Untold Facts

Witch Hunting Style for Joan of Arc!

Law and Order
That the law and order situation have gone down to worse if not to the worst, is nothing secret or one can hide. How much was that on usual course or engineered cannot be said with certainty. But the way things have surfaced it looks like more engineered than got the shape business as usual.

Coincidence
Things made curious coincidence. MP Taposh’s news, the HT (Hizbut Tahrir) Chief Mohiuddin’s house arrest and remand of Mehnaz Rashid with her 4 month old baby and others like him the two sons Sohel and Imran of convict Mohiuddin connected to the 15th August 1975 ‘murder’ trial can hardly be thought of in isolation from one another. All these propped up at the home return after one-week absence from the country of the P.M. on the 27th October made it more amazing and still of bigger curiosity.

Taposh
The episode began on the 22nd October night. A bomb like sound was heard in front of the office compound of honorable M.P. Taposh, P.M.’s nephew. The DB police initially stated (Weekly Holiday, 23 October) that the sound came of a bursting A.C. air compressor. But later on the matter was made a bomb attack on the M.P. by ‘terrorists’ as the M.P. stated formally later on to the police (FIR) that the terrorists had attacked him for killing by a bomb. He went on further that the attackers were all relations of the convicts of the 15th August 1975 ‘murder’ trial hearing now going on in the Supreme Court since the 5th October. So the police started to arrest and put on remand relations like sons, daughter and even four months old grand- daughter of some death convicts in the case made in the lower courts. Khondoker Rashid’s daughter and baby granddaughter now on remand first for five days and then renewed for another four days on the 30th October. His wife Zobaeda Rashid was put on such long remand in 1996 but released due to pressure of lobbyist from international human rights organizations.

Blame Game
It is a pity that the propaganda has got on that the bombing was made for delaying, diverting and even forcing the trial to be abandoned in the Supreme Court!

Hizbut Tahrir
The propaganda episode against ‘terrorists’ accompanied another incident. The HT, one of many Islamic intellectual organizations, was ordered banned by the Government on the same day for alleged ‘anti-state’ and ‘terrorist’ activities. The following day its offices sealed, documents taken away by police, the Chief had been put on house arrest and forcibly retired from his job, Associate Professor at the Dhaka University. The propagandist have not clearly said anything of the connection of the ‘terrorists’ of the 15th August related matter but it seems fairly clear that the coincidence made something fishy about so far as the police swoop on the imagined terrorists were concerned.

Alleged Threat to AG
The alleged letter of life threat the Attorney General claimed to have received almost at the same time but the letter written on the 3rd October having his name rightly spelled when many do mistakes in spelling, possibly in Bengali language, and received after 22 days or three weeks whereas the letter should not have taken more than two days in postal mail from the date of posting, and the main threat to take lives of the family members in ‘15 days’ as the civilian General told media men though expired on the 18th October and nothing happened as yet made things still fishier.

CHITRKUT
The propaganda has gone on to fabricating CHIRKUT business by some media of seriously partisan attitudes. The story this media made was that the death convicts now in the Dhaka Central Prison have resorted to pass on information for the attack on Taposh by using the CHIRKUT (tiny piece of paper written thereon instructions for operation) and the CHIRKUTs being delivered to intended addressees through hiding in books! However, the jailor has categorically denied any such possibilities for the convicts are kept behind iron bars additionally protected along with by iron screen from any possible contact with visitors permitted once in a month.

Terrorist/ Patriot
‘Terrorist’ is a word misused and abused in many countries playing roles like lackeys of the big masters. It fetches easy money from the West. Unfortunately in almost all Muslim countries, the advanced intellectual Muslims are the main targets who believe and strive for Islamic egalitarianism in their own societies against comprador lackeys of the bourgeoisie West. Both Mohiuddin and the 15th August heroes, as far as I could assess, believed in the same ideology and goals. That is why the Islamic/Muslim nationalist groups have been made targets of the ongoing swoops by the police, and some 31more to face the penalty according a list of the DB published in a Dhaka English language daily on the 28th October.

Miscarriage of Justice
The 15th August 1975 episode was in no way a ‘terrorist’ act but a successful coup d’ ‘etat that enjoyed legal indemnity for 21 years from the day of occurrence to the day Sheikh Hasina Government swooped on the heroes and deeply patriots as ‘terrorists and killers’ in late 1996. Her abuse and gross misuse of State power of Bangladesh ditched 15 heroes to death sentence and into the condemned cell of the Dhaka prison for over 13 years now in what in legal terms rightly called the miscarriage of justice. That the trial had only been miscarriage of justice was further evidenced by at least three Justices of the High Court and Supreme Court. On 2001 March 26 one retired Chief Justice giving an interview with the London based BBC Bengali Service Radio did not hide about the miscarriage of Justice in the matter by commenting on the issue that the 15th August 1975 case could not be of any simple murder case but was a political matter too. On the 26th March 2002, one seating judge of the High Court talking to the Dhaka English daily, The Independent, that after one hundred years everybody would say that the judgment was nothing of a real judgment In the same issue he further harshly commented that was published as that the then Army Chief General Safiullah should have been made an accused and not a witness. On the 16th August 2008 many Dhaka dailies had a first page news that quoted a retired Supreme Court Justice that should there be any demand for hanging of Faruq (number one accused in the case), Safiullah should be hanged to death before hanging Faruq. That was a brief on the speech the Justice made in a discussion meeting held in Dhaka on and about the 15th August incident of the successful coup d’ ’etat. Anything short of the coup the notorious lone party BAKSAL dictatorship would not end, much less multi-party parliamentary democracy restored as the country has been enjoying with pride, particularly, since after adopting the 5th Amendment of the Constitution.

Possibility of Interference
Provided that the Appeal now under hearing at the Supreme Court Five Member Bench is not unduly interfered with, they would receive fair justice that would not be liked by the party in power and their top boss. That is why, it is easy to presume that they have engaged themselves to foil the fair trial in most likely ending the previous miscarriage of justice done through creating side issues and putting all blames to the relations of the convicts, five in custody and six in hiding. The presumption has firm basis in the previous facts that they had created vicious scenes during 1996 to 2001 when they remained in the State power in intimidating the judges of the Session Judge Court and then of the two High Court benches. Whether they had then acted as ‘terrorists’ or not may be judged by sane souls.

Propaganda
The likely propaganda by Barrister Taposh and by the Civilian General has to be seen in the overall context and not as isolated issues that would certainly bare open their evil intension to do not only for witch hunting afresh but also for getting the verdict as they would love to have through intimidating the judges and the also victims seeking fair justice from the miscarriage went on so far. For the propaganda they advanced reason for killing a child as highly offensive. None should forget the fact that in revolutionary coups such bloodletting is not uncommon. In the Russian Revolution of 1917 the revolutionaries killed on the 16th July 1918 at deep midnight the notoriously oppressive Russian Czar but also their family members including servants and even a disabled child.

Cr. P. C. Enough
If they meant real containment of real terrorists, they could well neutrally and without any undue interference take up individual cases and put them to police and to the due process of law under the existing Cr.P.C. But they are most unlikely to go for the due process of law, because, then the party cadres in thousands now in real terrorist businesses in rent seeking, tender snatching, illegal property grabbing using all muscle power are all the Awami cadres, leaders, etc. most likely to be netted.

Intimating in Old Style
They are all not only for intimidating the judges, the convicts, their family members, their moral sympathizers but also for creating a hype for resorting to terrorist actions in case the Supreme Court Appeal verdict would not be liked by them just as they did near anarchy earlier following the Split High Court Verdict in December 2000.

Joan of Arc
Should the miscarriage of justice remains unresolved and the due process in reality becomes judicial murder, it could be of like some other unfortunate historical fact of the fifteenth century France wherein the deeply patriotic fighter for the country against England, the 19 year old Joan of Arc was convicted as a witch by an English church and so burnt to death in 1431 A.D. On expiry of 489 years another French church in 1920 A.D. elected and declared Joan of Arc as the Saint or of one of the Catholic priest of the highest spiritual order.

Author: Dr.M.T. Hussain

Comprador Crusaders!

Whether the title of the item is at all right or not, I am not sure at this stage. But I found none better for what I intend to cover.

That the Awami League Government of 2009, third in 38 years for independent Bangladesh, has on the end of nine months of torturous and oppressive rule not unusually though swooped on one Islamic non-political association, Hizbut Tahrir (HT) and have further listed 31 more, according press report published in Dhaka on the 26th October, that are going to be banned following the same sword that fell on the Hizbut Tahrir. The allegations against the organization and also other to follow the same fate are almost the same. They have been blamed for ‘anti-state’ activities and so the sword of the clamp down.

I have no intimate information about the Hizbut Tahrir, much less about the 31 or so organizations to follow the same fate, most possibly all one man show or even no address to locate at all but in list of the ‘intelligence’. However, the HT remained a vocal one as we knew about in their occasional programs on specific issues of national concern and leaflets distributed in open for popular consumption and so far I know nothing in secret.

From press reports it was confirmed that the organization was founded in Dhaka during the latter part of the first term government of the same Awami League in 2000 not by unaccountable some body but by Dhaka University teachers. Evidently they were educated, well informed, cultured and certainly patriotic sons of the country. Now that the organization worked and grown in size for ten years not as a full fledged political party but social organization with some commitment towards welfare of the society and gained some appreciable support among the better educated lot, how come that the sword fell on them at this stage?

In the government estimation the ‘anti state’ activities included ‘terrorist’ acts. Well, any such criminal act should not be difficult to identify and persons responsible for could be prosecuted under the existing penal code. Such due process of law need not necessarily make it so urgent to ban the whole organization for any body’s or even quite a numbers involvement in ‘terrorist’ acts. Such banning is not only unethical and immoral but also violates the Constitution (Art. 38) of the country that permits freedom of association.

Banning of any political party, much less any social welfare association is not democratic by any standard but fascist one. The advanced democratic West is totally opposed to Communism, even so, there are Communist parties working freely in almost all those Western countries. Morning Star is a long and well established English language daily of Britain run by the Communists.

That the Chief Co-Ordinator (CO) of HT has already been sent on forced retirement by his employer, the Dhaka University, on the 25th October just two days after the banning of the organization obviously following the Government decision. Thus the C.O. Professor Mohiudin’s fundamental rights for having and continuing in his employment has also been violated (Art.29, 31 & 40). By 26th October the Government has already done these violations of all legal and fundamental rights of the HT Chief and of the members of the organization.

As is hunched very rightly the Chief and many others of the organization will soon face detention, possibly first under the Cr. P.C. 54, police remand for days, and then on for long detention under the notorious Special Powers Act of 1974. All agonies of life and living of the persons and of the family members to sadly follow soon.

As is now well known that due processes of law in many cases are being interfered with, there is every likely that the same would be done in this case/s, as well. In other words, the justice would be far fetched for these unfortunate intellectual fellows certainly not of Tom, Dick and Harry.

It may be useful to painfully recall here by older persons like me that during the other terms of this party Government both during 1996-2001 and 1972-1975, miscarriage of justice along with violations of the Constitution by the arrogant authorities in all such unlawful matters had been the norm for all misfortunes of the aggrieved so far remained unaccounted.

The matter should be seen in another perspective. The victims had been the Islamic and Muslim groups and not any other religious group just as they start in blanket way against all Muslim/Islamic political parties, organizations, institutions and even symbols etc. of long standing distinct pride identity soon after independence of Bangladesh.

It has come as news in some foreign press I came across on Sunday (Al- Hilal, London: Internet) that the US Government has shown pleasure in the action against the HT. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has offered a prize to Bangladesh in granting permanent residence to 60,000 illegal Bangladeshis for the act they so much liked. Whether the prize was a ‘mess of pottage’ need be measured in terms of the historic Crusades and the Clash of Civilizations going on against the Muslims on one side and the rest on the other, and the native anti-Islamic and anti Muslim forces playing their cards as the pliant comprador crusaders! The Bengali speaking literate ones my well recall the famous poet Tagore’s few lines of a poem in verbatim, ‘RAJA JOTO BOLEY PARISHAD DOLE BOLE TER SHOTOGUN’-the lackey-loyal in-group say one hundred times more in tune with the king. Without exception all the three governments of the typical political persuasion fell on the distinct Islamic and the Muslim identity of egalitarian political ends.

In the previous two terms they had sorry ends, one on the 15th August 1975 in jubilation of the common people though little unfortunately through extra-constitutional means of the successful coup d’etat and the massive defeat in the other one in 2001 October general election through popular votes that the people in overwhelming majorities celebrated as the Great Day of Deliverance (NAJAT DIBOSH). The fate of the comprador crusaders of native origin now mainly engaged in typically oppressing the patriotic nationalists, Islamic and Muslim peoples opposing fascism is just only in the waiting for all aggrieved people to have the NAJAT as they had in previous two occasions. After all the Great and all Powerful Creator is with the oppressed and not with the oppressors.

Auhtor: M.T. Hussain

Taposh Making Mountain Out of a Molehill?

Condemnable
There are no two opinions about law taking its due course in the incident of alleged attack to ‘kill’ Barrister Taposh on the 22nd October night at Motijheel area in Dhaka city. Unfortunately, due process of law has already been seriously dented by the Home Minister and the Law Minister of Bangladesh for their minds as already published in the press by the 24th October morning. Both have linked the trial of the 15th August 1975 ‘murder’ case with the very 22nd October incident. How could the persons in charge of implementing law in the seating Government pre-judge the matter even before the real inquest began?

The 15th August 1975
The 15th August 1975 case is a historic one linked not only with the life and death question of some individuals but also of the sovereign existence of the country, our motherland, Bangladesh. Because, since 1975 mid August Bangladesh survived and also moved ahead with self dignity for the last 35 years now all owing to the positive outcome of the 15th August change that rightly ditched BAKSALite autocracy and unenlightened dictatorship for returning to pluralism and multi-party democracy in tune with common aspirations of the people cherished for long and struggled hard to attain. Other benefits like people’s aspirations for upholding own historic and distinct values, ethics and morality that had been seriously threatened by the pre-1975 change Government were also tuned rightly in the 5th Amendment of the Constitution so much so that no government of different persuasions in over three decades did ever think useful, much less wise, to revert back to the pre 1975 position. Or in other words, the August 1975 change had put once again to openness and freedom that kept her in concert with the sovereign norms, values and status that the free world idea defines.

‘Killers’!
Very unfortunately the otherwise laudable and spontaneously welcome heroes of the change have been portrayed as ‘killers’ by the present genre of the Government. Fortunately though that they have not finally been adjudged so as the Appeal is under hearing at the apex court, the Supreme Court Appeal Division. The five pertinent points made in the leave to appeal, if allowed to go on neutrally without any hindrance or interference by the Government in the 5 Justice Bench, there is every possibility that the heroes would be declared innocent in the ‘murder’ trial for the fact was that on the 15th August 1975 there had been a successful army mutiny that obviously accompanied some sad bloodletting on both sides and not on one side of the brief encounter.

Undue Interference
Unfortunately the case proceeding is being interfered with as there are already many reports published. The two ministers pre-judgment comments in the matter, in particular, once again commenting on Taposh’s case are just clear examples of their evil intentions in the matter of the 15th August case in their ill will to have the judgment to please what their egos dictate. Older people like us clearly recall that the cadres of the party in the past interfered in the case while that had been first in the lower Session Judge court and then at the High Court during 1996 to 2001.

Miscarriage of Justice
From the very start of the case labeled as the ‘murder’ case made in Early October 1996 after 21 years of the actual occurrence giving damn to automatic indemnity the successful coup was lawfully entitled to have and further annulling the Indemnity sanctioned and provided though superfluously in late September 1975, the hand picked and clearly loyal Sessions Judge gave a verdict on the 8th November 1998 that 15 ordered to be put to death by FIRING SQUAD, amazingly, no where provided there in the C. P.C. In the judgment the session judge made a pertinent legal point that he had no time to look into each and every aspect of the case. The verdict was thus nothing but a clear miscarriage of justice.

Further that the over zealous, if not jealous, cadres earlier threatened the Judges as they continue to do now in verbatim in Bengali verbatim like Dekhe Nebo – I shall settle score- for securing a verdict as their egos would dictate the judges to do and they got so at least in the lower court.

The Previous Home Minister
The previous Home Minister Nasim led stick-wielding procession in the Dhaka city streets with vicious threatening postures against the High Court judges. The day one Justice of the High Court two members bench had in the split verdict in December 2000 acquitted five as innocent, residences and homes of the relations of the judge and of the relations of the acquitted ones were attacked, vandalized and put on arson. The same party government was in power then during 1996-2001 as it has now been since January 2009 and flexing muscles afresh as are being known from reports published recently after the 5th October appeal hearing began.

Once Again
It is not at all difficult to presume that they are hell bound this time to have the appeal verdict what they and their top leader would love to have in her vengeance she maintains since after 1975 as she had openly stated with the former BBC journalist (See Dhaka Bengali daily Naya Diganta, 24 March 2009). But fearing that they might not have the loveable verdict, they have resorted not only intimidating the judges but also creating hype in the country to strengthen and raise the pitch of intimidation. After all the judges are not only human beings but also poor fellows, unlike judges of the advanced and rich countries, in the poverty ridden country of Bangladesh wholly dependent for life and living on the monthly wages they get from the exchequer and job security subject to pleasure of the Government control.

Engineered
Be the facts are as mentioned above in brief, the case of Taposh may well have been an engineered one by the party in power for creating hype in the country in backdrop of falling ‘popularity’ of the party government now in serious credibility gap in almost all matters from price rise, deteriorating law and order situation, torture and killing of opponents at random, unlawful snatching of contracts for easy and illegal-immoral money making works and properties of vulnerable and helpless ones, creating new chaos in educational sector, submitting to external hegemony against the country, and many such issues boggling the nation. The 15th August made up case and its any verdict not liked by them may well be opportune point for them to go for extra- constitutional measures that the party had precedence like imposing the lone party BAKSAL and its instrument of torture like the unconstitutional and Indian R&AW managed RAKHSMI Bahini that had remained unleashed during 1972- mid 1975. The casualties ranging from physical-mental tortures to killings of all imagined political opponents in the hands of this killer force that enjoyed all impunity were never ever figured out but by some private groups in thousands, amazingly, even by the governments of other persuasions.

Rationale?
Entangling Taposh’s incident with the 15th August case has to be seen with another point of view in that the government has been impressing from the very start of January 2009 that they would revert back to the 1972 Constitution by scrapping off the 5th Amendment that had legal and legitimacy foundation on the 15th August Change. Should the verdict in the case is given as simple ‘murder’ and not recognizing it as a successful coup d’ ‘etat (See, Wikipedia- The International Encyclopedia), constitutionally the country would automatically revert back to the BAKSAL provision made in January 1975; and if the government with brute majority would then prefer they may well revert back to the 1972 Constitution. Could the country afford that vicious syndrome to survive as dignified nation?

Some Hope
It was a matter of some hope and so nice to know from a press report that the Taposh’s case was transferred to the DB (Detective Branch of Police). Should that go free from interference, the case might get a fair deal. Otherwise, this would be another instrument of witch hunting, I am afraid, for up to the stage, if it was not ‘making a mountain out of a molehill’.

Counter Evidence
By the way, when I was almost finishing this article a well informed friend of mine reminded me of Taposh’s making many Torab Alis like the one of the February BDR carnage fame! That confirmed my hunch about engineering so much so that the ‘bomb’ did fail miserably to touch his physique on the 22nd night in front of his own office. That also reminded me further that the weekly Holiday of the 23 October had a DB police official stating that no bomb but a bomb like heavy sound came of from one of the bursting compressors of an air conditioner there. The other hunch though of ‘making a mountain out of a molehill’ for ulterior motive thus remains there.

Author: Dr.M.T. Hussain

Victorious Army Mutiny made ‘Murder’ Case in Shear Vengeance: Miscarriage of Justice on since 1996

Typical vengeance
It was typical of Bangladesh and of the unique vengeance of the second time Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina now who arbitrarily made the 15th August 1975 victorious Army Mutiny into a simple case of civil ‘murder’ case in late 1996. And the worst of it continued as clear miscarriage of justice since then for about 13 years now.

Army Mutiny
Army mutiny is nothing unusual in less developed countries as we continue to know of at this point of time in history, the Central American State of Honduras in June (09) being the latest in continuum.
Army mutiny falls into two categories. One, failed one and the other victorious or successful one. Failed ones are subject to prompt trial in court martial or as per speedy operational army rules. The victorious ones, however, get not only rewards but also constitute the basis of subsequent lawful governments and, in addition, becomes sources of laws and legal instruments made by the post mutiny or post coup governments.

Victorious Mutiny/Coup
The 15th August, 1975 coup by all international legal norms stood as the victorious mutiny and not in any way a failed one. The coup operators as such had automatic immunity of any sad bloodletting, not only on one side but also of both encountering sides on the day for minutes in the early hours. In addition, the subsequent legal government led by President Khondoker Moustaque Ahmad, passed an additional but superfluous Indemnity Act in late September 1975 that later on formed the part of the 5th Amendment of the Constitution, 1979.

Restoration
Though there had been attempt of counter coup specifically by Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf in early November, that faced defeat on the 7th November that put Major General Ziaur Rahman to the top of the power, first of the army and then of the country as the President. In other words, the onward march of the 15th August coup did not stop but took the country ahead. The legitimacy thus provided by the 15th August heroic change in favor of multiparty democracy bidding a funeral to the BAKSAL dictatorship along with the killer RAKHI BAHINI not only met with people’s popular aspirations but also raised the prestige and dignity of the country not only in the free world but also in the Muslim brotherly countries.
The economy of the country shattered by the pre coup government and turned it to the ignominy status of the International Basket Case started to reinvigorate and have fresh life.
The assassination of Zia in May 1981 had every possibility of turning the tide set in August 1975, but the continuity of democratic order kept things right.

The interrupter
Though interruption in the normal democratic order by power hungry and usurper General Ershad dented the forward smooth march, the onward march in multiparty democracy, economic development and better relations with the advanced and Muslim countries did continue as usual after 1975. Ershad toppled by popular upheaval in 1990 paved once again the path for free democracy. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party then led by Zia’s widow Begum Khaleda Zia won the election in late 1990 following Ershad’s fall that ushered hope for future of the country.

1996 June Election and After
In the 1996 June general election BNP was marginally defeated and Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina so winning the election took to the Prime Minister of the country. For winning the election she not only openly appealed in campaigns to the religious sentiment of the overwhelming Muslim population begging vote ‘only for once’ seeking open forgiveness of the party sins her father led. As soon as she took up the position in somewhat in nervousness having had strategic support from Islamic groups including the Jamaat e Islami, he started to unmask her ugly face of vengeance against all, particularly, against the 15th August national heroes.

Mr. Serajur Rahman
Many did not realize that she would clamp down with all vengeance against the coup makers. Many knew much latter that she had come to politics, despite hate for that, not for love of the country or for politics as such but for taking revenge of her father’s blood spilled in the August coup (See, Dhaka Bengali daily Naya Diganta, 24th March 2009, by retired BBC journalist Mr. Serajur Rahman). Blood spilling was nothing uncommon in revolutions, for example, the Russian Revolution of 1917 had killed the entire Imperial family of Russia not even sparing the servants and a disabled child of the Czar Nicholas on the early morning of the 16th July 1918 (Wikipedia, The International Encyclopedia).

Custody, torture and violations
Some of the alleged coup operators already fled the country as soon as Hasina took to the P.M. position; but some stayed in not fearing anything of reprisal for the great act that brought back multi-party democracy and also gave Hasina scope and opportunity to become the P.M. of Bangladesh. She, however, fell with all State might on the few who stayed in the country, arrested them initially under the Cr.P.C.54, put them on police remand to special torture cell for days and weeks, and then lodged unsustainable ‘murder charge’ police case in late 1996 for those killed on the 15th August including her father Sheikh Mujib. For the case to be made legal she annulled the Indemnity Act enacted in September 1975 through simple majority vote in the Parliament in 1996 that required two third majorities for being already part of the 5th Amendment of the Constitution. Thus the Constitution was grossly violated in this matter.

Stooge’s Verdict
The case so violating the Constitution was sent for trial in a session judge court, the lone judge being her own choosing for obvious reason. The judge made a speedy trial hardly considering all relevant issues and gave a verdict for death sentence to accused 15 to be executed in FIRING SQUAD on the 8th November 1998. Many were amazed to hear about the verdict as the order violated the Cr. P.C. as no FIRING SQUAD is provided in the Cr. P.C. There were no two opinions that the verdict satisfied Hasina’s sadist desire for vengeance that the judge did for further availing perks and privileges from her apex position of the State. It was thus clear miscarriage of justice from the very start

High Court Benches intimidated
At the High Court two stages, the case had doubtable verdicts as the judges had been under duress and undue pressure from the top of the administration. The Home Minister of Hasina Nasim not only openly threatened the judges in the case but also led stick-wielding procession in the capital city to threaten and admonish the judges for not giving any verdict not liked by the top boss Hasina. The two judges court gave a split verdict in December 2000, one confirming death sentence to 10 and the other to all 15 given at the lower Court. The split verdict then referred to the third judge passed another verdict in April 2001 confirming death sentence to 12. Thus the case up to that stage had four verdicts that speak about lacunas in the case.

Facts about Miscarriage of Justice
The miscarriage of justice went all along with the very start of the case to the verdicts made by four judges in the matter.

First, it was not a simple murder case but accompanied sad bloodletting as are almost normal with any such coup for political power change albeit approved by law and legal norms in existence for successful army mutiny or a victorious coup d’’etat and not in any norm that was a failed coup (Wikipedia, The International Encyclopedia). The judge court, unfortunately, for reasons known to him did not take this vital legal point in full cognizance, but why?

Second, the indemnity act of 1975 overruled by simple majority in 1996 was invalid so far as its position with the 5th Amendment was concerned that required two third majority votes in the Parliament.

Third, law given retrospective effect is unacceptable in legal jurisprudence and so the indemnity annulled in 1996 was of no legal validity in retrospective effect of the act made in 1975.

Fourth, indemnity given once by the State as was that done in 1975 could not have been taken away by the State after 21 years as was made in 1996

Fifth, the civil court had no jurisdiction to make the trial of the persons not civilian but military persons who allegedly acted in the mutiny/coup as they were then in the Bangladesh Military Service.

Sixth, the case has been unduly interfered with openly as are some points mentioned above and many might have been in secret for the psychological hatred Hasina understandably had in her mind as noted by the same journalist Serajur Rahman for mitigating her brute personal vengeance.

Expectations
Thus the clear miscarriage of justice so made in the case, it is hoped, would be remedied and rectified by taking into due cognizance of the facts and issues ignored and by passed in earlier stages in the due processes of law now being heard and reconsidered in the Supreme Court Appeal Bench since the 5th October 2009. How should any sensible and patriotic citizen of Bangladesh be forgetful of the fact that the mutiny or coup whatever one may call that restored dignity of the country by bringing back civility and multiparty democracy ditching very successfully the notorious BAKSALite dictatorship.

Author: Dr.M.T. Hussain

Nepotism, Corruption and Graft Spree for ‘Sacrifice’ Made

Nepotism and corruption
A few days ago a smart foreign diplomat of crucial importance made a complaint about ‘Nepotism and Corruption’ as the main hurdle against development in Bangladesh. The ruling party General Secretary and a powerful Minister Ashraful Islam conceded to the matter by stating plainly that the Awami cadres have been doing all graft businesses to make up the losses they made for their sacrifice they made earlier, obviously implying that they have just been picking up the booties of their hard fight to bring Hasina-Ashraf nexus to power in January 2009. The further confirmation of the graft spree may well be had from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ‘warning’ to the grafters time and again and yet the grafts have been going on unending and in many cases with more vigor and in still better smarter styles, certainly not beyond knowledge of the leaders. There is also rationale behind the grafts as the party government in power now over nine months failed to redeem their pledge among many others made in the Election Manifesto for providing at least one person’s fully employed paid job for each family. The unity slogan for poverty elimination made by the P.M. on the 17th October possibly was directed to the loyal grafters to make her grip still firmer for goals she has in view not necessarily for poverty elimination but for something else.

Grafting and poverty
Since it is about ten months now that the graft cases have gone one uninterrupted, and the party men and women have earned a lot, we do not know for certain, if they would restrain their greed now for some helpful consideration of the extreme poor millions. The expectation has ushered in the fact that their leader Sheikh Hasina has on the 17th October made a razzmatazz of poverty elevation gathering in the grand style in Dhaka. Cynics were saying that she made a show up there of all those who grabbed properties of billions Taka in cash in all illegal and immoral ways during the last nine months or so. Some were further saying that her and the Secretary’s bank accounts, if not at home, but abroad swelled further that none at this moment could inquire into, much less made public. It is open secret that they have both properties in Europe and America possibly in clandestine identity, and so many of them like in politics and in the government.

After 1971
The graft business going on since January 2009 in Bangladesh reminded to me an old fact. One honest and sincere freedom fighter of 1971 told me years back that in late January 1972, he made a point to the then leader and Hasina’s biological father in a meeting held at the famous Siddiq Bazar Community Center, Dhaka, that he should ask all freedom fighters to restrain from any illegal property grabbing for peace and stability in the society. He retorted in his own crude style in Bengali, ‘AMAR CHELERA SHOTERO BASAR KONO KISU KHETE PAINI EKHON KISU KHACHE ETE TOR CHOKH TATAI KENO’? The threatening comment may in English version be like this: My boys had nothing for seventeen years (after 1954), and now that they are having something for them, why should you have eye sore?

The nod and after
The honest young man said to me, in addition, that immediately after the occasion, not only that graft spree had its heyday but also torture, eviction and even murder of many innocent persons took their tolls on one pre-text or the other. The prime plea was that the victims had been ‘Collaborators’ of the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh in 1971, and so had no right to exist in the country! That was how the forerunners of the 2009 grafters made their ‘business’ halal! The grafting business went almost unhindered for the three and a half years period until the absolute and one party totalitarian leader fell somewhat tragically though but in people’s jubilation in mid August 1975. But the culture of human greed remained in their minds that spilled over at times to other party leaders and workers, as well.

Graft and monarchy
There is no exact enumeration of facts and figures about graft money by political leaders and workers, but it is certain that the ‘father’ of the evil culture owes much to the credit. That is why I am not amazed at all that they are on with the grafting businesses for making up losses of their sacrifices they made for enthroning Hasina that many are now sadly foreseeing after the passage on the 13th October the notorious act in the rubber stamp parliament for century ahead SSF Security as VIP of Hasina’s following progeny including her sister Rehana’s amazingly for many as the future Crown of Bangladesh- now Queen Hasina to be followed by Queen Rehana and their progeny in continuing heredity.

Not GandhianThe emerging monarchs and the party leaders and cadres cannot be followers of Gandhi, the Indian great leader, who practiced denial of property and lived life of a ‘NAKED FAKIR” just as one British politician labeled him. They are right followers of the free market economy as propounded by Adam Smith and upheld by the West underpinned by human greed and material gains but devoid of ethics and morality. To them very unfortunately politics is not for any sacrifice for any great ideal but for fortune making at any cost. Widespread poverty and helplessness of the desperately poor millions provided scope to take advantage of for fortune making of the tout grafters firmly supported by the emerging monarch’s party.

Wealthy monarchy and poverty
One would not see any harm in the monarchy being established provided the nearly half of the 150 million people of the country would not suffer in grinding poverty for mainly the genre of corrupts and grafters as they continue to eat away huge properties even those rations meant for the most destitute VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) card holders. The foreign diplomat, I am sure, in his wisdom has taken due note of the present vicious syndrome of nepotism, corruption and grafts in Bangladesh.

Author: Dr. M.T. Hussain

Bangabandhu Murder Case Appeal Hearing: Some Questions

Bangabadhu Murder Case is being heard by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court since October 5, 2009. As a layman, I have some concerns and questions.

I am an ordinary person with no political or ideological affiliation with any party or organization; and can not claim to be much enlightened either. As a student, I was involved in the anti-Pakistan movement in the late 1960s and later witnessed the ‘Joy Bangla’ phobia of the early 70s. I was fortunate to avail the rare opportunity to contribute my humble mite in our independence war in 1971. We had high hope and aspiration for the future of the new nation.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were killed on August 15, 1975. We were told it was a military coup to change the government as there was no other way to salvage the nation out of a suffocating political situation and an imminent economic collapse. I was in Dhaka then and from the reaction of the people, it appeared that the people accepted the outcome of the coup.

I did not see or read even a token resistance or protest against the August 15 coup. Additionally, the acceptance of the coup was confirmed by the announcements of support and allegiance to the new government by then service chiefs and law enforcing agencies. In the next 21 years and through 5 successive governments, nobody raised a question about the validity of that coup or change of government. It was very unfortunate though that some valuable lives on both sides were lost in that coup. Subsequently however, the action of August 15, 1975 was indemnified by a constitutional arrangement.

When Sheikh Hasina Wazed, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, became Prime Minister in 1996, the coup was suddenly turned into a murder or assassination. A trial was held and 15 accused were sentenced to death by Firing Squads. Before Sheikh Hasina could execute the accused, her 5-year term ended and nothing much happened in the next 7 years.

Sheikh Hasina is Prime Minister again, this time with an enviable majority for which growing number of critics point to then army chief’s connivance during the preceding 2-year run of the emergency. She picked up the judicial process of the Sheikh Mujib Murder Case from where it was left last time, taking the fast track. My questions are:

• If August 15, 1975 was a murder, then why nobody felt it necessary to raise the issue in the next 21 years through 5 successive governments?

• The parliaments, the judiciary and the learned judges during those years never found anything wrong with the Indemnity Act 1975. Why was the sudden change of heart in 1996?

• The chiefs of army, navy, air force, BDR, Police and even Rakkhi Bahini publicly announced their acceptance of the coup and allegiance to the new government. If the August 15 is now tried as murder, why those former leaders of military and law enforcing agencies are left out?

• August 15, 1975 took place in the wake of a repressive and suffocating situation generated during the pre ‘75 period. Print and electronic media of that period will testify that beyond any doubt. Was it then a political change or murder?

• What did the perpetrators of the coup want—change the one-party BAKSAL regime that became autocratic or kill Sheikh Mujib and his family members?

• What would Rashid-Farook-Dalim and Co. gain by killing Sheikh Mujib if that was their objective? Did they take over the country after the coup?

• If August 15, 1975 was a murder—not a coup—then shouldn’t all the 5 successive governments and their entire machinery that upheld that action be held liable and brought on the dock?

• Finally, why this ‘trial drama’ is allowed to play foul with the lives a few brave sons of the soil who bailed the nation out at its critical juncture and from the shackle of a one-party BAKSAli autocracy?

The Honorable Judges belonging to this apex body of Appellate Division possess the highest degree of wisdom and integrity. I am confident they will address the above questions in dispensing justice for the sake of fairness, as well as for the understanding of millions like me.

History may not forgive us if there is a miscarriage of justice!!!

Author: A O Chowdhury
NY, USA

Sycophancy at Worst

Sycophancy seems to be at the worst of late hitting hard the Islamic belief in Bangladesh. The government controlled Islamic Foundation had a seminar that the speakers are known to have spoken for and urged the government to have Friday Prayer Khutba (Sermon) each week to have included the name of the biological father of the present Prime Minister (P.M.) of Bangladesh. That was how a news item published in a Bengali daily in Dhaka on the 18th October (09. The speakers so doing must have elated the P.M. Sheikh Hasina not only to have perks and promotions but also firmly confirmed their identity as noted sycophants.

To common people’s estimation, however, they have raised questions of fidelity against basic Islamic belief. Islam’s practice of giving Khutba during Friday Jumaa prayer that does not provide any such provision for any person of political stature except that mentioning Salam for the Prophet and the four Kulafa e Rashedeen of the seventh century A.D.

The political leader in question of Bangladesh was in no way a leader of any Islamic party, much less anybody of religious divine. Further that he was well known to be a non-spiritual ‘secular’ person representing a secular political party more or less akin to Indian caste based secularism of Sanatan culture. The secular 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh he promulgated in the country was condemned by all Muslim scholars as anything but not Islamic. That was his image among the people. That is why when he fell from the State power somewhat tragically in mid August 1975, the fall had no sympathy and he was condemned almost universally by all Muslim people in jubilant mood.

It’s true that the present government has brute majority in the parliament, and so the worthy daughter can do and undo anything possible except ‘making a man a woman and a woman a man’. Should that power of brute majority go for interfering into the pristine and heavenly belief of the 150 million Muslim people of the country, the ramification could be disastrous.

It may be mentioned here that there is a strong rumor that the Government has already given verbal instructions to all D.C.s and UNO.s that in the far-flung areas the Imams of local mosques must have approval of the Khutba contents prior to delivering them during Jumaa prayers.

The rumor had substance as could be assessed from the venting of opinion in the relevant matter by the speakers on the 17th at the government controlled Islamic Foundation, Dhaka.

Should the venture is implemented, I am afraid, the 150 million Muslims of the country somehow would soon rise to oppose the un-Islamic venture and to foil the evil measure. One must wonder if the sycophants of the present ignorant generation making the ill thought suggestion are at all aware of the huge misdeeds of the person and of the consequences that may follow their suggestion in the matter.

Author: Dr.M.T. Hussain

Bhashani to Jalil: Continuum of Vengeance

Obvious
The obvious has happened. Former AL General Secretary Mr. Abdul Jalil is certain to face the music just as many others in line from 1950s faced the same music of vengeance almost in continuum one after another for ‘erring’.

NBR?
On the 15th October (09) in somewhat ‘supersonic speed’, the NBR (National Bureau of Revenue) discovered Mr. Jalil for evading tax of about Taka four Lakhs for the fiscal years from 2003 to 2008, filed a case in hours in a magistrate court in Dhaka for the default. The magistrate was smart enough to issue a warrant of arrest very promptly right then. The promptness is a fishy one for the previous day the Anti Corruption Commission Chairman Mr. Golam Rahman, an experienced bureaucrat, seriously and virulently complained about unusually long hanging over for disposal of many corruption cases for years in many courts of the country. Is not then the corruption case filed in hours against Jalil and smartly warrant of arrest issued against him are something to wonder? This is nothing said to condone the case, if there is any substance, but to wonder only about the speed in view of the facts that Jalil has of late been declared for some ‘sin’ persona non grata in the party he offered decades of dedicated and valuable services including in the post of General Secretary for about five years until 2008.

Vengeance against Shamsul Haq
If one would have scope and knowledge to look back of the relevant issues, one must discover that for any ‘erring’ the type of vengeance in action is nothing new but of continuum of the party now in power in Bangladesh. The vengeance like a cobra in extreme anger fell first on the founder General Secretary Shamsul Haq in early 1950 that ended him up for vengeance in the Dhaka (Dacca) Prison. Cynics continue to hold that his wife Afia Khatun (later on Afia Dil) and two of their small daughters had to flee the country to USA as soon as Haq was in the prison. DR. Ashraf Siddiqi, the renowned educator of the country now in his late eighties about three years ago stated in an article that he saw Haq begging at the Nazimuddin Road in Dacca on his release from the prison. I confirmed with him the fact later on. I had a report from some one known to me of the intelligence department that Haq had been at the Hazrat Shah Jalal Mazar of Sylhet. Another report I read about but not I could have authenticated that Haq died a lonely man in some one’s residence in Tangail, his home district in Bangladesh. That was how the end of the founder General Secretary being helpless victim of vengeance.

Against Bhashani
The Founder President of the party Maolana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani had not only had longer life until late 1976 but also went through struggles against vengeance and reprisals of the juniors whom Bhashani raised almost like own younger progeny. I clearly recall being then a student at the Ahsanullah Engineering College (now BUET), Dacca, attack of Bhshani’s meeting held at the Sadarghat Rupmahal Cinema hall in mid 1957 by the hoodlums of the same party he himself formed for lofty ideal in 1949 and not for acting as hoodlums led by the person well known by that time as the GOONDARAJ (king of hoodlums). Bhashani’s ‘sin’ was that he dissociated from the AL for that party turned to lackey of the imperialists and subservient of the regional hegemony. Bhashni, however, remained undaunted and had his National Awami Party vigorously organized on the basis of all Pakistan. At one stage he worked hard for the Awami League Leader in late 1960s for then he felt that the leader was being unreasonably detained by the military government of Pakistan and got him freed from treason charge in late 1968. The Maolana had received little fair deal in independent Bangladesh from the same Awami League leader and the absolute dictator but only repression in matters of restriction of his free movement and speech – put him in house arrest for over long three years, proscribed his periodicals HAQ KATHA, SATYA KATHA, etc. till the murderous dictator fell in jubilation of the people on the 15th August 1975 in the successful army coup (Oli Ahad, Jatiya Rajniti 1945-75, Dacca, p.494).

Ill fated
Similar ill fate awaited on and on as victims of vengeance for Advocate Abdus Salam Khan, Amena Begum, Ataur Rahman Khan, Tajuddin Ahmad that were all thrust upon egoistically by the ‘father’. All vengeance in the similar ‘fatherly’ fashion were inflicted on Dr. Kamal Hossain, Sohel Taj (Tajuddin’s son) and the latest on the 15th October to Jalil by the renowned daughter and now the seating Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Not unlikely that some more may follow the punishment for any ‘sin’ of dissent in the years ahead or as long the equally notoriously dictator Daughter stays in power.

Not alone
Although Jalil looks like alone the victim of shear vengeance at this time he may not remain alone for the fraud made in the last December general election done in concert with several evil forces including the power of hegemony in the region that he courageously blasted in September in London and the people have accepted the truth in the matter, people soon may come out to the street for restoring power to the people from the fraudulent usurpers. Jalil might then become the next political hero of Bangladesh.

Author: Dr. M.T. Hussain

ACC Toothless Tiger Being Made Clawless too!

Helplessness
The current or seating Anti Corruption Commission Chairman Mr. Golam Rahman in a press briefing on the 14th October lamented that the Commission is a toothless tiger and now being made clawless too. He has, however, blamed the judiciary for sloth procedural and for peripheral lacunas of the system of administering law that he wished to have reformed immediately for promptly punishing the corrupts from the society. May be he was right.

Age old
Before venturing into the issue possibly as old as human civilization and of very much intricate nature, as an old man and in knowledge of anti-corruption issues of these days but also of the 1950s, I may begin with the instance of about five decades old I recall very much accurately.

An old instance
In mid fifties the Minster in charge of Ant- corruption happened to be the then young fiery speaker Sheikh. Once I heard him speaking in a public meeting in Paltan Maidan, Dhaka (then spelled Dacca), ‘DURNITIR KONO KHOBOR KARO JANA THAKLE AMAKE EKTI TIN POISAR POST CARD LIKE JANABEN’ or in English language the content may be something like this: Should any one knew of any fact of corruption, let me have the information by writing in and mailing to me a post card of three Paisa (cost of a post card was then three Paisa). Later on we knew that many such post cards reached his office from many simple folks for some redress but none had any action, but in some cases the fact mailer had been pursued for ‘wrong’ and ‘false’ information. The other and curious fact was that the same one time fiery speaker minister had been pursued for many corruption cases. Unfortunately one Investigation Officer, a DSP, well known to be a very honest police officer happened to be a maternal uncle of my wife! He gave me in informal occasions some of the information about some cases of grave nature, not all, in late 1960s, but all withered away in political turbulence in the then East Pakistan!

Ask yourself
Mr. Rahman may be right in his passionate discontent about the judiciary in handling the corruption cases. Should he not ask himself who and what elements made the Commission toothless? Could that be judiciary alone? Second, who are now active to make the organization, in addition, clawless too? Is it at all possible to make the Commission effective having had the judiciary changed with all other factors keeping unchanged?

Nothing new
Corruption based on immoral human action is almost an integral part of human traits. Morally elevated human soul can be antidote to immorality and corruption, in close restrain of the rule of law. It is thus not alone the judiciary that can fully eliminate corruption in any society.

Colonial legacy
The judiciary in force in Bangladesh is not very old but started operating back about 150 years by the Englishmen and the foreign colonialist rulers. Previously we had the Muslim judiciary for centuries that had been quite smart and speedy in disposing cases at the minimum possible time. Whether that Islamic system of justice could be re-introduced or not at this time is another matter of useful debate.

Christian values
The English or British justice system originated not only for harsh punishment of offender but also as deterrents to wrongdoing. In addition, the sources of laws are conventions and usages that came to practice over centuries and deeply embedded in Christian ethics, morality and values. In introducing the English judiciary here the lacuna that seriously impeded the system was the vacuum of ethics, morality and values, because the overwhelming majority people had allegiance to another set of value system. The vacuum still in the same form, and hence the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the system that no ruler of the independent country has as yet had attempted to change and improve, much less made compatible with the belief and value system of the overwhelming majority people in this country. It is thus useless to blame the system we inherited from the colonialists that has been failing to be efficient in our context of situation. Unless we have firm political will and hard work by experts and specialists to materialize the will, there is little hope for the ACC Chairman’s wish to be fulfilled.

Building character
The other important issue to me is the crucial need for building up of national character of our younger generation through value based education system followed by socio-economic set up that would take pride in moral values commensurate with our own ethical aspirations. In other words, a moral regeneration from current erosion of moral values clearly manifested unfortunately at each level of human endeavor or exercise is needed that would be based on viable and transcendental human high values as Islam certainly prescribed. It is useless to argue anything against for other religious people, because, Islam encompasses all other beliefs in the matter of high moral values.

Free market syndrome
The free market economy based on human greed and material gains and having been underpinned by the principle of the laissez faire and licentious indulgence in consumption spree behavior constitute cause and effect of moral erosion. Fortunately, Islam and Islamic life style that asks for simple living and egalitarianism may well reinforce moral standard of our upcoming citizens, provided we train them in the way with spiritual motivation and incentives. Unless Bangladesh goes for these changed issues, programs, attitudes and outlook, and instead continue with the status quo of the colonialists as in this case in the current judicial system, there is no hope for anything better, much less in the ACC action programs, I am afraid.

Author: Dr. M.T. Hussain

Not Even Two!

Five minutes
The front page news headlines in some of the 14th October Dhaka dailies were that the bill for life long security and VIP treatment of the successive generations of the Mujib’s progeny at home and abroad at the cost of public exchequer presented to the Sangsad (Parliament) on the 5th having gone through the select committee was passed very smartly at the ‘supersonic speed’ in the shortest ever time of five minutes in the Sangsad on the 13th evening (5:15 to 5:20 P.M) in presence of the leader of the House and the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. That should remind older men and women that about 35 years ago in 1975, on the 25th January, another such notorious bill was passed in the still notoriously historic session of 13 minutes of the Bangladesh Sangsad, eight minutes longer than the 14th October time taken by the then Prime Minister turned immediately President (of the State and the party), Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s biological father. In both instances the brute majority worked wonders just as the BBC fame retired journalist Mr. Serajur Rahman had coined for them the term, ‘HUQQA HUAR DAL’ (Blind followers).

Repeated notoriety
The notoriety of the 25th January 1975 had little resistance but from among only two dissenting members who resigned from the Sangsad in protest on moral ground. The courage of those two honorable members (one is till alive) in face of the brute majority had been their ethical and moral stance for pluralism and democracy against absolutism and lone party BAKSAL dictatorship. The microscopic minorities of two among three hundred members and against the fascist brute majority were proved soon right in about seven months in mid August 1975 for that brought back pluralism and multi-party democracy in Bangladesh in tune with the common aspirations of the people inter alias national proud heritage and dignity of the historic Muslim nation.

Brute majority
The brute majorities of 2009 Sangsad have not had even two members of guts this time on the unlucky 13th October for rising on moral ground to protest another morally bankrupt matter so far as democracy is concerned. What happened to the few known leftists curiously on this moral issue of national concern? Well, they have only one head above their necks! They could possibly dare had they have two heads above their necks just as the lone independent member tried to seek for elicitation of public opinion but backed down almost immediately for the same fearful reason. There may be another argument too.

Yet to realize
The Bengali Nation as they are used propound is still incomplete one for at least the 80 million Bengalis are still out side the framework of the Bangladeshi Bengali nation. Could any of the left and possible incumbent in immediate future materialize all Bengalis nearly 250 million under one flag in the region and around that remain unfulfilled as yet after 1971, at least one of them would have bright chance to become another father of the whole Bengali nation. A new father of course and his future progeny would then have life long security just as Mujib’s progeny had from the 13th October. Why should the prospective left Bengali Nationalist loose the likely fatherly privileges to accrue from in such case in future ahead?

The left
The left politicians are clever enough and certainly keep themselves up with development taking place around in the open rivalry of China and India in the Arunachal area not far away from the Bengali-speaking people. Should Arunachal fall in the grip of China sometime in near future, the bigger left aligned Bengali nation would be a more likely than the Bangladeshi Bengali speaking nation and so more likely a father from among the left for the total of 250 million or so stronger Bengali nation. The transitory father as is made now by Sheikh Hasina would then obviously vanish in the air. That might have been the argument of the ‘left’ members. They could confirm or may not for political expediency of own choice.

National moral pride doomed
However, for the time being it remains a matter of shame that in moral terms the Sangsad failed to stand up to what the nation would aspire in the matter for Muslim majority people of Bangladesh cannot accept any one as its national ‘Father’. If they could they would better have the Great Prophet in the position, but that is not permissible in the faith of Islam. The rest that followed in the security act based on the premise of the ‘Father’, apart from its financial burden on the poor people, remained here as an worst example against the spirit and norm of democracy that certainly the moral and the sane people anywhere in the world would measure us in the matter very lowly in their fair estimation so long as the act is not rescinded sooner than latter.

Author: Dr.M.T. Hussain