Drishtipat DC organized a screening of the film “Portrait of Jihad” by acclaimed human rights activist, Shahriar Kabir. The event was held at Busboys and Poets Café on 24 October. In her welcoming remarks, Nadia Afrin from Drishtipat DC pointed out that Bangladesh was a nation of contrasts. It was a country where poverty and possibilities, democracy and autocracy, secularism and communalism live side by side.
“Portrait of Jihad” probes into the attacks orchestrated by radical Islamic entities like Harkatul Jihad and Bangla Bhai. It sheds light on how they train, their source of funding and their close ties with the Jamaat-e-Islami Party. A packed audience of around 80 people attended the film screening at Busboys and Poets. Among them were Bangladeshi –American youth as well as young people of various nationalities. Filmmaker Shahriar Kabir discussed the context and subject matter of the film. He expressed his intention to expand the documentary and include more supporting information and facts.
The discussion segment was led by journalist Anis Ahmed. The engaging audience posed questions about the current state of Bangladesh, the advent of Islamic militancy, the ties of local radical groups with international terrorist organizations, their source of funding and the government’s success and failure in reining terrorism.
Having just spent 3 hours in secondary interrogation at JFK, it’s on my mind that such events (in DC no less), well intentioned as they are, cannot but help to add to the automatic checklist that is growing in the area of security/immigration. Waiting ahead of me in that room were 40 men, mostly Pakistani, a few Arab (this was by the way the room for green card holders, never mind other status).
In the near future that room can be at least 50% Bangladeshis at any time, including people who blog here. I know that is not the organizers intention, but how will they guard against it? How will this film of SK not contribute to that. The unintended is often what happens.
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Let me preface my comments by saying that I fully understand and sympathize the concerns you are raising. As a student in the US after 9/11, I had to be driven from my remote campus to a small, dingy INS office, where I not only was photographed and fingerprinted, but I had to provide addresses of all my relatives in the US, my bank account, credit and debit card numbers. For the next several years, I used to arrive at airports four hours early for international travel, have my baggage pawed through (which I would then have to zip back), and go through the charade called special registration. In short, I and INS/USCIS/BCP are old chums.
But, to be honest, it’s not like the things Shahriar Kabir is saying are really unknown. Foreign governments know what’s really going on in BD. They don’t need Shahriar Kabir or Sultana Kamal to tell them.
In my humble opinion, what this really shows is that we, as a society, have matured enough so that we can withstand self-criticism abroad, concerning a very sensitive topic. Arundhati Roy regularly says much, much worse about her own country.
Individuals like Arundhati Roy, Noam Chomsky, Uri Avnery, Tom Engelhardt, Deepa Mehta etc. are like antidotes to the poison that accumulates in a nation’s body through majoritarianism and nationalism. We could not tolerate Taslima Nasrin, fifteen years ago. Let’s not make the same mistake again.
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I am not contesting the fact that militant Islamism is on the rise in Bangladesh. I also am not the one who will be alarmed at the talk about Islamic militancy and resort to a hush hush attitude.
But I have a very simple question. What we gain by doing the screening in Washington DC?
It is our problem, should not we fight it within our society? In that regard, I would find it more suitable to screen this documentary in all district level colleges, Upazilla HQs of Bangladesh.
Do we want to get Washington DC on our side in this fight? Fight against whom? Isn’t this a fight against some elements who are part and parcel of our society, do we really need Washington to fight for us?
What is Washington’s track record in fighting Islamic militancy? The more we involve foreign entities in the war, the more we strengthen the enemy and alienate another big portion of our society.
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http://www.shahidulnews.com/?p=6206
The Undesirable Professor
September 4th, 2009
Our leisurely breakfast at Coyoacan was interrupted. “It’s Trisha,” said Pedro, handing over the phone. I had just come from Dublin where I’d been chatting to Don Mullan about how he came across the incredible information that led to the reopening of the Bloody Sunday enquiry. Conversation veered to Pedro and Trish who had been involved in the project. I was heading for Mexico City. Trisha was not in Mexico but she knew I was visiting Pedro and Nadia in their lovely house in Coyoacan and I was hoping to hear from her. I was conducting the inaugural workshop of the Pedro Meyer Foundation. But Trisha’s call was not just about saying hello. The previous night, she had seen my name in a TV programme in the US. I was on top of a list of ‘undesirable professors’ who apparently went round the US making extremist speeches. The list included people like Noam Chomsky, so I was in good company, but I wondered where the extremist label had come from.
As it is, I am labelled a “Special Alien” by US immigration. I generally go to the US at least once a year to speak at the National Geographic. Last year they had also asked me to speak at the PDN (Photo District News) convention at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. Robert Pledge had turned the tables on me and taken advantage of my presence to ask me to speak at the Eugene Smith Award Ceremony at Parson’s School of Design. It was usually I who arm-twisted him into giving time to my students. Every time I arrive in the US, I go through what is now a familiar pattern. I wait in the winding queue at JFK airport. Upon scanning my passport, the immigration officer calls for someone to come over and take me to a separate room. The room, populated mostly by ‘not so pale’ people, is where “Special Aliens” are interrogated.
On my way out, I have to register at the NSEERS (National Security Entry/Exit Registration System) office. This is not always at the terminal I am departing from, so I have to do prior research to ensure I am allowed enough time for this and don’t miss my plane. I have long stopped expecting to catch a connecting flight in the US, and have informed all my associates accordingly. The immigration officials never explain why I am a “Special Alien”, and the last time I applied for a visa, the visa officer in Dhaka, who knew my work, had kindly pointed out that I would no longer be subjected to this procedure. I had happily trotted up to immigration on my next visit, knowing I was ‘normal’ again. But of course it had made no difference. I still ended up in that familiar room. I was asked the same old questions again, and re-fingerprinted and re-photographed for good measure.
Through a link Trish had sent me, I had tried tracing the programme on PBS, but pulled a blank. Rahnuma, who has enough trouble bailing me out (sometimes literally), wasn’t over-excited about this new development. She insisted that I chase it up, and get to the root of the story. She felt sure Brian would be able to dig up the facts. Brian Palmer had turned up many years ago, to do a story on Chobi Mela that Aperture Magazine had commissioned. Last year he had been commissioned by the Pulitzer Foundation to do a film on Pathshala. He had also spoken at Dhaka University of his experience as an embedded journalist in Iraq. His film Full Disclosure had sadly not been completed in time for Chobi Mela V. We had become dear friends over the years. Predictably, it was Brian who came up with the information.
Daniel Pipes on the Fox News show “The O’Reilly Factor” had named M Shahid Alam, an economics professor at Northeastern University, as “unAmerican” for statements he made after 9-11. I don’t know how much lower one’s status can get, but for the moment I was no lower than a ‘Special Alien’. As for having a common sir name, well Shahrukh Khan wasn’t bad company!
Rahnuma steadfastly refuses to apply for a US visa, as the application procedure is so humiliating. She finds the UK visa procedure much the same, and has refused invitations to both countries on these grounds. Many friends have left the US and UK because of the hostile environment. My occasional visits, as a speaker at Harvard, UCLA, USC, Stanford and the National Geographic, or even in transit to Latin America does rile me, but I treat it as a useful reminder of what our relationships with these countries are. Friends have found it strange that I refuse to obtain a British passport. The same friends who thought I was foolish in giving up my membership of the colonial Dhaka Club.
I have little liking for queues, but if that is what it takes for me to be separated from these warmongering “tribes”, I’m ready to put up with a bit of waiting. As for my ‘Special Alien’ status. I wear it as a badge of honour.
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Ramendu Majumdar Says:
September 15th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I had similar experience in Houston airport about 5 years ago while I was coming to USA from Mexico after attending the World Congress of International Theatre Institute. When the immigration officer saw in my passport visas of Iran and Afghanistan, he sent me to that special room for interrogation. I told the interrogating officer that I went to Afganistan at the invitation of Unicef to participate in a presentation concerning my professional job in social communication. I went to Iran twice as the then Vice President of International Theatre Institute to participate in their Theatre Festival. Then he asked me the reasons of my visit to every country whose visa was in my passport, asked me to handover my wallet to him, saw each and every piece of paper or name card kept there. I tried to impress upon him that I first visited USA in 198o at the invitation of the US govt and my last visit was in the entourage of our Prime Minister who came to address the UN general assembly. But nothing changed his attitude. I was asked more or less the same questions twice by two different people during a period of two hours. I missed my connecting flight to New York and the officer asked me not to worry as I can avail the next flight. I never felt so humiliated in my life. Finally I was allowed to go after filling in another form with an istruction to report at certain counter while leaving US. Then I openly declared and wrote in the newspaper that I would never visit USA again to face such situation at this stage of my life.
At the insistence of the US centre of International Theatre Institute of which I am the current worldwide President I reluctantly started to fill in the visa form and finally gave up. You have to list all your travels, all your residences, all your jobs throughout your life with dates addresses etc. Is it possible? God bless America!
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I’ve travelled to the US using diplomatic passport of a major western country. Let me tell you, security lines and procedures are pretty bad. I don’t think Shahrier Kabir’s documentary will make that much of a difference either way.
Did the event cover whether the diaspora Bangladeshi youths (and the broader community) is attracted to radical Islam? If so, why? Is that something we should be concerned about? If so, what are we doing about it?
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rumi Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
At least you did not have to apply for a visa and wait for 3 months for name check. And you were not detained for further questioning.
But I agree that this documentary will not make any difference either way. But my simple question was why washington DC, why not Cox’s Bazaar govt college math ( Field) ?
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jyoti Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 8:20 am
True that I had it better than most people.
But that’s my point — even in my privileged circumstances, security at American airports is ridiculously bad. Anyway, I leave it to you Americans to fight your government’s stupid policies.
As for your question about why DC and not Cox’s Bazaar:
1. Because DP has a chapter in DC and not Cox’s Bazaar. This isn’t actually a facetious answer. It’s not just DP. A lot of activism and energy that I see in facebook pages, blogosphere, cultural activists in Dhaka touch the affluent people like me and not the students or teachers in mofussil government colleges.
2. That said, let’s also be realistic in what we can and cannot achieve. DP’s foot soldiers in big western cities can reach out to diaspora and raise awareness. It isn’t realistic to expect them to go and preach the message in Cox’s Bazaar. You’re right that it is more important to show this film in CB than in DC. But it doesn’t mean by showing it in DC it can’t be shown in CB.
3. I think it is more important to know the tone of what was discussed in the event in DC. If the tone of the discussion is ‘Bangladesh under threat, Uncle Sam come and help us’ — then that’s bad news for everyone. Radical Islam is something Bangladeshis have to resolve ourselves, and American help — even if well-intentioned — will be counterproductive. But it is important to have a discussion among the diaspora community about what is it about radical Islam that appeals to so many diaspora youths — unlike Bangla bhai, London bombers were not from some village in the subcontinent. DP chapters can play a major role in that discussion.
4. And it is important to stress that Islamic organisations shouldn’t be seen in antagonistic terms. In fact, for many social activities DP and other similar organisations are involved in, we should build active alliance with Islamic organisations. In a different thread, someone mentioned zakaat. DP is raising funds for child domestic workers. Has anyone tried to find out whether zakat funds can be used for this?
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rumi Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Jyoti
You are taking the question in the wrong track. Last I knew, I am also as passionately a DP as you are. It is not questioning why DP has done something. IF I would ask that question, I would ask myself before asking in the blog.
This is a rhetorical or philosophical question. What can be gained by presenting such a docu among diaspora community and others in DC? We need to raise awareness against radical Islamic movements taking root in BD colleges/ villages/ towns. HT is one such example. Showing the documentary in a place where Jihadis are recruited are the best sites to start with such screening. e.g. Recently Tanvir Mokammel and Shafiur Rahman made an excellent documentary called Swapnobhumi. This is about the life of stranded Biharis. The docu was first screened in all the UN camps in different districts housing the so called Biharis.
Second, Jihadi elements in the diaspora community are not Bangladesh’s problem. This is the problem of the country where these kids grow up and more importantly the diaspora community they live in.
For problems stemming out of Bangladesh and causing mayhem in Bangladesh has to be solved from within Bangladesh.
Help from London or DC will only worsen the problem.
Mohammed also raises a valid question, what someone tours towns/ high ups in India screening Bangladeshi Jihadi problems, what Bangladesh gains?
jyoti Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Rumi bhai, I am not sure what we are arguing over here. I agree with you that this film should be shown in the areas of Bangladesh where radical Islam is taking root. If DP can do it, that’s cool. If we can’t, we should support others who can.
I agree with you that if the intention of the film screening is to ask for American or Indian help, then it is likely to backfire. And you have a far longer history with DP than me, so that comparison just doesn’t arise. It seems to me we are in agreement on most of the points. Or am I missing something?
If there is any disagreement, it is probably here: ‘Jihadi elements in the diaspora community are not Bangladesh’s problem’. In today’s world, the distinction between diaspora and desh isn’t much. People go back and forth between bidesh and desh all the time. If there is radicalism in diaspora, it will have implication in desh, and vice versa. Look at the case of Hizbut Tahrir. It came to Bangladesh from diaspora. I personally believe the decision to ban it was stupid, the way its Dhaka head (DU teacher Mohiuddin) is being treated is wrong, and the government is creating a political bogeyman. Others might disagree and say Mohiuddin is a dangerous person etc. I don’t want to have a debate about HT here. But the point is: HT is a problem in Bangladesh. You cannot say ‘this is a problem for the NRBs only’.
This doesn’t mean we get help from the American or British government. Again I agree with you that such help will worsen the problem.
Typical Secularwash in the bosom of Empire, for the pleasurement of the diasporic technocracy.
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Raihan Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
what is diasporic technocracy?
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jeishei Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 4:51 am
Linguistic onanism
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Raihan Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
You are magnificent!
fugstar Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 5:11 am
immigrant bean counters and conformists to contemporary political doctrine.
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jeishei Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Followed by the intense pleasures of boosting one’s own ego at other people’s expense
What confuses me about Shahriar Kabir is that I can’t make out fundamental message he is trying to propagate . Is he against fundamentalism or purely Islamic extremism ( Jihadists ) in Bangladesh ? He has attended many events organized in India and he talked about plight of minorities in Bangledesh and how Bangladesh has been infested by Jihadists ? But I don’t think I have ever heard him inviting any Indian “Human Right ” activist to Bangladesh to speak about plight of minorities in India and how India has been infested by Hindu fundamentalists and zealots !!!
My name starts with Mohammad. I have terrible time clearing US immigration every time I travel to US. I have missed my connecting flights many time due long delays caused by US INS officials. Early this year I was in trouble in New York airport because their records did not match the CC number I was holding ! It took a mere 4 hrs to clear the mess. Yes I changed by Bank and was using a new CC. Since I was registered with INS few years back they had all my records .I was visiting Cedar Rapids , and I had to report to a police station ! I traveled from a mid eastern city. I decided to travel to US if it’s only a must.
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To further the discussion, I have just posted a screen shot from the Facebook invite for this film’s screening in London. Just ponder for a second the Afghan or Pak rocket launcher being used to illustrate a film about Bangladesh (real responsible on part of organizers in London which is not Drishtipat By the way).
Now few points:
1. My point in narrating experience at JFK was not to say that such films will make situations worse for BD migrants. The point was that the security screening level for Bangladeshis having increased steadily over last 10 years is just one anecdotal trail of how there are many “unintended consequences” of each action that fits within this WOT jigsaw puzzle.
2. No, I don’t buy the argument that SK should only show it in Cox’s Bazar. I say he should show it wherever he wants to. I am presuming he will show it in CB as well. No, I expect he will show it also in DC, London, and wherever else he gets invite. But I also have to express my concerns about the consequences of this screening.
3. I don’t advocate muzzling, so SK is free to screen it wherever. I don’t suggest he be prevented, but I also point out the unintended consequences. I think SK is either not shrewd enough to understand that global game in which he can be a pawn, or he understands it and says, well Washington will use me, but I can use them to uproot the mullahs. We have of course seen for years on many countries what happens when secularists turns to a western power for “help” in fighting the Islamists (or even more relevant, the Communists). Only one player emerges on top in that game– and it is neither SK’s secularism nor liberal democracy.
4. No, I don’t believe that this one docu can alter the dialogue in DC that much, but yes I do believe it can affect it incrementally, as every seminar, essay, film, whatnot does. Each drop matters. And the location does matter.
5. Personally I have made some work speaking out against right-wing Islamist politics (I hate the misnomers and easy shorthand of “fundamentalism”). I personally don’t ever want to live inside a country ruled by Shariah law. I want Islam to be a personal matter, and not to be involved in running the government. A total separation of mosque & state. But in my efforts in this regard, I also saw how my efforts sometimes got hijacked by other forces with other agendas, especially post 2001. Not every “ally” is an “ally”.
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SK knows exactly what he’s doing. This is not a case of ‘I will screen my film wherever I have connections and it is most expedient–hence the screening in DC as opposed to Cox’s Bazaar–and if the US Government takes note, then fine, whatever.’
When he was in DC screening ‘War Crimes ‘71′ in October 2008, he sought out and got meetings at the National Democratic institute (a US government organization to promote democracy abroad; the NDI-Bangladesh office is quite established), the federal US Commission on international Religious Freedom, and the Justice Department. I would presume this film screening occasioned another round of visits with government offices–although that is just conjecture.
But the thing to keep in mind is that there is a real diversity of Bangladeshi interest groups (representatives from Jamaat, BNP, AL; minority rights groups; campaigners for ‘71 War Crimes tribunals, etc.) that seek and receive meetings with various offices/branches of the U.S. government. There are ways/reasons for all of these disparate groups to invoke the specter of Islamic terrorism, not least because it’s the lowest common denominator if someone wants to secure the attention of the US. What SK is saying has been heard before. The difference is that most of these meetings are behind closed doors, whereas SK’s films bring terrorism discourse to the public, and normalizes the equation of Bangladesh with terrorism in that sphere.
I’d imagine that the most elusive bit of knowledge from the US government’s point of view is what the ‘average’ Bangladeshi thinks/wants. While this is of course an impossible categorization, given the sharp class/urban/rural divisions, there’s still a desire to gain access to viewpoints that don’t represent obvious political/religious agendas. Here’s where the negative impacts of the dearth of good social science emerge–where is the ‘objective’ sociological data about Bangladesh that can help the US government draw its own conclusions?
My concern with SK isn’t about the fact of him screening films in DC–it’s the potential for his voice to be perceived/taken as ‘the voice of the people.” How can laypeople know whether or not he exists on the periphery or is a representative of “mainstream” views?
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