The damage inflicted upon Bangladesh by Zia, Ershad, and Khaleda is immeasurable. They desecrated the very ideals for which millions died.

7 November 1975 — a date seared into my memory. I was then a senior student at Dhaka University, residing in Sergeant Zohurul Haque Hall (SZHH). On the evening of 6 November, my close friend and classmate, Zamal Fazle Rubby Badal — a prominent member of the Gono Bahini, the armed wing of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) — came hurriedly to my room, which adjoined his. “Tonight, something big will happen in Dhaka under the leadership of JSD,” he whispered, his voice charged with excitement. I pressed him for details and promised secrecy, but he refused to reveal more.

At around 11 p.m., I retired to bed, unaware of the storm about to break. Shortly after midnight, I was jolted awake by loud slogans echoing from the ground floor of SZHH — cries proclaiming that a “revolution” had erupted in Dhaka Cantonment and across the nation. Curious and uneasy, I went downstairs to find a large procession, led by JSD’s student wing and Gono Bahini members, chanting at the top of their voices that JSD had seized power in Bangladesh with the backing of the army.

All through the night, they marched from hall to hall, through the Dhaka University campus, shouting revolutionary slogans. Some processions even advanced toward the Dhaka Cantonment. I watched everything unfold, a silent witness to the beginning of chaos.

As dawn broke on 7 November, the air was thick with frenzy. Loudspeakers blared across the campus, announcing that retired Colonel Abu Taher was now the supreme leader, and under his command, General Ziaur Rahman had been freed from house arrest. The JSD cadres declared that Colonel Taher, General Zia, and other senior leaders would address the nation from the Central Shaheed Minar that very morning.

Along with friends from SZHH, I made my way toward the Shaheed Minar. On the way, we saw hundreds of military trucks and tanks filled with soldiers, chanting slogans — “Sepoy-Janata Zindabad,” “Gen. Zia Zindabad,” “Col. Taher Zindabad,” and “JSD Zindabad.” The Shaheed Minar ground was already teeming with thousands of people. Before 7 a.m., it was overflowing — a sea of civilians, soldiers, tanks, and convoys.

Although I was never aligned with JSD’s politics, I stayed there as an observer, curious to witness history unfold. A makeshift podium had been erected, and JSD leaders kept assuring the restless crowd that their revolutionary leaders would soon arrive to address them.

But around 11 a.m., a contingent of soldiers, loyal to General Zia, suddenly stormed the ground with tanks and opened fire on the podium. Panic swept through the crowd. My friends and I ran desperately back toward SZHH. Behind us, we heard screams and the sickening sounds of gunfire — countless lives cut short in minutes. When we finally reached the hall, gasping for breath, we knew we had narrowly escaped death. How many died that morning, I cannot say, but the rift between Colonel Taher and General Zia had already turned lethal.

General Zia, having been freed from confinement by Colonel Taher’s loyal soldiers, had initially embraced him and said, “Taher, you have saved my life. I am now at your disposal.” Yet soon after, he betrayed Taher. When asked to appear at the Shaheed Minar beside his saviour, Zia refused. That refusal marked the beginning of Taher’s tragic end — and Zia’s ascent as the chief architect of betrayal.

To look back now is to remember that Colonel Abu Taher was a true patriot — a man of courage, integrity, and immense love for his country. He had defected from the Pakistan Army in 1971, joined our Liberation War, and fought valiantly on the front lines, losing a leg in battle. He was one of the valiant sector commanders who led from the front.

After independence, Colonel Taher voluntarily retired from the Bangladesh Army while serving as Commander of Cumilla Cantonment. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman later appointed him as Director of the Narayanganj Dredger Directorate. His deputy there was Engineer Ziauddin Khan — “Ziauddin Bhai” to me — a brilliant BUET graduate and a man of deep patriotism who had fought in the Liberation War.

I had the privilege of working with him years later, between 1981 and 1984, when we shared an office. We bonded deeply over our shared ideals. He loved me as his younger brother and always spoke with reverence of Colonel Taher — his honesty, his administrative acumen, and his unwavering commitment to the nation.

Ziauddin Bhai never knew of Taher’s deeper involvement in JSD politics, and when the news of his hanging came, he was devastated. It was incomprehensible to him that such a noble soul could be condemned by the very nation he had helped to free.

Colonel Taher hailed from Netrokona, close to my own home district of Kishoreganj. His father-in-law, Dr. Mohiuddin Ahmed — a respected physician — was a close friend of my father. Taher used to visit Dr. Mohiuddin’s home, only ten minutes’ walk from ours, and I met him there several times. He spoke in fluent English and often advised me to become a good citizen, though he never discussed politics. Had I known then of his involvement with JSD, I would have pleaded with him to stay away from its treacherous orbit.

Taher’s unyielding principles and moral clarity ultimately became his undoing. The JSD exploited his patriotism to advance its lust for power. He became their tragic pawn — and paid for it with his life.

Colonel Abu Taher was a true patriot — a man of high moral standing and indomitable courage. And for that very reason, he was falsely framed and executed by the ruthless and unlawful regime of General Ziaur Rahman — a betrayal that remains one of Bangladesh’s darkest chapters.

Indeed, it was Zia who fractured a once-united nation. He brought back the collaborators — those who had aided Pakistan’s genocide — from disgrace to power. There had been no public demand to rehabilitate them, yet Zia displayed audacious arrogance in doing so.

He freed notorious war criminals from prison, restored the citizenship of fugitives, and paved the way for Golam Azam — the local architect of mass murder — to return under Pakistani protection. During Khaleda Zia’s first government, Golam Azam was finally granted full Bangladesh’s citizenship — a national shame.

Zia made Shah Azizur Rahman, a wartime collaborator, Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He brought Abdul Alim — later convicted of genocide by the International Crimes Tribunal — into his cabinet. His widow, Begum Zia, followed the same sordid path, appointing convicted war criminals Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mujahid as cabinet ministers.

The damage inflicted upon Bangladesh by Zia, Ershad, and Khaleda is immeasurable. They desecrated the very ideals for which millions died. They opened the floodgates to communalism, corruption, and moral decay.

These were not leaders — they were desecrators. They poisoned our national soul with medieval darkness, empowering the defeated forces of 1971 to reemerge from the shadows. They were the ghosts of betrayal — ghouls whose insatiable appetite for power and depravity defiled our sacred land.

They created a moral wasteland where the spirit of 1971 was mocked, and vice, greed, and cruelty ruled supreme. Their perfidy remains unforgivable.

Their mendacity is unpardonable.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not reflect Milli Chronicle’s point-of-view.

The “josh”, that unmistakable spirit of enthusiasm, was palpable right from the start.

It was an honour and a privilege to be invited as the Chief Guest for the Annual Sports Day Celebration of Mount Fort Academy, Dehradun, on 17th October 2025. The event was not just a sports function, it was a heartwarming display of discipline, teamwork, and the deep-rooted values that define true education.

As I arrived at the school premises, I was received with a traditional welcome, a tilak ceremony that instantly evoked warmth and respect. In an age where ceremonial courtesies are often forgotten, this simple yet profound gesture spoke volumes about the school’s commitment to preserving India’s cultural traditions. It reminded me of the very ethos that binds our classrooms to our consciousness, respect, humility, and grace.

The programme commenced with the recitation of the Gayatri Mantra, creating an atmosphere charged with serenity and purpose. The rhythmic chanting by the students set a spiritual tone that beautifully complemented the athletic energy of the day. It was a powerful reminder that education and sports, intellect and integrity, spirit and strength, all coexist harmoniously when guided by the right values.

From the very outset, one could sense the meticulous preparation that had gone into organising the event. The Physical Training Instructors and the team of volunteer students worked tirelessly to ensure the seamless conduct of the day’s activities. Every event, every transition, every announcement reflected teamwork and coordination. It was evident that this was not merely a one-day affair but the culmination of weeks of preparation, planning, and practice.

The “josh”, that unmistakable spirit of enthusiasm, was palpable right from the start. The students’ march past was synchronised and spirited, showcasing their discipline and pride in representing their respective houses. Their steps echoed determination, while their eyes sparkled with confidence. Each contingent marched past the saluting base with precision, and one could not help but feel a sense of pride watching these young cadets in the making.

As the events progressed, the field turned into a vibrant theatre of youthful energy. The cheers of the crowd, the encouragement from teachers, and the laughter of students created a festive atmosphere. Yet, beneath the excitement, there was an undercurrent of focus and commitment that set Mount Fort Academy apart.

Towards the end of the programme, the mass PT display was a sight to behold, scores of students moving in perfect unison, their synchronised movements reflecting the essence of teamwork. Such coordination doesn’t happen overnight. It is the result of constant guidance, patient training, and above all, a shared belief in collective excellence.

But among all the moments that morning, one stood out distinctly, a small yet powerful act that defined the spirit of the institution. During one of the races, a young child, in his eagerness to win, found himself at a point where he could have easily taken an extra step ahead into the hoopla, unnoticed by many. Instead, he paused, corrected himself, and continued running honestly, even though it cost him precious seconds.

He didn’t win the race. But in that moment, he won something far greater, the admiration of everyone watching. For me, as a soldier who has spent three decades in uniform, that act of truthfulness and integrity was more inspiring than any medal or trophy. It was a living example of character-building, the very foundation on which our future as a nation rests. My Bharat was in able hands, I murmured to myself.

That small moment encapsulated the true purpose of education, to create individuals who stand for what is right, even when no one is watching. The child’s action reflected the kind of moral grounding that cannot be taught through textbooks but must be nurtured through values, mentorship, and example.

As I looked around, I realised that this was not an isolated instance. The school’s atmosphere resonated with sincerity, commitment, and pride. The Principal’s vision, the teachers’ dedication, and the students’ earnestness came together in perfect harmony. Every teacher seemed deeply invested in shaping not just the minds but also the character of their students. The staff’s guidance was visible in the smallest gestures of discipline, students greeting visitors with folded hands, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring orderliness throughout the event.

Mount Fort Academy, in my observation, is not merely imparting education, it is building citizens. In an era where academic achievements often overshadow human values, the institution’s focus on integrity, sportsmanship, and teamwork stands out as a beacon of balanced education.

As the event concluded, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and optimism. Gratitude for being part of a morning that reaffirmed my belief in India’s youth, and optimism for the future these young minds represent. If every school in our country could instil such values, India’s next generation would not only be competent professionals but also compassionate, honest, and responsible individuals.

I left Mount Fort Academy that day with immense pride, my heart filled with admiration for the teachers and students alike. The morning had begun with the Gayatri Mantra, a prayer for wisdom and righteousness, and ended with a living example of both.

Indeed, sports build muscles, but values build nations. And at Mount Fort Academy, I witnessed both in perfect harmony.

Turkish Citizenship is the new bait to catch the fish, in the Indian and Pakistani Muslim community. I will tell you why it’s illogical to invest in such a thing. It has nothing to with Erdogan. Politics come and go, but if your investment goes away, it does not return.

Turkish citizenship option is talk of the town these days among Indian and Pakistani Muslims, especially those who are planning to migrate to the west. Some of them believe that, Turkey is a blend of Muslim values and Western culture, so it’s a preferable option over migrating to the western countries.

Here are some of the things you need to consider.

Number-1: It’s mandatory to learn and speak Turkish language (check Article-11 of Turkish Citizenship Law). So, I don’t think this is quite easy, while English has been part of lives since childhood.

Number-2: Your children can go to ONLY Turkish schools.

Number-3: Economy is instable with fluctuating Lira rate.

Number-4: Prostitution and homosexuality is legal in Turkey, according to Article 227 of Turkish Penal Code (Law No: 5237). Brothels are legal, and prostitutes can work officially with proper registration process, and with government provided ID cards.

Number-5: Strip Clubs are legal, and boys above 18 are allowed to attend the clubs and watch naked women.

Number-6: Here is a bad news for the Salafists. Preaching Salafism is banned in Turkey. Matteo Pugliese, researcher from the University of Barcelona said, “Turkish government is most likely unfriendly with the Salafist domestic community, as Erdogan has strong relations with the Muslim Brotherhood”.

Number-7: Job scarcity is high. Turkish citizens face a great hurdle to find jobs because of Syrian refugee influx. Erdogan was funded by UN to accept 2 million refugees, but Turkey received 3.7 million, which has eventually forced Erdogan to open the Greece border to kick out Syrians out of Turkey.

Number-8: The crime rate is high. Crimes like pickpocketing, muggings, theft, vandalism, bribery, etc. are high. Moreover, crime against Syrians is hitting high, as their laborers charge less compared to their Turkish counterparts. For example: if a Turkish laborer charges 100 Lira per Day. A Syrian refugee would charge only 30-40 Lira per Day, which has eventually affected the daily wages of the Turkish citizens.

Number-9: Turks are the most racist people. Usually we judge them based on one or two trips to Turkey on a tourist visa. Obviously, the tourists are always treated as milk-cows. Ask those who worked under them or with them. Coincidentally, I worked with them for over 3-years, and I understand their racist attitude. Some of them don’t even exchange Salaam greetings.

Number-10: If you as an Indian, thinking that Turkish citizenship is a safe-option to escape from what’s happening in India, then you are wrong. What will you do, if Indian authorities block your exit? Moreover, will you be leaving all your relatives and extended families, and just run away with your wife and kids? That’s illogical.

Moreover, it’s cowardice to do that. Our forefathers didn’t escape during partition when they had option, and we have lived in the Indian society for ages, and we live peacefully. Some of the incidents here and there happen. However, dealing with the situation does not mean running away from the situation. Integrating with the system and confronting the challenges is the solution. If your migration is for the purpose of better lifestyle, then it’s plausible. But if it’s for these silly reasons, then it’s cowardice.

Lastly, if you think, all this prostitution and strip-club things in Turkey happened in the past, but with Erdogan in power, it’s gradually changing. Then you are living in a fool’s paradise, because Erdogan has been in politics for the past 20 years. Not to forget, he was Prime Minister of Turkey back in 2003 when he had no single opposition candidate.

Let’s gather our wits before rushing to invest anywhere. We are duped every now and then by fraudsters in the names of enticing business schemes. Herd mentality is always dangerous!

As man progressed in science and technology the rate of damage caused by these Pandemics is less.

Diseases and illnesses have plagued humanity since the earliest days, our mortal flaw.

However, it was not until the marked shift to agrarian communities that the spread and scale of these diseases increased dramatically.

Widespread trade created new opportunities for human and animal interactions that sped up such epidemics. Malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, influenza, small pox and others first appeared during these years.

The more civilized human became with larger cities more exotic trade routes and increased contact with different population of people, animals and ecosystem — the more likely pandemics.

As humans have spread across the world so have infectious diseases. Even in this modern era out breaks are nearly constant, though not every outbreak reaches pandemic level as the Novel Corona virus (Covid-19) has.

History is witness to some major Pandemics which consumed millions of lives worldwide. The major ones we all are aware are: Antonine plague in 165-80 AD consumed five million lives. Japanese small pox in 735-37one million. Plague of Justinian in 541-41Fifty million.

New world small pox in 1520 fifty six millions. Great plague of London 1 lakh. Italian plague 1629-31, 1 million. Chloera, 1.1 million, 3rd plague, 12 million. Russian flu, 1 million. Asian flu in 1957, 881.1 million. Hongkong flu, 1 million. Hiv Aids 1981 – present 35 million. Swine flue 2009-10, two lacs. SARS 2002-03, 770. EBOLA 11000, MERS 850. And now Covid-19, 34000 estimated by John Hopkins University as of 30 March 2020.

As man progressed in science and technology the rate of damage caused by these Pandemics is less.

From 1981 apart from HIV Aids these damage is minimized as compared to past. The big and vital role in this one is infact of social media.

Social networking sites are indeed a blessing. I don’t neglect the ill side of these but am proud to boast of it’s bright side. Social media has a pivotal role to place as we are envisaging at present.

Our Mobile phones are bombarded with message about recent happening in the world and to that extent Covid-19 is not hidden from human eye.

Death toll in China by Covid-19 crossed 5000 and Italy surpassed 11000. In USA the number of Covid-19 jumped to 1,00,000. In India 20 died and number of positive cases crossed 1000.

In Jammu and Kashmir death toll reached two and number of positive cases are 42. Govt declared five villages as red zones. Village Waskura in Ganderbal declared red zone.

Nobody can deny ill effects of such ‘blessing’ but is destined to recognize the positives as well.

From last two decades of 20th century till present we are blessed with social media and hence well aware of date to day happenings. In such a scenario social media is more than a protect guard to us.

Administration is all powerful to fight the said pandemic and others from grass root level. To judge a person’s travel history was next to impossible when we where devoid of this virtue.

While concluding, this is for sure that Covid-19 in 2020 can’t be so disastrous as it was at the time of New world small pox in 1520 C.E. which consumed 56 million. Long live social media down with Covid-19.

Manzoor Wani is a student of Forestry at India’s Dr. BR Ambedkar University Agra. He can be reached at: manzoornabi57@gmail.com

Covid-19 Introduction

Virus are of different nature. Coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in your upper throat, nose, and sinuses. They can be seen under a microscope, that is why they are called Coronavirus they look like a crown.

Most of corona viruses are not so dangerous, but in early December 2019 outbreak in China, the World Health Organization identified a new type of coronavirus. Officials named this new virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This is the virus that causes COVID-19.

Early Doctors call it a simple Respiratory Tract infection, as it was affecting mostly throat, nose, lower respiratory tract, and inadequate breathing was observed.

Covid-19 came in news after it left no stone unturned in Wuhan city of China and then spread throughout the globe, it spreads same as Person to person. First world was not taking Covid-19 seriously, but after it enters in almost countries and cases sprout out like Bees, and Wuhan, Italy, witness the worst hitted countries.

If necessary measures would have been taken in early stages the dreadful virus could have been eradicated or stopped. Later WHO declared Covid-19 as Pandemic but the damage was done.

How to recognize or early symptoms of Covid-19 patient

Fever
Dry cough
Shortness of breath
Chills
Coughing up blood
Swollen eyes
Coughing up sputum
Fatigue

How to protect and prevent yourself from being the host of Covid-19

Wash your hands daily with soap, use sanitizer, Dettol wash, drink hot water continuously.

Don’t let your throat dry, cleaning your adjoining surrounding, your room, house, clothes, your body, even everything, as in Islam cleanesss is half of imaan.

Social Distance is one of The most powerful practice because it’s spreading person to person. Nobody knows who is Infected, neither Doctor, nor a common person, if necessary maintain Distance of seven feet, with complete measures like wearing mask, gloves, and gown.

Medicine

No vaccine or nedicine is available right now to deal with Covid-19, do It’s better to follow the article, and given measures strictly.

I thought they were rejected for sporting beard and the Muslim identity

After completing my bachelors in civil engineering, me and some of my classmates appeared for a test conducted by a reputed construction firm in Hyderabad for the position of Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET), one of the invigilator in the test made derogatory remarks to a non-Muslim who did not have a shave that day (he seems to be shaving regularly).

Back then I was just a student who completed studies and lacked the guts to address this invigilator as this could also be a breakthrough for starting my career as a professional Engineer.

I appeared for the exam but didn’t qualify for the interview but my friends were qualified, and were rejected, I thought they were rejected for sporting beard and the Muslim identity, I had a moment where I thought to myself “Can I grab a good opportunity and survive in Construction Industry?” due to my Muslim Identity and Beard.

I succeeded in securing a job as a Trainee Engineer with a small contractor in Hyderabad. Later, I moved to Saudi Arabia just with one year of experience for a large construction firm.

This is usually not the case for a Civil Engineer with just one year of experience.

It has been six years since I started working in the industry. Most of my friends and I—who appeared for that exam are in good positions with leading construction firms in India and Gulf—of course still sporting the beards.

Allah says in the Quran.

Are they, then, not aware that it is God who grants abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure, unto whomever He wills? (39:52.)
And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. (11:6)

Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I heard the Prophet (Peace be upon him) say, ‘If you were to rely on Allah as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out early in the morning hungry and return in the evening full.’ (at-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said: Even if the son of Adam were to flee from his sustenance like he flees from death, his sustenance would still reach him just like his death will reach him.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “Be moderate in seeking worldly things for everyone will be facilitated for which he was created [i.e. each person will only receive what is predestined for him]” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him), said, “There is no obedience to anyone if it is disobedience to Allah. Verily, obedience is only for good conduct.”

One of the advice Prophet (Peace be upon him) gave to Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) – Surely a man’s sustenance is prohibited (from reaching him) because of a sin he did.

So, did these news agencies name their sources of info who as you said work for CIA?

I just wanna vent to you all something happened to me many times here on Twitter.

So, this is a typical dialogue with enemies of KSA and MBS—whom I like to call ignorants by choice, ignorants by default, or most common type “paid gold diggers and barking dogs”.

He/She: Saudi Arabia was behind 9/11 terrorists’ attack and the killing of Khashoggi!

Me: Not true! What is your source that proves your claim?

He/She: Everybody is saying so!

Me: So, you’re just a parrot who repeats what he/she hears without validation?

He/She: No, I’m not! A friend of mine heard it in the news like CNN, BBC, ..etc! Btw, I heard it too and these news outlets said that their info are based on CIA reports!

Me: Ok, cool. So, did these news agencies name their sources of info who as you said work for CIA?

He/She: victory laugh .. Are you serious? Of course not & why would they?

Me: So, if I own a news agency and I’m powerful enough to not being held accountable for saying CIA is my source of info. Then, I publish an article that says “you are a lunatic”. Then, I say in the same article that my source is anonymous but works in CIA, would it be fair?

He/She: victory laugh again that doesn’t make sense because these news outlets won’t burn their cards by naming their CIA’s sources for the sake of intelligence sensitivity!

Me: Ok, fair enough! But, what if I ask you to google and read the full report that proves KSA had nothing to do with 9/11 attacks which was published by CIA (same source that your news outlets claim having info from and won’t show us any proof), would you still believe them?

He/She: You are lying!

Me: Ok, obviously you don’t want to google it. So, here you go (then I show him/her CIA report that’s available in Google). Now, that I showed you everything, it’s your turn! Please, show me any proof of your claim other than “news outlets said so!”

He/She: Bu..bu..but what about Khashoggi? MBS ordered his murder and this time CIA said so! Not just the news outlets and they have tapes!

Me: Again with the CIA thing?! Of course you didn’t hear the tapes nor anyone did (especially the news outlets).

But, here you go:

1. MBS didn’t order it (no tapes or any sort of evidence was released).
2. “Typical Anonymous CIA source” is again the news outlets’ source.
3. Mattis, former US Secretary of Defense, stated “No smoking gun MBS ordered Khashoggi’s murder!” (only official US statement).

He/She: you are a pro-Saudi and MbS troll!

Me: No, I’m n….

(your message can’t be sent! Do you want to save it in drafts)

(You can’t see this account’s tweets because you’re blocked)

And life goes on.. another day.. another ignorant.. same dialogue repeated…

Taken from Adel Again’s Twitter handle.

He thought Pooja was rich and decide to rob her on the way to the airport.

If you are a frequent cab user, you will be familiar with this scene – where the driver cancels the trip citing some or the other reasons and then promise you to still give you a ride on the same rate which was shown on the app.

There are other instances where passengers skip the booking on the app and contact the driver directly for trips. 

Both police and cab aggregators have warned users multiple times that do not take such rides as the safety of the passenger cannot be assured.

This is exactly the mistake that Pooja Singh Dey, a model-cum-event manager from Kolkata did in Bengaluru. 

Pooja had come to Bengaluru on July 29 for an event management programme at a star hotel in Parappana Agrahara. She had taken an Ola Cab from the airport to the hotel and had instructed to pick her up on July 31 from the hotel and drop at the airport. But that turned out to be a big mistake. 

On July 31, the local police received a call informing them about the body of an unidentified woman, which was lying in a field, near the KIAL back gate with stab injuries on the chest, abdomen, throat and cuts on the palms.

While the cops began a probe, they failed to ascertain the identity of the victim as she had no documents on her. 

The only clues left behind were her dress, footwear and a wristwatch. 

The first breakthrough came in the form of a unique number on the watch, which the cops then used to identify the buyer of it. 

Now they had the name of the Pooja Singh Dey, nothing more. 

Later teams were sent to other cities including Police Delhi and Kolkata to inquired about missing persons and found a match at New Town police station in Kolkata. 

The first lead in the search for the murder suspect came in the form of a piece of information that she had taken an Ola Cab on July 29 from the airport. The cab driver was later identified as one HN Nagesh and was arrested by the police on Friday.

So what happened?

Pooja had booked the cab on 29th from the Ola app and had asked Nagesh to come back and pick her up from the hotel at 4 am on 31st.

Nagesh, who began driving for recently had some financial troubles and had missed a couple of EMIs of his car.

He thought Pooja was rich and decide to rob her on the way to the airport.

Pooja had fallen asleep on in the cab and Nagesh took full advantage of it to take the cab to a different, isolated route where he used a knife and jack rod he had stored in the car to stab her until she became unconscious.

When she regained consciousness and tried to escape, Nagesh used a brick to bludgeon her to death. Nagesh fled the scene with her handbag and mobile phone after dumping her body. 

To his shock, all Nagesh found in her handbag was Rs 500 and some ATM cards.

Article first published in India Times.

Should Saudi Rulers be knocking doors and giving justifications to people sitting on couches and drinking tea during Salah?

Vilifying Saudi Rulers for everything happening to the Muslims in the world is ignorance.

Sharing posters and cartoons in the name of spreading awareness, showing the Muslim leaders as wrongdoers and criminals? Don’t you fear God?

If they own a land where Masjid Al Haram and Masjid An Nabwi exist, they do their best to guard what has been given under their guardianship.

How they engage with other leaders of the world, Muslims or non-Muslims, is their strategies and diplomacy for the wellbeing of their country and people.

Should Saudi Rulers be knocking doors and giving justifications to people sitting on couches and drinking tea during Salah?

God has not made them responsible for the billions of Muslims across the world.

If you say, you are in shock as “Saudi Arabia represents Islam”, you’re mistaken, because every Muslim represents Islam. Your actions as a Muslim, individually represents Islam. So be shocked when you watch movies in your little theatre (televisions), and when your children are keen to imitate the their hip-hop role models. Being heedless regarding your own misguidance and you worry about Saudi Arabia getting “Modern”?

Everyone knows their responsibilities so holding others responsible for ones condition is wrong, so hold yourself accountable – “…but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself” [an-Nisa’ 4:79]

What Saudi Arabia does, why it’s doing it is none of anyone’s business. The deeds of the Kings is between them and God Who has given them kingship over the land. The calamities we have in our phones and homes is what should concern a sincere Muslim.

Rest, speaking against the Muslim rulers, not just Saudi Arabia but any one is forbidden in Islam. If you want change, seek knowledge and practice it for yourself. Pray for guidance of the Muslim nations and the Rulers.

Busy yourself with the affairs of your homes—the condition of your own kingdoms for which you will be held accountable. Try to set Islam as a medium of living in your own kingdoms. Busy yourself with your deeds and rectify your affairs for you will be questioned about it. You won’t be questioned regarding what you didn’t share about the King of KSA behind his back.

A school is meant to nurture the child’s capabilities and bring out the best performance and the best behaviour.

This is by far the toughest and most difficult decisions parents need to make these days. The complexities have increased now due to many new schools with different teaching ideologies, different boards, vast differences in fee structure, etc.

Having said all this, I feel I could share my experience not just as a mother but as a student as well .

My kids are 15 and 11 now and they have studied in three cities, one of them being abroad, and I have experienced two daycares, two preschools, and four other schools in all till now across boards and cities. Add to that three elite schools in India in which my husband and I studied.

What I am sharing is my experience over the years and it obviously stems from my parenting method and sensibilities. It might be useful to some moms. The boards I have experience with are ICSE, CBSE, IB, IGCSE and the IEB which is the premier board of South Africa.

This is what I have learnt and experienced:

There are three distinct phases of schooling and the expectation from these phases need to be different.

• Pre Primary phase (playgroup to senior KG)
• Primary (class 1 to class 6)
• Middle / high school (class 7 to class 12)

It’s quite okay to shift schools between these phases as some schools are better in some aspects. In fact, I would recommend it to save costs and a lot of grief.

Pre Primary Phase

For a pre-Primary, choose a school where the teachers are well trained and they smile and can handle kids well. I detest teachers who scream and for me, it’s a no-no instantly. The teachers and teaching method, child safety and the responsibility taken by the school towards ensuring safety in this stage is the ONLY important thing. The Board does NOT matter. Comparisons of whether one school teaches writing and another teaching tables at this stage is extremely futile and it would be prudent to not do that. And exams at this stage is absolutely a big no-no. If any school has exams at this stage it predicts the ethos of that school and I am put off instantly. I would infinitely rate higher school without regular exams as compared to one that does.

Primary stage

This is a long, 7-year-period and the backbone of your child’s education. These years build your child’s skills, talents, happiness levels, and of course, lays the groundwork towards an enriching learning experience. The board here doesn’t matter too much. The school DOES. A good school will have a focus on all round developments. A good way to judge this would be to see what awards the school doles out. Some awards which I have seen and which made me instantly like the school:

Best progress prize (awarding self-growth)
Behaviour prizes -kindness,, upholding the values of the school, helpfulness
Prizes for cultural achievements – music dance art ( assuming these are covered by the school)
Prizes for academic excellence covering a broad spectrum rather than first second third.
Prizes for sporting excellence
Prizes for leadership skills

A school is meant to nurture the child’s capabilities and bring out the best performance and the best behaviour. Any school any board which strives for this is a good school .

Another thing which I look for is classroom behaviour. If I see a happy teacher, it makes my heart glad. Because happy teachers make happy students, and happy students are the best learner’s in my experience.

An active sports department inculcates life skills and is very very important. It also helps with fitness levels . Not just for a sports day but having fun during sports periods and exposure to on field competitions builds camaraderie and engages the child constructively. An arts and music department builds discipline and provides relief from academics.

Anti-bullying policy

A must for me in any school. If the school behaves like an ostrich for bullying or violence and does not have a clear WRITTEN policy, I strike it off the list. As a parent, I have asked this question at each parent school interview except for one school. That was another big mistake which resulted in us changing schools after a traumatic experience.

Anti corporal punishment policy

Make sure this question is answered in no uncertain terms. Any school which has even ONE teacher who beats or gets physical with children must be shunned at any cost. Research well.

Teachers are trained and their qualifications are published on the school website.

Communication between school and parent

A school that resists talking to parents or behaves snooty or behaves like it’s doing me a favour by replying to emails is struck off.

A good school is such a critical aspect, proximity to home is important. It’s much better shifting closer to a good school rather than choosing a substandard school only because it’s close to home (It was my biggest mistake and I paid a heavy price for this)

There are many other factors but not more important than these IMHO.

Middle/ High school

This is the stage when kids turn into teens. They are also grappling with the much-increased workload, choosing subjects, raging hormones etc. The BOARD matters hugely! For higher education in India CBSE is the best board (I didn’t study in one but I am observing their policies for the last 15 years). Their syllabus is suited to entrance exams in India so it makes sense to choose CBSE.

ICSE, for me, is a ‘no’ simply because of their syllabus. It’s insane. Even BA and BSc curriculum is covered in grade 9/10. I find that putting that load on students means they are unable to focus on other passions like sports or music etc . It is also vastly unnecessary. A bigger syllabus DOES NOT mean a better student or a better school.

Also, the best results do NOT mean a better school.

For those choosing to study abroad, it’s best to choose IB or IGCSE as their syllabi/methods of study are largely project based and research-based and suited to Universities abroad. It’s not just about syllabus but the orientation towards study in an international board is poles apart from Indian Boards. And there is absolutely zero use of the ROTE method. Higher education abroad needs research, critical thinking, analytical skills, self-study skills and also all round development like sports, music, social outreach. Most international boards also have a small class strength, because of a prerequisite. Which is great for student-teacher interaction.

Questions you should be asking at this stage

• Does the school offer help to weak students?
• Do they encourage Private tuition ( its a red flag for me because it means the school is shrugging off responsibility)?
• Do they handhold regarding making career choices?
• Do they have counsellors to deal with behaviour and teen problems?
• Does the school offer the opportunity for all round activities or only academics?
• Does the school encourage class participation?What are the subjects offered by the school?

Sometimes a child may want to study X but it’s not available as a subject in that school. It’s okay to change. I see a lot of students changing schools even as late as grade 11 because they look for specific things from a school.. a great Music department, a great sports department, specific subjects etc. At this stage, a lot depends on what the child is interested in.

The BEST school may not be the RIGHT school for your child .. choose what is best for YOUR child here. Again I will point out don’t go by board results as that speaks nothing actually. Most of these board results are achieved by kids going for Private tuitions and the school takes credit. I find that deceitful.

I hope these pointers from my personal experience will prove useful to you. This is no BIBLE either, but just some of my learning over the years which I have compiled and shared.

Article first published on First Mom Club.

Vineeta Ambasta is a cost and management accountant by profession and qualification and has worked with leading corporates in three different cities of India.