by F R Chowdhury
I fully agree with the statement of the daughter of Late Tajudiin Ahmed, the first prime minister of Bangladesh. If you ask a school going child of about 14 or 15 in the United States about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson, it is likely the child will know about all of them. If you ask the same question to a child in Bangladesh, he will tell you about only one person – Bangabandhu. This is because the BAL government has distorted history. To them there was no Tajuddin, no Osmani and no Ziaur Rahman. The sacrifices made by thousands of people meant nothing. It was only one-man show – the man who incited the whole nation and then quietly left millions of un-armed people on the face of the killing spree of most well-equipped army of Pakistan.
My remarks in the opening paragraph are not meant to down-size the sacrifices and achievements of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was a man who always voiced our demands for rights and justice. He was jailed several times but never compromised the rights of his people. He was the symbol of our struggle for democracy. I will always support his name to be retained in our history as father of the nation. We must not also forget the contributions made by others.
The creation of Pakistan was a historic necessity. I am sure, readers will agree, we would not have been where we are today unless there was Pakistan in 1947. It was in Dhaka that Pakistan Muslim League was established by Nawab Salimullah. It was again our Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Haq who moved the historic Pakistan resolution in Lahore in 1940. The brave soldiers of East Bengal Regiment fought with their lives to protect Pakistan from the Indian aggression in 1965. We are a brave and proud race. We made great sacrifices for Pakistan. We wanted to remain as equal Pakistanis with democratic rights, freedom and dignity.
We had no reason to conspire with our enemies to destroy what we built with our sacrifices. We always thought Agartala Conspiracy case was a creation of Pakistani regime to divert the attention from the movement for democratic rights. That is the reason we engaged ourselves in a movement to get Sheikh Mujib released. However, after his return from Pakistan in 1972, Sheikh Mujib stunned the nation by admitting his role in Agartala case.
1971 was a different chapter in history. Firstly General Yahiya was reluctant to hand over power to the elected representatives of the people. Secondly he unleashed his military power over the innocent unarmed people of East Pakistan to silence them once for all. It was at that crucial time Major Zia declared independence and asked the people to join the struggle as peaceful coexistence in one Pakistan was no more possible.
Even though Sheikh Mujib gave a fiery speech on 7th March, he mysteriously became silent thereafter. When it was apparent that Pakistani military regime is about to unleash a reign of terror, Tajuddin requested Sheikh Mujib to declare independence. Sheikh Mujib refused. He voluntarily surrendered to Pakistan army. The exact reason is still not understood. However, many think that Yahiya managed to convince Mujib that he would be temporarily taken into safe custody and then to be sworn in as the prime minister of Pakistan after teaching a lesson to extremist/ separatist elements.
With the start of Pakistan army crack-down and declaration by Major Zia, the liberation struggle kept on gaining momentum every day. On 17th April, 1971 a provisional government of independent Bangladesh was established with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (in captivity in Pakistan) as the President. Syed Nazrul Islam became the Vice-President and Acting President. Mr Tajuddin Ahmed took the office of prime minister and appointed General Osmany as the defence minister and commander of armed forces. The war continued in the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman until December16, 1971 when Pakistani forces in Bangladseh surrendered. The declaration of independence which was like interim constitution should have continued until the meeting of the parliament and adoption of any new constitution or amendment to the declaration.
First: On his return to Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujib wanted to become the prime minister. A presidential order was issued and he (Mujib) was made the prime minister in 1972. The process was neither fair nor legal.
Second: He (Mujib) was not happy and satisfied with it. He wanted to be the head of the state as well as of the government. In 1975, he formed BAKSAL and made Bangladesh one-party state and declared himself the president. The fundamental concept of democracy was defeated as the world witnessed the first executive president elected by a parliament (and not by open election). This was another totally unfair and unlawful act.
Third: Sheikh Hasina is determined to achieve all that her father failed to achieve. She changed the constitution so that elections can be held under her government. Knowing her character, people boycotted the election. More than 50% seats were already won by her party-men unopposed even before a single vote was cast. It was mockery of an election. The illegal government has virtually established the one party state.
Since the time she came to power, she withdrew all cases against her party-men on the plea that those cases were politically motivated. Presidential pardon was utilised for all convicted party-men. All criminals and political thugs of BAL are roaming around freely and dictating all business. Law and order situation has already reached the lowest ebb. The judiciary, civil administration, police and all other government machineries have been made corrupt; and are directly used for political suppression and other subversive activities. Extra-judicial killings, in the name of cross-fire, have been a regular feature. People are also disappearing without any trace. Law enforcing agencies are engaged in kidnapping and killing. Sheikh Hasina has tightened her grip in such a way that she can win all future elections. The establishment of a family dynasty is in the process as everything in the country is being named after one person and one family.
Time has come for mass uprising because there is no other way that democracy can be restored. The patriotic people of Bangladesh will rise up to destroy all conspiracy and establish democracy where human rights, equality, justice, freedom of expression and democratic values will flourish. May Allah help the freedom loving people of Bangladesh. Amen!
London, 03-June-2014 <[email protected]>
What a brave, bold and truthful analysis.
In few paragraphs the author has captured the genesis of what is and is not true about Bangladesh and its freedom movement.
The article has succinctly articulated the role, both good and bad played by Sk. Mujib. It has also clearly highlighted something that we all know but do not say in public that Awami League has consistently distorted history and bestowed, quite falsely, all glory of our indepedence movement to one person – Sk. Mujib. This is not only a lie but an act of cold-blooded mischief. These low blood goons of Awami League do not realize that history unfolded right in front of us and we are still alive to testify – who are they trying to fool?
Thankfully, the author points out how at the present time Hasina is trying to resurrect her father’s unfulfilled second revolution, the BAKSAL, may be not by name but in substance. Thanks to our neighbour’s helping hand that provides oxygen to her (morally) dead government, she may succeed in doing so. She has employed all known tools of coercion and chcanery to advance in that direction.
We simply cannot allow her to do this. Hundreds and thousands have sacrificed their lives not to make Bangladesh the personal property of her family. Enough is enough, as the author suggests, a “mass uprising’ is what is needed to boot this murderous government out of power. Indeed, sooner the better. Because longer we let her stay in power farther we decay as a nation and more alarmingly, closer we move to losing our soverignty.
Actual history is yet to be written. We have to wait for the historians and anthropologists of the future to write the actual history of Bangladesh. A lot has happened in our lifetime and some of us will see more. We don’t have to accept what politicians and their lackeys tell us or write. I am waiting for the situation to unravel. Truth will prevail. We have seen it in our lifetime!
It is now only a matter of time before this government is uprooted from power. We have seen all evil and suffered under BAL too many times. BAL leaders including the party should be abolished. Sheikh family has only fought for their own benefits. Country has never achieved anything under her or her fathers rule.
The author has said in a few words about the life and legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman quite well. Mujib’s fate was like Robert Browning’s “Patriot”, who came like a hero and departed like a bigot. Such is the repeating cycle of history for those who do not take lesson from it. Having said that, I have a little disagreement with the author about calling Mujib the Father of the Nation, because the issue is not settled yet and our people are still divided on the issue. Mujib and his family members’ love for another country has elevated them above the soil and beyond the borders of Bangladesh. Father signed the 25-year secret treaty with India which is still shrouded in mystery! He watched India loot thousands of millions of dollars’ worth of our wealth in 1972. It was Maulana Bhashani whose ultimatum compelled India to withdraw her army from Bangladesh. In over past five years, Hasina has done excessive damage to Bangladesh:economically, environmentally and above all in terms of our national security. What else is needed to call this family the extra-territorial patriots!