Untold Facts

Masjid Based Literacy Issue

There was report in a Dhaka daily on the 7th November (08) that a group has submitted a protest note to the Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government (CG) making objection against the program for basic literacy training at some selected the Masajids (mosques) in some localities. Their argument for their opposition had two points; one, the Imams of the mosques are not adequately qualified and two, that such mosque-based program would violate the Constitution of the country. Are the points valid?

Imams of mosques are not uneducated persons; they are all without exception are fairly educated so far as imparting basic literacy learning for the young kids are concerned in 3 R’s or Reading Writing and Arithmetic in native language are concerned. Because, the Imams are not only native Bengali speakers but also had had enough of them learnt in Madarasas or Islamic learning schools as are in the country for long back and had reformed their syllabuses in recent times at par with other secondary schools. If they need further training in teacher education, in case some of them had not had any that could well be organized and imparted to improve their skills in teaching young boys and girls. The only objection in such cases could be that non-Muslim parents might not like the mosque campus for religious dislike; if this would be the case, there are certainly primary schools around that they could go to for acquiring basic primary learning skills and literacy. I would, however, feel that the Imams should not have any prejudice for any non-Muslim young children to accommodate them in basic learning process just as I knew that the Prophet’s mosque of Medina in the early 7th century had not only been open to all for basic learners but also had even non-Muslim teachers.
In regard to the Constitution of Bangladesh, I did not find in the news item specific mention of provisions of the national document that might be violated in conducting the literacy program in the mosques. What I know, however, that the essence of the 5th and the 8th Amendments of the Constitution made it rather obvious that the primary learning of the young children should be conducted in the country’s thousand year old traditional Muslim institutions like mosques and Makatabs (Ibtedayee Madarasas). As the Constitution further provides for the same level of primary schooling as compulsory one for all children irrespective of religion, caste and creed, the secular primary schools that had its birth during the British colonial rule in the 19th century and have been in full functioning in every locality since then could well do the teaching for all non-Muslim children. There is, as such, no question of discrimination between children of various faiths.

Dr. M.T. Hussain
Dhaka-1206

Continuing Instances of the Big Brother’s Furies

The latest of BSF (Border Security Force of India) intrusion into Bangladesh territory in the northern area at Panchagarh and taking three human lives including a sleeping children at dead of 10 P.M. night on the 17th November though nothing uncommon is a typical of what such inhuman and barbarous killings they have been perpetrating on and on since decades. At some instances apologies are made, flag meetings or full representative meetings between the BSF and the BDR (Bangladesh Rifles), engaged to keep international border secure, are held ending in vague promises not to go for excesses by any side, but unfortunately the fact remained that the BSF more often than not continue to make excesses and killings of innocent children of Bangladesh in their operations as the 17th November one was all about.

It may be worthwhile to recall back some of the inhuman acts perpetrated recently not all on their own folly or egoism but having had signs of aggressive intentions of their government realized through the BSF operations of various manifestations.

The geographical Vulnerability:

The geographical shape and existence of Bangladesh though has a long historic past for centuries, the shape and size of it as of now in the post 1971 period remains exactly what the people of this land area had curved out in 1947, the year and time the British had left off giving independence from the colonial rule. Some self-seeking leaders based then at Kolkata by conspiring and denying the whole Bengal and Assam out of the clutches of post 1947 India made Bangladesh’s geographical vulnerability an unfortunate reality. Even so, being together with West Pakistan, the geographical vulnerability had not been as acute as the Big Brother had constantly to care for any thrust from their side. The 1971 episode and the resulting independence of Bangladesh established in the soil and geographical locality of East Pakistan made things different. The position of sovereign equality that provided mutual respectability withered away into what is the current position not only of vulnerability of the small brother in ‘truncated and moth-eaten’ geographical entity but also to big brotherly dominance and small brotherly helplessness.

Difficulties for Bangladesh in preserving the 4,156 km border with India:

The BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) of Bangladesh just as the previous EPR has been engaged to preserve and secure the land and river border of 4,156 km (Land 3,976, river 180 km) with India, and merely 271 with Myanmar (land 208 km and river 63 km) (Bangladesh Defence Journal, September, p.22). India has their BSF (Border Security Forces) on the other side of the common border. However, encounters and shootings, wounding and killing by the BSF men of BDR are almost everyday matter. Similarly, civilians are also being kidnapped, wounded and killed in one pretext or the other. The amazing aspect of all such untoward incidents is that being Big Brother they normally show arrogance in all such happenings.

All time upgrading of the BSF for creating fear psychosis in Bangladesh:

Compared to India Bangladesh is a tiny entity not only in geographical area but also in all matters. It is as such only natural that India has no worry for its defense, much less the defense of its border with India by the much bigger BSF. Even so, she has lately been upgrading the BSF with latest Israeli Arms like (1) Super Rifle, (2) Assault Rifle, ( 3) M 16 Assault Rifle, (4) MPG-1 Sniper Rifle (5) MP-5 Sub Machine Gun. They are also bringing Targetory Instrument, Laser Crowdy Night Vision (Ibid, 2008, p. 19).
One must wonder, do they need so much of strengthening of the BSF? Why? To face up to the BDR? Or to keep there all time fear psyche not only among the BDR but also among the border area people?

New intelligence unit of India working inside Bangladesh:

According a report published in the above quoted publication, it is known that a new intelligence unit of India has been working inside Bangladesh, in addition, not only recently but also during the post 1947 period their central and powerful intelligence agency, R&AW to sift out almost everything of State secret matters. The agency is known as the Trans Frontier Intelligence Agency or in abbreviated as TIA (Ibid, p.19). They have been collecting information about the Bangladesh Army and BDR to boost up the morale of the BSF.

Anti-Bangladesh organizations working inside India:

There had been anti- East Pakistan elements and organizations based mainly in Kolkata and Agartala in pre 1971 days. But the immediate post 1971 period scarcely had any such for the fact and expectation of the Bengali people there that the 1971 war would do way with the ‘artificial border’ and so until 1975 there activities were almost nothing. But as soon as the 1975 August revolution that followed the decisive 7 November revolution of Bangladesh got the overwhelming people’s support and success, the Indians started to view new Bangladesh with a quite different attitude. And so they started many organizations to humble Bangladesh.

The first of the anti-Bangladesh movement started to work on the 15th August 1977, the second anniversary of Sheikh Mujib’s death, pioneered by Chitta Ranjan Sutar, former Awami League M.P. who since after 1971 not only stayed back in Kolkata but also at times met the Indian P.M. Indira Gandhi to fully annex Bangladesh into Indian union. Indira did tell him that that was not feasible right then. That is why he stayed back and waited for the opportune moment. Mujib’s fall from power in Dhaka gave Sutar an opportunity. The Bangabhumi Movement was Sutar’s brainchild who initiated the movement as a launching ground not only to curve out about one thirds of the western Bangladesh but continue to put pressure against Bangladesh. To put inertia and add to the strength of the movement Sutar had Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Mujib then in exile in India attended the first meeting as that happened to be her father’s second death anniversary (M.T.Hussain, Daily Dinkal, Dhaka,15th August 2008). The plea for the Bangabhumi was advanced by Sutar for resettling the displaced Hindus of post 1947 and post Bangladesh period.

Keeping with Sutar’s strategy several other organizations have been organized there. They are (1) Liberation Tigers of Bangladesh, (2) Hindu Republic of Birbango etc. These organizations have their cultural and in some cases armed units aiming to materialize goals of the main political organizations. They are (1) Nikhil Banga Nagarik Sangha (All Bengal Citizens Organization), (2) All India Refuge Front, (3) Bangladesh Udbastu Kallyan Parishad (Bangladesh Refugee Welfare Council), (4) Bangladesh Udbashtu Unnayan Sangshad (5) Hindu Bangali Gano Parishad, etc. Other known leaders are Kalidas Baidya of Bongosena and Sukumar Guhothakurha of Hindu Republic of Birbongo Movement.

These front organizations issues and distributes leaflets, posters etc. not only there in West Bengal and Tripura but also inside Bangladesh. They have their workers and contact fifth columnists here inside Bangladesh.

While the facts are that anti-Bangladesh groups have been working from inside Indian Territory, possibly with full knowledge and connivance of Delhi and Kolkata, they have been blaming Bangladesh to give shelter to anti-Indian elements stationed inside Bangladesh. Could that be believable for Bangladesh is a much smaller and vulnerable entity?

Push in of poor Indian Bengali Muslims into Bangladesh:

It is not only that the poor and vulnerable Muslims of India are being ill-treated in all rights there from education to employment, business and vocations. In addition, many such are driven out from India and pushed into Bangladesh through the border areas. The recent torture, annihilation, destruction and burning down of homesteads and killing of Bengali speaking Muslims of Assam have been well known and had media attention all over the world. According to a reliable statistics, the push in attempts by the BSF from 2003 to July 2008 recorded at 211 and persons pushed into Bangladesh had a figure of 3,448. In three months from February 2008 to April 2008, the BSF attempted 2 push in, and persons pushed in stood at 13.

Should not the Bangladeshis ask where has their love of 1971 gone and withered away?

Bangladeshis killed and injured by BSF:

Random shooting at and killing of simple minded and poor Bangladeshis is almost a routine matter of the Indian BSF. The reasons advanced for such killings by the BSF are that they had been either ‘intruders’ or ‘smugglers’, hardly substantiated by facts. During the period five years and a half from 2003 to July 2008 the BSF killed 335 Bangladeshis and injured by shooting 228. Along with the BSF, the Indian civilians as well joined hands in killing and injuring Bangladeshis in the border areas. Such killing and injuring of Bangladeshis by Indian civilians stood at 66 and 67 respectively during the same period of five years and a half. The same source recorded that from February to April 2008, 20 persons were killed and 19 injured in three months; and from May to July 19 killed including 2 BDR personnel and injured 17 during another three months.

In another report published in the above journal issue that was jointly compiled by Maj (R) Ashrafuzzaman, Maj (R) Khalil Bin Wahid and Maj (MAJ Wadud Didar recorded additional figures and facts about abductions (675), arrests (513), missing (82, rape (10) and looting (61) by the BSF during 2000 to July 2008. Previous to the period from 1990 to 1999 a total of 206 had been killed and 158 injured) (Ibid, p.23).

Encounters between the BSF and the BDR in the border area are almost regular matters. The recent killing of BDR’s Havildar Abdul Hannan and of Lance Naik Krishna Pada Das are well on record (Ibid, p.24).

At times the BSF men enters deep into Bangladesh territory, kill any one they wish to, even children not spared in their fury, and at times, take away dead body/s making issues not to return dead body/s for burial by relatives here in Bangladesh.

It is not correct to say though that no Indians have been killed and injured in encounters, but the fact remained that Indian sides engage themselves almost all the time in aggressive and egoistic attitudes for their claim in attaining the position of Big Brother in 1971 thus tending to care or respect very little the dignity of the people of Bangladesh, much less the sovereign equality of Bangladesh.

Clandestine intrusion of arms and ammunitions for destabilizing Bangladesh:

Since the Big Brother has not been able as yet fully grab Bangladesh, and there is no possibility to contain Bangladesh’s independent entity n the foreseeable future, they have engaged themselves in as many front as possible to humble and destabilize the smaller neighbor. Because, as well known, they have already humbled and grabbed many smaller neighbors in the past. One of the destabilizing tactics is the smuggling of arms and handing them over to the fifth columnists for all sorts of terrorizing and anti-social activities. The Bangladesh law enforcing agencies have been continually apprehending many miscreants for smuggling of arms and ammunitions made in the India Explosives Ltd, Gomia, Jharkhand. During the period of one year from August 2007 to July 2008, arms and ammunitions in the process of smuggling have been caught by the Bangladesh law enforcing agencies stood as follows:
1. Rifle 03 6 Bomb/Shell 06
2. Gun 69 7. Detonator 16
4. Pistol 10. 8. Ammunitions 39,585
3. Revolver 09 9. Explosives 09
5. Hand Grenade 01 10. Air Gun 24
The above figures can not be all of everything arms and ammunitions attempted to be smuggled to Bangladesh, but are part of the whole, because, many smugglers and miscreants remained out of the reach of the BDR etc. They have their contact persons stationed here and in other side of the border. Many notorious miscreants and listed top criminals of particular political shade maintain permanent sanctuaries in Kolkata and other places in India. Some maintain carefree luxurious lives there and still now extracting tolls through their contact men criminals inside big cities and towns of Bangladesh and yet have political patronage not only from insiders of India but also some of Bangladesh, as well.

Trafficking of Women and Children from Bangladesh:

Poverty and destitution of millions of common people coupled with recent moral erosion in the society have found some outlet in trafficking of women and young girl children from Bangladesh to other countries. In all such cases, however, the obvious route is India’s province of West Bengal and Tripura. One recent report by the Indian NDTV figured out that nearly one third of prostitutes in the cities of Chennai, Bombay and Delhi were of Bangladesh origin. They did not go there through any official channel but through illegal trafficking. Such illegal traffickers are caught now and then but not all for lapses of various natures including of the smartness of the parties concerned and lapses of the law enforcing agencies. In about five and a half years between 2003 and July 2008 such apprehended traffickers were 93; women and children rescued from attempted trafficking from them during the period stood at 183 and 155 respectively. The trend of increase of numbers of women and children being trafficked was on the rise respectively from14 in the year 2003 to 39 in 2008, and from 06 in 2003 to 62 in 2008) and so was the rise of number arrested traffickers from 33 in the year 2003 to 122 in 2008 (Ibid, p. 27). The figures clearly prove that despite arrests of traffickers, the trafficking business is on the increase having some ups and downs at times depending on rigorousness or looseness of the law enforcing agencies conditioned by other factors including payment by traffickers and receipt of cash payments by some law enforcing agencies.

Cross-border smuggling of Narcotics, Sarees etc.:

Cross–border smuggling is nothing unusual between countries having common international border. But the quantum depends on nature of states, economy and culture. So far as Bangladesh and Indian cross border smuggling is concerned, Bangladesh being vulnerable in many matters, adverse effects on the economy of Bangladesh for cross border smuggling is larger than India’s bigger size of the economy. During pre-1971 period, however, the effects had been the opposite for the then East Pakistan had a stronger economy than that existed on the other side of the international border. Not only this, the people of this region would take little interest in smuggling for two reasons, one, for being economically better off and two for having had common anti-Indian psyche. Thus smuggling of whatever magnitude that had been then did not harm the economy; things have turned opposite since 1971 and so the harm due to smuggling of massive nature has been severe on the Bangladesh economy.

Smuggled in and out goods vary in their utility and cost. Items like for example Phensidile or a brand of cheaper alcoholic dink is a common item smuggled into Bangladesh from India. This single item of crores of Taka so spent for buying Phensidile, Indian made cheaper alcoholic drink, not only cause moral erosion of our younger generation but also add to burden of the society for their so going astray. On the contrary, items like edible or fuel oil smuggled out of Bangladesh into India affects Bangladesh economy in terms of foreign exchange, because both items are bought by Bangladesh in hard foreign currency.

According to figures given in the above journal, Bangladesh continued to make losses on account of smuggling of hundreds of crores Taka each year rising from 230 crores in the year 2003 never falling in any year below 200 crores until in 2008 at 127 crores ( Ibid, p.27). Narcotics of various forms are another item of many injurious goods smuggled into Bangladesh almost each day out and in. They are like Gaja, Heroin, Cocaine, Opium, Hashish (Ibid, p.20), etc. in addition to the well known Phensidile in huge quantities. They are marketed here at random having no regard to law of the land not only for windfall profit making though clandestine business but also aimed at breaking down the moral fabrics of this highly ethical and moral nation dominated by lofty Islamic values and high moral system. There are as many as 21 Phensidile producers in and around Kolkata having 304 outlet or wholesale shops that supply the cheap alcoholic bottled drink to Bangladesh through many illegal routes and contacts. Thousands of unemployed youths are known to be addicted injuriously with all these cheaper alcoholic drinks and narcotics in Bangladesh.

Another illegal item smuggled in huge number is Indian Saree or women’s apparel that has little market in Bangladesh, because, Bangladesh produces all grades of sarees from the finest costly ones to cheaper ones for the poor women. They are so smuggled not for profit making at the moment but for dumping Bangladesh market for future control and gains at the cost of local industries and products. The BDR, at times, apprehends many such smugglers but many other slip out of their hands.

Border Fencing yet no surrender of the Corridor for Dahagram and Angorpota in return for the Berubari enclave.

The Big Brother was so magnanimous in 1971 war, but soon turned unfriendly if not hostile. In 1973 Berubari, an integral part of Bangladesh territory was transferred to Indian control through mutual agreement of the two Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh providing in the agreement in return of the Three Bigha corridor through Indian territory in the northern flank of Bangladesh territory to enter for all time n in perpetuity into the two Bangladeshi enclaves, Dahagram and Angor pota. The agreement was duly passed immediately in the Bangladesh Parliament. Unfortunately India did not do that and not as yet in 35 years. Why? Is that so that an agreement with an unequal partner is of no significance?

The unfriendly common border control by India has been extended to erecting barbed wire fences all along the international border to further increase fear psychosis among the people living in the rural areas along the international borders and also their hegemonic bigness against Bangladesh.

Talpatti Island of Bangladesh and its forcible occupation by India:

In the west location of Bangladesh’s Bay of Bengal, just adjacent to the mangrove forest of the Sunderban, and along the Hariabhanga river meeting the sea in the south, there is what is known as the Talpatti Island of Bangladesh. India claimed the same island as their East More (M R Islam, The Ganges Water Dispute: Its International legal Aspect, UPL, Dhaka-1987, p.172). President Zia ventured in 1981 to free the island from the adverse possession of Indian Navy. Unfortunately he was assassinated in May 1981. Many had a genuine hunch that the Talpatti venture cost President Zia’s life in the hands of the Indian secret service R&AW operatives. The recently held maritime boundary meeting with India held after three decades had nothing positive outcome in matters of the Talpatti Island.

The Continuing River Water Sharing Dispute:

The ever boggling issue of border disputes and non-settlement of many other outstanding ones by the Big Brother can not rightly be appreciated, much less clearly evaluated, having had no reference to the overall past historical experience and, for instance, of the natural river water flow obstructions made by India at the upstream of common 53 rivers of Bangladesh. Unless and until India changes her Big Brotherly attitudes to Bangladesh and starts to respect sovereign equality of Bangladesh and fulfils her commitments lawfully made time and again, there is hardly any scope for peaceful co-existence, albeit, at the most disadvantage of smaller Bangladesh.

The latest fury and killings of the three innocent civilians at the Panchgarh area on the 17th November are not the end of everything but clearly part of their designs to keep on creating not only fear psychosis here and thus humble down Bangladesh but also in their frenzy to show disrespect for innocent human lives and for sovereign equality of the smaller neighbor. The ball of respect for innocent human lives and for sovereign equality certainly lies in the court of India.

Dr. M.T. Hussain
18 November 2008

Pinaki-Hasina-Ashraf: Let them Wait for Level Playing Field

Two private TV channels of Dhaka in their evening news coverage as I had opportunity to watch but nothing of any sound of issues discussed between themselves on the 10th November of exclusive meeting of the trio- Pinaki, Hasina and Ashraf at the Sugdha Sadan (Dhanmondi) for nearly two hours from 11 am to 1 p.m. The meeting would not have been anything unusual between them provided one would not hear anything of Ashraf as he did immediately after the meeting was over in front of the pressmen and that they aired in their individual TV channels. Interestingly, Ashraf, the Awami League acting G.S., sounded clearly to me a sort of threatening posture of dire consequences of the kind of the shameful 28th October 2006, should the 18th December fixed polls for the next parliament election changed and delayed for any reason whatsoever.

It is painfully true that the schedule for the polling date was overdue that the Government and the Election Commission had enough of onus and to blame. Unfortunately, as we heard from the very beginning from the horse’s mouth that LEVEL PLAYING FIELD A MUST for the polls for candidates of all relevant political parties. Now that the 4 party jote have put up their genuine demands for ensuring level playing field that is very much lacking, people, as well, can see clearly that there is no level playing field yet, how could then be a polling done exactly on the 18th December in a hara-kiri in the uneven field so much so that conspicuously the top leader’s bail of the Awami League not allowed even by the Supreme Court Full Bench in a particular case of huge rent seeking was in a few days time afterwards given final police report having had no cognizable offence! The impatience and rather howling of Ashraf seen in the TV screen proves that they want polling right on the 18th December just as Sheikh Hasina had already said even before coming back to Dhaka on the 6th November in conclusion of her trip abroad for five months in ‘parole’ but amazingly, in reality, did enough of hectic political activities in Europe and America at huge cost of whom I am not certain, and yet caring for nothing about the uneven level playing field scenario that very complaint of the Awami League though had annulled the 22 January polling of 2007. How rationale is the hara-kiri? If the country could do without any election for two years now, can’t it bear with for a few more months to level up the field for the game?

His howling following the exclusive meeting could well be construed that the man Pinaki Ranjan Chakravarty, the Indian High Commissioner, had some stimuli given to the guy in having had discussed relevant issues and made their common stand fixed up.

One can at this stage only pray that they would have sense and some patience to accommodate the level playing field to make the election credible and fair for being acceptable to all inside the country and outside.

–Dr. M.T. Hussain

Country’s Image Ditched

1. The Problem:
Should not any real patriot practice restraint in matters wherein his own country’s prestige and image may run any risk of let down? Should not negative propaganda in such cases be shunned? These two questions bogged my mind since I watched a news item in private TV channel in Dhaka in the evening of the 4th November (08). The news item had names of 50 political leaders, some dead and some still alive, 49 of one party and 1 of another party, in the opinion of a certain group claiming themselves to be so and so, as being the ‘war criminals’ of 1971. And further that as the governments, past and present, so long in 37 years after independence of Bangladesh in 1971 failed to hound the ‘criminals’, they are on in their bid not only to pinpoint the ‘criminals’ but also to punish them in all forms possible ways including social boycott as they have claimed in the same statement. It is really a matter of an big amazement of their time frame at the critical period of the nation’s difficult transition from the oddly two year long transition of the present Caretaker (non-party) Government to hopefully an elected one within about next six weeks or so by December 18th (08).

2. Propaganda versus Facts:
The year 1971 is away gone by now for 37 years. Bangladesh has moved ahead for nearly four decades as of now not only carrying some odd burdens of 1971 but also having the nation had freed from the sad experience of the nine months ordeal from March to December of 1971. If one would as a living person then and now recall relevant issues and many political rhetoric, one would certainly discover that Bangladesh did not turn a country of ‘milk and honey’ for all as many had expected through winning the war of 1971 against the federal Government and the Army of the period. Unfortunately, although the war was won in December 1971, people soon afterwards painfully continued to discover many illusions in reality, and so started to ask themselves what went wrong. It was as such natural to further ask their own souls if those who opposed the 1971 war from within had not been only idiots. Apart from the question of prudence and idiocy of one or the other, the fact remained that the people had been divided not only between parties but also among commoners in ideas opposed to one another. One group thought it right to get everything on their own and the other took it as better to remain together. Both had their rationale, beliefs, conscience and stand for action as patriots of the country. Who happened to be less or more patriot remains a matter of unending debate and unresolved puzzle. The real fact remained that not only one side faced the brunt but both groups opposing as enemies of each other.

3. The puzzle of Freedom and Independence:
The puzzle originated in the very nature of confused issues then in 1971 left by the leader concerned given himself up and refusing to lead the on ward movement obviously for the common people to make guesses and wonder in amazement as to what to do and what not to do following the 25th March 1971 foolish army action in the capital city Dacca (then spelled that way) and the resistance of certain sections against the federal army’s line of fire just as an eye witness I had the ill-luck to witness and experience that very fearful night and afterwards myself living in a government residence along with my family with young children and afterwards throughout the rest period of 1971. Though a section of the resistance group continued to put up resistance not from inside but taking shelter in the well known enemy territory, many patriots took the game otherwise not only for some good reason but also for well known long historical experience of the past. Error in judgment could have been there on both sides, not on one side just as attacks on and both sides had only been unavoidable, as human beings in their fury could naturally go for.

4. The Question of Legitimacy:
Apart from the confusing question of legitimacy of the 1971 war, the actual war took place between Pakistan army on one side and the Indian army on the other side as the facts documented through the 16th December (1971) instrument of surrender made in Dacca between the war commanders of the two parties, the issue of ‘war criminal’ can not thus go beyond wildly to condemn any one outside combatant ones and so must first remain limited to the combatant forces in actual engagements. That was what the 195 so listed by the post 1971 government that amazingly included none in the list the group has put up on the 4th November 2008. On what good reason those who opposed dismemberment of Pakistan, their forefathers had created though popular votes in the 1946 general election, could be considered criminal if any or whoever had stood to preserve the unity and integrity of Pakistan. The 1970 election had been fought in East Pakistan for betterment of economic lot of the people through re-establishing democracy for making Pakistan stronger and nothing of the sort for the people to dismember Pakistan and establish Bangladesh in the soil of East Pakistan. Neither the leader had any mandate for anything like that (See, Abul Mansur Ahmad, Amar Dekha Rajnitir Panchash Basar, Dhaka, 1995, P.608), much less of any declaration of independence to that end. His rhetoric ‘EBARER SANGRAM SWADHINATAR SANGRAM’ made on the 7th March 1971 at the then Ramna Race Course (where I myself had been present) in Dacca and now Sohrawardy Uddyan, when was referred to him to translate the word SWADHINATA in English language for print media, he preferred ‘Freedom’ rather than ‘Independence’. There are plenty of other evidences that he stood for the unity of the Federal Pakistan and did not intend to break the Federation for making independent Bangladesh (See, Impact International, London 28th September, 1987, p.19). Those who claimed afterwards and making statements now that the leader wished to make Bangladesh an independent entity are hardly speaking the truth but at best, only making propaganda rhetoric of half truth.

5. The Collaborators Act of 1972 and the Complicacies created:
That those who took the 1971 game in their belief as an act of Indian hegemony had been hounded by the Bangladesh government having had little valid reason but in the main for brutally crushing the political opponents of all shades. The prisons of the country were filled up with thousands of opponents not necessarily of independence but in the main opponents of the party in power. It took not long, however, to prove the fallacy of the Act as afterwards some of the so-called collaborators had been produced in courts, cases heard and almost all proved to be not only baseless but also against fundamental rights (See, Justice Abdul Bari Sarker’s relevant item published in The New Nation, Dhaka, 7th and 14th January 2006). The main reason being that those who opposed Bangladesh and wished to preserve united Pakistan as ideological belief did nothing wrong except in some minor instances going for excesses not though from one side but from both ends of the political cum ideological divide. Thus by mid 1973 the act becoming farcical one was replaced by the special tribunal act for bringing to trial the definite criminals in specific criminal charges. However, the overall milieu at that time was so against the government for their failure to address the day to day living problems of the people, they could care little even to form the tribunal much less bringing in the ‘criminals’ to justice through due process of law. The so-called granting mercy to the collaborators and freeing them from prison in bulks by end of 1973 proved further the non-sustainability of the notorious Act.

6. The 195 ‘war criminals’ were let free without any prosecution!
It was nothing unusual that the war had excesses, albeit, not on one side but from both sides of the divide and so it could taken that the 195 of the federal Pakistan army from that side had been identified for and listed up. Could anyone imagine in right senses that perpetrators belonged to only on one side and nothing of the opposite side? The fact was that both sides perpetrated against the other. The evidences are on record. The human skulls and bones recovered afterwards in parts of various locations of Bangladesh though had all so found been preserved in the museum as the remains of only one group can not be taken that to be truly so, unless forensic tests were made as to the ethnic identity or language divide of those before their death, killed or natural passing away, remaining obviously uncertain. Should not any sensible men and women question now as such that having had let the listed one safely and honorably go home in Pakistan (West), could there be any just reason for their supporters, no matter then armed or unarmed, to face any trial here in independent Bangladesh?

7. Pakistan’s recognition in February 1974 and implications
The most important and critical matter for Bangladesh was its due recognition by Pakistan in February 1974 for it happened to be part of Pakistan for 24 years since 1947 not without any legitimacy but lawfully after the British foreign rulers had left giving independence to Pakistan of which the then East Pakistan/ Bangladesh had their popular vote and formal lawful consent to be together with Pakistan as a province of the federation. It was not before but only after Pakistan had recognized Bangladesh as an independent country that many other Muslim countries followed suit. People’s China’s recognition took another eighteen months after Pakistan’s recognition. During all these periods, Bangladesh had to sort out many priorities and so for expediency had mended ruptured relations not only with Pakistan but also with Saudi Arabia, China etc., wherein the issues like putting the ideological opponents to trial figured insignificant and irrelevant. I am sure Pakistan had many bargains before according formal recognition.

8. The murder of democracy that followed the revolutions of 1975
After independence Bangladesh faced many problems, some due to separation from Pakistan and others arising from internal mismanagement and inefficiency coupled with massive corruption of the party in power. Thus failing to address the issues properly the government resorted to misuse of arbitrary power and repression of the people then facing acute shortage of provisions of life in poverty, unemployment, price spiral leading to famine and deaths of thousands in hunger. The destitute and extreme poor had no money to buy foods though food grains were not in short supply but had enough to meet requirements (See Amartya Sen & Jean Dreze, Omnibus, ‘Famine in Bangladesh’, OUP, 1995, PP. 133-52). The repression of the people by unconstitutional Para-military force styled as the RAKHI BAHINI and by some private hoodlum groups led amazingly by close ones of the leader made life unbearable. Further that the people were left with no peaceful way out from the annihilations further due to banning of all political parties leaving only the one of the leader himself having all powers concentrated in the single hand. Even the administration and judiciary were made completely subservient to the lone autocrat and dictator leader. Even the national army was turned into private tool of the same dictator. The obvious thus happened in the army coup that toppled down the dictator in mid August 1975 followed by counter-coups and ultimate thrust against Indian hegemony though the revolution of the 7th November that decisively made the country to move ahead through multi-party democracy, the commitment the people had in the independence movement in 1971.

9. China’s recognition became deterrent against Indian hegemony
The people’s China, not a Muslim nation but a communist one, had a different outlook about what happened in Bangladesh in 1971. That is why they did not recognize the independence of Bangladesh for over three and a half years until the fall of the government of the very leader who they considered as the lackey and most obedient guy of India. China changed their attitude and recognized Bangladesh as an independent country as soon as that government fell and India’s big brotherly attitude and hegemony against Bangladesh largely contained. The fact proves that it was not only the particular parties inside of Bangladesh but outsiders as well did share the same view about Bangladesh opposed to the warring pro- Bangladeshis in 1971.

10. The machination of 1/11 of 2007 to 2008 proposed election
The conflict, confusion and controversy with regard to 1971 had no end still today that manifested in the latest political crisis following the 28th October 2006 and the 1/11 of 2007 Emergency. The issue of war criminal that the government of the 1972-75 formally abandoned through understanding between parties involved in the 1971 engagements were concerned and through open declaration, ‘WE KNOW HOW TO FORGIVE’ AND SO WE FORGAVE’ not only for showing magnanimity alone but also for building up future cordial relations for mutual benefits between the parties involved. How could in the backdrop the ‘war criminal’ issue be brought up and sustained without seriously injuring the mended relations made during the last three decades. Could any sensible person ask now Pakistan to hand over to Bangladesh for trial here the 195 listed ones as mentioned above now in 2008? Could that be any job of any utility for the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh? Not, at all. It is simply because, their only job now to finish is the general election of the 18th December 2008. If the matter is, at all, needed to be addressed, the next elected government might go for the venture subject to scopes of all other realities of the time. Thus it could be concluded that whoever has been pursuing the matter now at this point of time using all propaganda tactics and not going to the court for redress of their point has only been trying to foil the election that the country hardly can afford to do except for inviting further uncertainty in store in this extremely vulnerable period of our national history.

11. Conclusion:
Patriotism is nobody’s exclusive property. It is certainly a matter of individual perception. The relevant issues in regard to the 1971 divide should be deeply measured with due regard to historical past and experience of the people of Bangladesh dating back at least of the colonial British period. Anything of limited appreciation of 1947 to 1971 in conjectured view would give a wrong picture and signal, I am afraid, in a tunnel vision view of patriotism that can only be injurious for any self and certainly for the nation. The way the propaganda was formulated and being pursued through at this time in different media can hardly do any good to the country but only harming the image and position of the nation and the country.

Dr. M.T. Hussain

My addition to Mr. A Rahim’s 1 Nov. item

Mr. Abdur Rahim’s item published in the New Nation on the 1st November (08) was an useful piece recalling back the 1954 election, its fairness, in particular, in then East Pakistan. But I found some points not only missing but also some others contradictory.

Among the missing points that I could identify, first, the three politicians mentioned in the article who happened to stay back in Pakistan (West) following 1971 had not all been of the Muslim League. The lone Muslim Leaguer was (Marhum) Nurul Amin, Tridib Roy, still alive and settled in Islamabad, belonged to no political party as he was the Chakma Raja of the former East Pakistan, and (Marhum) Mahmud Ali had all along been a leftist except in pre 1947 period being in the Assam Muslim Students’ League. I mention here their political difference and identity to be put on record in exact, and further that they stayed back in Pakistan following 1971 division not for three different reasons of their own but for a single outlook. I say so with full authority as I happened to know them all and their stance in the concerned matter not before 1971 but afterwards. Among the student leaders, Khaleq Nawaz Khan, who defeated Nurul Amin in the 1954 election from Nandail, there was another who happened to be my close one, not less noteworthy than Nawaz, Matiur Rahman, then in 1954 election a staunch Student Leaguer who campaigned for Nawaz for eleven days at Nandail so much laboriously that he fell gravely ill as soon the election was over, Nawaz won defeating Chief Minister Nurul Amin. This Matiur Rahman (later on done a Doctorate in history in the SOAS, London) of Ahmadpur, Nabinagar did lined up with the post 1971 ideological stance of the three leaders mentioned above although he stayed then in London, but on passing away in 1982, he preferred his mortal remains to be buried in the Islamabad National Grave Yard that was duly done by his family living (Grave No IV-31 well marked in marble stone) then and still now in London. Marhum Nurul Amin remains buried in the precincts of the Mausoleum of the Quaid E Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah being visited everyday by thousands of visitors paying their respects and devotees offering Fateha there coming from home and abroad. Marhum Mahmud Ali of Sunamganj (Bangladesh) also is buried there in the Islamabad National Grave Yard ( d.17 Nov. 2006) just as another renowned Pakistan Observer (Dacca) journalist M. Fazlur Rahman (Pabna-Sujanagar), as well, got his place for final rest there ( Grave No. 111/44) in March 2003.

The matter that seemed to me contradictory is that how could the ‘autocratic‘ Muslim League Government of the then East Pakistan keep the bureaucracy neutral so much so that even the seating Chief Minister of East Pakistan Nurul Amin had been defeated in the 1954 polls? The matter as that happened in reality proved beyond reasonable doubt that they were the angels who not only adhered to gentle democratic norms but also remained above corruption, nepotism, black money earning through political careers unlike those we have been experiencing here in independent Bangladesh. Thus it could be well presumed in retrospect that the Muslim League Government of East Pakistan in 1954 fell not for their autocratic governance but for the propaganda hype powerfully engineered against them by the fifth columnists from inside and outside to which people fell victims mainly due to ignorance. Just now, I recall the propaganda rhetoric among many cheap items in matters of Shdad Er Behesht (Shahbag Hotel), Dana Kata Parir Bazar (New Market) all such built and provided by the Muslim League Government of Nurul Amin in the then provincial capital Dacca ( Spelled that way) and recently Dhaka.

Dr. M.T. Hussain
Dhaka