Untold Facts

15th August 1975: Not Shying Away Courageously

Exception SQ Chowdhury
It was an exception and the only exception as I watched the issue for about two decades among the ‘nationalist’ politicians of Bangladesh not opted to shy away but blasted the real truth about the 15th August occurrence of 1975 in Dhaka about obvious political shake up and changes from autocratic lone party BAKSAL to multiparty democracy, from choked one to press freedom etc. effected on the day and immediately afterwards. Possibly as it was very much appropriate for the courageous and outspoken Parliamentarian Mr. Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, M.P. just as a retired justice of the High Court phoned to me up on the 18th August praising him for being outspoken and not shying away like all others on the issue commenting ‘worthy son of the worthy father’.

AL’s Vicious Attitudes
The vicious propaganda offensives launched by the present Awami League Government against the popularly supported 15th August coup in association of the fascist intimidation by their bullies have kept all right thinking people in check if not blinded them altogether. Mr. Chowdhury, as the press report stated, has already been variously attacked in fascist way; his effigy burnt by a rowdy group in Dhaka, another in Khulna lodged a ‘criminal’ and defamation case against him for exposing the real truth unpalatable to the propagandist party in power and a minister of the present cabinet went on his all way out in rebuke of normal decency in a virulent way. Some one told me that such attacks have already made him the hero for exposing the real truth at this time. I am certain that the patriots and lovers of real truth behind the 15th August coup must be with Mr. Chowdhury.

Probe the 15th August Rationale
What was the 15th August? What the prelude to and the sort of spontaneous people’s jubilation on the day as the news of the historic event spread among the people? Why was no resistance whatsoever against the man god who enjoyed huge popularity only years back? Could Bangladesh get rid of the absolute dictatorship of the notorious lone party BAKSAL and since then enjoy fruits of multi party democracy for 34 years now had there been no 15th August? Could the people enjoy basic freedoms, much less press freedom? Could Bangladesh be free from the total clutch in matters of economy, politics and culture of the big neighbor? Could Bangladesh assert her own sovereignty with self- confidence? Could the Bangladesh army built its confident structure or else would it be devoured by the Indian sponsored and controlled killer Para-military force euphemistically termed as the RAKHHI Bahini? Was there any option left for Bangladesh or to be exact of the patriotic armed forces except the 15th August 1975 armed coup d’etat?

BAKSAL’s Notoriety
In 1975 as soon as the lone party BAKSAL was arbitrarily launched in January by the one time champion leader of democracy people had no illusion about recovery of pluralism and multiparty democracy in normal peaceful democratic way. The patriotic army of the country realized the harsh truth along with the common aspirations of the people. A valiant determined group of them took arms in hand and won the fight in the early morning hours of the 15th August 1975 thus toppling the notorious dictator from the State power of Bangladesh following a brief encounter

Jubilation and Support
The news of the dictator’s fall spread like wild fires. People jubilantly came out in support of the victorious coup at home and abroad alike. Even the foreign big powers like China, Saudi Arabia, etc who until then did not recognize Bangladesh as independent country outside Pakistan framework came in open not only recognizing the country but also in aid whatever was required. All internal State organs came in total allegiance of the post coup revolutionary government of Khondoker Moustaque Ahmad thus formalizing the continuity of the State and the Government. How could now in 2009 any question be asked for legitimacy of the post coup government, much less of the legitimacy of the coup proper?

Coup’s Achievements
The coup followed logically restoration of multi party democratic government, press freedom, internal integration of sovereignty, disbanding killer RAKHHI Bahini and all such essential reorganization of the country that lacked during the period of 1972-mid 1975 and kept the country in reality a vassal of India.

Automatic Indemnity
Victorious army coup by itself is a source of lawfully legitimate change of government. The coup in reference had further legitimacy for the fallen leader lost all moral basis of authority for he arbitrarily imposed BAKSAL in January 1975 and closed all avenues for peaceful and democratic change of the government.

Must not Shy Away
Any prudent and experience social thinker can well reflect back that the sort of ‘nationalist’ politics emerged in Bangladesh was the direct result and corollary consequences of the 15th August coup. Unfortunately the beneficiaries have shied away from this truth so far. Mr. Chowdhury has opened the gate for all to come forward to speak the truth in the matter and the honest nationalists should follow him right now in the matter.

Author: M.T. Hussain