"A Friend Of Israel In Bangladesh Prison"

So, the anti militancy drive and the trial of militants have virtually halted in Bangladesh? Recent newspaper reports and the visible activities of the authority clearly indicates so. The history of large scales militant activities in Bangladesh is not very old. According to police records, it started in the year 2005 and subsequently their motive, organizational structure, capabilities, foreign links, operational goal were found out through investigation.

Many top leaders of militant outfits were arrested, enquired and placed under trial. At the same time, it's also true that major terror incident like 21 Augustgrenade attack were extremely politicized in the process of investigation and subsequent charge sheets and thereby the merit of the entire case has been made complex in the eyes of the victims.

Yet again, after the 17 august, 2005 country wide bomb attack by the members of Jumatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB), everybody was alert and thought the law enforcers, intelligence agencies and government as a whole would do the needful for analyzing, evaluating and subsequent trial of the members of JMB. But the way the issue was very hastily dealt by concerned authority and more hurriedly their chief leader Shaikh Abdur Rahman, operational commander Bangla Bhai and four other top leaders was hanged, has dragged people into heavier darkness than solving the mystery.

Between the year 2007 and 2014, total 478 JMB men faced trial in 177 cases where 51 top leaders have been awarded with death penalty, 178 with life sentence and 245 jailed for different terms. As no significant militant activities were observed over the last few years, the law enforcers started a sigh of relief. Their perception was nullified and rather more intensified after the February 2014 incident where two very top level JMB Leaders managed to escape from the police escorted prison van through a commando style operation by their colleagues. This very incident proves that militants are recharging their organizational strength and also continued getting strong financial support from abroad.

At the moment, there are total 07 Islamists banned groups which are JMB, Hizbur Tahrir, Hizbut Tawhid, Hizbut Tahrir Ulaiah Bangladesh, Harkatul Jihad (Huji), Hizbullah, Allahar Dal. Amongst these, beside JMB; Hizbut Tahrir and Harkatul Jihad have most widespread militant network inside Bangladesh. Like the other outfits, Hizbut Tahrir usually doesn't engage itself in petty bomb blast or covert attack; rather they intend to establish "Caliphete rule" with their motivational skill and inspiring people with their ideology. Hizbut Tahrir also denounces democracy. The other militant group's ideological concept is quite vague and thereby only transmitted amongst poor and uneducated general repel. Because of the lack of law enforcers direct monitoring over the last one year due to their engagement in controlling political situation and harassing the opponent political parties, the extremist got chance to regroup and reorganize their strength.

Moreover, all the governments mainly campaigned with an intention to arrest the militants. Then, the political governments were more enthusiastic withdrawing their "politically motivated" tagged cases rather taking necessary steps to try the militants properly. As a result, due to the prosecution's failure in handling the cases, specially in submitting sufficient evidences and witnesses, caused unnecessary delay of many cases. In some occasions the militants got bail and now at large in the society posing constant threat to the social stability. At the moment, due to the non-cooperation and negligence of concerned police authority, trial of as many as 35 cases against militants is visibly halted for indefinite period. Under the current scenario, finally court has issued non bailable arrest warrant against 334 law enforcers, 22 judges, 09 doctors, 8 specialists and 1734 public witnesses. So, the bottom line is- the militancy drive in Bangladesh has not only lost it's pace but even the trial of militants has virtually halted.

When this is the scenario of militancy situation in Bangladesh, our adored editor of Blitz family Mr Salhuddin Shoaib Choudhury is serving his sentence of 07 years of rigorous imprisonment in Bangladesh prison. What is his offence? Well, during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - Jamaat Islami Bangladesh alliance govt. rule, it was govt. who filed a strange case against Shoaib Choudhury in 2003. The Investigation Officer of the case narrated even a stranger reason in the First Information Report.

It was stated that Mr. Shoaib's only fault was he published an article named "Hello Tel Aviv" in USA Today in June 2003 where he has praised Jews and Christians and criticized jihad. And that's all! With this accusation total 04 charges were brought against him under the Bangladesh Penal Code section 124(a ), 120 (b), 295 (a) and 505. Summarily the charges were sedition, treason, blasphemy and instigating threat against public peace. Well, for the readers clear understanding let me narrate the offences and punishment mentioned in the law.

A. Section 124(a)-offence: sedition- punishment: Imprisonment for life or for any shorter term and fine, or imprisonment of either description for 03 years and fine, or fine.

B. Section 120(b)-offence: criminal conspiracy to commit an offence. Punishment: punishable with death, imprisonment for life or a term of two years or upwards.

C. Section 295(a)-offence: maliciously insulting the religion or the religious beliefs of any class. Punishment: imprisonment of either description for 02 years or fine or both.

D. Section 505-offence: false statement, rumour etc circulated with intent to cause mutiny or offence against the public peace.

Punishment: imprisonment of either description for 10 years and fine. Though there were the charges mentioned in the first information report, the primary accusation against Mr. Shoaib was being a Mosad agent. After lot of hardship the court under Awami League regime, failed to manufacture any substance on this spy allegation. Because respectable people like Mr. Shoaib can never be a foreign spy. In reality, there was never an article named "Hello Tel Aviv" in the said newspaper. But even without having a copy of that fictitious article, Metropolitan session judge Jahurul Hoq unilaterally declared his verdict under Bangladesh Penal Code section 505, awarding him with complete farce! The BNP- Jamaat initiated the drama by filing cases against Shoaib Choudhury and AL govt. has re-arrested, tried and convicted him with an unacceptable verdict.

The US senator (Republican IL) Mr. Mark Steven Clerk in his official statement said "Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is not a criminal. But he is a hero and a model to inter-faith harmony and global peace". US Congressman Ms Nita Lowey (Dem, NY) said, "Bangladesh should not harass a courageous and anti Jihadist Journo like Shoaib Choudhury". Editorial board member of Wall Street Journal Mr. Bret Stephen in an editorial said, "Person like Mr. Shoaib is the best ally of US in it's war on terror". New York Times, in it's editorial said, "Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is a man of rare virtue". Berliner Zeiturg said, "a Muslin hero with extra-ordinary courage saying NO to jihad and religious extremism". Internationally acclaimed writers like Bret Stephens, WSJ; Judi Mcleod, Melanie Phillips, Danial Pipes, Heather Robinson, Seth Mandel, Sir Frank Peters, Christina England, Rabbi Sue Levy, Ariella Kapelner, Dr. Richard L Benkin, Amitabha Tripathi, Miriam Jones, Lori Lowenthal Marcus, Pranay Sharma and many others had always been praising the extraordinary courage and bravery of Mr. Choudhury.

But quite unfortunately, the Bangladesh judicial system and the govt. functionaries has already turned Mr. Choudhury an apostate just because he confronts radical Islam, religious hatred, anti Semitism and strongly defends the State of Israel. The radical Muslim press and most of the anti-Israel groups in the world are feeling delighted at the imprisonment of Choudhury. They feel, this court verdict will be a strong warning to every Muslim who might ever stand in the defense of Israel. Under extreme adversity and popular opinion, which is violently against Israel and Semitism, Shoaib Choudhury dares denouncing it and strongly standing in defense of the State of Israel? As Israelis raised voice for heroic Gilat Shalit, now it is time, once again for them to demand release of Choudhury from the prison. Because the world knows Choudhury is a proud Zionist. And of course the only Zionist in the Muslim world. In the eyes of the Bangladesh government, that seems to be his biggest fault. When the prominent feminist Taslima Nasrin became controversial due to her ideology, she was forced to exile in 1994. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has already been offered asylum in as many as 07 countries, but he refused to leave the land of his ancestors.

Nelson Mandela once said that, the person who is considered today as the villain of the state is tomorrow'sstatesman. Had Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman not been convicted in Agartala Conspiracy case, he would never be the Bangabandhu. Indicating the ruling govt. in Bangladesh, Sir Frank Peters said, "Are they creating another Bangabandhu?" This Mr. Choudhury is an internationally acclaimed writer who already has published books named Extreme Adversity, Injustice of Jihad, Inside Madrassa, Zionist Lane, Reportage and Non Sono Colpevole (Italian). Mr. Choudhury's professional life was also full of his protest against radical thoughts.

In his early life, primarily he joined Russian news agency Itar TAAS. Later on he got enrolled in daily Inqilab, a newspaper funded by Saddam Hussein. Choudhury started acting as the special correspondent. In those days, a huge portrait of Osama Bin Laden used to be hanged in the newsroom of Inqilab. Salah Uddin Shoaib was the first man in that office who instead of worshipping Laden upheld his own ideology of being a moderate Muslim denying radical Islam. When most of the Journos in Inqilab growing beard, appeasing Saddam, adhering religious extremism; the 5th floor of the newspaper building occupied by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury turned into regular meeting place for secularist, atheist and anti Jihadist cultural activists.

Actually, Mr. Choudhury is a man with strong religious ethos. During his young hood, he was very intently carrying out his Islamic rituals like offering prayer regularly and attending mosque for Jummah Prayer in each Friday. He attended the sermons delivered by mullahs where they used to paint all Jews and Christians as the enemy of Muslims. He got confused and asked his dad who happened to be a very progressive man. Dad told him very calmly" son, please look towards the global reality and widen your vision accordingly". That's what Mr. Choudhury has been doing all his life.

After his first release from jail in the BNP govt. regime, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury was accorded police protection. But this time after assuming office in 2009, AL withdrew that facility and eventually sent him to prison. So long, Hasina govt. has been providing VIP protection to the self proclaimed national leader of so called "Gono Jagoron Mancha" (mass movement platform) Mr. Imran H Sarker, whereas a internationally acclaimed, award winning journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is forced to waste his valuable time in jail.

So long Mr. Choudhury remains in jail, it continuously keeps on sending wrong signal to the international community just the way it happened in case of Dr. Younus. Possibly Hasina is trying to pretend that her govt. is appeasing Islamists. And that is why a nefarious Islamist Mr. Ahmed Shafi said, "AL is my friend". Hopefully, the US ambassador in Dhaka, Mr. Dan W Mozena should be knowing all these facts. I believe that Nisa Desai Biswal, US assistant secretary of state, should take up the case of Mr. Choudhury with much seriousness. The US secretary of state, Mr. John Kerry who had always been at the forefront in defending and supporting Mr. Choudhury since Kerry was a congressman. Similarly honourable member of US congress Mr. Peter King, Mr. Steve Chabot, Mr. Steve Roothman and many others had also been extremely vocal in defense of Shoaib Choudhury.

Canadian law Minister Dr. Irwin Cotler, ESQR was one of the defense counsels of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury who was never allowed by the govt. to appear in the court-on his behalf. Dr. Cotler had been the lawyer for Nelson Mandela, Netan Sheranaski, Aung San Su Kyi, Lev Walesa and many other celebrity human right activists and politicians. He also is a friend of president Barrack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Markel, Israel PM Benjamin Netaniyahu and India's next PM Narendra Modi. Just imagine what may happen if Dr. Cotler will share the story of legal travesty of his loving brother and friend Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury.

I also should surely mention the name of US rights activists Dr. Richard L Benkin, the man who had been an undeterred and tireless defender of Mr. Choudhury. Dr. Benkin certainly has significant importance to many. And finally the names I must mention of Mr. David Harris, the executive director of American Jewish Committee and Ms. Yehudit Barsky- one of the prominent officials of American Jewish Committee.

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has always been vocal against any issue in any corner of the world. During the "green band" revolution in Iran under the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it was Mr. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury who ran serial article named "Inside Iran" in Blitz. There he vividly narrated about human rights violation, torture and corruption done by Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the state sponsored prostitution.

The same Mr. Choudhury wrote rigorously against the corruption and power manipulation by "Hawa Bhaban" and it's cohorts during BNP-Jamaat regime. Mr. Choudhury's pen rightly remained anti-jihadist and wrote against the jihadist Islamist militant outfit Hizbut Tahrir and Hizbut Tawhid. As a result, govt. became alerted and banned these organizations. Last year, a blogger named Rajib was murdered by Islamist terrorist only for writing in an unknown blog site. Judging these actions by Shoaib Choudhury and contemporary Islamists militant outfits, it can be wisely said that, government ultimately made Shoaib so vulnerable to the survival, by punishing the man. Moreover, when the trial of Islamist terrorists are lingered indefinitely, then keeping an anti jihadist like him in prison for an imaginary guilt, through a farcical trial is nothing but vulnerable for state's security too. So, I as a conscious citizen of this country demand immediate steps in releasing Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury unconditionally and full police protection after his release.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking care of every state affair single handedly. Even recently it was announced that she would see all the files of any ministry if the minister concerned is unavailable. This decision was surely taken to expedite the functioning of the govt. But, at the age of 70, how much more workload the lion hearted PM can take? After all, she also is a human being. It is impossible on her part to take all responsibilities onto her shoulder while her colleagues in the cabinet remain busy in eating "jack fruit ". As i mentioned, Sheikh Hasina is completely at dark about conviction and imprisonment of Shoaib Choudhury. But, some of her close-aides played key role in influencing the judge in passing this questioned verdict. Of course, the wrong effect of it, will directly come on the government especially Sheikh Hasina.