Searching the motive for the offending cartoon
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Enayet Rasul
The publication of a derogatory cartoon of Prophet Mohammed (SM) has led to the very understandable outpouring of wrath from Bangladeshis who are generally pious Muslims and sensitive like all other Muslims everywhere in relation to ill motivated actions meant to mock or tar their faith. Thus, spontaneous demonstrations were noted against the offending publication in the roads notwithstanding that a state of emergency exists in the country that expressly requires that no public ventilation of grievances through assembling of people, processions and related acts can take place as the same are prohibited under the emergency regulations. But deeply offended people-- when their honour , belief and religion, are taunted and trifled with-- can lose their self control and turn bersek flouting laws and regulations.
Perhaps such a reaction was expressly sought by the quarters who planned or plotted the cartoon incident from behind the wings. They used their resources and paid agents and emboldened them to go ahead with the mischief. Fortunately, the signs of a breakdown of law and ordered that was anticipated in the wake of the publication of the cartoon was prevented by proactive actions on the part of the government and also considerably by the owners and management of the institution involved. The rendering of heartfelt apologies, asking for forgiveness with open hearts and meekly, the immediate penal action against the cartoonist, etc., all had a pacifying effect.
But the government should remain extremely cautious because the conspirators are alive and well and they would not probably give up so easily. A similar offending article was published in a local weekly magazine even before the furore over the cartoon had died down. In this case also the swift positive reactions on the part of the management of the magazine in admitting their guilt and seeking a pardon, has had a calming effect. However, there is no knowing what the conspirators are planning for the future and that is why government needs to be specially agile to get at the roots of the conspiracy and counteract it successfully. For it is very likely that based on the sentiments whipped up by the carton and following acts, certain quarters made an attempt to trigger large scale unruly activities that would challenge the authority and capacity of the present caretaker administration in Bangladesh.
It is notable that a similar event though not involving religious sentiments, was tried some weeks ago in the Dhaka University (DU) campus. It is still a mystery whether the incident at DU was also an isolated incident or whether it was part of a blue print. But even a foreign envoy stationed in the country noted that the involvement of outsiders and from the manner they stoked the violence after it started at DU, it seemed that there was a plot to 'engineer' an uncontrollable situation there that would not only embarrass the incumbents in power in Bangladesh but seriously destabilize conditions in this country making governance difficult. Thus, a link may be there between the DU incident, the cartoon and the article in the weekly magazine. All could be part of a game by the same mastermind to trigger social unrest in Bangladesh by increasing antagonisms between different social, political and religious groups. The desired outcome might be two-fold : to destroy social peace and stability in Bangladesh or bring the same under a threat and create grounds for questioning the effectiveness or usefulness of the caretaker administration in governing the country.
It is interesting to note that an official report has been published in the US which has not done justice in its observations about religious tolerance in this country. Bangladesh so far has been distinguished in the subcontinent for its liberal policies towards religious and ethnic minorities. Unlike the other South Asian countries, harmony and coexistence practiced by the preponderant Muslims in Bangladesh in their relations with the minorities, remains a model one. Foreign observers also praised Bangladesh from time to time as an example of communal peace and harmony. But the latest report of the US government on the subject hardly seems based on realities existing in Bangladesh .
Worries have been noted for quite some time that there is a plan to gradually put the seal on Bangladesh as a dangerously unstable country full of religious fanatics. If the unrest started by the recent cartoon could not be so quickly contained, then such a view would find some support. The plan was also anticipated as geared to gradually encouraging dissensions, large scale breakdown in public life and associated acts, all meant to ultimately create an image of Bangladesh as a lawless country or a failed state to justify foreign intervention in it on the plea of maintaining or restoring order . Perhaps the conspirators are trying to accelerate the implementation of their plan and the carton, offending article and DU incidents, were all part of the calculations to trigger and sustain serious strife in Bangladesh to pave the ground for ultimately branding Bangladesh as a pariah state to facilitate their interventionism in its affairs. Thus, there is every reason for the caretaker government to head off this conspiracy by detecting every step before its unfolding and the taking of toughest of actions against the same.
The publication of a derogatory cartoon of Prophet Mohammed (SM) has led to the very understandable outpouring of wrath from Bangladeshis who are generally pious Muslims and sensitive like all other Muslims everywhere in relation to ill motivated actions meant to mock or tar their faith. Thus, spontaneous demonstrations were noted against the offending publication in the roads notwithstanding that a state of emergency exists in the country that expressly requires that no public ventilation of grievances through assembling of people, processions and related acts can take place as the same are prohibited under the emergency regulations. But deeply offended people-- when their honour , belief and religion, are taunted and trifled with-- can lose their self control and turn bersek flouting laws and regulations.
Perhaps such a reaction was expressly sought by the quarters who planned or plotted the cartoon incident from behind the wings. They used their resources and paid agents and emboldened them to go ahead with the mischief. Fortunately, the signs of a breakdown of law and ordered that was anticipated in the wake of the publication of the cartoon was prevented by proactive actions on the part of the government and also considerably by the owners and management of the institution involved. The rendering of heartfelt apologies, asking for forgiveness with open hearts and meekly, the immediate penal action against the cartoonist, etc., all had a pacifying effect.
But the government should remain extremely cautious because the conspirators are alive and well and they would not probably give up so easily. A similar offending article was published in a local weekly magazine even before the furore over the cartoon had died down. In this case also the swift positive reactions on the part of the management of the magazine in admitting their guilt and seeking a pardon, has had a calming effect. However, there is no knowing what the conspirators are planning for the future and that is why government needs to be specially agile to get at the roots of the conspiracy and counteract it successfully. For it is very likely that based on the sentiments whipped up by the carton and following acts, certain quarters made an attempt to trigger large scale unruly activities that would challenge the authority and capacity of the present caretaker administration in Bangladesh.
It is notable that a similar event though not involving religious sentiments, was tried some weeks ago in the Dhaka University (DU) campus. It is still a mystery whether the incident at DU was also an isolated incident or whether it was part of a blue print. But even a foreign envoy stationed in the country noted that the involvement of outsiders and from the manner they stoked the violence after it started at DU, it seemed that there was a plot to 'engineer' an uncontrollable situation there that would not only embarrass the incumbents in power in Bangladesh but seriously destabilize conditions in this country making governance difficult. Thus, a link may be there between the DU incident, the cartoon and the article in the weekly magazine. All could be part of a game by the same mastermind to trigger social unrest in Bangladesh by increasing antagonisms between different social, political and religious groups. The desired outcome might be two-fold : to destroy social peace and stability in Bangladesh or bring the same under a threat and create grounds for questioning the effectiveness or usefulness of the caretaker administration in governing the country.
It is interesting to note that an official report has been published in the US which has not done justice in its observations about religious tolerance in this country. Bangladesh so far has been distinguished in the subcontinent for its liberal policies towards religious and ethnic minorities. Unlike the other South Asian countries, harmony and coexistence practiced by the preponderant Muslims in Bangladesh in their relations with the minorities, remains a model one. Foreign observers also praised Bangladesh from time to time as an example of communal peace and harmony. But the latest report of the US government on the subject hardly seems based on realities existing in Bangladesh .
Worries have been noted for quite some time that there is a plan to gradually put the seal on Bangladesh as a dangerously unstable country full of religious fanatics. If the unrest started by the recent cartoon could not be so quickly contained, then such a view would find some support. The plan was also anticipated as geared to gradually encouraging dissensions, large scale breakdown in public life and associated acts, all meant to ultimately create an image of Bangladesh as a lawless country or a failed state to justify foreign intervention in it on the plea of maintaining or restoring order . Perhaps the conspirators are trying to accelerate the implementation of their plan and the carton, offending article and DU incidents, were all part of the calculations to trigger and sustain serious strife in Bangladesh to pave the ground for ultimately branding Bangladesh as a pariah state to facilitate their interventionism in its affairs. Thus, there is every reason for the caretaker government to head off this conspiracy by detecting every step before its unfolding and the taking of toughest of actions against the same.