JMBT Joint Statement: Immediate cancellation of South Asian debts!

The coronavirus has unveiled the spectre of a larger crisis. A majority of the planetary economies were already in the throes of over-production, stagnation and even, a recession, which deepened with the day, since the sub-prime crisis of 2008-09. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation. The unemployment figures are rising every day and it is estimated that many small businesses and even a few business corporations will be bankrupt. This health crisis and its cascading economic consequences could well plunge many countries in the South into an unprecedented crisis, pushing millions of people into poverty.

Call for an investigation into Bangladesh Baul music room fire

On 18 May 2020, the Ashor Ghor (music room) of Baul singer Ranesh Thakur was set on fire in an apparent arson attack, reported the Dhaka Tribune. Reports suggest that the incident occurred in the Sunamganj district Derai Upazila and resulted in the building structure and its musical contents, such as monochords, harmoniums and drums, being burnt to ashes by unidentified persons.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, Ashor Ghor was used to teach and play music, particularly Baul songs, by people from across Bangladesh. It was particularly populated by followers of famous Baul singer Samrat Shah Abdul Karim to teach and engage Baul culture and expressions.

“Various forms of nationalism are deepening the discourse of intolerance towards minorities in Bangladesh and across the globe. Freemuse calls on the Bangladesh authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into the fire at the Baul Ashor Ghor in Sunamganj and ensure a safe environment for Baul artists in the country to express themselves artistically,” said Freemuse Executive Director, Dr Srirak Plipat.

Setting the music room of Baul singer Ranesh Thakur on fire is not an isolated incident, rather violence against Baul singer in different aspects are common phenomenon in Bangladesh. Just a few months earlier in December 2019 another Baul singer Shariyat Boyati has been arrested alleging offended on religious sentiment during his performance in a live Baul concert. Boyati is still detained.

“BIHR and JusticeMakers Bangladesh are gravely concerned over the incident of burning and urging the government of Bangladesh to ensure the prompt exemplary punishment against the perpetrators after an impartial investigation by the judicial officials and also urging to ensure physical, psychological and financial integration of Baul Ranesh Thakur as well as ensure the safe and secure environment for exercising artistic expression free of fear and intimidation,” said Advocate Shahanur Islam Saikot, Secretary General, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and JusticeMakers Bangladesh.

“Traditional artistic and cultural expressions are the backbone of any culture and crucially important for maintaining and continuing the diversity of human life on the planet. Interpersonal understanding and respect require that every artistic expression is given opportunities and can be practiced and cultivated in freedom without censorship and threats. Safemuse condemns the attack on Ashor Ghor and calls for a thorough investigation of the incident,” said Jan Lothe Eriksen, General Manager of Safemuse.

Baul people typically live in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India and are inscribed on the 2008 UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. They are mystic minstrels that preserve their culture and heritage through songs, philosophy and language, with Baul music representing a particular type of folk song. In recent years, Baul’s in Bangladesh have been marginalised and their artistic freedom censored and curtailed, with the torching of the Ashor Ghor music room the latest incident in the protracted censorship against the group.

https://freemuse.org/news/freemuse-the-bangladesh-institute-of-human-rights-bihr-justicemakers-bangladesh-and-safemuse-call-for-an-investigation-into-bangladesh-baul-music-room-fire/

JMBT Celebrates Music Freedom Day 2020 in Bangladesh

 Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights along with its partner organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Ekushe Parishad, Naogaon celebrates the Music Freedom Day 2020 at Naogaon today. The celebration of music freedom day is coordinated and supported by Freemuse. They music freedom day celebrates in Bangladesh first ever time.

With the theme of Arts across Border a human chain and rally is organized at Kachari Naogaon as the part of the celebration. Around 120 people from different profession including civil society member, art and cultural performers and activist are participated the human chain and rally.

After organizing human chain and rally an open discussion is organized at the open stage of Naogaon before Pari Mohan Library. The discussion meeting is presided over by Mr. DM Abdul Bari, president, Ekushe Parishad, Naogaon, where Mr. Shariful Islam Khan, Former Principal, Naogaon University College as well as an Arts Rights Activist is participated as chief guest. Advocate Shahanur Islam, Secretary General of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights and JusticeMakers Bangladesh as well as a persecuted Columnist, Blogger and Human Rights Activist delivered the welcome speech during the discussion.

The discussants demanded to ensure the freedom of artistic expression as well as freedom of opinion as stated in constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and other international human rights instrument including UDHR, ICESCR during the open discussion. They also urged the immediate release of the resent arrested Baul singer Mr. Shariyat Boyati at Tangail as well as ensure his physical and psychological security of him and his family members during the discussion meeting.

Followed by the discussion meeting an open air live Baul concert was performed by the local Baul Groups. Baul Mr. Ataul Haque Bablu, Baul Mr. Samsuzzaman Sadhu, Baul Ms. Jannatul Parveen and Baul Mr. KM Samsuddin and their groups performed at live Baul concert as the part of celebration Music Freedom day 2020 at Naogon, Bangladesh.

BIHR, JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Ekushe Parishad, Naogaon also issued the press release and press statement to the news media in Bangladesh emphasizing the importance of this day. .

Apart from the said activities BIHR, JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Ekushe Parishad, Naogaon disseminate the all activities and participates the campaign through social media and blog.

প্রেস বিজ্ঞপ্তি:টাংগাইলে বাউল সংগীত শিল্পী গ্রেফতারে গভীরভাবে উদ্বিগ্ন!

 

ধর্মীয় অনুভুতিতে আঘাত আনার অভিযোগে গত ১১ জানুয়ারী ২০২০ সালে টাঙ্গাইলে বাউল সংগীত শিল্পী শরিয়ত বয়াতী গ্রেফতারে  বাংলাদেশ ইন্সটিটিউট অব হিউম্যান রাইটস ( বি আইএইচআর)গভীরভাবে উদ্বিগ্ন। বিআইএইচআর এর মহাসচিব অ্যাডভোকেট শাহানূর ইসলাম সৈকত বাউল শিল্পী শরিয়ত বয়াতী গ্রেফতারে তীব্র নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জানিয়েছেন।

একই সাথে তাহার অবিলম্বে নি:শর্ত মুক্তি দাবী করেছেন এবং তাহার নিজের ও পরিবারের সদস্যদের নিরাপত্তা দাবী করেছেন।

বিআইএইচআর মনে করে শরিয়ত বয়াতি গ্রেফতার দেশে শৈল্পিক চর্চা এবং স্বাধীনভাবে মত প্রকাশের উপর নগ্ন আক্রমন যা ডিজিটাল নিরপত্তা আইনের অপব্যবহারের মাধ্যমে প্রতিনিয়ত ঘটে চলেছে।  

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights(BIHR) gravely concerned over the arrest of baul singer Shariyat Boyati alleging hurting the religious sentiment. 

Advocate Shahanur Islam Saikot, secretary General of BIHR urges immidiate release and physical secuirity of Mr. Boyati and his family members.

  

On 11 January, Bangladeshi folk singer Shariat Sarker was arrested in Tangail because of alleged anti-Islamic remarks।

According to New Age, the case was filed by an Imam under Digital Security Act and was claiming that Shariat Sarker’s performance held in Dhamrai, Dhaka on 24 December 2019 had hurt the Islamic religious sentiment.

After the arrest, a Tangail court announced three-day police custody to ensure legitimate investigation.

JMBT Joint Open Letter to the IMF: It's time to end the gentleman’s agreement

Over 100 organisations and academics sign a letter demanding a fair selection process for the next IMF managing director.

To governors and executive directors of the IMF,

The ‘gentleman’s agreement’, which has ensured that the IMF managing director has for 75 years been European and the World Bank president a US national, is undemocratic, illegitimate, and rooted in neo-colonial principles.

International institutions currently face a crisis of legitimacy, as faith in the multilateral system of global governance withers. If the IMF and World Bank want to present themselves as modern institutions capable of tackling today’s challenges, it is imperative that they become democratic and accountable to all of those they represent.

Despite over 150 civil society organisations and individuals calling on the World Bank for an open, transparent and merit-based leadership succession process earlier this year, the US candidate David Malpass was appointed president of the World Bank. This, exacerbated by the fact that the only other nominee cited pressure from “other governments” as the reason for withdrawing, brought global governance into further disrepute.

It is high time to end the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ and replace it with a genuinely open, democratic, merit-based, transparent process, that goes beyond rhetorical commitment, and allows candidates, regardless of nationality, to be put forward on an equal footing. In line with longstanding civil society demands, we believe that no country – or indeed bloc of countries – should wield excessive power in this process. Instead, the winning candidate should gain support of a majority of both voting shares and member states.

The opaque nature of the selection process must be scrapped in favour of a transparent one that allows space for public scrutiny of candidates. This should entail a commitment to ending the convention that candidates must be supported by the government of their home country – which restricts applications – as well as public interviews, transparent voting procedures, and sufficient time to allow for deliberation.

Building on the IMF’s candidate profile, a clear job description and comprehensive set of qualifications should be drafted and made public. This should include the ability to defend the independence of the IMF from its powerful members and stand up for less powerful nations. It is vital that candidates are well-versed in problems experienced by low- and middle-income countries.

Recognising the IMF as a specialised agency of the United Nations, it is essential that candidates are committed to embedding the IMF in agreed international frameworks and norms, such as international human rights law, and are dedicated to building on the IMF’s recent commitments on economic inequality, social spending, gender inequality, and climate change.

The IMF leadership race coincides with the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Bretton Woods Institutions. 75 years is enough – it is time to end the ‘gentleman’s agreement’.

Signed,

1. ActionAid International

2. Adam Tooze, Director of the European Institute, Columbia University

3. Africa Development Interchange Network (ADIN)

4. African Coalition on Green Growth

5. Afrodad

6. AfroLeadership

7. Age International

8. Alan Cibils, Professor of Political Economy, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento

9. Alexander Kentikelenis, Assistant Professor of Political Economy and Sociology, Bocconi University

10. Alliance Sud

11. Arab NGOs Network for Development

12. Asia Monitor Resource Centre

13. Association for Promotion Sustainable Development

14. Bank Information Center Europe

15. Bilge Erten, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University

16. Bonn Juego, University Teacher and Researcher

17. Bretton Woods Project

18. Buendnis Eine Welt Schleswig-Holstein

19. CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)

20. CAFSO-WRAG for Development

21. CEE Bankwatch Network

22. CEKOR (Center for ecology and sustainable development), Serbia

23. Center of Conjuncture and Economic Policy of the Economic Institute of the University of Campinas

24. Centre National de coopération au développement CNCD-11.11.11

25. CESR

26. Christian Aid

27. Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development

28. Common Weal

29. Common Wealth

30. Community and Family aid, Ghana

31. Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd

32. Daniela Gabor, Professor of Economics and Macro-Finance, University of the West of England.

33. DAWN

34. Debt Justice Norway

35. DemNet Hungary

36. Democratic Culture, Argentina

37. Diane Elson, Emeritus Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Essex

38. Dr Catherine Bernard, Founder-director of SERFAC

39. Dr. Jeff Powell, University of Greenwich

40. Društvo EnaBanda

41. Ecumenical Academy, Czech Republic

42. Erlassjahr.de

43. Eurodad

44. Fight Inequality Alliance

45. Financial Justice Ireland

46. Free Trade Union Development Center

47. Friends of the Earth US

48. GADN

49. Gestos, Brazil

50. Global Alliance for Tax Justice

51. Global Justice Now

52. Health Poverty Action

53. Help Age International

54. Ilene Grabel, Distinguished University Professor, University of Denver

55. International Trade Union Confederation

56. International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific

57. Isabel Ortiz, Director Global Social Justice Program, IPD Columbia University

58. Jason Hickel, senior lecturer, Goldsmith’s University

59. John Miller, Professor of Economics, Wheaton College, Norton, MA

60. John Weeks, Professor Emeritus SOAS, University of London

61. Jubilee Australia

62. Jubilee Debt Campaign UK

63. Jubilee Germany

64. JusticeMakers Bangladesh

65. Khartoum Sudan

66. Latinddad

67. Madhyam (New Delhi)

68. Nancy Alexander

69. National Society of Conservationists - Friends of the Earth Hungary

70. New Economics Foundation

71. Nigeria Private Sector Alliance

72. Oikos - Cooperação e Desenvolvimento

73. Olive Community Development Initiatives, Nigeria

74. Oxfam

75. Peter O’Flynn, Researcher, Development Finance and Impact Investing, Institute of Development Studies

76. Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies, Jordan

77. Professor Sir Richard Jolly, Research Associate, Institute of Development Studies

78. Radanar Ayar Association from Myanmar

79. Radhika Balakrishnan, Rutgers University

80. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO

81. Rethinking Economics

82. Rick Rowden PhD

83. SDGs Kenya Forum

84. Sisters of Charity Federation

85. Society for International Development

86. Stamp Out Poverty

87. Stephany Griffith- Jones, Emeritus Professorial Fellow, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University

88. Tax Justice Network

89. The Feminist Task Force

90. The Hunger Project

91. Thomas Stubbs, Senior Lecturer in International Relations

92. Trademark Belfast

93. UndebtedWorld

94. Urgewald

95. VIVAT International

96. War on Want

97. Wemos

98. Willow Empowerment For Grassroot Development Initiative

99. Womankind Worldwide

100. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

101. Youthhubafrica

102. Zimbabwe United Nations Association

 This letter was originally published at IMF Boss. It was reposted from: