tea (and even for Sharabun Tahoora). Instead
of tea, Nazrul would have preferred "Dushshashoner Rokto Pan", but then I
thought may be even he would not have refused to sit down with one of the
English gentlement, if they could sit together as equals and have some fun
time with tea. If you have not read Nazrul's "Cha", you can do so at my
Nazrul site:
http://www.globalfront.com/nazrul/nazrul_works/bangla_poems/cha.htm ; if you
also want to listen to an audio file of recitation by an unprofessional
voice, try http://members.xoom.com/farooqmo/recitations/cha.ram  ).

Enough for breaking ice. Let's keep the water and spirit for tea brewing.

Best regards.

Farooq

==============================
Mohammad Omar Farooq, PhD
Associate Professor of Economics and Finance
Upper Iowa University
farooqm@...

Dear Shetubondhon subscribers,

Please read the following document thoroughly and carefully to make this
forum as smooth as possible.

You can also access the following document with proper formatting at
http://members.xoom.com/shetubondhon/default.htm .

Best regards.

Shetubondhon Management

===============================

SHETUBONDHON: POLICY GUIDELINES

         a. Management

         Shetubondhon is expected to be a decentralized forum with multiple
units operating under a single umbrella. The units will be developed in an
as when needed basis. Initially Shetubondhon will be operated under a
single unit under the direct management of the Board of Directors. Each
Director will be assigned the responsibility of a particular function
assigned by the Chairman of the Board. The following committees are being
proposed for the start-up process:

         b. Board of Directors

         The Board of Directors will be the highest governance of
Shetubondhon with a total of five members including the Chairman. The
Board will select the Chairman of the Board for a term of two years. The
activity of the Board will be documented and managed by the Board
secretary who is selected by the Board Chairman for a term of two years as
well. The subscribers of Shetubondhon will select the Board by direct
vote. At the initial startup phase the Founding members will assume the
role of the Board of Directors for a period of two years. The Quality
Assurance Manager will be a non-voting member of the Board but will attend
all meetings and will keep the Board apprised of the activities being
undertaken by the Management Committee. The functions of the Board are
listed below but are not limited to:

* Strategy and direction
* Tactics and operational principles
* Policy guidelines development and its compliance
* Bylaws and procedures development
* Performance monitoring
* Long term plans
* Budgetary direction
* Creation of major initiatives
* Relationship with outside entities
* Strategic partnership development
* List management
* Quality Assurance
* Select and distribute awards based on recommendations from the
moderation and the management teams.

         c. Management and Public Relations Committee

         Management Committee consists of all the unit managers of
Shetubondhon. This Committee will be responsible for drawing up detailed
yearly and all short-term plans in line with the long-term plan set forth
by the Board. The Quality Assurance Manager who will maintain all
coordination with the Board will supervise management Committee. At the
start up phase the Board of Directors will assume the role of management
and public relations committee for a period of two years. The
responsibilities of the management committee will be the following:

* Develop detailed operational plan
* Monitor and coordinate all inter-unit functions
* Maintain relationship with outside publications, magazines, newspapers
and organizations in posting summary articles
* Identify and resolve all inter-unit disputes and refer unresolved issues
to the Board
* Develop mechanisms for all inter-unit transfer
* Coordinate multi-unit member functions
* Approve quality monitoring guidelines
* Promote Shetubondhon’s image to outside world

         d. Moderation and List Management

         This unit will moderate and maintain all mails coming from the
list before being posted. The manager of this unit will follow the
moderation policies to ensure that only appropriate letters are posted
that do not go against any of the policy guidelines set forth by the
board. This functional unit will be responsible for maintaining the
liaison of the Board with the subscribers of Shetubondhon. The Board will
select the manager of this group for a period of two years. The main
purpose of this group will be to ensure policy and procedural compliance
of each of the functional units in line with the guidelines set forth by
the Board and report back to the Board of any violation and recommend
corrective measures. The functions of this group includes but are not
limited to:

* Check each mail for policy compliance before being posted
* Post mails in the forum
* Issue notices to writers of any deviation of policy guidelines
* Assist writers with any corrective measures
* Work with Quality Assurance in conducting quality control checks of the
moderation activities
* Work with individual sub-list managers in providing moderation support
* Document trend of defaulters and report of violations to the quality
assurance
* Recommend any action to be taken against the repeated violators of
policy guidelines
* Work with web manager in listing policy guidelines on the web
* Identify quality writers in the forum and keep them motivated with
acknowledgments or any other incentives

         e. Independent Review Board

         This is a voluntary Board formed from the respected community
members (3) Chaired by the Chairman of Shetubondhon to oversee any
disputes arising on the posting of an article. This Board will be brought
to session by the difference of opinion between the Moderation Committee
and the individual(s) posting the article or any difference ensuing
between the Moderation and the Management Team on the issue of rejecting
any particular posting.

         f. Web Management and Technical Support

         The function of this unit is to develop and keep Shetubondhon’s
web page up-to-date. The detailed functions of this unit includes but are
not limited to the following:

* Develop and maintain the web-page
* Initiate and maintain relationship with the web hosting agency
* Provide technical support to the moderation and management group
* Maintain central repository and archival of postings

         g. Moderation Management Policies

         The main objective of the moderation function will be to ensure
thoughtful and gentle discussion among its members that will focus on
different aspect of the Bangladesh and its social, economic, education,
agronomic, religious, cultural, philosophical issues and activities
without any bias or prejudice.

1. To be posted, articles must meet the forum's policy guideline. Rejected
submissions may include the following:

      i. Any article or posting that does not serve the purpose of
Shetubondhon’s stated mission or vision.
     ii. No abusive article or words will be permitted. The abuse may be
any one or combination of the following:
      * Article containing word that is universally accepted or known to be
abusive. Any letter containing personal attacks or derogatory comments
about individuals
      * Article that tend to question an individual's character, identity,
background etc. without a convincing reason.
      * Article containing racial prejudice or attack toward a community or
an ethnic group.
      * Articles containing social destabilizing factors
      * Articles containing hatred against any ethnic, religious,
political, social groups

    iii. Any article considered too long for the readers to be able to
digest in one go (Not more than 1000 Words)

     iv. Articles that has no formatting which will be sent back for
formatting with necessary suggestions
      v. Articles without a subject header
     vi. Articles that do not meet the quality criteria as defined by the
management team. Such articles could be those which are non-contextual or
sidelined one. However, the management will post a notice about this
article in the list so that the interested reader can get a copy of it
directly from the subscriber.
    vii. Repeated articles having similar concepts by the same writer
   viii. Articles containing religious statements from scriptures (such as
Vedas, Qur'an/Hadith, Tripitak, etc.) without full reference.
     ix. Articles that contain attachments. Please send your article in
text format. Attachment often contains virus beyond the knowing of the
subscriber that can be detrimental for fellow subscriber's computer. Our
system is so configured that it will automatically trash the attachment
before posting.
     x. Article that contains advertisement unless it is clear that the
advertisement will particularly benefit the Bangladeshi community or for
humanitarian cause.
    xi. Any other item that is not included here but is subsequently
considered abusive by the quality assurance manager and confirmed by the
independent review board member.
   xii. Articles posted in other forums that are not of announcement
nature. However, if the writer discloses the inclusion in other forums and
requests its posting in Shetubondhon then the posting can be made after
approval from the Board or the Management Committee.

2. The group will be run impartially irrespective of any kind of bias
toward any ideology or view.

3. Subscribers are cautioned not to initiate any personal hate or
threatening mails to other subscribers or, any mail that might be commonly
expected to be unwelcomed by other subscribers, based on the writings
he/she had initiated in the forum.

4. Subscribers are encouraged to share any opinion or suggestions
regarding the postings by writing directly to the Management Team of
Shetubondhon. Please direct your comments to comments@... .

5. Shorter postings, no more than three lines, may be combined into a
compiled message.

6. All messages, unless rejected for the above-mentioned reasons, will be
distributed but no more than 8-10 messages per day. The approval process
may take 3-4 days. In case of news-related postings on the same subject,
the first submissions would be given preference.

7. Moderators would have full privilege to participate in the discussions
in their individual capacity. However, they must follow the procedure set
up for all other subscribers, i.e., a moderator would not be allowed to
approve/post his own submissions. On similar messages posted by both a
subscriber and a moderator, subscriber's message would be given
preference. Moderator's individual messages, submitted under their own
name, may not necessarily represent the views or positions of Shetubondhon
Management.


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Charter of SHETUBONDHON


I. Mission Statement

Enhance human tolerance, instill enduring sense of morality, foster an
attitude of positive thinking and cooperation, and heighten awareness
about pertinent human concerns among people of South Asian origin in
general and Bangladesh in particular through interactive dialogue on socio-
economic, geo-political, religious, education, cultural and agronomic
issues.


II. Vision

To emerge as a premiere web-based discussion forum that will enhance
understanding among peoples of various social, political, religious,
ideological, ethnic, and professional backgrounds.


III. Strategy

1. Embark on organized discussions among subscribers with nominal
incentives for quality contributors.

2. Form strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations to enhance
knowledge base and the domain of operations

3. Arrange with local Newspapers to publish summary of organized
discussions on a monthly basis in the editorial or sub-editorial columns.

4. Create a formal segment to initiate and maintain a knowledge base on
issues being discussed

5. Sponsor yearly seminars with the subscribers in a central location to
instill better chemistry.

6. Develop a transparent moderation policy with rotating moderators taking
charge every three months.

IV. Objectives

1. Initiate monthly topics of discussion to promote moderated dialogue
with an objective of enhancing tolerance among various thoughts, concepts,
and ideologies to forge a platform of minimum understanding and focus on
commonalties of thoughts.

2. Post important and interesting articles from different journals and
scholarly works/publications on various social, religious, economic, geo-
political and agronomic aspects of Bangladesh to pinpoint the underlying
problems of the nation that creates social disharmony and initiates hatred
among its people. These writings will help steer the people toward a
direction of self-understanding and introspection of the society.

3. Publish summarized articles on the issues being discussed in popular
Newspapers and Magazines to promote Shetubondhon’s name and enlarging its
subscriber base.

4. Initiate healthy competition among the subscribers in bettering the
quality of postings by announcing incentive based curriculum like "Writer
of the Month" or initiating yearly awards "ShetuBondhok of the Year". [See
Shetubondhok Profile at http://members.xoom.com/shetubondhon/profile.htm ]

5. Initiate and maintain processes that instill systemic behavior of
individuals, i.e., developing individual capacity to respond in a way that
is logical. modular, and structured in the thought process, to help
develop institutional infrastructures of an organization.

6. Invite Non-Bangladeshis, particularly people of sub-continental origin
or others with interest in Bangladesh, to share their views, ideas,
problems and experiences with us for better mutual understanding and
developing a healthy relationship.


Shetubondhon Management



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Dear Shetubondhon subscribers,

Greetings.

Welcome to Shetubondhon.

We at Shetubondhon Management extend our deepest gratitude for still
not unsubscribing as there is not much we have informed you yet about
this new initiative and forum. I guess we were little bit carried
away by "Srishti shukher ullashe" (the ecstasy of creation) and went
ahead somewhat too fast in inviting you as subscribers. Well, the
wait and suspense are over, and Shetubondhon is here. We invite you
to take a few minutes of your valuable time to get acquainted. After
getting acquainted, we are sure you would stay with us, only if you
believe that Shetobondhon would be part of your life.


There are already several Bangladeshi discussion forums and those are
making contribution in a more general way. Shetubondhon benefits from
their experience and would like present its initiative with a very
special orientation that is suggested exactly by its name:
Shetubondhon.

Bangladesh is beset with problems of discord and dysfunctionality
that are holding back the nation from attaining is deserved
transformation. Just recently Bangladeshi teams earned top position
in international IT competition. Earlier Bangladeshi teams made its
presence known in World Cup cricket. Grameen Bank is a household name
in many parts of the world. These are a few examples, but indicative
of the nation's potential.  Unfortunately, we seem to have a culture
that is divisive, discordant, intolerant toward others; we seem to
emphasize our differences, when the world is moving ahead seeking and
establishing common grounds and cooperation. Until this culture
changes, we have little chance to get out of our vicious cycle that
we all would like to see happen, but it doesn't seem to.

Shetubondhon's DISTINCTIVE PERSPECTIVE:

1. Bangladesh focused: Unlike several other major Bangladeshi
discussion forums, Shetubondhon - at this point - is Bangladesh
focused. We will discuss everything - education and culture, politics
and international relations, economy and society, religion and
philosophy, sports and entertainment, science and technology, global
and regional issues - all from the perspective of Bangladesh. Thus,
this is primarily a Bangladeshi forum. We would encourage and even
solicit participation of non-Bangladeshis to enrich the discussion,
but we would hope that they would do so as guests and for
constructive purpose.

2. Quality emphasis: We would cherish and nurture a culture of
decency and intelligence in our communication.

3. Ideological neutrality: This forum has been initiated by a group
of people from diverse ideological, academic, and professional
background. We have in the management individuals who come from
religious and secular background, theistic and atheistic/agnostic
background, rightist and leftist background. They all have deep
commitment to their own background, but they also believe that their
specific background should not stand in the way to seek common ground
for positive, constructive purpose. Rather it should enrich each
other as a group. This idea, if extended, would mean that people from
diverse background can come together and build a nation's culture on
common ground and cooperation. Regardless of our ideological or
religious background, we uphold a relationship of mutual respect. We
don't want just tolerance, we have brought ourselves together to
build bridges - to do the work of Shetubondhon.

4. Shetubondhok profile: For a lack of a better term, those who work
of building bridges, we might call them Shetubondhoks. Among many
other things, we believe that such Shetubondhoks would have the
following common interests. Irrespective of their ideological
orientation, they would have personal commitment to uphold and see
the promotion of a culture based on:

(a) respect for the rule of law;
(b) civility of conduct;
(c) non-partisanship and lack of prejudice;
(d) caring and empathetic attitude about "human" concerns;
(e) desire to identify, seek, and pursue common grounds;
(f) respect of various intellectual/ideological orientations, whether
theistic or atheistic, secular or religious (the key is that we do
not necessarily have to agree to each other, yet work with each other
that affect us all, and our disagreement does not necessarily have to
result into violence: verbal or otherwise);
(g) respect of moral values that have implications for social health
and stability;
(h)  consciousness and respect of our freedom of thought, and
creative human potential to solve problems and harnessing our energy
and motivation in that direction; and
(i)  interest in building bridge between our thought/intellection and
our work/involvement.

THE ROLE OF SUBSCRIBERS:

The management is simply making you aware of its commitment, but what
this forum turns out to be depends on YOU. Indeed, many of you would
need to get involved to make Shetubondhon forum's structure complete.

Since there are already several discussion forums, we don't need to
have another one just for the sake of having another one. If you are
interested in simply sharing your thoughts on whatever and in
whatever way you like that often alienates each other and creates
distance, then there are already other forums for discussions and
gathering for such purpose. If one has a bamboo (baash) and is
interested in using as a virtual stick (latthi) like a latthial, then
Shetubondhon would not interest you. However, if you would like to
use your bamboo to build some bridges, or turn make some flute
(baashi) to play the tune of "moha milon", then you sure would like
Shetubondhon and in turn Shetubondhon needs you. The culture of
Shetubondhon would be better appreciated by those who understand and
appreciate the difference between speaking (kotha bola) and speaking
with a pinch (khota diye kotha bola).

Shetubondhon would be a forum to bring our creativity, vitality, and
warmth to practice and exemplify a culture of tolerance, mutual
respect and cooperation in a challenging, stimulating, and
constructive environment. If you have a tune to play, bring along
your flute and share it with others. If you have a head full of
ideas, enrich us - without whacking or banging each other's head. If
you have some humor to share, bring your bag of humor just don't
forget to bring along your sense of humor too. The real test of this
culture is whether can we have hearty, incisive, quality, and
stimulating communication at the end of which we know if (a) we have
something to agree; (b) we have something to disagree and we can move
beyond; and (c) we close or continue the discussion, but we have
practiced the culture of tolerance and mutual respect and we have
enriched and enhanced our relationship. If all these sound boring,
unenticing, impractical, you will perhaps enjoy one or the other of
the many available forums

Now, you might like to do a few other things.

First, it would be absolutely essential that you read the charter of
Shetubondhon, which also contains posting policies/guidelines, before
you start submitting your messages.

Second, please do take the time to visit Shetubondhon's website (at
its initial stage of development) and familiarize yourself with the
forum.

Third, if you have continued interest, stay with the forum and be a
part of building this culture of Shetubondhon.

Fourth, introduce yourself to the forum by writing a short biography
of you. Include what you like, but pertinent information that help
the forum know you better. You should also visit the Shetubondhon
list site to fill out your profile.

Fifth, after reading the charter, if you feel that you would like to
move beyond being a subscriber, and play an active role of
Shetubondhok by assuming some responsibility - yes, we need you.
Please step forward and let us know.

Beyond all these, we will have plenty of time ahead to know each
other better and closer. Right now, we have only a sketch of the work
of Shetubondhon. Now, we have to get to work to give life to this
sketch.

"Tomra bondhu, keho agroj, anuj, sohodor shomo
Prarthona kori, bhangiya diyona miloner shetu momo."

Not sure who wrote this? Well, one of our initiators wrote an
article "Bridge-building (Shetubondhon): The Case of Rabindranath and
Nazrul". He has consented us to include it in Shetubondhon website
http://members.xoom.com/shetubondhon/default.htm. You might like to
read the article. Of course, it is written in the spirit of
Shetubondhon as the author feels, but the details of the article may
not necessarily represent Shetubondhon management. As that article
ends: "Let's shake hand, make some more people shake hand, and build
some bridges."

Best regards.

Shetubondhon Management



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Dear Friends of Shetubondhon

We are going to start this list from now on.  Very soon you will receive
the greetings and the charter of this list.  Before that we wish to inform
you few things.

** You might receive 3/4 mails a day over various issues relating
Bangladesh and its life and culture as we mentioned before.  We hope you
will enjoy it.

** Please visit our website at
http://members.xoom.com/shetubondhon/default.htm to see the spirit and
modus operandi of this list.  I earnestly request you to do that.  This is
a temporary site and very soon we shall move to our own domain
www.shetubondhon.org

** If anyone have problem with mail burden, (s)he might want to switch the
subscription to web mode so that (s)he will not receive mail but can read
our mail in the web based archive.  The archive site can be found once you
enter www.onelist.com/shetubondhon and go after the message tag.  ALternately
you can go directly to www.onelist.com/archive/shetubondhon

** For any questions and comments please contact us as
comments@...

** If anyone really need an e-mail account, we can provide an account in
our domain shetubondhon.org.  You can operate this account over the web or
you can use your default mailer like Eudora/Netscape mailer/Outlook
Express/Pagasus etc to get POP access and download your message from there.
  However, you need to be on line or dial up your local provider first
before you get POP access to this account.

For any complains or comments, please contact us.  This is you and you who
will determine what kind of list it will be and how it is going to run.

Stay tuned for our greeting message in a while.

Wish you all the best.

SHETUBONDHON MANAGEMENT

Dear Friends
We changed the name of the group as "Setubondhon".

All list serve commands will now be

post: Setubondhon@onelist.com
Subscribe: Setubondhon-subscribe@onelist.com
Unsubscribe: Setubondhon-unsubscribe@onelist.com

Sorry for the inconvenience.  It will take us a week to activate the group
in full swing for those who wish to stay anyway.

Sincere regards

Parvez