Candle Light Vigils for the fallen planned Worldwide Sat-Sun
New York (TONIGHT)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=70891226899
Toronto (TONIGHT)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=52241414069
DC (TONIGHT)http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=66810927931
Canberra (Sunday) At 6 pm on March 1, congregate at union square, Australian National Univeristy, Canberra.
London (Sunday)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46596279158
Dhaka (Sunday) Prarthona shobha by cultural artists
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=53235393347&ref=mf
Never thought we have to revisit mass grave in independent Bangladesh. But yet mass graves, cold blooded murder of innocent army officers, civilians, families, elderly couple, pregnant women are revisiting us. We mourn our loss. We offer silent prayers in solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones as well as with those who are anxiously waiting to know the fate of their loved ones. There is no word to describe how we feel.
For me personally it feels like 911 in New York when I mourned and felt a personal loss for for people and families whom I didn’t know. Syeed, Jyoti, Naeem, Rumi, Dhaka Shohor and I (Asif), with help from a bunch of you in Dhaka, have been updating the event details past few days in the unheard voice blog. But today’s findings have left us numb. Lots of soul searching to do, lot to think about in the coming days but for the next two days, let us mourn.
I suggest we do a few things.
1. Change our facebook profile to black badge image at the top of the next entry.
2. Organize a vigil tomorrow night wherever we are. Under no organizational umbrella. But just under the umbrella of ‘united in grief for fallen bangladeshis’
Will you join us?
(Pls see the threads below for news and analysis)
So far we have had news of three vigils being planned in London, DC and Toronto under the banner of ‘United in Grief, United in seeking justice’. Below are the details. If you are planning any vigil in your city, please post details in the discussion forum under the thread ‘Vigil planned Across the world this weekend’
We have created a facebook group to be united in our grief and share our stories. You can find it here. Please join by click http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52994467998#/group.php?gid=52994467998
Washington DC:
Saturday , Feb 28th ,2009 at 6.30 PM
In George mason University by the clock tower, outside of jhonson center.
4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA, 22030)
Toronto:
Saturday , Feb 28th ,2009 at 6.30 PM
details will be posted in the facebook group page.
London
Sunday March 1, 6.30 pm
Altab Ali Park in front of Shahid Minar
Altgate East
You can get the stories and updates in the facebook group by clicking here
Structure of the vigil: (suggested)
30 minute program.
1. state the known facts of what happened
2. light the candles, have enough so that there is one for each. Sing ‘Aguner poroshmoni choao prane, e jibon punno koro’ with the candles.
3. Share personal stories, published news stories and blogs about the lost lives (take print outs of photos and stories of the fallen from the group)
4. Share 1/2 poetry for the fallen.
5. Have a moment of silence and offer our prayers
6. End the evening by singing ‘Amar shonar Bangla’ together.
Tags: BDR mutiny
I hate vigils. Will lighting candles bring back the fallen? Rather than lighting candles, start asking questions, like… why did govt. failed to stop this killing? Demand govt. for an answer. The soul of the dead will only find peace when the truth is uncovered and real perpetrators are brought to justice.
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নিহত সৈনিকদের যানাই হাজার সালাম। দোষি বি ডি আর সদস্যদের বিচার দাবি করছি । তারা সৈনিক হয়ে কাপুরুষের মত নিরস্ত্র সেনা সৈনিক এবং ওসহায় নারিদের হত্যা করেছে। কাপুরুষ ধিক্কার ওদের। তোমাদের এই ঘৃনিত আচরন জাতি সারা জিবন মনে রাখবে।
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7914406.stm
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[...] candle-light vigil to mourn the dead and to show unity with their families, will be held at Altab Ali Park in Aldgate [...]
Just announced:
New Vigil at Dhaka TONIGHT:
Dhanmondi Robindra Shorobor (7-9 PM)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=58056106289&ref=mf
Remaining Vigils tonight:
London (Sunday): 6.30 PM
Altab Ali Park, Brick Lane
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46596279158
Dhaka (Sunday)
Prarthona shobha by cultural artists
Zia Chottor opposite Rifle Square parking lot
5-7 PM
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=53235393347&ref=mf
Vigils happened in DC, Toronto and New York last night.
In the meantime, there is a news on the DC vigil:
Washington, Mar 1 (bdnews24.com)—Still gripped by shock and disbelief,
a group of Bangladeshi-Americans in the greater Washington
metropolitan area held a candle light vigil on Saturday night for the
victims of the BDR mutiny in Dhaka.
Braving frigid temperature men, women and children from Washington DC,
Virginia and Maryland gathered on George Mason University campus, just
outside Washington, responding to an email appeal.
Almost all present on the occasion appeared distraught and traumatised
by the brutality and savagery of the incident. “How could they indulge
in such a cruel act”, wondered Nancy Kamal, a resident of Virginia.
Such sentiment was shared by most others. While they acknowledged that
the BDR men might have genuine grievances, the way they vented their
anger was totally unacceptable.
They were all especially shaken by the mayhem and carnage that didn’t
even spare families and homes.
They expressed deepest condolences to the victims’ families and loved
ones. Names of some of the fallen army officers were also read out on
the occasion.
Ehsan Hoque, Atia Mahzabin Nitu and Wahed Hossaini were among those
who spoke at the vigil of their deep shock.
The vigil concluded with a prayer for the departed souls led by Mr.
Hossaini, a long-time resident of Virginia. Before the prayer,
participants sang the national anthem in a sign of solidarity with
Bangladesh.
A unanimous resolution was adopted at the vigil, which strongly
condemned the senseless violence unleashed by renegade troops of the
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).
The resolution also called on the Bangladesh government to bring the
perpetrators of these atrocities to justice by forming an independent,
impartial commission. At the same time, it commended the concerted
effort made by the political leadership to resolve the crisis through
negotiation rather than resorting to violence.
“We call on the Bangladesh government to put checks and feedback
mechanisms in place to prevent a similar crisis in future”, the
resolution said.
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Various Organizations observed a candle light vigil under the banner of United in Grief for the fallen Bangladeshis on March 1 at the Altab Ali Park in Altgate East. The program was attended by members of Drishtipat, Team Bangladesh, Network Bangla and Sylhet in London. The speakers showed solidarity with the victims’ families and mourners worldwide and demanded transparent investigation and justice for the killing, looting, rape and arsons. The program started with one minute silence and followed with the reading out of the names of all the victims of the February 25th incident. Asif Saleh, then read out the resolution of the event. Then members from various organizations read out about lives of various individuals and their families causing a lot of the attendants to break down in tears. Sohini Alam and Nobonita Chowdhury then sang sombre tunes, followed by a poetry recitation by Eeshita Azad and Rubaiyat Sharmin Jhara. The attending participants then had an open mike to talk about their feelings about the atrocities. The program ended with all the participants singing of the national anthem of Bangladesh. The points made in the event were as follows:
1. Justice must prevail — both for those who were killed so brutally and for those who are going to stand trial.
2. Demand thorough, transparent investigation into ALL deaths and punishment for all killers, looters, rapists and arsonists.
3. No vengeance but due process for all
4. Make any investigation reports public as much as possible to end, once and for all, all sorts of speculations.
5. Oppose any militarisation of the state apparatus and draconian law that may come as a result of this incident.
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Canberra, 1st March, 2009: by Shamaruh Mirza
Still gripped by shock and disbelief, a group of Bangladeshis in the Union Square, Australian National University, held a candle light vigil for the victims of the Pilkhana genocide in Dhaka.
Almost all present on the occasion appeared distraught and devastated by the brutality and savagery of the incident and they agreed, this act was totally unacceptable.
They were all especially shaken by the mayhem and carnage that didn’t even spare families and homes.
They expressed deepest condolences to the Martyrs’ families and loved ones. Names of Martyr army officers and civilians were also read out on the occasion.
Emran , Faham, Ifthekhar, Fawzia, Rozy,Raitul ( Doing PhD/ Msc /Bsc in ANU) were among those who spoke at the vigil of their deep shock and shared their personal experiences with some of the martyrs. No body could stop their tears when they heard about the brilliance and excellent character of these people.
The honorable Councilor was also present at the occasion and he conducted the prayer.
After the prayer, participants sang the national anthem in a sign of solidarity with Bangladesh.
Everybody strongly condemned the senseless violence unleashed by renegade troops of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), called on the Bangladesh government to bring the perpetrators of these atrocities to justice by forming an independent, impartial commission. Everybody cried for national unity!
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Pictures from Dhaka vigil : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=226272&id=709910583&page=2
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[...] that ensure a sense of fairness and justice. As Bangladeshis around the world mourn the victims through candlelight vigils, ensuring punishment for the perpetrators of this heinous incident is only the first step. The [...]