Muhammad Quamrul Islam :
Bangladesh national dailies carried news on Indian 17th Parliamentary election, third phase of which was concluded on April 23, 2019, out of the seven phases. It was reported election politics was heated in West Bengal, centered on Bangladeshi film actors Ferdous Ahmed and Gazi Abdun Nur for their participation in election publicity in West Bengal. It was alleged by BJP leader Rahul Sinha that these two foreigners violated visa law by joining campaign in favor of Trinamool candidate and demanded arrest. Gazi Nur contended that he went to see Trinamool leader Madan Mitra who is not a candidate and did not campaign.
It is said Gazi Nur is popular for playing the role of Raja Raj Chandra in Zee Bangla TV serial ‘Rani Rashmani’ in West Bengal and joined the publicity in favor of Trinamool candidate Shaugat Roy at Damdam seat. This serial is also popular in Bangladesh and watchers were amazed to know Dhaka’s Nur performed this role so accurately that left impression in the minds of Bengalis in both Bengal. He was instructed by the central government of India to return home and he returned.
BJP lodged complain against Ferdous and Trinamool as to how a foreigner can join the election publicity to the State Chief Election Commissioner. On receipt of the complaint by Election Commission additional Chief Election Commissioner of the state Sanjoy Basu told in the rule book there is no directive in this regard, however they will examine. On the other hand Ferdous told his unit was working for shooting in this state. Many actors here participated in publicity and likewise he participated. After a daylong hassle, Home Ministry of India cancelled his business visa and blacklisted him and also issued notice to leave India. He was in the publicity team on April 14 in favor of Trinamool candidate Kanaiyalal Agarwal at Roygonj, West Dinajpur.
Photo was published that Ferdous was in publicity team with Ankus, Payel and political workers. Trinamool leader Madan Mitra said they had not committed any mistake inviting Ferdous and their contribution in Bangladesh Independence War in 1971 cannot be denied. Actually Ferdous joined the publicity out of emotion, as said by him without considering implications. As a celebrity popular actor in West Bengal also he felt to join the publicity. He is working in Kolkata films for long, his film career started from there so to say. He has acted, produced, and directed, everything in Kolkata. Brotherly and friendly relations prevail between two countries for which he felt there would be no problem and he joined the publicity. District Election Commission also said there is no specific mention in rule prohibiting such participation.
It is quite natural for him to feel there could be no physical barrier to artist, which means universal. As a popular actor of Tallygonj in West Bengal he joined the publicity. However he said he is obliged to abide by law in this regard which he was not aware of before. It is a legal process which will determine how much easy it would be to get visa in future due to black listing. At present he has completed some woks at Tallygonj and some others are pending. He has signed a contract for a film on ‘Datta’ based on the novel of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhya.
Over here the reports published on April 21 show BJP Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at election rally south Dinajpur West Bengal on this issue and critical about Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for bringing foreigners that is Bangladeshis. It’s an electoral hot exchange of words obviously to seek more votes in the ongoing election by BJP on Hindu nationalist line, but would it be so, result after counting of votes on completion of polls would reveal.
Current analysis shows the federal line espoused by Trinamool is coming up strongly along with BJP and Congress led alliances at the Center. That Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool would win all seats of West Bengal is the common feeling and other strong regional parties, particularly Uttar Pradesh having considerable number of seats that determine the next government, would forge unity might change the political landscape. Anyway, Trinamool is on principled stand and sought votes on TV Bangla channel with its party symbol by Mamata Banerjee.
It is also reported on April 21 Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen had deemed issuance of instruction to Ferdous and Gazi Nur ‘to return home’. On this, Indian State Minister on External Affairs Ministry reacted that everyone must follow visa rules; Bangladesh is friendly state to India to whom they accord highest preference. It would not be out of place to mention that on the same day it was reported, again a Bangladeshi was killed at Chapainawabgonj Masudpur border by Indian Security Force- BSF.
Earlier on April 2 two Bangladeshis were killed and some were wounded in this border by BSF. Such incidents frequently happen. The peaceful border thus remains a far cry unless the trans-border crimes, especially smuggling, is tackled at the root level. Also ‘border huts’ have failed due to illegal transactions.
Let us see how current events are sorted out in the interests of both sides of Bengal. Lok Sabha election holds the hope Insha’Allah.
(Muhammad Quamrul Islam, Advocate and Columnist; email: [email protected])
Bangladesh national dailies carried news on Indian 17th Parliamentary election, third phase of which was concluded on April 23, 2019, out of the seven phases. It was reported election politics was heated in West Bengal, centered on Bangladeshi film actors Ferdous Ahmed and Gazi Abdun Nur for their participation in election publicity in West Bengal. It was alleged by BJP leader Rahul Sinha that these two foreigners violated visa law by joining campaign in favor of Trinamool candidate and demanded arrest. Gazi Nur contended that he went to see Trinamool leader Madan Mitra who is not a candidate and did not campaign.
It is said Gazi Nur is popular for playing the role of Raja Raj Chandra in Zee Bangla TV serial ‘Rani Rashmani’ in West Bengal and joined the publicity in favor of Trinamool candidate Shaugat Roy at Damdam seat. This serial is also popular in Bangladesh and watchers were amazed to know Dhaka’s Nur performed this role so accurately that left impression in the minds of Bengalis in both Bengal. He was instructed by the central government of India to return home and he returned.
BJP lodged complain against Ferdous and Trinamool as to how a foreigner can join the election publicity to the State Chief Election Commissioner. On receipt of the complaint by Election Commission additional Chief Election Commissioner of the state Sanjoy Basu told in the rule book there is no directive in this regard, however they will examine. On the other hand Ferdous told his unit was working for shooting in this state. Many actors here participated in publicity and likewise he participated. After a daylong hassle, Home Ministry of India cancelled his business visa and blacklisted him and also issued notice to leave India. He was in the publicity team on April 14 in favor of Trinamool candidate Kanaiyalal Agarwal at Roygonj, West Dinajpur.
Photo was published that Ferdous was in publicity team with Ankus, Payel and political workers. Trinamool leader Madan Mitra said they had not committed any mistake inviting Ferdous and their contribution in Bangladesh Independence War in 1971 cannot be denied. Actually Ferdous joined the publicity out of emotion, as said by him without considering implications. As a celebrity popular actor in West Bengal also he felt to join the publicity. He is working in Kolkata films for long, his film career started from there so to say. He has acted, produced, and directed, everything in Kolkata. Brotherly and friendly relations prevail between two countries for which he felt there would be no problem and he joined the publicity. District Election Commission also said there is no specific mention in rule prohibiting such participation.
It is quite natural for him to feel there could be no physical barrier to artist, which means universal. As a popular actor of Tallygonj in West Bengal he joined the publicity. However he said he is obliged to abide by law in this regard which he was not aware of before. It is a legal process which will determine how much easy it would be to get visa in future due to black listing. At present he has completed some woks at Tallygonj and some others are pending. He has signed a contract for a film on ‘Datta’ based on the novel of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhya.
Over here the reports published on April 21 show BJP Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at election rally south Dinajpur West Bengal on this issue and critical about Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for bringing foreigners that is Bangladeshis. It’s an electoral hot exchange of words obviously to seek more votes in the ongoing election by BJP on Hindu nationalist line, but would it be so, result after counting of votes on completion of polls would reveal.
Current analysis shows the federal line espoused by Trinamool is coming up strongly along with BJP and Congress led alliances at the Center. That Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool would win all seats of West Bengal is the common feeling and other strong regional parties, particularly Uttar Pradesh having considerable number of seats that determine the next government, would forge unity might change the political landscape. Anyway, Trinamool is on principled stand and sought votes on TV Bangla channel with its party symbol by Mamata Banerjee.
It is also reported on April 21 Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen had deemed issuance of instruction to Ferdous and Gazi Nur ‘to return home’. On this, Indian State Minister on External Affairs Ministry reacted that everyone must follow visa rules; Bangladesh is friendly state to India to whom they accord highest preference. It would not be out of place to mention that on the same day it was reported, again a Bangladeshi was killed at Chapainawabgonj Masudpur border by Indian Security Force- BSF.
Earlier on April 2 two Bangladeshis were killed and some were wounded in this border by BSF. Such incidents frequently happen. The peaceful border thus remains a far cry unless the trans-border crimes, especially smuggling, is tackled at the root level. Also ‘border huts’ have failed due to illegal transactions.
Let us see how current events are sorted out in the interests of both sides of Bengal. Lok Sabha election holds the hope Insha’Allah.
(Muhammad Quamrul Islam, Advocate and Columnist; email: [email protected])
