“No virtual trouble with beef, but trouble
with Himu!!!”
Muhammad Shamim Akhter, 16 September, 2010:
A.
Alhamdulillah. Amidst anthrax phobia, we have bought beef from our local unauthorized butcher soap in front of Muhammadi Dry Cleaner's at Pallabi, Dhaka and have eaten beef without any trouble this Eid. So far I know, some ‘Bihari' butchers have been slaughtering cow for about 15 years there and selling without having any authorized seal for a long. They have made a narrow tunnel through that they dispense blood and wastage of the slaughtered animals. The reason how it is being made possible to conduct such deal in there without any DCC inspection is quite unknown to me. Many informed me that underhand dealing might be the reason to do so. Recent news from different dailies has depicted such vulnerable condition of the municipality owned slaughtering house.
At least I am thankful to my butcher this time that he has not betrayed with us and the meat he sold was solid and pure.
Despite having heard the news or cock and bull story about anthrax in the newspapers, TV channel or other news media and red alert, some customers along with us went to that Bihari butcher to buy beef since beef is one of the best chosen recipes during EID festival. Fortunately no anthrax has been broken out in my house nor does it in my area since the Eid day. The consciousness that had been generated to buy beef was that other than infected cattle, rest of the cattle was safe and so from our non-academic judgment we found no ailment of the cattle stationed in front of that shop and bought the beef once the chosen cow was in turn.
It is worthy mentionable that for excessive price of meat, most of the families of our community some how manage during Eid time and even some switches off their mobiles to avoid of any burden of hospitality. One the one hand, remission of Islamic morality; on the other hand, excessive cost of food stuffs like beef might have driven them to act like that. The Anthrax phobia might assist the same section avoiding beef – is one of the aspects of the scenario. Apart from this section many families in Bangladesh try to arrange beef to cook Birihani or for similar recipe to make their tongues tasty at least during Eid time. The reason about the price which was fixed 250 + by the father of the Dhaka city that was just 80 taka Kilo few years back, was quite unknown to us. For this declaration, the price did not go down 250 taka/kilo. The investigation reveals that local hooligans, meat businessmen and corrupt officials of municipality have made this business monopolized. Although these vested sections have been deprived coincidently, the Muslims of Bangladesh have been blackmailed. Beef is one of the sensitive issues in the political arena of the Muslim of Bangladesh, that the previous many Gouro Gobindo, Bikromaditto had to pay a heavy price for their blockade. Is such an incident is repeated is urgently required to be investigated.
Furthermore, despite having so many objections in the mismanagement of slaughtering house, mass peoples mentally prepare to buy meat occasionally, especially during Eid time. But what has been done this time! ‘No problem', “… number anthrax patients have been found Sirajonj district', “Crow is dead but where the meat is gone and what the consequence of the meat eaters in Savar …” all such thrilling, contradictory story caught the attention of the mass. The mass is heavily dependent on the brain of few smart journalists. Whatever they may prescribe, may be taken blind folded shall bring many severe consequence in the future.
In fact, once top of the ministry declared ‘red alert' the situation was deteriorated while subordinate and other experts were repeatedly advising not to be panic. Why such incoherence, indifference and in fact a joke with the mass- is to be investigated for further stifle. Unless playing an appropriate role in this regard, the opposition party may not discharge their onus since they should have parallel monitoring cell and watch the activities of the ruling party.
In fact, beef is regarded as one of the best recipe of Bangladeshi Muslims during Eid. However, no serious measures were taken to combat any threat of this sector from in advance from the Government level this year. News paper sources had added that no adequate vaccines were stored in the Sirajgong, Pabna area where milk industry was growing successfully. Apart from those particular areas, the situation was not so vulnerable in the rest of the countries that it ought to be declared ‘red alert.'
This supposition was asserted by the Chairman of Leather and Hide Exporters Association that I watched in a TV channel (most probably banglavision) on 14 th September 2010. He also said that the situation was not so vulnerable that panic could have been created and he further added that red alert was not a best option to be hoisted from the GOB's corner.
Moreover, many sources apart from one source have assured that the meat of the cattle which would be free from anthrax could be eaten. Many Bangladeshi reputed meat producers, for instance, Bengal Meat, Sapno and other meat producers were repeatedly assuring that their meat was free from anthrax infection through advertisement in the news paper, then what was the reason to declare by the highest person of the Ministry to give up beef was quite a mystery.
Although no strait cut decision from the mass media was heard, yet it was assured from most of the news media that in case of any penetration of the germs, it could be curable. Some news channel showed interview of patients where father and son were being cured of although heavy pain had been experienced by them. Like the proverb ‘The patient died after the doctor had come' a report of the Daily Ittefaq has assured that such type of disease was a traditional disease and no body was died with this disease. It also assured that intelligence force was going to investigate to that incident. The report was published on 15 th September, 2010.
Most interesting news came to the TV channel about the mysterious death of birds, cats, dogs. Initially the reporter said that eating blood of anthrax inflicted cattle those animals were died in Savar. News from DESH TV Channel of 14 th September 2010 informed that eating blood of slaughtered cattle many dogs were died at Noakhali. At the end of the news we were surprisingly informed that the authority was sure the reason of death of those animals and birds were not of anthrax. Both Savar and Noakhali, the reason of death of the animals were identified other than anthrax. The ridicule of that news can be found: if those bloods were so poisonous, then what a poisonous the meat of the animals was! Interestingly, neither the human dead body was found nor did the destination of the meat of the slaughtered was known. The patriotic intelligence agency of Bangladesh should investigate to that incident and what was the reason to telecast such provocative news at that time.
However, chasing the eagle without touching the ears of his own is one the national character of Bangladesh which is required to be changed. In the name of bird flue we have experienced what a shocking genocide was organized few years back while those hens could be cooked with 80 plus degree Celsius of temperature. That time we roared and the hidden perpetrators had no dare to touch our hens and cocks in the subsequent years.
But this time, Meleso (Bong Kim Babu dictated Musalman community as Melesso in his novel) has really been abstained from devouring ‘ Go- Mangsho' !!!!! What a tragedy it is!!
B.
With the character of ‘Himu' a legal battle is supposed to be commenced between Asaduzzaman Noor, an artist and Humaun Ahmed, novelist and writer of Bangladesh .
By the judiciary aspect, it is commendable that Humayun's Character ‘Himu' should be reserved for him since the actor is less valuable than the novelist. Acting as Himu Asaduzzaman Noor can not declare him the creator of that character. So far I know Humayun Ahmed lodged defamatory law suit instead of copyright agasint Asaduzzaman Noor, since the later has copied the characters of the former.
If law suit may finally be lodged, we should be patient till then.
I am not concerned with that, rather I am concerned with the psychological aspect of the prominent writer Humayun Ahmed about the reason he had chosen ‘Himu' character other than many prominent and encouraging characters in our country, even in our history. I am more concerned with Asaduzzaman Noor too. Why have they eaten ginger and water to popularize Himu character in Bangladesh ?
While I was going through the pages of history, I found Himu who was a Hindu fundamentalist and general of Afghan ruler Adil Shah. Himu carried out expedition to conquer Delhi and Agra to establish Hindu State . But his dream was crashed with the blow of Mughal expedition in the war of second Panipath nearly hundreds of years ago. A little particular is known about him and the historical source had a little headache with Himu. But it is our Novelist who popularize this character instead of Ikhtiar Uddin Muhammad Bin Bokhtiar Kholji or Adam Shaeed of present Munshigonj who fought for the right of slaughtering cows of the Muslim. When we need to be conscious about the repeated conspiracy against our right lifestyle, we need not commence war with the character that is bohemian and indifferent by nature.
In fine, if we are conscious about Himu existing in the vein of our administration, it could not be difficult to find out the red alert pesky. Since we are remained sound eating beef in spite of having heard so called red alert, we should be alert about Himu, more than cattle. The sooner the better.
Reaction of an opposition leader of Bangladesh, published in the Daily Amader Shomoy on 29th September 2010 :
