Untold Facts

Did the state minister for foreign affairs lie?

State minister for foreign affairs has stated before the media that this government cannot allow the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to serve as an ambassador abroad. In that context, he said categorically that the Bangladesh high commissioner to Malaysia, Major Khairuzzaman, would be recalled and tried for his involvement with Bangabandhu’s murder.

The minister’s statement has factual errors. It also gives a damn to the highest judiciary of the country. The high commissioner, when asked to respond to the state minister’s statement about him, said categorically that he was not in the country when Bangabandhu was assassinated. In fact, he has never been accused of the murder. Wherefrom did the minister pick up this information? Major Khairuzzaman was implicated in the jail killings of four senior AL leaders for which he was tried, jailed and later set free by the judiciary of Bangladesh after the case was followed to the highest judicial level in the country. Does the law of the country allow a person tried and set free at the highest level of the judiciary to be retried for the same crime without a new case being filed against him based on new evidence?

There is no doubt the state minister erred on both counts. In case of the high commissioner’s complicity with the murder of Bangabandhu, the state minister has serious explaining to do because the fact is major Khairuzzamnan was on official duty abroad while the murder took place. If he has erred by being misinformed or oversight, then he needs to provide an apology through the media. If he has not erred, then the statement he has made before the media would need serious explaining and of course hardly one becoming of a minister in a ministry as important as the foreign ministry. If the state minister was implying Major Kahiruzzaman’s involvement in the jail killings, then his statement would be a clear case of contempt of court for then he should be implying that the court that had set him free has not acted correctly.

Clearly, the state minister made his imprudent remarks for quite a different reason, a reason that should duly be recognised as the bane of good governance in Bangladesh. His target in making the statement has been the prime minister as this has been designed for favour with her with a subject that is very dear to her. The state minister, by his action, was being a run of the mill sycophant and little else. In any case, the state minister may not have known but those who know the foreign ministry of Bangladesh know too well that the high commissioner wasn’t planning to serve an Awami League government for the last time he did that and came back to Bangladesh from Philippines, he was promptly put behind bars where he stayed for long five years till the legal process freed him when the BNP came to power. I am sure he is not planning to either stay in his present post or return to Bangladesh! I have no doubt the state minister also knows this because this is common knowledge in his ministry. Yet he could not check his temptation for sycophancy!

At this stage, when Sheikh Hasina and her ministers are lodged in the seventh heaven, the grave errors of judgment of the state minister will not get the reprimand it deserves but then to those who have been concerned at the change of guards at the foreign ministry, the start as shown by this state minister is hardly encouraging though his boss, the foreign minister, has shown that she may be a different and better cup of tea by the way she has conducted herself in her first exposure to the foreign ambassadors in Dhaka. She may be wise to privately rein in her deputy.

– Rashed Ahmed
Gulshan, Dhaka

Sheikh Hasina’s Ministers and their Evil Omen

The Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has her new cabinet of 32 plus five special advisors in Minister’s rank made soon after the swearing in on the 6th January (09). Some reliable reports say that the size would not soon be anything smaller than 60, the past one had been of former Prime Minster Khaleda Zia. The expansion of the size of the Ministry and inclusion of new Ministers may include left politicians like Menon of Workers Party (a Faction), Inu of JSD (one faction), etc. So far, all are new faces except herself and two others of old faces, Matia Choudhury and Abdul Muhith that the P.M. herself stated soon after the swearing in. ‘SHOKOLEI NOTUN MUKH DEKHTE CHAI’ or in English version, ‘Everybody wants to see new faces and not the old ones’.

Many wondered very much reasonably as to why the old guards had been left out and almost all new faces inducted into the Ministry. Some suspected quite reasonably that the old guards were being suspected by the boss for conspiring against her during the transition of the Caretaker Government. Many of them including the immediate past Secretary General Abdul Jalil during detention period confessed about Hasina’s wealth of one thousand crore Taka in foreign banks. In the similar way her cousin, Sheikh Selim as well did similar disclosures to the investigating agencies during his detention between 2007-mid 2008.

As is known, Muhith one of the old faces and of the former Pakistan Foreign Service of 1960s, has been the obvious choice for looking after the Finance Ministry as there is been none among the 32/36 to do the job in some satisfactory manner. Matia is an old widow of left early background at one time deadly opposed to the Awami League having almost none to pull her from behind being lucky in the sense to have no issue of her own. She had the same Agriculture Ministry during 1996-2001 as well.

Among the unknown and new faces, the Foreign Affairs Minster, Dipu Moni is a physician by training. She has the credential that she is the daughter of the first East Pakistan Students’ League General Secretary M. A. Wadud. The day the oath was taken, some enquired about her if she was a Ph.D. holder DOCTOR or a physician. Also some others enquired to know if she was a Muslim or of a Bengali meaning Buddhist/ Hindus as such names among Muslims are uncommon as formal name, if not entirely unknown. I could not reply immediately to such enquiries as I did not know exactly. Later on we came to through media report that she is born of Muslim parents and her husband is a lawyer and her only son studying law in England.

Dipu Moni’s deputy Minister is also another Doctor Hasan Mahmud, but I am not sure yet if he is again physician or a doctorate degree holder and from where. But this man has already come to lime light for a unique against Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in Malaysia Khairuzzaman (See New Age, 15 and 16 January 2009). He has been called back to Dhaka by the Foreign Ministry immediately. Similarly he had been called back to Dhaka by the then Awami League government of the same Sheikh Hasina in 1996 from the Foreign Service appointment in the Philippines, and then was indicted in the 1975 November Jail Killings Case and sentenced him to imprisonment for life term. But after the change of government from Awami League to BNP, and after appeal heard at the Supreme Court he was released along with some others like Taheruddin Thakur, Moazzem Hossain, etc. Soon after he got his job back at the Foreign Service and so since some time has been posted as the High Commissioner at Malaysia. Now that he has been called back from Kualala Lumpur, it is very much likely that he is to going to be removed from the job; and further that he might face new charge that could be anything one might guess. The Deputy Foreign Minister Hasan had already indicated in a statement that Hasina’s government must not allow any ‘killer’ of heir leader to work under the Foreign Ministry but the statement was bitterly criticized in the Dhaka English daily, The New Age on the 16th January by one Shahed Ahmad (See Annexure).

As for Dipu Moni herself, she has so far tuned to the same frequency as that of the Prime Minster in matters of foreign relations clearly playing in the tune of Delhi. One matter being in priority is that they would build a task force to combat (Islamic) ‘terrorism in the South Asia that Delhi had stated long ago. She has also spoken about the limitation of the maritime boundary only with Myanmar but nothing so with India. But it is a well known matter that Bangladesh has maritime boundary problem both with Myanmar and India. Not only that. Bangladesh has unsettled land border issue as well with India along the Muhuri river area in Feni and also the Angorpota and Dahagram corridor lying pending from Indian side since 1973 though Bangladesh had ratified the relevant treaty for full implementation right then but India did not do the ratification during the long period of about 35 years.

Hasina’s Water Resources Minister Romesh Sen has already gone on to state that Bangladesh must remain satisfied as of ‘good luck’ for the quantum of water obtained down stream the of the river Ganges/ Padma at Farraka Barrage point of India, when the relevant experts/ officials complained that during the first ten days of January (09) India gave Bangladesh less than 11,102 cusecs of water than the schedule had been set for in the treaty itself criticized then and then for betraying the cause of Bangladesh for 30 years Hasina signed in December 1996 with India.

The Home Minister Sahara Khatun though not a new face in street politics, yet for the first time, she has not only won a parliament seat in Dhaka but also given the post of Home Minister already facing bitter criticism for her partisan acts clearly making indication to or prompting poor policemen to take action only against the opposition activists and leaders, the evil tradition Bangladesh is notoriously known for in the past.

So far as is known there is no second person to the Prime Minister; whether she will have a deputy is not yet clear. But what is well known is that none is there any in the cabinet who care even a bit dare to challenge her position and leadership. Some commentator has already described her position in the cabinet and the government as the head teacher of a primary school teacher ever ready to punish all there with all ruthlessness.
There is also a gossip that this is her last time as the chief of the party and as the Prime Minister of the country finishing up on priority basis some vengeance she had been in her psyche since about seven years as is one referred to above since her defeat in 2001 election. Then and then only she might think about going on retirement from both handing over the rest to her younger sister Sheikh Rehana. In that sense, Rehana is her number two and Joy her son could be number three.
There are other hunches by informed circle as one is she is looking for ‘Rats’ ( See weekly Holiday, 16 January 2009) in her party who might well be sized up at her pleasure. The other evil omen for sustenance of multi-party democracy in the country is that the very day her late father promulgated lone party BAKSAL on the 25th January 1975, the new session of the 9th parliament has been summoned at her will to begin in 2009. One may reasonably wonder if the ‘primary head teacher’s’ cane would again fall on the parliament as the same evil omen this time, as well. I am not certain if that is what a London based octogenarian retired journalist (BBC) of Bangladesh origin has indicated a few days ago in a column published in a Dhaka Bengali Daily Naya Diganta that titled, ‘AVINADAN JANATE CHILEO SHURUTA BHALO MONE HOCHHEY NA’ or in English translation that may be like this, ‘Despite my intension to congratulate, the beginning do not appear anything good’.

– Dr. M.T. Hussain

High Morality Plus Merit And Expertise

It is nice to hear that the government shall bring in persons of high merit and experts in jobs everywhere. This is what the new ministers have been saying since the days they took oath of office on the 7th January 2009.

Democracies in the advanced countries have of late rightly been labeled as ‘Meritocracy’. In fact, they are so. Such meritorious blood are provided with opportunities to rise in leadership at every avenues- bureaucracy, business, professions, and albeit, in politics.

In reality, exceptionally meritorious men and women are not too many. They are few as the educators have found out by means of measuring IQ (Intelligence Quotient). But most of the male and female are born with average IQ who can carry on lives more or less at ease but not to provide able leadership. Just like the few high IQ ones there is equal number of idiots or below average IQ male and female children by way of natural birth. Such low IQ ones are also called educationally sub-normal. We experience such examples of population spread in every society, big or small, advanced or developing, race divide or whatever you may like to name. The Great Creator had His own mode in spreading such inequality of human creation for what end many of us possibly do not know. But that is the reality as we see around every day.

Greek philosopher Plato nearly two and half millennium ago made a prescription for training of the ‘Philosopher King’ that he suggested for one’s education and training until the age of 50 years in various essential disciplines including metaphysics through rigorous training at stages. It was only the meritorious and hardworking ones who could have attained position of social leadership at various genres and levels. The tradition has developed through historical process in the way not in any haphazard manner but through well organized educational systems and through scientific sifting measures for more meritorious few to rise up and the less IQ ones to drop out at stages.

Before the British took over this land following the debacle of 1757 A.D., the independent country had its own system of administration that the Muslim rulers had inherited from their forefathers. The British East India Company replaced the Muslim system with a model of their own somewhat in the model of the English administration formally introduced in 1850s having beforehand established their own system of education in 1835 to suit the needs of their colonial administration for the natives. The education they introduced was unique in the sense that it had been secular and no religious value integrated into and so devoid of any high ethical and moral bases that the Muslim system had previous to introduction of the British system. That was one main reason why the Muslims shunned the system and remained instead stick to their Maktab Madarassah education and learning.

Bangladesh inherits not only the same colonial administration and is run by the same mode and codes till today the colonialists introduced then for their colonial exploitation and oppression but also continues with the same secular education system having almost nothing of integrated high value system that the Muslims inherited with pride since the days of the early seventh century Medina.

Though the modes and codes remained the same as before and nothing changed for independent country’s administration, other professionals found scopes to rise in other areas like Engineering, Medicine, Law etc. after 1947 following the British had left this country. Meritorious lots rushed so to take up prized professions, having nothing different from that it had between 1947 and 1971 or during the Pakistan period.

Now in 2009 when some one talks about merit and expertise, we don’t have any dearth of them at every level. But what is most lacking, to my mind, is character and conscience at almost every level of the meritorious experts. I took the two terms ‘conscience and character’ from a saying of the late Tajuddin Ahmad, the first Prime Minister of Bangladesh, whom I heard lamenting in utter frustration for absence of those two humane qualities in the minds and psyche of our many meritorious and experts! I shared then his observation as I still stand for the conscience and character of the meritorious and experts underpinned by humane values embedded in high ideals born or originated in spiritualism.

Thus I wish to repeat that we need, no doubt, meritorious experts at all levels of administration but also at the same time need in those persons high ethical and moral standards integrated in their individual mind and psyche that a single integrated curricula of secular and spiritual matters can provide. Unless and until this would be done, it would be, I understand, futile to expect high quality leaders at any level.

– Dr.M.T. Hussain

Hidden Agenda of Sheikh Hasina

Hidden Agenda of Sheikh Hasina

(This write-up is primarily for the 2 million new Bangladeshi voters, as well as those who are in their forties and below. These new generations have heard, read and assimilated facts about our liberation war and the disastrous formative days of Bangladesh the way their sponsors told them. They could neither see the birth pangs of Bangladesh, nor go through those tumultuous times, leaving a huge void in their understanding of the reasons why August 15, 1975 took place. They are not aware of a great deal of the UNTOLD FACTS. They need to go back to the Bangladesh of 1974/75.

Again, this letter is not for a section of our so-called enlightened personalities who think Shiekh Mujibur Rahman was a near God and could do no wrong.)

In a press briefing on January 8, 2009, the new State Minister for Foreign Affairs said that they had taken steps to complete the ‘murder’ case of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. They would also start diplomatic pressure to bring the remaining ‘accused’ from abroad. This in effect means executing those who are in the Dhaka jail for the last 13 years and following suits with others now living abroad.

Hasina’s Silence During Campaigns

It goes without saying that the “Bangabandhu Murder Case” is the closest thing to Hasina’s heart. Yet, it had never been included in the AL’s election manifesto ever. Has anyone wondered why? Has anyone heard of Hasina talking about it during the election campaigns? Not that I know of; not in 1996, not this time either.

Was she afraid that treading in such a controversial and divisive issue might deflect the voters and result in their rejection of Awami League? Those who remember the election campaigns during the times of Zia and Ershad will recall that AL did try to raise the Shiekh Mujib ‘Murder’ issue but was rejected by the electorate miserably. Thus, during 1996 election campaign, Hasina’s AL totally avoided the ‘murder’ or ‘trial’ question. She narrowly won the elections, thanks to the helping hands from the media and bureaucracy and formed the government, thanks to a shady deal with convicted and jailed former dictator Erahad.

The first thing Sheikh Hasina did as the Prime Minister in 1996 was to avenge the death of her father in a military coup on August 15, 1975. She rounded up everyone even remotely connected with the August coup, repealed the Indemnity Act 1975 unconstitutionally and orchestrated a ‘trial’ that ordered ‘firing squad’ for the coup leaders, who were otherwise known as “Surja Santans”(divine children) for the past 21 years. A weird, make-belief story about the coup had been fed to the public since 1996, and the same was dramatized during the pseudo trial, keeping the truth and real facts out of public mind. Defense arguments were summarily thrown away in that circus. Any sane and objective observer would vouch that the ‘trial’ was highly political, partisan and totally one-sided. The accused are rotting in their death cells for the last 13 years; some of them on the verge of death due to neglect and mistreatment.

Sheikh Mujib’s Greatness and Fall

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was one of the great leaders of Bangladesh. Few contributed towards the Bengali nationalism as did Mujib. He appeared in our political arena at the right moment of history.

In the wake of 1970 coastal disasters that killed a few hundred thousand Bangladeshis, Maulana Bashani was the first person to call for independence, saying to the Pakistani leaders, “As-Salamualaikum to you. From now on, my movement is for an independent ‘East Pakistan’.

Yet, few could deliver a speech like the one Mujib did on March 7, 1971. One however wonders, why then he went and continued to negotiate with the Pakistani leaders from March 15 to 24?

Mujib was the most loved person when he arrived from Pakistani custody on January 10, 1972 in the independent Bangladesh. People prayed and fasted when he was sick. They looked towards him as a messiah, a savior of the war ravaged country. Unfortunately, the great leader faltered at every step and failed them miserably. Surrounded by sycophants, he was drawn away and away from the common people.

By 1975, the most loved person became the most hated. When the fall of Sheikh Mujib came on August 15, it was not “Inna-Lillah”, it was “Al-Hamdulillah” that was heard. Those who lived in Dhaka and elsewhere that day will bear it out.

This writer was travelling in a rickshaw in Comilla town in mid-March 1975. A loudspeaker in another rickshaw in front was shouting “Agami Chabbishey March, Bangabandhur Guruttapurna Bhasan. Daley Daley Dhakar Suhrawardi Uddaney Jog Din (Very important announcement by Bangabandhu on March 26. Please join in great numbers at the Suhrawardi Uddan in Dhaka) —etc.” Out of curiosity, I asked my rickshaw puller if he would like to go to Dhaka. I was shocked at his response.

“Raikkha Den Sab, Oi Betar Janaza Hoiley Jaitey Pari (I can only go if it is his funeral)”, the rickshaw puller said.

The reasons for Sheikh Mujib’s fall from grace were not far to seek

Rakkhi Bahini

Sheikh Mujib was never fond of the military. Its leaders, particularly then Major Ziaur Rahman, took the lead in the liberation war, in absence of any political direction. In addition, Zia had the ‘audacity’ to announce independence; an honor reserved for him alone, and stole the show. So, Rakkhi Bahini, under the direct command and control of Mujib, was created to contain the military dominance. In affect, the Rakkhi Bahini became a torture tool for the political opponents of Sheikh Mujib and AL. Stories of its atrocities are abound and used to be cited to quell the unruly children. In addition, there were Lal Bahini, Sabuj Bahini, Mujib Bahini, Awami Sechha Sebak Bahini etc geared to quell the ‘unruly’ people. According to ASM Abdur Rab of JSD, some 40 thousand of his cadres were killed by these bahinis. The late Enayetullah Khan of Holiday, put the total death figure at 35 thousand. Mujib himself bragged in the parliament about the killing of Siraj Sikdar, a left leader.

Man-Made Famine

The famine that followed the floods, coupled with administrative corruption of the highest order, killed nearly half a million people in 1974/75. Local and international observers termed the famine man-made because there was no dearth of relief materials which were either selectively distributed for political purpose or sold in the black markets, locally and across the border. Please turn pages of any local and international papers of the time to ascertain facts. Then US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger termed Bangladesh as a “bottomless basket”.

Whereas, around the same time, Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal were married in royal style and with unprecedented fanfare at Gonobhaban.

Emergency

In December 1974, emergency was clamped. All fundamental rights were suspended, all but 4 government owned newspapers were closed and political activities were totally banned. Anyone not towing the Awami line, was either eliminated or jailed.

4th Amendment

In January 1975, Sheikh Mujib declared himself president, amassing all powers and state control in his hands. There was hardly any debate in the floor of the parliament and none was allowed to challenge the passage of the 4th Amendment within 20 minutes, changing the administration from parliamentary to presidential system, as well as making Sheikh Mujib the Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation and the President. Poor Mohammad Ullah was shown the exit gate of the Bangabhaban unceremoniously.

One Party BAKSAL

In March 1975, BAKSAL—Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League— was created on a Soviet one party style. All other political parties were banned. For the first time, military and bureaucracy could join a political party–the BAKSAL, making these state organs part of politics.

These are no inventions. Ask your elders, go to the newspaper archives and ascertain the true facts. Do not just buy the stories told to you by the blind followers of Sheikh Mujib.

A ONE-PARTY DICTATORSHIP surrounding Sheikh Mujib was established. People were groaning under that suffocating situation and were looking for an alternative.

Alternative to Change Government

Was there an alternative to change the government or leadership? Constitutional way– impeachment: that is vote of no confidence in the parliament. Not possible in an Awami-Baksali controlled rubber stamp parliament. By elections– under the situation, Sheikh Mujib looked destined to rule for perpetuity. Reportedly, the Chatra League was to make a proposal to make Mujib the life-long president at its national convention on August 15, 1975. It was a matter of formality then after.

Only alternative to change the government was an extra constitutional one. The silent majority looked forward to the military. So, the patriotic and democratic elements of the military came forward to bail the nation out. They took initiative on March 26, 1971, they did it again on August 15, 1975.

It was unfortunate, however, that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and some of his family members and relations died in the short military action on August 15, 1975. The post coup reaction among the general public was known to all. It was like the victory day, a day of deliverance. Please go to the archives of any local newspapers and dig out the pages of August 16, 1975 and following dates, and see for yourselves the facts. A local commentator once put it like this: to prevent killing of thousands, a death of 22 is insignificant.

Coup or Killing?

Was the death of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others on August 15, 1975 a murder? It was a military coup and some persons from both sides died during the action. I am not aware if the deaths were intended or circumstantial. The coup leaders and planners perhaps can answer that question. Nobody for 21 years raised any question about the coup.

Chiefs of army, navy, ariforce, Bangladesh Rifles, police and even Rakkhi Bahini rushed to the new president and made public announcements of their support, allegiance and loyalty to the new administration.

Notably, the new cabinet was composed entirely of the AL elected representatives; and none of the coup leaders were seen in any leadership position.

It is ludicrous to hear some of those military chiefs now saying that they were forced to do so. What happened to the huge forces under their respective commands? Why couldn’t they just move immediately and crush the handful men that staged the coup? One does not need a rocket science degree to understand that it means either i) the coup had their silent blessings or ii) the troops deserted them and aligned with the August Revolution.

Since 1996, Sheikh Hasina and her followers have been telling the nation and the world that Sheikh Mujib and others were ‘murdered’ on August 15, 1975 and needed to be punished. Yes, any killing needs to be punished. I believe killing does not solve any problem, rather it aggravates the issue. But, August 15 was not a killing mission, it was a successful military coup, a revolution that saved the nation from an imminent catastrophe. The new generations need to know that.

Travel Back to 1974/75

We are living in 2009, in a rather democratic and reasonably peaceful environment, in a kind of affluent and better social order. Bangladesh was very different during the “Golden Period” of Sheikh Mujib. As such, looking at things of 3 decades past at the present perspective would be wrong.

To understand August 15, one needs to travel back in time to the early 70s of Bangladesh. One needs to visualize the scenario that prevailed in the country then. One needs to question the following:

• Why half a million people had to die for want of food, shelter and clothing in 1974/75 when cash donations were aplenty and warehouses of AL leaders were full of relief materials?

• Why emergency had to be clamped in 1974, suspending fundamental rights and freedom, banning political activities, restricting press freedom?

• Why no opposition was tolerated then?

• Why thousands of innocents died under the heavy hands of Rakkhi Bahini and other Baksali forces in 1972-75?

• Why the common people suffered under the one man, one-party dictatorship?

If Hasina and the AL can answer these questions to the satisfaction of the Bangladeshis, and the Bangladeshis are convinced that August 15, 1975 was a “murder”, not a coup, not a revolution, and then I should say the murderers should be punished.

A Caution

If Hasina hangs these saviors to satisfy her personal ego or, as she said recently in London, “what am I going to respond to my late father for my unfinished tasks”, perhaps hinting at the execution of the August revolutionary leaders, it would be very unfortunate for the nation. The nation will in turn torment itself for the rest of its history for its ungratefulness to the “Surja Santans” that saved it.

Hasina should not be allowed to follow her “Hidden Agenda”, side-stepping the mandate the new generations gave her.

R Chowdhury
San Jose, California
USA

15th August Heroes Appeal Hearing Move

It is known that the Awami League Government soon after taking office on the 7th January initiated their move to finish up the hearing of the Appeal of the 1975 15th August heroes in the Supreme Court. That is why they have initiated their bit of move for appointment of the additionally required Justice in the Appeal Division. The move is appreciable provided it would ensure real justice free from executive interference to the aggrieved in the case.

Unfortunately for aggrieved, they have so far did not receive justice for the due process had been interfered with from the very start by the then government of Bangladesh in power.

The interference viciously made for shear vengeance of near ones blood labeled the 15th August victorious coup of 1975 that in itself was nothing but lawfully valid and indemnified incident of taking up power of the country and in no way any of crime much less cognizable murder.

That after instituting the 15th August incident as a simple ‘murder’ case in late 1996, the then most powerful Prime Minister of Bangladesh not only continued to interfere in the due process of law, but when the case went to the High Court in normal process, as many as seven justice of the High Court felt embarrassed to hear the case that were quite usual for legal point of view but they were all admonished by the Prime Minister herself with all filthy language at her command.

That when the referral was heard in a High Court Bench, the Home Minister of the government not only led a procession in the streets of capital city Dhaka, but also threatened the judges wielding bamboo sticks in the hands of procession makers in thousands commenting that ‘We know when and where to hit with sticks’! The bullies were jubilant but fortunately for the judges they were stopped by the police outside the main gate of the High Court Building.

Soon the referral Bench passed their ‘split verdict’ one confirming death sentence for all 15 and another acquitting 5 as innocent and confirming death sentence for ten ‘accused’. That was not the end. The Awami bullies all over the country made a hell of things by attacking the near relations and even burning down the homes and residences of the judges who made acquittal of the five!
The split verdict was lawfully referred to the third justice in the High Court. He passed his verdict soon after giving death sentence two more making it 12 to death sentence. Five of the convicts are in custody in the Central Prison of Dhaka, the rest are not in custody but living elsewhere outside the country.

These decisions took place during the Awami League government led by the Prime Minister, daughter of the fallen leader in 15th August Army coup.

The next BNP-Jamat Government stayed in power in the country from October 2001 to October 2006, but seemed sloth in the matter of the case as the Appeal by the convicts lay pending without hearing in the Supreme Court against the high court verdicts.

Now the same Awami League government has taken over the administration of the country and so is interested to obviously hasten the Appeal hearing. That is nothing unusual, much less unlawful. But the lacuna is elsewhere as it may turn to be something unlawful, continued miscarriage of justice and interference into the neutrality of the judiciary from the executive that had been clearly blatant in late 1990s to 2001 in the case.

Although we may keep our trust in the integrity of the highest judiciary for the case was nothing of a ‘murder’ case as that had been labeled, but a lawful matter to be taken as the case of successful coup having indemnity by itself and so free from liability of any wrong-doing during the coup operation proper, we can not be free of fear about interference by the executive.

M.T. Hussain

Corrupt Politicians’ Rhetoric and Containing Corruptions

A retired justice of the Supreme Court phoned me this morning (08.1.09) and asked me to make my response to a news item the Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina made last evening and published in Dhaka dailies this morning. She has declared that she is going to stop all corruptions at any cost in Bangladesh. The honorable justice further made the point that it was during 2000 A.D. that Bangladesh, according to TI (Transparency International), toped in the world list during her first term rule (1996-2001) as the ‘most corrupted country’ that during the one year period made public in mid year the transactions in arithmetic figure stood at nearly 17,000 crore Taka. Bangladesh since then for subsequent four years topped the list but with gradually reduced figures of Taka in arithmetic. He further wanted to know from me whether she would or if she could keep herself clean of the charges now pending in the court against her. I retorted saying that I am neither a professional lawyer nor a practicing or retired judge equipped to make any valid response, rather it is he who could better illuminate me in the matter. He did not, we rather talked around.

This morning Dhaka dailies had one news item that Mr. Tajul Islam, a businessman and chairman of a big firm who filed a corruption case against Hasina in 2007, and wished to withdraw the case a few days ago, faced dismissal yesterday from the firm. There is news that in other two cases, the court made an order yesterday that she be not harassed in those cases by the law enforcing agencies as the cases are pending against her for investigation and trial. There is other corruption cases against her linked to purchase of Mig 21 for the Bangladesh Air Force and Frigate for the Bangladesh Navy that went back allegedly to her rule during 1996-2001.

Just after Sheikh Hasina’s victory in the 29 December election, Professor Muzaffor Ahmad of the TI urged her not to take oath of office (M.P. & P.M) until she would be cleared of the charges by the court. Some other VIPs also did make the same request to her. But all was in vain. She is now the Prime Minister having had not only all those corruption charges against her alone but also against the prestige of administration of the country.

And that now she has declared ‘crusade’ against corruption being the topmost executive of Bangladesh could be a sort of mockery with corruption The same mockery, I recall clearly, was made by others like Ershad in 1982, then championed on the vice and also by Sheikh Mujib in 1955 wherein he asked all people to report to him of any corruption case by posting a 3 paisa postcard addressed to him, the then Anti-Corruption Minister! I responded with these bits to him.

Let’s however not be despaired. Curious ones and skeptics would certainly keep look into the matters of such corruption with some hope for the facts that the judiciary is known to independent now and that also the Anti-Corruption Commission is quite independent to pursue all corruption cases with complete neutrality. That was what my further humble response that he took with a pinch of salt as it was divorced from reality.

– Dr. M.T. Hussain

Bangladesh’s Sovereignty: Serious Concern of an Expatriate Septuagenarian Journalist

An expatriate septuagenarian journalist of Bangladesh origin, now a British citizen, has urged in a recent article published in a Dhaka Bengali daily on the 6th January, as I understood through a browsing that he felt seriously concerned about the impending danger against the sovereignty of Bangladesh that the 29th December election result has made obvious. I appreciate his concern and share his view in the matter. But I fail to share his suggestion to the BNP that this party must attend the 9th Parliament as opposition to put resistance against any and all moves by the Awami League government’s likely complete sell out. Could the BNP with its tiny opposition strength do anything about? Is it not too much to expect of the BNP in the given condition?

Awami League is a political party of former Pakistan starting on in mid 1949 just about two years after Pakistan had come into being in August 1947 as lawful opposition party against the ruling Muslim League that had been still older and had made Pakistan into reality, as Professor Brainbanti said, ‘from scratch’. The party made quite many marks including the top leader Suhrawardy chairing the position of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and others like Abul Mansur Ahmad, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, etc. to name a few as well, had similar coveted positions in the administration of Pakistan. The same party had Bangladesh established in 1971 out of and in the geographical territory of former East Pakistan. Since after 1971 the same party has been including this time for the third time saddled to the political and administrative power of Bangladesh in early January 2009 having more than two-third majority seats in the 9th Parliament. How and why should any sensible person at this point of time doubt the party’s credibility and fidelity in regard to the sovereignty of Bangladesh so much so that the party might make a total sell out! If the brute majority turns out to be the Bangladesh’s Lendup Darji of Sikkim, how could the helpless people act against and resist the evil design?

The skeptic septuagenarian journalist is none of the sympathizer of the pro-Pakistani cause of 1971 but the diametrically opposite. In fact, when I first met and knew him in London in late 1982, I knew some other things about him, one being that some journalists there would call him the ‘second father of the Bangladesh nation’, the first being the Sheikh, for his total dedication for the 1971 Bangladesh movement that he spearheaded through his untiring work with the BBC Bengali Service Section propaganda works for independence of Bangladesh. Incidentally, as I knew further that he happened to be a favorite CHOTO BHAI of the Sheikh for his elder brother, as I knew also, happened to be the class mate of the Sheikh in early 1940s at the Islamia College, Calcutta, and now Maolana Azad College.

I wonder how a wise person like him could foresee the second term rule by the Sheikh’s daughter of the same historic party as a serious threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh. Is there any substance in his hunch about the dignity of the country?

During her first term as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh (1996-2001), she earned many credit for herself. Failing to renew the 25 year treaty with India made in 1972 for internal public pressure against that subservient one, Sheikh Hasina went all her way out to make other treaties with or at India’s prompting, for example, sold out the due share of the Farakka Barrage down stream water rights of Bangladesh to India, made a treaty with the tribal people of three districts covering about one tenth of the geographical area of Bangladesh that virtually divided the people of one group in discriminatory way pitted against the other distinctly into two unequal groups putting official seal to permanently continuing inequality of citizenship rights. She had then simple majority in the 7th Parliament. Now she began much more emboldened on the 6th January her rule with over two-third majority to do and undo anything completely unrestrained sweet free will of her own as people had seen some during her egoist and fascist first term. The egoist and fascist in her mental make up with integral deep psyche of vengeance might, God forbid, in the reality of the new cabinet of 32 having little or no experience that reminded me of one fact. The London daily, possibly, The Guardian, journalist’s commentary on Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi portraying her as the head teacher of a primary school domineering on the teachers and pupils published soon after she proclaimed emergency.

It is well known that the 29th December election though had been costly and time consuming one for the Caretaker Government, unique in Parliamentary democracy, took about two years for preparations to conduct, the result did not reflect popular public opinion though apparently it was fair and free. The Awami League, according to reliable count, was polled 47% of the popular votes that meant that 53% of the voters registered did not vote for that party. Thus the 2009 Awami League government do not enjoy popular support of the people though it has more than two-third majority in the Parliament. I would suppose that the real danger lies here. How, let me elaborate a little bit.

It is not any open secret that who engineered the big win possible for her in the election. Neither is it any unknown matter that who controls her from where.

She has already made public statements on two important accounts by this time. One, she would let immediately the two sea ports of Bangladesh open for use by India that are known as of now not capable of and efficient enough to control our own cargo, and two she would make a task force to contain ‘terrorism’ in South Asia that meant making a common front with India for containment of ‘Muslim Fundamentalism’ as Delhi has been making crusade against by already banning the SIMI, Muslim Students Organization of India struggling for their basic rights of education, jobs etc. labeling them as terrorists but not touching the other extremist youth Hindu organizations like RSS, Bajrang Dal, etc.

Other life and death issues for Bangladesh like permitting transit to India at the cost of our security and compromising sovereignty and likely selling coal and gas or yielding to surrender controls of the rare hydrocarbons of Bangladesh to Indian multinationals.

The already known issues like restoration of the 1972 Constitution at the cost of sacrificing the distinct identity of Bangladesh earned through difficult struggle and through the 5th Amendment is nothing very difficult to understand by the overwhelming majority and patriotic people of Bangladesh.
There is no doubt that Sheikh Hasina is heavily indebted to India not only for her continuous sustenance in politics but also for that she had been well looked after for about six years in Delhi following her father’s tragic fall from State power and death, and that sustenance kept her high in spirit of vengeance as well that she proved herself worth of during the last term. There they had common goal for vengeance against the revival of the Muslim nationalist aspirations that the 1972 Constitution aimed to do away with for complete union with Delhi’s ultimate design for the Ram Raz in the Akahnda Bharat or re-united India for flushing out for good the Muslim identity of Bangladesh as they have been doing for the Muslims of India since after 1947.

Wiser men and women, I am sure, may have many other issues in their perceptions about the imminent threats to the sovereignty of Bangladesh that is now vested in the hands of the 2009 government of Bangladesh that I must share with all selfless patriots. But I am not at all certain that the BNP could do anything and any bit in the matter should the AL government led by the Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina remains fully bent upon,. Particularly, with her well known ego and vicious psyche full of vengeance as people knew her very well.

The hope and optimism, however, should not lost sight of as the majority people or to be exact 53% of the voters did not polled for the Awami League in the December election that may sooner than latter continue to swell and then must rise to resist them for any such sell out design overt or covert. What is needed by the wiser people is to keep them all informed through unbiased and factually objective information through free flow of information.

Dr. M.T.Hussain

Democracy Yes and No to Fascism and Illegal use of Arms

Democracy is free will and freedom having its own norms of behavior for self control in all day to day actions, not only polling exercise once in a term of few years as we see in Bangladesh. Fascism is also matter of free will but not having norm acceptable to all conscious ones with value laden mental make up. Use of arms for self defense is an agreed need and also lawful but illegal possession and use of such arms at will is essentially fascistic attitude that has no place in democratic order. The issues of democracy, fascism and arms have their scopes and limitations both in uses and abuses.

Democracy and fascism can not co-exist and so also illegal use of arms in democratic society. Any such illegal use of arms is contained by law, law enforcing agencies of the government and then in the due process of law of the judiciary.

In democracy, judiciary is supposed to be independent of the executive organ of the government. This is an ideal situation. In reality, however, things may be different that depends not only on the quality of the executive but also of the quality of persons in the judiciary and in the law enforcing agencies. In other words, the quality of persons both in the executive, judiciary and in the law enforcing agencies would decide what sort of quality services they could deliver for all through the officially set democratic governance and order. Here in one sense, judiciary comes in sequence after the law enforcing agencies, because, the quality of initial investigation by the law enforcing agencies would be pre-requisite for quality of judicial service for the aggrieved ones. Should the law enforcing agencies be under the executive control as is the normal case in democratic governance, there is little scope for them to independently and substantively do the prior works on which the judges could administer independent justice free from undue executive interference.
In all developing countries and nascent democracies, neither judiciary nor police can work independently without undue interference of the executive. Bangladesh is no exception.
In the past, peace-loving citizens of Bangladesh aspiring for protections of the police and to a great extent of the judiciary have been more frustrated than had had anything neutral. The 29th December election though had optimism in the matter, but that does not look so at the beginning in early 2009 as vengeance of various nature each day in and out have been appearing in vicious attacks of fascists nature in open day light of bullets piercing chests of many supposed enemies. The latest one so killed, for example, we had in the metropolitan capital city of Dhaka on the 5th January (09).
Democracy and fascism can not co-exist; common people love to enjoy democratic milieu. That is why, the executive and the police must act together decidedly to nurture the nascent democracy in their all day to day behavior and actions by shunning any and all forms of fascist attitudes.

Dr. M.T. Hussain

BNP’s and Jamaat’s defeat in 2009 December Election: An outsider’s view point

The BNP has won in 30 and the Jamaat in 2 Parliament seats in the December 29 Bangladesh polls as against 262 for the Awami League (AL) led alliance. Apparently, it’s a huge win and huge defeat. But did the result reflect popular public opinion?

To begin with the popular level vote cast, the main winning party, Awami League was polled 47% of the votes cast, Ershad 7%, BNP 32% and Jamaat 5%, according to a reliable source. Based on the figures, the nationalist and those are for Islamic values have not lost in popular support or to look at it in another way, the majority people in fact rejected the Awami League, their cheap slogans but unrealizable ones as against values the overwhelming majority hold on deep in their hearts and belief in spiritual system. Possibly that is why the ‘Boaters’ (AL’s election symbol holders) irrespective of right, left, center etc. whatever denomination rushed to the mosques on the 2 January (09) or 3 days after the polls. Not only that they unusually rushed to the mosques including the national mosque of Baitul Mukaram but had widely televised photo sessions for public consumption. Well, that’s nothing of any complacency for the BNP and the Jamaat. They need further introspection, self-analysis, soul-searching and more importantly take on not only to appropriate tasks for expanding popular people’s support but also translating actual people’s support into reality for the ballot boxes in the next election. There was a hue and cry for accurate voters list and that was rightly so with photos but though the list was so made many remained out of the voters list despite being fully eligible. That was one reason as to why the 2008 voters list contained less voters than the 2006 by about 12 million that was unusual for the simple fact that the population increased and did in no way decreased in Bangladesh. Further that many despaired for not having their names in the 2008 voters list. I have some authentic reports that in the registering process about a year ago the AL workers had been very active to get their men and women listed while the BNP- Jamaat supporters had been much less active in registering names in the list.

One may recall that the BNP-Jamaat united government of October 2001 -2006 October, had obvious anti-incumbency disadvantage that is very usual in open democratic countries. In addition, the regional big player who dominates almost all institutions including bulk of the powerful media in Bangladesh since the 1970s well reinforced by western media is a crucial factor many would not care to recognize including the BNP and the Jamaat. The historic reason though clear to some nationalist intellectuals, unfortunately these men and women are more or less spineless not for belief but for mere survival threats in life and living.

BNP has no doubt some hard core nationalists being followers of the founder Zia, but many are opportunists just as one senior leader sometime ago stated publicly, ‘KHAYA PIYA GEIYA’ or came in to secure fortune, got that and then went away. Sycophancy and yielding to sycophancy had a role in this matter.

The nationalist workers and workers I had come across as an outsider of the party did in no way impress me that they were anything different from the Awami league in feature, values and modus operandi.

To me, the BNP is a by product of the revolution of the 15th August 1975 and so also the Jammat, a beneficiary of the same great historic event. Unfortunately both disowned the great Day of Deliverance. The evil was obvious. The heroes of the August Revolution have now been awaiting gallows for the last twelve years in the condemned cell of the Dhaka prison and some others living in exile having being most unfortunate victims of clear miscarriage of justice so much so that during the five years of the BNP-JAMAAT rule they had the same fate as the Awalmi League inflicted unduly on them. That the miscarriage of justice has recently been openly echoed among few by one of the retired Justice of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Justice Muhammad Abdur Rauf stating publicly that ‘should Farook, etc of the 1975 15th August be hanged, the then army chief Shafiullah must be hanged ahead of them as he had failed in his command to contain and control his juniors in the army; the comment of the justice was duly published in some Dhaka dailies on the 16th August 2008.
My hunch is that had the miscarriage gone only by reenacting the Indemnity that the Awamis did rescind through simple majority in the Parliament not by normally required two third majority that they did not have but the BNP-Jamat had later on during BNP-Jamaat rule in 2001-06, Farook etc be set free, there would have been no Awami League worth of anything in Bangladesh by now, much less their winning the 2008 December election. I as a humble person with all my possible effort tried to let the BNP-Jamaat government to do the bit, but all was in vain.

BNP, in particular, had their icon in Khaleda alone that had other setbacks including corruption. Corruption is nothing new in Bangladesh. The mass scale corruption started in early 1972 when the then top leader provided protection to the looters in post 1971 period of total anarchy. What made things worse for BNP –Jamaat was that they failed to counter the corruption facts neither of the 1972-75 period nor of the period of 1996-2001. It was only Matiur Rahman Rentu who on his own did some substantive work by writing his memoirs AMAR FANSHI CHAI or let me get hanged wherein he illustrated huge facts about Hasina’s wrong doings and corruption. The other person Professor Muzaffor Ahmad of the TIB did expose Hasina’s corruption first ever in history by projecting Hasina’s Bangladesh as the most corrupt country of the world in the year 2000. When the report was first published Hasina went out on her offensive against the Professor, first, by making a bashing the professor for 27 minutes in her speech in the parliament floor as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Could not the BNP-Jamaat government do something as follow up of the works of Rentu and Prof. Muzaffor?

Though I do not do with any political party, I keep on writing articles not for money but for my belief and ideological persuasions both in Bengali and English trying to reinforce nationalist and Islamic values. But I had to despair that very few of them are published in their media organs.
We hear about computer hacking at various stages as this was the first time for making election ballot papers etc. The possibility of ballot box change at centers had also been talked about by certain organized quarter opposed to the BNP-Jamaat jote, because, the Chief Election Commissioner, in particular, from the very beginning proved himsef beyond any doubt that he was very much partisan for the Awami League. Delimiting the constituency just before the election was another mechanics in his evil design and partisan attitude.

I sincerely feel that the two parties have not only to do their real soul searching and redesign action programs but also to make their stance clear with regard to the 15th August 1975 for their own credibility for Islamic values and nationalist politics in future Bangladesh, because it was the August revolution that decisively broke down backbone of the AL’s India ordained secularism. I have no doubt that the August 1975 and not alone the 7th November 1975 that could give the nationalists and the Islamic forces strength and courage for coming back to power. The overwhelming majority people did not accept the Awami League though the party’s jote have won majority seats in the Parliament in the last December election.

The soul searching and introspection, I hope, may include these points I briefly outlined above.

Dr. M.T. Hussain

The 2008 Elections in Bangladesh—Success Has Many Fathers, Loser Becomes Orphan

The Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina Wazed is all set to rule the country for the next 5 years. Her AL led Moha Jote won an overwhelming majority in the parliamentary elections held on December 29, 2008.

The other contender for power, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, has been severely punished by the electorates. Though BNP has been crying fouls since, nobody seems to take the allegations seriously. Non acceptance of election results by the losers is an unfortunate political culture in Bangladesh.

By most accounts, the 2008 election was the most peaceful one in Bangladesh, and there were no credible evidences of voter intimidation. Voter turnout was a record, close to an unbelievable 90%, if statistics were correct. International observers certified their satisfaction in the conduct of the elections.

Before elections, most polls and surveys thought it would be a tight race, some even gave an edge to the BNP’s 4-party alliance. However, the results belied those forecasts. The election planners perhaps knew better; they had the last laugh.

Success has many fathers, while loser becomes an orphan. Today, pundits come out with umpteen theories how AL won and why BNP lost. If the results were other way round, all these opinions would been different too.

Following reasons, among others, were cited for the election results.

AL’s Win

In a kind or rotary system in our part of the world, Awami League had a right to the power this time, because BNP held the chair in the last round.

On the eve of her arrest, Hasina was wise to designate the party leadership to Zillur Rahman, an elderly, respectable and loyal person who managed to keep the party united during crises, his physical condition notwithstanding.

During her stay in the US, Hasina learnt the Obama strategy for victory.

AL’s election manifesto was perfectly designed to meet the public aspirations.

AL gave nominations to new and young leaders, and kept the tainted leaders away.

Why BNP Lost?

Khaleda kept the party leadership to herself, even during her custody. Sacking the incumbent party Secretary General and appointing Khandakar Delawar Hossain, an incompetent yes-man, in his place was not helpful for the party unity.

Khaleda’s uncompromising attitude was seen as arrogance this time. In 1991, it was an asset.

BNP kept attacking the CTG and Chief Election Commission and made them hostile.

BNP kept its alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islam which had become a renewed target by the public in general and the powerful Sector Commanders’ Forum in particular for the 1971 war crime. The victory month of December helped the anti-Jamaat forces to highlight their points.

Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism were connected with Jamaat.

Corruption in the BNP, particularly that surrounding the Hawa Bhaban and the two sons of Khaleda. This was almost universally cited as the main reason of BNP’s downfall.

Corruption Argument

The question is: who is Dhoa Tulsi Pata (clean) in Bangladesh? Sheikh Mujib’s Awami League/Baksal or Zia’s BNP or Ershad’s Jatiya Party or Hasina’s Awami League when they ran the show before?

It is said that the 2 million new voters swung the results in favor of AL. BNP was unfortunate that these new voters witnessed and assimilated an inflated version of BNP corruption. The new generations were not aware or told of the earlier corruption stories in Bangladesh. They did not know how the newly independent and war ravaged Bangladesh was plundered, as well as nearly half a million people were made to die in man-made famines between 1972-1975. They did not suffer under the Rakkhi Bahini and other Bahinis.

Besides, Hasina herself, her party Secretary General and other top AL leaders were also charged with dozens of corruption and other serious crimes, present time “sorry, mistakes” notwithstanding. How about Ershad and his goons of 9 years? Even Hasina termed Ershad the Mohachor (big thief)!

Zia was perhaps the only leader who did not allow corruption for himself and his family members. However, he was said to have allowed corruption among his party leaders.

I am not trying to condone corruption, but indicating towards a reality that corruption is a cancer that few in a poor country like Bangladesh is immune from. If anybody thinks we can bring about a utopian corruption free society in Bangladesh, is living in a fools’ paradise.

War Crime

It is ludicrous that we are making a huge issue of war crime after 37 years of independence. I think it is purely a divisive issue. I saw the list of war criminals published by the SCF, most of who are already dead. If there are cases and evidences against them, both living and dead, why don’t the SCF go to the court? Why making it such a big public issue? I also do not understand why Hasina had to seek UN help in the matter. Do we not have enough judicial apparatus to investigate and try them?

Again, I am not defending the war criminals. Let us find out the real criminals and hang them within our legal system.

To me, the factors that really worked against BNP and helped AL this time are— the military, the CTG, the CEC, a largely pro-AL media, and most importantly AL’s Dadas and other external friends.

R Chowdhury
San Jose, California
USA